z.s.73- . British Birds I J Ferguson-Lees M A Ogilvie J T R Sharrock DIM Wallace Photographic Consultant Michael W Richards Volume 71 Editors Stanley Cramp *978 Macmillan List of photographs BLACK-AND-WHITE-PLATES PAGES 1-6 Three species of crossbills Loxia : Crossbill L. curvirostra (F. V. Blackburn and Viking Olsson) ; Parrot Crossbill L. pytyopsittacus (Viking Olsson) ; Scottish Crossbill L. scotica (John Markham and Eric Hosking) 6-9 7 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (Eric Hosking) 33 8 Mystery photograph 14: Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica (W. Id. Dady) 34 9 Personalities 1 1 : Dr K. E. L. Simmons (Robin Prytherch) 35 10-15 Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata (F. C. Gribble, M. D. Eng- land and Stephen Pihl) 54-7 16-26 Birds in action: Curlew Numenius arquata (Richard T. Mills); Lap- wing Vanellus vanellus (J. B. & S. Bottomley) ; Woodcock Scolopax rusticola (Hans Schouten); Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola (J. F. Reynolds) ; Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus (P. Munsterman) ; Starling Sturnus vulgaris (Michael W. Richards) ; Common Tern Sterna hirundo (Dennis Green); Starling (Fritz Polking); Mallards Anas platyrhynchos and Coots Falica alra (Rodney Dawson); Jay Garrulus glandarius (Hans Schouten) ; House Sparrows Passer dome- sticus (E. A. Janes) 69-74 27 Mystery photograph 15: Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris (Hans Schouten) 76 28-9 Leucistic Herring Gull Larus argentalus, or Glaucous L. hyperboreusl Iceland L. glaucoides X Herring Gull hybrid ; Herring Gull (Martin Davies) 81 30 Robin Erithacus rubecula (Dennis Green) 83 31-4 Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola (D. B. Hunt) 96-9 35-43 Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta (Jan van de Kam, Michael W. Richards, Eric Hosking, Richard Hunt and G. StJ. Hollis) 106-18 44 Mystery photograph 16: Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena (Keith Atkin) 123 45 Personalities 12: Dr W. R. P. Bourne (Mike Craig) 124 46-7 Great Northern Diver Gavia immer (Guy Harrison) 128 48 Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini (P. Campbell) 129 49 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus and two Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus (R. J. Chandler) 144 50-77 Field identification of gulls: Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus (Richard Vaughan, Pamela Harrison, David & Katie Urry and Ilse Makatsch) ; Slender-billed Gull L. genei (S. C. Madge, Pamela Harrison, C. E. Wheeler, J. G. Prins and V. D. Siokhin) ; Bona- parte’s Gull L. Philadelphia (Alan Brady, J. B. & S. Bottomley and Alan Kitson) ; Grey-headed Gull L. cirrocephalus (Gerry Nicholls, Peter Steyn, Pamela Harrison, J. C. Sinclair and T. Kallqvist) 154-76 78 Personalities 13: R. J. Tulloch (Andy Gear) 177 79 Mystery photograph 17: Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (Eric Hosking) 1 79 80 Nest and three eggs of Red-throated Diver Gavia slellata (Graham Bundy) 1 80 81-3 Sewage- works at St Erth, Cornwall, and filter-beds with feeding Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita (J. B. & S. Bottomley) 184 84 Eyrian Grasswren Amytornis goyderi (Australian Information Service) 1 92 COLOUR PLATES PAGES 85 Bird Photograph of the Year: Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus (P. Lowes) 1 95 86-7 Bird Photograph of the Year: runners-up: Snipe Gallinago gallinago (Oene Moedt) ; Grey Partridge Perdix perdix (Dennis Green) 196 BLACK-AND-WHITE-PLATES 88-9 90 91 92 93 94-8 99" 1 1 1 1 12 •13-4 115-20 121 122 123 124 125-8 129 130 131 132 Bird Photograph of the Year: runners-up: Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diornedea (Keith Pellow) ; Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus (S. L. Hastings) Personalities 14: Nick Riddiford (Rene-Frangois de Fontanges) Mystery photograph 18: Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (R. J. Chandler) Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica (Stephen Jackson) Young Ornithologists of the Year: Danny Markey, Neil Dum- migan and Rachel F. Warren, with Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (Mac- millan Journals Ltd) European pipits: Tawny Pipit Anlhus campestris (P. O. Swanberg) ; Tree Pipit .4. trivialis (A. Butler); Meadow Pipit A. pratensis; Red- throated Pipit A. cervinus (J. B. & S. Bottomley) ; Rock Pipit A. spinoletta (J. T. Fisher) British bird-photographers 20: A. N. H. Peach: Whinchat Saxicola rubetra; Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus ; Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus; Little Owl Athene noctua; Shelducks Tadorna tadorna ; Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus; Hoopoe Upupa epops; Coot Fulica atra; Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus; Booted Eagle Hieraeetus pennatus; Woodcock Scolopax rusticola; Cirl Bunting Etnberiza cirlus; Great Bustard Otis tarda Mystery photograph 19: Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius (J. B. & S. Bottomley) First-winter gull, presumed Glaucous Lams hyperboreus X Herring L. argentatus hybrid; first-winter gulls: presumed Glaucous L. hyperboreus X Herring L. argentatus hybrid and Herring Gull (S. C. Madge) Bitterns Botaurus stellaris (Eric Hosking, Harold Auger and Frits Houtkamp) Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (J. B. & S. Bottomley) Mystery photograph 20: Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida (R. H. Greaves) Personalities 15: C. D. Hutchinson (Richard T. Mills) Presentation of ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ award: Mrs Joyce Grenfell and Peter Lowes (Betsy Gibson) Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus (Frits van Daalen. Ladislav Simak and P. Munsterman) Mystery photograph 21: Tcmminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii (W. H. Dady) Personalities 16: S. C. Madge (Yorkshire Television) Parasitic worms in intestinal mucosa of Mute Swan Cygnus olor (W. M. Gordon) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor removing part of dead chick from nest (K. J. Carlson) 198 217 219 226 233 246-52 259-65 267 273 286-98 304 3t>5 306 322 329-33 355 356 359 360 PLATES PAGES 133 Roosting Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus (Robert T. Smith) 362 134 Feral Ring-necked Parakeets Psittacula krameri (Brian Hawkes) 368 135 Pallid Swift Afius pallidus (Jeff Pick) 374 136-8 Nest-sites of Merlin Falco columbarius (I. Newton) 379-81 139-40 Merlins Falco columbarius (J. F. Young and Robert T. Smith) 387-95 1 41 -5 1 Black-shouldered Kites Elanus caeruleus (W. Suetens & P. van Groenendael and N. J. Collar); breeding habitat (N. J. Collar); nest (David Bishop and Primrose Ridley-Thomas) ; nestlings (N. J. Collar) 399-408 152 Personalities 17: Dr Stephanie Tyler (Lindsay Tyler) 413 153 Mystery photograph 22 : Black Kite Milvus migrans (I. R. Hornsby) 415 154 Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii (T. E. Bond) 417 155 Winner of Tom Keogh Memorial Trophy: Barn Owl Tyto alba (Richard T. Mills) 426 156 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (Jeff Pick) 428 1 57-70 Best recent black-and-white bircl-photographs: Barn Owl Tyto alba (Donald A. Smith) ; Little Owls Athene noctua (Derick Scott) ; Blue Tit Parus caeruleus (F. V. Blackburn); Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus ; Grey Partridge Perdix perdix (J. Russell); Fieldfare Turdus pilaris (M. C. Wilkes); Water Rails Rallus aquaticus (D. N. Dalton); Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (Keri Williams); Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur (K. J. Carlson) ; Curlews Numenius arquata (Dennis Green) ; Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus (G. F. Date) ; Stock Doves Columba oenas (Dennis Green) ; Goldcrests Regulus regulus (F. V. Blackburn) ; Dotterel Charadrius morinellus (R. H. Fisher) 449-57 1 71 Mystery photograph 23: Starling Sturnas vulgaris (J. E. C. Flux) 459 172 Cape Clear Bird Observatory (R. T. Mills) 471 173-80 White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla (P. van Groenendael & W. Suetens, and J. A. Love) 476-80 1 8 1 - Rare birds in 1977: Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps (J. R. 202 East) ; Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris (S. R. D. da Prato) ; Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica dominica (R. D. Moore) ; Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus (B. J. Widden) ; Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia (R. K. Coles); Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan (also with Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus ) (M. Parker) ; Laughing Gull L. atricilla (J. B. & S. Bottomley) ; Bonaparte’s Gull L. Philadelphia (D. G. Bell) ; Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea (D. Banks) ; Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi (R. A. Broad) ; Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris (David Hunt) ; Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia (K. Atkin and P. R. Clarke) ; Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka (A. Knox) ; Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata \ Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata (R. A. Broad) ; Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera (B. Little) 488-525 203 Richard Constantine Homes (1913-1978) (Deirdre Homes) 533 204 Ronald Keir Murton BSc, PhD (1932-1978) (N. J. Westwood) 534 205 Mystery photograph 24: Ferruginous Duck Aythya ferina (Pamela Harrison) 537 206 Crossbills Loxia curvirostra (M. Sainsbury) 540 207-12 Little Gulls Lams minutus (J. B. & S. Bottomley, Daniel M. Turner, and Keith Atkin) 565-71 213 Mystery photograph 25 588 214 Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos (R. J. Chandler) 607 List of line drawings PAGES 3 Scottish Crossbills (Donald Watson) 11-24 Golden Orioles; Red-necked Grebe; Goldeneyes; Montagu’s Harrier; Hobby; Ruffs; Black Redstart (Norman Arlott) 53 Spectacled Warbler (D. I. M. Wallace) 58 Shags (Killian Mullarney) 93-4 Lapland Bunting; Franklin’s Gull (R. A. Hume) Paddy field Warbler (D. I. M. Wallace) 102 Avocets (Robert Gillmor) 140 Ring Ouzel (Brian E. Slade) 141 Temminck’s Stint (P. J. Grant) 143 Sociable Plover (R. A. Hume); Great Bustard (P. J. Grant) 193 Killdeer (Tim Manolis) 194 Black Vulture (Ian Willis) 199 Red-throated Divers (B. Jackson) 209 Citrine Wagtail (D. I. M. Wallace) 214 Goosanders (Ray Turley) 234 Mediterranean Gull (R. A. Hume) ; Wallcreeper (Brian E. Slade) 235 Pied Wagtail (Collingwood In- gram) 245 Tree Pipit (Donald Watson) 284 American Robin (Tim Manolis) 285 Bittern (Bill Jackson) 323 Hobby and Swallows (J. Cantelo) 324 Great Spotted Cuckoo (P. J. Grant) ; Black-headed Bunting (R. A. Hume) ; Calandra Lark (D. I. M. Wallace) 325 Rough-legged Buzzard (K. Bald- ridge) Herring Gulls (R. A. Hume) Blackcap (Ray Turley) * ^Ok EC )& PAGES 373 Osprey (R. A. Hume) ; Honey Buzzard (S. C. Madge) ; Broad- billed Sandpiper (R. A. Hume) 374 Lapland Bunting (Robert Gill- mor) 376 Merlin (Stephen Abbot) 398 Black-shouldered Kite (Robert Gillmor) 427 Rustic Bunting (Laurel A. Tucker) 428 White-throated Sparrow (Robert Gillmor) ; Pomarine Skua (C. J. Hodgson) 439 Oystercatchers (Crispin Fisher) 473-4 White Stork; Stone-curlew (C. J. Hodgson) 474 Osprey (D. I. M. Wallace) 475 White-tailed Eagle (Ian Willis) 483-6 Glossy Ibis; Ring-necked and Tufted Ducks ; Pied-billed Grebe; Long-billed Dowitcher; Bona- parte’s Gull; Pechora Pipit; Red-rumped Swallow; Arctic Redpoll (D. I. M. Wallace) 549 Red-backed Shrike; Wood Warbler; Blackcap (Laurel A. Tucker) 550 Pectoral Sandpiper (D. I. M. Wallace) ; Sooty Shearwaters (R. A. Hume) 554 Wilson’s Phalarope (Brian E. Slade); Wilson’s Petrel (D. I. M. Wallace) 558 Mongolian scene (Alan R. Kit- son) 563 Little Gulls (Killian Mullarney) 606-7 Leach’s Petrels; Little Stint (R. A. Flume) 608 White-lumped Sandpiper (D. Braithwaitc) ; Lesser Golden Plover (M. P. Frost) 33« 345 British Birds The Scottish Crossbill: Loxia scotica Rare breeding birds in 1976 Personalities : Dr K. E. L Simmons Mystery photograph • Notes • Letters Young Ornithologists of the Year • Diary dates News and comment • Recent reports British Birds News and comment Peter Conder, 12 Swaynes Lane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7EF Rarities Committee John M. O’Sullivan, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, scig 2dl © Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photograpers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF (tel: 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr. J. T. R. Sharrock D. I. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £8.00; rest of world US $17.50 01- equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) (Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG2 1 2xs, England.) Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to : Advertisement Department, British Birds 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF (tel: 01-240 1 1 01) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. 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British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 Classified Advertisements £2.25 for 3 lines (minimum) 75P for ea°h whole or part extra line Classified display £2 a centimetre ( min. 3 centimetres.) For the use ofi a box number there is a charge of sop. Replies to : The ADVERTISING MANAGER British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R3LF 01-240 1101 HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION HOLIDAYS FOR BIRDWATCHERS with Dr. Bruce Campbell based at Talland Bay Hotel on the south Cornish Coast. Last winter 96 different species identified. New Holiday Series Dates 1978: 20-24 February, 10-14 April. Brochure from Talland Bay Hotel, Near Looe, Cornwall. Tel: Polperro 228. (BB17) HOLIDAY COTTAGE in pretty Gal- loway village available 1978. Sleeps four, Excellent area for birdwatching. Apply Mrs. Greenshields, Abbey House, New Abbey, Dumfries. (BB19) GALLOWAY, LOCH KEN area, at- tractive cottage in lovely private grounds. Available March, April, May, September onwards. Harrison, Grennan Mill, Dairy, Castle Douglas. Tel: 064 43 297. (BB18) COTTAGE TO LET. Loch Ken, Galloway. Sleeps four. Winter rates November to March. S.A.E., Davidson. Parton, Castle Douglas 064 47 240. (BB20) MID WALES. Comfortable house, fully equipped. Ideal for all country pursuits. S.A.E. Williams, Sunnycroft, Hundred House, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. Tel: Hundred House 352 evenings. (BB21) KITE COUNTRY. Comfortable farm- house accommodation in Upper Towy Valley. H & C all bedrooms. Central heating. Bed and breakfast and evening meal. Mrs. F. Thomas, Tonn Farm, Llandovery. Tel: 20276. (BB23) ISLE OF MULL. Georgian former farm- house. Lovely situation; birds. Good food, own produce, baking. All year. Miss Maclnnes, Aros Mains, Aros. (BB24) CLEY AND HOLT. Comfortable, fully equipped, renovated flint cottages, night storage heating, TV, near marshes, walled garden, sleeping 4-6. Mrs. Finch, Mill House, Little Braxted, Witham, Essex. Tel: Witham 513008. 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(BB22) ( continued) 11 British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER I JANUARY I 9 7 8 Editorial Few birdwatchers are systematists or have any real knowledge of taxonomy and the reasons behind scientific nomenclature. We all, how- ever, make constant use of classification: even non-ornithologists can recognise a duck as a duck or a thrush as a thrush ; at a more advanced level, identifications often start with a generic determination such as, ‘There’s a Sylvia’ , later refined to become, ‘It’s a Lesser Whitethroat’. Thus, even those who might not be able to define systematics or taxonomy are recognising the basic importance of a natural classification system. Nevertheless, the sequence in which birds are listed and their scientific names are, sadly, of relatively little interest to the majority of British and Irish birdwatchers. Convenience is of most importance and, for that reason, change is not welcome. The names and sequence employed in The Handbook (1938-41) remained in use by British ornithologists for 13 years, until the publication in 1952 of the British Ornithologists’ Union’s Check-list of the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland. Since then, the familiar ‘Wetmore order’ of the 1952 list has remained relatively unchanged, although dozens of new species have been ‘slotted in’, sometimes in rather arbitrary positions. In 1971, the BOU published The Status of Birds in Britain and Ireland, which, with slight modifications, employed a com- bination of the nomenclature of Dr Charles Vaurie’s The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna (1959, 1965) and, after much argument, the sequence of J. L. Peters’s Check-list of Birds of the World (1931-70). The local and regional recorders (the people in Britain who make most use of bird lists, in their annual bird reports) expressed their unanimous disapproval, through the Report Editors’ Committee, and Robert Hudson produced on their behalf a sequence hardly different from the familiar 1952 list, A Species List of British and Irish Birds (1971). This has been used by almost all report editors and by British Birds. Despite this background of opposition to unnecessary change, we never- theless now announce that, with this issue, British Birds is adopting a new sequence. In three issues of the BOU journal, The Ibis, Professor Dr K. H. [Brit. Birds 71: 1-3, January 1978] I 2 Editorial Voous has produced a completely revised ‘List of recent Holarctic species’ (Ibis 1 15: 612-638; 1 19: 223-250, 376-406), based broadly on the Wetmore system and with the aim of finding ‘a reasonable compromise between the sequences of orders, families, genera, and species as adhered to by ornithological workers, societies, and organisations in various parts of the northern hemisphere.’ Thus, this list involves the minimum necessary changes (in the light of modern knowledge) from the familiar sequence in use here since 1952. Our decision to adopt Professor Voous’s list has, however, been strongly influenced by the earlier decision of the editors of Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa : the Birds of the Western Palearctic to do so. ‘R WP’ must surely be destined to become as widely used and familiar to European ornithologists as was The Hand- book. We feel, therefore, that our decision is both natural and inevitable: birdwatchers in the late 1970s and 1980s will be using ‘the Voous sequence’. We are producing an up-to-date list of all bird species recorded in the western Palearctic, arranged in the sequence and with the scientific names recommended by Professor Voous; a copy of this ‘1978 list’ will be sent free to every subscriber with the February or March issue of British Birds. We do not, therefore, propose to detail here the changes involved, except to mention two that may be of interest to many British and Irish bird- watchers. Professor Voous regards the Scottish Crossbill as a separate species Loxia scotica, distinct from Crossbill L. curvirostra and Parrot Cross- bill L. pytyopsittacus (see pages 3-10); the Isabelline Shrike, treated as a distinct species Lanius isabellinus when first recorded in Britain in 1950 (Brit. Birds 44: 2 17-2 19), until its four races were merged as red-tailed forms of the Red-backed Shrike L. collurio, now regains specific rank (the reasons for this will be published shortly). Thus, on a light-hearted note, many British birdwatchers may, without stirring from their armchairs, add one (or the luckier of us two) species to their life lists. We have not yet mentioned the English vernacular names in common usage. Some are in need of revision and the list is currently being reviewed by a working group including representatives of British Birds, the BOU, the BTO, BWP, the RSPB and the Wildfowl Trust. Following the general principle of making minimum change, pending this full review, we advocate only the following 13 alterations: SCIENTIFIC NAME 1 97 1 LIST 1978 LIST REFS. TO NOTES Aix galericulata Mandarin Duck Mandarin I Lagopus lagopus Red Grouse Willow/Red Grouse 6 Colinus virginianus Bob-white Quail Bobwhite 2 Perdix perdix Partridge Grey Partridge 3 Burhinus oedicnemus Stone Curlew Stone-curlew 4 Chordeiles minor Nighthawk Common Nighthawk 2 Anthus spinoletta Rock/Waler Pipit Rock Pipit 5 Motacilla jlava Yellow/Blue-headed Wagtail Yellow Wagtail 5 M. alba Pied/White Wagtail Pied Wagtail 5 Calharus ustulatus Olive-backed Thrush Swainson’s Thrush 2 Corvus corone Carrion/Hooded Crow Carrion Grow 5 Dendroica coronata Myrtle Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Icterus galbula Baltimore Oriole Northern Oriole 2 Editorial 3 (i) Simplification, involving dropping of unnecessary group name, to accord with modern usage; (2) Nearctic species bringing us into line with American terminology; (3) adds adjective to otherwise ambiguous name, and again conforms with modern usage; (4) modification of existing name, to avoid possible misinterpretation of its systematic re- lationship; (5) to conform to an important principle: that each species should have a vernacular name, whereas each race — distinguishable by its scientific name — does not need one; and (6) acknowledging that the principle in (5) is unlikely to overrule long- established usage in one case: we recommend the use of Willow Grouse, but recognise that Red Grouse may remain the usual name for L. 1. scoticus. Finally, we consider that female Ruff Philomachus pugnax is preferable to ‘reeve’ and that feral Rock Dove Columba livia is preferable to ‘Feral Pigeon’. Apart from such minor adjustments to vernacular names, we hope that the adoption of Professor Voous’s sequence and nomenclature by both ‘ BWP ’ and ‘ BB ’ will signify the start of a new phase of stability in orni- thological listing in Europe. The Scottish Crossbill: Loxia scotica K. H. Voous The promotion of the Scottish Crossbill Loxia scotica to specific status (Voous 1977) is more than just a systematic technicality of marginal interest to ordinary birdwatchers, but should not be given undue impor- tance. The problems involved, however, are interesting in relation to more than one biological discipline, and the consequences have been elaborately [Bril. Birds 71 : 3-10, January 1978] 4 Scottish Crossbill treated already by Dr Alan G. Knox, in an appendix to Desmond Nethersole-Thompson’s commendable book, Pine Crossbills (1975). In 1904, Ernst Hartert described the Scottish Crossbill and its inter- mediate morphological characters (mainly shape and strength of the bill) between the common Crossbill L. curvirostra curvirostra and the Parrot Crossbill L. pytyopsittacus ; he named it L. c. scotica. For over 25 years it was left in peace in this systematic place, as a British geographical form, subspecies or race of the well-known Loxia curvirostra, together with at least 12 other subspecies in the Old World and eight in the New. Since then, the Scottish Crossbill has been shifted from a race of L. curvirostra to one of L. pytyopsittacus, and back again. Proponents of the former theory in- cluded Witherby et al. (1938), the British Ornithologists’ Union (1952), Vaurie (1956, 1959) and Voous (1960); those of the latter were Hartert (1932) and the BOU Taxonomic Committee (1956). Others, however, such as Meinertzhagen & Williamson (1953), were inclined not to recognise any specific difference between Crossbill and Parrot Crossbill, thereby reducing the problem of the specific allocation of Scottish Cross- bill to irrelevancy. Nevertheless, the basic problem remained of great interest. Although others had appreciated the theoretical importance of the situation (e.g. Griscom 1937), Dr David Lack, in his classic Darwin’’ s Finches (1947) and also later (1971), clearly showed the correlation between bill-shapes and feeding niches of crossbills in general and the importance of the presence of related competitors in particular. In broad terms, one can state that, in northern Europe, the Two-barred Crossbill L. leucoptera, with the slimmest bill and smallest size, feeds mostly on the cones of larch Larix, extracting the seeds from between the short, flexible scales; that the Crossbill, with a bill of variable strength, feeds throughout on the larger cones of spruce Picea, which have longer, though rather thin, scales; and that the Parrot Crossbill, with the heaviest bill, and largest size, feeds generally on Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, manoeuvring its strong bill in-between the thick, wooden scales to reach the hidden seeds. These three species of crossbills form an almost perfect example of ecological isolation, the segregation being maintained at least during their breeding seasons. While the un- predictability of their food resources, and their consequently largely nomadic lives, may force crossbills of all species not only to nest now here, then there, but also, on their wanderings, to feed on seeds of any seed- bearing conifer available, the situation has become almost chaotic by the introduction and widespread plantings in Continental Europe and Britain of non-indigenous conifers, including Scots pine, Austrian pine Pinus nigra var nigra and Corsican pine P. n. var maritima. Nevertheless, the German names Fichtenkreuzschnabel. (spruce-crossbill) for the Crossbill and Kiefer nkreuzschnab el (pine-crossbill) for the Parrot Crossbill remain appropriate. It is, however, now appreciated that body size and bill structure do not play a decisive role in separating bird species in nature: it is the mating behaviour, including songs and calls, which keeps them reproductively isolated. Thus, the structural differences between the Crossbill and the Scottish Crossbill 5 Parrot Crossbill could equally be those between races as between species ; but their breeding behaviour shows otherwise. In northern Europe at least, these birds exclude each other on their breeding sites, and the rapidly growing knowledge of their vocalisations has helped us to realise that they do indeed behave as distinct species. The same applies to the mating behaviour and calls, including the social and sexual responses, of the Crossbill and Scottish Crossbill in Britain, as described by Nethersole- Thompson (1975); behaviour keeps the populations reproductively iso- lated and thereby strengthens their specific structural differences. It will be interesting for birdwatchers to follow the spread of the Crossbill as a more or less sedentary breeding bird in Britain (supposed to have been established by the big irruption of 1910) and the invasion of this species (probably assisted by the introduction of non-indigenous conifers) into the original Scots pine habitat of the Scottish Crossbill. Does the Crossbill still usually forage in different trees from those frequented by the Scottish Crossbill, and how are ecological and ethological conflicts (sociality, pair forming) between these species settled? If Nethersole-Thompson is correct — and his observations seem very accurate — then the newly sug- gested name of ‘Pine Crossbill’ for the Scottish Crossbill is most appro- priate. The history of the development of a ‘pine crossbill’, as distinct from a ‘spruce crossbill’, can only be surmised, but it seems likely that pine crossbills evolved in west Continental Europe (then including Britain) during and after one of the later glaciations (probably the last), when Scots pines were widespread and Norway spruce Picea abies still had a mainly east European distribution. Only if it could be demonstrated that present north European and Scottish pine crossbills have the same origin, and afterwards separated in isolated regions, could these birds be con- sidered to represent the geographical forms of one species, which would then have to be called L. pytyopsittacus, with different Continental (P. p. pytyopsittacus ) and insular (L. p. scotica ) populations. Then, also, the more strongly developed (or rather ‘more advanced’) characters of the north European Parrot Crossbill could be seen as the result of subsequent interspecific competition with the Crossbill through a process known as ‘character divergence’. There is, however, no proof of a common origin. Instead, isolated southern Crossbill populations, such as those occurring in the pine woods of North Africa (L. c. poliogyna) and Cyprus ( L . c. guillemardi) , lead to other thoughts. These crossbills have to cope with cones which have long, strong scales and, in consequence, have bills which are heavier than those of the Crossbills of the transcontinental spruce areas of Eurasia and North America. Apparently, they show stages of development already passed by the Scottish and the Parrot Crossbills. Polytypic origins of pine-adapted bills seem, therefore, to be a regular feature, and this possibility also has to be accepted as the most likely one for the Scottish and Parrot Crossbills. This necessitates recognition of them as systematic species, L. scotica and L. pytyopsittacus respectively, as proposed by Salomonsen (1963) and Knox (1975, 1976). If, on the other hand, Parrot and Scottish Crossbills were the geographical representatives I, 2 & 3- Three species of crossbills Loxia : top left, male Crossbill L. curvirostra, Surrey, 1973 ( colour transparency: F. V. Blackburn ) ; bottom left, pair of Parrot Crossbills L. pytyopsittacus, male left, female right, with nestling, Sweden ( Viking Olsson ); above, male Scottish Crossbill L. scntica, Inverness-shire, 1946 {John Markham) a 1 t B£As«[f 4, 5 & 6- Ihree species of crossbills Loxia: above, female Scottish Crossbill L. scotica on nest nverness-sh're, June .947 (Eric Hoskins)-, top right, female Crossbill L. curvirostra, Sweden {Vlktn2 0lsson) ; bottom r>ght, female Parrot Crossbill L. pytyopsittacus on nest, Sweden (Vikine 0 Is son) f 'jpr JLL 4. ■pJl* ' r .^3rj I W* * ■* T - ^ y^rvi - sJ3B fT ^ _s talt -{RAiyt 10 Scottish Crossbill of one species, they would, given the opportunity, interbreed. This would imply that the differences in their songs and calls were not sufficient to prevent random mating. In view of the seemingly great role of vocal differences in maintaining reproductive isolation between Crossbill and Parrot Crossbill in northern Europe and between Crossbill and Scottish Crossbill in Scotland, interbreeding between Parrot and Scottish Crossbills seems hardly likely. Further studies, not only of morphological and structural differences, but especially concentrating on comparative ecology and behaviour, should reveal the further mysteries of the adaptations of crossbills to the structure, seasonality and life cycles of their food trees. The rank given to the Scottish Crossbill in checklists is of minor importance compared with the documentation of the history of its adaptations and of the degree of its ecological segregation and reproductive isolation. Desmond Nethersole- Thompson and Dr Alan G. Knox are to be congratulated on their timely work, which has refocused our attentions on this very special example of micro-evolution in action. References British Ornithologists’ Union. 1952. Check-list of the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland. London. 1956. Report of Taxonomic Committee. Ibis 98: 157-168. Griscom, L. 1937. A monographic study of the Red Crossbill. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 41: 77-120. Hartert, E. 1932. Die Vogel der P alaarktischen Fauna. Berlin. Knox, A. G. 1975. Crossbill taxonomy. In Nethersole-thompson, D. Pine Crossbills. pp. 1 91-201. Berkhamsted. — — 1976. The taxonomic status of the Scottish Crossbill Loxia sp. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 96: 15-19- Lack, D. 1947. Darwin' s Finches. Cambridge. 1 97 1 . Ecological Isolation in Birds. Oxford and Edinburgh. Meinertzhagen, R., & Williamson, K. 1953. Check-list of the birds of Great Britain and Ireland. Ibis 95: 369. Nethersole-Thompson, D. 1975. Pine Crossbills. Berkhamsted. Salomonsen, F. 1963. Systematisk oversigt over Nordens fugle. Nordens Fugle i Farver 7= 4*5- Vaurie, C. 1956. Systematic notes on Palearctic birds, 20. Amer. Mus. Nov. 1786: 25-26. 1959- Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Passeriformes. London. \ oous, K. H. i960. Atlas of European Birds. Edinburgh and London. 1 977- List of recent Holarctic bird species. Passerines. Ibis 1 1 9 : 223-250, 376-406 (39°)- Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 193B. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. i. London. Professor Dr K. H. Voous , V. D. Duyn van Maasdamlaan 28, Huizen-NH , Netherlands Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1976 J. T. R. Sharrock and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel The main purpose of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, already fully des- cribed ( Brit . Birds 66: 172- 174), is to provide a confidential repository for detailed information on scarce nesting species in the United Kingdom, so that changes in status can be monitored and the relevant details, which might otherwise be lost through the deaths of individuals keeping them secret, can be safeguarded for posterity. This annual report, the panel’s fourth, is a spin-off; as usual, it includes only those data for which the recorders gave clearance for publication. The panel is supported, morally and financially, by British Birds, the British Trust for Ornithology and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; it also includes a representative of the Nature Conservancy Council. During 1976, the members were A. W. Colling, R. H. Dennis, I. J. Ferguson-Lees, Ian Prestt and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (secretary). Most records reach the panel from the county and regional recorders and editors (for names and addresses, see Brit. Birds 70: 356-360): indi- vidual observers are strongly encouraged to submit their data in this way, although a few send them direct. Forms are available free from the address at the end of this report; two copies should always be sent in on these special forms, which are filed under lock and key in two separate places as a safeguard against loss by fire, and to which only the panel’s secretary has direct access. With great pleasure, we can report that only two county societies with- held their records in 1976 (see fig 1) ; we especially welcomed the receipt of information for the first time from the Isle of Wight. The value of both the stored detail and these published summaries is in direct proportion to their completeness. We hope that the excellent results of 1976 will encourage continued co-operation in future and that Nottinghamshire and Sussex records will soon be submitted to give 100% coverage. 1 1 [Bril. Birds 71 : 1 1-33, January 1978] 12 Rare breeding birds in 1976 As usual, counties are named here only when permission has been given. In other cases, code letters are used: these are the same as in earlier re- ports, so that histories of decline or colonisation can be followed, even though the locations must remain secret to ensure freedom from distur- bance. This report contains a mixture of new and old county names : we have used those supplied by the recorders, since conversion of old names could, in some cases, reveal information about the locations of breeding sites. For most species, we have given a range of figures for ‘pairs breeding’, the lower figure representing the number confirmed breeding and the upper the maximum if, for instance, every singing male or single sighting represented a nesting pair. Although these ranges are often very wide, they can be consistently calculated each year and will, we hope, be valuable for comparisons. To ensure uniform treatment, figures for past years have been recalculated on this basis. We regret that, yet again, we have to make our annual apology for the late appearance of this report. Some records reached us in August 1976, but the last batches were not received until the second half of October 1977, despite numerous reminders. We appreciate the dif- ficulties and the pressures on county recorders, but nevertheless wish that we could receive all the data by, say, 1st February of the follow- ing year and publish our report seven or eight months earlier, in the May issue of British Birds. Fig. 1. Areas covered by this report. Records (or negative returns) were supplied for all the areas shown black. Some indivi- dual observers supplied data for the counties left white, but records were not received from the local recorders, and so the picture may be very incomplete for these two areas. The panel does not collect records from the Republic of Ireland The year’s highlights The year covered by this report will doubtless be long-remembered as ‘the long, hot summer of ’76’, but it was less remarkable for rare breeding birds. The discovery, however, of several pockets of Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus in a completely new area must rank as the major event. The fine summer may have had some influence on the pleasing 13 Rare breeding birds in igy6 harrier situation, with the greatest number of Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosas for at least nine years and the first instances of successful breeding by Montagu’s Harriers C. pygargus for four years. It was also the best year for Hobbies Falco subbuteo since these reports started (the most paii’s located, the most pairs successful and the most young fledged) and Goshawks Accipiter gentilis did well too (the highest totals to date of proved breeding and young reared) . Goldeneyes Bucephala clangula continued to colonise, Ruffs Philomachus pugnax spread to a total of six sites, Temminck’s Stints Calidris temminckii were proved to breed for the first time since 1971, and after a seven-year gap a male Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus found himself a female and they reared one young. The strangest record was undoubtedly the Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola feeding a brood of young wagtails, but there were also tantalising or hopeful signs from Red-necked Grebes Podiceps grisegena, Turnstones Arenaria interpres, a Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris, a Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus and Serins Serinus serinus. The debit side, however, included serious declines of Black-necked Grebes Podiceps nigricollis, Snowy Owls Nyctea scandiaca, Redwings Turdus iliacus, Firecrests Regulus ignicapillus and Red-backed Shrikes Lanius collurio. Changes to the list In view of the large number of individual records annually and the BTO census in 1977, we do not propose to include the Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros in our reports in future. At the request of several county recorders, its place will be taken by the Bittern Botaurus stellaris, which appears to be declining in the UK. Systematic list of 1976 records There were no relevant records of the following species in 1976: Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia Scaup Ay thy a marila Black Tern Chlidonias niger Sanderling Calidris alba Bluethroat Ltiscinia svecica Red-necked Grebe Podiceps griseg- ena Four sites: four summering. Lanark One site: single male seen regu- larly during second half of May and on 8th and 1 5th June. County A Three sites, but no evidence of breeding: (1) one seen on 18 dates during May to October; (2) one seen on five dates during July to October; (3) one seen on three dates during June to August. This is the third successive year in which individuals have summered in the UK, the annual totals rising from one in 1974 to two in 1975 and, now, four in 1976. Developments are awaited with keen interest. H Rare breeding birds in ig?6 Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus At least 23 sites: 70-75 pairs. Inverness At least 21 sites, with evidence of breeding: (1) 18-19 pairs; (2) 14-15 pairs; (3) three pairs; (4) two to three pairs, unsuccessful; (5) one or two pairs, one rearing two young; (6) to (8) single pairs; (9) to (11) single pairs, all unsuccessful; (12) to (21) total of 20 pairs on at least ten lochs. Comments relating to sites (1) to (1 1), ‘generally a better year and breeding success better, although no detailed counts of young’, and to sites (12) to (21), ‘breeding success was poor’. Moray One site: five or six pairs, two of which reared a total of at least four young. Perth One site: one pair reared two young. More were found at the 23 sites in 1976 than at the 22 and 25 sites visited in the full surveys in 1973 and 1974 (52-53 pairs and 58-63 pairs) ; the 1975 total was 39-43 pairs at 12 sites. It is sad to see no Caithness records (1-3 pairs each year during 1973-75)- Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis One site: ten pairs. County B One site: at least ten pairs. The situation appears bleak, with totals dropping in the past four years from 19 pairs at four sites in two counties down to ten pairs at one site. Pintail Anas acuta Ten sites: six pairs confirmed breeding, eight more probably breeding and two possibly breeding; at least eight young reared. Cambridge One site: one pair present on the Ouse Washes during May and June. Inverness One site: one pair present. Kirkcudbright One site: eggs laid, but probably did not hatch. Orkney Seven sites on three islands involving a possible total of 13 pairs and some proof of breeding: (1) three pairs, two of which reared at least eight young and the third probably bred; (2) one pair with young; (3) female flushed from scrape; (4) one pair on several dates in mid April ‘seemed territorial’; (5) two females with young; (6) four females together, all considered to be probably breeding; (7) one pair possibly breeding. After a gradual build-up during 1973-75 (3'5 pairs, 10-n pairs, 12-25 pairs), there was a partial slump in 1976, down to 6-16 pairs. This species remains one of our rarest breeding wildfowl, a fact that was not wholly apparent until five years of intensive Atlas fieldwork during 1968-72 pro- duced confirmed breeding in only 35 10-km squares in Britain and Ireland (34 in the UK). Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 12 sites: 21-157 pairs breeding. Caithness Five sites, with a possible total of 23 pairs hatching at least 67 young: (1) six pairs on 6th June, and two used nests and seven females with five broods of seven, six, five, one and one on 6th August; (2) two pairs and one male on 13th June, but no further evidence of breeding; (3) six females with five broods of eight, six, six, five and three on 22nd July, and two females with broods of six and two on 1st August; (4) three females, one with brcod of 15 young in late July; (5) four females with four young on 22nd July. Dunbarton/Stirling One site: seven pairs, two females with brood of three young on 10th July, two females with brood of four small young on 20th July. Fermanagh Two sites, breeding success not known but probably poor: (1) 107 pairs; (2) six pairs. Rare breeding birds in igy6 15 Inverness One site: in new locality, probably over ten pairs, seven nests with eggs in first week of June. Perth Two sites, but no evidence of breeding: (i) two females in June and July; (2) male in June and July. Wigtown One site: adult male on 27th June. The number of pairs has remained fairly steady (4-133, 10-142 and 32-159 in 1973-75). For the first time, a successful census was carried out in Caithness: although accounting for only 15% of the possible UK pairs, the county provided 91% of the young reported. Six sites : a total of at least five pairs hatched at least 46 young at three sites in one county. Cumbria Three sites, but no evidence of breeding: (1) male on 8th June; (2) female from 5th May to 30th June; (3) female from 10th May to 8th August. Inverness Three sites, with successful breeding at each: (1) two or more pairs, females with nine and six young on 2Qth May, and six and one young on 15th June; (2) two or more pairs, females with 11 young on 7th June, and 12 and six young on 15th June (broods of 11 and 12 may have been the same); (3) at least one pair, female with 13 young on 18th May, and three young on 15th June. ‘All five broods reared in RSPB nestboxes, but much interchange between lochs and river, so five pairs is minimum : there could have been up to another three females attempting to nest, possibly successfully.’ Establishment became firmer, with at least five pairs confirmed breed- ing, compared with one during 1970-72, three during 1973-74 and two in 1975 (maxima of five pairs in 1975 and 1 1 in 1976, if every summering bird bred). Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Probably at least five pairs, but details incomplete. Bedford One site : one seen flying into wood in May. Gloucester One site: single sightings on nth and 23rd August. Hampshire One site: one pair present all summer, but no attempt made to find nest. We know that other data have been withheld by observers. Norfolk One site: a pair present from 22nd May and probable juvenile seen. Yorkshire One site : one pair present throughout summer, seen carrying food and ‘almost certainly reared successfully’. County A One site: one regularly from May to August, displaying in May, three on 14th August. Observers have continued to trespass in search of these birds, which puts them at risk not only from disturbance, but at the hands of the irate landowner, with whom we have sympathy. We appeal again, as we did in our 1974 report {Brit. Birds 68: 494), to observers to stay away or keep to public roads. County C Present throughout summer at several localities, display seen, at least three pairs suspected. Although clearly incomplete, the number of breeding pairs reported to us during 1973-76 have been 1-2, 2-6, 0-5 and 1-9. There seems to be a welcome trend towards an increase in summering and breeding away i6 Rare breeding birds in igj6 from the main area in the New Forest. Unfortunately, we still do not receive useful data from that main area, even though it is well-known to both egg-collectors and birdwatchers, and is swarming with picnickers and others on summer weekends. We wish that those who watch this population would share their information, since the Honey Buzzards’ reactions to so much disturbance, and their nesting behaviour and fledg- ing success, could have an important influence on protection measures at other British sites. The lack of data contrasts markedly with the detailed nest-by-nest information that is provided annually by those who monitor the Ospreys Pandion haliaetus and the Red Kites Milvus milvus. Red Kite Milvus milvus Total of 34 pairs: 28 nests, of which 14 successful with 18 young reared. County B Two sites, with breeding proved: (1) one pair reared two young; (2) one pair failed. County C Total of 25 sites, with breeding proved: (1) (2) single pairs reared two young; (3) to (10) single pairs reared one young; (1 1) to (19) single pairs failed; (20) to (25) single pairs held territory, but did not breed. County D Three sites, with breeding proved: (1) (2) single pairs reared one young; (3) one pair failed. County E Three sites, with breeding proved : (1) one pair reared one young; (2) (3) single pairs failed. County F One site: one pair reared one young, the first successful nest in the county for over 40 years. There have been no breeding attempts in county A since 1973, when two pairs failed. The slow build-up during 1973-76 in the numbers of pairs (26, 32-33, 32 and 34) and nesting pairs (26, 27, 28 and 28) has been partly reflected by the numbers of successful pairs (10, 9, 15 and 14) and young reared (14, 12, 24 and 18). Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Nine sites: 13 pairs, of which nine or ten successful in rearing at least 25 young. Hampshire One site: one pair throughout summer may have raised two young. Norfolk Four sites, five pairs, of which three reared a total of eight young: (1) two pairs each reared three young; (2) one pair reared two young; (3) one pair, laid three eggs, but later deserted; (4) one pair deserted nest. Suffolk Four sites, seven pairs, of which six reared a total of 17 young: (1) at Minsmere, four pairs reared broods of five, five, one and one; (2) one pair reared three young; (3) one pair reared two young, other females present but did not breed; (4) one pair present, but no proof of breeding. The totals of 1 1 - 1 3 pairs breeding and 25 young reared are both the highest for at least nine years; the 1973-75 totals of breeding females were five or six (rearing 14 young), six (ten young) and six to eight (18 young). Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus Four sites: three males and four females held territory, three females nested, and two successfully reared a total of six young. County B One site: one pair bred, male shot, two young reared with human aid (food supplied for female to collect). Rare breeding birds in igy6 17 County C Two sites, but no proof of breeding: (i) one pair holding territory throughout breeding season; (2) one female on 13th June. County D One site : one pair reared four young and the male also mated with a second female, but her nest was destroyed by farm m No sooner had we stated (Brit. Birds 70: 8) that ‘the outlook for the future of the Montagu’s Harrier as a British breeding species now seems very bleak’ than there was this unex- pected resurgence in the exceptional summer of 1976, with the first young known to have been reared in Britain for four years; there had not even been a recorded breeding attempt since 1973. Goshawk Accipiter gentilis About 18 sites: at least 12 pairs present, with nine breeding and eight successfully rearing at least 13 young. Gloucester One site: single birds seen on four dates during May to August. Gwent One site: one seen on 17th July in same area as 1975. County D Eleven sites, eight pairs successful, rearing at least 13 young: (1) one pair reared three young; (2) to (8) single pairs each reared one or two young (total of at least ten) ; (9) one pair laid eggs, but nest robbed; (10) one pair displayed, but no further evidence of breeding; (11) one pair known not to have bred. County L Three sites, but possibility of overlap: (1) up to six individuals; (2) three individuals; (3) one individual. County M ‘Present.’ County N One site: one pair failed. With breeding proved for nine pairs and at least 13 young known to have fledged, 1976 was the best year to date, although the number of possible pairs was smaller than in 1975. Totals of pairs breeding during 1 973-76 have been 6-12, 8-17, 4-31 and 9-18. Unfortunately, there are still some observers who withhold information from the panel, so these totals are known to be too low. Osprey Pandion haliaetus 14 sites: ten successful pairs reared 20 young. In view of recent increases in the activities of egg-collectors, we are this year discontinuing, perhaps only temporarily, the practice of listing the records from counties A to E individually. Inverness Loch Garten: pair laid two eggs in usual nest and reared two young; the male, the same as in 1974, had been reared in Scotland in 1970. Perth Loch of Lowes : male and two females, at least one female laid eggs, both incubated, but no eggs hatched. Counties A, B, C, D, E Twelve sites: eggs laid in all 12 eyries, one pair robbed by egg- collectors, one nest destroyed by gale and one clutch failed to hatch, but other nine pairs reared 17 young (3, 3, 2, 2, 2 and 1 from clutches of 3; and 2, 1 and 1 from clutches of 2). ‘A reasonable year.’ County G Several sightings, although fewer than usual and no indication of breeding. achinery. i8 Rare breeding birds in igy6 Despite the failure at Loch of Lowes, one of the two publicised sites, it was a fairly satisfactory year. There has, however, been no sign of any recent growth in the population and the 1976 statistics were identical with those two years previously. During 1973-76 the figures have been: 16 sites, 10 pairs rearing 21 young; 14 sites, 7 pairs rearing 20 young; 14 sites, 7 pairs rearing 16 young; 14 sites, 10 pairs rearing 20 young. Hobby Falco subbuteo 120 sites: 52-131 pairs breeding, with 36 known to have reared 69 young. Avon Two sites, but no evidence of breed- ing: (1) single birds seen throughout June and July; (2) numerous sightings in breed- ing season. Bedford Seven sites, with three pairs breeding successfully: (1) one pair reared three young; (2) one pair reared two young; (3) one pair reared at least one young; (4) to (7) single birds in suitable habitats. Berkshire Six sites, with breeding con- firmed at four: (1) to (3) one pair, young seen flying; (4) one pair with one juvenile in August and September; (5) (6) single pairs, but breeding not confirmed. Buckingham Three sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) two on several dates in second half of May; (2) one on 7th July; (3) seen frequently in feeding area, but breeding site not located. Cornwall One site: one pair throughout June and July, but no evidence of breeding. Devon ‘Another good season, with young reared at several sites’, but details have been withheld. Dorset Total of 14 sites, with nesting proved at nine: (1) to (7) single pairs reared a total of 13 young; (8) one pair failed; (9) one pair robbed; (10) to (14) single pairs in territory. Durham One site: one pair present 23rd May to 2nd June, then male only on 5th and 6th June. Also ‘an unprecedented number of reports on passage’. Hampshire Information from two New Forest sources, with unknown degree of overlap, (a) Five sites, with breeding proved at three: (1) to (3) single pairs bred successfully; (4) (5) single pairs, but breeding not confirmed, (b) A minimum of 16 pairs in an area of 150 km2, of which seven proved to have bred. Outside this area, a further three or four pairs known. Hereford Two sites, with evidence of breeding at one: (1) two juveniles in August, but nest not located; (2) one on 22nd May. Hertford At least four sites, with breeding proved at three: (1) one pair reared one young; (2) ‘two pairs nested’; (3) ‘one pair nested’; (4) present in summer. Kent One site: one pair in August, behaviour suggestive of feeding young. Leicester Two sites, with breeding proved at both: (1) one pair reared three young; (2) one pair reared two young. Northampton Four sites, with breeding proved: (1) one pair reared three young; (2) one pair reared two young; (3) (4) single pairs ‘almost certainly bred’. Nottingham One site: seen on a few occasions during May to August, at same site as in 1975, seems likely to be breeding locally. Oxford Fourteen sites, with breeding proved at nine: details of only one site provided, where one pair reared one young. Somerset Sixteen sites, witli breeding proved at two: (1) one pair bred successfully at same site as 1974 and 1975; (2) two adults and two juveniles together on 3rd October; (3) two engaging in aerial display on 9th May; (4) to (16) single birds or pairs seen. Stafford One site: one pair witli young in nest. Surrey Total of 1 7 pairs at 13 sites, of which 13 pairs proved breeding, 24 young reared : A/A Rare breeding birds in igj6 ig (i) three pairs, of which one reared three young, one reared two young, and one pair robbed; (2) two pairs reared three and two young; (3) two pairs each fledged two young; (4) (5) single pairs each reared three young; (6) one pair fledged two young; (7) (8) one pair with one fledged young; (9) one pair, breeding failed; (10) (1 1) one pair at each, success not known; (12) (13) pairs present, but no evidence of breeding. Warwick Three sites for which details known, with breeding proved: (1) one pair reared three or four young; (2) one pair bred, but outcome not known; (3) one pair all summer and with one young in September. Recorder estimates five to ten pairs, but observers have withheld some records. Wiltshire Five sites, with breeding proved: three pairs bred, but details withheld. Worcester One site: one pair seen regularly in traditional feeding area, but nest site not found. The long, hot summer of 1976 was a highly successful one for this slim falcon. More pairs were confirmed than in any of the previous three years (52-131 in 1976, compared with 22-60, 43-91 and 37-132 during 1973-75) and there were also record numbers of successful pairs and young fledged (36 pairs reared 69 young in 1976, compared with 12 rearing 24, 25 rearing 49, and 24 rearing 40 during 1973-75). The situation was almost certainly even better than these figures suggest, since we have never received any Sussex records and the full data from Devon, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire have been withheld. We appeal to these four societies to reconsider their position and contribute to what is becoming a valuable annual assessment of the Hobby population. Spotted Crake Porzana porzana One pair probably bred. Perth One site: one pair holding territory in June and July, but no proof of breeding. Although this species is doubtless under-recorded because of its skulking and crespuscular behaviour, the ‘whip-lash’ song is so highly distinctive as to be commented on by local non-ornithologists, in the same way as are itinerant Hoopoes Upupa epops. Events since 1973 reveal how scarce this species is as a breeding bird in the UK; 1973, no records; 1974, one or two heard at four sites; 1975, no records; and, now, just one pair present. All the 1973-76 records were in Scotland, as were 54% of those found during Atlas fieldwork in 1968-72. Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Five sites; 151 pairs reared 68 young. Suffolk Two sites, with successful breeding at both: (1) on Havergate Island, 95 pairs reared only 12 young; (2) at Minsmere, 51 pairs reared 46 young. ‘High salinities, no rainfall, very hot dry summer following cold spring — all resulting in poor food supply — combined to make it another disastrous year at Havergate.’ County A Two sites, with successful breeding at both: (1) two pairs, one reared three young, success of other not known; (2) two pairs, one reared three young. County B One site: one pair reared four young. The number of breeding pairs remained high (151 compared with 149, 125 and 158 during 1973-75), but success was almost as meagre as in 1974, when bad weather and poor feeding conditions resulted in only six young being reared on Havergate Island and the small total of 64 in the UK. Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Probably well over 100 pairs, but only 16 proved breeding. 20 Rare breeding birds in igy6 Berkshire One site: two seen on 14th May at traditional site, not properly covered later in season, probably bred. Dorset Four sites, with breeding proved at one: (1) one pair with nest; (2) to (4) single pairs apparently holding territory. ‘Perhaps a slight improvement on recent years.’ Essex Two sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) single birds on 25th April and 1 8th May; (2) one on 30th June. Hampshire Details from only one site: one pair reared two young from believed repeat clutch of two eggs, four other pairs suspected in same general area. Within the county, ‘A pilot survey was carried out . . . the results suggest a healthier population than we had feared.’ Hertford Total of 12-14 pairs in northeast of county. Norfolk Total of 30 pairs in Norfolk Breckland, of which at least eight hatched clutches. Oxford Three sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) one pair in July; (2) flock of four in spring; (3) flock of six in spring. ‘Numerous other reports’, but details not supplied. Suffolk At least 36 pairs: in coastal belt, five pairs, of which one reared young; in Suffolk Breckland, 31 pairs and 10-15 pairs reported independently, but overlap unknown. Wiltshire Twelve sites, five pairs proved breeding, but no details supplied. With only vague information from Hampshire and none from Sussex, it is not possible to do more than indicate minimal figures: reported pairs during 1973-76 have been 26-102, 28-63, 64-121 and 16-111. We suspect that co-ordinated all-night censuses by specialist teams would reveal more than are currently recorded, perhaps as many as the 300-500 pairs estimated in the Atlas. Dotterel Eudromias morinellus At least eight sites, but data very incomplete. Argyll One site: pair seen and song heard on 18th and 27th May. Cumbria At least one site: (1) two pairs, with clutches of one and three eggs on 7th June; (2) two pairs proved breeding, but perhaps same as (1). Grampian ‘Numbers as usual. Slightly better than average breeding: 0.5 to 1.0 young per adult.’ Perthshire One site: female on 17th June. County D Two sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) (2) at least one pair at each. County E One site: up to eight birds (including four males and three females) calling and showing courtship activity on 8th and gth May. County F One site: one male, two females and a chick seen on 29th June at locality where breeding attempted in previous years. The details of 3-14 pairs breeding is hopelessly unrepresentative, especially in view of the Grampian comment which must be based on counts not made available to us. With full data supplied annually from the areas visited regularly, we could maintain a sample index to indicate population trends; we hope that reporting will improve in future and appeal for unsubmittecl data for 1973-76 to be sent to us now. Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Two sites: 1-4 pairs breeding. County A One site: one individual reported. County B One site: up to five individuals, nest with four eggs found, two adults dis- playing as late as 3rd July. The first instance of confirmed breeding since 1971, in a different county from the site occupied regularly during 1969-74; there were also more summering than in any previous year, but it is disappointing (hat other sites have not been discovered. 21 Rare breeding birds in igy6 Ruff Philomachus pugnax Six sites : 4-17 or more females nesting. Caithness One site: up to six at various times, two males holding territory for two or three weeks in June, but no females seen. Cambridge/Norfolk One site: ‘good numbers’ on the Ouse Washes and males lekking in early April, but no proof of breeding. Kent Two sites, but no evidence of breeding: (1) one on 26th May and two on 23rd June; (2) present in breeding season. Lancashire One site: four females nested; unlined scrape with one egg submerged by high tides in second week of May ; second nest with two eggs on 24th June; third nest with four eggs on 28th June; fourth nest with three eggs on gth July; some eggs subsequently damaged by cows, but hatching occurred in last three nests on 13th July and ‘likely that five Ruff chicks survived at least two days’. Norfolk One site: ‘a few pairs may have bred’. See also Cambridge/Norfolk entry. Females (reeves) become very elusive once they start to incubate; hence, the vague details from, for instance, the Ouse Washes and Norfolk. The annual totals of breeding pairs since 1973 (0-8, 2-12, 2-26 and, now, 4-17 or more) are, therefore, probably less indicative of the current trend than is the welcome increase in sites: one in 1973, one in 1974, four in 1975 and six in 1976. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 13 sites: probably 72-87 pairs breeding. Cambridge/Norfolk One site: on the Ouse Washes, at least 58 pairs estimated, success not known, but thought to be very good. Cumberland One site: three pairs confirmed breeding, a fourth probably bred. Kent Three sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) one pair April to May, behaviour sug- gesting attempted breeding; (2) 12 on 29th May and 13 on 6th July, but only singles in June; (3) three on 30th May and one on 1st June. Norfolk One site: three pairs reared a total of at least four young. See also Cambridge/ Norfolk entry. Somerset Four sites, five pairs, but no firm proof of breeding: (1) two pairs whose behaviour indicated presence of young, and three non-breeders; (2) two in breeding plumage on 8th May; (3) one pair on 5th-6th April, mating on 5th; (4) two, one calling loudly, on 14th June. Suffolk Two sites, with breeding proved: (1) at Minsmere, one pair laid two eggs, but these subsequently destroyed by Moorhen Gallinula chloropus\ (2) two pairs, one with young on 1st June. With 70-80% of the UK population in just one locality, on the Ouse Washes in Cambridge/Norfolk, the figures depend greatly on recording there, but the high concentration and necessity to keep distui'bance to a 22 Rare breeding birds in 1976 minimum result in few data being available; the Ouse Washes total was, however, higher in 1976 than in any of the previous three years. The numbers away from this main area were also the best since the panel’s reports started, the 1973-76 figures for pairs breeding being 4-10, 6-1 1, 8-16 and 8-23. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Three sites: 1-8 pairs breeding. Inverness Two sites, with breeding proved at one: (i) agitated adult with young on 3rd July; (2) present 26th May to 20th June, two displaying on 8th June, but no proof of breeding. Perth One site: five or six pairs in territory and possible change-over observed. Another reasonably satisfactory year, although still not up to the standard of 1972, the best year to date, when Atlas fieldwork produced 5-8 breeding pairs at five sites; the 1973-75 totals were 0-2, 1-4 and 2-6 pairs. The Perthshire records, the first in the county since 1971, are especially pleasing, but we wonder how many other sites, perhaps only occasionally suitable for breeding, hold what may almost amount to small colonies for one or two seasons. Turnstone Arenaria interpres One site: probable breeding. Sutherland One site: on 9th August, agitated alarm-calls from adult; search then re- vealed downy chick one to two weeks old, but, unfortunately, its specific identity was not established. Surely the first confirmed breeding record in the UK must come soon? There was display, song and alarm at three sites in Orkney and Shetland in 1975, and nesting has been suspected elsewhere in other years; the Northern Ireland Bird Records Committee has, however, informed us that it totally rejects the Co. Down record described by Rev. P. G. Kennedy et al. (1954, The Birds of Ireland , page 157) and briefly mentioned in the panel’s last report (70: 11). Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Only four sites: 1-21 pairs breeding. Shetland Two sites on one island: (1) (2) total of 16 to 19 pairs. Western Isles Two sites, with breeding proved at one: (1) one pair failed; (2) one pair, but no details known. Although we receive data from the main areas, there is insufficient detail to assess trends. Totals of breeding pairs during 1973-76 have been: 2-7 or more, 2-21, 18-32 and 1-2 1. Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus One pair reared one young. Hampshire One site: pair reared one young from clutch of single egg. Up to six males held territories during 1969-75 and mixed pairings with female Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus occurred, but this was only the second record of nesting in the UK by a pure pair, the first having been in 1968 (J. H. Taverner, Brit. Birds 63: 67-79; 65: 185-186). 23 Rare breeding birds in 1976 Little Gull Larus minutus One site: one pair may have attempted to nest. County B One site: pair displaying and mobbing observer on 12th May, but not present on 1st June; nesting was twice suspected at this site during 1968-72. With numbers of Little Gulls still increasing in the UK, colonisation remains a possibility. The only confirmed nesting to date involved a pair on the Ouse Washes in 1975 (C. A. Carson et al., Brit. Birds 70: 331-332). Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus One adult bred with a Herring Gull L. argentatus. Shetland One site: adult paired with a Herring Gull and successfully reared young at same site as in 1975. Only the second known breeding by a Glaucous Gull in the UK. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca One site: no breeding. Shetland One site: on Fetlar, up to five females (two adults, three immatures), but no male (see Brit. Birds 70: 427). It is sad to note that, after breeding on Fetlar for the nine consecutive years 1967-75 and rearing a total of 21 young, the old male disappeared; having driven off all the young males, he left the females without a mate. Hoopoe Upupa epops One site: one pair may have bred. Kent One site: two on 13th May and then singles for a further six weeks; casual obser- vation revealed no further evidence of breeding. The only record submitted during 1973-75 involved a single bird which spent several weeks at a site in Hertfordshire in 1975. There has been no confirmed breeding record in the UK since those at one site in Cornwall in 1968 and 1969, and in Sussex in 1971. Wryneck Jynx torquilla Seven sites: 1-7 pairs breeding. Inverness Three sites, with breeding proved at one: (1) pair feeding four or five young in nest on 3rd July in same tree stump as in 1975, young subsequently fledged; (2) two singing during 6th to 21st June; (3) one singing on 9th June. No intensive efforts made to prove breeding at sites (2) and (3). Perth One site: two singing on 19th June and one ‘agitated’ on 25th June. Surrey One site: two at former breeding locality on nth and 12th May. County A Two sites, but no proof ofbreeding: (1) adult seen June and July, and observer also reported ‘seven to nine small fluffy juveniles’, but county records committee has not given breeding unqualified acceptance; (2) one heard calling in early June. A less exciting year than 1975, when there were 3-10 pairs, but the successful breeding in the same tree in Inverness-shire in two successive years is encouraging. There were 1-2 pairs breeding in 1973 and 1-5 in 1 974- Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris One site: one pair may have bred. County A One site: male on 18th May and 24th August in same area as 1972-73 records (Brit. Birds 66: 505-508; 67: 127; 68: 17-18). Another hint, following the Grampian record in 1975 (Brit. Birds 70: 24 Rare breeding birds in igy6 15), that developments might occur — as they did in 1977 (see Brit. Birds 70: 51 1 for preliminary details). Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola One site : male feeding young wagtails. Essex One site: male feeding four young wagtails of uncertain parentage, 4th to 24th July, but no female seen. This species had never been identified in the UK until 1954, but there have now been 24 records, all at coastal sites, mostly in September or October. Full details of this extraordinary record will be published shortly. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 47 sites: 31-74 pairs breeding. Bedford One site : one pair present through- out summer and probable juveniles observed. Berkshire One site: immature male singing from 5th May to 4th July at former breeding site. Buckingham Two sites, with breeding proved at one: (1) one pair with first brood strongly on wing by 12th June and second brood four or five days out of nest on 20th July, second male present in early June; (2) male singing on 22nd May. Devon One site: one pair summered, male singing in April. Essex Five sites, with proof of breeding at three : ( 1 ) one pair reared three young from two broods; (2) one pair reared two young; (3) one pair reared total of seven young in two broods; (4) one pair; (5) one pair in June ‘probably nested’. Grampian One site: male singing from April to mid July, female also reported, but any nest almost certainly lost during demolition work. Greater London One site: one pair throughout summer, may have nested, but no juveniles seen. Some other Greater London records appear under Essex, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey. Hampshire One site: three pairs, two of which reared young, but no details supplied. Hertford Three sites, in two towns, with breeding proved: (1) two pairs nested; (2) (3) single pairs nested. Huntingdon One site: two juveniles and possible male on 1 ith July, one or two juveniles until 25th August. Kent Five sites, with breeding proved: (1) one pair reared three and three young from two broods; (2) one pair with nest and young at end of May; (3) one pair in early May, used nest found in September, report of young being seen by workmen; (4) one pair feeding two young on 19th July; (5) one pair reared two broods. Middlesex One site: one pair on 16th April. Norfolk Three sites, with breeding proved at two: (1) (2) total of ten singing males and breeding occurred at both sites; (3) two singing males. Stafford One site in new area: either two pairs or one with two broods. Suffolk Four sites, with 11-12 pairs and breeding proved: (1) five, possibly six pairs; (2) one pair bred successfully; (3) three pairs, of which two bred successfully; (4) two pairs bred and a third singing male in June. Surrey Seven sites, with breeding proved at two: (1) at least four singing males, at least one pair bred, pair with three young on 21st June and adults with young on 9th August; (2) one pair bred; (3) male singing late April to early June; (4) one heard on 18th anti 19th April; (5) one, possibly two, heard on 1 8th and 19th April; (6) male seen on 24th 25 Rare breeding birds in igj6 May and 6th June; (7) pair on 14th May, not revisited. Warwick One site: one pair, juvenile on 28th July. West Midlands Seven sites, with breeding proved at three: (1) one pair raised two broods of two and four or five young, second male singing; (2) one pair feeding young; (3) male feeding female on 3rd June, two well-grown young on 14th June; (4) one pair in second half of May, but area not revisited; (5) male in late June at site where breeding occurred in previous year; (6) singing male in late June, two individuals seen in July; (7) male singing during May. Wiltshire One site: one first seen on 28th April, sitting on eggs on 14th May, later feeding young. Apparently a rather poor year, with the lowest number of pairs con- firmed breeding since 1971, but the total of 74 possibly breeding was second only to the best-ever 91 in 1975. Pairs breeding during 1973-76 have been 53-68, 46-72, 47-91 and 31-74. In response to pressure from several county recorders, we are dropping this species from our list and 1977 records will not appear in our next report; we shall, however, wel- come any 1973-76 additions, so that the picture for those years is as complete as possible. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Eight sites; two pairs confirmed breeding, six other instances of summer- ing individuals. Bedford One site: one adult on four dates in May-June, once carrying food. Essex Two sites, but no evidence of breeding: (1) one on 23rd June; (2) one on three dates from 7th June to 8th August. Grampian One site: one adult mobbed observers on three dates in May, two adults and three young on 3rd July. Inverness One site: pair on 2nd July behaved as if breeding, but no nest found. Lincoln/south Humberside One site: one or two present throughout summer, but no further evidence of breeding. Midlothian One site: one adult on 8th and 1 ith July. Stafford One site: ‘one nesting pair located’. Although breeding has been proved annually since the first nest in 1967, we still hear of only 1-3 instances each year; during 1973-76 the totals of breeding pairs have been 2-3, 3-6, 1-7 and, now, 2-8. Most records in the last ten years have been in Scotland or the northern half of England, doubtless Scandinavian migrants staying into summer, but the Fieldfare is pushing westwards in the Low Countries and it must be only a matter of time before southern England is colonised independently. Redwing Turdus iliacus Six sites: 2-6 pairs breeding. Argyll One site: one pair reared two young. Grampian One site: birds present at former breeding site, but did not breed. Inverness One site: male singing on 27th May. Steady decline noted since peak years of 1969-72. Kirkcudbright Two sites, but no evidence of breeding: (1) male singing on 20th April; (2) male singing on 20th May, area not revisited. Nairn One site: one pair seen with juveniles on 22nd July. There has plainly been a marked decline since the Atlas years of 1 968- 72, when a Scottish population of 300 pairs was suggested. Totals of pairs breeding during 1972-76 have been 12-42, 4-1 1, 3-26, IO"34 and, now, 2-6, the lowest for more than ten years. 26 Rare breeding birds in igy6 Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti More than 20 sites : 8-80 or more pairs breeding. Cornwall One site: one male singing from 4th April to 20th June. Devon Three sites, with breeding proved at one; (1) present throughout year, breeding of one pair proved (adults carrying food and faecal sacs, five fledged young seen on 13th June), two or three pairs may have bred, at least eight singing in December; (2) one heard and seen from 27 th November to end of year; (3) one from 24th October to 13th November, two on 23rd December. Essex One site: two singing from 15th April to 8th June. Hampshire One site: one singing from 13th to 19th June. Hertford One site: one singing from 1st May to at least 10th August, second bird present from 8th to 27th May. Kent No census, but numbers similar to 1975 (when 61 singing birds, 27 pairs, five proved breeding). Details from five sites with breeding proved at two: (1) ten singing males, two pairs carrying food, one nest with eggs on 16th May; (2) three pairs with newly fledged young in early J uly 5(3) male from 5 th May to end of year ; (4) three pairs probably bred ; (5) one pair present, but no evidence of breeding. Norfolk Five sites, with breeding proved at one; (1) six males held territory in summer (but three possibly unmated), one pair proved breeding, two pairs probably reared young, ten singing in November; (2) five singing in breeding season; (3) three singing in breed- ing season, five singing in November; (4) two singing throughout breeding season; (5) two, one singing, on 31st May. Suffolk Two sites, with probable breeding at one; (1) one pair from end of April to mid June probably bred; (2) one singing from 26th April to 6th May. There was no increase in numbers comparable with those in previous years ( 1 - 1 4 pairs in 1973, 5-16 in 1974 and 8-75 in 1975), but the con- tinuing spread is graphically shown by the 1973-76 totals of sites occupied in summer away from Kent: none in 1973, three in 1974, six in 1975 and, now, 12 in seven counties in 1976. t Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides Eight sites: nine singing males, but only one pair probably bred, and none was proved. Hampshire One site: one singing male holding territory. Kent Two sites, with probable breeding at one: (1) two males singing from 9th April, one unmated, one pair probably bred successfully; (2) one male singing on 12th June and 6th July. Norfolk Two sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) one male singing on 9th May; (2) one male singing on 24th May. Suffolk Two sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) at Minsmere, one male singing from May to July, almost certainly did not breed; (2) two males singing in May and early June, probably did not breed. Warwickshire One site: male singing at two localities 400 m apart from 14th to 19th July, about 3 km from site where one was heard and seen in May-June 1972 (Brit. Birds 66: 347); reporter regards it as ‘likely that the area is being prospected’. After a disappointing summer in 1975 (only three singing males in the whole of the UK), there was thus something of a return to former numbers. Totals of pairs breeding during 1973-76 were 0-13, 1-8, 1-3 and 0-9. Although only one pair probably bred in 1976, it is mildly encouraging to have reports from eight sites in five counties (the most during 1973-75 having been five sites in four counties). Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris Insufficient data from main area; three sites and 0-3 pairs breeding else- where. Rare breeding birds in 1976 27 Devon One site: one singing on 2nd and 3rd June, ringed on 13th, retrapped on 23rd. Kent Two sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) one male on 7th May; (2) one male on 26th May, one pair holding territory from late May into June. Worcester Number of sites not known. ‘Reported to be up to usual strength and breeding success above average, due to dry, hot weather.’ Males singing at two sites north of usual range, from 20th to 23rd May and on 24th May. The main area in Worcestershire has held an estimated 40-70 pairs each year since 1973, but we have received no details of any census. Else- where, Kent has also featured annually, with 2-12 pairs breeding (at six sites) in 1973, but only 0-2, 0-3 and 0-2 in the following three years. The only other counties involved have been Gloucestershire (2-5 pairs breeding in 1974), Warwickshire (0-2 pairs breeding in 1975) and Devon, which features for the first time this year. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus One site: one singing male. Lincoln/south Humberside One site: one male singing from 23rd May to end of June (sporadically after mid June) ; what was presumed to be same bird at two localities nearby on 1 1 th July and 26th to 28th July. This species has never been proved to breed in the UK and has not appeared in our report before. Males have, however, taken up temporary territories in large reed-beds on a number of occasions previously. The most spring records have been in i960 (five), 1969 (seven) and 1976 (six). Sometime, surely, a vagrant female must stray within earshot. Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata Probably fewer than the 560 pairs of 1974 and 1975, due to decline in Dorset. Devon Three sites, with breeding proved at one: (1) at least 12 pairs breeding; (2) present in October and November; (3) one male from gth October to end of year. Dorset Eighteen or more sites, with breeding proved: total well down on 1974-75, even before fires in summer 1976 destroyed much habitat, but at least 30 pairs bred success- fully; at Arne, nine pairs and four unmated males, compared with 23 pairs in 1975. Factors contributing to this decline were heavy juvenile mortality in early winter 1975/76 and prolonged frosts in April 1976. Hampshire Two sites, with breeding proved: (1) New Forest population of 250-300 pairs possibly ‘at an all-time high since recording started; not much hit by fires that so plagued Dorset’ ; (2) three pairs proved breeding elsewhere in county. Isle of Wight Two sites, but no evidence of breeding: (1) one on 1st April and 14th May; (2) one on 29th May. Surrey Two sites, with breeding proved at both: (1) three pairs each raised two broods; (2) one pair reared at least one brood, presence of second pair suspected. A third site was burnt out and ‘fires adversely affected the spread . . . but consolidation has continued and there was evidence of the birds seeking new sites to colonise.’ With no estimate from Dorset, the total population cannot be properly assessed, but it must have exceeded 300-350 pairs (a range which includes only the successful breeders in Dorset). Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus 14 sites: 4-27 pairs breeding. Bedford One site: male singing during 12th to 15th June. Berkshire One site: male singing on four dates from 31st May to 4th July near location of previous records. 28 Rare breeding birds in igy6 Buckingham One site, where large decrease occurred: 11 males singing in early June, one adult with three juveniles on ist July (search-effort same as in previous years). Other former sites not visited. Essex Two sites, but no proof of breeding: (i) one on 20th April and two on 15th May; (2) one on 4th May. Gwent One site: at least one singing on 25th June. Hampshire Two sites, with evidence of breeding at one: (1) one collecting nest material on 13th May; (2) male singing on ist June. Kent One site: one male singing during May. Middlesex Two sites, confirmed breeding at one: (1) adult female with brood-patch trapped on 5th June; (2) two, one singing, on 24th April, but area not revisited. Surrey One site: male singing on gth June, still present 6th July. Worcester One site: two males singing in late May. County A One site: one to three from May to September, food-carrying and possible juveniles seen. Although recorded in as many counties (1 1) as in 1975, there were huge reductions in the numbers of sites (down to 14 from 29) and pairs breeding (4-27 from 14-12 1). Despite this crash, however, 1976 was the second best year ever and, hopefully, this delightful species will resume its expansion in years to come. Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Nine sites : 6-2 1 or more pairs breeding. Derby One site: a male seen and heard on 13th June. Gwent Two sites, but no evidence of breeding: (1) (2) single males seen. Hampshire One site: a female, an immature male and a third individual, probably another immature, during 12th July to 3rd August in a seldom-watched area. Suffolk One site: perhaps as many as nine singing males, conservative estimate of six pairs, and at least two successful nests. County A Four sites, with at least 24 birds calling in late summer: (1) five pairs reported by owner, at least ten calling in mid August; (2) at least five calling in mid August; (3) at least five calling in mid August; (4) at least four calling in mid August. The discovery of the sizeable population in county A was one of the most exciting features of 1976; with the further consolidation in Suffolk, this resulted in the highest-ever estimate of pairs breeding in the UK. By comparison, totals during 1973-75 were a mere 1-8 pairs, 2-4 or more pairs and 2-7 pairs breeding. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Reported from three counties: only 3-25 pairs breeding. Essex One site: male present throughout June. Hampshire One site: three pairs nested and probably reared young, possibly two further pairs. Norfolk No information supplied. Suffolk Thirteen pairs in coastal belt and five or six pairs in Breckland. Surrey ‘Sadly it is worth recording that for the first time this century this species was not recorded in the county.’ The decline during the last 100 years was apparently decelerating (172 pairs in i960, 127 in 1966, 81 in 1971 and 27-34 in 1973, then 30-52 in T974 and 51-54 in 1975), but the 1976 total bodes ill for the Red-backed Shrike’s future as an English breeding species. It is depressing to note that it was recorded in only three counties (or four, including those doubtless present in Norfolk), compared with seven or eight in each year during 1 973-75* 29 Rare breeding birds in igj6 Serin Serinus serinus Two sites: two singing males. Kent One site: male singing on 23rd May. Lincoln/south Humberside One site: male singing from 5th to 7th May. These two records of brief stays are meagre evidence of any intention to nest, but no Serins at all were reported to us during the previous three summers. The only published breeding records are still those in Dorset in 1967 and Sussex in 1969. When will they come? Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis At least four pairs. Grampian No details supplied, but in Cairngorms ‘better year than 1975; at least four pairs reared young (large broods)’. Lack of detail makes comparison with earlier years difficult. Totals of pairs breeding in 1973-75 were 5-1 1 at six sites, 2-13 at seven sites and 2-20 at 13 sites, making 1975 one of the best of recent years; if 1976 was indeed a ‘better year’, it would be interesting to have more information. Additions and corrections for 1974 {cf Brit. Birds 68: 489-503; 70: 22-23) Pintail Anas acuta Cumberland One site : one female with downy young. This record raises the 1974 total to 10-1 1 pairs breeding. Hobby Falco subbuteo Somerset Additional site: (2) one pair bred successfully. This record raises the 1974 total to 43-91 pairs breeding. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Leicester Additional site: (2) one pair, unsuccessful. Surrey Additional site: (2) one pair may have bred. These records raise the 1974 total to 46-72 pairs breeding. Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Caithness One site: adult male in breeding plumage on 30th June. This was the first indication of summering in a suitable breeding area in the UK. Additions and corrections for 1975 (. cf Brit. Birds 70: 2-22) Pintail Anas acuta Kent Two sites, but no evidence of breeding: (1) one pair from 8th to nth May; (2) male on 8th May. These records raise the 1975 total to 12-25 pairs breeding. Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Caithness Additional information: nest with seven eggs at site (5). 30 Rare breeding birds in igy6 Dunbarton; Stirling Amended figures: at least five pairs, two broods. Shetland Additional site: (3) female with two young. These data raise the 1975 total to 32-159 pairs breeding. Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus County A One site: one regularly from May to August, displaying in May, could have bred. County C Present throughout summer at several localities, display seen, and at least three pairs suspected. It seems likely that there were more than four breeding pairs in the UK in 1975- Red Kite Alilvus milvus County C Correction: the pair at site (14) failed; thus, breeding was successful at only 13 of the 23 sites. This amendment changes the 1975 totals to 32 pairs, of which 28 nested (one twice) and 15 were successful, rearing 24 young. Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus Hampshire One site: pair present throughout June and July, but no young seen. This was the only record of a pair in the UK in 1975. Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Dorset One site: one unmated female, present from April into 1976, built nest in May. Gwent One site: single birds seen on many occasions from 2nd March to 29th July. These records raise the 1975 total to 4-31 pairs breeding. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Lincoln/south Humberside One site: three from mid March to mid April, seen carry- ing twigs and tumbling in display flights. Apart from unsubstantiated rumours, this is the first suggestion of breeding behaviour in the UK. Hobby Falco subbuteo Avon Three sites, but no proof of breeding: (1) single birds during June and July, and thought likely to be nesting nearby; (2) numerous sightings from June to September; (3) one pair. Berkshire Two additional sites: (5) one on 25th June and 8th July; (6) one pair on numerous dates from 19th June to 5th September, breeding highly probable. Hampshire Additional site: (2) pair with two fledged young on 7th August. ‘Six pairs known’ in New Forest — perhaps including sites (1) and (2) — and recorder ‘would be surprised if less than 25 pairs away from the Forest’. Hertford Four sites, with breeding proved at each: (1) two pairs nested; (2) to (4) single pairs nested. Kent Three sites, with breeding proved at one: (1) two adults from June to 27th September, latterly feeding two young in the air; (2) single birds on 31st May, 1st June and 7 th July; (3) single birds on nine dates from 1st June to 26th July at site where young reared in 1974. Leicester One site: one pair with three fledged young 300 m from 1974 site. Nottingham One site: seen on a few occasions during May to August, and thought likely to be breeding nearby. Somerset Six sites, with breeding proved at one: (1) one pair bred successfully at same site as in 1974; (2) to (4) seen at traditional sites from 25th June to 22nd September, on 22nd May, and on 29th June; (5) (6) single birds on 1st June, 6th July and 7th August. Rare breeding birds in 1Q76 31 Wiltshire One pair proved breeding and two others probably nested, but details with- held. These records raise the 1975 total to 37-132 pairs, but the data are still incomplete, with no information from Devon or Sussex. Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Berkshire One site: one pair summered, display flights in June and July. Hampshire Full details not provided, but 17 pairs located in area of about 65 km2 and total ‘must surely exceed 50 pairs’. Hertfordshire At least 1 1 pairs in northeast of county. Wiltshire 20 sites, with six pairs proved breeding, but further details withheld. These records raise the 1975 total to 64-121 pairs breeding, but the data are still unsatisfactorily incomplete. Ruff Philomachus pugnax Kent One site: up to 11 individuals from 20th May to 9th August, display observed, females inconspicuous after late May, breeding may have been attempted. This record raises the 1975 total to 2-26 females breeding. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Cambridge One site: maximum of six individuals, one pair with nest and three or perhaps four eggs. Cumberland One site: two pairs proved to have bred and probable third pair present. Somerset One site: two pairs and one other adult from 6th April to 15th June, no proof of breeding, but behaviour of one pair suggested young hatched. County E One site: two pairs, one of which had chicks. These records raise the 1975 totals to 63-71 pairs breeding at ten sites. Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Shetland Two additional sites: (3) up to four females, but numbers of pairs not known; (4) at least one pair. These records raise the 1975 total to 18-32 pairs breeding. Wryneck Jynx torquilla Hampshire One site: pair feeding young. Kent One site: one singing on 10th May. Northumberland One site: heard and seen during May, one fledgling later found on a windowsill. Surrey One site: two at former breeding locality from 15th to 17th May and from 16th to 19 th June. These records raise the 1975 total to 3-10 pairs breeding. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Hampshire Two sites, with breeding proved at both: (1) two pairs reared total of eight young, and third pair possibly bred; (2) one pair reared at least six young. Hertford Three sites, with breeding proved at each: (1) to (3) single pairs nested. Kent Six additional sites, with breeding proved at five: (3) one pair reared three young: (4) one pair reared at least three young; (5) one pair reared broods of two and four; (6) one pair feeding young in nest; (7) male holding territory from 24th April to 16th May, female on 20th May; (8) four singing males, but only one fledged brood of three young seen. Leicester One site: one pair with one young. Surrey Additional site: (9) one pair bred (and may also have done so in 1974). Wiltshire One site: pair reared two broods of four young, second brood of half-grown Rare breeding birds in igj6 32 young in nest on 7th August. These records raise the 1975 total to 47-91 pairs breeding. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Lincoln/south Humberside One site: two on 6th June, one remaining until 22nd. This record raises the 1975 total to 1-7 pairs breeding. Redwing Turdus iliacus Shetland Two sites, with breeding proved at one: (1) up to five males singing in June, one pair with two newly fledged young on 5th August; (2) one singing male. Sutherland Additional site: (6) nest with four well-grown young and one egg. These records raise the 1975 total to 10-34 pairs. Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata Hampshire Estimate of 250 or more pairs in the New Forest, where they ‘seemed to be everywhere’. Isle of Wight One site: recorded on numerous occasions between 6th April and 1st June, and three or four singing on 27th April, but no direct evidence of breeding. These records confirm that, in 1975, the population was probably still at about the 1974 level of 560 pairs. Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus Hampshire Two additional sites: (2) two pairs, one of which raised two young, no proof of breeding by second; (3) two males singing on 24th May. We believe that some New Forest records have been withheld. Kent F our sites, with first proof of breeding in the county: (1) (2) total of 36 singing males in late May, 12 still singing in early July; (3) up to three singing males, nest-build- ing seen on 26th May, juvenile on 30th July; (4) one male singing on 8th June. Nottingham One site: one juvenile seen, breeding strongly suspected. These records raise the 1975 total to 14-12 1 pairs breeding. Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Hampshire Additional site: (2) three, including one male, appeared late in breeding season and stayed some time, perhaps having bred nearby. This record raises the 1975 total to 2-7 pairs breeding. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Avon One site: nest with three young on 24th June. Bedford Correction : the comment ‘This is the first breeding record in the county since 1968’ was wrong, for a pair bred in 1971. Essex Correction: delete entry for site (2). Hampshire Information from two sources, perhaps overlapping: (a) three pairs bred in the New Forest, but success not known; (b) details from one site: male with one fledged young on 6th August. Kent Two additional sites, but no evidence of breeding: (2) one male on 27th to 28th May at site where breeding occurred in 1972-74; (3) one male from 1st June to 14th July. These records raise the 1975 total to 51-56 pairs breeding. Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Lincoln/south Humhersidc One site: one in small area of wooded heathland from 25th May to 14th June, ‘the second summer record in recent years’, but no evidence of breeding. This species has not appeared in our reports before. 33 Rare breeding birds in igj6 Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Angus One site: one male singing in suitable habitat in late May. This record raises the 1975 totals to 7-20 pairs at about 13 sites, with 2-4 pairs proved breeding. Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Mystery photographs Although plumage features are important in the identifi- cation of any bird, experienced field ornithologists tend to make much use of the way that it moves, its structure and its shape — the factors that go to make up its ‘jizz’. Mystery photograph 13 [Brit. Birds 70: 544, plate 153), repeated at reduced size here, is barely more than a silhouette, yet is easily identified. It is clearly a Grey Ardea cinerea or a Purple Heron A. purpurea which, with neither neck nor legs tucked in, has just taken off or is about to alight. Even so, its structure is quite evident. The legs and the toes are very long, extending far beyond the tip of the tail ; the long neck is coiled, with a bulge protruding below the general body level, and a sharp inden- tation between the breast and the base of the neck; and the long bill is not only dagger-like, but also slender. These structural features were superbly described and illustrated by R. A. Richardson in his account of a Purple Heron at Gley, Norfolk, in May 1951 [Brit. Birds 45: 331, plate 71). Comparison of the elegant ‘mystery’ Purple Heron, photographed by Pamela Harrison in France in April 1967, with the stocky Grey Heron in plate 7 serves to emphasise the differences. JTRS 34 Mystery photographs 8. Mystery photograph 14. What is this species? Answer next month Personalities 11 Dr K. E. L. Simmons The three of us viewed each other with mutual suspicion across gravel flats where the first Little Ringed Plovers in our area had their nest; we two were schoolboys and ‘he’ looked pretty scruffy; later, however, my companion, spotting the name on the stranger’s army knapsack, muttered that this was the chap who had seen the White-winged Black Tern. Instant respect! . . . and, subsequently, a lasting and valued friend- ship with a man who has, through his quiet determination and remark- able talents, achieved an international reputation based on a long and impressive series of important papers. In May 1950, Ken Simmons had just returned from National Service in Egypt. That year abroad, coming at a time when birdwatching was far more insular than it is today, proved to be immensely stimulating to him. He had gained experience of new birds, with time to develop techniques of fieldwork, and made studies of raptor migration, of Graceful and Olivaceous Warblers and of Kentish Plovers; it was the last of these which had led to the immediate interest in our LRPs. This work developed into studies on wider problems, such as distraction displays and other anti-predator reactions. Ken’s serious birdwatching began in 1948, when his continuing work on Great Crested Grebes was started. In that year, he became the youngest member of the British Ornithologists’ Union and has since served on its council. He is no ivory tower ornithologist and keenly supported his local bird clubs in Reading, where he was joint recorder and chairman, and later in Bristol, where he was one of 12 founder members of the Bristol Ornithological Club. After National Service, Ken taught in a Reading school, where he met and married Marion, who has given him great support, particularly in recent years, when back trouble has made life difficult and cut into the Dr K. E. L. Simmons 35 9. Dr K. E. L. Simmons on Ascension ( Robin Prytherch ) fieldwork which is so vital to his research. Ken’s detailed and meticulous notebooks testify to the care and quality of his observations. In 1962, he and Marion went to Ascension to spend two very happy and productive years running the island’s school. Ken started watching two small colonies of Brown Boobies, and has continued this study with a series of return visits, enabling him to get away from desk work and recharge his batteries in the field. The stream of papers and notes which Ken has written, especially in the 1 950s and 1960s, are in scientific but readable language. Since he believes in the value of illustrations, we began a long partnership; he probably has little idea of the enormous help, encouragement and inspiration which this gave to me, a young illustrator who was thereby able to see his work in print far sooner than would otherwise have been Dr K. E. L. Simmons 36 possible. The long list of Ken’s publications include nearly 60 contri- butions to British Birds since 1947; they graphically demonstrate his broad range of interests, from anting to zoogeography. On leaving Ascension in 1964, Ken gave up teaching — I suspect not without a small sigh of relief — to become a professional ornithologist. At first he held a Leverhulme Fellowship and then worked full-time on post-graduate studies at Bristol University, where the late Professor K. R. L. Hall, a fellow plover enthusiast, had welcomed him to the Psychology Department. Latterly, in the Psychology Department at Leicester University, he has been working on duck displays and has become increasingly involved with The Birds of the Western Palearctic — of which he is now full-time second editor in the team headed by Stanley Cramp. With Ken’s wide interests in ornithology, this is a job for which he is exceptionally qualified. Ken’s study of Great Crested Grebes has been at the forefront of his scientific work since the beginning. Its high standard was recognised when his thesis gained him a PhD at Bristol in 1970; earlier, he had been awarded an MSc for his work on the Brown Booby. Those who learn it for the first time are always surprised that Ken did not have a traditional university career. His ruling passion, apart from birds, is music and he has always made sure that he has the best equipment for playing his huge record collection — as one would expect, he has now ‘gone quadraphonic’. His enthusiasms cover a wide spectrum, but particularly opera and English music. Ken is something of an expert on Elgar, to the extent of having published two articles about him. Ken wears his considerable reputation lightly, and is approachable and friendly — someone who is always ready to enjoy a laugh and a good gossip. Robert Gillmor Notes Golden Eagle persistently attacking red deer calf On 26th June 1976, I watched a pair of Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos hunting over a mountain ridge above Loch Hourn, Highland, where several female red deer Cervus elaphus and their calves were grazing. The eagles flew out of sight to the east, but several minutes later the female returned and descended vertically and rather slowly, with her wings half-closed and her legs fully extended below. She landed in a slight depression, where she may have been attempting to kill a deer calf which was lying there, but three hinds rushed up, causing her to take off. Later, I saw the male eagle hanging motionless on outstretched wings above the ridge; below him, his mate was diving repeatedly, at an angle of 45 degrees, at the same deer calf, which was running about Notes 37 frantically as the eagle dived at its back from one side and then pulled up, turned and dived again from the other; once the eagle briefly held on to the calf’s back. The hind was running up and down close to her young, trying to distract the eagle, which broke off the attack after several passes and settled briefly on a rock before she and her mate flew off east again. I had not seen the eagle’s approach for the attacks, but assumed that she flew east after spotting the calf and then doubled back on the far side of the mountain, so as to gain an element of surprise by coming up over the ridge directly above her intended prey. G. J. Northeast 23 Ffordd Colomendy, Denbigh , Clwyd Seton Gordon (1955, The Golden Eagle: King of Birds) described a number of attacks by Golden Eagles on red deer calves, but these were all second-hand stories related to him by deer-stalkers. Eds Merlins hunting together outside breeding season On 4th November 1976, at Ynys-hir, Dyfed, I watched two Merlins Falco colum- barius pursuing a small passerine, possibly a Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, over rough grazing land. They made about ten stoops in the space of 20 seconds, each diving alternately from about 10 m above their quarry so that it was under continuous attack. Eventually the prey was caught and passed from one Merlin’s talons to the other’s. The speed and clean- ness with which this transfer took place rule out the possibility of its having been a robbery. Both Merlins were in ‘brown’ plumage and appeared to be the same size; they were not, therefore, an adult pair, though the possibility of an immature pair cannot be excluded. Alan Parker cjo Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL Peregrine quartering ground like harrier On 7th November 1976, at Cors Tregaron nature reserve, Dyfed, I saw a Peregrine Falco peregrinus fly slowly, low over the ground, in a methodical manner reminiscent of a harrier Circus. In about three minutes, it covered most of the tract of heather. Several times it concentrated on small areas, above which it kept its position by beating its wings rapidly; this caused it to fly in small circles, and at times it seemed on the verge of hovering. I assumed that the Peregrine was attempting to flush or capture Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus, but it did not succeed and left the area. Alan Parker c\o Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL Douglas Weir has commented that this behaviour is very little known, although it is well described by J. A. Baker (1971, The Peregrine), in a fictional but presumably authentic way, for a Peregrine hunting Grey Partridges Perdix perdix. Eds. Peregrine taking Meadow Pipit in upward strike from front On 8th May 1976, at Loch Indaal, Islay, Strathclyde, I saw a male Peregrine Falco peregrinus rise straight off the ground at great speed and fly through an oncoming small flock of Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis, taking one in Notes 38 its talons as it went by. All of the many other Peregrine strikes that I have seen have been from above. K. Verrall Cnoc-na-Daal, Bridgend , Islay, Strathclyde We showed this note to Douglas Weir, who commented that, although accelerated pursuit from a perch is a very common hunting method of Peregrines, an upward direction is unusual; birds, however, may be attacked from any angle. We have also noted that J. Walpole-Bond (1938, A History of Sussex Birds ) gave the following description of a female Peregrine’s hunting method: ‘Singling a bird out, she catches up with but dashes under it, gets in front a little, turns up and backwards and “trusses” from beneath, now being of course upside down and head to- wards the pigeon’s tail.’ Eds Behaviour of adult and young Coots with fish In May 1976, at South Norwood Lake, London, I watched a pair of Coots Fulica atra, one of which had caught a slender fish about 6^ cm long. It immersed the fish in the water, shook it and presented it to its mate, which repeated the procedure and returned it. The routine was performed about 20 times and the fish then given to one of the chicks. The chick, which I estimated to be about 30 days old, swallowed the fish head first in one gulp. Michael Hampton 49 Lancaster Road, London SE25 4BL Female Dotterel tending chick During the 1976 breeding season, I located a Dotterel Eudromias morinellus on a remote hilltop in northern England. On 1 8th July, at the same locality, Brian Leflay watched a pair, the larger and brighter of which, the female, was tending a four- or five- day-old chick. On 24th July, I found the female and chick, and, 200 m away, two adults, marginally smaller and much drabber, which I took to be males. The female and chick did not associate at all with the males during the time of my observation. When approached to within 20 m, the female performed a typical distraction display with trailing wing. It appeared that the roles of the sexes had been reversed in this case. Douglas Page j Colvin Close, Arksey, Doncaster, South Yorkshire Desmond Nethersole-Thompson has commented that there is only one other, rather unlikely explanation of this most interesting observation. Dotterels begin to moult in the second half of July, and size is not neces- sarily an important factor, since some females are not appreciably larger than males. It is just possible, therefore, that the females had started to moult before the male, which was, in fact, tending the young. Eds Feeding association between Redshank and injured Oystercatcher On 23rd November 1975, on the Eden estuary, Fife, I watched an Oyster- catcher Haematopus ostralegus with a badly injured leg, hopping about on the sand, trying to feed. Its movements and feeding actions were very weak. A Redshank Tringa totanus kept trying to feed very close to it, often Notes 39 with its head actually under the Oystercatcher. Although completely ignored, the Redshank frequently jerked back, as if expecting to be attacked. It repeatedly wandered a few metres away and fed for a short time, before returning to the Oystercatcher. Alan S. Holmes 13 Hunter Crescent , Troon , Strathclyde kaio 7AH Ivory Gull bathing and settling on water J. M. Bayldon’s note on the reluctance of Ivory Gulls Pagophila eburnea to settle on water (Brit. Birds 69: 308) prompts me to record the following. On 22nd and 23rd December 1973, I watched an adult Ivory Gull at Dunnet Bay, Caithness, for a total of about three hours (Scot. Birds 8: 246). It fed on one of several carcasses of young grey seals Halichoerus grypus along the high water mark. Several times, when disturbed by people on the beach, it flew to a point near the mouth of a small burn which spread out over the sand, and bathed and preened thoroughly in the freshwater channels of the burn delta, in water about 2-3 cm deep. When the disturbance had passed, it would return to the seal and resume feeding. On 23rd December, I watched the gull, again disturbed by passers-by, fly out over the bay and land on the water. It remained there for about 30 seconds before rising and flying farther out, when it was lost to sight. S. Laybourne Old Schoolhouse, Harpsdale, Halkirk , Caithness KW12 6un J. M. Bayldon has informed us that, since his note, his attention has been drawn to observations in the North American literatui'e. These show that the particular risk to an Ivory Gull if it settles on water is that, when it flies, it exposes its feet to a much lower air temperature. Dr R. G. B. Brown (in litt.) reported to JMB that the Canadian Wildlife Service has several records of Ivory Gulls sitting on near-freezing water in northern Baffin Bay, in most cases in or very close to sea ice, which could have pro- vided the gulls with an alternative resting place : in two cases, in September 1970, small flocks sat on the water for over an hour beside a stationary ship, apparently waiting for garbage to be thrown overboard; in Septem- ber 1971, there were other similar sightings of small groups, some landing briefly to feed and others sitting on water for at least 1^ hours; in every instance the air temperature was similar to that of the water and, since wind speeds were virtually nil, the wind chill factor must have been slight. The Ivory Gull appears to feed primarily on fish and invertebrates asso- ciated with the ice, and to a lesser extent on the droppings and carcasses of mammals. It, thei'efore, obtains much of its food from the water. Eds House Martins taking over Swallows’ nest In May 1972, a pair of Swallows Hirundo rustica constructed a nest on the decorative ledge (30.5 cm long by 7.5 cm deep) above the second-floor window of a house in Gravesend, Kent. When building was nearly complete, the Swallows were ousted by a pair of House Martins Delichon urbica, a species which normally nests under the eaves of the house and usually at the apex of the gable immediately above the site of the Swallows’ nest. The martins built on top of the Swallows’ nest, completing a dome with the entrance near the top (fig. 1). They bred and raised young successfully. Dr Bruce 4o Notes Fig. i. Position of (a) domed nest of House Martin Delichon urbica on top of (b) nest of Swallow Hirundo rustica on ledge above a second- floor window, Kent, 1972. Usual site of House Martins’ nest, both before and after 1972, was (c) in apex of gable Campbell and James Ferguson-Lees (1972, A Field Guide to Birds'1 Nests ) referred to Swallows nesting on the outsides of buildings, and taking over nests of House Martins, but I can find no reference to the reverse occurring. L. F. Woollard 14b Lennox Road , Gravesend , Kent dai i oep Great Grey Shrike feeding on refuse tip In November 1975, at Chasewater, Staffordshire, I observed a Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor feeding on a refuse tip. It would fly down from a perch and pick something from the tip, or settle on the tip slope or flat upper surface for several minutes, now and then leaping forward to take food or peer under over- hanging rubbish. It often explored patches of tangled, bushy cuttings, beneath which there were hundreds of house crickets Acheta domestica, but it picked up and swallowed food too quickly to be taking these. Dr T. Cade ( Wilson Bull. 74: 386-408) described Great Grey Shrikes dancing about on the ground for several minutes when killing certain rodents, and H. Mester [Brit. Birds 58: 375-383) recorded the species hunting around human habitations, presumably attracted by concentrations of other birds. Dozens of Starlings Sturnus vulgaris , House Sparrows Passer domesticus and Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus feed on the tip, sug- gesting a plentiful food supply. R. A. Hume 31 Lime Grove , Burntwood, Walsall WS7 oha Newly acquired feeding technique by crows? During 1972-76, at Higher Metcombe, Devon, I observed what may be a new feeding technique by Carrion Grows Corvus corone, Jays Garrulus glandarius and Magpies Pica pica visiting feeding stations. From 1974, all three learned to feed on suspended fat and peanuts in red plastic bags. They always flew in, perched on a convenient bush and then suddenly launched themselves into the air, landing upside down on either the fat or the peanut bag. There they would hang for up to 20 seconds, with much wing-flapping and tail-balancing, like giant Great Tits Partis major , Notes 4 1 tearing off lumps of fat or ripping the fabric of the plastic bag and removing the nuts in large beakfuls. Geoffrey H. Gush Heather Cottage, Higher Metcombe, Ottery St Alary, Devon exi i isr Blackpoll Warbler in Devon On 18th September 1976, I made an early morning visit to Prawle Point, south Devon, to search for migrants. There were sunny periods and the wind was light southwesterly, but had been strong westerly two days previously. At 08.45 GMT, while walking along an overgrown hedge, I came across a stout, yellow-green, warbler- like bird. It flew away, down the hedge, giving glimpses of white under the tail, and disappeared into thicker vegetation. I could think of no European species which showed these features, so I decided to wait for it to reappear. It did not do so until three-quarters of an hour later, when it flew out to feed clumsily on top of the hedge. It was then visible for long periods until 1 1 .00 hours, when, having identified it as an American wood-warbler, but lacking any identification guides or previous experience, I decided to go to Slapton to alert other observers. When I returned at midday with Mr and Mrs R. Andrew, the bird had gone into cover, but it was extremely active later in the afternoon and all present, including M. J. Giles, had good views at close range until fading light prevented further observation. The following notes were compiled during the day. General impression of bird about the size of fluffed-out Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, rather slow and deliberate in movements, predominant colours green, yellow and black. On closer examination, general upperparts olive-green, appearing considerably brighter in good light. Six heavy dark lines of striations down mantle gave ‘furrow’ effect, which faded out on nape. Rump slightly streaked, rather more grey-green in tone than mantle. Short yellowish supercilium faded out just behind eye. Yellow suffusion extended down throat and breast, contrasting with white lower belly and undertail-coverts. Flanks lightly streaked with brown, visible only at close range. Wings and tail blackish with white edges to feathers and prominent white tips to outer tail feathers, particularly noticeable in flight and from below. Two pale, yellowish-white bars extended across primary coverts, the higher being approximately half the length of the lower, which was slightly curved. On close observation, the undertail showed two white, pear-shaped blobs on a grey back- ground. Quite stocky for an insectivore of this size, with noticeably short wings and tail, the latter deeply cleft. Medium-short, horn- coloured bill, quite stout at base. Legs strong, rather long and orange-brown, appearing deep orange in good light. Behaviour distinctive, consisting of heavy movements with much disturbance of the vegetation. Fed in tops of bushes 24 to 3 m up, near ground-level among dense weeds, and several times foraging on open ground. It was a clumsy feeder in bushes, occasionally hovering to pick food off leaves, once seen swinging under a twig like a tit Parus, and once running down a tree trunk for more than a metre. The normal feeding method involved climbing slowly around an area of vegetation, fanning wings and tail to balance, while inspecting leaves with an air of great thoroughness. We assumed that the long breaks in our observ- ations were caused by the bird feeding intensively in low cover. The only identification guide available to us in the field was Robbins et at. (1966). Although this was useful in showing which were the most critical identification points for distinguishing Nearctic ‘fall warblers’, we felt unable to make any positive identification because no illustration corresponded to the markedly yellow-green bird before us. The streaked back and green mantle led us to consider Black-throated Green Warbler 42 Notes Dendroica virens, but this was ruled out by the fineness of the flank striations, the lack of a yellow ‘collar’, the pale legs and the extent of white on the undertail. The remaining possibilities were Pine D. pinus, Bay-breasted D. castanea, and Blackpoll Warblers D. striata. The whiteness of the under- tail-coverts militated against Bay-breasted, although streaking and tail markings fitted, and the streaked back appeared to rule out Pine Warbler, which was close in colour to our bird. Blackpoll seemed, therefore, to be the most likely solution, but we agreed not to put a name to the bird until further references had been consulted. On reading M. A. Hollingworth’s description of Blackpoll Warbler in the Isles of Scilly Bird Report (1975: 34-35)) we became convinced of the correctness of our identification. We were able to confirm the previous day’s impressions on 19th, when the bird was seen well by many observers and a thin ‘tsipp’ call-note heard. The warbler was ringed by A. K. Searle on the morning of 20th, but was then not seen again until its final appearance on 29th. This was the fifth record for Britain and Europe, and the first for the mainland, previous records (all in October) being from the Isles of Scilly (three) and Bardsey, Gwynedd. It was, however, the precursor of a series of nine more Blackpoll records in Britain and Ireland in October and November 1976 {Brit. Birds 70: 440). D. M. Norman Top Flat, 66 Avenue Road, Torquay, Devon REFERENCES Robbins, C. S., Bruun, B., Zim, H. S., & Singer, A. 1966. Birds of North America. New York. Reviews Bird Count. By Humphrey M. Dobinson. Penguin Books, Harmonds- worth, 1976. 192 pages; almost 100 black-and-white drawings. Hardback £2.75; paperback 75p. These days, most of us count our pennies before deciding whether or not to purchase the latest books on birds. It will, therefore, come as a pleasant surprise to discover a new, reliable book that costs only 75p! Humphrey Dobinson, head of remedial education at a Wiltshire school and an experienced field ornithologist, has written Bird Count, with the young enthusiast or beginner in mind. The book, however, contains a useful summary of practical fieldwork suitable for both young and old, experienced and inexperienced. In a little under 200 pages, we are told how to write field notes, carry out a common birds census, conduct a sea-watch, record migration and count birds at their roosts. There are some useful tables: one indicates when visits should be made to nest sites in order to fill in nest record cards efficiently, and another shows where various species roost. I found the chapters on sea-watches and on roosting particularly enjoyable: the latter posed many interesting questions and will, I hope, successfully stimulate both novices and experts to do more to discover some of the answers. There are also details of projects to which amateurs can make useful contributions, instructions for writing notes on rarities and suggestions for local studies. It is a pity that the book includes descriptions and black-and-white drawings of 60 common species. In the limited space, it would have been better to have stressed the importance of one or two reliable field identification guides, and then, for instance, to have expanded the sections on counting waders and wildfowl or on pellet analysis. Reviews 43 In spite of this criticism, this guide would make an ideal present for a teenage bird- watcher ; I found it refreshing to read a book which tells the reader how to discover more for himself and encourages him to look more closely at his local area and at the birds he sees every day. Peter Holden Crows of the World. By Derek Goodwin. Comstock Publicity Asso- ciates, Ithaca, New York, in co-operation with the British Museum (Natural History), 1976. 354 pages; 3 colour plates and many line- drawings by Robert Gillmor; maps. £15.00. Derek Goodwin began as an amateur, with an absorbing passion for the study of the living bird, both in the field and the aviary. Later, he turned professional and developed into a distinguished taxonomist, but without losing any of his earlier enthusiasms. His range of interests has always been wide, but perhaps his special favourites are pigeons and crows — two groups which many birdwatchers find unattractive or boring. It is fitting that he should set the seal on his professional career by adding this authoritative handbook on the crows to his earlier work, Pigeons and Doves of the World (1967), reviewed in Brit. Birds 6 1 : 317-318. The general plan is similar to that of the earlier work. First, there are four general chapters, covering nomenclature, adaptive radiation, plumage and behaviour. Then follows a detailed account of each of the 1 16 species of crows, divided into 13 groups. Each group is prefaced by an account of taxonom'c relationships and habits, and then the species are covered in detail — description, field identification, distribution and habitat, feeding and general habits, nesting, and display and social behaviour. These accounts vary from over eight pages, in the cases of well-studied species such as the Mag- pie and Jay, to barely a quarter of a page for the Flores Crow, where most headings state bluntly ‘No information’. Most species accounts are illustrated with line-drawings by Robert Gillmor, who also provided the three attractive coloured plates, and include small maps (which do not, however, distinguish breeding and wintering ranges where these differ). This is a monumental work, bearing witness to years of careful study, and is fully referenced. With great authority, it covers a remarkable range of topics, from classifi- cation to behaviour; indeed, only migration and eruptive movements (where these are relevant) receive less than adequate treatment. To many readers, perhaps, the behaviour sections will prove the most absorbing: they reflect the author’s insight, long experience and sometimes highly individual attitude to bird — -and human— behaviour. Understanding, enthusiasm and exact scholarship are here combined to provide a most attractive volume Stanley Cramp Atlas of Breeding Birds of the London Area. Edited by David J. Montier for the London Natural History Society. B. T. Batsford Ltd, London, 1977. 288 pages; over 240 maps and line-drawings. £12.50. Very sensibly, the LNHS decided that, while taking part in the British Trust for Orni- thology/Irish Wildbird Conservancy atlas project during 1968-72, it should survey the birds of London on an even finer grid than the national scheme’s 10-km squares. This book summarises, by maps and texts, the resulting 37,349 records, gathered for the 856 2-km squares (tetrads) within the LNHS recording area, which has a 20-mile (32.2 km) radius centred on St Paul’s Cathedral. The book’s format resembles The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (1976), with a double page spread devoted to each of the 120 species: one page of text, with a line-drawing of the bird, and the facing page wholly taken up by a two-colour dot- distribution map. The line-drawings, by five artists, are all pleasing and many are exceptionally fine. The maps, with orange dots on an outline showing 10-km squares and rivers in black and built-up areas tinted grey, are clear, useful and repay detailed examina- tion. They reveal for example, the widespread distribution of Kestrels and Tawny Owls, but that Collared Doves had hardly penetrated Central London by 1972. A total of 11 44 Reviews authors contributed to the texts. They have done a good job, concentrating on the factors affecting distribution within the London area and giving details of past censuses or surveys: irrelevant padding is conspicuous by its absence, which reflects well on the editor. There is a foreword by Stanley Cramp, a helpful introduction and a chapter on the area’s geology and habitats. My only criticism concerns the survey. Of the 856 tetrads, 28 (3%) were so inadequately covered that fewer than ten species were recorded in the five years and 13 have no records at all. If these had been scattered through the area, they would not have mattered, but unfortunately they mostly fall in a wedge which extends through the northeastern sector and is obtrusive on nearly every species map. Since two hours of fieldwork in an average tetrad can produce 20 to 50 species, this blemish on the survey could have been cured so easily by just a little more fieldwork by observers in the parts of Essex concerned. I cannot, however, imagine any London birdwatcher, now or for many years to come, not wishing to own this beautiful book. Its value as a historical document will assuredly increase as London and its habitats change; the success of this venture must make a repeat survey a certainty. David Montier and the LNHS have every right to feel proud : they have produced a book which shows British ornithology at its co-operative best. J. T. R. Sharrock Letters Breeding success of Red-throated Divers I read with interest the note on the breeding success of Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata on Hascosay, Shetland, in 1975 (Brit. Birds 69: 409), and, although I agree that skuas Stercorarius or gulls Larus probably took the eggs and young, I feel that they were not the sole reason for the failures and that another important factor was human disturbance. I have been monitoring the breeding success of this species in parts of Oi'kney since 1971 and have found that any examination of a diver’s nest causes the adult to move to the far side of the loch, or to fly away from it, which then gives ample opportunity for predation before the diver can return to the nest. Arctic Skuas S. parasiticus will take eggs or young when people are only a few metres away. A survey involving egg counts would be biased because of the disturbance factor; monitoring can be safely carried out if one visit is made early in the season to establish presence of pairs on territory, and another later to count young or failed nests. Red-throated Divers breed successfully in Orkney, with Great Skuas S. skua, Arctic Skuas and large numbers of gulls all nesting in close proxim- ity to the lochs. The only ones that have shown a fall in breeding success are those on lochs where there has been an increase in disturbance. This was particularly noticeable in 1975 and 1976, on a loch that has become popular with people wishing to see nesting divers: the number of young reared fell from six in 1971 and 1973, to five in 1974, two in 1975 and only one in 1976. G. J. Booth 34 High Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 iaz Past status of the Brent Goose in Northumberland The most vivid accounts of the large numbers of Brent Geese Branta bernicla which used to visit what is now the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve in north Letters 45 Northumberland are to be found in the writings of Abel Chapman (1889, 1 907s 1924)- Atkinson-Willes and Matthews (i960), in a detailed review of the literature concerning the past status of the Brent Goose in Britain, turned to Chapman’s works to ‘obtain anything in the nature of reliable numerical estimates’. In the course of preparing material for the forth- coming Birds of Northumberland, we have, however, discovered a consider- able discrepancy in Chapman’s figures, possibly the result of a misprint or transcription error, but perhaps showing that his estimates were not quite as reliable as has been assumed. In the first edition of Bird Life of the Borders, Chapman (1889), describing the largest arrival of Brent Geese he had ever witnessed at Lindisfarne, stated that ... on the morning of the 3rd [March 1886] the numbers which had come were roughly estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 . . . and fresh bodies of Geese kept coming in all day from sea, until the total aggregate could not be estimated (as I saw myself) at less than 30,000’; and, later, ‘In roughly estimating their numbers at something like 30,000 — more than double the number we had in the severe winters of 1878-9 and 1880-81 — I fear I may be suspected of exaggeration. But these numbers are probably not very far wrong.’ The figure of 30,000 is quoted several times by Atkinson-Willes and Matthews (i960) and seems to be the largest flock of Brents ever recorded in Britain. In the second edition of the same work, published in 1907, the figure had, however, been radically altered so that the equivalent passage reads ‘ ... on the morning of the 3rd the numbers which had come were roughly estimated as “into the teens of thousands” . . . fresh bodies of geese kept coming in all day from sea, until the total aggregate could not then be estimated (as I saw myself a few days later) at less than 20,000.’ This reduction of the estimate by no less than one-third does not appear to have been noticed before. Even at the reduced figure, however, the record remains the largest concentration anywhere in Britain. A further anomaly became apparent when consideration was given to the subspecific identity of the Brents occurring at Lindisfarne in the past. Today, the much smaller numbers which are to be seen belong, almost entirely, to the pale-bellied form B. b. hrota, but reference to the two standard 20th-century works on Northumbrian ornithology, Bolam (1912, 1932), indicates that, at that time, the dark-bellied form B. b. bernicla predominated. In the first work, he stated that ‘in most, the under- parts are darkish slate-grey . . . ’, and, in the second, that ‘the dark- bellied birds [are] the predominating type with us.’ Chapman (1907), however, disagreed, stating that ‘these dark-breasted birds are the excep- tion, the vast majority being pale grey or dusky below . . . ’, and ‘The light bellied race [is] the more abundant of the two locally . . .’ In The Borders and Beyond (1924) he further emphasised this view, saying that ‘of late years the darker geese — always in a minority — seem to have become relatively even less numerous.’ It is difficult to account for these completely differing observations. Chapman was a wildfowler of great experience and unlikely to be mistaken in his descriptions of the geese. Bolam was and still is renowned for his accuracy in such matters and, Letters 46 likewise, would be unlikely to make such an error. One possible explana- tion is that Bolam was referring to a normal winter, when numbers of Brents were much lower than those mentioned above and when, quite possibly, the race B. b. bernicla was the more numerous. Chapman, how- ever, may have based his writings mainly on his experiences in the excep- tional winters of 1878/79, 1880/81 and 1885/86, when the numbers were possibly swollen by great influxes of B. b. hrota. Atkinson-Willes and Matthews proposed that it was B. b. hrota rather than B. b. bernkla which underwent a severe decline during the first half of the 20th century, using Chapman’s and more recent observations to support their views. Bolam’s statements, however, seem to make interpretation of the situation more complex. E. R. Meek and B. Little 7 Shaftoe Way, Dinnington, Northumberland 37 Stella Hall Drive , Stella Park , Blaydon, Co. Durham REFERENCES Atkinson-Willes, G. L., & Matthews, G. V. T. i960. The past status of the Brent Goose. Brit. Birds 53 : 352-357. Bolam, G. 1912. The Birds of Northumberland and the Eastern Borders. Alnwick. *932. A catalogue of the birds of Northumberland. Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Nor- thumberland, Durham and Newcastle Upon Tyne, (New Series) vol. 8. Chapman, A. 1889. Bird Life of the Borders. London. 1907. Bird Life of the Borders. 2nd edition. London. 1924. The Borders and Beyond. London. Avian prey of large raptors on Canna In response to D. M. Hawker’s note on Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos feeding on Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis on Eigg, Lochaber, Highland (Brit. Birds 68: 293), the situation on nearby Canna may be of interest. Canna (1,241 ha) supports a huge population of rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, which, with sheep carrion in winter, maintain two pairs of Golden Eagles and up to nine pairs of Buzzards Buteo buteo. The eagles have always taken a few Fulmars, but in 1971, when the rabbit population was severely reduced by myxoma- tosis, they began to feed almost exclusively on Fulmars, and have con- tinued to do so, despite the increase in rabbit numbers; Razorbills Alca torda and a moulting adult Herring Gull Larus argentatus have also been taken, but, since 1971, virtually no rabbit remains have been found in eagle pellets. Following this change of diet, no young eagles have been reared on Canna. On neighbouring Rhum, eagles feeding on Fulmars have also failed to rear young, whereas those taking carrion and Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus have been more successful. Although Buzzards on Canna occasionally feed on shearwaters, the eagles apparently do not. The Golden Eagles’ lack of breeding success may be due, at least in part, to their feeding on Fulmars, which are known to have high levels of pesticides (Dr W. R. P. Bourne verbally). R. L. Swann and A. D. K. Ramsay j 4 St Drostans, Drumnadrochil, Inverness-shire Warden's House , Berstane Road, K irkwall, Orkney Letters 47 Swallow hawking insects at 04.00 hours D. M. Hanford’s note on a Swallow Hirundo rustica hawking insects half an hour before sunrise (Brit. Birds 69: 309-310) makes interesting reading on a matter referred to by L. de Breay ( Gerfaut 36: 133- 193), who recorded that ‘during incubation a Swallow went off her nest about 1 1 minutes after sunrise and retired 40 minutes before sunset, but when there were chicks she began before sunrise and ended after sunset.’ Alan S. Holmes 13 Hunter Crescent, Troon, Strathclyde kaio 7 ah Holiday exchanges between British and Dutch or Belgian bird- watchers By means of an advertisement in British Birds, I arranged a holiday exchange between a British ornithologist and myself, which proved very successful. I am willing, therefore, to organise such exchanges on a larger scale. They offer opportunities for interchange of ideas and, since accommodation is in each other’s homes, cost is limited to travel expenses. Anyone who has a serious interest is invited to write to me before 10th March 1978, enclosing a stamped and addressed envelope and giving their name, age (minimum 16), sex, dates suitable for the holidays and any special wishes. In principle, I shall bring into contact those of the same sex and similar ages. Once I have put people in touch with each other, further arrangements will be entirely up to them. Hans Olsthoorn cjo Harrison, 33 Barton Avenue, Edinburgh EH4 6jj Announcement lb®;. * ju\ a sa Young Ornithologists of the Year The winners of the annual Young Ornithologists’ Club competition, sponsored in 1977 by this journal (Brit. Birds 70: 305), have now been chosen. Entrants competed in three sections, submitting (1) a notebook covering observa- tions during 1st June to 1st September, (2) the answers to a short ornitholo- gical quiz, and (3) an article on a single species. They were judged in three age-groups. The winners were: 9 and under Neil Dummigan (Cleveland) 10-12 Danny Markey (Cornwall) 13 and over Rachel F. Warren (Sussex) Danny Markey was a clear winner in his group, his careful work being enhanced by sketches showing artistic promise. We must make special mention, however, of Neil Dummigan’s work, which was of such a high standard that it would have resulted in short-listing even in a more senior age-group; and of the achievement of Rachel Warren in winning the ‘13 and over’ award at the age of 13. The three winners will be pre- sented with their cash or book awards at the YOC Annual London Mem- bers’ Meeting on nth February (for details see page 48). Requests Sketches of Eurasian birds The Western Field Ornithologists would welcome the submission of sketches of Holarctic and Palearctic birds (particularly waders) for use in their journal Western Birds. Anyone interested in helping should contact Tim Manolis, 4409 44th Avenue, Sacramento, California 95824, USA. Black Redstart breeding survey The Rare Breeding Birds Panel has now dropped the Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros from its list {Brit. Birds 71: 13), but in 1977 the British Trust for Ornithology organised a survey into the summer status in Britain of this species. All records of breeding pairs and singing males should be submitted to the BTO as soon as possible. Special recording forms will be supplied on request by the organisers, David Glue and Robert Morgan, British Trust for Ornithology, Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NR. Diary dates This list covers events taking place during January to December 1978. We welcome the submission of details of events for possible inclusion in the next list, covering July 1978 to June 1979. 6th-8th January British trust for ORNITHOLOGY RINGING AND MIGRATION conference. Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. 17th January British ornithologists’ club. Dr J. G. Harrison on ‘Indian interlude’. Central London. Non-members should write to the hon. secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London nio inu. 20th-22nd January Scottish ornitho- logists’ club annual conference. Marine Hotel, North Berwick, East Lothian. Applications to SOC, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT. nth February young ornithologists’ CLUB ANNUAL LONDON MEMBERS’ MEETING. Edward Lewis Theatre in Middlesex Hospital Medical School, Mortimer Street, London wci. Chris Mead on ‘Migration’ and Richard Porter on ‘The raptor migra- tion at the Bosphorus, Turkey’. Send SAE to YOC, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 2DL. tyth-igth February bto farmland birds conference. Hayes Conference Centre. 3rd-5th March all-irei.and conference. Jointly organised bv the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Irish Wild- bird Conservancy. Wexford. 14th March noc. Dr Bruce Campbell on ‘Problems of gravel pits’. Central London. 48 31st March-2nd April rspb members’ weekend. University of York. Applications to Conference Secretary, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire so 19 2DL. 7th-gth April British ornithologists’ union annual conference. Royal Hollo- way College, Egham. ‘Eggs, incubation and growth rates’ (jointly with the Incu- bation Research Group). Applications to BOU Office, c/o Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London nwi 4RY. (Note change of date from Brit. Birds 70: 3090 25th May THE WILDFOWL TRUST AGM. 4th-nth June xvii international orni- thological congress. West Berlin (see Brit. Birds 70: 129). 22nd June-8th July society of wildlife ARTISTS ANNUAL EXHIBITION. The Mall Galleries, The Mall, London swi. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturday. 29th September-ist October bto com- mon BIRDS CENSUS CONFERENCE. Pendley Manor, Tring, Hertfordshire. 27th-2gth October soc annual con- ference. Marine Hotel, North Berwick, East Lothian. Applications to SOC. ist-3rd December bto annual con- ference. Hayes Conference Centre. News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett NCC grants In a September press release, the Nature Conservancy Council an- nounced two grants with ornithological implications. The first, of £500, will enable the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to employ an ornithologist to com- plete a seabird population survey in north- west Scotland and fill a gap in our know- ledge of this region revealed when ques- tions were being asked about the Ekofisk blow-out in April. The second, also of £500, will go towards the cost of a booklet on the wildlife of the Severn estuary, and the need for its conservation, which is being prepared by the Severn Estuary Conser- vation Group. Vermont atlas The director of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science has sent us details of the ‘Vermont breeding birds atlas project, 1977-81’ and has said that if any keen British or Irish atlas workers happen to be in the eastern United States in the next few years ‘we would certainly appreciate the oppor- tunity to meet and talk with them.’ Contact Sarah Loughlin, Vermont Insti- tute of Natural Science, Woodstock, Vermont 05091, USA. Bald Eagle news At last there is some good news about the United States’ national bird, the Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus — a species in decline over much of its remaining range. The Septem- ber 1977 issue of Audubon Naturalist News reports the best year since 1936 in Chesa- peake Bay (Delaware, Maryland and Virginia). In 1977, 79 active nests were located: 77 were rechecked and 44 were successful, producing 69 young. The figure of 0.90 young per breeding pair is a drama- tic improvement compared with 0.23 in 1962, the first year of annual aerial surveys. The situation is not, however, uniform over the whole bay — southern Maryland shows the most striking increases, whereas elsewhere there is either no change or continuing decline. Ospreys in the Med. Like us, most British birdwatchers probably assume that the Osprey Pandion haliaetus is a reasonably common and widespread bird in the Medi- terranean—if the information in our bird books is anything to go by. Writing in the 1 977 volume of Nos Oiseaux (34: 1 1 1-127), Jean-Francjois and Michel Terrasse reveal a quite different state of affairs. In the western Mediterranean, there are now only about 25 breeding pairs: about ten in the Balearic Islands, six to ten in Corsica and a small number on the coast of Algeria. All the former breeding haunts in Spain, Italy, Sardinia and Sicily seem to be deserted. The authors conclude that tourist development, disturbance by visitors’ boats and pollution are the main factors involved in the decline, and stress that protection of the remaining pairs and their breeding sites is urgent. Fortunately, some progress in the right direction is already being made in the ‘Parc naturel regional de la Corse’. ‘The Shetland Way of Oil’ A paperback with this title (published by Thuleprint Ltd, Sandwick, Shetland, price £2.40) appeared late in 1976. Its subtitle, ‘Re- actions of a Small Community to Big Business’, effectively sums up its contents. Contributors have examined the impact of the oil boom on the islanders, their way of life, and the whole Shetland environment. Pete Kinnear has contributed a compelling chapter on ‘Birds and Oil’, all too pain- fully aware that ‘the National Interest’ seems yet again to have ridden roughshod over the values of naturalists and environ- mentalists. A warning note ‘There was one depres- sing aspect. Although the owners of several gardens which the bird frequented gave permission for visiting birdwatchers to wander around freely, this hospitality was occasionally abused. Bad behaviour on the part of a few birdwatchers has occasion- ally led to a situation when all birders have been banned from gardens, though fortunately this state of affairs has not yet occurred in Shetland. We hope it never will. There is no excuse for “thrashing the bushes” when consideration of the bird comes first. And anyone who sees the 49 50 News and comment individual who considered it necessary to clap loudly at 5 a.m. to ensure a tick is asked to jump on him from a great height.’ The place — Shetland; the bird — Rtippell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli. But it is an all-too- familiar story and any comment from us can only underline what Pete Kinnear says above, writing in the September 1977 Shetland Bird Club Newsletter. It seems a pity to mention what must be the liveliest of all the newsletters that we see in such a sour context; as usual, this issue was crammed with interesting news. (We wonder, too, how many people know that if one lives in the UK, but outside Shetland, and joins the SBC one can have what must be a unique distinction — being an ‘Overseas Member’ of a British bird club!) New NNRs Three new National Nature Reserves, all in Scotland, were announced by the NCC in September, and all have considerable bird interest. The 2,190 ha in Glen Strathfarrar, Inverness-shire, in- cludes the largest remaining fragment of the central group of native pinewoods in Scotland; native Scots pine Pinus sylvestris is also an important feature of the second reserve, the islands of Loch Maree in Wester Ross; the third area, 1,416 ha at Muir of Dinnet, Deeside, covers a mixture of important woodland, moorland, lochs, marshes and bogs. Guide for disabled birdwatchers An Access Guide to the Nature Reserves of England , Scotland and Wales for the Disabled (1977) covers NNRs, RSPB and Wildfowl Trust reserves and also those run by the National Trust for Scotland. Compiled by Anthony Chapman, himself a wheelchair-bird- watcher, this most useful booklet is avail- able for a mere 2op from the publishers, The Royal Association for Disablement and Rehabilitation, 25 Mortimer Street, London wi. WWF plans ahead In its ‘Conservation Programme, 1977-78’, the World Wildlife Fund has listed a number of proposals which, if and when they are implemented, could have important results in the western Palcarctic. Under its new programme, ‘The Seas Must Live’, proposals include reserves for Audouin’s Gull Laras audouinii in Morocco, on Cabrera in the Balearic Islands, in die Lebanon (three sites) and ir. Corsica; a possible reserve covering the Maltese island of Filfla, which has a big population of breeding Cory’s Shear- waters Calonectris diomedea and what is probably the largest colony of Storm Petrels Hydrobales pelagicus in the Mediter- ranean; further assistance on management and protection programmes for the National Park established on the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, where 750,000 European waders winter; a campaign to give reserve or protected site status to so far unprotected areas on the ‘Green Route’, which identifies the 30 most vital spots on the migration route of waders from northern Europe to Mauritania; and a survey of Italy’s coast and its birds, aimed at identifying the growing threats from development, so that plans for action and an education and propaganda pro- gramme can be drawn up. Other sections of the programme point out the need to provide protected feeding places for im- mature Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus sum- mering in the Salzburg Alps: these bird; come from the Dalmatian islands and ars the sole surviving vultures in the Alpse feeding places are also being established for this species in Sardinia (where about 35 pairs remain), along the lines of the successful vulture feeding projects already in operation in parts of Spain. A new owl The WWF Conservation Programme referred to above also men- tioned that about 348 ‘varieties’ of birds (presumably species and races) are con- sidered to be in danger of extinction. At the other end of the scale, it is pleasing to see that new species are still being dis- covered at regular intervals. The Auk (94: 3) tells the fascinating story of how John O’Neill and Gary Graves found a hitherto undescribed owl in a mistnet in August 1976: falling somewhere between the genera Glaucidium and Micrathene , this de- lightful-looking little bird has been named the Long-whiskered Owlet Xenoglaux low- eryi. The genus as well as the speeies is entirely new. The type locality in northern Peru has proved a rich source of new species for the staff of the Louisiana State University Museum: including this new owl, they have named no fewer than 21 species new to science since 1963! No doubt there are still more to come. A new nuthatch in North Africa (see Brit. Birds 69: 520) is all very well, but we cannot help envying our American friends News and comment who seem to have hit it really rich in this remote and largely unexplored area. ‘Birds of Galway and Mayo’ Tony Whilde has sent us this useful guide, which he has edited and compiled on behalf of the Irish Wildbird Consei'vancy. It follows the pattern of many others, beginning with descriptions of the variety of habitats in the two counties, from the seabird islands and tortuous coastline, through lowlands, wetlands and the par- ticularly Irish turloughs, to the uplands and mountains. The booklet contains an article by Oscar Merne on aerial censusing of wetlands and another on the threats to the birds of the area. The bulk of the book, however, is taken up by a systematic list which, as one might expect, contains a high proportion of sea and wetland birds. The compiler has expressed the hope that his booklet will stimulate the collection and publishing of further information. It may be obtained (price £1.25) from the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, c/o the Royal 51 Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. WAGBI book The Wildfowlers’ Asso- ciation of Great Britain and Ireland has produced a guide to the management for wildfowl of small lakes and ponds; advice is given on methods of impoundment, water and vegetation management, and construction of artificial nest sites. Ducks, Ponds and People may be obtained (price £ 1. 00 , plus 14P postage) from WAGBI, Marford Mill, Rosset, Clywd. ‘The Pheasants of the World’ The World Pheasant Association has announced the republication of Dr Jean Delacour’s classic. This, fully revised and updated, will be published by Spur Publications in association with the WPA, and will retail at £18. Hand-bound, full leather, special editions ( 1 00 only) are also available : these are signed by the author, contain a hand-coloured etching of the Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus by Timothy Greenwood — and cost £225 each ! Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of the editors of British Birds Recent reports K. Alls op p and S. C. Madge These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records This report covers October and the first part of November; except where otherwise stated, all dates refer to October. The first week of October was domin- ated by low pressure over the Atlantic, with associated frontal systems arriving from the west. Strong northwesterly winds on 1st produced some interesting sea- watching from the Calf of Man (Isle of Man), with an adult Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini, two Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus of the race mauretanicus and 16 Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa. By 6th, an anticyclone over Europe cleared the way for Continental migrants to reach Britain. On 7th, during mist and drizzle, many thousands of Redwings Turdus iliacus, with small numbers of other night migrants, arrived on the Yorkshire coast. On Fair Isle (Shetland) there were 400 Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla on 8th, and at least 200 Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla on 9th. The weather remained settled for the next ten days, with light southerly winds, but observations were hampered by fog at many coastal watch points. Lapland Buntings Calcarius lap- ponicus began to appear in numbers, with eight at Loch of Strathbeg (Aberdeen- shire) on gth, and at least 140 on the Norfolk coast by the end of the month, including 35 at Cley; 16 were found on the Isles of Scilly on 15th and Fair Isle had up to ten daily during the first three weeks of the month ; the only inland report concerned two at Fairburn Ings (West Yorkshire) on 29th. Despite the good influxes of Redwings, most places had few Fieldfares T. pilaris, although the Calf of Man recorded 2,000 on 13th and 1,200 on 15th, moving west towards the Irish coast; there had been a similar movement of at least 1,800 Wood- pigeons Columba palumbus on gth. Some 52 ten Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva were on the Isles of Scilly at this time, with others reported from Co. Cork, and singles trapped at Walney Island (Cum- bria) on 14th and Calf of Man on 24th. In addition to the regular scarce migrants, there was a scattering of eastern vagrants : single Stonechats Saxicola torquata of one of the Siberian races maura or stejnegeri were found on Fair Isle on 10th and Saltee (Co. Wexford) on 12 th- 15th; there were few eastern warblers, however, with the only Pallas’s Phylloscopus proregulus being singles on the Isles of Scilly on 1 6th and 25th, and trapped at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir (West Yorkshire), the last being Britain’s third inland Pallas’s. A lone Radde’s Warbler P. schwarzi appeared on St Agnes (Isles of Scilly) on 26th, at a time when there were at least 15 Yellow- browed Warblers P. inornatus on that archipelago; these were soon followed by a Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum on nearby Bryher on 29th. This beautiful island tends to be poorly covered in comparison with other islands in Scilly, but the discovery there of an Arctic Red- poll Carduelis hornemanni on 17th meant good coverage for the following few weeks : exciting birds turned up, including Britain’s third Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis on 21st, Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla on 23rd and Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata on 29th. Atten- tion then switched back to St Mary’s, when an Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris was found on the following day. Better coverage of Scilly in late October in recent years is really paying off; could we see rarities turning up well into November if observers stayed on there long enough? Although it was not really an ‘eastern October’, there were nevertheless some surprises, none more than Britain’s second Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope, at Donna Nook (Lincolnshire), and a Pallid Swift Apus pallidus, at Spurn (Humberside) at the end of the month; the latter species is not yet admitted to the British and Irish list, but this is the fourth record of this difficult species claimed in the last three years. The number of Richard’s Pipits Anthus novaeseelandiae was reminiscent of the late 1960s, with at least 20 reports from Norfolk during the month, four on the Isles of Scilly from 8th, singles in Co. Cork and at Filey Brigg (North Yorkshire) early in the month, inland at Bleasby (Notting- Recent reports hamshire) on 8th-gth, on Fair Isle on 17th, and at Spurn. Bearded Tits on the move Following a very successful year at Black- toft Sands (Humberside), with some 120 breeding pairs, many Bearded Tits Pan- urus biarmicus started showing eruptive behaviour there in mid September, when some 1,200 were considered to be in the extensive beds of reeds Phragmites australis. Parties of up to 15 were seen leaving the area, flying east, west and south along the rivers Humber and Trent. There soon followed a spate of reports inland in York- shire and elsewhere, including 25 at Pot- teric Carr (South Yorkshire) in early October, 14 at Holme Pierrepont (Notting- hamshire) on 2nd and a few at Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire) in mid Novem- ber. Perhaps the oddest were singles at Bempton Cliffs on 19th and nearby Flam- borough Head (Humberside) on 24th. Doubtless, as the winter progresses we shall hear of many more. The November gales There was a Franklin’s Gull L. pipixean at Lowestoft (Suffolk) in late October and a Laughing Gull L. atricilla reported flying south off Filey Brigg a week or so earlier. Although the late autumn was domin- ated by westerly winds, it was, however, not until mid November that really vigorous depressions crossed the Atlantic and created ideal sea-watching conditions. On the stormy 12th, at St Ives (Cornwall), 490 Great Skuas Stercorarius skua, 20 Grey Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicarius, and a good run of gulls, including an adult Ross’s Rhodostethia rosea, a Sabine’s , 22 Little L. minutus and two Mediterranean L. melanocephalus moved west; fewer skuas passed on the following day, but another 30 Grey Phalaropes, 30 Leach’s Petrels and a Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle were recorded. Latest news In mid December: Mediterranean L. melanocephalus. Laughing. Little L. minutus, Iceland L. glaucotdes and Glaucous Gulls L. hyperboreus at St. Ives (Cornwall) ; Franklin’s Gull still at Lowestoft (Suffolk); Teal Anas crecca of American race carolinensis at Hayle (Cornwall). British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 BOOKS BRITISH BIRDS Complete volumes especially early runs in standard bind- ings always wanted. David Wilson, 95 World’s End Lane, Weston Turville, Aylesbury, HP22 5RH (BB34) ORNITHOLIDAYS’ GUIDES in the “Let’s Look at . . . .” series. Majorca, S.W. Spain, The Camargue, Montenegro, Eastern Austria, Southern Morocco, North-East Greece and Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies. £1.50 per copy or £7.25 for any five titles. Orni- tholidays, 1/3, Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex, PO21 2PW. (XBB16) BRITISH BIRDS. Bound volumes 1963- 1966. In binders 1967-1974. All with comprehensive index. Offers to Box No. BB32, British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2. (BB32) OUT OF PRINT bird and wildlife books. Write for New Year list (medium prices). Individual Books, 9 Hammers Lane, Mill Hill, London NW7 4BY. (BB29) WANTED WANTED: Black and white photos, suitable for reproduction, of wild ruddy ducks and any birds of Ecuador. DAVID TOMLINSON, Country Life, King’s Reach Tower, Stamford St., London SEi 9LS BB37 FOR SALE BRITISH BIRDS. 1967-1976. 10 vol- umes complete with index. Unbound. Mint. Offers to R. B. King, 25 Wood Lane, Fleet, Hants. GU13 9DX. (BB27) WANTED: British Birds Magazine 1976 Volume 69, January and February. A. G. Duff. 18 Burnham Way, West Ealing W139YE (BB39) What do ornithologists need to pursue their hobby ? Binoculars — Telescopes — Books Protective Clothing — Accommodation Camping Equipment — Stationery — Cameras Where is their shop window? — British Birds 4 LITTLE ESSEX STREET, LONDON WC2R 3LF Telephone 01-240 1101 Ill BARBOUR ALL WEATHER CLOTHING AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 34 in to 48 in Price Price Solway Zipper £32.95 £29.65 Gamefair Jacket (lined) £31.25 £28.10 Gamefair Stud-on-hood £4.30 £3.85 Durham Jacket £24.70 £22.20 Threequarter Coat £25.75 £23.15 Gamefair Trousers S, M, L £16.95 £15.25 Gamefair Leggings S, M, L £8.75 £7.85 Thornproof Trousers S, M, L £17.15 £15.45 Thornproof Leggings S, M, L £7.60 £6.85 LongStud-on LeggingsS, M, L £13.40 £11.99 Short Stud-on Leggings 20 in' £1 0.95 £ 9.85 Fleece Lining £10.50 £9.45 Dressing — £1.10 Barbour Catalogue — £ .25 UNIROYAL FIELD & STREAM FOOTWEAR AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 4-12 GRADE 1 Price Price Royal Hunter Boots £17.25 £14.95 (Studded) Hunter Boots £9.60 £8.35 (Rubber Soles) Royal Ranger, calf length £21.75 £18.90 (Studded, size 8-10) Ranger, calf length £11.85 £10.25 (Rubber Soles, size 8-10) Gamesman Ankle - length Boots £17.45 £15.25 (Studded, size 8-10) Keenfisher Thigh Waders £21.25 £18.45 (Studded) Keenfisher Chest-Hi Waders £29.30 £24.99 (Studded, sizes 6-12) (Rubber Sole) North Sea Socks £2.75 Sports Socks £2.75 HARDYS COUNTRYWEAR CLOTHING WINTER WARMTH WITH INSULATED CLOTHING Sizes : S; M ; L; Ex L. JACKET £14.99 TROUSERS £12.55 SOCKS £3.75 POST FREE DELIVERY TERMS: ENCLOSE CASH, CHEQUE, P.O.S, ACCESS OR BARCLAYCARD PLEASE QUOTE YOUR NUMBER JOHN NORRIS DEPT BB, 21 VICTORIA ROAD, PENRITH, CUMBRIA Telephone: Penrith 2220 (BB36) The Hen Harrier by Donald Watson Artist, ornithologist and author, Donald Watson has made an especial study of the Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus over many years, and his field notes and sketch books of the bird go back to the 1940s. The book is a wide rang- ing study of the Hen Harrier in Britain, Europe and North America (Marsh Hawk) and covers such topics as distribu- tion past and present, identifi- cation and plumage, hunting methods and prey selection, the breeding cycle, nesting and nest sites, chicks and fledglings, breeding success and failure, moult, migration, winter distri- bution and communal roosting. Later chapters give a detailed account of Hen Harriers in the author’s particular study areas in south west Scotland. His colour paintings, drawings and reproductions from his sketch books are an outstanding accom- paniment to a most readable but scholarly text. 308 pages plus 4 colour plates, over 100 drawings, £ 6.80 net (BB12) T & A D POYSER IV "Take a gander at Mr. Frank’ unusual binocular offer Test any FRANK-NIPOLE binocular free for 7 days and see for yourself why these remarkable binoculars were chosen by the successful 1975 Everest Expedition; why they are recommended and sold by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and entitled to carry the seal of approval of The Game Conservancy. You will see why professional bodies such as the Wildfowl Trust and Forestry Commission, to whom binocular performance is of paramount importance, select FRANK-NIPOLE. Four models particularly favoured by birdwatchers: — Model Exit Pupil Relative Brightness Field of View Weight Height Price with Case 8 X 30 3.7 13.6 T 18 ozs 4^ ins £23.50 10 x 50 5 25 5.5° 36 ozs 7 ins £33.00 8 X 40 5 25 9° 36 ozs 5^ ins £47.83 10 X 40 4 16 7.5° 25i ozs 4y ins £47.83 It is our claim that FRANK-NIPOLE binoculars are comparable with other famous makes costing two or three times as much. If after 7-day free test you are not convinced that our claim is justified you may return the binoculars and we will refund any money paid. In addition, we will give you the opportunity of purchasing an East Zeiss, Leitz or Swift binocular at about 25% less than normal retail price. We will be pleased to send you details of this unusual offer, together with FREE colour brochure including 17 different models of Frank Nipole binoculars. Every FRANK-NIPOLE binocular is guaranteed for 7 years by Charles Frank, a name famous for binoculars since the turn of the century. (BB2) Charles Frank" 144 Ingram St, Glasgow G11EH. Tel. 041-221 6666 British Birds Volume 71 Number 1 January 1978 1 Editorial 3 The Scottish Crossbill : Loxia scotica Prof. Dr K. H. Voous 11 Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1976 Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 33 Mystery7 photographs 34 Personalities 11 Ur K. E. L. Simmons Robert Gillmor Notes 36 Golden Eagle persistently attacking red deer calf C. J. Northeast 37 Merlins hunting together outside breeding season Alan Parker 37 Peregrine quartering ground like harrier Alan Parker 37 Peregrine taking Meadow Pipit in upward strike from front K. Verrall 38 Behaviour of adult and young Coots with fish Michael Hampton 38 Female Dotterel tending chick Douglas Page 38 Feeding association between Redshank and injured Oystercatcher Alan S. Holmes 39 Ivory Gull bathing and settling on water S. Laybourne 39 House Martins taking over Swallows’ nest L. F. Woollard 40 Great Grey Shrike feeding on refuse tip R. A. Harrie 40 Newly acquired feeding technique by crows? Geoffrey H. Gush 41 Blackpoll Warbler in Devon D. M. Norman Reviews 42 Bird Count by Humphrey M. Dobinson Peter Holden 43 Crows of the World by Derek Goodwin Stanley Cramp 43 Atlas of Breeding Birds of the London Area edited by David J. Montier Dr. J. T. R. Sharrock Letters 44 Breeding success of Red-throated Divers C. J. Booth 44 Past status of the Brent Goose in Northumberland E. R. Meek and B. Little 46 Avian prey of large raptors on Canna R. L. Swann and A. D. K. Ramsay 47 Swallow hawking insects at 04.00 hours Alan S. Holmes 47 Holiday exchanges between British and Dutch or Belgian birdwatchers Hans Olsthoorn Announcement 47 Young Ornithologists of the Year Requests 48 Sketches of Eurasian birds Tim Manolis 48 Black Redstart breeding survey David Glue and Robert Morgan 48 Diary Dates 49 News and Comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett 51 Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge Line-drawings: Scottish Crossbills on page 3 ( Donald Urt/sow); Golden Orioles on page 1 1 , Red-necked Grebe on page 1 3, Golden- eyes on page 15, Montagu’s Harrier on page 17, Hobby on page 18, Ruffs on page 21 and Black Redstart on page 24 ( Norman Arlott) Front cover: Grey Heron ( F . van Daalen ) Printed by Henry Burt & Son Ltd, College Street, Kempston, Bedford MK.42 8na Published by Macmillan lournals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 'Ilf British Birds Volume 71 Number 2 February 1978 Spectacled Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning Photographs of birds in action Mystery photograph • Notes * Reviews • Letters News and comment • Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr. J. T. R. Sharrock D. I. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £8.00; rest of world US $17.50 or equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) (Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2xs, England.) Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to : Advertisement Department, British Birds 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF {tel: 01-240 1 1 o 1 ) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Shorter contributions, if not typed, must be clearly written and well spaced, and notes should be worded as concisely as possible. Authors of papers and notes should consult this issue for style of presentation (especially for systematic lists, reference lists and tables). Tables must either fit into the width of a page or into a whole page length- ways, and should be self-explanatory. English names of birds should have capital initials for each word, except after a hyphen, but group terms and names of other animals and plants should not. Both English and scientific names of birds, and the sequence, follow The ‘British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). English and scientific names of plants follow John G. Dony el al. (1974, English Names of Wild Flowers). Scientific names (underlined) should appear immediately after the first mention of the English name. Dates should always take the form ‘1st January 1978’, except in tables where they may be abbreviated. Figures should be numbered with arabic numerals, and the captions typed on a separate sheet. All I ine-drawings should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper, drawing paper or board (not of an absorbent nature) or, where necessary, on light blue or very pale grey graph paper. It is important to consider how each drawing will fit into the page when reduced. Any lettering or numbering that is an integral part of a text-figure should be inserted lightly in pencil. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive 25 reprints free (15 each to two authors and ten each to three or more). News and comment Peter Conder, 12 Swaynes Lane, Comber ton, Cambridge CB3 7EF Rarities Committee John M. O’Sullivan, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, so 19 2dl © Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photograpers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF {tel: 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa The Birds of the Western Palearctic Volume I : Ostrich to Ducks Edited by Stanley Cramp and K. E. L. Simmons Great advances have been made in ornithology in recent years, and research is now conducted in a wider geographical basis than in the past. This new Handbook is planned as a comprehensive and authoritative reference work for both the professional scientist and the amateur ornithologist. The seven volumes will cover all the 795 species of birds occurring in the area. Volume I covers the Ostrich ; Divers ; Grebes ; Albatrosses ; Petrels and Shearwaters; Storm-Petrels; Tropicbirds; Gannets and Boobies; Cormorants; Pelicans; Frigate birds; Bitterns; Egrets; Darters, and Herons; Storks; Ibises and Spoonbills; Flamingoes; Swans, Geese, and Ducks. 56 colour plates 350 text figures £25 Oxford University Press l Pine Crossbills by Desmond Nether sole- Thompson “This is his fourth mono- graph, and I am tempted to say the best - but then, the most magnificent Beethoven symphony is always the one you happen to be listening to.” Kenneth Williamson, Natural History Book Review. 256 pages plus 18 plates £ 5-oo net Ducks of Britain and Europe by M. A. Ogilvie . a book very much to be welcomed and well worth having on the shelves of any- one interested in waterfowl.” BBC Living World. 208 pages plus 16 colour plates £S-0° net T & A D POYSER 281 High St., Berkhamstcd, Herts (BBia) BARBOUR ALL WEATHER CLOTHING AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 34 in to 48 in Price Price Solway Zipper £32.95 £29.65 Gamefair Jacket (lined) £31.25 £28.10 Gamefair Stud-on-hood £4.30 £3.85 Durham Jacket £24.70 £22.20 Threequarter Coat £25.75 £23.15 Gamefair Trousers S, M, I £16.95 £15.25 Gamefair Leggings S, M, L £8.75 £7.85 Thornproof Trousers S, M, L £17.15 £15.45 Thornproof Leggings S, M, L £7.60 £6.85 LongStud-onLeggingsS.M.L £13.40 £11.99 Short Stud-on Leggings 20 in £1 0.95 £ 9.85 Fleece Lining £10.50 £9.45 Dressing — £1.10 Barbour Catalogue — £ .25 UNIROYAL FIELD & STREAM FOOTWEAR AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 4-12 GRADE 1 Price Price Royal Hunter Boots £17.25 £14.95 (Studded) Hunter Boots £9.60 £8.35 (Rubber Soles) Royal Ranger, calf length £21.75 £18.90 (Studded, size 8-10) Ranger, calf length £11.85 £10.25 (Rubber Soles, size 8-10) Gamesman Ankle - length Boots £17.45 £15.25 (Studded, size 8-10) Keenfisher Thigh Waders £21.25 £18.45 (Studded) Keenfisher Chest-Hi Waders £29.30 £24.99 (Studded, sizes 6-12) (Rubber Sole) North Sea Socks £2.75 Sports Socks £2.75 HARDYS COUNTRYWEAR CLOTHING WINTER WARMTH WITH INSULATED CLOTHING Sizes: S; M; L; Ex L. JACKET £14.99 TROUSERS £12.55 SOCKS £3.75 POST FREE DELIVERY TERMS: ENCLOSE CASH, CHEQUE, P.O.S, ACCESS OR BARCLAYCARD PLEASE QUOTE YOUR NUMBER JOHN NORRIS DEPT BB, 21 VICTORIA ROAD, PENRITH, CUMBRIA Telephone: Penrith 2220 (BB36) 11 British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 1978 Spectacled Warbler : new to Britain and Ireland John Cudworth and B. R. Spence On 19th October 1968, there was a fairly large arrival of passerines at Spurn Head, East Yorkshire (now Humberside), associated with south- easterly winds. The main species involved were thrushes Turdus, Robins Erithacus rubecula and Goldcrests Regulus regulus, with a scattering of various warblers, including a Greenish Phylloscopus trochiloides and a Pallas’s P. proregulus. On the next day, with fresh southerly winds veering to the southwest, there was a general decrease, and by 21st, with fog and very light variable winds, most of the grounded migrants had moved on. By late morning, the mist-nets at the point were catching no birds, so BRS and F. C. Gribble began furling them. All except the last were empty; that one, set on the east side of the peninsula, held a small Sylvia warbler which neither BRS nor FCG was able to identify immediately. It was taken back to the bird observatory, where a full description, measure- ments and photographs were taken. plumage Forehead, crown, nape, mantle, rump and uppertail-coverts grey, washed brown; lores grey, with slight orange- brown mark between lores and crown; cheeks grey, faintly washed brown; fairly broad white moustachial stripe; orbital ring off-white. Lesser coverts grey, tipped very pale brown; median and greater coverts faded brown, broadly edged rufous on outer webs; bastard wing brown, with outer web broadly fringed pale buff; prim- aries and secondaries faded brown, broadly edged rufous, with tips of inner primaries pale fawn; tertials faded brown, with paler brown fringes. Chin off-white; throat and upper breast white, tinged grey-buff, with richer buff at sides of breast; lower breast, belly and undertail- [Bril. Birds 71: 53-58, February 1978] 5.8 54 Spectacled Warbler coverts off-white; flanks warm buff; under- wing-coverts white, washed buff. Tail feathers (left half) all old, outermost dirty- white, with proximal two-thirds of inner web pale grey-brown and the rest faded grey-brown, with paler tips to penultimate and next innermost; (right half) penulti- mate and next innermost new, being dark grey-brown, with narrow white fringes to outer webs and broad white tips; rest of feathers old and same as equivalent ones on left. bare parts Eye pale brown. Bill: upper mandible dark horn, with cutting edge pale horn; lower mandible greyish-horn, with darker tip. Tarsus dark flesh; soles of feet dull ochre, tinged green. measurements Wing 60 mm, tail 54 mm, tarsus 18 mm, bill 11.5 mm and weight 8.5 g at 12.00 GMT. Wing-formula: 1st 2.5 mm longer than primary coverts, 3rd and 4th longest, 2nd —2.5 mm, 5th —0.5 mm, 6th— 2.0 mm, 7th —4.0 mm, 8th — 6.0mm; 3rd, 4th and 5th emarginated and 6th indistinctly; notch on inner web of 2nd primary 14 mm from tip. By reference to Williamson (1964), the bird was identified as either a Subalpine S. cantillans or a Spectacled Warbler S. conspicillata-, the broad rufous edges to its flight feathers showed that it was the latter, a species new to Britain and Ireland. 10. Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata , Humberside, Oct- ober 1968 ( colour transparency: F. C. Gribble ) When released in a sallow Salix near the observatory, the warbler moved quickly through and flew to some teaplant Lycium growing on a bank, where it perched in the open, facing away, but looking over its shoulder. It was watched by BRS, FCG, J. R. Collman, M. Densley, G. Hainsworth, R. U. Hind, C. W. Holt, R. Kaye, J. S. Kenyon, C. E. Lynch, R. J. Rhodes, T. Stevenson and Mr and Mrs K. Wilson. It resembled a small Whitethroat S. communis , with greyish head, white throat and rufous patch on the wing. After a while, it turned round, cocked its tail briefly, and dropped out of sight. On the following day, it was seen 2 km south of the observatory and, on 23rd, at Chalk Bank, about 1 km farther south. On 26th, it was found again, in a tangle of scrub sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides still farther south, where it remained until last seen on 31st. On 26th, JC gained the impression of a dingy Whitethroat: the upper- parts were fairly dark grey-brown, greyer on the head; the underparts were greyish-white, washed brownish on the lower breast and flanks; and the outer tail-feathers were conspicuously white in flight. The bird's small size was shown by the fact that, when first seen from the front, it was thought to be a Phylloscopus : this resemblance was remarked on by Sharrock (1962). On 30th, BRS had good views again: at first sight, it looked very much like a Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca, with grey head (but not darker cheeks), grey-brown back with a rufous patch in the wings, and dark tail with prominent white outer feathers. The bird’s habits, however, were more like those of a Subalpine Warbler: it often kept its tail cocked. On 27th, C. Massingham had also likened the bird to a Lesser Whitethroat and noted its habit of raising and cocking its tail. Spectacled Warbler 55 Distribution The breeding range of the Spectacled Warbler is more or less restricted to the Mediterranean basin, and is always very local. In the western Med- iterranean, the species’ main headquarters, the nominate race is found in the Iberian peninsula, southern France, peninsular Italy, the major islands, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco (to the south of the Atlas Mount- ains), and it extends into Mauritania; populations on the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands were regarded by Vaurie (1959) as a separate race, S. c. orbitalis; the Spectacled Warbler probably also breeds in northwest Libya (Bundy 1976). Farther east, it is more thinly dis- tributed, breeding for certain only in Cyprus (Stewart & Christensen 1 97 1 ) , Jordan (Benson 1970) and southern Israel (Safriel 1968, R. F. Porter in litt.), although probably also in Lebanon (Benson 1970), Sinai and northeast Egypt (Etchecopar & Hue 1967), and possibly in the Libyan desert (Bundy 1976). Records are apparently very few on the north side of the eastern Mediterranean, the only published ones we have been able to find being two in Yugoslavia (Matvejev & Vasic 1973), six in Greece (Bauer et al. 1969) and three in recent years in southern Turkey (Ornithological Society of Turkey 1975, R. F. Porter in litt.), all in spring or autumn, with no evidence of breeding. Movements, usually described in the literature as local (e.g. Etchecopar & Hite 1967), take place in the autumn. Most of those from north of the Mediterranean apparently cross to the south, although some can be found in the Camargue throughout the winter (Dr J. Blondel in litt.). The species is widespread in Libya from October to April (Bundy 1976) and can be found in many places in the Sahara, probably extending to the southern limits. It occurs in Egypt and Sinai in winter and is common in the desert around Azraq (Meinertzhagen 1954). The Cyprus population scatters in winter and some may leave the island (Stewart & Christensen 1971). Similarly, fewer are seen in Malta in winter, suggesting that some leave the islands; no passage migrants or winter visitors have been detected there (Sultana et al. 1975). Discussion Considering its restricted and local range well to the south of Britain and its normally short-distance movements, the species seems an unlikely one to occur in Britain. But are its movements longer than suspected? Species with wider distributions often have leap-frog migrations, the populations breeding farthest north tending to winter farthest south. If Spectacled Warblers behave in a similar way, the birds breeding in, for example, southern France will be the ones frequenting the Saharan oases in winter, thus undertaking journeys of up to 2,000 km. Movement by the western Mediterranean populations appears to be north to south. So, accepting the hypothesis of reversed migration as put forward to explain the vagrancy of various eastern species in northwest Europe (Rabol 1969), the occasional Spectacled Warbler is to be expected in northwest Europe in autumn. There have been extralimital records in Europe on Heligoland on 10th September 1965 (Vauk 1972), at Porthgwarra, Cornwall, on 17th October 1969 (Jobson 1978) and on Christianso in the Spectacled Warbler Baltic Sea, Denmark, on 20th September 1976 (Rabol & Pihl in press). There are no records of Spectacled Warblers in France north of the known breeding areas (E. Gruon in litt.), but some have appeared occasionally in the north of Italy, where they do not breed (Brichetti 1976). The wing-length of the Spurn bird (60 mm) was just outside the theor- etical range (49-59 mm) given by Williamson (1964), but within that (53-62 mm) for those in the Camargue (Swift 1959). In addition, the taihwing ratio of the Spurn bird (90%) is more likely to refer to one from the north of the species’ range than from the south (mostly 98% or over in North Africa) (Williamson 1964). There had been high pressure over France and the western Mediter- ranean since 17th October and, by midday on 19th, this had moved northeast to Germany and combined with a high over southern Scandin- avia. From early on 20th, it formed a large area of high pressure over central Europe and, by late on 20th, was giving southerly winds along its western edge, over France and extending into the southern North Sea. The low weight of the Spurn individual (8.5 g), compared with those breeding in Cyprus (9.0-10.0 g, for birds with wing-lengths of 52-55 mm: Jeal 1970), suggested that it was a new arrival. Acknowledgements We wish to express our thanks to Dr Jacques Blondel for his very helpful comments on the record itself; to Dr A. S. Cheke, R. Cruon, R. F. Porter, Dr J. Rabol, Dr R. J. Raines and B. L. Sage for help with our summary of the species’ distribution ; and to F. C. Gribble for arranging translations of correspondence. Summary The first Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata recorded in Britain and Ireland was at Spurn Head, Humberside, on 2ist-3ist October 1968. Its weight and measurements suggested that it was newly-arrived from the northern part of the species’ range. References Bauer, W., Helversen, O. V., Hodge, M., & Martens, J. 1969. Catalogus Faunae Graeciae : Aves. Thessaloniki. Benson, S. V. 1970. Birds of the Lebanon and the Jordan Area. London and New York. Brichetti, P. 1976. Atlante Ornitologico Italiano. vol. 2. Bundy, G. 1976. The Birds of Libya. London and New York. Etchecopar, R. D., & Hue, F. 1967. The Birds of North Africa from the Canary Islands to the Red Sea. Edinburgh and London. 58 Spectacled Warbler Jeal, P. E. C. 1970. Spectacled Warbler breeding in Cyprus, Bird Study 17: 338-340. Jobson, G. J. 1978. Spectacled Warbler in Cornwall. Brit. Birds 71 : 84-85. Matvejev, S. D., & Vasic, V. F. 1973. Catalogus Faunae Jugoslaviae : Aves. Lubljana. Meinertzhagen, R. 1954. Birds of Arabia. Edinburgh and London. Ornithological Society of Turkey. 1975. Bird Report 1970-1973. Woking and London. Rabol. J. 1969. Reversed migration as the cause of westward vagrancy by four Phylloscopus warblers. Brit. Birds 62: 89-92. & Pihl, S. In press. Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata and Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi at Christianso in the autumn of 1976. Dansk Orn. Foren. Tidsskr. Safriel, U. 1968. Migration at Elat. Ibis no: 283-320. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1962. The field identification of Sardinian, Subalpine and Spectacled Warblers in autumn. Brit. Birds 55: 90-92. Stewart, P. F., & Christensen, S. J. 1971. -4 Check-list of the Birds of Cyprus. Mime- ographed, Devon. Sultana, J., Gauci, C., & Beaman, M. 1975. A Guide to the Birds of Malta. Valetta. Swift, J. J. 1959. The separation of Subalpine and Spectacled Warblers in juvenile and first-winter plumage. Brit. Birds 52: 196. Vauk, G. 1972. Die Vogel Helgolands. Hamburg. Williamson, K. 1964. Identification for Ringers 3, The Genus Sylvia. Tring. John Cud worth, ija Prospect Road, Ossett, West Yorkshire WF5 8ae B. R. Spence, Spurn Bird Observatory, Kilnsea, via Patrington, Hull, North Humberside Further mass seabird deaths from paralytic shellfish poisoning I. H. Armstrong , J. C. Coulson, P. Hawkey and M. J. Hudson Shags are especially sensitive to poisons produced during ‘red tides’. The circum- stances of mass deaths in 1975 are compared with those in the infamous 1968 incident ¥n mid May 1968, there was an exceptionally heavy mortality among ^ Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis nesting on the Fame Islands, Northum- berland; within a few' days, about 82% of the breeding population died, [Brit. Birds 71 : 58-68, February 1976] Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning 5g while other seabirds, such as Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis, Cormorants P. carbo, Eiders Somateria mollissima, gulls Larus, auks (Alcidae) and terns Sterna, suffered less extensive mortality (Coulson et at. 1968). The evidence available at the time suggested that a nerve poison was responsible, and the deaths were linked with many cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) among human beings in the area (McCallum 1968). PSP is produced by the local abundance of a small, single-celled dino- flagellate protozoan, Gonyaulax tamarensis. The toxin is concentrated in particular by mussels (Mytilidae), but other marine organisms also accumu- late it. Most seabirds acquire the poison through feeding on fish, not mussels (Coulson et al. 1968). Outbreaks of PSP have been exceedingly uncommon in Europe, but are frequent in other areas, such as the western coast of North America, where they are associated with red or brown discoloration of the sea and are often named ‘red tides’ (Rounsefell & Nelson 1966). In 1968, few areas of coloured water were reported off the Northumberland coast (Adams et al. 1968), but there was intensive phosphorescence of the sea at night owing to blooms of other dino- flagellates, particularly Noctiluca. In spring 1975, cold, wet, windy weather appeared to delay the start of the Shags’ nesting activities, but by 23rd May most had nests, many with eggs. On 21st May, public warnings had been issued that high PSP levels had been recorded in common mussels M. edulis in Northumberland. At the end of that month and in early June, many dead seabirds were reported from the north Northumberland coast, and the great majority of Shag nests on the Fame Islands had been deserted. This paper records the events of 1975, making comparisons with the 1968 PSP outbreak. Attention is also drawn to the need for more detailed, co-ordinated research to clarify a number of important aspects of the red tides, in particular those which impinge on the conservation of breeding seabirds in Britain. Mortality rate of Shags During the last two weeks of May 1968, 82% of the Shags on the Fames died, as many as would normally die in five years. The mortality of adult Shags caused by the 1975 red tide can be estimated from both the survival of colour-ringed birds and the number of dead individuals reported in beach surveys. Mortality estimated from colour-ringed Shags In 1968, a large sample of breeding Shags was colour-ringed and known to be alive immediately before the red tide. In 1975, this number was not known and the estimate of the mortality rate has had to be calculated from samples known to have been breeding in 1973 and 1974. A few breeding Shags which survived the 1968 red tide were not recorded on breeding sites again until 1969; a similar situation arose in 1975 and 1976. Accordingly, a method has been devised to allow for the calculation of the mortality rate of breeding Shags due to the red tide on the Fame Islands in 1975 (for full details, see appendix). The normal 6o Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning average annual mortality and survival rates of Shags are 16% and 84% respectively (Potts 1969). Since the numbers of the sample of colour- ringed birds surviving is known, the proportionate mortality rate due to the red tide can also be calculated. This was found to be 62%. Mortality estimated from Shags found dead In 1968, the Shags found dead on the Fames or the neighbouring coast (16.6% of those at risk) represented only about one-fifth of the 82% of the colour-ringed breeding birds which had disappeared and were almost certainly dead. In 1975, 13.0% of those at risk were found dead (table 3). Assuming the ratio of birds found dead to those which actually died to be the same as in 1968, this corresponds to a total mortality rate of 64% due to the red tide, which is very close to that of 62% obtained from the disappearance of colour-ringed Shags (above). It would appear that the mortality rate of Shags in the 1975 red tide was over 75% of that in 1968. Age distribution of dead Shags Of the 156 dead Shags found in Northumberland in 1975, 67 (43%) had been ringed as young on the Fames and 22 (14%) in the Firth of Forth (table 1). There was a marked diffei'ence in the ages of those originating from these two areas. A total of 82% of the Shags from the Forth were under four years old, compared with only 34% of those from the Fames. This difference is consistent with the findings during the 1968 red tide, when many of the immatures produced on the Fames in previous years were dispersed, and so not at risk, whereas some of the Forth immatures had dispersed into the Fames area and were killed. The relatively high numbers of 1966 and 1967 young reared on the Fames and killed in 1975 confirm that many of these age classes survived the 1968 red tide. Table 1 indicates that, apart from a shortage of young, the age classes of Fames Shags were proportionately as would have been expected in the breeding population. The small number of young hatched there in 1968 and 1969 reflects the effects of the 1968 red tide on production of young in these two years, while the six recoveries of birds ringed before 1966 involved individuals which escaped the effects. Table 1. Year of birth of ringed Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis recovered in North- umberland in June and July 1975 YEAR OF BIRTH AND AGE 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65 Area of birth 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 91 o Fame Islands 5 9 914 8 1 1 8 6 o Firth of Forth 76502 10001 Area of birth 64 1 1 2 o 63 12 62 13 61 60 pre-60 1 5 older 1 o o Totals 67 22 Fame Islands Firth of Forth o 1 o o o Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning 61 Effects of red tides on Shag breeding population The number of Shag nests on the Fame Islands since the original colonisa- tion is shown in fig. i. Between 1930 and 1965, a progressive increase was nearly steady at 11% per annum. A slight decrease occurred in 1966, after a winter with above-average adult mortality. The red tide in 1968 caused a dramatic decrease, the bi'eeding population returning to the 1950 level. Aided by the young of 1966 and 1967 which had avoided the red tide, and by immigrants from the Firth of Forth, there was a rapid build-up of nesting Shags in 1969 and 1970. In 1971 and 1972, the in- F'g. 1 . Numbers of nests of Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis on Fame Islands, Northumberland, from original colonisation to 1976 crease stopped : there were relatively few recruits available, since few young were reared in 1968 and 1969. Growth was resumed in 1973, and by 1974 the number of nests had almost reached the 1966 peak. Thus, the increase between 1968 and 1974 was about 40% , per annum, nearly four times that during 1930-65. Although the number of breeding Shags decreased by about 60% after the 1975 red tide, the 1976 breeding population had almost I'ecovered to the 1974 level. This was again due to the existence of a reservoir of immatures which had avoided the catastrophe and to immi- grants from other colonies. (Immigration of Shags into the Fames breeding population occurs every year; it contributes a higher proportion in years when the number of breeding birds has been markedly reduced.) The steady increase of the Shag population on the Fames (and in the Firth of Forth) between 1930 and 1967 is a clear indication that red tides of the size encountered in 1968 and 1975 are probably new to the area and now represent an important hazard to seabird populations. cn wrvj-iO-irow^tnoi^lcotD 62 Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning Fig. 2. Distribution of ringing recoveries of dead Shags Phala- crocorax aristotelis in N ort hum ber land during periods of high mortality in May and June in 1968 (left) and 1975 (right). Solid lines represent high den- sity of corpses; large dot indicates Fame Islands, where many corpses found; small dots represent single records Location of dead Shags In 1968, the Shags killed by PSP werejclistributed on the mainland adjacent to the Fame Islands, southwards to the southern limit of Tyne and Wear, whereas, in 1975, the corpses were found adjacent to and north of the islands (fig. 2). This difference reflects the wind conditions at the time and during the few days following the mortalities. In 1968, the winds were mainly northerly, while, in 1975, the northerlies changed to ESE just before the Shag deaths (fig. 3) : with the winds more directly onshore in 1975, the corpses were spread along a much shorter stretch of Fig. 3. Wind direction and strength on Fame Islands, Northumberland, during May and early June 1975. Note unusually frequent onshore winds, in contrast to more usual offshore, westerly airstream Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning 63 Table 2. Number of nests of Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis on Fame Islands, North- umberland, in 1975, and their condition on 4th June Nests rebuilt and new clutches of eggs laid after 4th June are not included Total nests Nests occupied Pairs rearing built on 4th June young Inner Fame 61 25 (4i%) minimum 11 (18%) Staple Island 105 1 (1%) 0 (0%) Brownsman 35 0 (0%) 0 (0%) Others 2 2 (100%) 2 (mo%) 203 28 (14%) 13 (6%) coast (fig. 2), confirming the impression gained in 1968 of a local, but intense. , distribution of the toxin. As in 1968, the Shags nesting on Inner Fame were not killed or affected to the same extent as those on the outer group of islands, some 3 km away. Table 2 shows that at least 18% of those on Inner Fame continued incubation and hatched young, whereas every nest on the outer group was deserted, although some Shags subsequently relaid. Shags nesting at Dunstanburgh (20 km south) and St Abbs (50 km north) did not desert, nor was desertion reported in the Firth of Forth. If the winds during a red tide were offshore, the kill would almost certainly be the same, but far fewer dead birds would be recorded. It is important to maintain intensive monitoring of the Shag breeding numbers to ensure that other instances of red tide kills of seabirds are not over- looked. Mortality of other seabirds The Northumberland coastline consists mainly of sandy beaches and is relatively easy to cover. Additional searches made north of Berwick and south to Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, produced very few dead birds. A total of 490 corpses was found, 481 in north Northumberland, mainly north of Seahouses (table 3). In general, the species-composition was similar to that in the 1968 red tide, when 636 corpses were found. The exception in 1975 was the large number of Herring Gulls Larus argentatus (145), several of which had been ringed on the Isle of May, but the direc- tion of the winds in late May strongly suggested that these were gulls which had been culled on that island and had drifted in the sea to north Northumberland. Table 3 shows that, as in 1968, more Shags were found dead than any other species. It is difficult to estimate the numbers of Fulmars at risk, since the local breeding population is small but there may have been many non-breeding individuals from other areas. With the exception of the Herring Gull (see above), the three species most affected were the same in both years: the Shag, the Cormorant and the Fulmar. As with the Shag, it is possible that the numbers of the other seabirds killed were much greater than those found on the coast. Many Shags died in the Firth of Forth, too. This mortality started in the second week of June, continuing to mid July and, at a lower rate, until mid August; 51 Shags ringed on the Isle of May were recovered 64 Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning during this period, compared with only 11 in the same period in 1976. The cause is not clear; there was no well-defined peak of deaths, and it lasted much longer; probably more than 20% of the Shags in the Forth area died. Paralytic shellfish poisoning does not appear to have been implicated, but the mortality of Shags in the four-week period was equi- valent to that normally suffered in a full year. The red tide Since 1968, when a monitoring system was established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), the toxin of PSP has been recorded each year; peak concentrations in mussels in northeast England are shown in table 4. Clearly, these were higher in 1968 than in other years. Nevertheless, high levels of about 6,000 mouse units (an arbitrary scale measuring, in a bio-assay method, the amount of toxin present by its effect on mice: see Nature 220: 25-27 ) were recorded in 1969 and 1975, but the effects in each year were very different: in 1969 there was no evidence of many Shags dying, whereas in 1975 over 60% died. This may Table 3. Numbers of dead seabirds found on Northumberland and north Durham coasts during 31st May to 18th June 1975, in relation to populations at risk in Northumberland Northumberland is divided into north and south at Craster; north Durham extends from Sunder- land to South Shields NUMBER OK CORPSES FOUND % % Birds Fame Northumberland North corpses corpses at risk Islands north south Durham Totals 1975 1968 Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 500* O 44 Gannet Sal a bassana Cormorant Phalacro- — 0 12 corax carbo 600 9 26 Shag P. aristolelis Eider Somateria 1,200 52 102 mollissima Lesser Black-backed 3)3°° 1 23 Gull Larus fuscas Herring Gull 4,000 O 19 L. argenlalus Common Gull 1.700 0 142 L. cams Kittiwake Rissa — 0 8 Iridactyla Common Tern 7,600 1 I I Sterna hirundo Arctic Tern 3,000 1 O S. paradisaea Sandwich Tern 6,100 1 1 1 S. sandvicensis Guillemot 6,500 2 4 Uria aalge 4-3oo 0 12 totals 77 404 1 O 45 9 5 O O 12 — — 0 O 35 6 4 I 1 156 !3 17 • O 25 < 1 2 0 0 19 <1 < 1 2 ' *45t 9 2 0 0 8 — — O • 13 < 1 I O 0 I < 1 < I O 0 I 2 <1 I O 0 6 < 1 I I 0 13 < i « 6 3 490 Many non-breeding Fulmars in the area t A substantial proportion of these Herring Gulls'originated from the cull in late May on the Isle of May, Fife Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning 65 Table 4. Peak levels of PSP recorded in mussels Mylilus collected annually during 1968-76 in northeast England ‘Mouse unit’ is arbitrary division on scale of amount of toxin present, measured, in bio-assay method, by effect on mice. (Data from MAFF Fisheries Laboratory, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex) Toxin level Date Locality (mouse units) 5 th June 1968 Ffoly Island/Budle Bav 50,000 1 2 th June 1969 Blyth 6,305 1 8 th June 1970 Blyth 4,100 24th May 1971 Whitby 488 2nd May 1972 Hartlepool 212 25th June 1973 Hartlepool 218 23rd June 1974 Hartlepool 2,730 28th May 1975 Berwick 6,146 29th June 1976 Sunderland 869 have been due to the fact that, in 1969, the peak concentrations occurred farther south and away from the Fames. The changes in PSP concentration in mussels at Berwick during the spring and summer of 1975 are shown in fig. 4. The build-up and decline of the toxin is noticeably rapid: between 20th and 28th May, it increased by over twelvefold, while there was al- most a sixfold decrease between 28th May and 3rd June. These results give rise to two points of concern: there is little early warning of very high toxic levels; and there is now clear evidence that PSP has become chronically established in eastern Britain. Fig. 3 shows the unusually long period of onshore winds in northeast England before the deaths in 1975. A similar situation occurred in 1968. Although it is too early to associate these effects positively with peaks in the red tide, such a relationship seems possible, since such winds may well hold the rapidly increasing Gonyaulax population near the coast and prevent its dispersing into more distant offshore regions of the North Sea. Fig. 4. Levels of toxin in common mussels Adytilus edulis taken from sampling station at Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland, in 1975. (‘Mouse unit’ is division on arbitrary scale of amount of toxin present, measured, in bio-assay method, by its effect on mice.) (Data from MAFF) 1 11 May 21 31 June 10 66 Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning Comparison with 1968 red tide There were many points of similarity between the 1968 and 1975 red tide outbreaks in Northumberland: 1 . Similar ranges of species were involved, although in 1975 corpses of gulls which were probably killed in the Firth of Forth and drifted down the coast distorted the numbers of gulls apparently killed by PSP. 2. A higher proportion of Shags was killed than any other bird species. 3. The Shags nesting on the outer group of islands, only about 3 km away, were affected to a greater extent than those on the Inner Fame. 4. There was no evidence of Shags being killed in other colonies at the time of the Fame deaths: no deserted nests were found at Dunstanburgh or at St Abbs. 5. The timing of the deaths was similar, although a few days later in 1975. 6. Deaths occurred over very short periods. 7. Certain weather conditions were similar; in particular, the spring had been cold and onshore winds unusually frequent. 8. More breeding Shags died than im- Discussion It is now evident that PSP has become established in eastern Britain. Since the MAFF started monitoring in 1968, the toxin has been recorded every year, although the levels have varied considerably. Circumstantial evidence, both the lack of human cases of PSP before 1968 and the absence of large mortalities of Shags during late spring or early summer, suggests that a new environmental situation has developed in eastern Britain which could have a major influence on some seabird populations. It is impossible to forecast whether much greater levels of PSP than those in 1968 and 1975 are likely to occur in future years. We wish to make four major points: (1) Although the present system of monitoring mussels is adequate to prevent human cases of PSP, the critical level is reached so rapidly that seabird deaths are likely to be encountered before samples have been analysed and the information distributed. This was the case in 1975. (2) A chemical method recognising PSP in vertebrates is essential; the bio-assay method used to measure levels in mussels has failed to identify PSP in Shags, presumably because the concentrations in birds and fish, although lethal, do not reach the lower limits of sensitivity of this method. No laboratory in Britain is experienced in carrying out the chemical method in use in North America. There is a danger of confusing the effects of PSP with those of other neurotoxins, such as pesticides, or botulism. Further, the high levels of organochlorine pesticide residues reported in Shags, and this species’ high sensitivity to PSP, suggest that synergistic (co-operative) effects between the two groups of toxins are possible. matures, as many of the one- and two- year-olds were dispersed and not in the area where PSP was present. (Conversely, a higher proportion of young from Firth of Forth colonies was killed, since these were also dispersed and some were in the Fames area.) 9. Probably only a minority of the birds killed were washed ashore and recorded. The different wind directions in 1968 and 1975 account for their being found in different areas. 10. Dead Shags did not have exceptionally high levels of organochlorine insecticides or PCBs; those recorded in 1968 and 1975 are considered too low to have caused death. 1 1 . There is no evidence that avian botul- ism was involved in either year; we cannot support the opinion of Lloyd et at. (1976) that it was probably a factor in the 1975 kill (Coulson & Armstrong 1977). Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning 67 (3) It seems only a matter of time before other seabird colonies in Britain are affected by PSP. A detailed examination of the origins, distribution and build-up of Gonyaulax populations and, in particular, investigations of the causes of variation in PSP levels are needed. We also need to know whether nutrient enrichment in the Firth of Forth plays a part in causing outbreaks, and whether mussels collected from the shore give an accurate picture of PSP concentrations farther offshore. (4) The information required would demand co-operation between several research groups, with a central co-ordinating body to plan and ensure that adequate data are collected. At present, there seems to be too little co-operation between fisheries and conservation interests. Acknowledgements Many people have supplied information. We are particularly grateful to Dr J. J. M. Flegg. who was on Holy Island when the mortality started, realised its significance and obtained fresh bodies for chemical and bacteriological examination. Many people helped to record the numbers of dead birds in north Northumberland: we are particularly grateful to J. Bacon, D. O’Connor and all of the RSPB beached bird counters in North- umberland and farther north, whose efforts allowed us to define the limits of the mortality. Additional data concerning the levels of toxin were supplied by the MAFF through Dr P. Ayres and Commander A. Liddicoat, and further information was given by HM Coastguards. Summary In May 1968, the first occurrence of a heavy mortality of seabirds in Britain caused by paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) was reported from Northumberland. A second extensive incident occurred in late May and early June 1975. The cause of the mortalities was a neurotoxin produced by the dinoflagellate protozoan Gonyaulax tamarensis, which has bloomed in the North Sea every year since 1968. The toxin reaches seabirds through the food chain, but not all bird species are equally affected. The Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis is the most sensitive seabird: in 1975, about 63% of the adults breeding on the Fame Islands, Northumberland, died from the toxin; 156 dead Shags were found, but the actual kill was probably at least four times this number. The dead Shags that had been ringed showed a wide age distribution which probably represented that in the population, with the exception that relatively few immatures were found. An appreciable number of the latter had been ringed in the Firth of Forth, whereas most of the breeding birds had been marked on the Fames. The 1975 red tide was not so severe as that in 1968, but the removal of over 60% of the breeding Shags caused a marked decrease. Some of the survivors re-nested in 1975; and, in the following year, large numbers of the previous season’s immatures colonised the Fames, bringing the breeding population close to that before the 1975 deaths. As in 1 968, this rapid recovery was facilitated by the dispersal of the immatures, the mortality of which was not as high as that of adults. Considerable interchange between the Fames and the Firth of Forth colonies also helped the recovery. Some two to six weeks after the 1975 red tide in Northumberland, many Shags died in the Firth of Forth; the cause was not identified, but botulism may have been involved. There were no proven cases of avian botulism in Northumberland in 1975, nor were any birds reported with symptoms of this disease ( contra Lloyd et al. 1976). Levels of PSP recorded in common mussels Mytilus edulis by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food indicate that outbreaks have occurred annually since 1968, although the levels have varied considerably from year to year. Since it appears that the toxin-producing organism has become permanently established, there is a need for better methods of identifying the presence of the toxin in birds and for more research on the organism. References Adams, J. A., Seaton, D. D., Buchanan, J. B., & Longbottom, M. R. 1968. Biological 68 Mass seabird deaths from shellfish poisoning observations associated with toxic phytoplankton bloom off the cast coast. Nature 220: 24-25. Coulson, J. C., Potts, G. R., Deans, I. R., & Fraser, D. M. 1968. Exceptional mortality of Shags and other seabirds caused by paralytic shellfish poison. Brit. Birds 61 : 381-404. & Armstrong, I. H. 1977. Letter disclaiming the involvement of botulism in the Northumberland seabird deaths of 1975. Biological Conservation 11: 237-238. Lloyd, C. S., Thomas, G. J., Borland, E. D., Smart, J. L., Macdonald, J. W., & Standring, K. 1976. Wild bird mortality caused by botulism in Britain in 1975. Biological Conservation 10: 1 19-129. McCallum, J. P. K. 1968. An epidemic of mussel poisoning in north-east England. Lancet (1968) 2: 767. Potts, G. R. 1969. The influence of eruptive movements, age, population size and other factors on the survival of the Shag ( Phalacrocorax aristotelis (L.)). J. Anim. Ecol. 38: 53-102. Rounsefell, G. A., & Nelson, W. A. 1966. Red-tide research summarized to 1964, including an annotated bibliography. US Dept, of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. Special Scientific Report — Fisheries No. 535: 1-85. I. H. Armstrong, RSPB, E Floor, Milburn House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne nei ile; Dr J .C. Coulson, University of Durham, Department of Zoology , Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham dhi 3LE; P. Hawkey, National Trust Information Centre , Seahouses, Northumberland ; M.J. Hudson, Nature Conservancy Council, jj Eskdalc Terrace, Newcastle-upon- Tyne Appendix 1. Details of method of calculating mortality rate of breeding Shags due to red tide, using survival of colour-ringed individuals Potts (1969) has shown that the average annual mortality rate of adult Shags is 16%, the proportionate survival rate (denoted by S) being, therefore, 0.84. Accordingly, it would be expected that, under normal conditions without a red tide, 71% would survive from 1974 to 1976 (S2 = 0.842 = 0.71). The red tide was an additional mortality risk, and the rate of Shags surviving it is denoted by R. Of the ringed birds breeding in 1974, S2.R are expected to be alive in 1976. If sightings of colour-ringed Shags indicate that, say, 22% (0.22) have survived to 1976, then 0.22 = S2.R. Since S is known, the survival rate after the red tide can be calculated. (The calculation has been slightly modified to include individuals seen in 1973, but the principle remains the same.) From a sample of 165 colour-ringed adult Shags known to be alive in 1973 or 1974, 34 survived the 1975 red tide, giving a value ofR = 0.32 ; while, with an independent sample of 125 year-ringed birds, 36 are known to have survived, giving R = 0.44. Using these figures, R— 1 w:ll give the proportionate mortality rate due to the red tide: 0.68 and 0.56, giving a combined value of 0.62; in other words, 62% of the adult Shags died. Birds in action This is the third selection of photographs under this general title, further connecting links between them being the individual interest and quality of each plate THE first four photographs all depict waders. It is perhaps fitting to start this selection with one that is the complete opposite ol the title — the splendid yawning Curlew Numenius arquata (plate 16) is a supreme example of inaction. No set of photographs of waders would be complete without one by the Bottomlcys, and it would be difficult to better the bathing Lapwing Vanellus vanellus (plate 17), with the water droplets [llrit. Hints 71 : (>8-75, February 1978] i8, 19 & 20. Top left, Woodcock Scolopax rusticola, Netherlands, September 1973 ( Hans Schouten); bottom left. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, Kenya, October 1972 (J. F. Reynolds ); above, Black-headed Gull Lams ridibundus, Netherlands, October 1970 (P. Munsterman) 16 & 17. Page 69, top, Curlew Numenius arquata, Co. Cork, October 1974 ( Richard T. Mills)-, bottom, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Cornwall, November 1969 (J. B. & Bottomley ) 21, 22, 23 & 24- Top left, Starling Sturnus vulgaris on bullock’s head, Surrey, August 1974 (. Michael W. Richards)-, bottom left, Common Tern Sterna hirundo on sheep’s back, Lanca- shire, July 1975 ( Dennis Green); above, Starling Sturnus vulgaris on pig, German Federal Republic, August 1964 {Fritz Polking); below, Mallards Anus platyrhynchos and Coots Fulica atra following wild boar, September 1972 (Rodney Dawson) 25 & 26. Above, Jay Garrulus glandarius with nut, Netherlands, January 1975 ( Hans Schouten ); below, House Sparrows Passer domesticus copulating, Hertfordshire, July 1975 (E. A. Janes). jJSrfjt Birds in action 75 flying. The next pair of waders are also both in water, but there could be no greater contrast than that between the quiet serenity of the probing Woodcock Scolopax rusticola (plate 18) and the violent activity of the Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola (plate 19), its head completely submerged below the surface of the water. One often sees milling, noisy flocks of squabbling gulls, yet plate 20 shows the delicate skill used by a Black- headed Gull Larus ridibundus as it picks a food item from the surface of a Dutch harbour. Instances of birds using the activities of other animals are numerous and have often formed the subjects of short notes in this journal. The Starling Sturnus vulgaris on the bullock’s head (plate 21) was presumably in search of flies or other invertebrate food, whereas the one on the back of the pig (plate 23) and the Common Tern Sterna hirundo riding on a sheep (plate 22) both have the appearance of using the mammal purely as a convenient look-out post. It has been suggested to us that plate 23 is more suitable for inclusion in a journal on pigs than in British Birds, but we could not resist it, just as our predecessors, Eric Hosking and I. J. Ferguson-Lees, could not resist a similar photo by Fi'itz Polking in the first of the three selections {Brit. Birds 68: plate 52b). Staying with the pig theme, plate 24 shows a very evocative scene of Mallards Anas platyrhynchos and Coots Fulica atra taking advantage of the movements of a wild boar Sus scrofa as its wading stirs up food. It is common enough in autumn and winter to see a Jay Garrulus glandarius with an acorn or a nut (plate 25), but this shy species is not easily photographed in the act. Copulating House Sparrows Passer domesticus (plate 26) are, similarly, no unusual sight — indeed, may be seen from any urban or rural window — but this study of a pair in a Hert- fordshire puddle has a special charm. We should like to feature another set of action photographs and shall welcome the submission of possible black-and-white prints from photo- graphers both in this country and abroad. We are also planning a feature on ‘Birds in winter’ and hope that photographers will send relevant prints to us. MWR and JTRS Mystery photographs MIt is a grey day with little wind; the surface of the water is little disturbed and there, riding low on it, is a long, lithe waterbird. The possibility of its being a Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo or a Shag P. aristotelis is considered, but a clear sight of the pointed bill and white flanks rules out even the palest immature of either species. It is a diver Gavia in winter plumage, but which of the four? The Red-throated 76 Mystery photographs G. stellata is the commonest, and the angle of the head suggests an uptilt at times, but the bill is shaped like a narrow dagger and lacks the retrousse lower line so typical of Red-throated. Furthermore, the black forehead, dark grey hind-neck and dark black-brown, apparently uniform upper- parts are incompatible with that much-speckled species. Since the bird is not huge and its bill, although pale, has an obvious dark culmen and tip, it is clearly not the rarest of the quartet, White-billed G. adamsii, so Great Northern G. immer and Black-throated G. arctica must be considered. These species can, however, approach one another in size and, without direct comparison, an accurate assessment is, in any case, not possible. Careful observation of the bird’s structure and plumage is, therefore, needed, and this eliminates Great Northern, since (1) both the bill and the head are too fine, (2) there are no breaks to or pale patches running 27. Mystery photograph 15. What is this species? Answer next month Mystery photographs 77 into the divide between the white and dark areas of the rear head and neck, (3) the nape and rear neck are uniformly grey (and noticeably paler than either the forehead or the mantle), and (4) the upperparts are markedly uniform. The structure and pattern of the bill and head, recalling those of a Guillemot Uria aalge, confirm that it is a Black- throated Diver. The individual in plate 7 (page 33) and repeated here was photographed by W. H. Dady in Middlesex in winter 1954/55. DIMW Notes Montagu’s Harrier hovering On the evening of 29th May 1976, at St Remy-des-Niorts in north- western France, my wife and I watched three adult Montagu’s Harriers Circus pygargus hunting over a complex of partly harvested cornfields. One male repeatedly paused in flight and hovered, at heights of between about 2 m and 4 m, in much the same fashion as a Kestrel Falco tinnuncutus. One spell of hovering lasted one minute 40 seconds, and several others up to 15 seconds. In 1 J hours’ observation, the harrier caught two prey items, both apparently small mammals, in this way. I can find no reference to pro- tracted hovering by Montagu’s Harriers in the standard literature. Michael E. Taylor j6 Hawksley Avenue , Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 4TL We showed this note to Robin Khan, who commented: ‘I have twice witnessed a Montagu’s Harrier hovering, on both occasions an adult male. The first was in south Spain in May i960: for about ten minutes I had been watching a male Montagu’s Harrier quartering a disused airfield, flying approximately 1 m above long grass and facing into a light breeze; suddenly, he checked and started hovering in a Kestrel-like manner for fully five seconds, dropping suddenly into the grass and flying up a moment later carrying a grass snake Natrix natrix in his feet. The second instance was in Devon in June 1976: the male harrier had visited a cornfield several times during the day, each time returning to the same place, where a pair of Skylarks Alauda arvensis had a brood of recently fledged young ; at least three of these young had been taken by the harrier and on this particular visit he approached at about 1 m above the corn and, when over the Skylark’s site, checked and hovered for fully 25 seconds; he failed to make a kill and resumed flying normally. Eds Close nesting by two pairs of Sparrowhawks In May 1976, in north Devon, two breeding pairs of Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus were discovered in a 5.7-ha broadleaved wood in predominantly dairy farm- land. Their nests were only 30 m apart, in oaks Quercus along an undis- turbed woodland ride. A slight curve in the path and the interposition of Notes 78 other trees rendered each nest virtually hidden from the other. Separate males and females were observed at each site and the hawks from the different nests always left in opposite directions, avoiding contact. The routes taken led to similar wooded valleys and farmland. The nests were under observation until mid July, when young fledged from both. Such close nesting by Sparrowhawks is extremely unusual and is normally attributed to bigamy, although even this is not recorded very often and usually refers to two females laying in the same nest (Newton 1976). Young (1973) found two nests 22 m apart in two successive years in a Dumfriesshire wood, but suspected bigamy in one year. According to Newton et at. (1977), who analysed data from different areas of Britain, pairs of Sparrowhawks normally nest from 0.46 km to 2.06 km apart; the distance was found to increase with altitude and decrease with land productivity. T. Beer and R. A. Morgan Tawside, 30 Park Avenue, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 2ES British Trust for Ornithology, Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NR REFERENCES Newton, I. 1976. Populat-on limitation in diurnal raptors. Canadian Field Nat. 90: 274-300. — , Marquiss, M., Weir, D. N., & Moss, D. 1977. Spacing of Sparrowhawk nesting territories. J. Anim. Ecol. 46: 425-441 Young, J. G. 1973. Social nesting and polygamy in Kestrels and Sparrowhawks. Brit. Birds 66: 32-33. Avocet with pink feet On 31st January 1975, two Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta appeared at Radipole Lake, Dorset. During the following week, I noted that one had pale, flesh-pink feet, similar to the leg colour of a Herring Gull Larus argentatus. Its legs were the normal blue-grey and the contrasting feet were noticeable when it was standing on mud or in flight. The Handbook gives the colour of legs and feet of the Avocet as bluish-slate. I. S. Robertson Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre, Old Lower Light, Portland, Dorset Dr C. J. Cadbury has commented: ‘I am aware of no previous records of Avocets with aberrantly coloured feet, but some variation might be expected occasionally, as has been reported for the Greenshank Tringa nebularia. The leg and foot coloration of the Ruff Philomachus pugnax is very variable and that of the Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus changes with season and age.’ Eds Distinctive feeding action of Baird’s Sandpiper During several hours’ observation of two individual Baird’s Sandpipers Calidris bairdii in 1977, at Eye Brook Reservoir, Leicestershire, on 12th September and on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, in early October, I noted a distinctive feeding method of the species. Although moving in the same way as Dunlins C. alpina, the Baird’s Sandpipers picked only once at the surface — not several times rapidly — and thus looked deliberate and methodical rather than hurried. Douglas Page 5 Colvin Close, Arksey, Doncaster, South Yorkshire JVotes 79 P. J. Grant has commented that, although some generalisations (such as stints feeding more quickly than Dunlins) are valid, extreme caution is needed with finer points (such as differences in feeding action), parti- cularly when these concern the field characters of small Calidris species. He added, however, that he welcomed publication of such observations, since this might stimulate the detailed study needed to solve the identifi- cation problems of this difficult group. Eds Posture of Jack Snipe while feeding On 12th October 1975, on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, I watched a Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minithus at close range on a patch of open mud surrounded by reeds Phragmites. It fed while stationary, but with a constant bobbing (not pivoting) action: its legs were held bent and were flexed repeatedly, in a regular, rhythmic, up-and- down motion, producing a vertical movement of the whole body held in a horizontal pose. Thus, its posture was similar to that of a Woodcock Scolopax rusticola described by G. des Forges (Brit. Birds 68: 425). Between short spells of feeding, the snipe made several quick, nervous runs, crouch- ing and ‘freezing’ at times, or darting for a metre or two, often chased by Water Rails Rallus aquaticus; but it bobbed only while feeding and apparently unsuspicious. Its feeding action was a series of short, shallow, rapid probes. The Handbook records an observation by G. E. Manser of a similar feeding posture for Jack Snipe, involving movement of the body up and down two or three times at each step, independent of the leg actions, as the bird slowly moved forward. R. A. Hume 31 Lime Grove, Burntwood, Walsall WS7 oha Unusual plumage of Greenshank The note by D. A. Ladhams on the aberrant plumage of a Greenshank Tringa nebularia and the accompany- ing editorial comment (Brit. Birds 69: 499) prompt me to record the fol- lowing. From 29th April to 8th May 1973, a nearly complete albino Greenshank stayed at Gob pool, Malltraeth, Anglesey. It was white, except for a little grey-buff flecking on the back and wing-coverts and a few dusky smudges on the throat. The bill was dull yellow, the legs straw-yellow and the eyes dark. It associated with up to four normal Greenshanks and its call notes were typical of the species. John P. Wilkinson Overstrand Malltraeth, Bodorgan, Anglesey ll62 5AW We welcome notes on unusual plumage aberrations, but in future they will not be published individually: we shall collect them with a view to producing periodic summaries. Eds Little Gull feeding on human food scraps On 20th April 1976, at Dungeness, Kent, a dozen Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus and a Rook Corvus frugilegus were taking advantage of food scraps, mainly bread, left the previous day in a litter bin. A clapnet baited with bread was set out in an attempt to trap them. At 06.30 GMT, 45 minutes after the net had been set, an adult Little Gull L. minutus flew in, landed, took a beakful 8o Notes of bread and was trapped. On the numerous occasions that Little Gulls have been observed feeding at Dungeness they have always taken food from water, by dipping and picking small items from the surface or by hawking flying insects above the water; they had never before been noted feeding on the ground, nor on human food scraps. The Handbook makes no reference to such behaviour, and does not mention bread in the diet of Little Gulls. Nick Riddiford and Mark Fletcher Dungeness Bird Observatory , Romney Marsh , Kent Brian Neath has commented that ‘both feeding on the ground and on food scraps are unusual’, although, in his preparation with C. D. Hutchin- son of a paper on the Little Gull in Britain and Ireland, he has come across examples of both; and, on 2nd July i960, at Buddon Burn, Angus, he himself saw 30 immatures and one adult feeding on the ground. Eds Common and Black-headed Gulls feeding on road corpses During 1975 and 1976, I became aware that Common Gulls Larus canus in Shet- land regularly fed on the carcases of dead mammals on roads, with rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus and hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus forming the major sources, reflecting their local abundance. Judging from comments by other observers scattered over Scotland, this habit appears to be very- widespread. My attention has also been drawn to the fact that Black- headed Gulls L. ridibundus quite often feed in the same fashion. R. Gall has told me (verbally) that he has occasionally seen Black-headed Gulls feeding on dead sheep on Shetland moorlands. J. D. R. Vernon, in his review of the food of Common and Black-headed Gulls (Bird Study 19: 173-186), suggested that both species frequently feed on mice (Muridae) and voles (Cricetidae) in late summer, but cited no other source of mammalian food. I have seen Common Gulls feeding on mammal corpses most often between mid summer and early autumn. This may reflect either a shortage of other food or a superabundance of road casualties at this time. It seems surprising that such a common habit has not been documented previously: have both species only recently started to exploit this food source? P. K. Kinnear 2 Mounthooly Street , Lerwick, Shetland zei obj Herring Gull attempting to catch snowflakes In mid January 1977, during a light fall of snow at Falmouth, Cornwall, I saw four Herring Gulls Larus argentatus on a ridge roof outside my office. One, an adult, was walking about, lunging in this direction and that, trying to catch the larger of the snowflakes in its beak. When the snow stopped, it preened a little and flew off. T. J. S. Pin field 2 Well Lane, Constantine, Falmouth , Cornwall Identification of hybrid or leucistic gull R. A. Hume (Brit. Birds 68: 24-37) emphasised the possibilities of confusing Glaucous Larus hyperboreus and Iceland Gulls L. glaucoides with aberrant or hybrid indivi- duals of these and other gulls. Between 15th February and 29th March Notes 81 28 & 29. Left, first-winter leucistic Herring Gull Larus argentatus, or Glaucous L. hyper- boreusl Iceland L. glaucoides X Herring Gull hybrid; right, normal first-winter Herring Gull for comparison. Aberdeen, February-March 1975 ( Martin Davies ) 1975, such a gull frequented Aberdeen docks and the nearby Don estuary. On the water, it resembled an immature Iceland or small immature Glaucous, but the head shape, size, proportions and bill were typical of a first-winter Herring Gull L. argentatus (cf. plates 28 and 29). I obtained the following details: Bill largely blackish, slightly paler at base, very similar in size and shape to those of nearby Herring Gulls; eyes dark; legs pale flesh. Head and neck noticeably paler than rest of plumage, streaked greyish-brown, fading to whitish on throat; mantle and wing-coverts pale biscuity-brown, nar- rowly barred darker brown. Underparts mottled brown, somewhat darker and more uniform than upperparts; undertail- coverts narrowly but boldly barred brown. Primaries distinctly paler than adjacent coverts, pale coffee-coloured, with faint pale brown arrow-marks towards tips evident at close range; secondaries darker than coverts, but not so contrastingly as on immature Herring Gull. Pale rump merging into indistinct, but broad, dark- streaked tail-band, apparent only in flight (fig- 0- Fig. 1. First-winter leucistic Herring Gull Larus argentatus, or Glaucous L. hyperboreus/lceland L. glaucoides x Herring Gull hybrid, Aberdeen, Feb- ruary-March 1975 ( Martin Davies) This gull was apparently either a leucistic first-winter Herring or a first-winter Glaucous/Iceland X Herring Gull hybrid, most probably Glaucous x Herring Gull. Detailed descriptions of leucistic large gulls are lacking in the literature - Proven hybrids are better documented: Dr Agnar Ingolfsson (Ibis 112: 340-362) noted a complete range of variation between Glaucous and 82 Notes Herring Gull wing- tip patterns in adults; presumably the same occurs in the immature stages. At a distance, a gull such as the Aberdeen one could easily be mistaken for a Glaucous or Iceland, which serves to emphasise the need for caution and a good flight view. Martin Davies Department of Biology, University of Stirling, Stirling fkq 4LA Free- winged Budgerigars in the Isles of Scilly Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (1976, The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland, page 452) summar- ised the status of feral Budgerigars Melopsittacus undulatus in England. For several years, I have observed those on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, and their history seems worth recording. In 1969, four pairs were introduced to Tresco from Windsor Lodge, Berkshire; in autumn 1970, six more pairs were added (Mrs P. Dorrien Smith in lift.). These and some of their progeny bred in all 16 nestboxes in an aviary in the abbey gardens. In 1972, however, the aviary was permanently open and they bred away from it, although visiting it daily for food or for roosting in poor weather; many also fed on food thrown to tame geese (Anatidae) in the meadows, from nearby chicken pens, or on seeds of wild plants. At first, these Budgerigars nested in holes in cordylines Cordyline and palms (Palmaceae) ; later, they occupied holes in elms Ulmus, sycamores Acer pseudoplatanus and other tall trees, all, I believe, in the vicinity of the abbey gardens. Because of the amount of foliage, I could not ascertain whether they excavated the holes or enlarged existing ones. By 1974, about 35 nests were in use, with 30 or more non-breeding Budgerigars in the area. During the summer, they separated into two main, discrete flocks which came together very late in the afternoon and stayed in and near the breeding trees in the wood, where they no doubt roosted. One flock, of 20 to 30 individuals, consorted with Starlings Sturnus vulgaris in the fields, but neither the latter nor the ubiquitous House Sparrows Passer domesticus showed any aggression towards the Budgerigars. Whenever the Starlings took flight and flew around at heights, the Budgerigars would accompany them, both species calling loudly. They would take brief refuge in the bushes and then return slowly in small groups to the seed fields. I sent a few specimens of the Budgerigars’ food plants to the keeper of botany at the British Museum (Natural History), who identified the following: annual meadow-grass Poa annua, toad rush Juncus bufonius, slender sandwort Arenaria leploclados , pcarlwort Sagina (possibly annual ])earlwort iS. apetala ) and swine-cress Coronopus. I also observed some Budgerigars perching on the side of the abbey wall and methodically pecking out pieces of the prostrate leaves of navelwort Umbilicus rupestris. J. E. Lousley (1971, The Flora of the Isles of Scilly, page 181) mentioned that this grows where salt concentration is high; perhaps the Budgerigars were obtaining certain beneficial mineral residues. On occasions, groups picked up grit from the ground. Mrs Dorrien Smith, who had provided artificial food for the birds, left the island in 1974, after which regular food may not have been put out. Motes 83 During April 1975, I found the population greatly depleted, and during ten days in October that year failed to see a single Budgerigar on Tresco. Bernard King Gull Cry, g Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall Robins feeding young at night In July 1973, in the garden of a subur- ban house in Liverpool, Merseyside, I watched a pair of Robins Erithacus rubecula feeding their six nestlings after normal feeding hours. I had previously seen them catch flying insects around a nearby street lamp, and, at dusk on 10th, I watched them snatch moths by the light through 30. Robin Erithacus rubecula taking earthworm to nestlings at 21.30 GMT, Merseyside, July 1973 ( Dennis Green) Notes 84 the french windows, which partly illuminated the nest, and feed them to their almost fledged brood; the adults were still active at 22.00 GMT, even though it was dark. At 21.30 hours on the following evening, from a hide, I secured a photograph of one parent about to take an earthworm to its young (plate 30) ; ten minutes later, it returned with what appeared to be a yellow underwing moth (Noctuidae). The Robins continued to feed until 22.00 hours, catching moths at the window and foraging among the illuminated flower-beds. Dennis Green igg Deysbrook Lane , Liverpool LI2 4YE A letter on the subject of birds feeding by artificial light appears on page 88. Eds Robin-like feeding by Stonechat On 17th January 1976, while turning sods in my vegetable garden at St Ives, Cornwall, I noticed a male Stonechat Saxicola torquata watching me closely from a vantage point on a nearby hedge. After a few moments, it flew down to within 2 m of where I was digging and began to feed on, presumably, invertebrates in the freshly turned earth; I was not able to see what it was taking. It continued to forage close to me, in the manner of a Robin Erithacus rubecula, on and off for about half an hour, and then flew out of sight. On the following day, what was presumably the same laird again fed near me ; this time it was, if anything, even more confiding. Stonechats are common breeding birds in the area, and are present throughout the year. Sheila Bottomley Venwyn Cottage , Hellesveor Place , St Ives , Cornwall TR26 3AQ Spectacled Warbler in Cornwall On 17th October 1969, at Porth- gwarra, Cornwall, P. W. Burness, A. P. Goddard and I discovered a very striking, bright-looking scrub warbler. As it emerged from low gorse Ulex at only 7 m range, with only its head and shoulders visible, it super- ficially resembled a Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata, but this resemblance ceased when it hopped out of cover into full view. We obtained the follow- ing description. In bright sunlight, most handsome: very bright and clean-looking. Crown, nape and mantle clear bluish-grey, darker on head. Darker area through lores, reminiscent of Lesser Whitethroat .S', curruca. Very prom- inent white eye-ring and dark iris; eye-ring narrower but just as prominent as those of two Ortolan Buntings Emberiza hortulana watched few days previously. Secondaries as brightly coloured brown as those of Whitethroat S. communis', whole of throat clearly defined white, although not so ‘puffed out’ as Whitethroat’s. Breast pinkish off-white, extending down to gorgeous pink on flanks. Undertail- coverts dirty off-white. Tail grey, with white outer tail feathers. In (light, whole bird looked exceedingly bluish-grey. Very- noticeable straw-coloured legs, looking long for small bird. About size of White- throat (looking slightly smaller in (light). As wc watched it feeding for ij hours in (lie gorse, the warbler seemed to combine the best features of Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, in Notes 85 addition to being brighter and having pink flanks. We identified it as Britain’s second Spectacled Warbler S. conspicillata, the first having been trapped at Spurn, north Humberside, in October 1968 (Brit. Birds 7I:53-58)- G. J. Jobson 54 Churchill Crescent , Wickham Market , Woodbridge, Suffolk Goldcrests killed by edible frogs On the Danish island of Christianso, in the Baltic Sea, the edible frog Rana esculenta is a common resident, and the Goldcrest Regulus regulus a very numerous spring and autumn migrant. Goldcrests often feed on the muddy shores and among branches in the shallow water of one of the small ponds ; they are often very tame and can be watched closely by members of the bird observatory. On 2 1st September 1976, we observed a Goldcrest ‘swimming’, with a medium-sized frog anchored to its tail. The Goldcrest protested a little, but otherwise it just appeared to be wondering what was happening. At this moment, a large frog swam vigorously towards the two; when about 10 cm ahead of the Goldcrest, it pushed forward and grasped the bird from the front ; with a splash, the frog dived with its victim, both remaining submerged for several minutes. Two days later, we observed a similar incident, in which a Goldcrest was grasped very proficiently by its head and breast; before it went under, we had the pathetic last sight of a little tail between two legs, one of them bearing one of our observatory rings. On a third occa- sion, we observed a medium-sized frog ‘playing’ with a Goldcrest, which eventually drowned, while on a nearby shore two large frogs were resting with a drowned Goldcrest between them. The impression of the frogs as miniature crocodiles was striking. It was not established whether the frogs swallowed the birds, but the big ones would certainly be able to do so. Although we have no observations of frogs preying on other bird species, we once saw them following a Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita tristis with great interest. Jorgen Rabol Universitetets Zoologiske Laboratorium, Universitetsparken 75, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark Starlings imitating Cetti’s Warbler The note on a Starling Sturnus vulgaris imitating a Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti {Brit. Birds 70: 36) prompts me to record the following. On 19th May 1974, in Beddington Park, Surrey, Mrs E. W. West, Miss M. W. R. West and I heard what we thought was a Cetti’s Warbler {Surrey Bird Rep. 22: 43). We had all had much experience of this species in Kent and were, therefore, surprised to discover that the song was being produced by a Starling. Since spring 1975, a loud, abrupt phrase, similar to that of Cetti’s Warbler, has appear- ed in the song of a number of Starlings in the suburbs adjacent to the park; although no longer identical, I suggest that this arose from the original mimic. Derek Washington /j Bond Gardens, Wallington, Surrey D. B. Rosair has also written as follows: ‘On 23rd January 1977, along' the Lampen Wall at Stodmarsh, Kent, I heard the “tchik, tchik” note of 86 Notes a Cetti’s Warbler coming from a hawthorn Crataegus monogyna about qo m away, but on closer inspection could see only a Robin Erithacus rubecula; I therefore looked very carefully at the floating vegetation directly below the Robin and saw a Cetti’s Warbler very discreetly picking food.’ Further comment on the need for caution is provided by C. Bignal and W. Harvey, who write: ‘The note in Brit. Birds 70: 36 should serve as an even more salutory warning to incautious editors. There is no evidence that the song was not uttered by a Cetti’s Warbler, which can be very difficult to see, often moves away immediately on completion of its song and frequently sings from a site where other species are singing. There is every reason to believe that Starlings might learn to imitate Cetti’s Warblers in east Kent (if they do not already do so), but the evidence in the published note is insufficient for this conclusion to be reached. The site of the observation is within an area which had a large population of singing Cetti’s Warblers in May 1975.’ We thank all observers concerned; the point has been well made and the subject is therefore now closed. Eds Twites wintering in woodland During the winter of 1975/76, un- precedented numbers of Siskins Carduelis spmus and Redpolls C. fiammea were present at Belfairs Nature Reserve, a 37-ha wood predominantly of silver birch Betula pendula 2\ km from the coast near Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Weekly ringing was carried out and, during late February, Twites C. jlavirostris were occasionally caught, usually among the Redpolls. They were present in small flocks for a further five weeks, ground- feeding with a few Redpolls or Siskins in the more open areas. The maxi- mum seen together was 25 on 29th February. A few were trapped in the depths of the more established birch, where the wood is dense and gloomy, with a leaf-covered floor. So few were retrapped that there may have been more in the wood than was realised, or a succession of small parties may have stayed for short spells. During the five weeks from 22nd February, 40 were ringed; one trapped had been ringed at Glossop, Derbyshire (280 km northeast), in summer 1975. The Redpolls and Siskins developed direct ‘corridors’ among the boughs and the floor of the wood, although the Twites did not and were less decisive in their movements. From mid October 1976 to early March 1977, Twites were again present, parties of five to ten frequenting the paths approaching and with- in the wood. It was estimated that there were up to 50 at any one time: 15 new birds were trapped; four were retrapped from the previous winter; and one, ringed on Two Tree Island (2^ km south) in the previous winter, was retrapped in the wood. No association was noted between the Twites and the few other finches present. Woodland is not mentioned in the standard literature as a winter habitat of Twites, and their appearance at Belfairs may have been due to an abundant food supply. J. H. Smart 34 Tyelands, Billericay, Essex cm 12 9PA Reviews Guide to the Young of European Precocial Birds. By Jon Fjeldsa. Skarv Nature Publications, Tisvilde, Denmark, 1977. 285 pages; 75 drawings; 39 colour plates. £19.50 This book is aimed mainly at helping the fieldworker to identify downy young of pre- cocial birds, but it achieves far more. There are full descriptions of the chicks of all the European species and a large number of excellent text figures illustrating their dorsal patterns in black and white. A series of ‘morphoclines’ shows the transformations from one pattern to another; they are of some value for identification purposes, but there is the risk that they might be misinterpreted as phylogenetic trees, although it is only fair to mention that the author points out that they ‘are not precisely the same’. Having made this statement, however, it is a little puzzling that the similarities between the chicks of sandgrouse and of coursers and pratincoles are stressed (in fig. 9) in terms of the possible derivation of the former from the latter : surely this is convergence ? In some cases, fledging periods are given with a precision which is not justified by the present state of knowledge (e.g. 28 days for the Redshank, which in fact may vary from 27 to 36 days). It is also a pity that the text is marred by numerous typographical errors (e.g. ‘tinging’ for ‘ringing’, ‘night’ for ‘nigh’) and some curious English (e.g. ‘biologic’, ‘sandgrouses’). Perhaps the book is a little expensive, even by present day standards, which will discourage people from taking it into the field, where it would have its greatest value. These are, however, minor criticisms of what is on the whole a very good, well produced book on a difficult subject. The most impressive part of the book is the series of 39 colour plates, each showing the chicks of several species: these are beautifully and accurately depicted. The book is well worth buying for these alone. W. G. Hale Birds as Builders. By Peter Goodfellow. David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1977. 168 pages; 8 colour photographs; 80 black-and-white photographs; over 20 line-drawings. £4.95. This compilation of other people’s work brings together information on the great variety of birds’ nests. Examples are drawn from all over the world and grouped by chapters with such headings as ‘No nests’, ‘Simple nests’, ‘Hanging and woven nests’, ‘Ground nesting’ and ‘Edible nests’. Each chapter has one or two introductory paragraphs, followed by quite detailed accounts of nests, nest sites and methods of construction. The number of species covered is small, barely 300, while an appendix lists another 70 species or groups ‘whose nesting is worth reading about, and details of which would fill another book’. Perhaps time or money ran out, but, with a text of only 40,000 words, one wonders why these additional species were not included. The author (or compiler) has also made little or no attempt to discuss the evolution of the different types of nests, nor the adaptations involved : for example, in the chapter on ground nesting, no mention is made of whether the young are nidifugous or nidicolous. Thus far, the book is unexceptional. What lifts it out of the ordinary is the quantity and quality of the photographs, especially taken in conjunction with the modest price. The eight full-page colour and 80 black-and-white photographs scattered through the text are well chosen and very well reproduced. Lithographic printing of bird photo- graphs is rarely perfect, but these are much above average and only some dust spots mar the generally high standard. Delightful line-drawings by Dr C. J. F. Coombs supplement the photographs. This firm of publishers has been criticised in the past by reviewers (myself included) for overpricing their books; it is pleasant to be able to commend this one as excellent value. M. A. Ogilvie 87 Letters Birds living transfixed by arrows and twigs With reference to Nick Ricldiford’s note on a Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus living trans- fixed by a thorn [Brit. Birds 70: 459) and the editorial comment, it is worth drawing attention to Ernst Schiiz’s letter in The Ostrich (40: 17-19), which included a line-drawing and a photograph of White Storks Ciconia ciconia transfixed by whole Central African arrows. He added that he knew of 19 records of storks living despite being pierced by arrows, and also instances of arrowheads in Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus , King Eider Somateria spectabilis, Black Kite Milvus migrans, Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus , Herring Gull Larus argentatus, an immature gull and a ‘hawk’, as well as the Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus mentioned in the editorial comment. Other examples have included photographs and an X-ray of an Abdim’s Stork Ciconia abdimii with an arrowhead from Central Africa ( Ostrich 38: 231-233) and a Song Thrush Turdus philomelos living with a pointed twig through its body {Brit. Birds 58: 51 1-5 13). As Dr Schiiz remarked, many birds appear to have a remarkable resistance to wounds. Chris Hodgson Unit of Applied Zoology, Wye College, near Ashford, Kent Birds feeding by artificial light In a village near Neatishead, Norfolk, sodium street lighting extending about 4 km along the main street is left on all night. On certain days, I motor along this road shortly after 05.00 GAIT, when, for a considerable part of the year, it would otherwise be dark. Even in midwinter, I have seen Blackbirds Turdus merula and, especially, Robins Erithacus rubecula feeding on the road and adjacent areas at this early hour. Although such behaviour is well-known, it is intei'esting to speculate whether the birds ever retire to roost and, if so, for how long. As an aviculturist, I use time-switches to extend the winter feeding hours of delicate tropical birds, but have noticed that many species fail to take advantage of this and roost either at the same time as during the rest of the year or when it becomes dark outside. A 10-watt light left on all night also has little apparent effect on the birds. M. D. England Mashobra, Neatishead, Norwich nr 12 8bj Daylight hunting by Long-eared Owls In their paper on field identifi- cation of Long-eared Asio otus and Short-eared Owls A. fammeus {Brit. Birds 69: 281-287), A. H. Davis and Robin Prythcrch mentioned that northern-breeding Long-eared would be forced into the daylight by the extremely short summer nights. In southeast Bavaria the hours of darkness are considerably more, but, in the second week of June 1975, near Aigen on the River Inn, I observed Long-eared Owls hunting from 16.00 hours over open fields of cut hay, and over crop fields close to the riverain area of the Inn. Local ornithologists assured me that this behaviour was not unusual. J. M. Bayldon 9 Birchen Close , Bessacarr, Doncaster, South Yorkshire 88 Letters 89 Roosting behaviour of migrant House Martins For some years I have tried to solve the mystery of where House Martins Delichon urbica roost when not at their home colonies. I doubt if they roost to any signifi- cant extent in reed-beds or in the nest-holes of Sand Martins Riparia riparia. They may sometimes sleep at a House Martin colony where they are not themselves resident; in certain circumstances this may be habitual, but it is definitely not the regular practice of the whole transient popula- tion. I am now convinced that most House Martins, when on migration, sleep in trees, in a way which could be described as loosely communal. On 2nd May 1962, at Burnley, Lancashire, L. E. Bouldin and I saw a House Martin which had settled for the night in a tall horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum; there was no colony nearby. On two evenings in July 1970, also at Burnley, a parent returned to its nest so late that it could not see to enter; it then settled to roost in a nearby sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus . On a typical summer evening, after the first broods have fledged, a feeding flock of adult and young House Martins assembles during the hour before sunset, flying high but not travelling far in any one direction. When overhead they are clearly visible, but if they deviate much from the vertical they can be followed only with the aid of binoculars. About 12 minutes after sunset, they suddenly become excited; their flight is accelerated and there is a certain amount of alarm-calling, for no apparent reason; then, either the whole group or a part of it comes sweeping down the sky to treetop level. At this point, the local martins probably disperse to their nests, but some, presumably migrants or independent young, will fly very closely for a few more minutes, in ones and twos, silently around the high foliage, into which they suddenly vanish at great speed. Dr K. E. L. Simmons (in litt.) saw two House Martins suddenly alight in an ash Fraxinus in a similar fashion in Leicester, in August 1975; and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (in litt.) observed tree-roosting at Neusiedl, Austria, in August 1976. One clump of trees (there seems to be some predilection for poplars Populus ) may hold ten to 15 roosting martins, and the same trees are used for several weeks, no doubt by a shifting population. I know of three such roosts within 1 km of my house and, assuming a comparable distribution throughout the species’ summer range, the total number of birds involved must be immense. K. G. Spencer 3 Landseer Close , off Carr Road , Burnley , Lancashire Tail-cocking by Moustached Warblers I read the letter by Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (Brit. Birds 70 : 349-350) with great interest, since I have had the same experience at, for instance, a number of localities in Turkey (e.g. Amik Gold, Bas-Gol). On only a few occasions did I observe a degree of tail-cocking by Moustached Warblers Acrocephalus melanopogon, but in most instances none at all. I even went so far as to suggest to Prof. Gunther Niethammer that the mention of tail-cocking should be deleted in the German translation of Peterson et al. (1974, A Field Guide to the Birds of 90 Letters Britain and Europe, 3rd edition). The identification of the Turkish birds was, incidentally, confirmed beyond question, since I had to collect a few specimens for the Museum (see Alauda 31 : 122-123). H. Kumerloeve Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, 53 Bonn 1, Adenauerallee 150-164, FDR Photography of birds in the hand We are concerned to see the increasing publication of photographs of birds held in the hand with their legs trapped between two fingers. This practice was condemned by us at our Holme Bird Observatory Reserve many years ago, since it was con- sidered to be dangerous : birds held thus are liable to flap their wings at any second, which could lead to muscle strain or even damage to the heart or lungs. With a rarity, there is always the temptation to secure a picture at all costs, thus increasing the danger to the bird as it struggles to escape. Photographs of birds in the hand can be secured without resorting to these harsh methods: a small bird held gently in the closed hand will almost invariably stay put — not realising that it is free to go — if the hand is carefully opened. Occasionally, a photograph is lost when an alert captive escapes; but which has priority: the photograph or the bird? Peter R. Clarke Secretary I warden, Norfolk Ornithologists'1 Association, Aslack Way, Holme next Sea, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6lp Robert Spencer, expressing his personal views, has commented: ‘I do not particularly like these “bird in the hand” photographs, but for aesthetic reasons: there is always more hand than bird. Some years ago, I published, in The Ringers' Bulletin, details of a photographic box which was, I suppose, the precursor of the studio portrait technique. It is, how- ever, bulky, and one can hardly expect ringers to carry such an item with them in the field. ‘I personally doubt whether holding a bird by its legs is dangerous, provided that it is done correctly: the legs should be held as close to the body as possible and, with very small birds, it is important to hold one finger between the legs.’ We applaud Mr Clarke’s concern for the birds and endorse his senti- ments that the bird should be valued above the photograph. We do, however, agree with Mr Spencer’s expert opinion that careful handling for photography by trained ringers does not endanger the bird. Eos Requests Mute Swan breeding census As part of a European survey, the BTO is organising a census of breeding Mute Swans Cygnns olor in summer 1978. The fieldwork will take place from 1st April to 31st May and will be based on complete counts for a large sample of 10-km squares. The national organiser is Malcolm Ogilvie, Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester 01,2 yirr, but offers of help should be made to the BTO’s Regional Represent- atives and, in Northern Ireland, to Ian Forsyth, Department of Extra-Mural Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast BT7 inn. Requests 9 1 Corncrake breeding census Following an apparent decline in numbers of the Corn- crake Crex crex, the Irish Wildbird Conservancy is organising a census in Ireland and Britain in summer 1978. It will be carried out in the late evenings and nights from late May to the end of July and will be based on 10-km squares. All records are required, including negative ones for western areas. Offers of help will be welcomed by the three organisers: republic of Ireland Michael O’Meara, 153 St John’s Park, Waterford; northern Ireland Ian Forsyth, Department of Extra-Mural Studies, Queen’s Univer- sity, Belfast 11T7 inn; Britain Dr C. J. Cadbury, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGig 2DL. News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett Bardsey Island Trust appeal The newly-formed Bardsey Island Trust, a company registered with the Charity Commissioners, has obtained an option to purchase the island within three years for £103,000; a further £100,000 is needed for a capital endowment fund. Bardsey is a 1 60-ha island, 3 km off the coast of north Wales. In addition to six 18th century farmhouses, one of which has been the headquarters of the Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory for the past 25 years, there is the remains of an Augustinian abbey. The Trust will establish a nature reserve and maintain the island as a place of Christian pilgrimage and Welsh cultural tradition, and continue the ancient farming system. Some 40 species of birds breed there, in- cluding Manx Shearwaters and Choughs. Due to the island’s position in the Irish Sea, large numbers of migrants arrive in the spring and autumn; the research pro- gramme, including studies of methods of reducing casualties at the notorious ‘killer’ lighthouse, will continue. It is urgent that islands such as Bardsey, so important to our national heritage, should be owned, managed and protected by trusts. For further information, please contact Susan Cowdy, Appeal Organiser, The Lee, Great Missenden, Buckingham- shire; donations should be sent to Bardsey Island Trust, Midland Bank, Bangor, Gwynedd. BTO honours Robert Gillmor At its annual conference at Swanwick, Derby- shire, during 2nd to 4th December, the BTO paid tribute to Robert Gillmor by making him an honorary member, in gratitude for the many ways in which he has quietly helped the Trust by providing illustrations for its journals, Christmas cards, publicity material and so on. For many years — except once or twice :n his breeding season — Robert has attended this conference and organised the sale of bird pictures, which always produces a useful sum for the Trust’s funds. One of the major features of the confer- ence was the tenth Witherby Memorial Lecture. This year, Dr David Snow of the British Museum (Natural History) took as his title ‘The relationship between the African and European avifaunas’. Follow- ing in the traditions of R. E. Moreau and Mrs B. P. Hall, the lecture was a memo- rable account of a subject which gains in interest the more that one travels. Among other amusing and instructive lectures, we must mention the account by Dr Arne Norrevang of the University of Copen- hagen of fowling on the Faeroe Islands; his excellent English put us to shame. Having studied the ecology of fowling for many years, he considers that the cropping of the seabirds was beneficial to them and is concerned, now that fowling has stopped, that the seabird populations will not maintain themselves at the same high levels as when the colonies were managed. British Birds held its usual light- hearted competition. The mystery birds shown in five photographs were correctly identified by no fewer than ten people and the winners of the bottle of champagne and free subscriptions to British Birds had to be selected by a draw: Crispin Fisher ( 1st) , Muriel Lovett (2nd), Andy Lowe (3rd); the other experts were Peter Grant, A. 92 News and comment Grieve, Chris Harbard, S. T. Holliday, Steve Madge, Steve Rooke and Graham Walker. SOC honours Irene Waterston Irene Waterston retired from the staff of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club on 4th August 1977, after many years dedicated to the Club and its members. She joined the SOC in 1949 and became the first full- time secretary, shortly after becoming Mrs George Waterston. She brought to the post her very considerable administrative skills and ably organised the running of the SOC Bird Bookshop, opened in 1963: its growth and international reputation reflect her organisational ability. The success of the Scottish Bird Islands Study Cruise before the International Ornithological Congress of 1966 remains a reminder of her skill and energy: ornithologists who were lucky enough to be on it remember it as one of the major events of their ornithological lives. The debt owed to her by the SOC and many ornithologists from all over the world is a large one. As a token of its esteem and gratitude, the SOC unanim- ously elected Irene an honorary member and many members contributed to a gift which was presented to her in the autumn. The Richard Richardson Appeal It is hoped that the permanent memorial to Richard Richardson, the well-loved Nor- folk bird artist and ornithologist whose obituary appeared last December {Bril. Birds 70: 541-543), will take the form of a sea- watching hide at Cley: negotiations to this end are in progress. Donations will be welcomed, but, to save administrative expenses, they will not be acknowledged unless accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope. They should be sent to Miss Elizabeth Forster, Secretary, The Richard Richardson Appeal, The Double House, Wiveton, Holt, Norfolk. Conservation of wildlife and natural habitats The government experts, in- structed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council for Europe to draw up a draft Convention on the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats, met in Strasbourg on 28th to 30th September. They established the guidelines for the substantive part of this legal instrument and decided that the operational part should take the form of a Counc’l for Europe Convention, open for accession by as many non-member states as possible, and giving special powers to the Contracting Parties. They also agreed to admit the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Re- sources, the International Council for Bird Preservation, the International Waterfowl Research Bureau and the International Council for Hunting and Game Conservation as observers at future meetings. Welcome ‘Irish Birds’ A new journal, Irish Birds, will be greatly welcomed by all ornithologists in Britain and Ireland. Volume 1, number 1 contains six papers, on the status of Bewick’s Swans, auks on Inishtearaght, Mallard migration, seabird ringing in Kerry, a Northern Inland census of Great Crested Grebes, and gulls on Lough Corib; three short notes; the ringing report for 1976 ; a register of ornith- ological research in Ireland; reviews of seven books, 12 papers and four local reports; and incorporates the twenty- fourth Irish Bird Report, covering 1976. The design is pleasing to the eye; the photographs — scattered in the text — are well reproduced and relevant (except for one of a Kingfisher); and the 120 pages arc on good quality paper with a stiff card cover. It seems surprising, however, that there are no decorative drawings, when there are talented bird-artists such as Killian Mullarney in Ireland. Regret- tably, the text contains so many obvious literals that one must doubt whether the printers ever supplied proofs for check- ing: this fault should, however, be regarded as only a minor teething problem. In his editorial, C. D. Hutchinson states that, ‘Irish Birds is not intended to be a heavy, off-putting journal’ : he has succeeded admirably; it deserves to thrive (the aim is to have one issue each year) and seems certain to have an enormous influence on the continued development of ornithology in Ireland. Published by the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, Irish Birds may be obtained, price £1.50, from K. W. Perry, 1 1 Magharana Park, Waringstown, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland. (Contributed byJTRS.) America’s wetlands Audubon reports that the first nationwide census of America’s wetlands was launched by federal agencies in June. Wetland areas News and comment 93 in the United States have been reduced by 40% since the 1950s and are still being lost at the rate of' 120,000 ha annually. Fowlmere Formerly called Fowlmire, shadowed on every side by the chalk of the Gog Magog Hills, waste sedgy pools, with alder woodlands and reed swamp: this 26- ha reserve, part of a Cambridgeshire water-cress bed, was purchased by the RSPB, thanks to the efforts of the Young Ornithologists’ Club, which raised about £10,000 for the purpose. Fowlmere is the second reserve which has been purchased entirely by members of the YOC, who will also contribute to the cost of wardening and management and will also help with the work involved. Requests for information . . . Charles Darwin A comprehensive collection of letters to and from Charles Darwin is being prepared for publication in chron- ological order, with full texts and annota- tions. This edition can be made definitive only through the generous co-operation of all the owners of Darwin’s scattered correspondence. Will those with knowledge of Darwiniana please contact Dr S. Smith and D. D. Koln, Darwin Archive, Cam- bridge University Library, Cambridge CB5 9DR. . . . • Cherry Kearton Details of the life and times of the wildlife photographer Cherry Kearton are being collected by Miss Diane Howse, Exeter College of Art and Design, East Richards Road North, Exeter EX2 6as. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of the editors o/British Birds Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records This report covers November and the first part of December; except where othei'wise stated, all dates refer to November. The first week of November was wet and windy with a fresh westerly airstream over Larks Eremophila alpeslris were found in ones and twos on the coast of Aberdeen- shire, at a time when record numbers of Lapland Buntings Calcanus lapponicus were also there. A number of east coast the whole country. At Dungeness (Kent), the autumn finch passage was in full swing, with peak counts on 10th, when 3,200 Greenfinches Carduelis chloris, 6,200 Gold- finches C. carduelis and 5,100 Linnets C. cannabina moved south; on 13th, 2,000 Tree Sparrows Passer montanus were counted there. There was little change in the weather for the following week. Shore sites reported large numbers of Snow Buntings Pleclrophenax nivalis : a consider- able contrast to last winter. There were small influxes of Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus into East Anglia on 13th and northeast England in early December, but there were very few Great Grey Shrikes Lanius excubitor or Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus. 94 Fieldfares Turdus pilaris came in two main influxes: Dungeness had a movement of 30,000 (with 10,000 Redwings T. iliacus) towards the northwest on 18th, and there was a big influx in northeast England from 27th. Shetland produced a few rarities in the first part of the month: we have received no details, but hear of a Black-throated Thrush T. ruficollis, a Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus and an Arctic Redpoll C. hornemanni. A Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica spent most of the 13th at Spurn Point (Humberside), com- pleting a series of late autumn records of this southern vagrant. Richard’s Pipits Anthus novaeseelandiae continued to appear, with singles at Weybourne (Norfolk) on 5th-7th and Dunster (Somerset) on 27th, while two ‘large pipits’ at Walney (Cum- bria) on 13th were also probably of this species. More surprising, however, was a very approachable Tawny Pipit A. camp- eslris near Aber (Gwynedd) from about 27th. Perhaps the strangest record of the month concerned a Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax that appeared at Heysham (Lancashire) on 18th after strong gales; possibly an Irish bird? Late summer migrants There were a few reports of late terns during the month, with a Black Chlidonias nigra remaining at Hornsea Mere (Humber- side) until 8th, a White-winged Black C. leucoplera at Wexford (Co. Wexford) on 13th, and single Common Sterna hirundo or Arctic Terns .S', paradisaea at Heysham on 17th and off Weybourne on 21st; a definite Arctic had been identified at Heysham on 12th. A Hoopoe Upupa epops that had been found at Arnold (Nottinghamshire) on 31st October re- mained until the stormy weather of 12th, while there was a late Swift Apus apus at Goole (Humberside) on 9th, a Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jlava at Wheldrake Ings (North Yorkshire) on 27th and Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus at Fairburn Ings (North Yorkshire) on 20th and Kempton Park (Middlesex) on 3rd December. Seabirds There was a spate of single Great North- ern Divers Gavia immer inland during the month, from Surrey to Derbyshire: an influx comparable with that of Black- throated Divers G. arctica at the same Recent reports time in the previous year (see Brit. Birds 70: 507). The severe gales in mid month were caused by depressions tracking over the Atlantic in quick succession, bringing some fascinating sea-watching for gull en- thusiasts. A Franklin’s Gull Larus pipix- can was found at Lowestoft (Suffolk) on 13th and a Laughing Gull L. atricilla at St Ives (Cornwall) on 10th December; earlier, a Laughing Gull had been ident- ified flying south at Filey Brigg (North Yorkshire) and another possible Laughing was seen at Felixstowe (Essex) on 8th December. Large gulls moved down the east coast, with Great Black-backed L. marinus passing at the rate of 250 per hour off Weybourne on 21st, with 6 Glaucous Gulls L. hyperboreus associated with them. There was a small ‘wreck’ of Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa at this time, with two in Co. Cork, singles in Cos. Dublin and Tipperary, and ones and twos at a number of English east coast watch points. Little Auks Alle alle appeared on the east coast at the same time in very small numbers, and there were reports of manyaround Shetland earlierinthe month. Latest news Black Vulture Aegypius inonachus, Builth Wells — New Radnor (Powys) : if accepted, new species for Britain and Ireland (but escape possibilities need [thorough invest- igation) ; Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus with 750 Greylags A. anser in Bridle [Bay — Holy Island area (North- umberland) ; Serin Serinus serinus at Littlchampton (West Sussex). British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 Classified Advertisements £2. 25 for 3 lines ( minimum ) 7 5p for each whole or part extra line Classified display £2 a centimetre ( min. 2 centimetres.) For the use of a box number there is a charge of sop. Replies to : The ADVERTISING MANAGER British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R3LF 01-240 IIOI HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION HOLIDAYS FOR BIRDWATCHERS with Dr. Bruce Campbell based at Talland Bay Hotel on the south Cornish Coast. Last winter 96 different species identified. New Holiday Series Dates 1978: 20-24 February, 10-14 April. Brochure from Talland Bay Hotel, Near Looe, Cornwall. Tel: Polperro 228. (BB17) HOLIDAY COTTAGE in pretty Gal- loway village available 1978. Sleeps four, Excellent area for birdwatching. Apply Mrs. Greenshields, Abbey House, New Abbey, Dumfries. (BB19) GALLOWAY, LOCH KEN area, at- tractive cottage in lovely private grounds. Available March, April, May, September onwards. Harrison, Grennan Mill, Dairy, Castle Douglas. Tel: 064 43 297. (BB18) MID WALES. Comfortable house, fully equipped. Ideal for all country pursuits. S.A.E. Williams, Sunnycroft, Hundred House, Llandrindod Wells. Powys. Tel: Hundred House 352 evenings. (BB21) KITE COUNTRY. Comfortable farm- house accommodation in Upper Towy Valley. H & C all bedrooms. Central heating. Bed and breakfast and evening meal. Mrs. F. Thomas, Tonn Farm, Llandovery. Tel: 20276. (BB23) ISLE OF MULL. Georgian former farm- house. Lovely situation; birds. Good food, own produce, baking. All year. Miss Maclnnes, Aros Mains, Aros. (BB24} CLEY AND HOLT. Comfortable, fully equipped, renovated flint cottages, night storage heating, TV, near marshes, walled garden, sleeping 4-6. Mrs. Finch, Mill House, Little Braxted, Witham, Essex. Tel: Witham 513008. (BB25) WARM, COMFORT ABLECOTTAGE. availablefor winter and springtime breaks. Beautiful countryside in utter peace. Sandy beaches £ mile. Goodchild, Morfa Canol, Llangrannog, Llandysul, Dyfed (Llangrannog 276) (BB38) ABERDEENSHIRE, SANDS OF FOR- VIE. National Nature Reserve for eider duck, tern and all sea birds. 17 miles north Aberdeen, dinner, B & B in mod- ernised former manse, family and double rooms, all H & C. Brochure — Mrs. Campbell, Slains House, Colliston. Tel: 275. (BB26) Near Presteigne, Powys: two self contained cottages and a flat, each sleeping four in modern comfort but in isolation and the seclusion of a private estate. Available all the year. Low winter rates. Mrs Bromage, The Estate Office, Barland House, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: Presteigne 296. (BB49) HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION VILLAGE COTTAGES Modernised, quiet, personally super- vised. Easy reach sandy beaches, boating, bird-watching, fishing, ancient buildings. Lovely walks. Large s.a.e., brochure 1978. Daily terms in winter. Roberts, Woodlands, Swanton Novers, Melton Constable. (Tel. 285), Norfolk. (BB45) You will find a warm welcome and every comfort in this attractively sit- uated and secluded country hotel. Excellent birdwatching amid moor- land, forest and river. Home cooking, own produce. Full central heating, hot and cold and electric blankets in all bedrooms. Brochure & Terms from: The Old Manse, Private Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND Tel: Carrbridge 278 (BB42) QUIET SEASIDE HOTEL, equidistant twixt, Minsmere and Havergate Island, offering Easter Bargain Break, hotel offers private beach and other amenities, also a friendly service, good food, com- fortable rooms, some with bath, and reasonable prices. Tel: Thorpeness Hotel, Thorpeness, Suffolk, at Aldeburgh 2684 or Saxmundham 2009. (BB59) PORTHGWARRA LAND’S END, cot- tage and/or self contained extension. 100 yards from sea — ornithologists’ para- dise. For details and photos write to Box No. BB60 British Birds, c/o Mac- millan Journals Ltd., 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF. (BB60) HEBRIDES AND SCOTTISH WEST COAST Visit the bird colonies of these enchanted islands by very comfortable motor yacht. Cruises available with a maximum of 12 passengers, departing from Oban. Or charter a skippered sailing yacht, and plan your own cruise where you will. Or rent a cottage on the shores of Seil Island. Details (9 by 4 sae please) : Tony Dalton (BB), Lochavich, Taynuilt, Argyll, Telephone: Lochavich 212 (BB35) GUERNSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS Birdwatching holidays in the Bailiwick, inclusive of scheduled flights, hotel and free BIRDPAK as follows: GUERNSEY FROM ^91/WEEK. ALDERNEY FROM ^99/WEEK. HERM FROM £118/ WEEK. Guernsey’s varieties of habitat and its Continental situation attract a wide range of passage migrants, winter visitors and nesting sea birds. BIRDPAK con- tains our Field-Guide, maps and bird- watching contacts. All holidays are offered in association with ALLENS AIR HOLIDAYS. Club outings and ringers catered for. For further details write or ‘phone our local ornithologist: TIM EARL, RUE DES LANDES, ST. PIERRE DU BOIS, GUERNSEY. TEL: 0481 64475. (BB30) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS HIGHLAND SAFARIS programme for our special 15th season of birdwatching holidays in Wester Ross and Skye. Ross- shire and NW Sutherland ready for 1978. Book a week or fortnight with Derek Hulmc and Allistcr Brebner between 1 April and 26 August. Single and twin room hotel accommodation. Kyle & Glen, Muir of Ord, Ross-shire, I V6 7UQ.. (BB22) ( continued on page v ) Fair Isle, Shetland. Do you know that you can fly all the way from London Airport into Fair Isle in time for lunch the same day? Stay at our comfortable well-equipped Bird Observatory Hos- tel. Central heating, self-service meals. Famous for its wealth of rare migrants. Write for latest brochure. Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust , 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh. ' (BB47) Bed and Breakfast for Bird Watchers on The Isles of Scilly £4. Tel. Scillonia 595. (BB50) ANGLESEY. Benllech. Woodlands Guest House. Licensed. B/B £4.50 inc. Dinner optional. Tel: 024 874 2735. (BB28) IV British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 BOOKS FOR SALE Offers sought for Thorburn: British Birds, 1925/6; Fitch Daglish: Woodcuts of British Birds, limited edition 1925; books by W. H. Hudson. Send S.A.E. for details to G. H. B. Leake, Fox Cottage, Kingham, Oxford, OX7 6YQ. (BB53) Birds and Natural History books — new and secondhand bought and sold — mail order only. Dernam Books, Addle- stead, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. (XBB46) ‘Scarce Migrants in London’ essential accompaniment to ‘Atlas of London’s Breeding Birds’. Reprint from 1976 Lond. Bird Rep.; 20 year pattern in histograms and text of c.130 rare species. 65P including p & p from: P. J. Oliver, 1 Albany Court, Palmer Street, London, S.W.i (BB48) FOR SALE CIBACHROME enlargements from colourslides by our special process P.U. must be seen to be believed. Wildlife prints a speciality. Mounting for display. R.U. PHOTOS 6 Staddles, Lt. Hallingbury, Bishops Stortford, Herts. CM22 7SW Tel. B.S. (0279) 55604 (BB43) 143 copies of British Birds approximate January 1950 to December i960. Very reasonable condition offers. Write to Box No. BB52 British Birds, c/o Mac- millan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF. (BB52) Sheffield Bird Study Group’s Annual Report for 1976. Available from Mr. H. Holland. 12 Jermyn Avenue, Sheffield S12 4Q.A. Price inc. post £1.10. (BB62) Glamorgan Bird Report 1976. En- larged edition £ 1 post paid from D. H. Binstead, 37 Penhill Road, Cardiff, CFi 9PR. ' (BB54) ‘The Magpie’ — A collection of orni- thological papers. A Journal produced by Sheffield Bird Study Group. Available from Mr. H. Holland, 12 Jermyn Avenue, Sheffield S12 4Q.A. Price inc. post £1.20. (BB63) WANTED Wanted Nickel Supra telescope with case. Price please to B. R. Squires, 20 Malzeard Court, Studley Road, Luton, Beds. (BB44) WANTED, BRITISH BIRDS, and other Ornithological Journals. Good prices paid for singles, bound and unbound volumes and runs of any length. Please make offer to Michael Powell, 52 Blackoak Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff, South Glam. CF2 6QU. (BB55) WANTED. British Birds September 1975 January-February 1976. I. C. Gar- dener, 63 Ashurst Road, Cockfosters, Herts. (BB61) v Turkey . . . As specialists in Turkey, for the last 7 years we are, in 1978, offering two very special bird-watching tours there led by Mark Beaman. The first is from May 8 — 23 and visits the Adana, Lake Van and Bursa areas, while the second is from September 14 — 28 and visits Silifke, Goreme Valley and Bursa areas before ending with the great annual migration on the Bosphoi'us. Both are on the scheduled service of British Airways from London (Heathrow) Airport. For full details please ask for our 1978 brochure on Turkey. EXECUTIVE TRAVEL LTD. 141 SLOANE STREET, LONDON SW1X 9BJ Tel. 01-730 6609 (BB4i) PUFFIN, STORM PETREL, WHIMBREL, RED NECKED PHALAROPE . . . You cart spot them all and many more on a visit to Shetland. Write for our brochure to P & 0 Ferries , Orkney and Shetland Services, Dept BBS, PO Box No. 5, Aberdeen AB9 8DL. P&O Ferries Orkney & Shetland Services (BB58) CORMORANTS, TERNS, GUILLEMOTS, KITTIWAKES . . . You can spot them all and many more on a trip to Orkney. Write for our brochure to P Ft O Ferries, Orkney and Shetland Services, Dept BBO, PO Box No. 5, Aberdeen AB9 8DL. P&O Ferries Orkney & Shetland Services (BB57) Take a gander at Mr. Frank’ unusual binocular offer Test any FRANK-NIPOLE binocular free for 7 days and see for yourself why these remarkable binoculars were chosen by the successful 1975 Everest Expedition; why they are recommended and sold by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and entitled to carry the seal of approval of The Game Conservancy. You will see why professional bodies such as the Wildfowl Trust and Forestry Commission, to whom binocular performance is of paramount importance, select FRANK-NIPOLE. Four models particularly favoured by birdwatchers: — Model Exit Relative Field of Price with Pupil Brightness View Weight Height Case 8 X 30 3.7 13.6 7° 18 ozs Aj ins £23.50 10 x 50 5 25 5.5° 36 ozs 7 ins £33.00 8 x 40 5 25 9° 36 ozs 5^ ins £47.83 10 X 40 4 16 7.5° 25£ ozs 4| ins £47.83 (BB2) It is our claim that FRANK-NIPOLE binoculars are comparable with other famous makes costing two or three times as much. If after 7-day free test you are not convinced that our claim is justified you may return the binoculars and we will refund any money paid. In addition, we will give you the opportunity of purchasing an East Zeiss, Leitz or Swift binocular at about 25% less than normal retail price. We will be pleased to send you details of this unusual offer, together with FREE colour brochure including 17 different models of Frank Nipole binoculars. Every FRANK-NIPOLE binocular is guaranteed for 7 years by Charles Frank, a name famous for binoculars since the turn of the century. Charles Frank"0 144 Ingram St, Glasgow G11EH. Tel. 041-221 6666 British Birds Volume 71 Number 2 February 1978 53 Spectacled Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland John Cudworth and B. R. Spence 58 Further mass seabird deaths from paralytic shellfish poisoning I. H. Armstrong , Dr J. C. Coulson, P. Hawkey and M. J. Hudson 68 Birds in action Michael W. Richards and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 75 Mystery photographs D. I. M. Wallace Notes 77 Montagu’s Harrier hovering Michael E. Taylor 77 Close nesting by two pairs of Sparrowhawks T. Beer and R. A. Morgan 78 Avocet with pink feet I. S. Robertson 78 Distinctive feeding action of Baird’s Sandpiper Douglas Page 79 Posture of Jack Snipe while feeding R. A. Hume 79 Unusual plumage of Greenshank John P. Wilkinson 79 Little Gull feeding on human food scraps Nick Riddiford and Mark Fletcher 80 Common and Black-headed Gulls feeding on road corpses P. K. Kinnear 80 Herring Gull attempting to catch snowflakes T. J. S. Pinpeld 80 Identification of hybrid or leucistic gull Martin Davies 82 Free-winged Budgerigars in the Isles of Scilly Bernard King 83 Robins feeding young at night Dennis Green 84 Robin-like feeding by Stonechat Mrs Sheila Bottomley 84 Spectacled Warbler in Cornwall G. J. Jobson 85 Goldcrests killed by edible frogs Dr Jorgen Rahul 85 Starlings imitating Cetti’s Warbler Derek Washington 86 Twites wintering in woodland J. H. Smart Reviews 87 Guide to the Young of European Precocial Birds by Jon Fjeldsi Dr W. G. Hale 87 Birds as Builders by Peter Goodfellow M . A. Ogilvie Letters 88 Birds living transfixed by arrows and twigs Dr Chris Hodgson 88 Birds feeding by artificial light M. D. England 88 Daylight hunting by Long-eared Owls J. M. Bayldon 89 Roosting behaviour of migrant House Martins K. G. Spencer 89 Tail-cocking by Moustached Warblers Dr H. Kumerloeve 90 Photography of birds in the hand Peter R. Clarke Requests 90 Mute Swan breeding census Malcolm Ogilvie, BTO and Ian Forsyth 91 Corncrake breeding census Michael O'Meara, Ian Forsyth and Dr C. J. Cadbury 91 News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett 93 Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge Line-drawings: Spectacled Warbler on page 53 ( D . I. M. Wallace) ; Shags on page 58 ( Killian Mullarney) ; Lapland Bunting on page 93 and Franklin’s Gull on page 94 (R. A. Hume ) Front cover: Pink-footed Geese (Peter Scott) Printed by Henry Burt & Son Ltd, College Street, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8na Published by Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF British Birds Volume 71 Number 3 March 1978 Paddyfield Warbler identification Avocets in England Personalities: Dr W. R. P. Bourne Mystery photograph • Notes * Reviews • Letters Spring and breeding season summary News and comment . Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr. J. T. R. Sharrock D. I. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £8.00; rest of world US $17.50 or equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG2 1 2xs, England.) UK Post Office Giro Account No. is 519 2455. Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to: Advertisement Department, British Birds, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF {tel: 01-240 1 101) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Shorter contributions, if not typed, must be clearly written and well spaced, and notes should be worded as concisely as possible. Authors of papers and notes should consult this issue for style of presentation (especially for systematic lists, reference lists and tables). Tables must either fit into the width of a page or into a whole page length- ways, and should be self-explanatory. English names of birds should have capital initials for each word, except after a hyphen, but group terms and names of other animals and plants should not. Both English and scientific names of birds, and the sequence, follow The ‘ British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). English and scientific names of plants follow John G. Dony et al. (1974, English Names of Wild Flowers). Scientific names (underlined) should appear immediately after the first mention of the English name. Dates should always take the form Tst January 1978’, except in tables where they may be abbreviated. Figures should be numbered with arabic numerals, and the captions typed on a separate sheet. All line-drawings should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper, drawing paper or board (not of an absorbent nature) or, where necessary, on light blue or very pale grey graph paper. It is important to consider how each drawing will fit into the page when reduced. Any lettering or numbering that is an integral part of a text-figure should be inserted lightly in pencil. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive 25 reprints free (15 each to two authors and ten each to three or more). News and comment Peter Conder, 12 Svvaynes Lane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7ef Rarities Committee John M. O’Sullivan, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds. SG19 2DL © Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photographers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF {tel: 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 onourprkes Heron w/ - £33.78 8x40 Bwcf Binoculars The Birdwatchers Glasses. As used by the forestry commission. Ideal for the young and beginners. Lightweight (26oz), extra wide angle, 525 ft field of view, also suitable for spectacle wearers. We believe them incomporable value at £33.78 inc. case and ^ lanyard plus 75p towards p&p. y Top quality optical goods at enormous savings Heron quality, Heron service. Heron choice - we hold in stock what we believe to be the largest range of telescopes and binoculars for birdwatchers in the country. A few examples are shown below: Retail Our BINOCULARS Swift Audubon 8.5X44 Price Price MK II (38oz) Swift Grand Prix 8X40 MK 1 £108.00 £79.40 (24oz) Carl Zeiss 10X40 B Dialyt £59 06 £43 40 (24oz) £274.33 £209.25 Carl Zeiss 8X30 B CF(18'/rOZ) Zeiss Jena 8X30 Jenoptem £291 38 £221 65 (17oz) Zeiss Jena 10X50 £53.83 £35 90 Jenoptem (35oz) £89 29 £59 50 Habicht Diana 10X40 (23oz) Leitz 10X40 B(21oz) TELESCOPES B Nickel Supra 15X60X60 £232.23 £168.37 £262 82 (28oz) Hertel & Reuss Televari £151.88 £100 50 25X60X60 (32oz) £146.25 £96 75 Order direct from this list — Prices correct as of 1st Dec. 1977, inclusive of case, lanyard and manufacturer's guarantee, plus 75p post and packing charge Access and Barclaycard accepted. Apply for details and send for your guide to Binocular & Telescope ownership. Further details and comprehensive price list available in return for this coupon, including Field & Trek Catalogue of camping, rambling and climbing equipment. Or call in person and see our vast stock for yourself. 14 DAY APPROVAL SERVICE To Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road, Brentwood Essex CM144ER Please send me details and price lists on: Binoculars| [Telescopes □ „ Field & Trek Camping Equipment NAME ADDRESS Heron NEW 10x40 Wide-angle Binoculars £34.93 Quality, power and light weight, too — a mere 20oz! 367 ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Slim Zeiss-type body, centre focus, black finish, fully-coated lenses, also suitable for spectacle wearers. Excellent value at £34.93 inc. case, ^ straps and lanyard, plus 75p p&p. Heron NEW 8x40 ' Zcf binoculars. £24.81 Weight 21oz, 321ft field of view at 1,000 yards. Fold-down rubber eyecups. Only £24.81 ^lus 75p p&p. ^ Schmidt & Bender' 15-60xzoom telescope with 60 mm This k object magnificent “|||| lpn<. telescope from ~ ■«- icno West Germany is ideal for use on reservoirs and seashore Robust in construction, excellent in optical quality We believe PQfi 7c this to be the best on the market today Weight 950 g. length 300 m closed. 560 mm open Fitted with tripod bush Exit pupil 4 1 mm. light gathering power 16 1 twilight 30-60, field of view 1.000 m 47 12 m At a recommended retail price of £146 25 the Heron price of £96 75 including leather case and rubber eyecup for spectacle wearers is outstanding value Add 75p p&p j 1 (BB3) / Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road/ Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4ER. Tel: (0277) 221259/219418. Telex: 995566. Only 5 minutes from Brentwood Station. 30 minutes from London's Liverpool St. Station (Southend Line). Open daily 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Thursday 1pm. i Recording Natural History Sounds RICHARD MARGOSCHIS “A well written, non-technical introduction into the tech- niques of wildlife sound recording by one of the country’s foiemost experts” RSPB. Cat. Paperback ISBN 0900 602 24 4 £2.75 Hardback ISBN 0900 602 23 6 £4.00 Please order direct from PRINT AND PRESS SERVICES LTD 69 BEECH HILL ' BARNET • HERTS ' EN4 OJW (BB76) BOOKS ON BIRDS Catalogue on request WHELDON & WESLEY LIMITED LYTTON LODGE CODICOTE Nr. HITCHIN HERTS. SG4 8TE Tel. Stevenage (0438) 820370 (BB68) The monthly magazine of the Swiss Society for Protection of Birds, VOGEL DER HEIMAT publishes actual reports on ornithology and bird protection in Switzerland and abroad. 1 1 issues P.A., with many photos and other illustrations ; annual subscription sFr. 21 .50 plus postage. Please order a free copy from : Druckerie M. Kiirzi AG, CH 8840 Einsiedeln - Switzerland (BB56) II British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER 3 MARCH I 9 78 Identification of a Paddyfield Warbler D. S. Flumm and JV. A. G. Lord From 30th September to 15th October 1974, a pale adult Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola was present on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. It was seen on only seven of the 16 days, but was trapped on 15th October, and the record was eventually accepted by the Rarities Committee. Because of considerable identification difficulties and the 60 to 80 observ- ers involved — many of whom considered the bird to be a leucistic Sedge Warbler A. schoenobaenus — a thorough, dav-by-day account is presented here. 30th September At 16.00 GMT, DSF located the warbler feeding actively in common reeds Phragmites australis at the seaward end of Porth Hellick pool; with NAGL, he watched it for two hours in good light at very close quarters. The following is a summary of the field notes. The initial impression was of a very pale, ‘washed-out’ Sedge Warbler, especially as the head pattern, although much less obvious, was reminis- cent of that species: a dark line through the eye, and a distinct whitish supercilium bordered by a dark line. Without other species for direct comparison, size was difficult to estimate, but was considered to be near that of a Sedge Warbler. There, however, the resemblance ended. The nape and mantle were unstreaked pale grey-brown ; the rump was a paler {Brit. BirJs 71 : 95-101, March 1978] 95 96 Paddy field Warbler identification 31. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus a^ricola, Isles of Scilly, October 1974 ( D. B. Hunt) and warmer brown, but the uppertail-coverts were noticeably brighter (‘rufous’: NAGL). The rather short, rounded wings were a shade darker than the upperparts, with paler edges to the primaries and secondaries. The underparts looked pure silky-white. The tail was rather abraded, but strikingly pale, round-ended and looking much longer than that of a Sedge Warbler: the central feathers were grey-brown, tipped pale buff, and the outer ones pale buff. The bill appeared too slight for a Sedge Warbler, and 32. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus a«ricola , Isles of Scilly, October 1974 ( D . B. Hunt) Paddyfield Warbler identification 97 certainly did not have the proportions of that of a Reed Warbler A. scir- paceus : it was dark, noticeably blackish at the tip, with a pale flesh area at the base of the lower mandible (plates 31-33). The bird’s behaviour was extraordinary: it constantly flicked its tail, which was invariably held cocked, the body feathers were rather fluffed out, and the folded wings were always slightly drooped. It spent the entire time flycatching from the tops of the reeds or feeding on the ground, and on occasion would ‘crash’ through the vegetation like an Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina; even so, its movements from stem to stem, and its manner of climbing, were strongly indicative of an Acrocephalus. We heard it call 14 times: a very soft, yet affirmative ‘check’ or ‘chac’, quieter than the note of a Sedge Warbler. At 18.00 hours, DSF fetched M. J. Rogers and T. W. Parmenter, who watched the warbler for a further 20 minutes until dark and confirmed the details recorded above. We did not, however, establish a specific identification; after reference to Witherby et at. (1938) and Hollom (i960), the possibilities of Paddyfield Warbler and even Booted Warbler H. cali- gata were discussed, but no conclusion was reached. 3rd, 8th-gth and I3th-i4th October The warbler was seen by only a few other observers, but prevailing strong northerly winds kept it in the thick of the reed-bed. On 8th, after dis- cussion with various observers, the possibility of Booted Warbler was dismissed because the head and general coloration were unlike those of that species. Opinions on the precise colour of the legs varied: on 30th September, DSF, NAGL and MJR had thought them to be dark (al- though the colour may have been obscured by mud when feeding on the ground) ; but on 9th, MJR said that they were medium-brown in front and grey-green behind, looking highly translucent against the light, thus explaining other observers’ beliefs that they were pale. By the evening of 13th, there was a growing conviction that the bird was a Paddyfield Warbler, a view supported the following day by R. B. H. Smith, who had seen that species in southern India 20 months previously. 15th October Calm, sunny conditions ideal for observation prevailed. The bird was in view for most of the day and seen down to 4-5 m by many observers ; only two or three appeared to take field-notes, the majority dismissing it as a leucistic Sedge Warbler. DSF, NAGL and MJR agreed that the warbler, although still strikingly pale, now appeared noticeably browner. The darker line bordering the rather narrow supercilium broadened across the crown, only the forehead looking paler; this was best seen head-on and was hardly perceptible at any distance. A slight yellowish wash to the sides of the breast was also detected, and it was confirmed that the legs were pale. In the sunlight, the uppertail-coverts appeared quite rufous. By now, only two or three tail feathers were left, but these were still held cocked. DSF and D. B. Hunt noted also that the crown feathers were occasionally raised, as they are by some Hippolais warblers. The bird fed exclusively 98 Paddyfield Warbler identification in the reeds, and was never seen to enter the adjacent grey willow Salix cinerea, soft rush Juncus effusus, sea rush J. maritimus, bramble Rubusfruticosus or honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum. In view of the controversy and doubts which remained, it was decided that the identification should be confirmed in the hand. Permission to trap the warbler was obtained and it was mist- netted at 16.55 hours. It was retained in the hand for 25 minutes, photo- graphed in rather poor light (plates 31-34), and released; it returned to the reed-bed, but was not seen subsequently. The following description and measurements were recorded by RBHS: 33. Head of' Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola, Isles of Scilly, October 1974 (D. B. Hunt ) Initial impression of small size, small body, short wings and thin legs. upperparts Forehead, crown and nape uniform mousy-brown with olive cast and some paler feathers in centre of crown; mantle and back sandy-olive colour (diffi- cult to describe, neither yellowish nor greyish, but certainly pale) ; rump and uppertail-coverts fulvous, tending towards orange-brown rather than chestnut-brown, and contrasting markedly with remainder of upperparts and tail; supercilia off-white and fairly prominent, extending about 9 mm behind eyes and terminating in point; slight dark eye-streak, marginal on lores; ear-coverts slightly browner than upper- parts. wings Generally pale greyish-brown, darker than mantle and back; primaries and primary coverts uniform and darkest, slightly paler on outer webs; secondaries with sandy-olive fringes to outer webs, greater coverts tipped sandy-olive; alula dark brown, with buffish-white outer fringes (two of these feathers missing on left wing) ; most remigcs heavily abraded. tail Single remaining feather (which one not determined) sandy-brown, paler than primaries (new feathers in pin not noted Discussion The lack of available literature was a problem, as were the conflicting opinions of observers with previous experience of Paddyfield Warbler abroad, who thought that the bird was ‘not rufous enough’ for that species; it also appeared a lot paler than the illustrations in Bruun & when tail measured, but this point not checked specifically). underparts Chin, throat, centre of breast and belly silvery-white, with greyish feather bases showing through on breast and belly, and slight buff wash on sides of breast and flanks; undertail- and under- wing-coverts off-white. bare parts Upper mandible blackish- horn, pale pink on cutting edge; lower mandible pinkish-horn, with tinge of yellow at base; terminal 0.5 mm of bill pink. Interior of mouth yellowish; three prominent, blackish rictal bristles. Tarsus fleshy-brown or pale purplish-brown, slightly paler to the rear; soles yellow, claws pale horn. Iris olive-brown. wing formula 4th primary longest, 3rd — 0.5 mm, 5th — 1.0 mm, 6th — 2.0 mm, 7th — 4.0 mm, 8th — 5.0 mm, 2nd — 6.5 mm, 10th — 10. o mm; 1st reached tip of longest primary covert; 3rd, 4th and 5th emargin- ated on outer webs; notch on inner web of 2nd 10.5 mm, and on 3rd 9.0 mm. measurements Wing 53 mm; bill (from skull) 13.5 mm, (from feathering) 8.5 mm; bill width (at feathering) 4.0 mm ; tarsus 19.5 mm; hind claw 4.0 mm; tail (single remaining feather) 46 mm. Paddyfield Warbler identification 99 Singer (1975) and Heinzel et at. (1974). Subsequent research revealed considerable confusion. The abraded plumage showed that the bird was an adult, and the progressive loss of its tail feathers that it was in moult. Unfortunately, time did not permit a full examination for moult when the bird was trapped, but the photograph of the spread wing (plate 34) shows that the inner primaries were definitely old, since abrasion of the tips is quite prominent: the typical sequence of primary moult in small passerines is from the innermost primary outwards (Snow 1967), so, although the second and perhaps the 3rd and 4th appear to be in good condition, it is most likely that all the primaries were old. If so, the relative lengths of individual feathers should have been unaffected, unless wear had occurred differentially. According to Williamson (1968), the Paddyfield Warbler’s wing and tail moults take place in the wintering area very soon after arrival, but it must be unusual for all the tail feathers to be lost so rapidly, without re- placements appearing sequentially and in advance of any primary moult. One may speculate whether this was caused by physiological stress associ- ated with displacement, or whether the bird was simply ‘overtaken by events’ and prevented by onset of tail moult from continuing its migration. Whatever the explanation, it is unlikely that moult affected the measur- ments: with the aid of Svensson (1975) and Williamson (1968), these were used to demonstrate that virtually all possible species but Paddyfield Warbler could be excluded. Four points, however, did not entirely support this diagnosis: (1) the tip of the second primary fell between the 8th and 10th, instead of between the 5th and 8th primaries; (2) the length of the notch on the 2nd primary was 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm shorter than the minima given by Svensson and Williamson respectively; (3) the bill to feathering measurement was 1.0 mm shorter than Svensson’s minimum; and (4) the tarsus was 0.5 mm shorter than Williamson’s minimum record- ed measurement, although within his calculated theoretical range for the species. These last two points are not necessarily very significant since, together with the wing length, they may merely indicate that the bird 34. Spread wing of Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola , Isles of Scilly, October 1974 ( D . B. Hunt ) 100 Paddyfield Warbler identification was a pai'ticularly small individual; this, or excessive abrasion of the feather, could account for the short notch on the 2nd primary. More importantly, the relative position of the tip of the 2nd primary is the chief diagnostic feature of Swinhoe’s Reed Warbler A. concinens (also known as Blunt-winged Warbler), which is said to be ‘probably indistinguishable in field from Paddyfield’ (King et al. 1975). It is treated as conspecific with Paddyfield by some authorities (e.g. Dementiev & Gladkov 1954), who recognised six subspecies, but Vaurie (1959) and Williamson (1968) con- sidered it a separate species. Three races are recognised: concinens from north China, wintering in southeast China; stevensi from Assam, wintering in Burma ; and haringtoni from north Afghanistan and Kashmir, wintering in northwest India. The colour differences, however, are rather slight, and there are considerable overlaps in wing lengths and wing formulae (Williamson 1968). The probability oi stevensi reaching western Europe must be negligible, but the possibility of vagrancy of the other two races, although remote, cannot be dismissed. The 1st primary of haringtoni is 4.8 mm longer than the primary coverts, and the 2nd 7-10 mm shorter than the wing point, so this race can be excluded. In concinens, the length of the notch on the 2nd primary (13- 14.5 mm) exceeds that of the Scillies bird, and other, even more marginal, differences in length of bill, tarsus and 10th primary can be detected by careful study of the details in Williamson (1968). The remaining three forms, agricola, brevipennis and tangorum, were con- sidered by Vaurie to be races of the Paddyfield Warbler. Williamson, however, believed this to be a monotypic species with two colour phases: agricola, a bright rufous; and brevipennis, of a worn duller appearance; he considered tangorum to be a race of yet another species, Schrenk’s Sedge Warbler A. bistrigiceps (also known as Black-browed Reed-warbler). Doubtless, the Scillies individual was Williamson’s brevipennis phase. It seems that part of the initial difficulty with the Scillies bird in the field was due to a lack of awareness on the part of observers — ourselves includ- ed— of just how pale an adult Paddyfield Warbler can appear in autumn. Illustrations in the current field guides, while adequate for plumages during most of the year, could be misleading for a worn autumn adult. Wallace (1973) discussed the separation of Paddyfield from Blvth’s Reed Warbler A. dumetorum in the field. The possibility of the latter was raised, but later rejected, because that species has a longer bill and less conspic- uous head pattern. Leucistic Sedge Warbler was dismissed by some observ- ers for reasons already stated, and leucistic Moustached Warbler A. melanopogon was similarly rejected since that species has a louder call, shorter tail and darker legs. We concluded that the bird was a Paddyfield Warbler because, together with the hand measurements, our field observa- tions on (a) the general paleness, (b) head pattern, (c) short bill, (d) short wings and long tail and (e) general behaviour eliminated all other Acroce- phalus warblers. After prolonged study, the Rarities Committee accepted the record (Dymond et al. 1976); although described as the fifth British record, its discovery on 30th September actually preceded that of the other individ- Paddyfield Warbler identification ioi ual in 1974, an immature at Low Hauxley, Northumberland, on 12th October (Smith et al. 1975). The three previous records were on Fair Isle, Shetland, from 26th September to 1st October 1925 (Stenhouse 1925) and on 1 6th September 1953 (Williamson 1954), and at Hartlepool, Durham (now Cleveland), from 18th to 21st September 1969 (Smith et al. 1972). As the first was collected and the other three ti'apped, all records of Paddyfield Warbler in Britain have hitherto concerned birds solely exam- ined in the hand; we believe that there is no reason why the next should not be identified in the field. Acknowledgements We wish to thank P. Z. Mackenzie and the Nature Conservancy Council for allowing us to trap the bird and for information on the local plant community. D. B. Hunt kindly provided the photographs. We thank B. A. E. Marr and M. J. Rogers for their construct- ive criticisms of an earlier draft and, especially, R. B. H. Smith for supplying the hand description and measurements, in addition to most of the ‘Discussion’ section. MJR helped in the field and typed the final draft. Summary A Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola was present on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, from 30th September to 15th October 1974, when it was trapped. A day-by-day account is presented of the difficulties encountered in its identification. Details of this process, and that of eliminating other possibilities, are given. The head pattern, short bill, short wings, long tail and behaviour were important points, and the general paleness (in worn autumn plumage and moulting) indicated that it belonged to the pale phase brevipennis (William- son 1968). The record has been accepted by the Rarities Committee. References Bruun, B., & Singer, A. 1975. The Hamlyn Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe , 2nd edn. London. Dementiev, G. P., & Gladkov, N. A. (eds.) 1954, translated 1966. The Birds of the Soviet Union, vol. 6. Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem. Dymond, J. N., & the Rarities Committee. 1976. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1975. Brit. Birds 69: 321-368. Heinzel, H., Fitter, R., & Parslow, J. (1974) The Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. 3rd edn. London. Hollom, P. A. D. i960. The Popular Handbook of Rarer British Birds. London. King, B., Dickinson, E. C., & Woodcock, M. 1975. A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. London. Smith, F. R., & the Rarities Committee. 1972. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1971. Brit. Birds 65: 322-354. 1975- Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1974. Brit. Birds 68: 306-338. Snow, D. W. 1967. A Guide to Moult in British Birds. BTO Field Guide No. 1 1. Tring. Stenhouse, J. H. 1925. Jerdon’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus agricola at Fair Isle: an addition to the British avifauna. Scot. Nat. 1925: 173- 174. Svensson, L. 1975. Identification Guide to European Passerines. 2nd edn. Stockholm. Vaurie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna: Passeriformes. London. Wallace, D. I. M. 1973. Identification of some scarce or difficult west Palearctic species in Iran. Brit. Birds 66: 376-390. Williamson, K. 1954. Paddyfield Warbler at Fair Isle. Brit. Birds 47: 297-301. — — - 1968. Identification for Ringers 1. The Genera Cettia, Locuslella, Acrocephalus and Hippolais. BTO Field Guide No. 7. 3rd edn. Tring. Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 1938. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. 2. London. D. S. Flumm, 80 Waldegrave Road, Brighton, East Sussex N. A. G. Lord, 4 Dawson Terrace , Brighton, East Sussex Avocet population dynamics in England C. J. Cadbury and P. J. S. Olney Emblem of the RSPB and almost wholly confined as a British breeding bird to two of that society’s reserves, the Avocet has been much studied since its recolonisation of Suffolk in the 1940s Until the early 19th century, Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta bred regularly —but perhaps not commonly — on the east coast of England, from the Humber to Kent, and in southeast Sussex. In 1818, they still nested on Orfordness, Suffolk, close to the present-day breeding site on Havergate Island (Ticehurst 1932). Breeding apparently ceased in Norfolk in the mid 1820s (Riviere 1930) ; at the mouth of the Trent, north Lincolnshire (now Humberside), in about 1840 (Smith & Cornwallis 1955) ; and on Romney Marsh, Kent, in the mid 1840s (Harrison 1953). The collecting of eggs and specimens may have been ultimately responsible for this temporary extinction (Axell 1977). Then, for about 100 years, there were only two or three breeding records: an attempt in Suffolk in 1882, and possibly another in 1893; and, unexpectedly, one in Co. Wexford in 1938. Re- colonisation of eastern England began in the early 1940s, when public access to coastal areas was restricted. Avocets bred in Norfolk in 1941 (Seago 1967), and in Essex in 1944 and probably in 1953 (Hudson & Pyman 1968). Suffolk was recolonised in 1947, when four pairs nested at Minsmere and four or five on Havergate Island (Brown & Lynn-Allen 1948). Most of the English population continues to breed at these two sites: during the 1968-72 Atlas survey, Avocets were confirmed breeding in five 10-km squares in Suffolk, with possible breeding in Norfolk and Lancashire (Sharrock 1976). The Avocet has a disjunct breeding distribution, mainly in the steppe regions of the southern Palearctic, with pockets in the west, including the Mediterranean. It now breeds regularly in Cape Province, South Africa, 102 [Bril. Birds 71: ios-121, March 1978] Avocets in England 1 03 and irregularly in East Africa, where large numbers winter (Voous i960, Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1962). In 1969, the estimated breeding popu- lation in northwest Europe was 10,280 pairs, with most in the Netherlands (4 1 '/o) 5 the German Federal Republic (27%) and Denmark (24%); Sweden held 6%, and 130 pairs in England represented 1.3%, while the German Democratic Republic and the Atlantic coast of France had even smaller proportions (Tjallingii 1970). The recolonisation of England can possibly be related to an increase in the northwest European popu- lation: in Denmark there was a 200% increase from 750 pairs in 1920 to 2,300 in 1970 (Dybbro & Jorgensen 1971). In Estonia, breeding was first suspected in 1962, and by 1972 there were 42 pairs (Kallas 1974). Apart from accounts covering the first few years after the recolonisation of Suffolk (Brown & Lynn- Allen 1948; Brown 1949, 1950), the only detailed published information on this relatively well recorded population has been by Conder (1962) and Olney (1965). This paper aims to collate the data available for the 31 years 1947-77 on the breeding numbers and fledging success of Avocets in Suffolk, and to consider the dynamics of this population. Havergate and Minsmere are only 2 1 km apart. The former is situated on the estuary of the River Aide and its embanked lagoons are subject to some flooding with saline water. At Minsmere, the shallow water areas frequented by Avocets are largely artificially created by excavation and manipulation of water levels; the ‘Scrape’, a series of shallow, brackish pools with islands, has no adjoining estuary. Methods Since it was assumed that most failed nests were replaced, the annual breeding population was calculated by subtracting the number of failures up to mid June from the total nests. In the three breeding seasons 1970-72, a total of 125 half- or three-quarter-grown young Avocets was ringed at Minsmere; a further 24 were ringed at Havergate between 1971 and 1973. All but nine were marked with a plastic (darvic) ring above the tibio- tarsal joint of the left leg and a monel BTO ring in the same position on the right leg, different colours distinguishing young from the two colonies and in the different year groups. Almost all fledged successfully. Breeding population and productivity The numbers of Avocet pairs breeding at Havergate and Minsmere since 1947 are shown in fig. 1 and table 1. The Havergate population increased steadily to 97 pairs in 1957, declined to 48 by 1964 and then recovered to reach 118 pairs in 1969; subsequently, it has fluctuated between 84 and 1 12 pairs. The initial colonisation of Minsmere in 1947 was associated with flooding of the area; conditions, however, became unsuitable and, although eight birds returned in 1948 (Axell 1977), none bred there again until 1963, following the creation in the previous year of the first 5 ha of the Scrape; thereafter, there were annual increases and the total reached 53 pairs in 1977. The rate of increase at Minsmere ranged from 104 Avocets in England Table i. Breeding population and breeding success of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta in Suffolk H = Havergate; M - Minsmere BREEDING PAIRS H M (-(-non-breeders) young reared Others Total H M Others AV. YOUNG reared/pr H M •947 4 4 8 8 I (2.0) (0-3) 1948 5 I 6 •3 (2.6) •949 •7 •7 31 1.8 •95° 21 21 40 ••9 •951 24 24 40 ••7 1952 40 40 120 3-o •953 45 45 67 ••5 •954 52 52 c.-jo ••3 1955 66 66 C.lOO ••5 1956 79 79 C- 50 0.6 1957 97 97 c.5° o-5 1958 90 90 3> o-3 •959 85 85 44 0.7 i960 67 67 35 o-5 1961 62 62 60 1.0 1962 77 1 78 20 o-3 1963 55 I 56 29 I o-5 (..0) 1964 48 • ( + •) 49 52 3 I.I (3-o) •965 52 3 ( + •) 55 78 IO ••5 (3-3) 1966 65 4 69 124 8 ••9 (2.0) •967 73 6 79 •39 16 ••9 (2-7) 1968 108 7 (+2) I I l6 162 7 1 ••5 (i.o) 1969 1 18 '• (+2) 3 •32 178 2 1 I ••5 ••9 •970 102 •5 4 121 •75 34 2 •■5 2-3 •97i 93 25 7 •25 • 03 55 3 I . I 2.2 •972 I IO 35 ( + 3) 4 •49 25 66 0.2 ••9 •973 I 12 3« 4 •54 50 66 I 0.4 '•7 •974 86 40 7 •33 6 57 2 0.1 •■4 •975 107 4i 9 •57 80 62 4 0.7 ••5 •976 95 5i 3 •49 12 46 0.1 0.9 •977 84 53 I •38 I 3 4 0.1 0.1 36% to 67% during 1969-72, but between 1972 and 1975 declined markedly to less than 10%. Displacement from drought-affected areas may have accounted for the 24% (ten pairs ) increase in 1976, when little rain fell over much of northwest Europe during the first eight months of the year. Table 2 shows the number of Avocets breeding at Minsmere compared with the availability of suitable feeding and nesting habitat resulting from developments on the Scrape. The most rapid growth occurred between 1968 and 1973, when the Scrape was enlarged from 10.3 ha to 20.5 ha and the number of islands increased from 31 to 50. Subsequently, there has been little increase in either (Axell 1974, 1977); other possible effects of this are discussed later. Elsewhere on the Suffolk coast, one pair probably bred in 1948 and another in 1962. Since 1968, Avocets have bred at five sites in Suffolk away from the two reserves — at some regularly — but the Avocets in England 105 Number of breeding pairs Fig. 1 . Breeding populations of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta, and average number of young reared per pair, at Havergate (dots and solid lines) and Minsmere (squares and broken lines), Suffolk, 1947-76. Average annual rates of change of whole Suffolk population: 1949-57= +25% ±17%; 1957-64. — 8% d= 1 1 % ; 1964-77= +9% ±12%. Average number of young reared per pair: 1949-77, i.i±o.7; 1969-77, 1.51L0.7 Table 2. Population of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta at Minsmere in relation to area of the ‘Scrape’ and number of islands Under ‘Total area’, figures are approximate, since earthmoving in some areas took more than one year; number of islands not known for all years Total no. Breeding pairs Total area (ha) of islands (+ non-breeders) 1962 Started 1963 4-9 6 I 1964 5-7 25 i ( + 1) 1965 9.0 25 3 ( + 0 1966 10.3 4 1967 10.3 6 1968 10.3 7 ( + 2) 1969 12.3 3i 11 ( + 2) I97° 13-9 15 !97i 15.6 25 1972 16.4 35 ( + 3) !973 20.5 50 38 1974 20.5 40 1975 20.5 55 41 j976 20.5 5i 1 977 20.5 53 Avocets in England 107 total number of pairs has not exceeded nine in any year (table 1). By 1975, the Suffolk breeding population had reached 157 pairs. The average annual rate of change was +25% during 1949-57, —8% in i957-64 and +9% in 1964-77 ; over the whole period, there was an annual increase of io±i4%. The greatest change between years (ex- cluding 1948-49) was an increase of 37 pairs (47%) from 1967 to 1968. Details of the total number of young fledged and the average number reared per breeding pair each year are shown in table 1 . The mean annual average for the Suffolk population as a whole was 1.1 (1949-77), with 1.1 for Havergate (1949-77) and 1.5 for Minsmere (1969-77). At Havergate, there were two periods (1956-63 and 1972-77) when the average number of young reared per breeding pair did not exceed 1.0; in 1958 and 1962, and five of the six years 1972-77, it was below 0.5. By contrast, at Mins- mere, the only years since 1969 in which it fell below 1.4 were 1976, a summer of exceptional drought, and 1977, when there was a prolonged spell of cold weather in May and June and particularly heavy predation of the young. Reasons for the differences and fluctuations will be dis- cussed by Cadbury et al. (in prep.). An average output of 1.1 young per pair has been exceeded at Havergate in only 13 of the 29 years (1949-77) in which more than ten pairs bred, but has been achieved in all but two of nine years since 1969 at Minsmere (table 1). Ringing results Age of first breeding Details of ringed Avocets seen at the Suffolk colonies in the breeding season are shown in table 3. Of the 140 young colour-ringed in Suffolk, Table 3. Colour-ringed Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta summering in Suffolk Numbers expected alive are calculated assuming a survival rate of 0.40 in the first year and 0.90 in subsequent years; nb = non-breeders AGE CLASS i-yr 2-yr 3-Yr 4-yr 5-Yr 6-yr 7-yr No. of ringed birds (no mortality) 140 140 140 140 140 87 22 Ringed birds expected alive 56nb 50 45 4i 36 21 5 Ringed birds observed in Suffolk ionb (8nb) !3 13 9 9 !5 4 Ringed birds observed at natal colony Havergate inb (2nb) inb (2nb) 2nb inb I Minsmere 5nb 9 7 4 5 10 2 % observed Suffolk expected alive >7-9 (mb) 26.0 28.8 22.0 25.0 71-5 % observed natal colony expected alive 10.7 20.0 20.0 12.2 16.7 47.6 35 & 36. Top, part of large flock of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta in flight, Netherlands, September 1975 ( Jan van de Kam); bottom, Avocet, Havergate Island, June 1976 ( Michael W. Richards) io8 Avocets in England 37. Adult Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta feeding, Netherlands, April 1973 (Jan van de Kam) only 7% returned in their first summer after fledging and none bred. Unless they had overwintered, these immatures arrived later (end of April to late May) and departed earlier (before mid June) than the majority of established breeders, which tended to arrive between mid March and mid April and depart in July and August; some paid only fleeting visits to the colonies, but others formed a temporary pair bond and even attempted copulation. Evidence of their somewhat nomadic life is provided by a Minsmere-ringed Avocet which spent the first week of June with five unringed individuals on the north Norfolk coast, 106 km northwest of Minsmere ( Norfolk Bird Rep. 1972). It is possible that six Avocets observed in June 1976 on the Tamar estuary, Cornwall/Devon, normally a wintering area, were immatures (F. Edwards in litt.). The proportions breeding in their second, third and fourth summers were only 8%, 8% and 6% respectively of the total ringed as young; there were also two second-summer non-breeders. Of a minimum of 17 that returned to Suffolk when two to four years old, 1 1 (65%) bred for the first time in their second summer after fledging. At Minsmere, a third-year male paired with a second-year female. Boyd (1962) considered the age of sexual maturity to be between two and three years. Fidelity to natal and breeding sites Colour-ringing demonstrated that there was some interchange between Havergate and Minsmere. Of the Avocets ringed as young at the latter site, at least eight returned there to breed for the first time, while a minimum of four moved to Havergate. In addition, one was first recorded breeding at Havergate when five years old, but it may have already bred at Minsmere; another bred in a small satellite colony nearby. Of those ringed at Havergate, only one has bred there. One moved to Minsmere for its initial breeding attempt when three years old. On this evidence, Avocets seem not to exhibit strong attachment to iheir natal site when breeding for the first time. Edelstam (1971) recorded the recoveries of four adults in the breeding season 140-310 km from where they had been Avocets in England 109 ringed in Sweden as young. Without markings to facilitate recognition of individuals in the field, it has not been possible to collect much information on tenacity to breed- ing site. At Minsmere, however, what was almost certainly the same ringed male occupied a particular feeding and nesting territory for six summers in succession from the age of two. Moreover, on limited evidence, there was little change in the numbers of certain year groups breeding at Havergate and Minsmere in their second, third, fourth and fifth years after fledging. In 1977, however, there was an influx of 11 six-year-olds that had been ringed at Minsmere: only four of this age class had been recorded in 1976, and the maximum for any previous breeding season was seven when four years old. Passage and wintering areas The presence of colour-ringed Avocets in the high-tide roost on Havergate Island between early July and the end of October indicated that both adults and juveniles from Minsmere joined those from Havergate in the post-breeding period to feed in the Aide estuary and Butley Creek. Besides one local recovery of a first-autumn bird, there have been four recoveries from the Continent (fig. 2) : from the Netherlands (first- autumn) ; and (in autumn or early winter) from north Spain, south Spain and Portugal. The Netherlands recovery was from Zuidelijk Flevoland, where up to 4,500 Avocets have been recorded during the autumn pas- sage (van Poelgeest & Osieck 1974). So far, there is no evidence that the English population uses the Dollart in northeast Netherlands, where up to 25,000 Avocets — 75% of the northwest European population — congregate in late summer and autumn (Braaksma et al. 1969, Spitz i969)- Ringing recoveries have shown that Avocets from Sweden (Edelstam 1971) and the Netherlands (Bannerman 1961, Speek 1973, and annual reports of the Vogeltrekstation, Arnhem, published in Limosa ) winter 38. Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta with nest and four eggs, Havergate Island, June 1950 ( Eric Hosking) I 10 Avocets in England ★ Natal site • Recovery O Sighting Fig. 2. Movements of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta ringed as unfledged young in Suffolk (data for 1970-77) mainly on the Atlantic coast of France ancl southwestern coast of Iberia, although there are a few recoveries from North Africa and one from West Africa: 10,900 recorded by Prater & Grieves (1975) in January 1975 on the coastal marshes of Portugal represented about 80% of those wintering in Europe. It might be expected that some — if not most — of the English population winter in the same region. A few Avocets overwinter in northwest Europe. In the Netherlands, about 100 were recorded in midwinter in the Delta area in the southwest Avocets in England 1 1 1 Table 4. Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta wintering in Suffolk At Havergate, in 1972/73 two first-winter individuals, and in 1973/74 one second-winter, had been ringed as young at Minsmere 1968/69 69/70 70/71 71/72 72/73 73/74 74/75 75/76 76/77 Havergate 3 3 3 6 9 10 15 20 15 Minsmere 1 - - 1 Jan 2 1 Nov 1 Nov & Dec & Dec during 1912-19 (van Oordt 1919); some still winter there (Woolf 1968) and in Zuidelijk Flevoland (van Poelgeest & Osieck 1974). One ringed as a chick in Denmark in 1941 was recovered freshly dead near the River Itchen, Hampshire, in January 1942 (BTO Ringing Office), but Avocets did not winter regularly in Britain and Ireland until 1947/48, when four were recorded; a trend for the number to increase has been accelerated by a succession of mild winters during 1971-76 (fig. 3). Of the total of 123 in winter 1973/74, 79 (64%) were on the Tamar and Tavy estuaries; 29 (24%) elsewhere in southwest England; two in Sussex; one each in Kent, Norfolk and Ireland; and 10 (8%) in the vicinity of Havergate, where there have been small but increasing numbers since 1968/69 (table 4). Havergate is the only area on the east coast of England where Avocets regularly winter: in 1972/73, two of the nine were in their first winter, and what was probably one of these reappeared in the following winter; colour-ringed first- and second-winter Avocets have been re- corded on 55 and 77 bird-days respectively between 1st November and the end of February, while a known older individual has been identified only once within that period. Fig. 3. Post-breeding (upper line) and wintering (lower line) populations of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta in Britain and Ireland, 1945-76. Minsmere was recolonised in 1963 I 12 Avocets in England Colour-ringing of Avocets in Suffolk has confirmed a link between this breeding population and that wintering on the Tamar and Tavy. A Minsmere-ringed Avocet was observed in the November of its first winter (1971) on the Tamar, and one (if not the same individual, at least of the same year group) was recorded there in February of its second and third winters; in 1971, it was accompanied by two others which may also have been reared at Minsmere, judging from the position of a metal ring on their right legs ( Devon Bird Reps. 1971, 1973, 1 974) - Immigration Between 19 1 1 and 1974, a total of 7,722 Avocets was ringed in the Nether- lands, the majority as young; of these, 1,722 were marked in the five years 1970-74 (Speek 1973, and annual reports of the Vogeltrekstation). In 1964 and 1965, on Vlieland and in Noordholland, 91 adults were marked with celluloid or anodised metal colour rings above the tibio- tarsal joint. Some colour rings slipped below the joint and many of the celluloid ones were soon lost or discoloured, but, nevertheless, an Avocet with a celluloid ring was observed in the Netherlands in 1972 and one with an anodised ring in 1976 (A. A. Blok in litt.). In spite of the relatively large numbers of Avocets ringed in the Nether- lands, only seven provide evidence of immigration into the Suffolk popu- lation. One, identified through a telescope by its ring number, had been ringed as a chick on Vlieland and was breeding at Havergate in 1974, when 1 1 years old. Another, with a black or tarnished metal ring below the joint on the left leg (a position not used in Suffolk), bred at Havergate in 1972 and was observed there again at the beginning of the 1973 breed- ing season; it may have been one of the colour-marked birds from the Netherlands, since certain anodised rings appeared blackish in the field (black celluloid rings were also used, but the chances of one remaining in place until 1972 are small). A third possible immigrant, with an orange ring (a colour not used in Suffolk), was observed once in 1972 (red celluloid rings used in the Netherlands discoloured to orange: A. A. Blok in litt.). In 1977, at least four Avocets ringed abroad bred at Minsmere; two had what appeared to be yellow or gold anodised metal rings. The occurrence of what were probably Continental birds coincided with the breeding of additional Suffolk-ringed Avocets not present in previous years (table 3). Apart from an individual ringed as a chick in the Camargue, France, in May 1934 and shot in Essex in August of that year (Witherby 1936), there is no evidence of immigration from breeding populations in southern Europe. Causes of mortality At least two of the ringing recoveries from Iberia resulted from Avocets being shot, while an adult was shot in September on the River Aide. From an analysis of the recoveries of Avocets ringed as young in Sweden, Edcl- stam (1971) showed that shooting accounted for 32 of the 33 for which cause of death was recorded, most from wintering areas in France and Iberia. Such shooting pressure may be influencing the English and other northwest European breeding populations. Lack of protection may have Avocets in England “3 39, 40 & 41. Above, adult Avocet Recurvircstra avosetta with two young, Mins mere, 'June 1976 (Michael W. Richards) ; below, Avocet chasing Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, Minsmere, June 1974 (Richard Hunt) ; bottom, interaction between Avocet and Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, Nether- lands, July 1972 (Jan van de Kam) 1 14 Avocets in England prevented the species from breeding in Britain during much of the 19th and early 20th centuries. At the end of March 1972, a first-year Avocet died of lead poisoning at Havergate, having ingested no fewer than 55 shot pellets. Presumably, it had picked these up when feeding in an area that had been heavily shot over. Olney (i960) and Thomas (1975) have shown that a number of species of waterfowl are subject to lead poisoning in Britain, mostly ducks (Anatidae) which grub for food in mud in shallow fresh water. Birds feeding in generally softer estuarine sediments appear to be little affected, possibly because pellets tend not to lie near the surface. At least three Avocets wintering on the Tamar are known to have had fatal collisions with the 400-kv power lines which span the estuary in two places; another was injured. Overhead wires situated across flight paths used by waterfowl are well known to present hazards to them; most casualties on 400-kv lines appear to result from collisions with a single earthing wire suspended above the more visible conductors (Scott et al. T972)- Population dynamics of the Suffolk population To assess whether the reproduction of the Suffolk Avocets is alone sufficient to sustain the population levels without immigration, the observed and expected numbers of breeding adults are compared (table 5). In calculating the expected figures, it was assumed that 65% of the birds bred for the first time when two years old and the rest when three. Three different pairs of figures are used for first-year and adult survival rates. From 92 recoveries of Avocets ringed in northwest Europe, Boyd (1962) calculated a survival rate of 0.36 between fledging and the end of the first year, and one of 0.62 for adults. Using these figures, the observed population consistently exceeds the expected one to a significant extent; even though most Suffolk Avocets spend five or six months of the year in regions where they receive considerably less protection than in Britain, Boyd’s figure for adult survival is clearly too low. A. J. Cave (unpublished), Table 5. Observed and expected numbers of adult Avocets Reciirvirostra avosetta breeding in Suffolk (1950-77) and at Minsmere (1969-77) It was assumed that 65% of the birds bred for the first time when two years old and the remainder at three. * = P<0.05; ** = Pcar’, and so on, are inadequate in late summer or autumn, since they do not indicate whether the bird has undertaken its complete autumn moult and, therefore, do not fix its exact age. When a gull is in a transitional stage of moult, it is useful to record this fact. A thorough understanding of the sequence of immature plumages and the terminology used to describe them is essential when identifying and ageing gulls. Familiarity with the mechanics of gull moult and the effects of plumage wear and fading is also most important, since it will greatly clarify a seemingly complex field situation. Gulls have two moults annually. In spring, a partial moult renews the head and body feathers, usually a few inner wing-coverts, and some- times the tertials and central tail feathers. In autumn, there is a complete moult, but juveniles replace only their head and body feathers. Franklin’s Gull is exceptional in apparently having a complete moult in both spring and autumn. Adults usually start the complete autumn moult near the end of breed- ing activity; immatures begin the autumn moult earlier. Large species can take as long as four months to complete this moult, whereas small species take four to six weeks, but there is much individual variation, both in the length of moult and in the starting time. Some immature large gulls may start their wing moult as early as May, while some adults may not complete it until December or January. The moult periods given in the text refer to extreme dates between which moult can be expected: most individuals will start and complete their moult within this period. The timing of the moult sequence is related to the timing of the breeding season. In the southern hemisphere, this is the reverse of that in the northern hemisphere. In equatorial regions, the seasonality of breeding is much less marked: the moult sequence there does not always follow the same temporal pattern as in Europe and northern Asia. Broadly speaking, the moult of the primaries provides the yardstick by which progress of the autumn moult is measured. (Gulls have eleven primaries, but the vestigial outer one is ignored here.) The moult com- mences with the shedding of the inner (10th) primary, and progresses outwards. The moult of the rest of the plumage takes place mainly within the period when the primaries are being renewed, so that the full growth of the outer (1st) primary comes at or near the end of the moult. The rate of renewal of the primaries is slow, with usually only one or two adjacent feathers growing at any one time. The secondaries and tail feathers are moulted in a much less regular pattern, and large gaps are often visible where groups of feathers have been shed simultaneously. Wing-coverts are shed in groups, revealing the whitish bases of the underlying feathers, producing the whitish patches Field identification of gulls 149 and lines on the upperwing which are often noticeable in late summer and autumn. When a feather is lost accidentally, its replacement usually resembles that which would normally have grown at the next moult. Individuals with one or more replacement tail feathers are particularly frequent: on immatures this shows up as a white break in the otherwise complete tail band. Sick or injured birds are likely to have their moult sequence retarded. Adults which, for example, are unable to return to the breeding colony or are unable to participate in the colonial breeding activity, may lack the stimulus which produces breeding plumage. Captive birds are sometimes similarly retarded, and it is possible that vagrant gulls which have spent a long time outside their breeding range may also be affected. First-year gulls have rather pointed primaries and rounded tail feathers ; at subsequent ages (second-winter onwards), the primaries are more rounded and the tail feathers squarer, although these differences are rarely discernible in the field. The effects of wear and fading are always most obvious in the summer, when the wing and tail feathers are at their oldest, just before the autumn moult. White plumage is more prone to wear than dark, and the white tips and fringes may disappear completely. Brown plumage, especially the wing-coverts of immatures, fades markedly with age, and black or blackish areas become progressively browner. By late summer or early autumn, when the wing and tail moult is under Fig. 2. Wing of Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus in moult from first-summer to second-winter. (A) first-summer wing pattern; (B) moult half complete, inner four primaries new, 5th and 6th partially grown, and 4th about to be shed; (C) moult three- quarters complete, outer primary about to be shed, white patches on inner wing indicate that coverts not yet fully grown, and note that primary tips are more rounded in second- year (and subsequent) plumages than first-year; (D) second-winter wing pattern 1 50 Field identification of gulls way, the mixture of faded old feathers and complete and growing new ones often presents a most bedraggled appearance and produces wing patterns which may be unfamiliar; further, while the outer primaries are still growing, the wing-tip may appear more rounded than normal, and the wing-beat is quicker than usual until the full extent of the wing area is restored. It is impossible to illustrate the endless variations of wing pattern exhibited by gulls in wing moult, but their appearance can be visualised by comparing the wing patterns of the two adjacent ages involved. As an example, fig. 2 shows the wing patterns of a typical Mediterranean Gull in transition from first-summer to second-winter. Format Each part in this series will have an introduction covering general points relating to its group of species, with a table of comparative measurements from Dwight (1925) and a page of drawings depicting standing birds in first-winter plumage to aid size and structure comparisons. Much of the wing area shown in these drawings may — in the field and especially when swimming— be obscured by the overlap of body feathers: often only the tertials and primary tips are visible. This general introduction is followed by the species accounts, including flight drawings of adults and immatures of each species, in which the wing length and tail spreads have been slightly exaggerated to show the flight patterns clearly. DEFINITIONS Ear-spot more or less well defined area of dark feathers on ear-coverts, appearing as dark spot behind eye: feature mainly of hooded species in winter. Eye-crescent semicircular, dark area immediately in front of eye: feature of many hooded species in winter plumage. Carpal-bar contrasting dark band of feathers diagonally across inner wing, formed by brown or blackish median and lesser coverts and tertials. Scapular-crescent small, white, crescentic area formed by white tips to scapular feathers, readily visible on standing adults of several species, positioned about two-thirds of the way down back and contrasting with otherwise grey or black mantle. Tertial-crescent often broad, white crescent, formed by white fringes to tertials. positioned to rear of scapular-crescent on standing birds, immediately in front of projecting wing feathers. Mirror often prominent, rounded, white area near tip of otherwise black, outer one or more primaries. Table 1. Measurements in mm of four gulls Larus (from Dwight 1925) Sample size Wing Tail Bill Tarsus black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 12 280-315 I O4- I 24 30-37 42-47 Slender-billed Gull L. genei 24 278-320 1 10-125 35-48 46-54 Bonaparte’s Gull L. Philadelphia 27 246-271 99-108 27-32 33-37 Grey-headed Gull L. cirrocephalus 22 305-338 1 20- 1 34 35-42 48-60 Black-headed Slender-billed Bonaparte's Grey-headed Fig- 3- First-winter Black-headed Larus ridibundus, Slender-billed L. genei, Bonaparte’s L. Philadelphia and Grey-headed Gulls L. cirrocephalus, showing comparative sizes, shapes and stances 152 Field identification of gulls Part, i Black-headed, Slender-billed, Bonaparte’s and Grey-headed Gulls These foui' small- to medium-sized species form a distinct group among west Palearctic gulls. Their most striking common feature is the extensive white on the leading edge of the outer wing in flight. This is more extensive on adults than on immatures, but is readily visible at all ages. It is least extensive on Grey-headed Gull, which also has mirrors on the outer two primaries when adult, giving a diagnostic wing pattern ; on this species — unlike the other three — -the white leading edge is not visible from below. Immatures of all four have dusky head markings of varying strength, wing patterns of brownish carpal-bar and blackish secondaries, as well as the white on the leading edge, and white tails with a thin, clear cut, blackish subterminal band. These characters in combination are not shared by any other west Palearctic gull. All except Slender-billed have dark hoods in adult summer plumage, but — surprisingly — even that species usually has a dark ear-spot in winter and immature plumages, although it is much more faint than on the others. Black-headed, Slender-billed and Bonaparte’s normally reach adult plumage in their second winter; some Grey-headeds probably do so as well, but others have identifiable second-year plumages and do not be- come fully adult until their third winter. The proportion of Grey-headed Gulls having this longer immaturity is not known, but it is clearly much greater than for the others in this group, in which second-years are rarely identifiable in the field. Throughout most of its range, the Black-headed is the commonest and most familiar small gull (fig. 4). Slender-billed is rare anywhere north of its localised Mediterranean and southwest Asian breeding areas (fig. 6). Bonaparte’s is a rare vagrant from America (fig. 8), with only one or two records annually in Britain. Grey-headed is the typical gull of some African coasts and inland lakes (fig. 10), and has been recorded only once in Europe (Ree 1 973) - F'or European observers, the abundance of the Black-headed Gull makes it the key species for identifying the others in this group. Complete famili- arisation with its appearance, especially in immature plumages, from different angles and in varying light conditions, will greatly aid recogni- tion of the others, and avoid the dismissal of one of them as an odd-looking Black-headed. i53 Field identification of gulls Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus (figs. 3A and 5, plates 50-58) Fig. 4. World distribution of Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus , showing approximate breeding range (solid black) and approximate southern limit of winter/non-breeding range (black line) IDENTIFICATION This is the smallest of the abundant west Palearctic gulls. It is noticeably smaller than the European race of the Common Gull L. c. canus, and this is accentuated in flight, when the slimmer, more pointed wings and quicker wingbeats are discernible. It is easily separable from all gulls except the other three species in this group, the best point being the white along the leading edge of the outer wing in flight — more extensive on adults than immatures — visible at long range from both above and below. The brown hood of summer adults and some first-summer birds is diagnostic among west Palearctic gulls (the others having black or grey hoods), but it invariably looks blackish at a distance. In winter, the head is mainly white, with a neat blackish ear-spot and eye-crescent; bill and legs are red in breeding plumage, duller in winter, and dull flesh or yel- lowish-flesh in immatures. The separation of Black-headed from the other three species in this group is less straightforward : the brown hood colour is the only wholly diagnostic character, so a combination of factors involving size, structure and plumage must be used. With practice, a quick scan through flocks of Black-headed Gulls — checking characters of size, head pattern and shape, and wing pattern — is sufficient to eliminate the possible presence of one of the other species : Bonaparte’s is smaller, with a neat blackish bill and translucent white underwing; Slender-billed has a diagnostically elonga- ted forehead and bill, and head all white or with a very pale grey ear- spot; Grey-headed is larger and more heavily built, with a wholly dusky underwing and a distinctive wing pattern. AGEING Juvenile : extensive ginger-brown on head, mantle and sides of breast (summer to late September). First-winter : brown carpal-bar, blackish secondaries and tail band, winter head pattern (July to April). *54 Field identification of gulls First-summer : faded pale brown carpal-bar, blackish secondaries and tail band, hood developed to variable extent (March to October). Second-winter and second-summer : very few can be aged in their second year (see detailed description under second-winter), but vast majority in- separable from adults. Adult winter] second-winter : adult wing pattern, all-white tail, winter head pattern (August to March). Adult summer] second-summer : adult wing pattern, all-white tail, fully de- veloped hood (March to October). DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS Juvenile (fig. 5A, underwing and tail similar to first-winter, 5F) head white, washed buff when recently- fledged, with dark markings forming partial hood, separated from mantle by white collar, body underparts and rump mainly white, breast faintly washed buff when recently-fledged. Mantle, lower nape and sides of breast mainly rich ginger-brown, with pale-fringed feathers giving scaled effect on lower back, wings brown carpal- bar, tertials broadly fringed paler. Secon- daries mainly blackish, forming dark subterminal trailing edge to inner wing. Greater coverts mainly pale grey, forming pale mid-wing panel. Typical primary 50. Juvenile Black- headed Gull Larus ridi- bundus, South Yorkshire, July 1970 ( Richard Vaug- han) 51. Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus , moulting from juvenile to first- winter, Kent, August 1976 ( Pamela Harrison) !55 Field identification of gulls patterns shown in 5A and 5B: exception- ally, black on outer primaries more extensive, reducing white to two elongated mirrors as in 5C. Primaries may have tiny white tips from 4th inwards. From below, primaries and secondaries appear mainly blackish, with narrow white translucent leading edge to outer wing, tail white, with clear-cut narrow subterminal band, broadest in centre, outer pair of feathers sometimes all-white, barf, parts eye dark brown ; bill dull flesh or yellowish-flesh with extensive dark tip; legs dull yellowish- flesh. The striking ginger-brown appearance at this age is lost fairly quickly after fledging, but dispersing juveniles may occur far from breeding colonies. First-winter (figs. 3A, 5B and 5F) Acquired by post-juvenile head and body moult, which starts at fledging and is usually complete by late September. head white, with dusky eye-crescent and prominent blackish ear-spot, body mantle uniform pale grey, sometimes a few brown juvenile feathers retained. Rump and underparts white, wings as juvenile, but brown and blackish areas faded paler, and white tips on primaries and secondaries reduced or lacking, tail as juvenile, but band faded, and terminal whitish fringe reduced, bare parts much as juvenile. 52. First-winter Black-headed Gull Lams ridibundus, USSR, November 1976 ( Pamela Harrison ) 53. First-winter Black-hcaded Gull Lams ridibundus, North Humberside, February 1971 (. Richard Vaughan) i r}6 Field identification of gulls First-summer (fig. 5C, underwing and tail similar to first-winter, 5F. When standing, similar to first-winter, 3A, but hood usually moult, February to April. As first-winter except: head chocolate- brown hood of varying extent (field sample of 90 in May in southeast England showed 7% full hood ; 58% white-flecked full hood ; 24% more white than brown; 1 1% winter more extensive) Acquired by head and body head pattern, wings and tail becoming extremely worn and faded on some by mid summer, bare parts bill and legs more orange, less flesh-coloured; pro- minent dark tip to bill. 54» 55- First-summer Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus, Kent, April 1976 {Pamela Harrison) -v,' 'ir-iySfiffi/ mm M juvenile first- winter first- summer adult summer first- winter adult winter Field identification of gulls Frg- 5- Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus in flight j58 Field identification of gulls Adult winter I second-winter (fig. 5E, upperwing and tail patterns similar to adult summer, 5D.) Acquired by complete moult late summer to October. head and body usually as first-winter, but exceptionally with extensive dark markings or even full summer hood in mid winter, wings primaries and primary coverts with more white than in first-year plumages, black restricted to primary tips 56. Adult winter Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus, North Humberside, October 1970 ( Richard Vaughan ) 57. Adult winter Black- headed Gull Larus ridibun- dus, London, December 1967 ( David and Katie Urry) i59 Field identification of gulls inwards as far as 6th to 8th : pale grey tips to primaries usually from the 5th inwards. Remainder of wing pale grey, with thin white leading and trailing edges. From above and below, white leading edge to outer wing more extensive than in first- year plumages, and blackish area on underside more restricted, not extending onto secondaries. Underwing-coverts white or very pale grey, tail all white, bare parts bill dull red, with dark tip; legs dull reddish. A few fail to acquire full adult plumage in their second winter, showing dark markings, especially on the primary coverts, undetectable in the field. Individuals with orange- yellow bill with dark tip, and orange-flesh legs, may be confidently aged as second-years which have yet to acquire the adult bare part colour. Variation in the number of primaries with black and the number and extent of the pale grey tips does not seem to be con- nected with age. Individuals with normal adult summer plumage except for white flecks in the brown hood and paler bare parts are probably in second-summer plumage. Adult summerj second-summer (fig. 5D, underwing and tail similar to adult winter, 5E) Acquired by head and body moult, January As adult winter except : head brown hood fully developed, darker around rear margin, with thin white eye-ring, body some show pale pink flush on underparts. wings pale grey tips to inner primaries to April. reduced or missing, bare parts eye brown ; eye-lids red. Bill wholly dark red, only slightly paler in tone than brown of head ; gape red. Legs dark red. 5»- Adult summer Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus, German Democratic Republic, summer 1952 ( Ilse Alakatsch) 160 Field identification of gulls Slender-billed Gull Lai us genei (figs. 3B and 7, plates 59-64) Fig. 6. World distribution of Slender-billed Gull Larus genei, showing areas of proved breeding (solid black) and approximate southern limit of winter/non-breeding range (black line). Rare vagrant anywhere north of breeding areas; three records in Britain and Ireland, all in coastal southeast England, in i960, 1963 and 1971 IDENTIFICATION The slightly longer wings, longer legs and heavier body than Black- headed Gull are noticeable only when the two species are together. In flight, the tail looks slightly longer and fuller, as if to counterbalance the elongated head and neck; the tail is not wedge-shaped, contrary to some statements in the literature. The peculiar shape of head, neck and bill is perhaps the most important field mark at all ages: Black-headeds can look long-necked at times, but they never have the almost grotesque, ‘giraffe-necked’ look of Slender-billed when its neck is fully extended. The distance from the eye to the bill is greater than in the case of Black-headed, and the forehead is strikingly elongated, producing a peculiar ‘snout’ effect, which is further exaggerated by the longer bill: Black-headed rarely even suggests this appearance, having a more rounded head profile and shorter bill. The first-year wing pattern differs from Black-headed by usually hav- ing a paler brown carpal-bar and less extensive black. The lack of any prominent dark head markings — except for a pale grey ear-spot (if any at all) — and the paler bill (without extensive dark tip) and legs are further differences. The adult is instantly separable from Black-headed by the lack of any dark head markings or hood, the pale eye, and — in summer— by the strongly pink-flushed underparts. Grey-headed Gull has a head shape intermediate between Black-headed and Slender-billed, and, like the latter, has a long neck when alert, pale eyes when adult and pale head markings in winter; but its larger size, extensive black on the outer primaries at all ages, mainly dusky underwing without white and the darker grey tone of the wings are the most obvious differences. AGEING Juvenile : extensive grey-brown on head and mantle (summer to late September). Field identification of gulls 1 6 1 Fig. 7. Slender-billed Gulls Larus genei in flight 1 62 Field identification of gulls First-winter : pale brown carpal-bar, blackish secondaries and tail band, pale grey ear-spot, pale bill and legs (July to April). First-summer : faded, very pale brown carpal-bar, faded blackish secon- daries and tail band, pale bill and legs (March to October). Adult winter I second-winter: adult wing and tail pattern, pale grey ear-spot usually present, white underparts, pale eye, dark bill and legs (August to March). Adult summer / second-summer: adult wing and tail pattern, all-white head, pink underparts, pale eye, dark bill and legs (March to October). DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS Juvenile (not illustrated, but wing and tail pattern similar to first-winter, 3B, 7 A and 7C: head, body and bare parts as described below). Basic pattern of plumage similar to juvenile Black-headed except: head white, with pale buff and grey markings. Ear- spot and partial hood effect much less defined or lacking, body mantle and sides of breast grey-brown, lacking rich ginger- brown coloration, wings carpal-bar paler brown, and blackish areas at tips of inner primaries less extensive, hence dark trailing edge to middle wing less promi- nent. White on outer primaries and pri- mary coverts usually more extensive and black never so extensive as on some Black- headeds (cf. fig. 5C). bare parts eye dark brown. Bill pale orange-flesh, with dark tip small or lacking. Legs pale orange- flesh. First-winter (figs. 3B, 7A and 7C). Acquired by post-juvenile head and body moult, which starts at fledging and is usually complete by late September. Basic pattern of plumage similar to first- winter Black-headed except: head white, with indistinct dark eye-crescent and pale grey ear-spot, body underparts sometimes faintly tinged pink, wings as juvenile, but brown and blackish areas faded paler. barf, parts much as juvenile; some may show pale eye at close range. (See summary at end of first-summer description.) 59- F‘ rst-winter Slender-billed Gull Lams genei , Turkey, October 1977 (.5. C. Madge) First-summer (fig. 7B, underwing and tail similar to first-winter, 7C. W hen standing, similar to first-winter, 3B, but carpal-bar paler and ear-spot usually lacking.) Acquired by head and body moult, February to April Appearance as first-winter, except: head pale grey car-spot usually lacking. wings and tail invariably becoming very worn and faded, so that pale brown carpal- bar (and sometimes even dark secondaries) appear hardly darker than grey of mantle and rest of wings, bare parts eye usually becoming pale by late summer. Bill and legs pale orange, and some may acquire hint of adult coloration by late summer. Because of their general paleness, some distant perched first-year birds are separable from adults only by paler bill and legs, and (in summer) by lack of strongly pink-flushed underparts; in flight, first-year wing pattern and banded tail are more obvious. Field identification of gulls 163 Adult winter I second-winter (fig. 7E, wing and tail pattern similar to adult summer, 7D.) Acquired by complete moult, late summer to October. head and body as first-winter, but grey ear-spot sometimes lacking, wings and tail as adult Black-headed, but white on outer primaries more extensive, giving more prominent white leading edge to outer wing, bare parts eye white or pale yellow. Bill dark red or orange-red, looking black at distance. Legs not so dark as bill, with more orange tone. 661. Adult winter Slender-billed Gulls Larus genei with one adult winter Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus (right), Iran, February 1971 ( Pamela Harrison) 62. Adult summer Slender-billed Gull Larus genei, Spain, April 1969 (C. E. Wheeler) 164 Field identification ofi gulls Adult summer/ second-summer (fig. 7D, underwing and tail as adult winter, 7E.) Acquired by head and body moult, February to April. As adult winter, except: head all white, sometimes with pale pink flush, body whole underparts with usually strong pink flush, strongest on breast and belly. bare parts eye white or pale yellow ; eye- lids red. Bill all dark blood-red, darker than adult summer Black-headed and looking black at distance. Legs slightly less dark than bill. 63- Adult summer Slender-billed Gull Larus genet, France, June 1977 (J. G. Prins) 64. Adult summer Slender-billed Gulls Larus genei, USSR, May 1976 ( V . D. Siokhin ) Field identification ofi gulls 1 6 5 Bonaparte’s Gull Lams Philadelphia (figs. 3C and 9, plates 65-68) Fig. 8. World distribution of Bonaparte’s Gull Laras Philadelphia, showing approximate breeding range (solid black) and approximate southern limit of winter/non-breeding range (black line). Vagrant to western coastal Europe, with average of one or two records annually in Britain and Ireland IDENTIFICATION This attractive small gull is a miniature version of Bl xk-headed, lying between Black-headed and Little Gull. Size and the combination of quicker wingbeat, whiter underwing, neat blackish bill and surface-pick- ing feeding suggest a tern-like appearance, although this is more illusory than actual in terms of wing shape and flight action. The small size and the neatly black-bordered, extensively translucent white underside to the primaries (not extensively dusky as on Black-headed) are the best distinc- tions from the others in this group. Some worn and faded first-summer Black-headeds can seem to have a translucent underwing at times, but this impression is usually fleeting. In first-year plumages, there are several other differences from Black- headed. The smaller bill is black, sometimes with a reddish base (pale with dark tip in the case of Black-headed). The carpal-bar is darker brown and looks blackish at a distance. Unlike Black-headed, the inner primaries have neat white terminal spots (although these are subject to wear), and the subterminal black forms a thinner, neater black rear border to the middle wing. The mantle is a shade greyer, and, in first-winter, this colour extends forward onto the nape. Adults, as well as having the size and underwing differences, are further distinguished from Black-headed by all-black bill, black (often appearing dark grey) hood in summer, with more prominent white crescents above and below the eye, and usually stronger pink flush on the underparts. First-year Little Gull is much smaller than Bonaparte’s and has a rounded wing tip. The carpal-bar is blackish and the upperwing lacks the prominent white leading edge, although, when the wing is fully spread, the white inner webs of the outer primaries give a lined black-and-white appearance. From below, the wing is mainly white, lacking the translucent area on the primaries. Little Gull normally has a neat dark cap in winter and first-summer plumages, which Bonaparte’s lacks. Field identification of gulls 1 66 AGEING Juvenile : extensive blackish head markings and rich brown on mantle and sides of breast (summer to late September). First-winter : dark brown carpal-bar, blackish secondaries and tail band, winter head pattern (July to April). First-summer : faded brown carpal-bar, blackish secondaries and tail band, hood developed to variable extent (March to October). Adult winter I second-winter: adult wing pattern, all-white tail, winter head pattern (August to March). Adult summer / second-summer: adult wing pattern, all-white tail, fully de- veloped hood (March to October). DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS Juvenile (fig. gA shows an individual in moult from juvenile to first-winter. Underwing and tail similar to first-winter, gF). Basic pattern of plumage similar to juvenile Black-headed except: head mark- ings blacker with less brown. Ear-spot darker and more defined, and often with clear-cut cap. body mantle and sides of breast brown, without ginger tone, wings carpal-bar darker brown, looking blackish at distance. From above, pattern of prim- aries and secondaries is similar, but primaries from 3rd inwards usually pro- minently tipped white, and less black on 4th inwards, giving thinner trailing edge to middle wing: figs. gA (with most black) and gB (with least black) show extent of normal variation. Inner web of all pri- maries white (except for black tip), and lacks complete broad dusky border: this difference not visible on upperwing, but, from below, wing white, neatly bordered along rear edge by thin black line, with area of translucent white in triangle along leading edge, bare parts eye dark brown. Bill black, paler at base. Legs pale flesh. First-winter (figs. 3C, gB and gF) Acquired by post-juvenile head and body moult, which starts at fledging and is usually complete by late September. Basic pattern of plumage similar to first-winter Black-headed except: head ear-spot usually blacker and more defined. Nape, and sometimes crown, grey, (ex- tension of mantle colour), not white as Black-headed, body mantle uniform grey, slightly darker than Black-headed, some- times with a few retained brown juvenile feathers, wings as juvenile, but white primary tips reduced, bare parts much as juvenile. 65. First-winter Bonaparte’s (lull Larus Philadelphia, USA, March ig7f( {Alan Brady) Field identification of gulls 167 F first- winter D adult summer E adult winter Fig- 9- Bonaparte’s Gulls Lams Philadelphia in flight 1 68 Field identification of gulls First-summer (fig. 9C, underwing and tail similar to first-winter, 9F. On the ground, similar to first-winter 3C, but hood usually more extensive) Acquired by head and body moult, February to April. As first-winter, except: head black more summer, white primary tips and tail fringes extensive, and a few may acquire full may disappear, bare parts much as hood and lose grey nape, wings and juvenile. tail becoming worn and faded by late Adult winter I second-winter (fig. 9E, wing and tail pattern as adult summer, 9D) Acquired by complete moult, late summer to October. head and body as first-winter, but underparts may be slightly flushed pink, wings upperwing similar to adult Black-headed, but, from below, primaries lack extensive blackish: instead they are white with translucent triangle along leading edge, bordered along rear edge by thin black line formed by tips to outer six to nine primaries, tail white, bare parts eye dark brown. Bill black, sometimes with some red at base. Legs flesh to redd- ish-orange. 66. Adult winter Bonaparte’s Gull Larus Philadelphia, Cornwall, March 1968 (J. B. & S. Bottomley ) 67. Adult winter Bonaparte’s Gull Larus Philadelphia with adult summer Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus, Cornwall, March 1968 ( J . B. & S. Bottomley) Field identificat ion of gulls 169 A few fail to acquire full adult plumage at this age, showing dark markings especially among primal y coverts and rarely on tail: these faint marks probably rarely visible in field. 68. Adult summer Bonaparte’s Gull Larus Philadelphia, Canada, summer 1971. The inner primaries are being renewed, the start of the complete autumn moult into winter plumage {Alan Kitson ) Adult summer I second-summer (fig. 9D, underwing and tail as adult winter, 9E) Acquired by head and body moult, January to April. As adult winter except: head full blue- black hood, sometimes appearing dark grey in field, with prominent white cres- cents above and below eye, thickest at rear, body variable pink flush on under- parts. wings as adult winter, but whitish tips to primaries reduced or lacking, bare parts eye-lids black. Bill black. Gape orange-red. Legs orange-red. Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus (figs. 3D and 11, plates 69-77) Fig. 10. World distribution of Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, showing approximate breeding range (solid black) and approximate southern and northern limits of winter/ non-breeding range (black line). Only one European record: adult at Las Marismas, Spain, 30th June to 15th August 1971 (Ree 1973) IDENTIFICATION The Grey-headed Gull is unfamiliar to most European observers, yet the record of one in Spain (Ree 1973) shows that it may occur elsewhere in southern Europe or even Britain. It is the largest member of this group, lying between Common Gull and Black-headed. Compared with Black-headed, it is broader-winged and, when gliding, the wings are held flatter and less angled, giving a ‘sail-plane’ appearance. On the ground, it has a more upright carriage, with longer legs, and, when alert, has a ‘head up, tail down’ posture. It is longer-necked than Black-headed, with a sloping forehead and heavier 1 70 Field identification of gulls and longer bill, recalling Slender-billed Gull. These size and structural differences are among its best field marks at all ages. In first-year plumages, other differences from Black-headed are the darker grey of the wings and mantle, all-black outer primaries and less extensive white on the upperwing, wholly dusky underwing, thinner black tail band and less well defined head markings. Grey-headed is the only one in this group which regularly takes an extra year to reach adult plumage, as might be expected in view of its larger size: second-years are fairly readily distinguishable in the field, as described in the detailed descriptions of second-winter and second- summer. To European eyes, adults recall Common Gull rather than Black- headed because of the larger size, broader wings, darker grey upperparts and the prominent mirrors on the outer two primaries. The combination of extensive white on the leading edge of the upperwing and prominent mirrors gives a pattern diagnostic among west Palearctic gulls: this and the wholly blackish underwing, pale eye, and pale dove-grey, white- faced hood, as well as the size and structural differences, give a strikingly distinctive appearance. Black-headed Gulls pass through a white-faced phase in autumn as the head moult progresses, giving a head pattern similar to that of Grey-headed. AGEING Juvenile: extensive grey-brown on head, mantle and sides of breast. (See comments under detailed description of first-winter about timing of moults.) First-winter: brown carpal-bar, blackish secondaries and tail band, head mainly white with pale grey markings and ear-spot. First-summer: brown carpal-bar, blackish secondaries and tail band, hood developed to variable extent. Second-winter: dusky markings on secondaries and tertials forming darker trailing edge to inner wing. More black than white on upperwing, and white primary tips and mirrors small or lacking. Eye darker than adult and bare parts dull flesh. Hood as first-winter or pale and ill-defined. Second-summer : as second- winter, but bare parts nearer or matching colour of summer adult. Hood often fully developed. Adult winter I third-summer: adult wing pattern, pale ill-defined hood, obvious white eye, bare parts duller than adult summer. Adult summer I third-summer: adult wing pattern, full hood, dark red bill, red legs. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS Juvenile (not illustrated, but wing and tail pattern similar to first-winter, figs. 3D, 11A and 1 iC: head, body and bare parts as described below) head white, with extensive grey-brown mantle by whitish collar. Thin white clouding, darker ear-spot and eye-crescent, crescents above and below eye. body forming partial hood, separated from underparts white, with grey-brown breast Field identification of gulls 1 7i A first- winter B first- summer C first- winter D second- winter E adult summer F adult winter Fig. 1 1. Grey-headed Gulls Lams cirrocephalus in flight 1 72 sides extending from mantle. Mantle brown, with pale feather fringes giving scaled effect, most obvious on lower back. Rump pale grey, wings pattern similar to juvenile Black-headed, but grey areas on inner upperwing slightly darker: outer wing has less white, outer two or three primaries wholly black. White on outer webs at base of 3rd or 4th to 5th or 6th primaries form patch in middle of outer wing which extends onto outer primary coverts. Inner four or five primaries and their coverts mainly grey, with blackish areas at tips which join with blackish secondaries to form dark trailing edge. All Field identification of gulls but outer two or three primaries have tiny white spots at tips, increasing in size in- wards. Inner web of all primaries blackish, and underwing-coverts grey, so that, from below, underwing appears wholly dusky (but not so dark as adult’s), except for two or three translucent spots which correspond with white area on upperwing, tail white with neat black subterminal band, usually thinner than Black-headed’s and often not extending to outer feathers: when tail fully spread, black may appear as separate spots, bare parts eye brown. Bill pale flesh or yellowish-flesh, with extensive dark tip. Legs dull flesh or yellowish-flesh. 69. J uvenile Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalas, South Africa ( Gerry Nicholls ) First-winter (figs. 3D, 11A and 11C) Acquired by post-juvenile head and body moult, which starts at fledging and is usually complete within about two months. Published breeding records from Africa refer to the period April to September, but breeding may take place outside this period. The timing of the post-juvenile and later moults is fixed by the fledging date, so temporal limits cannot be fixed for the moults of this or other equatorial breeding species which have a variable season. i73 Field identification of gulls head white, with pattern of dusky markings similar to Black-headed Gull, but paler and less defined. Nape pale grey. body underparts and rump white. Mantle uniform grey, without white scapular- crescent, and darker than Black-headed, sometimes with a few brown feathers retained from juvenile plumage, wings as juvenile, but brown and blackish areas faded, and white primary tips and secon- dary fringes reduced, tail as juvenile, but band faded and whitish terminal fringe reduced or lacking, bare parts much as juvenile. First-summer (fig. 11B, underwing and tail similar to first-winter, 11C. When standing, similar to first-winter, 3D, but carpal-bar paler and hood usually more extensive) Acquired by head and body moult, which starts about six months after fledging. As first-winter except: head grey much faded, especially brown carpal-bar, usually more extensive, and some may and white primary tips and terminal acquire adult hood and lose pale grey secondary and tail fringes often disappear, nape, wings and tail dark areas become 71. First-summer Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, Namibia, July 1975 ( Pamela Harrison) Second-winter (fig. 1 iD) Acquired by a complete moult, which starts about 12 months after fledging. Some may reach adult plumage at this age, but probably the majority take an extra year. 72. Second-winter Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, South Africa, February 1974 {J. C. Sinclair ) i74 Field identification of gulls As adult winter except: wings black usually more extensive than white on outer primaries, and white primary tips usually small or lacking. Mirrors, if present at all, usually smaller than on adults, or confined to outer primary. Tertials and secondaries with dusky centres, forming darker trailing edge to inner wing. Some- times a few brown feathers among primary, median and lesser coverts, bare parts eye usually becoming pale, but lacking full adult colour and looking dark at distance. Bill and legs dull flesh. Second-summer (wing and tail patterns similar to second-winter, fig. 11D) Acquired by head and body moult, which begins about 18 months after fledging. As second-winter except: head full much as adult summer, but eye may adult hood usually acquired, bare parts remain darker. 73. Second-summer Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, Kenya, July 1976 ( T. Kallqvist) Adult winter I third-winter (fig. 11F, wings and tail as adult summer, 11E) Acquired by complete moult, which starts towards the end of breeding activity. Some, probably a minority, may reach adult plumage in their second winter. head hood as adult summer in extent, but paler and less defined, sometimes with ill-defined ear-spot, body mantle uniform grey, without prominent scapular- or tertial-crescents, a shade darker than Black-headed Gull, wings inner wing uniform grey, darker than Black-headed. White more extensive than black on outer primaries, with prominent pear-shaped white mirrors on outer two. White tips, usually prominent, on 3rd or 4th to 7th or 8th primaries. Inner webs of primaries (except mirrors) wholly blackish and underwing-coverts grey, whole under- wing thus appearing dusky, apart from a few translucent spots showing through fully spread wing, corresponding to white on upperside. tail white, bare parts eye pale yellow or whitish. Eye-lids red. Bill duller than adult summer, with variable subterminal dark tip. Legs paler than bill, duller than adult summer. 74. Grey-headed Gulls Larus cirrocephalus including one first-winter (right), South Africa, August 1976 ( Gerry Nicholls) Field identification of gulls 175 75. Adult summer Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, South Africa, June 1973 ( Gerry Nicholls ) 76. Adult summer Grey- headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, South Africa, July 1964 ( Peter Steyn ) i 76 Field identification of gulls Adult summer/ third-summer (fig. 1 iE, underwing and tail as adult winter, 1 iF) Acquired by head and body moult, which starts before the beginning of breeding activity. As adult winter, except: head hood fully developed, extending farther down throat and nape than on Black-headed Gull, darkest posteriorly and shading from dove- grey to whitish on forehead and chin. Nape white, body sometimes with faint pink flush on underparts, wings whitish tips on primaries reduced or lacking, bare 77. Adult summer Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, Kenya, July 1976 ( T. Kdllqvist) parts bill red, much darker than hood and looking black at distance. Legs red, brighter than bill. (To be continued) P. J. Grant, 14 Heathfield Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8qd Personalities 13 R. J. Tulloch Bobby Tulloch is a Shetlander, whose name is also synonymous with Snowy Owls and whose ready smile and enjoyable company are known to many. Born on a croft at Aywick, Yell, he can trace his ancestry to the Norse occupation. His interest in birds began with a dead Puffin which he used as a teddy bear, and was fostered by his primary teacher at East Yell School. Bobby became a baker, and his travels in the trade throughout the island gave him the opportunity to see birds, although he had little contact with other birdwatchers. After National Service, spent mainly in Hong Kong, he returned to Yell. His interest in birds increased and he met visiting ornithologists in the summer and often took them to exciting islands, such as Hascosay. On a visit to Shetland, George Waterston, then Assistant Director (Scotland) of the RSPB, suggested that he work for the Society: Charlie Inkster, the RSPB watcher in Yell, was 90 years old and it was appropriate that another Yell man should take over. Bobby started in 1964 and is now Shetland Officer. His wife, Betty, is the district nurse for Yell; Mid Yell has always been their home and they recently moved a short distance to an imposing manse overlooking Hascosay Sound. Bobby first visited Fair Isle in 1964 and our families have been friends ever since. We showed him new birds and trained him to ring and use mist-nets: his first recovery was a Starling drowned in custard at Yell School. We had great fun when Bobby was one of a group of up-and- i77 R. J. Tulloch coming Shetland birdwatchers: each summer,. I visited Bobby and Betty in Mid Yell, we explored islands by boat, ringed Gannets at Hermaness, trapped Storm Petrels in the cliffs, and watched migrants on Skerries, where he first went in 1965, in the footsteps of Sammy Bruce. One day he sailed into the harbour there as two birds came flying across the water: one settled on the mast and proved to be a superb Ortolan Bunting. Another time, he was lying face down on a recently manured ‘tatty’ field, inching towards singing Lapland and Ortolan Buntings, when a hen Greenfinch appeared: a new species for him. Snowy Owls have been part of his life for over a decade. In the early 1960s, several of these owls arrived in Shetland, and Bobby and Dennis Coutts tried to photograph them, using ingenious hides, such as peat stacks and, once, a pantomime horse, with Dennis and his camera in the front; but Bobby’s heart was not in this latter exercise, since the local Shetland stallion was too close for comfort. In 1967, Bobby experienced one of his most exciting ornithological moments, on Fetlar with 1 1 Swiss birdwatchers: a male Snowy Owl looked rather aggressive and, while looking for pellets on a rocky outcrop, Bobby disturbed the female off three eggs. Keeping this secret, he glided home, hardly hearing the Swiss queries about Whimbrels and Red-necked Phalaropes; a few trusted friends received a brief phone-call, ‘ Nyctea scandiaca c/3’; this was the start of the Snowy Owl story and the Fetlar reserve. These are part of Bobby’s work for the RSPB, but at the same time he has tirelessly studied the distribution and numbers of birds on the different islands throughout the year, and the effects of tourism and, more recently, of the tremendous changes brought about by North Sea oil. Throughout, Bobby has kept his finger on the pulse of bird conservation in Shetland ; the RSPB is indeed fortunate to have a Shetlander on the scene, a man of the islands with a ready ability to get on with his fellows and put over the wildlife point of view. 78. Bobby Tulloch (left) with bearded seal Erignathus barbatus ( Andy Gear ) 1 78 R.J. Tulloch Talented as a lecturer and a broadcaster, Bobby’s skill with the camera is also well known. His early interest in photography was encouraged by Dr Ian Brooker, and he now has a fine series of photographs. His popular lectures about Shetland are always beautifully illustrated and have taken him throughout Britain. He is an esteemed member of the National Trust for Scotland Cruises and has visited many countries in northern Europe. Since 1968, he has been the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club recorder for Shetland; he is also president of the Shetland Bird Club and a member of the Sullom Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group. With the late Fred Hunter, he wrote A Guide to Shetland Birds (1970) and is now compiling a Shetland mammal guide. His interest in mammals is great and he was delighted to photograph — in Yell in 1977 — the only bearded seal recorded in Britain this century. As a Shetlander, he is an expert seaman, a competent fisherman and a dab hand at dredging up clams and catching ‘spoots’ (razorshells) at low tides. He is keenly interested in local history and the traditional music of Shetland and Norway; his ability with the fiddle and piano-accordion have been a delight to many and he is in great demand as a songwriter. To all of us, he is a special friend: our birdwatching visits to the Northern Isles are enriched by his knowledge, companionship and humour. R. H. Dennis Mystery photographs 16 In non-breeding plumage, Red-necked Grebe Podiceps gri- -pzr segena can be rather variable, with the —r* dingiest individuals looking dusky on 7T cheeks, neck and flanks, these areas contrasting with a whitish breast. At the other extreme, those with whitish cheeks, neck, breast and flanks re- semble Slavonian P. auritus and Great Crested Grebes P. cristatus, although they have a more brownish cast than either (particularly on the neck), a larger bill than Slavonian, and a less elegant look than Great Crested, which has a more restricted black cap, but a longer bill. Red-necked has a rather stout bill with variable amounts of yellow: on some it is restricted to the base, whereas on others it covers most of the lower mandible, with black solely on the culmen and tip. Slavonian and Red-necked usually have flatfish crowns, but both may sometimes show more rounded profiles. Apart from the general size difference, Slavonian has a smaller, neater bill (often with an obvious pale tip), a curved — rather than straight — division between the black crown and whitish cheek, and a shorter, more blunt-ended body. Black- necked Grebes P. nigricollis may be similar in plumage, and lone indivi- duals can sometimes be rather puzzling, although typically they show a Mystery photographs 1 79 small bill, a smallish, almost pin-head with a high crown, and daintier appearance, compared with the Red-necked Grebe’s chunky, almost wedge-shaped head and prominent, stout bill. Red-necked, Black-necked and Slavonian all occasionally jump clear of the water when diving — in the manner of Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis — particularly when feeding in choppy water or on the sea. Last month’s mystery bird (plate 44, repeated here) is clearly a Red-necked Grebe; it was photographed in Lincolnshire by Keith Atkin in November 1972. S. C. Madge 79. Mystery photograph 17. What is this species? Answer next month. Notes Possible polygamy by Red-throated Divers On larger lochs, breeding pairs of Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata usually defend an area around their nests of about 0.5 ha, where the young remain until fledging; they seldom mix together. On the much-favoured smaller waters, especially those up to 0.5 ha in extent, they rarely tolerate a third individual. They often endure visiting non- breeders on larger lochs, for part of which they claim possession, but, when territory or individual distance is violated, one — or more usually both — of the pair drives away the intruder. In 1976, I monitored 148 sites on small waters in Shetland; unusual circumstances at three suggested i8o Notes 80. Nest and three eggs of Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata, Shetland, June 1976 ( Graham Bundy) possible polygamy, an unlikely situation for a species with a strong pair- bond. On a small, secluded hill lochan of about 350 m2 on Unst, a diver was incubating two eggs on a grassy islet on 20th May, but these had disap- peared on 27th; a replacement clutch, laid by 4th June, was reduced to one egg on 1 7th, when I saw a male with two females on the lochan. When I next visited, on 15th July, I found, instead of chicks, two eggs clearly visible on the islet and all three adult divers on the water. Since third clutches are unknown for this species, I assumed that a second female had laid this latest clutch. On 29th July, the three birds were still present, but the nest was empty; on 19th August, I saw just a lone female. In both 1973 and 1974, on another secluded hill lochan of about 3 ha on Unst, what was probably the same pair of Red- throated Divers laid single-egg clutches twice, but failed to hatch them. On 3rd June 1976, a diver was incubating one egg and a male and two females were swimming about 30 m away. On 30th, the nest was empty, but again a replace- ment clutch of one egg had been laid on the same bank. The other divers were present and I searched the opposite bank; the presence of a nest with eggshell fragments confirmed that a second pair had attempted to breed there; on the same bank, I found yet another nest scrape with eggshell fragments and, in a stretch of about 30 m, four more obvious and well-built nest platforms. In addition to the original pair, which had failed again by 1 6th July, it seems likely that a second pair had attempted to breed, with apparently a second female. The trio was swimming together on every visit up to 19th August, but no young were seen. In 1976, two pairs of Red-throated Divers bred on a narrow moorland loch of about 4 ha on Yell. One occupied the north end, where one of the pair was usually present; a single egg was found there on 22nd July, possibly replacing an earlier, undiscovered, lost clutch, but by 2nd August this had disappeared. The first pair located at the southern end fre- quently had a third individual (a female) in close attendance when I Notes 1 8 1 first checked the site on 28th May. On 14th June, an empty nest with eggshell fragments was found, and three divers left the loch together. I checked the site again on 29th June and found a rare clutch of three eggs in the original nest (plate 80) and three divers together at the south end. Two of these eggs were almost identical, but the third was paler, with smaller, sparse spots, suggesting that it had been laid by a different female. Three eggs were present on 14th July, but on 22nd only two were in the nest, and three females — one at the north and two quite close together at the south — were each showing distress symptoms, while no male was present. On 2nd August, I found two seven- to ten-day-old young accompanied by a male and a female; only one survived. The second female was not seen on the last two visits in August. Graham Bundy go Cauldwell Lane, Monksealon , Whitley Bay , Tyne and Wear Differing reactions of adult Mute Swans to intruding juvenile On 4th January 1977, a pair of Mute Swans Cygnus olor and a juvenile, presumably their own, were present on Alexander Lake, Wanstead Flats, east London. At the same time, an adult female, without a mate but accompanied by another juvenile, was on a nearby small water 2 km to the northwest; a week later, this female was found dead, and the following day its orphaned young landed on Alexander Lake. The reac- tions of the two adult swans on the lake differed: the male showed marked territorial aggression, making repeated attempts to drive away the in- truder by water-treading flights with neck fully extended in front, while the female more than once swam between the two disputing swans, preventing the male from completing his attack, and often swam with both juveniles to the exclusion of her mate. After about one week, how- ever, the intruding juvenile would accompany the other three swans about 4 m behind them or to one side, although once, when swimming towards bread thrown into the water, it led the party. The other young appeared totally indifferent, swimming quite happily alongside the intruding one and taking no notice of its male parent’s aggressive be- haviour. This, and the fact that the intruding cygnet was never seen to defend itself against attack, perhaps suggest that territorial behaviour does not develop in Mute Swans at least until they are beyond their first winter, regardless of whether or not they are still accompanied by their parents. When the swans were approached for examination of their rings, both adults adopted the aggressive posture and uttered a loud hissing note when their own offspring was investigated; only the female did so when the intruder was approached. On 20th February, only the orphaned swan remained on the lake. Colin W. Plant ggya Barking Road, Plaistow, London E13 gEZ Hobbies hatching four eggs On 2nd August 1975, in east Berkshire, I found that a nest of a pair of Hobbies Falco subbuteo almost 20 m up in the canopy of a Scots pine Pinus sylvestris contained four young. The Notes 1 82 young had fairly well-grown primaries, but varied in size, two being smaller than the others. From the feathers in the nest and around the tree, it appeared that they were being fed almost exclusively on Swifts Apus apus. Although there are records of Hobbies’ nests with four eggs, these are very rare, and I. J. Ferguson-Lees [in litt .) knows of no record of four young being hatched, let alone being reared to this stage. R. E. Y OUNGMAN 53 Seymour Park Road , Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 3ER Green Woodpecker with bill wedged in tree The note on a Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major found dead with its head trapped in a hole in a tree {Brit. Birds 69: 410) prompts me to place on record the following observation by the late Cyril Gordon Ward. In 1964, near Radlett, Hertfordshire, Mr Ward noticed a Green Woodpecker Picus viridis on a tree; he was surprised a short time later to see it in exactly the same position, so he investigated and found that the woodpecker’s beak was firmly wedged. He released the bird. Douglas Carr 27 Monks Road, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4RR Swallow caught by sheep’s wool On the morning of 1 8th July 1976, in a field by the River Lliw near Lake Bala, Gwynedd, I noticed a small bird making unnatural flapping movements on a fence about 20 m away. On approaching, I found an adult Swallow Hirundo rustica suspended upside down beneath a strand of barbed wire, its right tarsus securely fastened to the wire by about 2 cm of sheep’s wool. It took me several minutes to untangle the tarsus and release the Swallow, which flew away. C. K. Catchpole Department of Zoology, Bedford College, Regent's Park, London nwi 4NS Dunnocks feeding gregariously On 16th January 1977, at Marlow Low Grounds, Buckinghamshire, I saw a party of 14 Dunnocks Prunella modularis feeding together in close association among weeds at a field edge. When I approached to about 15 m, they flew into a nearby hedgerow, but within half a minute returned and resumed feeding; I watched them for some time. Dunnocks are variously described in the literature as being not really gregarious, generally solitary, and unsociable both among them- selves and with other species. R. E. Youngman 53 Seymour Park Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 3ER I. J. Ferguson-Lees, who has studied this species in depth, has com- mented that — although wing-waving parties of up to ten or more are not uncommon and loose bonds are formed between pairs, which feed each other’s females and young in the nest in certain circumstances — he has never seen a feeding ‘flock’ such as that described in this case. Eds Dartford Warbler associating with Stonechat On two occasions in mid November 1976, at the Grasslands Research Institute farm at Hurley, Berkshire, we observed a Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata apparent- Notes 183 ly associating with a male Stonechat Saxicola torquata in a field of red clover Trifolium pratense overgrown with sow-thistles Sonchus. It spent much time foraging among the thistles, frequently near the ground but often quite conspicuously in the upper foliage, and once among the bare branches of a hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. If the Stonechat had moved off while it was feeding, the warbler would perch on a thistle head, call and look round, apparently trying to locate the chat. Once it had succeeded, it would fly directly to it and the two would usually then perch conspic- uously side by side on adjacent thistle heads. The Dartford Warbler normally resumed feeding close to the Stonechat, but also made several sorties of up to 70 m. J. Tallowin and R. E. Youngman Grasslands Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire 53 Seymour Park Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 3ER G. J. Bibby has commented: ‘The same curious relationship is frequent in Dorset, as described by Dr N. W. Moore {Brit. Birds 68: 196-202) and observed on numerous occasions by myself. Although the two species frequently occur in the same places, they are unlikely to compete for food because of gross differences in their hunting methods and the locations of their food items. I can only propose that the skulking Dartford Warbler takes advantage of the vigilance of the Stonechat, which has a good view from its feeding perches, is decidedly wary and is noisy when alarmed.’ Eds Dusky Warbler feeding in open canopy Although The Handbook men- tions that, in its winter quarters, the Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus will pursue insects in tree-tops and occasionally flutter into the air, almost all references note its skulking habits and preference for low, dense cover, where it feeds on or near the ground; the majority recorded in Britain and Ireland have behaved in this way. On 29th September 1976, at Flamborough, north Humberside, I observed a Dusky Warbler feeding in the open canopy of a small group of sycamores Acer pseudoplatanus, ap- proximately 5 m above the ground. It moved through the foliage with great ease, in the manner of a Chiffchaff P. collybita, with much wing- and tail-flicking and brief spells of fluttering to pick insects off leaves. It constantly uttered the persistent ‘tac-tac’ call. Douglas Page 5 Colven Close, Arksey, Doncaster, South Yorkshire Chiffchaffs wintering at sewage-works in west Cornwall More Ghiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita winter in Cornwall than in colder parts of Britain, with regular parties of up to six in reed-beds and wet woodlands at such localities as Marazion Marsh, Treloweth Woods in St Erth, Loe Pool near Helston, and Swanpool, Falmouth. ‘Fifty or more at Falmouth’ from 20th December 1940 to 25th February 1941, however, seemed hardly credible until almost equalled in 1976-77. On 24th December 1976, at the small sewage-works adjoining Treloweth Woods, I found 12 Chiffchaffs feeding on the two bacteriological oxidisation filters (circular beds sprayed by revolving arms), which were joined and each about 13 m in diameter. Notes 185 On 27th December, I counted 23, while on 29th J. B. and Mrs S. Bottomley saw at least 37 (plates 81-83); also, about six were present in the wood. They did not roost at the works: at 16.45 GMT on 25th, I watched them disperse into the wood. A census was hampered by their constant move- ment: some shifted from one filter to the other as the arms started their intermittent spraying, while small groups constantly commuted between the filters and the boundary hedge; if alarmed, they flew en masse to the hedge but quickly returned, at first slowly but soon in a rush. I subsequently visited all sewage-works west of Truro. Most of the very tiny beds looked unsuitable and were searched only once ; these included all those west of Penzance except St Buryan (fig. 1). Numbers were regu- lated not by the size and number of filter beds but by the suitability of surrounding natural habitat: the largest flocks were all close to traditional wintering areas. Gwennap was the bleakest site to harbour Chiffchaffs and Praze the highest (about 80 m) ; at St Buryan (100 m), none was on the filters, but two were in scrub by a stream at the bottom of the same field. In 1977, numbers at Treloweth decreased to 12 on 16th January, four on 31st, and two (in the boundary hedge) on 6th February, when none was at Angarrack. The Treloweth works closed in the summer and a very large plant opened on the other side of the wood; by the end of December, no birds of any species had been observed on the new beds. On 21st Fig. 1. Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita at sewage-works in Cornwall in winter 1976/77. The grid shows 10-km squares 81, 82 & 83. Sewage-works at St Erth, Cornwall, and filter beds with feeding Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita, December 1976 ( J ■ B. & S. Bottomley ) Notes 1 86 November (maximum temperature about 2.7 C), one Chiffchaff fed on the Angarrack filters, and on 1st December two were at Gwithian, but, up to 24th December, where present at all, they mainly hawked for insects in the hedges. The largest numbers were on 24th December (maximum about 1 2 °C<) : of nine at Angarrack, only four fed on the filters. At Helston, the average maximum daily temperature from 1st to 23rd December 1977 was io.5°C, but only 8.37°C for the same period in 1976. In 1976, most occurred during a cold spell from 24th to 31st December (average 6.6°C). Most Chiffchaffs at sewage-farms appeared to belong to one of the brown-and-white northeastern races. Similar concentrations in the past may have been overlooked : A. G. Parsons (verbal report) has counted 1 2 or more at the Helston works periodically since the early 1960s. I much appreciate the co-operation of B. D. Cook of the South West Water Authority, Truro; the staff of the Meteorological Office at RNAS Guldrose, Helston; and Mr and Mrs Bottomley for their enthusiasm in photographing a difficult subject. R. D. Penhallurick County Museum and Art Gallery , River Street, Truro, Cornwall Yellow-rum ped Warbler in the Isles of Scilly During 22nd to 27th October 1968, a Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata was present on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. It was found by D. P. and Mrs R. A. U. Carthy and, later, independently by R. S. Brown and A. Greensmith, who showed it to me. It was feeding in tree-mallows Lavatera arborea about 1 m high beside the shore, and was extremely easy to observe as it foraged for insects with other migrants, including Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla. Garden Warbler S. borin and Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca. It remained in this one small area for the whole of its stay. The following notes were compiled : At first sight, obviously an American wood warbler of the genus Dendroica, about size of Garden Warbler or Blackpoll Warbler D. striata. Mantle brown, with some darker streaking. Underparts white, with some small, dark streaking on flanks. Tail, wings and primaries darker than rest of plumage: tail almost black. Two white bars on wing: not so distinct as on Blackpoll Warbler. Head grey; throat white. Thin white supercilium; small, but broken, white eye- ring. Yellow patch on crown, normally visible only when bird preening. Upper flanks suffused yellow; bright yellow rump obvious in flight. White patches on black near tips of outer feathers: best seen when tail fanned. Legs and bill black: bill point- ed, rather big and strong-looking. The white throat suggested that — as would be expected — this indi- vidual was of the eastern race D. c. coronata and not the western D. c. auduboni (formerly regarded as specifically distinct, with the names Myrtle Warbler and Audubon’s Warbler). This was the third record for Britain and Ireland, both the previous ones having been in Devon, in 1955 and i960 {Brit. Birds 48: 204-207; 54: 250-251). G. J . Jobson 54 Churchill Crescent, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Suffolk Blackpoll Warbler in the Isles of Scilly At about 15.00 GMT on 19th October 1975, I was standing outside the parsonage on St Agnes, Isles of Notes 187 Scilly, gossiping to P. W. Burness about the general lack of interesting migrants, when an American wood warbler (Parulidae) appeared on the edge of the trees. The following features were noted: Typical American wood warbler, with very breast and on flanks. Whitish belly. Dark- long, wide, pure white wing-bars high ish tail, with white spots on sides and near up on closed wing. Yellowish throat and tip, slightly notched. White undertail- breast; light greenish back, lightly coverts. Legs brown, streaked. Some light streaks on sides of We had both seen the Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata on St Agnes in 1968 {Brit. Birds 63: 153- 155), and identified this as the same species, the fourth record for Britain and Ireland. We eliminated two similar species, Bay-breasted Warbler D. castanea and Pine Warbler D. pinus, for various reasons, the main ones being that the former has buffish undertail-coverts and the latter has an unstreaked mantle. The bird was seen for a short time on the next afternoon and — what was considered to be the same individual — again on 31st October and 1st November. The ten-day gap between sightings is, in my experience, not unusual: the Blackpoll Warbler during nth to 25th October 1968, and others subsequently, moved around and were sometimes ‘lost’ for days at a time, before reappearing at the opposite end of the island to that at which they had first been found. G. J. Jobson 54 Churchill Crescent , Wickham Market , Woodbridge, Suffolk Reactions of Goldfinches and Linnets to newly hatched frogs On gth July 1970, on Bromley Common, Greater London, I observed about six Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis and as many Linnets C. cannabina in a small clump of gorse Ulex overlooking a narrow, well-worn pathway through an area of long grass and thistle adjoining a young plantation of larch Larix. They behaved in an agitated manner, continually dropping to the ground, but the long grass concealed any possible source of food. As I neared, they dispersed, and the object of their interest became apparent: large numbers of newly emerged common frogs Rana tempor- aria were crossing the pathway just below the gorse bush. I collected 39 within two minutes, and many more must have escaped detection. They ranged from 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm in length and presumably could have been swallowed whole fairly easily, although I did not establish for certain that the finches were eatine them. D. C. Gilbert 64 Tivoli Park Avenue, Margate , Kent Reviews The Miracle of Flight. By Stephen Dalton. Sampson Low, Maidenhead, 1977. 168 pages; 100 illustrations, 56 in colour, 90 diagrams. £5.95 This is a companion work to the author’s earlier Borne on the Wind (1975) which dealt mainly with insects in flight. In this new book, the view has been broadened: it now Reviews 1 88 includes the general mechanics and theory of flight, insect and bird flight, the evolution of manned flight, and its development from the Wrights’ Flyer to the jumbo jet and super- sonics. The book is attractively produced, well printed and, above all, has about 90 of Stephen Dalton’s quite superb photographs of insects and birds, the majority in colour. Unfortun- ately, the text is too often as dull and opaque as the photographs are vivid and enlightening. This is especially true of those sections which attempt to explain the funda- mentals of aerofoil flight and the much more complex aerodynamics of insect flight. The latter was too much for me and I question the accuracy of some passages in the former. Nevertheless, one should persevere with the chapter on bird flight and, in particular, try to assimilate the sequence of wing movements and feather control which confers lift and propulsion in flapping flight. Handsome diagrams are provided, but here and elsewhere they are not always as helpful as they should be. It is a pity about the text and diagrams, since an elementary knowledge of the principles of winged flight (not much understood by the average birdwatcher) heightens the wonder and delight to be found in the photographs. It is not only that they are pin-sharp and brilliantly lit, but they reveal and explain so much : particularly those of birds. I found myself returning to them again and again, studying the details of wings, feathers and postures, and having a humble respect for my favourite animal expanded and re-honed. What ponderous things we are, all brain and too little grace and dexterity. The text, however, is better at recounting history than expounding aerodynamics. There are some gems to brighten the history, such as the attempted vertical take-off by an early Persian king who attached four starving eagles to a lightweight throne and, with legs of lamb dangling overhead, presumably fastened his seatbelt and rang for a stewardess. But it is the photographs that make this book so very worthwhile. I have some favour- ites: the landing droop-snoot Mute Swan, the hurtling ball of Coal Tit, and the sequence of Little Owl exposures. And I almost forgot the insect shots: they are if anything even more remarkable as photographic achievements, thanks to the patience, skill and ingen- uity of Stephen Dalton. Trevor Poyser Saltees— Islands of Birds and Legends. By Richard Roche and Oscar Merne. O’Brien Press, Dublin. 152 pages; 62 black-and-white photographs; 7 maps. £5.40 (UK), £5.94 (Republic of Ireland). That two small islands should be the subject of two books in a few months is remarkable, but, by any standards, these are indeed remarkable islands. While Kenneth Perry and Stephen Warburton (1977, The Birds and Flowers of the Saltee Islands, reviewed in Brit. Birds 70: 558-559) devoted the greater part of their book to a species-by-species account of birds and flowers, with appropriate maps, Richard Roche uses the first two-thirds of this book to give a historical and sociological account of the islands. The second chapter is headed ‘As old as the Saltees’: appropriate enough, since the first occupants are thought to have arrived between 3500 and 2000 bc. Since then, the islands have been home to pirates, smugglers, rebels — up to the present-day Prince — and have seen the wrecking of hundreds of ships. It is difficult to imagine anyone — island fanatic or not, birdwatcher or not — failing to enjoy such a fascinating story. Part Two — where, for serious birdwatchers, the story really starts — is Oscar M erne’s account of the birds of the islands. Facts, figures and narrative are usefully and readably mixed, under three headings: breeding seabirds, other breeding birds, and migrants. It is sad that, in a book of this nature, more space could not have been devoted to an analysis of the work of the observatory on Great Saltee — conceived by Major R. F. Ruttledge, founded by him and John Weaving, and manned annually from 1950 to 1963 — and of various groups of ringers subsequently: surely there would have been much to interest both general and specialist reader? The production is as elegant as the texts, and excellent photographs and documentary facsimiles enliven and amplify the whole. Thoroughly enjoyable! Jim Flegg Letters Golden Eagle killing red deer calf I am prompted by C. J. North- east’s note {Brit. Birds 71 : 36-37) to draw attention to A. Baxter Cooper’s excellent first-hand account of an immature Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos killing and attempting to lift a young red deer Cervus elaphus weighing 20.5 kg ( J . Zool. Lond. 138: 215-216). Ian D. Pennie 5 Badcall, Scourie, Sutherland IV27 4TH Hobbies hovering Iain Robertson’s note on a specific feeding technique of a Hobby Falco subbuteo [Brit. Birds 70: 76-77) brings to light a charac- teristic of the species’ flight that is, I believe, far more common than is documented. R. F. Porter et al. (1974, Flight Identification of European Raptors) stated that Hobbies hover only very occasionally. My experience suggests otherwise, and I give two examples. First, in May 1975, in the vicinity of Fake Neusiedl, Austria, I observed several Hobbies hovering with Red-footed Falcons F. vespertinus\ the wind was rather strong and the period of hovering lasted for a minute or more; on at least two other occasions, I saw single Hobbies hovering, but never saw prey taken. Secondly, in July 1976, at Harrietsham, Kent, a Hobby flew past me at close range; on passing over a nearby wood, it hovered at least twice, for 20 seconds each time, but made no attempt to take prey. B. D. Harding 66 Salters Way, Dunstable, Bedfordshire lu6 ibt Do Blackcaps have a Wryneck-call? Surely, the sounds heard by R. M. Curber and David E. Pauli [Brit. Birds 62: 543-544; 70: 458) were just examples of the well-known mimicry by Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla, and not separate calls ? I believe that half the trouble people experience in separating the songs of Blackcaps and Garden Warblers S. borin is due to the Blackcaps imitating the Garden Warblers. R. S. R. Fitter Drifts, Chinnor Hill, Oxford 0x9 4BS Announcement ‘The “British Birds” List of Birds of the Western Palearctic’ All subscribers should have received their free copy of this list with either the March or this April issue of British Birds. Request Breeding birds of British and Irish islands Information is sought for a study aimed at identifying the major factors influencing island bird populations and species 189 Request 190 distributions. Any previously unpublished details of breeding birds (especially landbirds) on British and Irish islands will be most welcome. Breeding records for Scottish plantations will be used for comparison, and observations from such ‘islands’ will also be most welcome. Information, which will be acknowledged, should be sent to T. M. Reed, Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology. Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford. News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett SOC conference The Scottish Ornitho- logists’ Club annual conference — always one of the year’s highlights for those attending — took place during 20th-22nd January. After many years at The Hydro, Dunblane, and then a move to Stirling University, this conference (the thirtieth) returned to the Marine Hotel, North Berwick. The thirty-first SOC conference will be held at the same place in October 1978: a welcome return to a time of year when travelling is generally easier. The excellent atmosphere and good service at the hotel helped to make the conference a great success. The theme of ‘Birds on is- lands’ was introduced in masterly fashion by Professor George M. Dunnet and fascinatingly illustrated, in relation to the Galapagos Islands and Fiji, by Dr M. P. Harris and Dr Martin Gorman; the last of these contributions was also greatly en- livened by a sparkling discussion period, with Dr Jeremy Greenwood crossing intellectual swords with Dr Gorman. Those who survived the late night Scottish danc- ing received short, sharp glimpses of wintering sea-fowl in Scapa Flow, the breeding ecology of Gannets on Ailsa Craig and the history and habits of the Great Skua, by David Lea, Sarah Wanless and Robert Furness respectively. The usual British Birds mystery photograph competition was held: 12 entrants cor- rectly identified all five photographs and a draw was necessary to determine the winners: 1st Mrsjcan Burton, 2nd DavidJ. Bates and 3rd Alan Brown; also Mrs Sylvia Bates, Keith Brockie, Ian G. Cumming, Martin Davies, Nick Dymond, Raymond Hogg, Iain H. Leach, Ray Murray and David Thorogood. Wheelchair record We have just heard from David Glue that he has seen his 230th species from his wheelchair: a Hen Harrier. As he says, he has only 1 70 to go before he catches up with Ron Johns (Brit. Birds 70: 512). London’s scarce migrants Normally, we do not review the numerous county bird reports, even though, through the generosity of the clubs and societies con- cerned, most of them find a place in the British Birds library. We must, however, make an exception for the latest London Bird Report (No. 41, for 1976) which includes a paper on ‘Scarce migrants in the London area, 1955-74’ by R. J. Chandler and K. C. Osborne. Records of over 1 30 species are analysed by seven-day periods, and the two decades covered are compared. The results are fascinating and this good use of the London Natural History- Society’s records should serve as a model for other county bird clubs. The London Bird Report is obtainable (£1 .50) from Mrs H. Housego, 1 10 Meadvale Road, London W5 ilr; reprints of the scarce migrants paper may be obtained (65P) from P. J. Oliver, 1 Albany Court, Palmer Street, London swi. (Contributed byJTRS) Portuguese atlas We are delighted to hear that a breeding bird atlas project will be carried out in Portugal during 1978-84, organised by the Centro de Estudos de Migragoes e Protec^ao de Aves. Anyone interested in helping should contact the B'l'O, or Rui Rufino at the GEM PA, rua de Lapa no. 73, Lisboa 2, Portugal. Estonian atlas progress Wc hear from Professor Dr Erik Kumari that the Estonian project, whidi started in 1977, has had ififi amateur ornithologists participating. So far, they have recorded information for 140 of Estonia’s 558 10-km squares. The News and comment aim is to complete the mapping project by 1980. Coto Donana news There has been so much argument and controversy over the future of Spain’s most famous wetland during the last decade or so that it gives us very great pleasure to announce an impor- tant step forward by the Spanish govern- ment’s conservation agency ‘ICONA’, involving the conservation of large areas for posterity and the channelling of very considerable human pressures into specially designed access and viewing areas. At the time of writing, Max Nicholson (who has been helping ICONA in an advisory capa- city) has just returned from Spain, and he reports good progress on the first phases of development; Bert Axell has been seconded from the RSPB to get things started on the ground, and hopefully we shall get the full story from him for this feature on his return. So, all Coto devotees . . . watch this space! Well done, Jo Another item which gave us great pleasure comes from Scotland. As many readers will know, our old friend George Waterston has been bedevilled by kidney trouble for some years, and is at present restricted in his movements by the need to use his home kidney dialysis machine. Through the good offices of George’s old friend Jo Grimond, British Airways and Loganair have been per- suaded to transport the kidney machine to Fair Isle, thus enabling George to have a holiday there this June. Swiss Red List One of the best small publications to come our way from Continental Europe for a long time is the ‘Swiss Red List’, the Liste Rouge des Especes d’Oiseaux Menace'es et Rares en Suisse. This gives an excellent summary of the present status of 83 of the 190 recent or former breeding species in Switzerland, explains the threats they face and suggests how these should be tackled. It is required reading for anyone interested in European birds, and a model which could well be copied by other European nations, including our own. Copies are obtainable in German, French or Italian (Swiss Fr. 3.20) from the publishers, La Ligue Suisse pour la Protection de la Nature, Case postale 73, ch 4020 Basle; or the Station Ornithologique Suisse, ch 6204 Sempach. 191 Twitchers beware! As if Red-and-black Kites and large gulls of doubtful parentage are not enough — to say nothing of the off- spring of certain waterfowl — another hy- brid is on the loose . . . we notice a reference (J. Orn. r 18: 1977) to a hybrid Collared x Pied Flycatcher: a male Collared bred with a female Pied in southern Finland in 1972 and 1973. We leave it to our friends on the Rarities Committee to sort that one out. Siberian Crane news The Siberian White Crane Grus leucogeranus is one of the world’s rarest and most endangered cranes. We notice from the October 1977 Bulletin of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that the latest count of the population which winters in India is only 56 individuals, 15 fewer than in 1970. It is thought that as many as 300 may still winter on the River Yangtze in China, but nothing is known of their true status at the moment. It is heartening, then, to see that the Iranian and Soviet governments have combined to help the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in their attempts to establish a new wintering ground in Iran. Last spring, eggs from ICF headquarters in Wisconsin, USA, were transferred to the nests of the Cranes G. grus which nest in western Russia and winter in Iran. We await news of the re- sults with interest. Turning back to the Indian wintering birds, there is some good news: Lake Ab-i-Estada in Afghanistan — a stopping-off place for the cranes on their return migration — should shortly become a wildlife sanctuary. Flopefully, this will be in time to save the lake itself, which is losing its inflow to irrigation pro- jects, and to help the cranes, which always run the risk of being shot and sold for food. Ring-necked Parakeets At a time when the future of this exotic escapee is in doubt and arguments are beginning as to whether it should or should not be classed as a pest species, it is vital that as much information as possible should be collected together on its present status: much has happened since the Atlas (1976) was compiled and a lack of adequate information meant that the Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri was not included in the Atlas of Breeding Birds of the London Area (1977). The LNHS announces in its January ‘Newsletter’ that it would like as much information as possible on this species, which will be 1 92 News and comment 84. Eyrian Grasswren Amytornis goyderi, Australia, December 1977 ( Australian Information Service ) included in all future annual reports. If anyone has any records of breeding in the LNHS area (within a 20-mile radius of Charing Cross), or of any other sightings not already submitted, please send them to D. J. Montier, 6 Cloonmore Avenue, Orpington, Kent. nounced the establishment of Scotland’s fiftieth NNR, Tokavaig Wood. This 80-ha reserve in Sleat, Skye, is reckoned to be one of the finest mixed oak and ash woods in Scotland, and is said by the BTO to contain the finest bird community of any on Skye. More overseas news We learn that four students from the North East London Polytechnic are off to the tiny Andoman island of Narcondam in the Bay of Bengal next August. Their task: to research the status and ecology of the Narcondam Hornbill Aceros narcondami, a virtually unknown species confined to this tiny island and apparently threatened by timber extraction in the Narcondam forests. From Australia, news comes of the capture and photography of one of the country’s rarest and least-known species, the Eyrian Grass- wren Amytornis goyderi , and of an allocation of $A285,ooo by the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Foundation to help in the protection of four endangered species, two of them birds: the Lord Howe Wood- hen Tricholimnas sylvestrias, of which only 20 are believed to survive on one small island, and the famous Malice Fowl Leipoa ocellala, a semi-desert species much threatened by scrub clearance and sheep grazing pressures which incubates its eggs in mounds of vegetation. New National Nature Reserve The Nature Conservancy Council has an- Cagebird exhibition The thirty-fourth (Silver Jubilee) National Exhibition of Cage and Aviary Birds, organised by the magazine Cage and Aviary Birds, was held at Alexandra Palace on 2nd, 3rd and 4th December 1977. At a first glance, it seemed to be all Canaries and Budgerigars, but a closer look revealed a large selection of British birds (mainly finches) and a num- ber of other interesting species, including Siberian Thrushes and another thrush which defied identification. There were also some massive Asian grosbeaks, beside which the Hawfinches on show looked positively delicate. While it was fascinating to hear from a learned judge how half-a- dozen superb cock Yellowhammers were assessed for First Prize, it was also a little sad to see species such as Nuthatch. Grey Wagtail and Sylvia warblers in cages, not to mention a couple of Little Stints. But perhaps the oddest find of all was that drabbest of birds, a Rock Pipit, running up and down his artificial rock as if he were in some avian marathon. No doubt many field ornithologists would have found the whole thing a little depressing, but it is equally certain that they would News and comment 193 have been impressed by the care lavished on most of the birds and by the very real love of birds shown by many of the exhibitors. Anyone within reach of next year’s exhibition ought to take time off to go and see for himself: if nothing else, some of his preconceived ideas about cagebirds will be shattered. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of the editors of British Birds Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records This report covers January and the first part of February; except where otherwise stated, all dates refer to January. The year started with a fury of gales causing havoc and extensive flooding in coastal and low-lying areas. The effects of such storms on bird-life are rarely docu- mented, but may be echoed by ‘wrecks’ of seabirds or, as in this case, by strange ‘kills’. A flock of Pink-footed Geese Anser brachyrhynchus was struck by light- ning in Norfolk (see December summary), with the final total of 157 found killed. There were further reports of Lesser White-fronted Geese A. erythropus as the winter progressed: one turned up at Slimbridge (Gloucestershire) on 5th Feb- ruary, and there were three there a week later. Nearctic waterfowl and waders The remarkable influx of Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris for the second successive winter was mentioned last month, but others came to light during January : at least two in the West Midlands, three, including two females, at Alton Water (Suffolk), two in Yorkshire and one in Bedfordshire. The interesting feature of this, the largest influx to date, involving about 13 individuals, has been the lack of records from more traditional sites. Surely this species is now a likely breeder on this side of the Atlantic? Drakes of the American race of Teal Anas crecca carolinensis wintered on the Hayle estuary (Cornwall) (two) and at Chew Valley Lake (Avon). Two Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata appeared in Findhorn Bay (Morayshire), complement- ing the five in Ireland; and, for the second successive winter, a King Eider Somateria spectabilis was reported from Loch Ryan (Wigtown). Overwintering Long-billed Do- witchers Limnodromus scolopaceus are of almost annual occurrence now; this winter, two stayed at Blagdon Lake (Avon) from the autumn to nth, with one until 15th; singles were then reported from Steart (Somerset) on 13th and Chew Valley Lake on 2 1st: perhaps the Blagdon birds. Killdeers Charadrius vociferus were reported from Co. Kerry in mid January and from near Llanelli (Dyfed) in early February. Inland divers Spates of inland diver occurrences are most interesting and would no doubt repay a more detailed analysis; invariably they are connected with adverse weather conditions. In November, there was a series of reports of Great Northern Divers Gavia immer in ones and twos from English reservoirs; many remained to overwinter and were joined by others in a second influx !94 Recent reports over Christmas, after strong westerly winds. A number of Black-throated Divers G. arctica also turned up during the same gale, and in some places excellent oppor- tunities for comparison were available: Siblyback Lake (Cornwall), Rutland Water (Leicestershire) and Draycote Reservoir (Warwickshire) each had both species together. Black Vulture The New Year started with a bang when a Black Vulture Aegypius monachus was discovered near Builth Wells (Powys) early in January, although local people con- sidered that it had been around for some time before then. Although this species seems an unlikely candidate for the British and Irish list and is kept in captivity, it should be remembered that most of the Central Asian population (where it is the most northerly breeding vulture) wanders in winter and stragglers have turned up as near to us as Denmark and the Nether- lands. Many car-loads of birdwatchers went to see it and few were disappointed: whatever its origins, it was a magnificent bird to see at large in Britain; it was reported regularly up to mid February. Overwintering summer migrants There was the usual scattering of reports of wintering Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita and Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla from many parts of the country, although no particularly interesting or large concen- trations were noted. A Cuckoo Cuculus canorus reported to have been seen and heard near Reepham (Norfolk) in mid December and a Hoopoe Upupa epops in a garden at Ramsey (Cambridgeshire) in early February were both very unusual. A Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jlava that wintered near Netherfield (Nottingham- shire) was well-fed: it spent much of its time at a local maggot factory. Woodland birds The hot, dry summer of 1976, followed by the cool, wet one of 1977, must have had dramatic effects on insect populations and, presumably, on insectivorous woodland and garden birds too. In Leicestershire, there were reports of fewer Greenfinches Carduelis chloris and tits Par us at bird tables, and several Coal Tits P. ater overwintered for the first time at Fairburn Ings (North Yorkshire), suggesting that the species may have forsaken woodland habitats unusually early in the winter. It would be of interest to hear from ringers regarding the ratios of young birds of the commoner species from last autumn. Many parts of the country have reported more Siskins Carduelis spinus this winter, often after a complete lack of the species during the previous winter. Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla, however, seem to have been very thin on the ground, hut it is possible that the hard weather during late January and early February had shifted many into the southwest, since 1 ,500 (with 4,500 Chaffinches F. coelebs ) were reported near Helman Tor (Cornwall). Plenty of Lapland Buntings Following an exceptionally good autumn for Lapland Buntings Calcarius lapponicus (see Brit. Birds 71 : 51), many remained for the winter, and good counts were received from a number of coastal localities during January: 30 in cliff-top fields at Filey (North Yorkshire), 25 by the Ythan (Aberdeenshire) on 15th and 14 at Steart; inland, there were up to four at Bodymoor (Warwickshire). Latest news Kentish Great Bustard Otis arda still present, and early March Crane Grus grus reappeared Holt (Norfolk) mid month; summer migrants arriving south coast, in- cluding Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus. HOLIDAY EXCHANGE WEST OF IRELAND (GALWAY CITY) Family wish to exchange their excellent modern house for similar accommodation in or near London. Two/three weeks July or August. Telephone 091-66494 01 write 23 Rahylin Glebe, Galway. (BB116) HOLIDAY A CCOMMODA LION NEW FOREST. 6 self-catering fully- equipped caravans in valley overlooking Avon. £ mile from nesting Dartford Warblers. Perfect for families. S.A.E. Trevelyan, Godshill, Fordingbridge, SP6 2LN. ' (BB118) BEAUTIFUL TOWY VALLEY. Ex- cellent accommodation in small country mansion set in 16 acres timbered grounds. Heated covered 32 ft pool. Colour TV. Four rooms with bathrooms. B & B (dinner optional). Details (stamp appre- ciated). Mrs Roberts, Maesteilo Man- sion, Llandeilo, Dyfed. Tel: Dryslwyn (STD: 05534) 510. (BB120) ISLE OF EIGG. Small, licensed family guesthouse. Home cooking. Golden eagles, corncrakes and other interesting wildlife. Children half price. Mrs Austin, Galmisdale House, Isle of Eigg, Scotland. Mallaig 82426 (BB115) VILLAGE COTTAGES Modernised, quiet, personally super- vised. Easy reach sandy beaches, boating, bird-watching, fishing, ancient buildings. Lovely walks. Large s.a.e., brochure 1978. Daily terms in winter. Roberts, Woodlands, Swanton Novers, Melton Constable. (Tel. 285), Norfolk. (BB45) NEAR PRESTEIGNE, POWYS: two self contained cottages and a flat, each sleeping four in modern comfort but in isolation and the seclusion of a private estate. Available all the year. Low winter- rates. Mrs Bromage, The Estate Office, Barland House, Presteigne, Powys. Tel : Presteigne 296. (BB49) BED AND BREAKFAST for Bird Watchers on The Isles of Scilly £4. Tel. Scillonia 595. (BB50) ORKNEY. Use our comfortable lamily- run guesthouse, overlooking the Loch of Stonness, as a hide. Brochure from Keld- roseed, Sandwick, Stromness, Orkney. Tel: Sandwick (Orkney) 628. (BB75) FAIR ISLE, SHETLAND. Do you know that you can fly all the way from London Airport into Fair Isle in time for lunch the same day? Stay at out- comfortable well-equipped Bird Ob- servatory Hostel. Central heating, self-service meals. Famous for its wealth of rare migrants. Write for latest brochure. Fair Isle Bird Obser- vatory Trust , 21 Regent Terrace, Edin- burgh. (BB47) BIRDWATCHING SPECIALS: Intasun Ltd. Majorca One week, 13th October from Manchester. Leader: John Wilson for Autumn migrants. Horizon Ltd. Corfu, one week, gth October departing Manchester for Autumn migrants. Leader: Dr John Raines. Travelscene Ltd. Holland, from Manchester, 15th to 1 7th September. Send s.a.e. for details to: Ted Richards, H. Mooeny Ltd., 108 Queens Drive, Liverpool, 13. (BB84) FOR A QUIET RESTFUL HOLIDAY on the edge of Dartmoor. Blackaller House Hotel offers you ‘country house style’ comfort, good food, and personal attention. Licensed to residents. — Black- aller House Hotel, North Bovey, Devon. Tel: Moretonhampstead 322. (BB90) PEACEFUL, BEAUTIFUL, North-West coast. Owner-occupied house. Three upstairs bedrooms, private sitting-room and dining room. Use of kitchen and two toilet rooms. Grieve, Opinan, Laide, Ross-shire IV22 2NU. (BB89) SKOKHOLM ISLAND. Full board accommodation for those wishing to watch seabirds and bird migrants at close quarters. Bird-watching courses. 1978 programme from Dept J, West Wales Naturalists’ Trust, 20A High Street, Haverfordwest, Dyfed. (BB66) iii HOLIDAY A CCOMMODA TION GUERNSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS Birdwatching holidays in the Bailiwick, inclusive of scheduled flights hotel and free BIRDPAK as follows: GUERNSEY EROM £91 /WEEK. ALDERNEY FROM £gg/WEEK. HERM FROM £1 18/WEEK. Guernsey’s varieties of habitat and its Continental situation attract a wide range of passage migrants, winter visitors and nesting sea birds BIRDPAK con- tains our Field-Guide, maps and bird- watching contacts. All holidays are offered in association with ALLENS AIR HOLIDAYS. Club outings and ringers catered for. For further details write or ’phone our local ornithologist: TIM EARL, RUE DES LANDES, ST. PIERRE DU BOIS, GUERNSEY. TEL: 0481 64475. (BB30) ‘AWAY FROM IT ALL’ on beautiful North-west coast. Good, well kept house in walled garden. Six rooms, kitchen, two toilet rooms. Grieve. Opinan, Laide, Ross-shire IV22 2NU. (BB88) LLEYN/SNOWDONIA. Rural Cottages sleep 5-g. Free May, Sept., Winter lets. 400 ac. woods, 13 ac. lake, sea cliffs, s.a.e. Glasfryn Estate, Pwllheli. 076 688203. (XBB86) DUBH CHOIREAN BUNGALOW overlooking sea loch, peaceful situation, fine views over surrounding countryside. Ideal country lovers and birdwatchers. D, B & B. S.A.E. Berthelot, Dubh Choirean, Dervaig, Isle of Mull. Tel: Dervaig (068 84) 258. (BB85) PEMBROKESHIRE MODERNISED COTTAGE j mile from road. Sleeps seven. A. K. Pearce, Longridge, Clyn- derwen, SA66 7HS. (BBg2) DEVON DAIRY FARM offers accom- modation for Bed and Breakfast, Packed Lunches and Snacks. Comfortable rooms and T.V. Close to Dartmoor, quiet and peaceful, for particulars write or phone: Miss Fisher, East Bowerland, Okehamp- ton, Devon EX20 4LX. Phone: 2363. (BB93) MID WALES. Comfortable cottages (sleep 3-6, every convenience). Unspoilt scenery, ideal for birdwatching, walking, touring, trekking, golf. Trout fly fishing inclusive, in 4-acre lake within 200 yards of cottages. Vacancies still available, particularly April-June, September-Oct- ober. Brochure, photographs, map. Mrs. Goodwin, Summergil, Walton, Pres- teigne, Powys. Tel: New Radnor 617. (BB106) HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBER- LAND. Outstanding area for bird watching. Comfortable modernised holi- day cottage, sleeps six, 30 yards from sea. Tel: Brookwood 2842. (B3g4) PERFECT FOR HAVERGATE, close to Minsmere. Log fire and warm bed- rooms. 16th century Inn by the River Ore. B&B, food. “The Jolly Sailor”, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Tel: Orford 243 (BBg6) LAKE WINDERMERE peaceful secluded position. South facing sunroom, private beach. Rowing boat. Self cater- ing. Sleeps 6-8. Available June, Septem- ber, October. Atkinson, Overbeck, Cunsey, Ambleside, Cumbria. Tel: og662 2331. (BBg7) UNSPOILED MID-WALES. Country cottage. New Radnor, Powys. Sleeps 4-6. Fridge. £40-^20 p.w. Electric extra. Apply L. J. Meredith, 3 Linden Grove, Godmanchester. S.A.E. (BBg8) ALDERNEY — small very comfortable guest house with all the information re- quired for watching. Alan Griffin, Farm Court, Alderney, C.I. 048 182 2075. (BB105) DYFED: QUIET HOLIDAY in kite country. Maximum four guests in com- fortable converted farmhouse. Harari, Henblas, Ystracl Meurig. Pontrhyd- fendigaid 2g3- (BB104) SCOTTISH BORDERS. Self-contained holiday cottage sleeps 6-8. Fishing and walking in beautiful countryside with wide variety of wildlife. From £35 p.w. Apply with S.A.E. Willis. Watcarrick, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Tel: Eskdalemuir 230. (BB103) IV HOLIDAY A CCOMMODA TION PORTHGWARRA / LAND’S END Ornithologists’ paradise (proven). England’s last south facing cove — completely unspoilt conservation area — ioo yards from sea — cottage to sleep 6-8 and/or self contained granite extension to sleep 2. Fishing trips and all amenities available. Write for photos and fullest details to T. Ellis, Sea View Cottage, Porthg- warra, Nr. Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall. (BB74) COMFORTABLE FARMHOUSE in secluded position overlooking Sound of Mull, sleeps six. Suitable for hill walking, wildlife seen in natural surroundings. Vacancies April, May and September. S.A.E. — MacDonald, Fasgadh, Drimnin, Morvern, Argyll PA34 5XZ. Tel: 096782 247. (BB108) PORTHGWARRA / LAND’S END detached cottage — too yards from sea and beach — ornithologists’ paradise. Completely unspoilt cove. For details and photos write to T. Ellis, Sea View Cottage, Porthgwarra, Nr. Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall. (BB109) BERWICKSHIRE, SECLUDED, compact farmhouse (sleeps six) and bungalow (sleeps five), both well equip- ped and comfortably furnished ; overlook- ing River Whiteadder with trout fishing. Fame Islands/Berwickshire and North- umberland coasts/Border country. SAE. Mrs Prentice, Brockholes, Duns, Berwick- shire. Tel: Grantshouse254 (BB111) BLAKENEY, NORFOLK. Comfortable, newly renovated, traditional flint and tiled cottages, sleep four, night storage heating, fully equipped, near bird sanc- tuary. S.A.E. for details: Mrs. Reeve, 100 Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, 1 Essex. Tel: Chelmsford 55210. (BB100) 1 KITE COUNTRY. Comfortable farm house accommodation in Upper Towy 'Valley. H & C all bedrooms. Central heating. Bed and breakfast and evening meal. Mrs E. Thomas, Tonn Farm, Llandovery. Tel: 20276. (BB119) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS WILDLIFE IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. Inclusive week-long holi- days from £100, including return rail travel from London. Write for illustrated brochure to: Caledonian Wildlife Services, 2 Kingsmills Gardens, Inver- ness IV2 3LU. (BB72) AIGAS FIELD CENTRE At Aigas Field Centre in the high- lands of Scotland we aim to give you all that you would expect on a wild- life holiday — excellent guides, plenty of evening slide lectures, a good refer- ence library, and of course many birds: capercaillie, golden eagle, Slavonian grebe, crested tit, dipper and merlin are just a few. These rare birds (and mammals too) can be seen during long spring and summer days out in the stunning scenery of loch, mountain and moor. As well as all this, we include a touch of luxury — you eat in style in the baronial hall of our small castle. Much of our food is home grown, and we have carefully selected wines to accompany imagi- native dinners. Brand-new heated wooden cabins have been put up in the grounds to ensure modern and comfortable accommodation. Every- one is welcomed here from young to old, from the complete beginner to the expert. (When there are no courses running the same facilities are avail- able on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.) For colour brochure with full details send gp stamp to: Aigas Field Centre, Beauly, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Tel: 0463 71 2443. (BB102) ISLES OF SCILLY Birds and Wildlife Holidays led by the man on the spot David Hunt (local rep. RSPB & BTO). Season: March to October. For details — large S.A.E. to David Hunt (Holidays), St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly TR21 oNS. Tel: Scillonia 740 (after 6 p.m.). (BB107) v WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS BOOKS SIX MILLION SEABIRDS can’t be wrong! They spend their summer around the spectacular islands, cliffs and head- lands of the British coastline. Why notcome north with us this summer to see them in their strongholds in Shetland, Orkney, Sutherland, or the Outer Hebrides? Groups limited to 12, hotel accommoda- tion. Write now for our programme to: Alca Nature Tours, 12 Collingwood Road, Bristol 6. (BB87) BOOKS BOOKS ON NATURAL HISTORY, islands and mountaineering bought and sold. Catalogue available (S.A.E. please). J. T. Radford, Bramblings, West Wal- berton Lane, Walberton, Arundel, Sussex (BB95) THE PHEASANTS OF THE WORLD. Jean Delacour, new 2nd edition. 7 pages in full colour. 434 pages. This standard work covers the 49 species. One of the fine bird books of this century. £19.50 post paid. From bookshops or Spur Pub- lications, Saiga Publishing Co. Ltd., Hindhead, Surrey (Hindhead 6141). (BB114) BIRDS AND NATURAL HISTORY books — newr and secondhand bought and sold — mail order only. Dernam Books, Addlestead, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. (XBB46) ‘KEY TO THE NAMES of British . . .’ by R. D. Macleod. (1) Birds, (2) Plants, (3) Butterflies and Moths, (4) Fishes, Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles. Now' available as paperbacks at £1.00 each (inc. p & p) or £3.50 per set of four. Mrs S. Doust, 12 1 Warren Drive, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 4OU. (BB91) SITUATIONS VACANT PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY AND FIELD CENTRE require resident Warden, ‘A’ ringer, preferably available May. Good accommodation. Application forms: I Ion. Secretary, 3 Chafeys Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset. (BB112) WHALEBONE BOOKS As the more informed are aw'are, our stock of books covering birds, natural history and allied subjects is specialised, comprehensive and exciting. You will be delighted to know that these are now available by post. Our list has been designed for easy reference. Send S.A.E. for your copy now. WHALEBONE BOOKS DEPT. BBi CLEY-NEXT-THE-SEA HOLT, NORFOLK NR25 7RN TEI . CLEY (026 374) 336 DEFINITELY WORTH A VISIT (BB99) FOR SALE 8 , 40 KARL HARTMANN BINOCU- LARS. v.g.c. £50 o.n.o. J. Williamson, 1 1 Regency Mews, Isleworth, Middx. (BB122) CIBACHROME enlargements from colour slides by our special process P.U. must be seen to be believed. Wildlife prints a speciality. Mounting for display. R.U. PHOTOS, 6 Staddles, Lt. Hallingbury, Bishops Stortford, Herts. CM22 7SW Tel. B.S. (0279) 55604 (BB43) SOUTH AFRICAN SHERRY £16.22 per dozen bottles £17.52 per assorted dozen bottles RENASANS (Pale Dry) ONZERUST (Medium Dry) MY ME RING (Pale Extra Dry) GOLDEN ACRE (Rich Golden) Prices include VAT and delivery UK Main- land. Write for details of other Cape Wines. JEFFERY PHI LLJPS (Wine Merchants) LTD 22 STATION STREET. LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE SQ4 9BA (BB70) l Take a gander at Mr. Frank’ unusual binocular nffpr Test any FRANK-NIPOLE binocular free for 7 days and see for yourself why these remarkable binoculars were chosen by the successful 1975 Everest Expedition; why they are recommended and sold by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and entitled to carry the seal of approval of The Game Conservancy. You will see why professional bodies such as the Wildfowl Trust and Forestry Commission, to whom binocular performance is of paramount importance, select FRANK-NIPOLE. Four models particularly favoured by birdwatchers: — Model Exit Relative Field of Price with Pupil Brightness View Weight Height Case 8 X 30 3.7 13.6 7° 18 ozs 4j- ins £26.50 10 X 50 5 25 5.5° 36 ozs 7 ins £37.00 8 X 40 5 25 9° 36 ozs 5^ ins £53.85 10 X 40 4 16 7.5° 25 jr ozs 4} ins £53.85 (BB2) It is our claim that FRANK-NIPOLE binoculars are comparable with other famous makes costing two or three times as much. If after 7-day free test you are not convinced that our claim is justified you may return the binoculars and we will refund any money paid. In addition, we will give you the opportunity of purchasing an East Zeiss, Leitz or Swift binocular at about 25% less than normal retail price. We will be pleased to send you details of this unusual offer, together with FREE colour brochure including 14 different models of Frank Nipole binoculars. Every FRANK-NIPOLE binocular is guaranteed for 7 years by Charles Frank, a name famous for binoculars since the turn of the century. Charles Frank"0 144 Ingram St, Glasgow G11EH. Tel. 041-221 6666 British Birds Volume 71 Number 4 April 1978 145 Field identification of west Palearctic gulls P. J. Grant 176 Personalities 13 R. J. Tulloch R. H. Dennis 178 Mystery photographs S. C. Madge Notes 1 79 Possible polygamy by Red-throated Divers Graham Bundy 18 1 Differing reactions of adult Mute Swans to intruding juvenile Colin W. Plant 181 Hobbies hatching four eggs R. E. Youngman 182 Green Woodpecker with bill wedged in tree Douglas Carr 182 Swallow caught by sheep’s wool Dr C. K. Catchpole 182 Dunnocks feeding gregariously R. E. Youngman 182 Dartford Warbler associating with Stonechat J. Tallowin and R. E. Youngman 183 Dusky Warbler feeding in open canopy Douglas Page 183 Chiffchaffs wintering at sewage- works in west Cornwall R. D. Penhallurick 186 Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Isles of Scilly G. J. Jobson 186 Blackpoll Warbler in the Isles of Scilly G. J. Jobson 187 Reactions of Goldfinches and Linnets to newly hatched frogs D. C. Gilbert Reviews 187 The Miracle of Flight by Stephen Dalton Trevor Poyser 188 Sallees — Islands of Birds and Legends by Richard Roche and Oscar Merne Dr Jim Flegg Letters 189 Golden Eagle killing red deer calf Dr Ian D. Pennie 189 Hobbies hovering B. D. Harding 189 Do Blackcaps have a Wryneck-call? R. S. R. Fitter Announcement 189 The ‘British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic Requests 189 Breeding birds of British and Irish islands T. M. Reed 190 News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett 193 Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge Line-drawings: Killdecr on page 193 (Tim Manolis ); Black Vulture on page 194 (Ian Willis ) Front cover: Greenshank and Broad-billed Sandpiper (Martin Woodcock) Printed by Henry Burt & Son Ltd, College Street, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8na Published by Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF Bird Photograph of the Year ■throated Divers in Shetland • Citrine Wagtail feeding young issex . Goosanders in Wales • Personalities: Nick Riddiford Other regular features Volume 71 Number 5 May 1978 British Birds News and comment Peter Conder, 12 Swaynes Lane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7ef Rarities Committee Michael J. Rogers, 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex twi6 71T © Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photographers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF (tel : 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr. J. T. R. Sharrock D. 1. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £8.00; rest of world US S 1 7.50 or equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG2 1 2xs, England.) UK Post Office Giro Account No. is 519 2455. Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to: Advertisement Department, British Birds, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF ( tel : 01-240 1 101 ) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Shorter contributions, if not typed, must be clearly written and well spaced, and notes should be worded as concisely as possible. Authors of papers and notes should consult this issue for style of presentation (especially for systematic lists, reference lists and tables). Tables must either fit into the width of a page or into a whole page length- ways, and should be self-explanatory. English names of birds should have capital initials for each word, except after a hyphen, but group terms and names of other animals and plants should not. Both English and scientific names of birds, and the sequence, follow The ‘ British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). English and scientific names of plants follow John G. Dony et al. (1974, English Names of Wild Flowers). Scientific names (underlined) should appear immediately after the first mention of the English name. Dates should always take the form ‘1st January 1978’, except in tables where they may be abbreviated. Figures should be numbered with arabic numerals, and the captions typed on a separate sheet. All line-drawings should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper, drawing paper or board (not of an absorbent nature) or, where necessary, on light blue or very pale grey graph paper. It is important to consider how each drawing will fit into the page when reduced. Any lettering or numbering that is an integral part of a text-figure should be inserted lightly in pencil. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive 25 reprints free (15 each to two authors and ten each to three or more). KJ Pine Crossbills Richard Perry by Desmond Nether sole- Thompson “This is his fourth mono- graph, and I am tempted to say the best - but then, the most magnificent Beethoven symphony is always the one you happen to be listening to.” Kenneth Williamson, Natural History Book Review. 256 pages plus 18 plates lS-00 net Ducks of Britain and A distinguished naturalist tells the enthralling story of the battle for survival of wildlife against climatic changes and the domination of man from the Ice Age to the present day. Although many birds, mammals and insects have disappeared from our woods and marshes, the author shows how comebacks can be made by individual species, given the chance. Illustrated with 60 photographs Published in association with the World Wildlife Fund 22 June £7.25 0 85664 306 8 Order Form To (Bookseller/Croom Helm) Europe by M. A. Ogilvie “. . . a book very much to be welcomed and well worth having on the shelves of any- one interested in waterfowl.” BBC Living World. 208 pages plus 16 colour plates £ 5.00 net T & A D POYSER 281 High St., Berkhamsted, Herts (BB12) Please supply copy/copies of Wildlife in Britain and Ireland at £7.25. Postage and packing 60p extra. Enclosed remittance £ / please charge to my account. Name Address Croom Helm 2-10 St John’s Road London swu ( B B 1 4 1 ) 1 onourprkes Heron s/ - £33.78 8x40 Bwcf Binoculars The Birdwatchers Glasses. As used by the forestry commission. Ideal for the young and beginners. Lightweight (26oz), extra wide angle, 525 ft field of view, also suitable for spectacle wearers. We believe them mcomporable value at £33.78 inc. case and ^ lanyard plus 75p towards p&p , Top quality optical goods at enormous savings Heron quality, Heron service. Heron choice — we hold in stock what we believe to be the largest range of telescopes and binoculars for birdwatchers in the country, are shown below: BINOCULARS Swift Audubon 8.5X44 MK.II (38oz) Swift Grand Prix 8X40 MK.I (24oz) Carl Zeiss 10X40 B Dialyt (24oz) Carl Zeiss 8X30 B CF(18'/ioz) £291 38 Zeiss Jena 8X30 Jenoptem (17oz) Zeiss Jena 10X50 Jenoptem (35oz) Habicht Diana 10X40 (23oz) Leitz 10X40 B(21oz) TELESCOPES B Nickel Supra 15X60X60 (28oz) Hertel & Reuss Televari 25X60X60 (32oz) Order direct from this list — Prices correct as of 1st Dec. 1977, inclusive of case, lanyard and manufacturer's guarantee, plus 75p post and packing charge Access and Barclaycard accepted Apply for details and send for your guide to Binocular & Telescope ownership. Further details and comprehensive price list available in return for this coupon, including Field & Trek Catalogue of camping, rambling and climbing equipment. Or call in person and see our vast stock for yourself. 14 DAY APPROVAL SERVICE To Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road, Brentwood Essex CM14 4ER Please send me details and price lists on: Binoculars □ Telescopes □ „ Field 4 Trek Camping Equipment | 1 NAME ADDRESS A few examples Retail Our Price Price £108.00 £79.40 £59 06 £43 40 £274 33 £291 38 £209 25 £221 65 £53 83 £35.90 £89 29 £232 23 £59 50 £168.37 £262 82 £151 88 £100.50 £146 25 £96 75 "V" Heron NEW 10x40 Wide-angle Binoculars £34.93 Quality, power and light weight, too — a mere 20oz! 367 ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Slim Zeiss-type body, centre focus, black finish, fully-coated lenses, also suitable for spectacle wearers. Excellent value at £34.93 inc. case, straps and lanyard, plus 75p p&p. Heron NEW 8x40 Zcf binoculars. £24.81 Weight 21oz, 321ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Fold-down rubber eyecups. 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Thursday 1 pm British Birds /OLUME 71 NUMBER 5 MAYI978 Photograph of the Year 85. bird photograph of the year, 1 977. Female Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus alighting at nest, North Yorkshire, May 1977 (technical details: Pentax SP500, Vivitar zoom 75-260 lens, Clive Courteney Power Pack with two flash heads, Kodachrome 64) ( P . Lowes) [Brit. Birds 71: 195-198, May 1978] r95 86. Snipe Gallinago gallinago reacting to overflying Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Netherlands, September 1 977 (35 mm transparency) ( Oene Moedt) 87. Female Grey Partridge Perdix perdix backing off nest and posturing at threatening stoat Mustela erminea (out of picture), Lancashire, May 1977 (2j inch transparency) ( Dennis Green) 197 Bird Photograph of the Tear The 160 entries for the 1977 competition were judged by Eric Hosking, Michael W. Richards, I. J. Ferguson-Lees and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock. The winning photograph and six runners-up were as follows: 1. Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus (Peter Lowes, North Yorkshire) 2. Snipe Gallinago gallinago (Oene Moedt, Netherlands) 3. Grey Partridge Perdix perdix (Dennis Green, Merseyside) 4. Cory’s Shearwater Calonedris diomedea (Keith Pellow, Devon) 5. Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus (Miss S. L. Hastings, North Yorkshire) 6. Barn Owl Tyto alba (Donald A. Smith, Ayrshire) 7. Little Owls Athene noctua (Derick Scott, South Yorkshire) The award of an inscribed salver and a cheque for fioo were presented to Peter Lowes by Mrs Joyce Grenfell at a press conference on 4th April 1978. The female Sparrowhawk (plate 85), alighting at her nest 6 m up in an oak Quercus with a twig in her bill, is a most unusual head-on study. Mr Lowes built a high tower from which to photograph the nest. Five eggs were laid, but one disappeared, probably taken by a grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis; one of the young died when small, but three fledged. Oene Moedt wanted to record the reactions of feeding and resting Snipe to Kestrels Falco tinnunculus, gulls (Laridae) and crows (Corvidae), so he erected a pole as a perch for these predators 10 m from his hide. It was, however, a Snipe which settled on the pole and provided him with his most interesting photograph (plate 86) : it bent forward with fanned tail — a characteristic posture towards aerial intruders — as a Starling Sturnus vulgaris flew over. After beginning to fidget nervously, jerking her head to and fro as she hissed, the female Grey Partridge (plate 87), being photographed on her nest in the early afternoon by Dennis Green, pecked forwards vio- lently and spread and unspread her tail, revealing her orange feathers; she then slid backwards until half off her eggs. The cause of this reaction was a stoat Mustela erminea, which was standing bolt upright, swishing its tail and screaming a metre or so to the right of the nest. Whether from the shore or from a boat, seabirds are seldom easy to photograph well in flight away from their breeding colonies, since the largest movements are usually on the most windy days, in heavy seas. Keith Pellow’s Cory’s Shearwater (plate 88) was accompanying vast numbers of Great Shearwaters Puffinus gravis on their northward post- breeding migration. Some photographs capture a moment. The male Ptarmigan (plate 89), photographed at 900 m in the Cairngorms by Miss S. L. Hastings, had just been feeding with his mate on lichen and heather shoots, and this unusual flight shot is a triumph against the difficult white background. Unlike the previous five, which were all colour transparencies, the photographs of Barn Owl by Donald A. Smith and Little Owls by Derick Scott were black-and-white prints. We shall, therefore, include them with the selection of ‘Best recent work by British bird-photographers’ later in this volume. Eds 88. Cory’s Shearwater Caloneclris diomedea, 5 km off Bermuda, May 1977 (35 mm colour trans- parency) ( Keith Pellow ) 89. Male Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus, Inverness-shire, May 1977 (35 tnm colour transparency) (. S . L. Hastings) Breeding Red-throated Divers in ^ 1* a a! a ha J In what ways does disturbance affect the divers nesting at remote hill lochans? Following an earlier study (Bundy 1976), I surveyed the breeding Red- ™ throated Divers Gavia slellata in the northern part of the Shetland archipelago during 14th May to 24th August 1976. The main aims were (a) to provide base-line data on numbers so that the impact of en- vironmental changes on the population and on its breeding success could be assessed; (b) to identify the important breeding areas in Shetland; and (c) to put the Shetland population into national perspective. I surveyed the populations of Unst, the whole of Yell, and North Roe, Mainland; some coverage of north Mainland around Sullom Voe was also attempted, but most sites in this area were visited only once. The breeding population on Fetlar was surveyed by Martin Robinson. Methods In the three main survey areas, all waters were visited and a search made for nests, eggs or young. Since divers have a protracted laying period, sites were investigated several times if initial visits proved negative. Wide areas of open moorland and hill country were also covered in search of unmapped lochans and tarns. Thus, the whole survey area was covered at least once in an attempt to find all the breeding divers. The first priority was to find as many breeding pairs as possible, the second to monitor the sites so that evidence of hatching or fledging could be obtained. Especially during the first half of the period, much of the time was spent searching wide areas for new sites; it soon became evident that divers were laying and then suffering predation, in some cases twice, between visits. Consequently, the criteria for recording breeding pairs had to be extended, so that more accurate figures on the size of the breeding population could be obtained; thus, nest-sites which had obviously been used but abandoned were considered sufficient evidence to register a breeding site. Breeding pairs were recorded only on the fol- lowing evidence: (i) nest and eggs; (ii) unfledged young; (iii) used but empty nest-site. The mere presence of a pair or pairs on a loch was not considered sufficient evidence of breeding. [Brit. Bints 71: 199-208, May 1978] IQQ 200 Breeding Red-throated Divers in Shetland If eggs were lost and a later clutch found at the same loch, it was as- sumed that the original pair had laid a replacement clutch. Of 207 waters known to have been used in Unst and Yell, only 13 held more than one pair. Evidence for a second or third pair had to be established in the course of the same visit, to avoid confusion with an original pair or with replace- ment clutches laid in second nests; in five cases, such additional pairs were suspected, but not proved to breed. Once breeding had been established, visits were kept to a minimum, follow-up checks being made at the appropriate times to record hatching or fledging success. First clutches are laid from mid May until late June. In most instances, laying dates have been assessed from the estimated age of unfledged young (with experience, cliver chicks can be aged in the field with a reason- able degree of accuracy, using a combination of factors, principally colour of down and size: Bundy 1976). The age of young ± two days, plus the average incubation period of 27 days, is subtracted from the date when the chicks were first seen. Visits were not frequent enough, especially in the first half of the survey period, to establish laying dates more accurately. In a few cases, the laying date was known by chancing upon a site at the appropriate time; in one such case, the incubation period of 24 days proved to be the shortest I have recorded (of 39 pairs on Unst in 1974, 20 incubation periods averaged 27 days), but, despite this, I have not altered the formula for calculating laying dates. Main areas covered Unst Nine visits were made; coverage was complete and involved 18 days (170 hours) in the field. Fieldwork was devoted almost entirely to divers, which is probably why the number of pairs located was greater than in the two previous surveys, in 1973 and 1974. In addition, as mentioned above, abandoned but used nest-sites are included, and waters with negative early results were followed up by more visits than in previous years. As I was familiar with the island, I could cover the higher ground and less accessible areas with comparative ease, even on wet and misty days; this reduced considerably the need to search widely for unmapped lochans on the hills and moors. Results showed that 54 pairs bred on 52 waters; 15 of these reared a total of 17 chicks to the flying stage. Six sites (1 1%) held only empty, used nests. Of the 52 waters, 1 1 (21 %) are not marked on the current Ordnance Survey map (1 :50, 000). Table 1 shows breeding success at sites monitored for more than one season during 1973-76. Table 1. Breeding success of Red-throated Divers Gavia slellala at sites monitored for more than one season on Unst, Shetland, 1973-76 Sites monitored Sites monitored _ 1 973» »974. 1976 ijnd'fi)?6 Successf ul three seasons 1 Successful two seasons 3 4 Successful one season 1 1 6 Failed each season 8 10 23 20 TOTALS 201 Breeding Red-throated Divers in Shetland Tell This, the second largest island in Shetland, consists mostly of gently undulating, peaty, gneiss moorland, giving rise to numerous small, black- watered, grass-banked tarns that are favoured by divers for nesting. Many of the large lochs, especially in the northern half, have shallow margins and wide stony shores, unsuitable for breeding divers. Whereas human disturbance is negligible, pressure from avian predators is probably heavier than ever before, following the recent, very considerable increase in the numbers of moorland-breeding gulls (Laridae) and skuas (Stercorariidae). The growth in numbers of Great Skuas Stercorarius skua has been well documented, but the spread of Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus has received less attention. An attempt to provide some basic data on the latter was made and the results appear at the end of this paper (pages 207-208). A total of 69 days (587 hours) was spent surveying the island, and 1 70 breeding pairs of Red-throated Divers were located on 154 waters. Alto- gether, 56 sites were discovered that are not marked on the current OS (1 150,000) map; this represents 35% of waters supporting breeding pairs. Four sites where breeding was not recorded are known to have been used in the recent past (R. J. Tulloch in litt.). Yell is conveniently divided by the long voes of Whale Firth and Mid Yell, which meet almost in the centre. In north Yell, 72 pairs bred, of which 22 reared 25 juveniles; in south Yell, 98 pairs bred, of which 31 raised 37 young to the flying stage. In the north, empty nests totalled 15 (21%) and in the south 12 (12%) ; in many of these, eggshell fragments were found close to the nest, and in five cases complete eggs in th^ water below the nest. Mainland North Roe proved difficult to cover adequately : not easy of access and with wide tracts of undulating terrain and innumerable waters: misty weather inhibited work on two of the five visits. All areas were, however, visited at least twice, and, between 8th June and 7th August, 12 days (96 hours) were spent in the field. Many of the mapped waters proved unsuitable for breeding divers, having rocky margins; most pairs were found in three strips of peaty grass-moor where there were a number of small lochans with suitable banks. A total of 67 pairs was found, but no attempt w'as made to monitor these for breeding success. Between 24th June and 16th July, observations and single-visit searches w'ere made in the Sullom Voe area, where there is now considerable development in connection with the North Sea oilfields; 23 pairs were found, chiefly on the undeveloped west side, but it is doubtful whether all pairs were located. Fetlar Martin Robinson wardened the island in the summer for the RSPB and reported a total of 20 breeding pairs of Red-throated Divers, six of which reared a total of nine young (0.45 per pair). 202 Breeding Red-throated Divers in Shetland Loch-types and dispersal Red-throated Divers often gather on larger waters (not necessarily breed- ing lochs), where they rest, preen and roost away from the pressures of territory defence and aggi'ession. Individuals probably use regular assem- bly waters (up to 24 have been seen on a single loch). The composition of these assemblies is not known; the divers are often in pairs and may be failed breeders, sub-adults, or unpaired birds unable to gain possession of a breeding territory or loch. Off-duty and disturbed breeders are certainly involved, having been watched leaving their ‘home territories’ and descending to a communal water nearby. Non-breeding or off-duty divers sometimes favour waters at which a pair or two are breeding, a situation which often stimulates much complex posturing and communal display when territory or ‘individual distance’ is violated. Smaller waters, up to about 1 ha in extent, are usually guarded against intruding divers. On larger ones, nesting divers seem to require up to about 0.5 ha around the nest-site, and, especially if a second pair is present, the young usually keep within this; additional visiting divers are often tolerated, but generally only away from the home territory. Breeding waters Sites may be divided into three types according to the area of water: I estimated this in the field for the smaller lochans, and from the OS (1 : 50,000) maps for larger waters: type A, small lochans of up to 1 ha; type B, lochs of from 1 to 5 ha; and type C, lochs of more than 5 ha in total area. In the case of the most favoured lochans (type A), it is not practicable to assess the proportion of breeding waters in relation to those potentially available; there are so many small, unmapped pools and tarns on the moors, and especially on the grassier plateaux, that any estimate of their number would be difficult, and possibly meaningless since many are clearly unsuitable for nesting. The loch-types B and C could potentially be shared by more than one pair of divers but, in fact, only 13 were known to have been shared in Yell and Unst combined. It appears from this that, if breeding numbers were limited by the number of sites available, more of the seemingly suitable space on larger waters would be utilised. Two lochs on Yell each supported three pairs: a type B of about 3 ha, where all three pairs were successful; and a type C, where all failed to rear young. Table 2 gives details of breeding pairs on loch-types B and C« Table 2. Number of larger lochs available and number used by breeding Red- throated Divers Gavia stellata, Unst and Yell, Shetland, 1976 Loch-typcs arc: B, 1-5 ha; C, more than 5 ha Lochs available No. used No. of pairs UNST Loch- type B IO 9 IO Loch- type C 9 7 7 YELL Loch-type B 45 31 40 Loch-type C. 20 12 «9 TOTALS 84 59 76 Breeding Red-throated Divers in Shetland 203 Table 3. Waters selected by Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata in relation to breeding success, Unst and Yell, Shetland, 1976 Loch-types are: A, up to 1 ha; B, 1-5 ha; C, more than 5 ha. Numbers of young seen not necessarily same as those actually hatched No. of No. of % of Young Young fledged lochs used pairs total seen (av./pr) UNST Loch-type A 37 37 68.5 22 H (o-37) Loch-type B 9 10 18.5 3 3 (o-3) Loch-type C 7 7 13.0 1 O TOTALS 53 54 26 17 (o-30 YELL Loch-type A I I I 1 1 1 65-3 79 43 (o.39) Loch-type B 3i 40 23-5 27 18 (0.45) Loch-type C 12 19 1 1.2 5 1 (0.05) TOTALS i54 170 1 1 1 62 (0.36) GRAND TOTALS 207 224 137 79 (o-35) on Unst and Yell in 1976. There were 148 pairs breeding on as many type A lochans ; these are too small to be shared and this total is probably very close to the maximum number of suitable pools. Breeding waters must be sufficiently free of vegetation and deep enough to enable chicks to dive when disturbed. The banks must be easy of access, suitable for nesting and preferably grassy. The distance and height from the water at which the eggs are laid apparently depends on the nature of the bank. Water-levels dropped slightly during the present survey, more noticeably on the larger lochs on impermeable substrates with shallow, stony margins, but no exact data ai'e available. Rainfall was below average and only one pair of divers lost eggs through a rise in water-level. This pair laid two clutches in an unusually low nest, a shallow scrape on a sandy shore where typical grass-bank sites were available. Details of loch-types and breeding success on Unst and Yell are given in table 3. Some aspects of breeding biology Nest-sites At laying time, Red- throated Divers do not always build a nest; often, a scrape or flattened grass on the bank of a loch is sufficient. Such scrapes are usually lined during incubation with dry grasses, decayed vegetation or lichens, and most used nest-sites are easily recognisable. Some pairs build a grebe-like nest before laying, usually at the water’s edge, but sometimes raised above shallow water several metres from the shore. In Shetland — unlike in arctic Europe — mammalian predators are not a serious threat, and islets on breeding waters, although preferred, are not invariably used. Islets usually have longer, ungrazed vegetation, which often helps to conceal the eggs, but loch-bank sites in Shetland normally lack this. In six cases, eggs were laid in soft rush Juncus effusus, but vege- tation is probably not important in egg-concealment. It is more likely that, at open sites, protection is afforded to a large extent by the cryptic colour of the eggs, which, while sometimes glossy, often get stained during incubation, especially on peaty nests, and this helps to conceal them. Breeding Red-throated Divers in Shetland 204 Reaction to human beings As Yeates (1948) also noted, individual Red-throated Divers vary a great deal in their reactions to human intrusion. Behaviour may sometimes be influenced by the area of water available, but it becomes predictable after several visits. Most of the Unst sites have been monitored for three sum- mers (table 1) and it is considered that, in nearly all cases, the same indi- viduals were present each time, such was the high degree of consistency in response to intrusion as well as in other small behavioural differences. This evidence requires confirmation by marking, but divers are not ideal subjects for ringing; no attempt was made to capture either adults or young. Some individuals were shy during incubation and readily left the loch, but during the fledging period they often became tamer and loath to leave their chick(s). Some adults became very demonstrative, croaking and wailing; some were silent; some dived or ‘sank’; some flew and left the area, and some flew and circled overhead croaking; several have performed what might be termed a threat-posture at the observer in a croaking display a metre or so from the bank, while a few, especially if nesting on islets, remained on eggs throughout my visit. Each behaved in the same, individualistic, predictable way at every visit; there was no general rule for all. An attempt was made to assign each pair to a simple ‘tame’ or ‘shy’ category, to see if any significant advantage or survival value was apparent in tameness, at least during the fledging period when adults are more reluctant to leave. It is likely that predation of chicks is reduced or inhibited by the presence of an adult. At some sites, at least one of the pair was present at every visit, while, at others, adults were often absent during the fledging period, leaving chicks unguarded even during the short nights of mid summer. The criteria used were: shy, an adult with chicks readily leaves a loch at the approach of human intruder(s) ; tame, at least one adult remains with young during visits. Cases where divers left eggs unguarded and flew off, but usually remained with chicks, were categorised as tame, since the cryptic colour of eggs gives some measure of protection. Of 224 pairs monitored on Unst and Yell, 1 15 were recorded as tame, 1 01 as shy, and eight were assigned to neither category. Of the successful pairs on both islands, 23 (33.8%) were shy and 45 (66.2%) tame. Of the grand total of tame birds/pairs, 39.2% reared young successfully; of those categorised as shy, 22.8% did so. Thus, shy pairs were significantly less successful than tame ones. The only Unst site monitored for three years Table 4. Success of Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata at sites where human disturbance high, Unst and Yell, Shetland, 1976 Figures in parentheses indicate number of sites at which there was also high incidence of potential avian predators NATURE OF HUMAN DISTURRANCE General Mainly Mainly From and regular fishing peat-cutting nearby road 3~V) o No. of sites 19 (7) Successful pairs 3 (o) 2 o » 2 Breeding Red-throated Divers in Shetland 205 that was successful each time was occupied by a pair categorised as shy. 1'here were no successful nests at sites where disturbance from both human beings and avian predators was considered high. Pairs subjected to either one or the other appeared less successful than those at sites where disturbance was negligible, but the difference is not significant for either (0.3 > P > 0.2 and o.i>P>o.05). When the data for pairs subjected to human and gull or skua disturbance are pooled, however, the breeding success of disturbed pairs was significantly less than that of undisturbed ones (P255 (842) 8.28 (8-45) 177 (66) 2.76 (i-50 Total 15,162 (9,958) 100.00 (100.00) 6,402 (4,362) 100.00 (100.01) 238 Birds at a sewage-works Table 2. Early morning and midday counts of Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba and Starlings Sturnus vulgaris at Aston Clinton sewage-works on three midwinter days TOTALS COUNTED (NUMBER ON Start of FILTERS IN PARENTHESES) Date count (GMT) Pied Wagtails Starlings Weather 16.12.75 08.00 61 (47) 600 (366) Freezing 16.12.75 13.00 72 (72) 35° (140) Very cold 16. 1.76 08.15 68 (68) 100 (30) Mild 16.1.76 13.00 66 (66) 120 (60) Mild 27.1.76 08.30 60 (40) 80 (30) Cold, but not freezing 27.1.76 12-45 65 (50) CO Cold over the area were disregarded unless they were hunting for food (e.g. Swallow Hirundo rustica, Kestrel Falco tinnunculus) . Twelve species comprised more than 90% of the birds counted (table 1); two — Starling* and Pied Wagtail — made up 70%. The bird community structure of the sewage-works was therefore dominated by a small pro- portion of the species that used the area. Although Black-headed Gulls and Carrion Crows are probably characteristic of such works, their numbers were somewhat inflated by the periodic dumping of edible refuse at the site. The most important part of the works, in terms of numbers of birds using it, were the six biological filters. The surface film on the clinker of these filters supports numerous invertebrates, particularly redworms Lumbricus nibellus and larvae of owl-midges Psychoda : both known to be important foods for birds (Parr 1963). A total of 20 species of birds was recorded feeding on the filters; relative abundances of many of them are also shown in table 1 . The pattern is similar to that for the whole works, with Starling and Pied Wagtail forming more than 90%. Parr (1963) found a similar spectrum of species feeding on the biological filters at Weylands sewage-works in Surrey. The following species were the most frequent feeding on the filters (the numbers in brackets being the proportions of total individuals counted throughout the study on the filters) : Reed Bunting (63%) ; Pied Wagtail (62%); Grey Wagtail M. cinerea (61%); Starling (53%); Meadow- Pipit (36%); Yellow Wagtail (32%); Song Thrush (30%). A more accurate indication of the importance of the filters to different species would have been obtained by observing the times spent feeding there In- marked birds: most individual pipits, wagtails and Starlings probabh make use of the filters during the course of a winter day. In addition to the midday counts, three early morning visits were made in the second winter period. The highest Starling and Pied Wagtail numbers w'ere on the coldest day and much higher early morning Starling numbers were recorded (table 2). This shows that there may sometimes be diurnal changes in the numbers of the most abundant species using the works. *Scientific names arc listed in tables 1 and 3. Birds at a sewage-works 239 No other part of the works consistently attracted such high numbei's of feeding birds as the filters. The following areas, however, were important to some species at certain times: 1. PRIMARY SEDIMENTATION TANKS Utilised by Pied Wagtails and Starlings, nearly always in conjunction with filters. Black- headed Gulls, Magpies Pica pica, Carrion Crows and Rooks Corvus frugilegus fre- quently scavenged these tanks for edible particles. 2. drying beds Finches and sparrows fed on weed seeds in disused sections; sludge normally used by only very small numbers of pipits, wagtails and Starlings, although in late summer 1975 exceptional wagtail numbers counted. 3. secondary sedimentation tanks Used Seasonal activity The number of birds using the works was lowest in April and May 1975 (fig. 2a). Numbers rose sharply in June, due largely to an influx of fledged Starlings, but the two winter periods (November to March) both con- sistently held high numbers. The exceptional peak in December-January 1 975/76 was not caused by particularly severe weather: the major freeze- up of the winter occurred later, at the end of January and in earl)' February. The number of birds using the filters was greatest in winter, building up to peaks in February-March 1975 and November-December 1975 (fig. 2a); the proportion using the filters showed peaks in February- March 1975 and November 1975 (fig. 2b). A relatively high proportion continued to use the filters during the breeding season, but the filters by small numbers of wagtails, usually in conjunction with filters. 4. disused sludge BEDS When dry, attracted finch and sparrow flocks. In November 1974 and August 1975, held moderate numbers of pipits, wagtails and Starlings, which tended to move between beds and filters. 5. other areas Short grass around filters extensively used, in conjunction with filter surfaces, by Yellow Wagtails and Starlings; finches, sparrows and sometimes Starlings used areas of rank vegetation; Starlings and finches resorted to hedgerows when disturbed from other parts of works. Table 3. Breeding birds at Aston Clinton sewage-works in 1975 Species Territories occupied Density (pairs/km; Skylark Alauda arvensis 2 58.8 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jlava I 29-4 Pied Wagtail M. alba 2 58.8 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 5 i47-i Dunnock Prunella modularis 6 176.5 Robin Erithacus rubecula I 29-4 Blackbird Turdus merula 4 1 17.6 Song Thrush T. philomelos I 29-4 Blue Tit Pants caeruleus 1 294 Great Tit P. major I 29-4 House Sparrow Passer domesticus O 58.8 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis I 294 Linnet C. cannabina 2 58.8 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1 294 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella 1 294 Reed Bunting E. schoeniclus 0 58.8 970.6 Total 33 240 Birds at a sewage-works Fig. 2. (a) Average monthly counts of all birds at Aston Clinton sewage-works, and (shaded) those frequenting biological filters; (b) average monthly percentage of birds frequenting filters assumed most importance in certain winter months, in terms of both absolute numbers and the proportion of birds using them. The breeding community was assessed by applying the criteria used in the Common Birds Census (International Bird Census Committee 1969) to the maps of 12 visits in April, May and June 1975 (table 3). During these three months, birds breeding nearby were attracted to the works for feeding: in particular, Yellow Wagtails and Tree Sparrows were frequently seen flying to or from the works. Average monthly counts for the five species which most regularly used the filters are shown in fig. 3. The highest numbers of Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Starlings were in midwinter; Pied Wagtails, Yellow Wagtails and Starlings increased significantly in numbers in the im- mediate post-breeding period; newly-fledged and adult Starlings Fig. 3. Average monthly counts during September 1974 to April 1976 at Aston Clinton sewage-works of five species which rely heavily on filter areas: Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jlava . Pied Wagtail At. alba. Starling Sturnus vulgaris and Reed Hunting Emberiza schoeniclus. Shaded portions show average numbers frequenting filters 15- 10-1 5- Meadow Pipit ■t 14- 12- 10- 8- 6- 4-_ 2-t Yellow Wagtail 70- 60- 50- 40- 30-| 20- 10- Pied Wagtail IT ivivi. 300- 250- 200 150-1 100 50 Starling -V T ri . JL 7777 uVjj 10 Reed Bunting • • • • « • • • • mu tl-lXi S O N D 1974 J FMAMJ JA SOND 1975 J F M 1976 242 Birds at a sewage-works appeared in large numbers in early June, although the first juveniles were recorded in late May; both wagtails increased in numbers in August. The proportion of Pied Wagtails feeding on the filters was far higher in the midwinter peak period than during the post-breeding increase, when many of them fed on the drying and disused sludge beds. Among the finches and sparrows (fig. 4), Chaffinches and House Sparrows showed winter increases, in contrast to Goldfinches and Linnets, which were most numerous in autumn (particularly September) and virtually absent throughout the winter. The ‘waste’ areas of the works provided food plants which allowed flocks to remain for a few weeks immediately before their autumn migration out of the country (Newton 1972). Discussion Set in an agricultural area, Aston Clinton sewage-works presents a con- centrated food source to those birds which have the ability to exploit it, particularly in winter, when natural foods (especially insects) are limited: at this time, large flocks use the artificial feeding areas. Clearly, such small, modernised works are not of sufficient size or diverse habitat struc- ture to support very varied breeding bird communities or large numbers of migrant waders and wildfowl. Their importance, however, in main- taining high winter populations of certain passerines (especially on the rotating filters) should not be overlooked: Penhallurick (1978) has docu- mented one example. Counts of some species showed considerable variation between the two winters covered. In particular, those for Pied Wagtail, Starling and Reed Bunting were lower in the much milder and wetter winter of 1 974/75 than in 1975/76; the difference probably reflects food avail- ability. In winter, Pied Wagtails congregate at wet areas where insect food is temporarily abundant (Davies 1976) and Starlings may find their invertebrate food more easily in damp grassland. One might, therefore, expect these two species to make more use of the sewage-works in drier and colder periods, because the filters guarantee a food supply irrespec- tive of weather conditions. There was some indication that early morning Starling numbers were particularly high on very cold days. Tail (1973) showed that roosting Starlings sustained considerable overnight lipid and water losses, which would presumably increase in severe weather. Following very cold nights, early morning Starling activity at sewage-works is likely to be higher than normal, because other feeding areas, especially grassland, remain frozen until later in the day. The two most numerous birds using the works, Pied Wagtail and Starling, can both be regarded as particularly successful species. The Pied Wagtail adjusts its social behaviour according to the distribution of available food, allowing it to maintain an insectivorous diet throughout the winter (Davies 1976); similarly, the Starling has a far more flexible winter diet than most species, at times relying almost wholly on artificial food supplied by man (Dunnet 1956, Tait 1973). The utilisation of the 243 Birds at a sewage-works 1974 1975 1976 Fig. 4. Average monthly counts during September 1974 to April 1976 at Aston Clinton sewage-works of House Sparrow Passer domesticus and three finches, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis and Linnet C. cannabina. Shaded portions show average numbers frequenting filters artificial feeding conditions at modernised sewage-works by large numbers of these birds is another indication of their adaptability. Undoubtedly, the ornithological interest of such modernised works could be enhanced if wet irrigation areas were included in the final phase 244 Birds at a sewage-works of the purification system. Glue & Bodenham (1974) described the value of such a wet grassland area: it provided suitable wetland habitat for breeding, passage and wintering species. Acknowledgements John Hayward kindly supplied details on the functioning of the Aston Clinton sewage- works. We are grateful to Brian Milne for his comments on the first draft. We also thank the works attendants for their tolerance; Mrs Angela Fuller for assistance with the diagrams; and Miss Stella Woodman for typing from the manuscript. Summary A small, modernised sewage-works near Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, was visited during the midday period on 74 occasions between September 1974 and April 1976. The numbers and distribution of birds were recorded on large-scale maps, which allowed the community structure and seasonal activity of the birds to be described. Although 51 species were recorded, Starlings Sturnus vulgaris and Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba accounted for 70% of the birds counted. The six rotating biological filters consistently attracted more feeding birds than any other part of the works. A total of 21 species was recorded feeding on the filters, where Pied Wagtails and Starlings comprised more than 90% of the birds counted. The total number of birds using the works was greatest during November to March, and lowest in April and May. Feeding on the filters was most frequent in winter. The breeding bird community consisted of 33 pairs of 16 species. Numbers of Pied Wagtails, Yellow Wagtails M. Jlava and Starlings showed notable increases in the immediate post-breeding periods. Meadow Pipits Anthus pralensis, Pied Wagtails, Starlings, Chaffinches Fnngilla coelebs and House Sparrows Passer domesticus were present in greatest numbers in winter. Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis and Linnets C. cannabina were most numerous in autumn. The importance of such modernised sewage-works to winter feeding by certain passerines is discussed. References Davies, N. B. 1976. Food, flocking and territorial behaviour of the Pied Wagtail ( Mota- cilla alba yarrellii Gould) in winter. J. Anim. Ecol. 45: 235-253. Dunnet, G. M. 1956. The autumn and winter mortality of Starlings in relation to their food supply. Ibis 98: 220-230. Glue, D. E., & Bodenham, D. 1974. Bird-life at a modern sewage farm. Bird Study 21 : 229-237. International Bird Census Committee. 1969. Recommendations for an international standard for a mapping method in bird census work. Bird Study 16: 249-255. Newton, I. 1972. Finches. London. Parr, D. 1963. Bird life on a sewage disposal works — A study of the bird life of Weylands Sewage Works, Hersham, Surrey. London Bird Rep. 27: 66-90. Penhallurick, R. D. 1978. ChiffchafTs wintering at sewage-works in west Cornwall. Brit. Birds 71: 183-186. Tait, M. J. 1973. Winter food and feeding requirements of the Starling. Bird Study 19: 226-236. R. J. Fuller and D. E. Glue, British Trust for Ornithology, Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NR The European Atlas: pipits I. J. Ferguson-Lees A further selection of maps derived from fieldwork by 15 of the member nations of the EOAC The background to the production of certain provisional maps by the European Ornithological Atlas Committee has already been described by Sharrock (1977) in connection with those for the woodpeckers (Picidae) . It need only be stated here that they show breeding season records during 1968-76, that the three sizes of dots are those standard in bird atlas mapping, and that the shaded parts have not yet been surveyed. This paper draws attention to some of the interesting features of western Europe’s five breeding pipits Anthus. Two other species — Pechora A. gustavi and Olive-backed A. hodgsoni — also nest in Europe, but are con- fined to northeast Russia, eastward from the Pechora region, and no atlas mapping has yet been attempted there. The true pipits are a homogeneous group in both form and appearance, but they have an almost cosmopolitan range, with representatives in all six continents, and their habitat requirements differ widely. Thirteen species breed in the Palearctic, in such diverse places as tundras, moun- tains, moors, heaths, hillsides, marshes, meadows, cultivation, light woodlands, forests, steppes, desert edges, dunes, and rocky coasts. Thus, it is not surprising that one pipit or another is present in almost every part of Europe. In the notes which follow, all unqualified references to Britain and Ireland, Denmark, Finland, France, the German Federal Republic and Poland relate respectively to Sharrock (1976), Dybbro (1976), Merikallio (1958), Yeatman (1976), Rheinwald (1977) and Tomialojc (1976). Tawny Pipit A. campestris The Tawny Pipit nests in a fair range of mainly lowland and level habitats, from arable fields, dry pastures and heaths, all with low, thin or scattered vegetation, to dunes and desert edges. Sandy, arid and relatively bare ground seems almost essential, which limits the species in Europe largely to the centre and south. Its northern limits have long been Denmark, southernmost Sweden and Gotland (still shaded here, [Brit. Birds 71: 245-254, June 1978] 245 94- Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris at nest, Sweden, June 1951 (P . 0. Swanberg ) Antlius campestris European Atlas: pipits 2 ^ as unsurveyed) and the Baltic States, but the proved breeding in south- west Finland apparently represents a recent extension, though nesting was thought possible on the Hankoniemi peninsula in 1939-40. On the other hand, there has been some retraction of range in the last 100 years towards the south— for example, in France— and the Tawny Pipit is generally scarce, local and unevenly distributed in northern France, the Low Countries, Denmark, Germany and Poland. It was found in 24 of 1 16 50-km squares in the German Federal Republic (20.7%), in only 141 of 1,092 rather smaller squares in France (12.9%) and in a mere 36 of 2,160 5-km squares in Denmark (1.7%). Even where common, it avoids mountains, though nesting up to 1,000 m on, for instance, the plateaux of southern France. The map, though so incomplete for Europe as a whole, illustrates this scattered and discontinuous distribution much better than the solid colouring in the various field guides; it is sometimes suggested that habitat loss due to increased cultivation may be part of the cause, but the species is often absent from suitable areas, even in southern Europe. There has never been any evidence of breeding in Britain and Ireland— apart from the 1905 claim of a nest and eggs in southeast Sussex, now rejected (Nicholson & Ferguson-Lees 1962) — but this species is a medium-distance migrant that winters in Africa, in the arid belt between the Sahara and the equator, and in southwest Asia east to Afghanistan, so not surprisingly it is an annual vagrant here, which amassed 342 records during 1958-76 (Brit. Birds 70: 427) an average of 18 a year. Tree Pipit A. trivialis The d 1 ee I ipit nests in a variety of habitats with trees or tall shrubs, including open woodland, wood edges, parkland, scrub and heaths, both in the lowlands and on hillsides in the north, but largely (though not entirely) in mountains in the south, from 1,000 m to the tree limit (reflected on the map lay the distribution in Bulgaria). It has a wider breeding dis- tribution in Europe than any other pipit, being absent only from Iceland, Ii eland, the backbone of Scandinavia, northeast Russia and, in the south, much of Iberia (note the spaces on the map), lowland Italy/Balkans and the Mediterranean islands. Though in Britain it is greatly outnumbered by the Meadow Pipit A. pratensis (their respective populations were estimated under 100,000 and over 3 million pairs, and the Meadow was 1 ecorded in almost twice as many squares), it is also the most numerous species in many parts of Continental Europe. In much of Fenno-Scandia, for example, it is one of the commonest of all birds: in 1958, it was the third most abundant species in Finland after the Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus and the Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, with a population of over 1,650,000 pairs (compared with a mere 230,000 for the Meadow). It was found in 60.6% of the 5-km squares in Denmark, in 82% of the larger squares in France (only 33% for the Meadow), and in 98% of the 50-km squares in the German Federal Republic, and it is fairly numerous and generally distributed in Poland to the upper timber line. 95 & 96- Above, Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis at nest, North Yorkshire, June 1972 {A. Butler) , be low. Meadow Pipit A. pratensis at nest, Westmorland, May 1964 (J. B. S. Bottomley) * 2 49 European Atlas : pipits The obvious continuing surprise is its apparent total absence from Ireland, which raises a variety of topics, such as the origins of transequatorial migrants, the effects of the last Ice Age and the species-poverty of islands, but its spread northwards in northern Scotland (Parslow 1973) and Norway (Haftorn 1958) during the last 90 years perhaps indicates that even its colonisation of Britain is comparatively recent. Whereas there are fossil records of Rock Pipits A. spinoletta in England and of Meadow in both England and Ireland, the historical evidence for Tree Pipits in Britain dates back only to 1738 (Fisher 1966). In fact, during the summers of 1 974-76, singing males were recorded at five places in four Irish counties, one locality being occupied in two successive years [Irish Bird Reports ), so perhaps colonisation of the plentiful apparently suitable habitat is be- ginning. The Tree Pipit is entirely a summer visitor to Europe, being a long-distance migrant that winters in tropical Africa and southern Asia. Meadow Pipit A. pratensis The Meadow Pipit breeds essentially in open country, such as tundra, moors, rough pastures and dunes, where the vegetation is low. It has a more restricted Eurasian range than the other species, being confined largely to the western Palearctic west of the Urals, but it alone has colonised Iceland and even the coast of southeast Greenland, and in Britain and Ireland it is easily the commonest pipit with an estimated 250 European Atlas: pipits population of over 3 million pairs. Elsewhere, except in northern Fenno- Scandia and arctic Russia, and in the open, low-lying areas of Denmark where it was found in 65.8% of 5-km squares, it is usually outnumbered by the Tree Pipit. It commonly nests from sea-level to over 1,000 m, and locally to 2,000 m or more, but it is not typically a high montane species: this and the fact that it becomes scarcer and more scattered in southern France and is absent from southern Europe are demonstrated by the plotting available for the map. The various field guides have long shown central France as solid, but there is nothing new in this discontinuous distribution: the French atlas findings were not so different from the distribution summarised by N. Mayaud in his hwentaire des Oiseaux de France (1956) and confirm the conclusion of an enquiry in 1961. In many areas in west and south Poland, on the other hand, the species has become very scarce as a result of the drainage of marshlands. Eike all pipits, the Meadow feeds essentially on insects, but it is far less of a migrant than the other European species except the Rock A. spinoletta : perhaps this is because they both winter on wet grasslands, marshes, lake edges and coasts, where invertebrate food remains more readily available at that season. Nevertheless, the northern and eastern populations of Iceland, Fenno-Scandia, Russia, the Baltic States and Poland move southwest and down into southern Europe and North Africa south to Ahaggar, while some even cross the Sahara. 251 European Atlas : pipits Red-throated Pipit A. cervinus The Red-throated Pipit breeds in the Eurasian tundra from arctic Norway to the Chukotski peninsula in northeast Siberia, and throughout much of this range is the only pipit, but it is not numerous in Fenno- Scandia: in 1958, the Finnish population was roughly estimated at a mere 300-350 pairs. It favours swampy areas and damp grasslands, with scrub willow Salix and birch Betula , and coastal swards, and in Fapland has a strong association with wet meadows and cultivation near settle- ments. The map also shows neatly how the southernmost populations in Scandinavia inhabit upland fells. The Red-throated Pipit is a long- distance migrant, which winters mainly in waterside habitats and wet cultivation in Central Africa south of the Sahara and in southern Asia, but small numbers travel only as far as northwest Africa. The species is a vagrant to Britain and Ireland, with 82 records during 1958-76, two-thirds of them in autumn: this represents an average of 4.3 records a year, but in 1975 there were as many as 14 and half of those came in April-June {Brit. Birds 69: 352; 70: 449). In this connection, it is inter- esting to note that, after an unusual number of migrants also in Norway that spring, nesting was proved in the county of Hedmark at 62°2o'N, probably the most southerly breeding record ever in Europe {Brit. Birds 7°: 219); this does not appear on the map, of course, as no Norwegian atlas data are yet available. 97 & 9^* Top, Ri*d-throatccl Pipit Anlhus cervinus at nest, Sweden, July 1968 (J. B. & S. Bottomley ) ; bottom, Rock Pipit A. spinoletla at nest (J. T. Fisher) 4 i W 253 European Atlas : pipits Rock Pipit A. spinoletta Unlike the others, the Rock Pipit has a Holarctic distribution, but this is markedly discontinuous in the Palearctic, with a clear ecological division between montane and coastal groups. The mountain forms, known as Water Pipits, breed on alpine tundras and pastures and on rocky, grassy slopes and plateaux with or without scrub, especially near streams, from about 1,000 m to the snow-line; in contrast, the coastal races are confined to rocky shores and islands, locally extending to adjacent moorland. The map clearly demonstrates the altitudinal division between the two groups, with nominate spinoletta in the mountains of central and southern Europe, and petrosus and littoralis round the coasts of northwest France, Britain, Ireland and Fenno-Scandia. At first sight, the dots may indicate more extensive distributions of spinoletta in the Massif Central of France and of littoralis in Denmark and southern Finland than those shown in the field guides, but the French findings confirm those of Mayaud’s Inventaire (1:936) and the Danish atlas in fact proved breeding in only 10 of 2,160 5-km squares, which tend to look larger when converted to a 50-km grid. As for Finland, the population in 1958 was put at a mere 500 pairs and this form is still not very numerous around the Baltic. Another subspecies, kleinschmidti, is confined to the Faeroe Islands. Much the commonest coastal race is petrosus , in Britain, Ireland, northwest France and Norway: 254 European Atlas: pipits the British and Irish population was estimated at over 50,000 pairs. Most of the Fenno-Scandian littoralis and petrosus move southwest in winter and the spinolelta vacate the mountains for lowland marshes and flooded grasslands, but as a species this is only a partial migrant which barely crosses the Mediterranean. Acknowledgements The dot-distributions were plotted by Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, by courtesy of the atlas organisations in the EOAC member countries and the delegates who supplied the data : Dr Z. Bogucki, Dr P. Devillers, Dr S. Dontschev, T. Dybbro, K. Hyytia, R. F. Porter, Dr F. Purroy, Dr G. Rheinwald, Dr A. Schifferli, D. Scott, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Dr K. Stastny, Dr S. Svensson, Drs R. M. V. Teixeira and L. J. Yeatman. The base map is reproduced by permission of the secretariat of the European Invertebrate Survey. Summary Provisional atlas data from 15 member countries of the European Ornithological Atlas Committee are shown for the five of the seven European pipits Anthus that breed west of Russia. The text describes habitats, ranges and migrations, and draws attention to points brought out already by these early maps. References Dybbro, T. 1976. De Danske Tnglefugles Udbredelse. pp. 258-262. Copenhagen. Fisher, J. 1966. The Shell Bird Book. p. 327. London. Haftorn, S. 1958. Population changes, especially geographical changes, in the Norwegian avifauna during the last 100 years. Sterna 3: 105-137. Merikallio, E. 1958. Finnish Birds : Their Distribution and Numbers, pp. 1 12-1 14. Helsinki. Nicholson, E. M., & Ferguson-Lees, I. J. 1962. The Hastings Rarities. Brit. Birds 55: 299-384- Parslow, J. 1973. Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland, pp. 164-166. Berkhamsted. Rheinwald, G. 1977. Atlas der Brulverbreitung westdeutscher Vogelarten. p. 26, and maps 90-92. Bonn. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland, pp. 394-399. Berkhamsted. 1977- The European Atlas: woodpeckers. Brit. Birds 70: 476-488. Tomiai.ojc, L. 1976. Birds of Poland: A List of Species and their Distribution, pp. 137-138. Warsaw. Yeatman, L. 1976. Atlas des Oiseaux Nicheurs de France, pp. 158-162. Paris. I. J. Ferguson-Lees , 62 High Street, Roxton, Bedford MK.44 3ED European news This is the third summary of interesting recent records on the Continent. It is pleasing that 15 nations have supplied data, compared with six for the first summary {Brit. Birds 70: (70: 494-496). We hope that still future. Unless otherwise stated Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Netherlands Total of 12-14, including seven or eight inland, in winter 1977/78 (usually only two or three a winter, none in 1976). White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii 218-219) and nine for the second more countries will participate in all dates refer to 1977 France First record: oiled bird found dying near Brest, October 1976. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Norway After first breeding in 1973, now about ten pail's in More og Romsdal, one or two pairs each in Ostfold and Hedmark, [Brit. Birds 71: 354-258, June 1978] European news and probably also in several other coun- ties. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus italy Several adults and broods in summers 1976-77 on reservoir in northern Apulia, where previously only migrant and winter visitor. Portugal Apparently breeding in south since 1973. Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Malta Second record: one, regrettably shot, off southwest coast in October. Black Stork Ciconia nigra France First breeding: four young reared in Jura (adults had been seen by foresters in 1976 and nest discovered winter 1976/77). Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber Spain Exceptional breeding season (about 2,000 nestlings), despite high water levels in spring and drought in summer. Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus Poland Increasingly common on Baltic coast since 1961, especially since 1971; also more frequent inland. American Wigeon Anas americana Netherlands First record: male, 6th- 26th November. Scaup Aythya marila Poland First proof of breeding: three pairs with nests on peat-bog lake near Minsk Mazowiecki, east of Warsaw. Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri Finland Regular winter flock at Lagskiir, Aland Islands, having grown during 1970s, with increasing proportion of males, reached 77 (34c? c? 43??) in February 1978. Poland Rediscovered wintering on Bal- tic coast after 120 years: four records, January 1974 to March 1977. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Portugal Population thought to be in- creasing: more and more birds seen and nests found. Spain More common than previously supposed: six nests in west- central Spain, in open forest of evergreen oak Qiiercus ilex. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Estonian ssr Nests with fledged young: two in 1973 (seven occupied territories), one in 1974 (ten), none in 1975 (nine), one in 1976 (nine), and five in 1977 (eight) (studied by T. Randla). Malta First record: immature, regrettably shot, 25th November. Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus Spain Counts at Strait of Gibraltar and ringing returns of nestlings from Pyrenees show that part 255 ol Iberian population (mainly immatures) migrates to Morocco. Red Kite Milvus milvus Netherlands Two pairs breeding, one successful, but other’s eggs shot at in nest. Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosas GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC Slight increase in number breeding in Lower Saxony and Hesse. Buzzard Buteo buteo Finland Many in south, winter 1977/78. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Finland More than usual, winter 1977/78. Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca Portugal Only recent evidence of nesting: pairs in possible habitat and, after breeding season, nest seen. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Netherlands Second record: Groen- eken, 9th July. Quail Coturnix coturnix Czechoslovakia Observers engaged in atlas mapping in J977 reported the highest numbers in recent years. Switzerland Numbers particularly high: many calling in June. Crane Grus grus german federal re- public Autumn migration four or five weeks later than usual: departure not until mid November, some apparently wintered. Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Norway Af- ter first breeding, in Rogaland in 1974, two or three pairs have nested annually. Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria Netherlands One at Smilde, 1st Octo- ber. Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta Sweden First record in west Palearctic: Ottenby, 4th October to at least 5th November. White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fus- cicollis NETHERLANDS Sixth record: 20th October. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Italy Breeding in Piedmont: two colonies, each of four pairs with Lapwings Vanellus vanellus, but at one ploughing disrupted nesting. Little Gull Larus minutus Norway First breeding: pair nested successfully in Rogaland, 1976 (not yet officially verified). Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini Netherlands Unusually high number (90% or more first-year) from mid September to late November. 256 Slender-billed Gull Larus genei german federal republic One near Cuxhaven, 2nd October. Common Gull Larus cams France Two nests in colonies of Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Spain Breeding in northwest: about 20 pairs each on the Sisargas and Cies Is- lands. Herring Gull Larus argentatus France Pink-legged race argentatus has for some years nested south to lie d’Oleron in Charente and yellow-legged michahellis has recently colonised southwest coast north to there, so for first time breeding alongside each other. Poland Breeding only since 1968 (despite incorrect maps in various field guides), now increasing and spreading, commonest on Gardno and Labsko Lakes. Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Estonian ssr Summering in i960, but first proved breeding not until 1 973 ; in 1 975 and 1976, breeding population 300 pairs, all on southwest coast of Saaremaa Island; in 1977, three pairs nested in Vainameri (Moonsund), northeast of Saaremaa and Muhu islands. Poland Recolonised north of River Vistula after 50-year absence: 53 nests in June. Little Tern Sterna albifrons Italy Two new breeding colonies of 100 pairs and six pairs in northern Apulia: apart from one other colony of 27-28 pairs, these are only ones known in central and southern Italy. Wryneck Jynx torquilla Netherlands Two breeding records at Wassenaar, north of The Hague. White-backed Woodpecker Dendroco- pos leucotos GERMAN FEDERAL REPUB- LIC One at Donau, near Offingen/Kreis Giinzburg, Bavaria, 20th November. Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes Malta Three recorded singly, July, August, September. Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponli Spain Singing males discovered in grassy steppes of central and south Spain, and first breeding record in Bcllver dc Cinca (Huesca). Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra Netherlands Second record: 18th August (first was 2nd- 15th October i960). European news Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae Netherlands Heavy invasion from third week September to end October, maxi- mum eight together at Katwikj aan Zee. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni malta First record: one ringed, October. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Estonian ssr First nesting in 1975 (north Estonia). Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus german federal republic Only very few small parties. Dipper Cinclus cinclus Estonian ssr Proved breeding in 1971 (south Estonia) and 1975 (north Estonia): first records of nesting since 1915. Siberian Accentor Prunella rnontanella Sweden First record: Ottenby, 29th October 1976 (Var Fdgelv. 37: 69-72). Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia Netherlands Male near Amsterdam, late May to mid June, seen, heard, trapped (possibly also female present). Stonechat Saxicola torquata Nether- lands At least five of one of the eastern races maura or stejnegeri: three at Katwijk aan Zee and two at Wassenaar, from second week October. Norway After nesting in 1974, species now breeding in four or five counties from Vest-Agder in south to More og Romsdal in west. Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura german federal republic One at Knock, on Ems estuary west of Emden, 23rd June 1976. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris France Range expansion continues: group of nests in Champagne, 100 km west of nearest colony near Nancy. Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis Netherlands Total of 25 singing males at Verdronken Land van Saaftinge: others elsewhere. Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides estonianssr At least seven singing males discovered in territory from loth May to 16th June in delta area of Kasari River at Matsalu Bay in west Estonia: first Estonian report, but species probably reached area in earlier years. In Latvian SSR (studied by J. Lipsbergs), discovered in southwest in 1970 and breeding proved in 1972; by 1975, expanded to many new areas to northeast, with total of several hundred pairs. Rccd Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus malta First breeding record: pair at Salina. European news Subalpine Warbler Sylvia canlillans Netherlands Fifth record : 16th Octo- ber. Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Netherlands Second record: Castri- cum, 8th October. Poland First record: caught near mouth ol River Vistula, 27th September 1976. Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC One at Oststeinbeck, Hamburg 21st November. Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus honelli NETHERLANDS Singly in July at Groen- ekan (singing) and Leidschendam; may breed in central Netherlands. Poland Adults feeding fledged young in Carpath- ians near Czechoslovakian border, 14th July 1976. Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus Belgium Noted in several parts of province of Hainaut in autumn. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Finland Large invasion in autumn: about 5,000 ringed, most on coast of Gulf of Bothnia. Poland Total of 2,144 ringed during ‘Operation Baltic’ (2,500 ar,d 5A74 >n !972 ar*d 1 973 irruptions). Coal Tit Parus ater Belgium Irruption in autumn: very abundant in east Belgium. Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria Portugal Second record: two in Peneda- Geres National Park, winter 1975/76 (first record about 1950). Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Norway Increasing numbers breeding in southwest, where formerly very scarce (cf. nesting in Scotland, Brit. Birds 70: 510- Jay Garrulus glandarius Belgium Large passage during September and October. Switzerland Invasion from late Sep- tember, including 1,000 passing south over the Albis, 28th September, and over 1,000 at Eggerstanden, 9th October; larger movements in Monthal i.i October. Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes Belgium Unusually tame individuals noted outside normal range in autumn: considered to be immigrants from east. german federal republic Small in- vasion of slender-billed macrorhynchos to Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, October and November, some staying until February 1978. Netherlands Small invasion of parties of up to 20 from second week October, but many fewer than in 1968. Poland Small irruption during 257 Operation Baltic’, half the numbers of autumn 1968. Starling Sturnus vulgaris Spain Breeding range extending westward in Canta- brian area and southward in Cataluna, where now overlaps Spotless Starling -S', unicolor without interbreeding. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Finland Usually few winter, but over 1,000 on Aland Islands in 1977/78. german federal republic Very large numbers in south in November; few in north. Switzerland Main con- centrations at Roserental and Kerns, at roosts derived from estimated radius of 20-25 km; of 748 examined in the hand, 53% adult males, 21% first-year males, 14% adult females, 13% first-year females. Siskin Carduelis spinus Netherlands After great scarcity or absence in winter 1 976/77, very numerous in autumn 1977. Spain Good breeding in 1976-77, coin- ciding with plentiful cone crops of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris and Corsican pine P. nigra. Switzerland Heavy invasion; at Col de Bretolet, main influx from 20th October, over 3,000 trapped (on several days 200-400). Redpoll Carduelis Jlammea german fed- eral republic Small invasion in West Berlin and parts of Lower Saxony, with larger numbers than usual in December- January 1977/78. Switzerland More than usual at Bretolet in October. Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus Malta Large influx, flocks of up to 50, in July (usually very scarce visitor). Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothrausles Finland Usually seldom seen in winter, but over ten records in 1977/78. Switzer- land Apparently exceptionally numerous throughout Switzerland in winter 1977/78. For example, flocks of up to 100 around Geneva in January and February; 55 at Bassins; about 50 on 1st January near Lenzburg; 130 on 28th January near Muttenz; 120 on 5th February near Allschwil; 600 on 11th February near Basle. Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Netherlands High numbers in autumn from early September (as in Britain, cf. Brit. Birds 71: 51, 93, 194). Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus Nor- way Female or immature near Oslo, 6th-8th November. European news 258 Correspondents Belgium Rene de Liedekerke, L’Agaric, 5371 Pailhe Czechoslovakia Dr Karel Stastny, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Bezrucova 927, 251 01 Ricany Estonian ssr V. Lilleleht, Institute of Zoology and Botany, 21 Vanemuise St., SU- 202400-Tartu Finland Kalevi Hyytia, Kimokuja 4 C 43, 01200 Vantaa 20 France Laurent Yeatman, 69 rue Claude-Bernard, 75005 Paris german federal republic Alistair Hill, Albrecht-Haushofer-Str. 10, 3200 Hildes- heim (some rarity records not yet formally accepted) Italy Dr Stefano Allavena, Via degli Estensi 165, 00164 Rome Malta Joe Sultana & Charles Gauci, Malta Ornithological Society, PO Box 498, Valletta Netherlands C. J. G. Scharringa, van der Waalsstraat 28, 6706 JP Wageningen (re- cords also supplied by Adri Reemeus and Arend Wassink) Norway Geoffrey Acklam, Nordliveien 18, 1320 Stabekk Poland Dr Ludwik Tomialojc, Museum of Natural History, Sienkiewicza 21, Wroclaw Portugal Nuno Gomes Oliveira, Portuguese Center for Wildlife Study and Protection, Rua da Boa Hora, 85, r/c,E, Porto 1 Spain Dr Francisco Purroy, Facultad de Biologia — Planta 9, Madrid-3 Sweden Dr Sdren Svensson, Zoological Institute, University of Lund, S-22362 Lund Switzerland Raffael Winkler, Schweizerische Vogelwarte, CH-6204 Sempach British bird-photographers 20 A. N. H. Peach I was not asked to write these notes about Nowell Peach: I requested the opportunity. All too often, it is not until they are past hearing our words that we have the chance to write pleasant things about our friends. Nowell Peach and I have made many happy trips together, but the notes which he gave me as being ‘all anyone is likely to want to know about my past’ fell far short of what I needed. They told me that he qualified as a doctor of medicine at Bristol in 1937 and became a FRCS in 1948, but carefully omitted the intervening period, much of which was spent in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, where he must have been a great asset to his companions; while there, he devoted what little spare time he had to the book-work necessary to obtain his Fellowship. He seldom talks about what must have been a pretty grim period in his life, but I continually admire the facts that it left very little obvious mark upon him, certainly did not sour him and that his shoulders are remarkably free from chips. He is now in general practice in Horsham, with a surgical appointment at Horsham Hospital, which he cheerfully says goes a long way towards mitigating the disappointment that he qualified as a surgeon at a time when a post as surgical registrar leading to a consultancy was virtually unobtainable. Anyone who has seen him disentangle a small bird from a mist-net cannot fail to agree that neurosurgery is the poorer for Nowell being in general practice, however true it undoubtedly is that GPs are the foundation-stones of medicine. Although he often says that his bird photography is — for family reasons — [Bril. Birds 71 : 258-266, June 1978] bird-photographers : A. , \ . H. Peach 259 99. Above, Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Somerset, June 1962 (A. N. H. Peach) virtually restricted to an annual fortnight’s ‘birding holiday’, I envy the enthusiasm which urges him to spend what free time he has in tackling (often from elaborate hides) his local birds, and I have long had the impression that patients are admitted to his list only if they agree to tell him about any nests suitable for photography. In the field, he is not only an indefatigable worker and tireless erector of difficult hides, but is a most cheerful companion who, while contribut- 100, 101, 102 & 103. Pages 260 & 261 : top left, Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus at nest, Norway, June 1966; bottom left, Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus in flight, Sussex. October 1976; top right, Little Owl Athene noctna at nest, Sussex, June 1968; bottom right, Shelducks Tadorna ladorna with brood, Sussex, July 1971 (A. JV. H. Peach) % I'" | \k ' A, British Birds Please help us by detaching and completing this questionnaire. It can be returned FREE in an unstamped envelope addressed to: British Birds Binoculars and Tele- scopes Survey, FREEPOST, Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex St, London WC2R 3 BR. Binoculars and Telescopes Survey The reasons for this survey are given in an ‘Announcement’ on pages 280-28 1. For how long have you subscribed to British Birds ? YEARS OPTIONAL (This form may be returned anonymously if you wish, but it is useful to have your address in case we have any queries) Name Address Binoculars What do you use at present? MAKE MODEL 2 DIALYT ? YES Q3 NO I MAGNIFICATION X L DIAMETER How long have you had them ? What was your MAIN reason for choosing them ? (tick one) Were you a spectacle-wearer when you bought them? 7 YEARS ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDATION SEEING SOMEBODY ELSE’s AFTER TRYING OTHERS AVAILABLE IN SHOP AT RIGHT PRICE ves n13 no n14 □8 □9 □io □n □l2 If ‘yes’ did this influence your choice ? yes □ 15 NO □ 16 Did you buy a case with them ? YES n1' no nn Do you use it? Are you satisfied with your binoculars? (tick one) COMPLETELY □21 FAIRLY □22 NOT REALLY □23 NO □20 How often do your intend to replace your binoculars ? If you bought a new pair of binoculars now, what size would you choose? Would you buy the same make again ? EVERY 24 YEARS OR SO (put X if no foreseeable intention) 25 MAGNIFICATION 1 x i — 127 rn 28 YES | I NO 1 | If ‘no’, what make would you now choose ? (leave blank if you don’t know) At today’s prices, how much would you be prepared to spend on a new pair of binoculars ? MAKE 2!> VI Telescopes What do you use at present? NO (tick) neD31 Or MAKE 32 Fixed How many draw tubes does it have? Is the eyepiece How long have you had it? What was your MAIN reason for choosing it? (tick one) 35 36 Variable 37 . 38 Zoom D39 D40 □« Q42 D43 OI234 STRAIG 46 ht? a44 YEARS ANGLED ? D45 ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDATION SEEING SOMEBODY ELSE's AFTER TRYING OTHERS AVAILABLE IN SHOP AT RIGHT PRICE How much do you use it? Do you use a tripod ? Did you buy a case for your telescope ? Are you satisfied with your telescope? (tick one) If you bought a new telescope now, what magnification would you choose ? FAIRLY OFTEN I 152 FREQUENTLY | | I — 154 OCCASIONALLY 1 | ALWAYS [H55 SOMETIMES D°'’ RARELY OR NEVER I |5‘ □ 53 YES r 58 no n59 Do you use it? YES D60 NO 1 I61 COMPLETELY | l62 FAIRLY | l63 NOT REALLY D64 1 65 66' FIXED 1 VARIABLE 68 09 ZOOM J Would you buy the same make again ? If ‘no’, what make would you now choose? (leave blank if you don’t know) □ 70 NO □ 71 MAKE At today’s prices, how much would you be prepared to spend on a new telescope? □ □ □ □ □ Readership Survey Main papers will continue to be of their present standard, number and length. To help us to adjust the other contents of British Birds to suit the tastes of you, our readers, we ask you to complete this brief questionnaire. Please tick the appropriate box in each case. Notes Reviews Letters News and comment Recent reports Quarterly migration summaries Mystery photographs Viewpoints Personalities Diary dates European news Periodic reviews of discs and tapes, ‘Palearctic bird sound recordings’ Photographic/literature review features of single species, ‘Studies of less familiar birds’ Quality photographic features such as ‘Best recent work by British bird-photographers’ General photographic features such as ‘Birds in action’ Small photographs (sometimes poor quality) of rarities or interesting behaviour Sketches of birds Give About Give Discon- more right less tinue space space □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ' □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ Suggestions for new features, oo4, io55 io® & 107. Top left, Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus at nest, Austria, June 1972 (A. A. H. 'each)-, bottom left, Hoopoe Upupa epops at nest, Spain, June 1961 (A. JV. H. Peach)-, above, Coot Plica atra at nest, Wales, May 1971 (A. JV. H. Peach) ; below, pair of Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus at nest, Sussex, April 1971 (A. JV. H. Peach) 108 & 109. Above, Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus at nest, Spain, May/June 1970 (A. A. H. Peach ) ; below, Woodcock Scolopax rusticola at nest, Sussex, April 1968 (A. N. H. Peach) io & in. Above, female Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus at nest, Portugal. June 1969 (-■4. N. H. Peach) below, female Great Bustard Otis tarda at nest, Portugal, May 1965 (.4. N. H. Peach) fy* -.‘■■f- 266 Bird-photographers : A. jV. H. Peach ing his fair share of blasphemy about failures and inefficient 'helpers’, seems able to bring home more good results than expected from what appeared to be few opportunities. Like so many other photographers, he is doing an increasing amount in colour, and I suspect that he comes near to sharing my own old-fashioned view that ‘real’ monochrome photography ceased with glass plates, and that expensive miniature cameras — although wonders of mechanics and electronics — are at best unreliable and at worst an absolute menace. Nowell’s interest in birds is not confined to photography: he is a col- lector of ‘fine bird books’, and has a collection to make anyone envious. He adopts the \ery sane attitude that one gets little pleasure from savings invested with a building society, whereas a set of Gould or Thorburn is not only an investment, but a continual joy. He has been a valued member of the Zoological Photographic Society for many years and has always greatly appreciated the fact that Rudoll and Kevin Carlson originally sponsored his membership. Bristol Royal Infirmary, where all three were trained, seems to have evolved a sub- species of Homo sapiens with energy far beyond that of normal men. Al- though their joint ages cannot be far from two hundred years, each can carry heavier weights farther, walk uphill faster, climb more easily to impossible places, and work longer hours in the field than anyone else I know of any age. I shall never forget Nowell’s energetic contribution to the hide which resulted in us both being successful with the Booted Eagle (plate 108). It is not surprising that he achieved one of his great ambitions: his county badminton colours. I envy him his seldom-photographed Penduline Tit and his standing Woodcock (plates 104 and 109). The Shelduck family (plate 103) is delightful, and the depth of focus in the photograph extraordinarily good. The excellent picture of a Hoopoe (plate 105) is notable for the fact that, during a long session in the hide, Nowell became aware of an increasing state of alarm on the part of the bird, which refused to go down into the nest. This became so marked that he was forced to take a step which all conscientious bird-photographers are loth to do: despite the absence of an assistant, he got out of the hide to investigate the trouble. He found that, shortly after the photograph was taken (or even while it was being taken), a large snake had entered the underground nest and had swallowed two of the youngsters. Violent action on Nowell’s part resulted in the regurgitation of two very bedraggled objects, which he brought back to me at our base. One was considerably paralysed and seemed beyond hope; the other appeared remarkably fit. Even the paralysed one, however, recovered after some weeks of forced feeding and they not only turned out to be male and female, but actually bred in one of my aviaries two years later. I have left the best to last. The portrait of Tengmalm’s Owl (why can’t we call it, as the Swedes do, the Pearl Owl?) is, 1 think, one of the loveliest bird photographs ever taken: photographically, plate too has everything. By contrast, what a vicious little brute the Little Owl looks! M. 1). England Mystery photographs |Q The identification of small ■w waders can be tricky: plu- mages vary according to age and time of year, with breeding, non- breeding, juvenile and intermediate stages. Learning to know each species by ‘jizz’ is important, and the ubiquitous Dunlin Calidris al- pina is a useful yardstick. Indeed, lone, juvenile Dunlins are traps for the unwary. Identification of the mystery bird is complicated by the hidden bill, but the clear whiteness of the underparts (with a suggestion of a suffused wash on the breast), contrastingly marked upperparts, more rounded tips to the scapulars and more prominent supercilium all rule out Dunlin. The scaly upperparts recall a Baird’s Sandpiper C. bairdii, but that species has much longer wings and a breast-band of streaks. All stints, or ‘peeps’, have streaking on the sides of the breast and less scal- loped upperparts. The whiteness of the plumage might bring a juvenile Sanderling C. alba to mind, but that species is spangled with pale spots on the upperparts, has markings on the sides of the breast and does not normally wade. The head-pattern is far too strong for a Rufl Philomachus pugnax, even a pale example of that variable species, which in any case would not be confused in the field. This really leaves only one solution: a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea, which not only fits all the points mentioned so far, but is also confirmed beyond doubt by the hint of white on the uppertail-coverts. The Curlew Sandpiper in plate 91 and re- peated here was photographed by Dr R. J. Chandler in Dyfed in August I975 ' S. C. Madge 1 12. Mystery photograph 19. What is this species? Answer next month 267 Notes Cattle Egrets feeding on refuse tip During a study of scavenging by birds in Uganda, D. E. Pomeroy ( Ibis 1 1 7 : 69-8 1 ) observed considerable numbers of Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis feeding on Natate refuse tip in Kampala. Although they were probably attracted by the large numbers of insects associated with the refuse and were unlikely to have been scavenging in the strictest sense, the species was absent from other tips and the habit had not been recorded previously. Subsequently, Dr C. J. Feare ( Ibis 117: 388) reported similar behaviour by the endemic Seychelles Cattle Egret B. i. seychellarum, but there are apparently no other published observations. On 16th April 1976, E. S. Clare, P. D. Hyde, J. Ridley and I visited a refuse tip near Tetouan, north Morocco, and found, along with Jackdaws Corvus monedula, Ravens C. corax and Black Kites Milvus migrans, at least 100 Cattle Egrets randomly scattered over the tip and clearly feeding among the refuse; we could not, however, identify their food. A. R. Dean 2 Charingworth Road , Solihull , West Midlands B92 8ht Although this behaviour is common, there appear to be very few published records. Eds Brent Geese on the Wash in late spring Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla bernicla usually leave their wintering grounds on the south- east coasts of England by early April. The 1970-75 BTO/RSPB/Wildfowl Trust ‘Birds of Estuaries Enquiry’ has shown that considerable numbers remain on the Wash, Lincolnshire/Norfolk, in late May; in 1974, nearly 500 were still there in early June (table 1). Although small numbers re- turn from mid September (or even late August), large numbers do not arrive until early October. During 1970-76, winter maxima on the Wash (2,450-8,280) occurred in late December or early January; these, and spring numbers, reflect the recent increases in the whole population (M. A. Ogilvie and A. K. M. St Joseph 1976, Brit. Birds 69: 422-439). Age counts made in Essex following good breeding seasons have shown a very high proportion (at least 75%) of juveniles after the main departure in March, and it seems likely— although there is no direct evidence that the Brents on the Wash in May are non-breeders. Table 1. Populations of dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla bernicla on the Wash, Lincolnshire/Norfolk, and on the Essex coast in late spring 1970/71 1971/72 1972/73 1973/74 1974/75 1975/76 THE WASH Winter maxima Late April/May (Date) ESSEX COAST May 2,500 880 (23 May) 2,450 690 (13 May) 3,46° 610 (6 May) 16 5.930 1.330 (5 May) 80 3,860 I ,910 (27 April) 8,280 no count Notes 269 Table 2. Distribution of dark-bellied Brent Geese Branla bernicla bernicla on the Wash, Lincolnshire/Norfolk, in relation to season The figures represent the average percentage of monthly totals in 1972-75 WEST while I was ploughing two fields in a semi-intensive arable area near West lan- field, Ripon, North Yorkshire, an immature male Kestrel Falco tinnun- culus followed the plough and fed on any sizeable earthworms that were upturned. On many occasions, I saw it very close to the moving tractor, pulling at and eventually eating a recently caught worm. It usually ate its prey on the upturned soil, but sometimes flew off to the nearest tree. The Kestrel fed on all weekdays except one, and for most of the day between 09.00 and 16.00 GMT, so earthworms obviously formed a large part of its diet. The Handbook noted that, from an analysis of 80 stomachs by W. E. Collinge, earthworms formed 2.5% of this species’ diet. In Nottinghamshire, J . Staton (Brit. Birds 36: 245) recorded a Kestrel follow- ing a plough for most of the day, but this individual fed on ‘field mice' whose nests had been exposed. Colin Slater 4 Bridge View Road , Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 ijm Kestrel and Grey Heron associating with plough On 29th Jan- uary 1977, while ploughing on my farm at Easingwold, North Yorkshire, I saw a male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus standing on a recently turned furrow and clawing at the soil, presumably in search of invertebrate food; at the approach of my tractor, it flew off. The following day, again while ploughing, a Grey Heron Ardea cinerea alighted on freshly turned furrows. When disturbed by the tractor, it flew in an arc and landed about 40 m behind the plough; on being disturbed again, it flew into an adjoining field, but returned about 15 minutes later and appeared to be eating earthworms. Interrupted a third time, it flew away. R. Hodlston Manor Farm, Oulston, Easingwold, North Yorkshire Notes 271 Young Hobbies killed in nest On 19th June 1970, in Surrey, I found the nest of a pair of Hobbies Falco subbuteo with three eggs in an old nest built by Carrion Crows Corvus corone about 17 m up in a Scots pine Pinus sylvestris. On 26th July, I ringed two 14-day-old young. On the morning of 1st August, when these should have been about three weeks old, I found both adults flying around calling anxiously, but when I reached the nest it was covered with the black and brown barred feathers of the young, of which there was no other sign. I sifted through the feathers and found two femurs of Hobbies and three breast feathers of a Tawny Owl Strix aluco; I did not find the rings, either in the nest or on the ground. I concluded that the owl had probably killed and eaten the young Hobbies, which would have been conspicuous in such an open nest, on the previous evening. Tawny Owls have been recorded taking a wide variety of prey, including adult Kestrel F. tinnunculus and Little Owl Athene noctua; Heimo Mikkola (Brit. Birds 69: 144- 154) men- tioned one record of their eating a Hobby, although he did not state whether this was adult or young. T. A. Waddell 9 Woodcut Road, Wrecclesham, Farnham , Surrey guio 4QF Although not proved that a Tawny Owl was the predator, this seems the most likely explanation. Eds Hobby apparently brooding chick on ground On 21st July 1972, in Berkshire, I climbed to the eyrie of a pair of Hobbies Falco subbuteo in a dilapidated old nest of a pair of Carrion Crows Corvus corone at the very top of an exposed 20-m Scots pine Pinus sylvestris. As the nest, with two eggs, was in imminent danger of falling out, I supported it more firmly with string and by bending some branches under it. One of the falcons was in attendance. When I returned on 2nd August, a Hobby flew up from the bare, stony ground about 28 m from the tree. Nearby, its mate also arose, from or close to a live three-day-old chick in perfect con- dition. Nothing remained of the nest, and there was no sign of another chick or egg. The weather during the previous 24 hours had been thundery, but not particularly hot (i2°C to I9°C). The wind had pre- sumably destroyed the nest and parachuted the chick on to the ground. I know of no other record of Hobbies brooding young on the ground, which had apparently been the case in this instance. T. A. Waddell 9 Woodcut Road, Wrecclesham, Farnham, Surrey guio 4QF Unless the nest had been blown down very shortly before these obser- vations, the chick would almost certainly have died if it had not been brooded. Records of birds brooding nidicolous young away from the nest site are rare. Eds Aberrant Golden Plover On 20th November 1976, at Loch Indaal, Isle of Islay, Strathclyde, I noticed, among a flock of Golden Plovers Notes 272 Pluvialis apricaria , one smaller, slighter individual. It was very greyish, with a dark crown and a conspicuous pale supercilium; its bill and legs were the same colour as those ol the rest of the flock, but thinner, giving it a long-legged appearance. I thought that it might be a Lesser Golden Plover P. dominica, but, when it stretched its wings, the undersurfaces were the same as those of the other plovers and lacked the grey axillaries of a Lesser. Its gait and flight were also identical with those of the rest, and it stayed within the flock both on the ground and in the air. Keith Verrall 35 Weston Bank , Weston-under- Lizard, Shifnal, Salop P. J. Grant has suggested that this individual may have been a small, exceptionally dull, first-winter Golden Plover among normal winter adults: this note is a most useful cautionary tale. Eds Apparent immature Glaucous X Herring Gull hybrids 1 he field identification of immature hybrid large gulls is often only speculative, since there is much individual variation in plumage and the ever-present, well-known problems of leucisdc and worn-plumaged birds (Hedgren & Larsson 1973, Hume 1975 and Davies 1978). On two occasions now, however, I have seen first-winter large gulls which fit very neatly into the category of Glaucous Larus hyperboreus X Herring Gull L. argentatus Fig. 1. Typical bill patterns of Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus (top left) and Herring Gull L. argentatus (top right) in first winter, with bill of presumed hybrid at Scarborough, North Yorkshire (bottom) hybrids. I managed to photograph the harbour at Scarborough, North The bird had the basic appearance with strong influences of Herring C flight and tail feathers: size and shape A Glaucous Gull seen briefly alongside was roughly same size and build; hybrid was hefty, with stocky head, neck and bill; considerably larger one of these (plates 113 & 114) in Yorkshire, on 13th December 1977. of a first-winter Glaucous Gull, but ull in the colour and pattern of its and bulkier than accompanying Herring Gulls (cf. plate 1 14). Head and bill shape perhaps a little less imposing than those of Glaucous. Notes 273 plumage Rather like first-winter Glaucous Gull, with small spotting and barring on upperparts, compared with Herring Gulls’ coarser markings; these markings, how- ever, more prominent than usual on Glaucous Gull. Outer primaries medium brown, with paler fringes, shading paler on inner webs, which could be matched by occasional very worn, faded, first-year Herring Gulls. Secondaries paler brown, with whiter tips and notches around edges, rather like very faded Herring Gull. Central tail feathers also pale brown, of same shade as secondaries; outer tail feathers barred right to tip, as on Glaucous Gull (see plate 1 1 3) . Not seen in flight, but, when wings briefly lifted, inner pri- maries looked paler than outer ones. bare parts Eye dark; legs and feet apparently flesh-coloured, but exact tone not determined as bird on water; bill very pale flesh, with blackish tip and duskier distal half of lower mandible (see fig. 1). 113. First-winter gull, presumed Glaucous Larus hyperboreus X Herring L. argentatus hybrid, North Yorkshire, December 1977 ( S . C. Madge ) 114. First-winter gulls: left, presumed Glaucous Larus hyperboreus X Herring L. argentatus hybrid; right, Herring Gull, North Yorkshire, December 1977 (S. C. Madge) Motes 274 Thus, this bird was intermediate in many respects between Glaucous and Herring Gulls, and the bill pattern approached Glaucous rather than Herring (see fig. 1): the former having an extremely heavy, very pale bill, with distinct gonys and neat black tip, the latter having a duskier bill, with blackish distal half and paler base. The Scarborough gull had a very pale upper mandible, with neat black tip, which extended slightly back on culmen, and a rather duskier distal third to its lower mandible, with dark extending back along the cutting edge. The size of the bill seemed intermediate between the two species. I had seen a similar bird at Bridlington, Humberside, on 7th April 1975- It differed from the Scarborough gull only in having less brown on the outer primaries and tail and in being more heavily blotched along the scapulars, like a Herring Gull. The Bridlington gull had the build of a small Glaucous, with a very pale, black-tipped, heavy bill, finely barred tail and brown wedges on the outer primaries. As in the later instance, there was a first-year Glaucous present for comparison. These two gulls looked markedly different from the bird described by Davies (1978). From the combination of characters, it seems reasonable to assume that they were the offspring of Glaucous and Herring Gull parents, especially in view of the known fairly extensive hybridisation between the two species in Iceland (Ingolfsson 1970) and elsewhere, and on two occasions in Britain {Brit. Birds 70: 13-14; 71 : 23). S. C. Madge 2 Springholme, Caudle Hill, Fairburn, Knottingley, West Yorkshire wfi i 9JQ REFERENCES Davies, M. 1978. Identification of hybrid or leucistic gull. Brit. Birds 71 : 80-82. Hedgren, S., & Larsson, L. 1973. Vittrut Larus hyperboreus, vitvingad trut L. glaucoides ellcr missfargad annan trut — svirigheter vid faltbestamning av ljusvingade trutar. Vdr Fagelv. 32: 173-198. Hume, R. A. 1975. Identification and ageing of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls. Brit. Birds . 68: 24-37. Ingolfsson, A. 1970. Hybridization of Glaucous Gulls Larus hyperboreus and Herring Gulls L. argentatus in Iceland. Ibis 1 12: 340-362. A letter on the identification of hybrid gulls appears in this issue (page 279) and the subject of hybrids will be covered in general terms in part 5 of P. J. Grant’s ‘Field identification of west Palearctic gulls’. Notes on this topic, if covering new points and accompanied by good photographs, are, however, still welcome, although they may be included in a summary rather than be published separately. They should be sent to P. J. Grant. 14 Heathfield Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8qn. Eds Unusual House Martin nest-sites During a study of House Martins Delichon urbica in Leicestershire in 1974, we examined two unusual nests. The first site (left) was at Belton, near Uppingham, on the village shop which faces south, with the roof slightly overlapping the wall. The brackets supporting the guttering consist of a horizontal metal bat , with Notes 275 a vertical one to the clamp on the gutter. In one such bracket, a martin built a hemispherical nest, using the horizontal bar as a base support and the gutter as part of the roof. Two broods were raised. Of over 700 nests inspected, we found only two similar sites, both out of use. The second site (right) was on the old Oakham police station. Again, the front faced south; the roof sloped over the wall, the rafters forming compartments. A drainpipe, rectangular in cross-section, ran back horizontally from the gutter against one of the rafters. The open end had been plastered up, the nest material placed on the pipe, and four eggs laid on this. Unfortunately, the building was demolished the next day. This was the only site of this type that we found. While House Martins will use pipes and hinges as supports for their nests, they tend to adopt sites needing a minimum of mud in the nest construction; so exposed a site as the first appears distinctly rare. Although they may utilise shelves for replacement nests, we have been unable to find any reference to the deliberate acquisition of such a site as the second at an early stage in the breeding season. D. A. C. McNeil and Frank Clark 44 Sandown Road, Leicester Department of ^ oology , School of Biological Studies , The University, Leicester Fan-tailed Warbler in Norfolk Just after 06.00 GMT on 24th August 1976, I was walking along the East Bank at Cley, Norfolk, when suddenly I heard a loud, penetrating and repetitive ‘tsip-tsip-tsip . . .’ call, which rang bells in my not-long-woken mind. I spotted the source of the call, some 30 m ahead and to my left, over a small, reed-fringed pool not far from the bank: it was a tiny, fluttering bird which appeared to be sus- pended on a yo-yo some 4-6 m over the reeds. By now, it had dawned on me that it was a Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis in full song-flight: a species with which I had become very familiar during visits to the Cam- argue in southern France and to the Gambia. I moved along the bank, level with the bird ; after perhaps a minute, it dropped into the sparse, short reeds at the back of the pool, about 20 m from me, and landed on a bent reed, about 15 cm above the mud, completely visible, with its upper- Motes 276 side towards me. It had pale brown upperparts, strongly streaked darker, without any bold white or buff supercilium. Its tail and rump looked rather rufous, particularly as it landed ; its tail was very short and xounded. The warbler was turning its head from side to side, showing its thin bill and pale throat. There were several Bearded Tits Panurus biarmicus and a begging juvenile Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus close by, affording good size comparisons: the stranger was markedly smaller than either ol the local species. I turned away to test the dampness of the grass and, m that brief moment, the warbler vanished. Feeling somewhat bemused, I ambled towards a spot near the noith drain, where an Aquatic Warbler A. paludicola had been seen the previous evening, and stood watching and listening; I then heard again the dis- tinctive ‘tsip’ call-notes, this time more spaced out. I could not see the bird and was certain that it was perched in the vegetation. As I hurried 60 m along the bank, the Fan-tailed Warbler suddenly appeared over the grass and reed area in front of me, doing its characteristic yo-yo Hight and uttering its monotonous song. It was facing away from me, and was some 6-10 m above the reeds about 35 m from the bank. With the sun behind me, I could clearly see the rufous rump and uppertail; the short, rounded wings; and, as the bird reached the top of each rise, the half- fanned tail, which appeared dark underneath, with white at the sides. After a seemingly lengthy display of its characters at least a minute it suddenly ceased singing and flew purposefully away Irom me, towaids the west, at a height of about 12 m. I watched it through my binoculars until the speck vanished, which in the early morning haze I estimate to have been about 500-600 m. After it had gone, I compared it with a Blue 1 it Parus caeruleus which seemed similar in body size and wing length, but had a bigger, rounder head and much longer tail. Despite continuous searching for the rest of the day, by myselt and ai least a dozen other birdwatchers, the bird was not relocated at Cley. It or another, however, was seen at Holme, Norfolk (35 km west), from 29th August to 5th September 1976 (see note by Peter R. Clarke, below). A Fan-tailed Warbler was observed on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, on 23rd April 1962 {Brit. Birds 65: 501-510), but the record described here is the first for Britain. I. J. Ferguson-Lees and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (Brit. Birds 70: 1 ^2-159) predicted that Fan-tailed Warblers would soon colonise and breed in Britain. J- mono c/n RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire sc, 19 201. At about midday on 29th August 1976, I was standing outside the bird observatory’s ringing laboratory at Holme-next-Sea, Norfolk, when 1 heard a penetrating, sharp, treble call-note which was quite new to me. Despite a frantic search of the sky, I could not locate the bird responsible and sadly concluded that some obscure bunting or finch had eluded me. About one hour later, I. Moore came running to tell me that a Fan- tailed Warbler had been seen, in an area of small hawthorns Crataegus at the rear of the reserve car park, by himself and J. Campton, M. P. Lee, O. Marks, G. Parker and G. W. Want. JC, who had first identified Notes 277 the biid, had had numerous sightings of the species a few weeks previously in southern France. By the time of my arrival, the warbler had disappear- ed, but halfway back to the ringing laboratory someone shouted, ‘There it is!’ and, with some astonishment, I heard and saw a small bird flying past giving exactly the same call-note that had puzzled me earlier in the day; it kept flying eastwards until lost to sight. The following description was compiled on the spot by JC: Attention drawn by high, jerky song flight, diminutive size and fanning of very short tail. After song flight lasting about 30 seconds, landed in top of small haw- thorn bush and observed down to 10 m for 15-20 seconds: streaked upperparts, lack of prominent eye-stripe and very short tail. For next ten minutes, observed flying and uttering typical, evenly-spaced, mono- syllabic call-note ‘zip, zip’ or ‘zeep, zeep’. The following additional notes were later received from IM: High, jeiky flight with regular '‘zip, zip” obvious field marks . . . small size, short monosyllabic call and lanning of distinctly tail and streaked brown upperparts with no short tail at each bound of flight’; and prominent eye-stripe.’ ‘from about 20 m for about 10- 15 seconds, The bird was rediscovered in the original area the next day and re- mained there until 5th September. The favoured marshy habitat was at sea-level and comprised sedge Juncus interspersed with common reeds Phragmites australis and stunted hawthorn bushes. The bird was sighted daily during its stay, although for long periods it could not be located. The best chances of seeing it were between 07.00 and 09.00 GMT and again around noon. Despite being in the area daily, I failed to obtain any close views of the bird at rest and my only non-flight sighting was for only a few seconds at over 200 m through 10 X 50 binoculars: when per- ched halfway up a bent reed stem, it was very similar in shape and colour (but not size) to a juvenile Whinchat Saxicola rubetra : the underparts were unstreaked and the head appeared to have a darkish cap. The song was difficult to describe, but was a rasping ‘dzeep, dzeep, dzeep’ rather than 'zip, zip, zip’ or 'chip, chip, chip’. The irruption into song flight was often preceded by a single sharp ‘tew’. In view of the statement by I. J. Ferguson-Lees and Dr J. T. R. Shar- rock {Brit. Birds 70: 157) that ‘There is some evidence that autumn wanderers, possibly including birds of the year, sing and even build nest frameworks in areas remote from those in which breeding has occurred’, it is interesting that the individual at Holme was once seen carrying what appeared to be nesting material. Peter R. Clarke Alsack Way, Holme-next-Sea, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6lp Reviews Bird Sounds and their Meaning. By Rosemary Jellis. Foreword by Frank Fraser Darling and drawings by Derek Goodwin. 256 pages; 90 sound spectrograms and numerous marginal drawings of birds. Also, Reviews 278 double-sided long-playing record which gives sounds illustrated in the spectrograms. British Broadcasting Clorpoiation, London, 1 9 7 /• £T95' record (OP 224) £3.00 plus VAT. It is now over 15 years since the publication of any concise general guide to the study ot bird song and bird utterances as communication systems. The appearance of this book by Rosemary Tellis is therefore an event of real importance to naturalists and biologists of many different persuasions. The author has risen magnificently to her opportunities and almost every aspect of the topic is covered. Thus, there is a chapter on th< communication system, followed by one on the sounds made by birds; the latter includes sound-production and the sense of hearing, together with the methods for their analysis and interpretation. Then, there is an excellent chapter on the nature o ‘full song’ and its information content; on song-patterns and the way in which song is used at times other than the breeding season. Under the title ‘Moods and Events , there is a general discussion of the function of call-notes in alarm, anxiety and aggression, and the use of calls for maintaining contact with other members of the species. This section concludes with a brief summary of the value of certain types of bird call foi to purposes of echo-location, in the same way that the supersonic cries of bats enable them to find their way and catch their prey— even in the most complete daikness iv microsecond recognition of their own echoes. From this, we proceed to the early stages o vocalisation: noises made by the chick while still within the egg, and by newly-hatched nestlings and fledglings, up to the elaborate process of song learning by juvem es. Nex comes a highly effective and lengthy chapter on the intriguing problem of local dialects in bird voices, especially songs. Striking examples are cited for the Chaffinch Fungi la coelebs and the Great Tit Parus major in this country and on the Continent; the songs of the Cardinal Richmondena cardinalis in North America; the extraordinary calls of the Haze Grouse Bonasa bonasia and Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix ; and finally the modern and fas- cinating work on the dialects of the Saddle-back Philesturnus carunculatus oj New Zealand. This chapter raises many further topics of great interest, such as individual recognition, the evidence that vocalisations offer on evolutionary relationships between species, on imitation both within and between species, and, finally, on the capacity of certain species and individuals for great elaboration in their songs. These topics occupy four substantia chapters, and the book ends with a perspicacious discussion on the question ot the music- ality’ of certain bird songs and on the ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ of bird vocalisations in general. This indeed is a formidable programme for a popular book of moderate size. Yet \c ordinary birdwatcher need not be in the least put off by the technicalities discussed foi the writing is so simple, so plain and so interesting (and above all so wel illustiated by the accompanying gramophone record) that even the veriest beginner in bird study will be led along easily. The book is scientifically fully up-to-date and is so thorough that the professional zoologist will, in his way, get as much out of; it as will the newcomer to t ic r W. H. 1 HORPE subject. Evolutionary Ecology. Edited by Bernard Stonehouse and Christo- pher Perrins. Macmillan, London, 1977. 3*° PaSes’ diagrams and photographs. £12.95. This stimulating book is a tribute to one of Britain’s greatest ornithologists, David Lack. Although trained as a zoologist at Cambridge in the 1930s, such was then the shortage of ornithological posts that he did not become a professional biologist until he was 35 vears old, by which time he had carried out vital research on Nightjars, Robins and the Galapagos finches, as well as formulating his first ideas on two important topics: the adaptations of closely-related species and the significance of reproductive rates, both of which he later developed in detail. , . . , . These 21 papers are by biologists from all over the world who either worked with him or were influenced (sometimes to strong disagreement) by his astonishing flow of ideas on basic problems. The papers are divided into four main sections: population regulation Reviews 279 and the I unctions of territory; feeding adaptations and ecological segregation; breeding adaptations and reproductive rates; and behaviour, adaptation and taxonomic relation- ships. They covet a large part of Lack s many interests, with the notable exception of his migration studies. With so many distinguished contributors, it is not possible in a short review to discuss or even list individual papers; suffice to say that, although most do not make easy reading, few are dull and many are highly stimulating, dealing trenchantly with some of the key issues of modern ornithology. All royalties have been dedicated to the David Lack Studentship of the British Ornithologists’ Union. Stanley Cramp Letters Divers and ornithologists C. J. Booth’s note regarding disturbance of Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata ( Brit . Birds 71: 44) prompts me to suggest that, as ornithologists, we should accept that divers are shy and need to be left in peace. In particular, there are already many pictures of divers and, surely, further photography of them at the nest can not be justified? Arno Magnusson Ramsays Strand jA, 00330 Helsinki 33, Finland Identification of hybrid gulls The note by Martin Davies ( Brit. Birds 71: 80-82) documented an interesting immature gull, but no definite conclusion was reached regarding its identification: the dis- tinction between a hybrid Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus X Herring Gull L. argentatus and a leucistic Herring Gull remains a problem. These pale birds show a good deal of variation (cf. Davies’ Aberdeen bird with, for instance, that described by me in the West Midland Bird Report for 1976, pp. 16-17). In view of the frequency of mixed pairings in Iceland, hybrids are to be expected in Britain, and the Aberdeen gull seems to me more likely to have been a hybrid than a leucistic Herring Gull. The neat rows of spots and bars on the wing-coverts and scapulars suggest Glaucous influence, but, in particular, this probability is supported by the pattern of ‘arrow-marks’ on the primary tips: this is a normal feature of immature Glaucous and Iceland Gulls L. glaucoides, but not of Herring. The hybrid offspring of the mixed pair in Shetland (Brit. Birds 70: 13-14; 71: 23) have been colour-ringed (R. J. Tulloch in litt.), so perhaps a more definite idea of their appearance may eventually become available. R. A. Hume 31 Lime Grove, Burntwood, Walsall WS7 oha Diary dates This list covers events taking place during July 1978 to June 1979. We welcome the submission of details of events for possible inclusion in the next list, covering January to December 1979. 2 1 st June-8th July society of wildlife Galleries, The Mall. London swi. Open artists annual exhibition. The Mall 10-5 Mon.-Fri.; io-i Sal. 28o 17th July BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. M. W. Woodcock on ‘The birds of Oman’. Central London. Non-members should write to the hon. secretary, c/o P. Hogg, 33 Vine Court Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. 19th September boc. Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt, OBE, on ‘Some problems of the heron family’. Central London. 23rd September rspb southeast one- day conference. University of Sussex, Brighton. Applications to Conference Sec- retary, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bed- fordshire SGI 9 2DL. 29th September-ist October bto com- mon birds census conference. Pendley Manor, Tring. Applications to BTO, Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NR. 7th October rspb Scottish one-day con- ference. Octava Hotel, Edinburgh. Ap- plications to Conference Secretary, RSPB. 14th October rspb London day/agm. Cunard International Hotel, London. Applications to Conference Secretary, RSPB. 21st October rspb Bristol one-day con- ference. University of Bristol. Applica- tions to Conference Secretary, RSPB. 27th-2gth October Scottish ornitholo- gists’ club annual conference. Marine Hotel, North Berwick, East Lothian. Ap- plications to SOC, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT. 4th November the hawk trust one- day CONFERENCE ON CURRENT RESEARCH AND BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY OF BIRDS OF Announcement Diary dates prey. Meeting Rooms of the Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London nwi 4RY. Preliminary enquiries to The Hawk Trust, PO Box 1, Hungerford, Berkshire. 2 1 st November bou autumn scientific meeting (jointly with British orni- thologists’ club). Imperial College, Lon- don SW7. E. M. Nicholson CB on ‘British ornithologists in Europe’ and Peter Conder OBE on ‘British ornithology in Europe’. Applications to BOU Office, c/o Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London nwi 4RY. ist-3rd December bto annual confer- ence. Hayes Conference Centre, Swan- wick, Derbyshire. Applications to BTO. 6th-8th January bto ringing and migration conference. Hayes Conference Centre. Applications to BTO. 9th January boc. J. H. R. Boswall on ‘Mutual mimics, men as birds and birds as men — an ornithological frolic’. Central London. i6th-i8th February bto conference. Hayes Conference Centre. Applications to BTO. Mid March to mid May young orni- thologists’ CLUB SUMMER MIGRANTS PHONE- IN. 6th-8th April rspb members’ weekend. Warwick University. Applications to Con- ference Secretary, RSPB. 2 1 St April BOU AGM AND VISIT TO THE WILDFOWL TRUST, SLIMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTER. ‘British Birds’ Binoculars and Telescopes Survey The choice of a pair of binoculars has to be made at least once — and probably two or three times — in the life of any birdwatcher. Currently, the range of models on the market is as wide as it has ever been, both in quality and in price (which are not always as closely linked as perhaps they should be). Clearly, price is one of the most important factors governing selection, but, within any price bracket, there can be a bewildering choice of makes and models, while other influences, such as personal recommendation, advertising and articles or booklets on the subject, may still not be enough to make the final decision any easier. With our eyes wide open, we hope, British Birds is going to enter the difficult arena of offering advice on the choosing of binoculars and tele- scopes. But first, we want to find out what our readers — who include, we Announcement 281 believe, many of the more experienced and active birdwatchers in the country — use themselves, why they chose that model, and whether they would select the same one again if replacement became necessary. With this knowledge behind us, we shall be able to base our subsequent recom- mendations not only on our own experience, but also on what bird- watchers are actually using. Telescopes are much less common than binoculars, although they are almost essential for seawatching and long-distance observing on estuaries and large reservoirs. While binoculars have undoubtedly improved over the last 30 years, with lighter materials and straight-through (Dialyt) viewing, the revolution in telescope design has been far more dramatic. Gone are the old ‘brass-and-glass’ monsters of four draw-tubes extending several feet, and in their place have come short, comparatively light instruments with zoom magnification. The choice is less than for binocu- lars, but making the correct decision is, if anything, more important, since the cost is likely to be higher and the life longer. Again, we are asking for information from readers before making our recommendations. A leaflet questionnaire is included in the centre of this issue, and may be easily detached. The completed form may be returned to us free of charge: put in an unstamped envelope and address to British Birds Binoculars and Telescopes Survey, freepost, Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3BR. We hope that all subscribers will take part in this survey. Eds News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett Westray mink farm enquiry Following a growing chorus of protests from local and national individuals and conservation organisations, the Secretary of State for Scotland held a public local enquiry under the Town and Country Planning Act at Kirkwall on 2ist-24th February 1978, to determine whether he should put into effect draft orders cancelling local plan- ning permission for the establishment of a mink farm on Westray: a new device used for the first time to obtain a public discus- sion of a debatable issue. The enquiry was conducted by the senior Scottish reporter, A. J. Hunt, who had already inspired much respect when he took the local enquiries for the Commission on the Third London Airport. It transpired that the applicant, George Drever, was a Westray man who had acquired experience of mink farming while living in Edinburgh, and hoped in this way to provide three new jobs on depopulated Westray; his wife was particularly bitter at the way outsiders were obstructing this. Mike Matthew (Nature Conservancy Council), David Lea (RSPB Orkney representative) and I gave evidence that the farm would be situated close to a new RSPB reserve of international importance, containing one- third of the breeding seabirds in Orkney, over 5% of those in Britain and over 1% of those in northwest Europe (including 2% of the world population of the Razor- bill); and Ian Linn of Exeter University, who first found mink breeding wild in Britain, testified that it is impossible to contain them. Papers and letters were also produced reporting that they have slaughtered wildfowl and seabirds where introduced in Iceland and Scandinavia and can swim at least 5 km, so that they 282 could spread throughout Orkney. The Chief Executive, G. Lapsley, replied for Orkney Council that our evidence was contradictory, that additional precautions imposed by the Council reduced the risk of escapes to a minimum, and that the damage if they did escape would be small ; he complained that we were asking offen- sive personal questions when we enquired whether, even after grants from the Council and Highlands and Islands Development Board, the farm would be economically viable, although 11 out of 12 other farms started in northern islands have gone out of business within ten years. Unfortunately, a key witness for the Fauna Preservation Society, J. H. F. Stevenson, a former chairman of the Fur-farmers’ Association, was prevented by the snow from attending to discuss this, and will be testifying by post. We arc promised an early report. (Contributed by W. R. P. Bourne) 1,000 birdwatchers at York Over 1,000 members of the RSPB attended its 6th Annual Conference, held at York University from 31st March to 2nd April 1978. Derek Barber, after welcoming those attending, reminded them that, although the £1 million Appeal was officially closed, money was still coming in and the total received by 31st March was £1,212,000. John Crudass then described the reserves that he had been able to buy with the money. After Ian Prestt had introduced the 30 or so RSPB staff attending the con- ference, Michael Clegg, curator of the Yorkshire Museum, rounded off the first evening with a hilarious talk entitled ‘Birds for Pleasure’. On the Saturday, Frank Hamilton gave a sensitive talk ‘Enjoying Scotland’s Birds’, Dr Derek Ratcliffe presented a scholarly, illustrated talk on ‘Mountains and their Birds’ and, in the evening, after the conference dinner, Richard Porter (fez-capped) entertained his audience with an account of the ‘Big Migration’ of raptors over Europe and the Middle East. Sunday was devoted to RSPB matters: short talks by Ian Prestt, Peter Robinson (Investigations Officer) and police officer RSPB member David Davis on ‘Inter- national and National Bird Protection’, following which, members were given the floor to ask questions about RSPB policy, and, naturally, many questions centred on News and comment the Amoco Cadiz disaster and its reper- cussions. There were excursions to some of Yorkshire’s famous birding places on both Saturday and Sunday. The usual British Birds mystery photograph competition was won by Michael Gibbons. Wyre Forest: a new NNR in the Midlands The NCC has declared a new National Nature Reserve in the Wyre Forest. The Forest is one of the most important wildlife habitats in the Mid- lands and the woodlands are relicts of the former Royal Forest of Wyre. The new reserve consists of approxi- mately 240 ha of native broadleaved woodland lying astride the county boun- daries of Hereford & Worcester and Salop. Wyre Forest represents one of the largest surviving areas of native woodland in Great Britain. It is of particular interest as a meeting point for a number of native woodland types. The woodland of the plateau areas has as its main tree sessile oak Qjiercus petraea, the oak of northern and western Britain; pedunculate oak Q. robur, more typical of the south and Midlands, also occurs. In the valleys, the service-tree Sorbus domestica and small-leaved lime Tilia cordata, which have affinities with the limestone woodlands of the south and west, occur. Wyre Forest contains many scarce and interesting plants including columbine Aquilegia vulgaris, lily-of-the-valley Con- vallaria majalis and wood crane’s-bill Geranium sylvalicum. The Forest is famous for its animal fife — fallow deer, otter, dormouse and several species of bats — and it is a refuge for a number of nationally rare insects, including the terrestrial caddis fly. Over 320 species of fungi have been recorded. Breeding birds include Pied Flycatchers, Wood and Grasshopper Warblers. The public arc asked to keep to the foot- paths throughout the reserve. A permit is required to collect specimens or to carry out research. An observatory down under Un- doubtedly one of the world’s more remote observatories has just been established at Twilight Cove, Eyre, on the Nullarbor coast of Western Australia. This, the News and comment continent’s first bird observatory, is situated just off the new trans-Australia highway, at a formerly deserted telegraph office. On this stretch of uninhabited coast, the semi-desert Nullarbor Plain meets the Great Australian Bight some i ,000 km southeast of Perth. Here, Eyre Bird Observatory is being developed by the Royal Australian Ornithologists’ Union in conjunction with the WA Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. The Australians are keen to encourage ornithologists from overseas to visit Eyre. Birds to be found in the immediate vicinity include Emu, Mailee Fowl, Major Mitchell Cockatoo, migrating honeyeaters, parda- lotes and silvereyes. Fairy Penguins breed under the cliffs and, in winter, movements of albatrosses and other southern seabirds occur. Full board is available at A$6o (less than £40) per week. For further details about accommodation and public trans- port from Perth or Adelaide, contact the Warden, Eyre Bird Observatory Outpost, via Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. ‘Birdwatching in the Cotswold Water Park’ This booklet was noticed earlier {Brit. Birds 71 : 142) ; we are now informed that it can be obtained from R. O. B. Garnett, Rowan Cottage, Dog Lane, Crickley Hill, Witcombe, Gloucester (price 6op, inclusive of postage). Research on tuberculosis in badgers and other wildlife The NCC, as statutory adviser to the Government on 283 wildlife conservation, has commissioned a programme of research aimed at examin- ing the implications of tuberculosis for other species of wildlife, as well as for the badger. The three-year study is being undertaken by the Department of Medical Microbiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It will look in particular at the causative organism Mycobacteria in all its forms relevant to potential hosts among wildlife. This study parallels the investigations being carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whose concern is with the agricultural aspects of bovine TB. There is close liaison and co-operation between the two organisations. The NCC, as a member of the Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis, recognises, on the basis of present evidence, that it is necessary to control TB both in badgers and in cattle. TB in badgers is widespread in the southwest, Gloucestershire and Avon, and the NCC is concerned to prevent further spread. New director for the BTO Dr R. J. O’Connor has been appointed director of the British Trust for Ornithology, a post vacated by Dr J. J. M. Flegg in 1976. Raymond O’Connor read Physics at Dublin University and then moved to the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology at Oxford, where he studied growth patterns in birds; in 1974, he went to the Zoology Department of the Univer- sity College of North Wales, Bangor. He takes up his new appointment on 1st July. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of the editors of British Birds Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records This report covers March and the first half of April; except where otherwise stated, all dates refer to March. Despite a rather bright start to the month, March was a dreary period for birdwatchers generally. The predominat- ing westerly or northerly airstreams were not conducive to bringing migrants into the country. Those that did appear chiefly turned up in three periods: the first few days, ioth-iith and 27th-30th, the last period being the most fruitful. Seabirds Divers Gavia have been relatively scarce on the Yorkshire coast this March, but at Dungeness (Kent) record numbers were counted during a movement on 28th, when 284 504 (including 460 Red-throated G. stellata ) moved east, with a further 14 1 on the following day. Also on 28th at Dunge- ness, nearly 2,000 Common Scoters Melanitta nigra, 81 Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis and ten Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus moved east among other seabirds. A Black-throated Diver G. arctica appeared inland at Bartley (West Midlands) on 13th; earlier, on 24th February, a Red-throated Diver and nine Slavonian Grebes Podiceps auritus had turned up at this locality. An Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides at Ballinasloe (Co. Galway) on 6th was very unusual so far inland in Ireland. An Arctic Tern S. paradisaea at Filey Brigg (North York- shire) on 24th was extremely early and there was a Little Auk Alle alle at the same point in early April. Notable early April seabird sightings from Flamborough Head (North Humberside) were a Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus of the Balearic race mauretanicns on 15th and an adult Sabine’s Gull L. sabini on the following day. Waders and waterside birds There were few waders of note, with the exception of single Long-billed Do- witchers Limnodrornus scolopaceus at Hayle estuary (Cornwall) and Weymouth (Dorset), the latter on 9th April. A small influx of Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus appeared in the southeast in early April, with three at Dungeness, two at Sandwich Bay (also Kent) and one at Staines (Surrey). A Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius turned up at Filey Brigg on 2nd, on the same day as a Crane Grits grits at Stodmarsh (Kent) ; there was another Crane at Bayfield Hall (Norfolk) over Easter. Two Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia were seen at Pegwell Bay (Kent) on 29th and a Spotted Crake Porzana porzana at Flamborough on 10th April. Scarce landbirds With the start of the spring migration, passerine rarities appear; so far this year there have been some surprises quite early in the season. Yet another Alpine Accen- tor Prunella collaris was reported, at Port- land (Dorset) on 8th April, and there was a Little Bunting F.mberiza pusilla at Staines on the same day, a male Black-eared Wlieatear Oenanthe hispanica at Dungeness Recent reports on 2nd April and two Serins Serinus serinus at Littlehampton (Sussex) on 6th April, where one is reported to have over- wintered. An American Robin Turdus migralorius which was found near Lee on Solent (Hampshire) in mid March was reported to be still around a month later. Perhaps the most interesting was a small influx of Hoopoes Upupa epops, with one at Wells (Norfolk) on gth, two at Winterton (also Norfolk) and four in Bedfordshire in late March. Summer arrivals and passerines The first wave of arriving migrants came in late February and early March, with single Wheatears 0. oenanthe as far north as Ladywalk (West Midlands) on 26th February. A few Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita appeared at this time, but some may have been wandering overwinterers. A few Sand Martins Riparia riparia were also reported at this time: one at Yoxall (Staffordshire) on 4th, and then others north to Yorkshire by 16th, although numbers through the latter half of the month and into April were decidedly low. Swallows Hirundo rustica were also thin on the ground, from the first at Dungeness on 2 1 st; and the earliest Garganey Anas querquedula that we heard of were three at Heybridge gravel pits (Essex) on 4th. During the first week of April, Willow Warblers P. trochilus arrived, but once again numbers of this species, and of Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla, were low. Dungeness had its first fall of the spring on 29th, which included 100 Wheatears, 12 Firecrests Regulus ignicapillus and 20 Black Redstarts Phoenicians ochruros. Latest news In mid May, Stodmarsh (Kent) was the place to be: Pallid Swift Apus pallidus I3th-2ist, male Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 9th-20th, Crane Grus grus 20th-2ist. Also, Broad-billed Sandpiper I.imicola falcinelltts at Minsmere (Suffolk) 1 pth-2 1 st and Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus at Warsash (Hampshire) on 20th. British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 1 1 Classified Advertisements £2.25 for 3 lines ( minimum) 75P f0T each whole or part extra line Classified display £20 centimetre ( min. 3 centimetres.) For the use of a box number there is a charge oj gop. Replies to : The AD VER TISEMENT MAN A GER British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF 01-240 1101 HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION MINSMERE — COMFORTABLE AC- COMMODATION, hot and cold in all rooms; packed lunches, evening meals to order (but not on Wednesdays), AA listed. The White Horse Inn, Westleton, Suffolk. Tel: Westleton 222. SAE please. (BB154) ALDERNEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS small very comfortable guest house with all the information required for watching. Alan Griffin, Farm Court, Alderney, C.I. 048 182 2075. (BB157) ORKNEY. Use our comfortable family- run guesthouse, overlooking the Loch of Stonness, as a hide. Brochure from Keld- roseed, Sandwick, Stromness, Orkney. Tel: Sandwick (Orkney) 628. (BB75) IFOR A QUIET RESTFUL HOLIDAY on the edge of Dartmoor. Blackaller House Hotel offers you ‘country house style’ comfort, good food, and personal attention. Licensed to residents. — Black- aller House Hotel, North Bovey, Devon. Tel: Moretonhampstead 322. (BB90) SCOTLAND. Isle of Mull, Scoor House. Self-catering holidays in converted farm- house flats. Quiet and secluded with a great variety of wildlife, birds — golden eagle, sea and coastal species and mi- gratory. Write — Mr and Mrs James McKeand, Scoor House, Bunessan, Isle of Mull. Tel. Fionnphort 297. (BB153) BERWICKSHIRE, SECLUDED, compact farmhouse (sleeps six) and bungalow (sleeps five), both well equip- ped and comfortably furnished; overlook- ing River Whiteadder with trout fishing. Fame Islands/Berwickshire and North- umberland coasts/Border country. SAE. Mrs Prentice, Brockholes, Duns, Berwick- shire. Tel: Grantshouse 254 (BBiii) MID WALES. Comfortable cottages (sleep 3-6, every convenience). Unspoilt scenery, ideal for birdwatching, walking, touring, trekking, golf. Trout fly fishing inclusive, in 4-acre lake within 200 yards of cottages. Vacancies still available, particularly April-June, September-Oct- ober. Brochure, photographs, map. Mrs. Goodwin, Summergil, Walton, Pres- teigne, Powys. Tel: New Radnor 617. (BB106) BRECON, POWYS. Farmhouse bed/ breakfast and evening meal if required. Situated on the edge of the Brecon Forest ideal bird watching area. Car essential. Davies, Llaneglwys Farm, Erwood (Tel: 250), Powys. (BB140) VILLAGE COTTAGES Modernised, quiet, personally super- vised. Easy reach sandy beaches, boating, bird-watching, fishing, ancient buildings. Lovely walks. Large s.a.e., brochure 1978. Daily terms in winter. Roberts, Woodlands, Swanton Novers, Melton Constable. (Tel. 285), Norfolk. (BB45) IX British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 HOLIDAY A CCOMMODA TION DEVON DAIRY FARM offers accom- modation for Bed and Breakfast, Packed Lunches and Snacks. Comfortable rooms and T.V. Close to Dartmoor, quiet and peaceful, for particulars write or phone: Miss Fisher, East Bowerland, Okehamp- ton, Devon EX20 4LZ. Phone: 2363. (BB93) SCOTTISH BORDERS. Self-contained holiday cottage sleeps 6-8. Fishing and walking in beautiful countryside with wide variety of wildlife. From £35 p.w. Apply with S.A.E. Willis, Watcarrick, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Tel: Eskdalemuir 230. (BB103) PERFECT FOR HAVERGATE, close to Minsmere. Log fire and warm bed- rooms. 1 6th century Inn by the River Ore. B&B, food. “The Jolly Sailor”, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Tel: Orford 243 (BB96) LAKE WINDERMERE peaceful secluded position. South facing sunroom, private beach. Rowing boat. Self cater- ing. Sleeps 6-8. Available June, Septem- ber, October. Atkinson, Overbeck, Cunsey, Ambleside, Cumbria. Tel: 09662 2331. (BB97) DUBH CHOIREAN BUNGALOW overlooking sea loch, peaceful situation, fine views over surrounding countryside. Ideal country lovers and birdwatchers. D, B & B. S.A.E. Berthelot, Dubh Choirean, Dervaig, Isle of Mull. Tel: Dervaig (068 84) 258. (BB85) BED AND BREAKFAST for Bird Watchers on The Isles of Scilly £4. Tel. Scillonia 595. (BB50) BLAKENEY, NORFOLK. Comfortable, newly renovated, traditional flint and tiled cottages, sleep four, night storage heating, fully equipped, near bird sanc- tuary. S.A.E. for details: Mrs. Reeve, 100 Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford. Essex. Tel: Chelmsford 55210. (BB100) NEAR PRESTEIGNE, POWYS: two self contained cottages and a flat, each sleeping four in modern comfort but in isolation and the seclusion of a private estate. Available all the year. Low winter rates. Mrs Bromage, The Estate Office, Barland House, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: Presteigne 296. (BB49) GUERNSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS Birdwatching holidays in the Bailiwick, inclusive of scheduled flights hotel and free BIRDPAK as follows: GUERNSEY FROM £91 /WEEK. ALDERNEY FROM £gg/\\EEK. HERM FROM £118/ WEEK. Guernsey’s varieties of habitat and its Continental situation attract a wide range of passage migrants, winter visitors and nesting sea birds BIRDPAK con- tains our Field-Guide, maps and bird- watching contacts. All holidays arc offered in association with ALLENS AIR HOLIDAYS. Club outings and ringers catered for. For further details write or ’phone our local ornithologist: TIM EARL, RUE DES LANDES, ST. PIERRE DU BOIS, GUERNSEY. TEL: 0481 64475. (BB30) x British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION ISLE OF COLL. One of the smaller quieter, Inner Hebrides with bird life in abundance. The hotel is open all year, centrally heated, fully licensed. AA ' RAC MAY WE SEND YOU OUR BROCHURE? The Isle of Coll Hotel, Arinagour, Isle of Coll, Argyll PA78 6SZ Tel: Coll (08793) 334 (BB.63) MID WALES. Detached modernised house outskirts rural village. Central heating. Sleeps six. Peaceful countryside. Local birdwatching, hill walking, trek- king. Jones, Erwbeli, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys. Tel: Llanwrtyd 232 ' (BB162) PEACEFUL, BEAUTIFUL, North-West coast. Owner-occupied house. Three upstairs bedrooms, private sitting-room and dining room. Use of kitchen and two toilet rooms. Grieve, Opinan, Laide, Ross-shire IV22 2NU. (BB89) ALDERNEY — small very comfortable guest house with all the information re- quired for watching. Alan Griffin, Farm Court, Alderney, C.I. 048 182 2075. (BB105) ‘AWAY FROM IT ALL’ on beautiful North-west coast. Good, well kept house in walled garden. Six rooms, kitchen, two toilet rooms. Grieve. Opinan, Laide, Ross-shire IV22 2NU. (BB88) MOFFAT SW SCOTLAND. A paradise for ornithology, over 140 species within ten mile radius. Local expert available. For comfortable accommodation and home cooking stay with Kay & Martyn West. Hartfell House. Moffat DG10 9AI. Tel : 0683 20153. Send for brochure. (BB130) ISLES OF SCILLY. St. Mary’s, family guest house. Situated on the shore, beautiful views, ideal for early or late holidays. Feb. to Oct. Send stamp for brochure to Derek and Mary Scofield, Beachfield House, St. Mary’s. Tel: Scillonia 463. (BB138) ENGLISH LAKES. Send now for our 1978 list of self-catering holiday accom- modation. Flats, houses, cottages and bungalows. Seasonal rates March to November from £15 to £115 per week. Alfred Mossop & Co. FSVA, Kelsick Road, Ambleside. For immediate book- ings phone 09663 3015. (BB131) NORTH NORFOLK. Two miles coast. Comfortable one or two bedroom self- contained wind secluded farmhouse next woods and heath. Regret no pets or small children. S.A.E. Rowley, Little Burrow Farm, High Kelling, Holt. (BB129) NEAR LEIGHTON MOSS AND MORECAMBE BAY. Bed and break- fast, evening meal (optional). Mrs J. Lambert, 17 Cove Road, Silverdale, Lancs. Tel: 701696. (BB144) SELF-CATERING HOUSE at Silver- dale. Beautifully situated, quiet and se- cluded. Ideal walks, reserve birdwatching and all modern conveniences for up to six. Wilkinson, 4 The Row, Silverdale, North Lancashire. Tel: 701338. (BB147) SINGLE BEDROOM AND LOUNGE in market town. Easy reach. Salisbury, Bath, Slimbridge, Avebury, Stonehenge, etc. Retired gentleman preferable. Break- fast and evening meal, £2.50 per day. Use of bath and TV. Mrs M. Higgs, 4 Pans Lane, Devizes, Wilts. (BB146) xt British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 HOLIDAY A CCOMMODA TION SELBORNE, Hampshire. Queen’s Hotel and the “Limes” Motel Annexe (some rooms with private bathrooms). A. A. and R.A.C. approved. Mr and Mrs B. B. Paton. Write, or telephone Selborne 272 for brochures with tariff. (BB139) NEW FOREST. 6 self-catering fully- equipped caravans in valley overlooking Avon. 109 different species spotted. Perfect for families. S.A.E. Trevelyan, Godshill, Fordingbridge, SPG 2LN. (BB145) BERWICKSHIRE small hotel over- looking Coldingham Bay, St. Abbs Head, — Lammamuir Hills and Whiteadder Valley within easy reach. Write for brochure, The Sheiling Hotel, Colding- ham Bay. Berwickshire. (BB143) IDEAL CENTRE FOR EXMOOR. 200 yards beach. Easy access marshes, dunes, moors, coastal cliffs, Lundy Island. Raven, ring ouzel, curlew, dipper, merlin and much more. Resident expert. Brochure: The York Hotel, Minehead, Somerset. Tel: 2037. (BB127) SEEKING PEACE, and tranquillity — visit the Old Rectory, Mettingham, Bungay. Home baking. Lovely walks, good centre for Norwich, Broads, coast. Tel: Bungay 2934. (BB128) LUNDY FIELD SOCIETY. F or excit- ing birdwatching holidays/courses send S.A.E. for full details to Bob Britton, 40 Exeter Road, Exmouth, Devon. (BB134) WESTER-ROSS. Dinner, bed and breakfast in award winning guest house from £7.50 per night. Wash basins in bedrooms. Every comfort. K. Mac- Donald, ‘Benlair’, Cove, Poolewe. Tel: Poolewe 354 (STD 044 586). (BB126) CAIRNGORMS. For those who love the outdoors, bed and hearty breakfast, lounge with open log fire, drying-room facilities. Mrs Pat Scarbrough, 'Tigh- guish’, Rothiemurchus, Aviemore, Inver- ness-shire. Tel: Aviemore (0479) 810212. (BB124) DARTMOOR. RSPB members offer quiet comfort, excellent food. Ideal centre, touring, walking, bird watching. Dartmoor antiquities. Transport for non-drivers. Brochure : Mrs White, Rew Meadow, Belstone, Okehampton. Tel: Sticklepath 261. (BB125) You will find a warm welcomeand every comfort in this attractively sit- uated and secluded country hotel. Excellent birdwatching amid moor- land, forest and river. Home cooking, own produce. Full central heating, hot and cold and electric blankets in all bedrooms. Brochure & Terms from: The Old Manse, Private Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND. Tel: Carrbridge 278. (BB42) FAIR ISLE, SHETLAND. Do you know that you can fly all the way from London Airport into Fair Isle in time for lunch the same day? Stay at our comfortable well-equipped Bird Ob- servatory Hostel. Central heating, self-service meals. Famous for its wealth of rare migrants. Write for latest brochure. Fair Isle Bird Obser- vatory Trust, 21 Regent Terrace, Edin- burgh. (BB47) XII British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 H OLID A Y A CCOMMODA TION LLEYN/SNOWDONIA. Rural Cottages sleep 5-9. Free May, Sept., Winter lets. 400 ac. woods, 13 ac. lake, sea cliffs, s.a.e. Glasfryn Estate, Pwllheli. 076 688203. (XBB86) BEAUTIFUL TOWY VALLEY. Ex- cellent accommodation in small country mansion set in 16 acres timbered grounds. Heated covered 32 ft pool. Colour TV. Four rooms with bathrooms. B & B (dinner optional). Details (stamp appre- ciated). Mrs Roberts, Maesteilo Man- sion, Llandeilo, Dyfed. Tel: Dryslwyn (STD: 05584) 510. (BB120) RADNORSHIRE — A44 Comfortable holiday house, sleeps six, four bedrooms, garage, well placed for border country and mid Welsh hills. S.A.E. I. Price, Hill House, Old Radnor, Presteigne, Powys. Tel : Kington 8175 (STD 054 43). (BB166) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS WILDLIFE IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. Inclusive week-long holi- days from £100, including return rail travel from London. Write for illustrated brochure to: Caledonian Wildlife Services, 2 Kingsmills Gardens, Inver- ness IV2 3LU. (BB72) ISLES OF SCILLY Birds and Wildlife Holidays led by the man on the spot David Hunt (local rep. RSPB & BTO). Season : March to October. For details — large S.A.E. to David Hunt (Holidays), St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly TR21 oNS. Tel: Scillonia 740 (after 6 p.m.). (BB107) xiii BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS in UK. Individual attention. Stamp please to Derek Tutt (Barn Owl Travel), 27 Sea- view Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 4NL. (BB135) BOOKS BIRDS OF DERBYSHIRE R. Frost, £6.00. The first authoritative book on the subject to appear this century, lists over 270 species with details of habitats, etc. Contains also 130 distribution maps of breeding species and 57 photographs. From your bookshop or (price £6.75) from Moorland Publishing Co Ltd., Market Place, Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire. (BB148) THE PHEASANTS OF THE WORLD. Jean Delacour, new 2nd edition. 7 pages in full colour. 434 pages. This standard work covers the 49 species. One of the fine bird books of this century. £19.50 post paid. From bookshops or Spur Pub- lications, Saiga Publishing Co. Ltd., Hindhead, Surrey (Hindhead 6141). (BBi 14) BIRDS AND NATURAL HISTORY books — new and secondhand bought and sold — mail order only. Dernam Books, Addlestead, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. (XBB46) BIRDS & WILDLIFE, ETC. Summer list of medium-priced books. Send stamp to Individual Books, 9 Hammers Lane, Mill Hill, London NW7 4BY. (BB159) BOOKS ON NATURAL HISTORY, islands and mountaineering bought and sold. Catalogue available (S.A.E. please). J. T. Radford, Bramblings, West Wal- berton Lane, W alberton, Arundel, Sussex. (BB164) British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 BOOKS WE CAN SUPPLY ANY BOOK in print; 500 new bird and wildlife titles in stock; worldwide service; favourable postage rates; free booklet from the Bird Bookshop, Dept 1 , Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5BT (phone 031-556 6042). (BB171) SPECIALIST BIRD BOOKS from Welland Book Services. (BB) Manor House, 58 Main Street, Middleton, Market Harborough LE16 8YU. Telephone: East Carlton 225. (BB170) KENT BIRD REPORT 1976 £1.65 including P. & P. Some previous years also available. R. W. George, 109 Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent. (BB169) EXCLUSIVE DESIGN: BRITISH BIRDS BINDERS Original-design, leather look binders in our distinctive green are now available at a cost of £2.50 each. The binders, which should last you many years, have an easy-to-operatc system of metal rods for swift and secure insertion of your copies. Each binder, which holds a complete volume (one year’s copies), has the British Birds motif embossed in gold on the spine. These binders will prove invaluable either for storing th? current year’s issues before orthodox binding or as a permanent method of storing your collection. To order your binder(s) simply write, enclosing £2.50 per binder (overseas US$25.00), to: British Birds Macmillan Journals Ltd Brunei Road Basingstoke, Hampshire BG21 2XS. England. (BB167) FOR SALE SOUTH AFRICAN SHERRY £1 6.22 per dozen bottles £17.52 per assorted dozen bottles RENASANS (Pale Dry) ONZERUST (Medium Dry) MYMERING (Pale Extra Dry) GOLDEN ACRE (Rich Golden) Prices include VAT and delivery UK Main- land. Write for details of other Cape Wines. JEFFERY PHILLIPS (Wine Merchants) LTD 22 STATION STREET. LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE S04 9BA (BB70) EQUIPMENT. Leading makes of Ruck- sacks. Tents, sleeping bags, etc. Dis- counts on all times and post free, send s.a.e. for lists to: W. G. Needham, Market Hall, Wakefield, WFi iPP. (BB161) WITHERBY’S “Handbook of British Birds” vols 1-5. All in very good condi- tion. K. Tayles, 160 Tom Lane, Sheffield, S103PG (BB160) DORSET BIRD REPORT for 1977. New improved edition £1.15 post paid from Countv Museum, Dorchester DT 1 iXA (BBt 74) Have you anything you wish to sell? 'Phone John Barnes 01-240 1101 and find out how we can help you. XIV 'Take a gander at Mr. Frank unusual binocular otter Test any FRANK-NIPOLE binocular free for 7 days and see for yourself why these remarkable binoculars were chosen by the successful 1975 Everest Expedition; why they are recommended and sold by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and entitled to carry the seal of approval of The Game Conservancy. You will see why professional bodies such as the Wildfowl Trust and Forestry Commission, to whom binocular performance is of paramount importance, select FRANK-NIPOLE. Four models particularly favoured by birdwatchers: — 'jVA Model Exit Relative Field of Pupil Brightness View 8 X 30 3.7 13.6 7° 10 X 50 5 25 5.5° 8 X 40 5 25 9° 10 X 40 4 16 7.5° Weight 1 8 ozs 36 ozs 36 ozs 25£ ozs Height 4^ ins 7 ins 5± ins 4i ins Price with Case £26.50 £37.00 £53.85 £53.85 It is our claim that FRANK-NIPOLE binoculars are comparable with other famous makes costing two or three times as much. If after 7-day free test you are not convinced that our claim is justified you may return the binoculars and we will refund any money paid. In addition, we will give you the opportunity of purchasing an East Zeiss, Leitz or Swift binocular at about 25% less than normal retail price. We will be pleased to send you details of this unusual offer, together with FREE colour brochure including 14 different models of Frank Nipole binoculars. Every FRANK-NIPOLE binocular is guaranteed for 7 years by Charles Frank, a name famous for binoculars since the turn of the century. Charles Frank 144 Ingram St, Glasgow G1 TEH. Tei. 041-221 6666 (BB2) British Birds Volume 71 Number 6 June 1978 235 Seasonal activity of birds at a sewage-works R. J. Fuller and D. E. Glue 245 The European Atlas : pipits I. J. Ferguson-Lees 254 European news 258 British bird-photographers 20 A. N. H. Peach M. D. England 267 Mystery photographs S. C. Madge Notes 268 Cattle Egrets feeding on refuse tip A. R. Dean 268 Brent Geese on the Wash in late spring Dr C. James Cadbury and A. K. M. St Joseph 269 Female Sparrowhawk with male plumage characters Jeremy Adams 270 Kestrel persistently following plough and feeding mainly on earthworms Colin Slater 270 Kestrel and Grey Heron associating with plough R. Houlston 271 Young Hobbies killed in nest T. A. Waddell 271 Hobby apparently brooding chick on ground T. A. Waddell 271 Aberrant Golden Plover Keith Verrall 272 Apparent immature Glaucous X Herring Gull hybrids S. C. Madge 274 Unusual House Martin nest-sites Dr D. A. C. McNeil and Frank Clark 275 Fan-tailed Warbler in Norfolk J. N. Dymond\ Peter R. Clarke Reviews 277 Bird Sounds and their Meaning by Rosemary Jellis Professor W. H. Thorpe 278 Evolutionary Ecology edited by Bernard Stonehouse and Christopher Perrins Stanley Cramp Letters 279 Divers and ornithologists Arno Magnusson 279 Identification of hybrid gulls R. A. Hume 279 Diary dates Announcement 280 ‘British Birds’ Binoculars and Telescopes Survey 281 News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett 283 Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge Line-drawings: Pied Wagtail on page 235 ( Collingwood Ingram ); Tree Pipit on page 245 ( Donald Watson) ; American Robin on page 284 [Tim Manolis) Front cover: Roseate and Arctic Terns ( D . I. M. Wallace ) Printed by Henry Burt & Son Ltd, College Street, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8na Published by Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF British Birds Volume 71 Number July 1978 Breeding Bitterns in Britain Special review: BWP Mystery photograph Personalities: C. D. Hutchinson Notes • Short reviews • Letters News and comment • Recent reports British Birds News and comment Peter Conder, 12 Swaynes Lane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7EF Rarities Committee Michael J. Rogers, 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex twi6 7TP (£) Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photographers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 31.F (tel: 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr J. T. R. Sharrock D. I. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £8.00; rest of world US $1 7.50 or equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG2 1 2xs, England.) UK Post Office Giro Account No. is 519 2455. Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to : Advertisement Department, British Birds, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF (tel : 01-240 1 101) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Shorter contributions, if not typed, must be clearly written and well spaced, and notes should be worded as concisely as possible. Authors of papers and notes should consult this issue for style of presentation (especially for systematic lists, reference lists and tables). Tables must either fit into the width of a page or into a whole page length- ways, and should be self-explanatory. English names of birds should have capital initials for each word, except after a hyphen, but group terms and names of other animals and plants should not. Both English and scientific names of birds, and the sequence, follow The ‘ British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). English and scientific names of plants follow John G. Dony et al. (1974, English Names of Wild Flowers). Scientific names (underlined) should appear immediately after the first mention of the English name. Dates should always take the form Tst January 1978’, except in tables where they may be abbreviated. Figures should be numbered with arabic numerals, and the captions typed on a separate sheet. All line-drawings should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper, drawing paper or board (not of an absorbent nature) or, where necessary, on light blue or very pale grey graph paper. It is important to consider how each drawing will fit into the page when reduced. Any lettering or numbering that is an integral part of a text-figure should be inserted lightly in pencil. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive 25 free copies of the journal (15 each to two authors and ton each to three or more). onourprkes Heron ^5r*~£33.78 8x40 Bwcf Binoculars The Birdwatchers Glasses. As used by the forestry commission. Ideal for the young and beginners. Lightweight (26oz), extra wide angle, 514ft. field of view, also suitable for spectacle wearers. We believe them incom- parable value at £33.78 inc. case and lanyard \plus 75p towards p&p. y Top quality optical goods at enormous savings Heron quality. Heron service, Heron choice — we hold in stock what we believe to be the largest range of telescopes and binoculars for birdwatchers in the country. A few examples are shown below : Retail Our BINOCULARS Price Price Swift Audubon 8.5 x44 MK.II (38oz) £108.00 £79.40 Swift Grand Prix 8 X40 MK.I (24oz) £59.06 £43.40 Carl Zeise 1 0 x40 B Dialyt (24oz) £293.04 £222.75 Carl Zeiss 8x30 B CF (18roz) £253.69 £192.85 Zeiss Jena 8 x30 Jenoptem (17oz) £59.94 £39.96 Zeiss Jena 1 0 x 50 Jenoptem (35oz) £100.44 £66.94 Habicht Diana 1 0 x40 (23oz) £232.23 £159.37 Leitz 10x40 B (21 oz) £268.82 TELESCOPES B Nickel Supra 1 5 x60 x60 (32oz) £158.63 £105.50 Hertel Ef Ruess Televari 25x60x60 (43oz) £153.57 £101.50 Order direct from this list — Prices correct as of 1 st April, 1978, inclusive of case, lanyard and manufacturer's guarantee, plus 75p post and packing charge. Access and Barclaycard accepted. Apply for details and send for your guide to Binocular & Telescope ownership. Further details and comprehensive price list available in return for this coupon, including Field & Trek Catalogue of camping, rambling and climbing equipment. Or call in person and see Our vast stock for yourself. 14 DAY APPROVAL SERVICE To: Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Fload, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4ER Please send me details and price lists on : (please lick) Binoculars Q Telescopes Q} Field & Trek Camping Heron NEW 10X40 Wide-angle Binoculars £34.93 Quality, power and light weight, too — a mere 20oz ! 367ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Slim Zeiss-type body, centre focus, black finish, fully-coated lenses, also suitable for spectacle wearers. Excellent value at C34.93 inc. case, .straps and lanyard, plus 75p p&p. , Equipment NAME- ADDRESS. (BB7) / Heron NEW 8X40 Zcf binoculars. £24.81 Weight 21 oz, 341ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Fold-down rubber eyecups. Only £24.81 us 75p p&p. \plu / Schmidt & Bender 15-60Xzoom telescope with 60 mm object lens This quite magnificent telescope from West Germany is ideal for use on reservoirs and seashore. Robust in construction, excellent in optical quality. We believe LI 01. 50 this to be the best on the market today. Weight 950 g. length 300 m closed. 560 mm open. Fitted with tripod- bush. Exit pupil 4-1 mm. light-gathering power 16-1. twilight 30-60, field of view 1,000 m 47-12 m. At a recommended retail price of £153.57 the Heron price of £101.50 including leather case and rubber eyecup for spectacle wearers is outstanding value. Add 75p P&P J 1 Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4ER Tel: (0277) 221 259/21 94T8. Telex: 995566. Only 5 minutes from Brentwood Station, 30 minutes from London's Liverpool St Station (Southend Line). Open daily 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Thursday 1 pm. (BB158) t cWild Qeese by M. A. OGILVIE In range, Wild Geese covers the geese of North America, Europe and Asia, and thus the world species except for the Hawaiian Goose or Ne-Ne. 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The binders, which should last you many years, have an easy- to-operate system of metal rods for swift and secure insertion of your copies. Each binder, which holds a complete volume (one year's copies), has the British Birds motif embossed in gold on the spine. These binders will prove invaluable either for storing the current year's issues before orthodox binding or as a permanent method of storing your collection. To order your binder(s) simply write, enclosing £2.50 per binder (overseas US$5.00), to: British Birds Macmillan Journals Ltd Brunei Road Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 2XS England IV British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER 7 JULY 1978 Breeding Bitterns in Britain J. C. U. Day and J. Wilson There have been reports that Bittern numbers are declining. Do census counts confirm this ? What factors are affecting the British populations? The Bittern Botaurus stellaris was the first of six former breeding birds to recolonise Britain this century, preceding the next, the Avocet Re- curvirostra avosetta, by 35 years. This paper draws together for the first time the rather scattered references in the literature to the recolonisation and subsequent range and population fluctuations. The results of a national census in spring 1976 are presented, and some of the factors which may have affected — and could still be influencing — Bittern popu- lations are discussed. Recolonisation and increase up to 1930 By the last quarter of the 19th century, the Bittern had disappeared as a breeding bird in Britain: the last eggs had been taken in Norfolk in 1868, and the last proof of breeding (the sighting of downy young) had been in 1886, also in Norfolk. [Brit. Birds 71 : 285-300, July 1978] 285 286 Breeding Bitterns in Britain Although Bitterns continued to winter in Britain, it was not until 1900 that booming was again heard in the Broads district of Norfolk (Riviere 1930); and, although it was heard there intermittently, and also in Suffolk in 1901 (Ticehurst 1932), breeding was not proved again until a nest and young were found at Sutton Broad, Norfolk, in 1911 (Turner 1924). For the next 18 years, there were no breeding records outside the Norfolk Broads, apart from an unsubstantiated report lrom Suffolk in 1916 (Ticehurst 1932). During this time, numbers slowly built up in Norfolk. Breeding was proved next at Hickling in 1917? although there was some evidence of nesting at Sutton in the intervening period (Riviere 1930). In 1918, Turner (1924) estimated the Broadland population at nine pairs (in this paper the terms ‘pairs’ and ‘boomers’ are used synony- mously) : two at Sutton, four at Hickling and three elsewhere, two of them possibly at Horsey and Catfield. By 1919, this number had increased to 12-13 pairs (Gurney 1919) and, apart from the now well-established Hickling/Horsey area (six boomers), the species had spread south down the Ant valley and was recorded for the first time in the Bure valley at Hoveton. In 1921, at least ten pairs bred successfully, and in 1923 Turner (1924) found 1 1 nests and estimated 16-17 breeding pairs: 1 1 at Hickling/ Horsey and the rest in the Bure and Ant valleys. For the next few years, the population — still confined to the Broads — continued to increase. Booming was heard for the first time in the Yare valley in 1928, when Riviere (1930) estimated the total Norfolk breeding population at 23-25 pairs. In 1929, despite severe frosts in early spring, breeding was first proved outside Norfolk, at Thorpe Fen, Suffolk; and 1 15. Bittern Botaurus stellaris settling on eggs, Norfolk, May 1940 (Eric Hosking ) Breeding Bitterns in Britain 116. Bittern Botaurus stellaris swallowing eel Anguilla anguilla, Norfolk, May 1941 ( Eric Hosking) booming was heard also in Hampshire, although there was no evidence of breeding there. I93I-54 The next 25 years saw a period of consolidation and slow expansion: by 1954, Bitterns were breeding regularly in seven counties and had bred once in an eighth. Since no organised census was carried out until 1954, population levels during the 1930s and 1940s are hard to estimate: the 288 Breeding Bitterns in Britain evidence available from local bird reports seems to suggest, however, that most of the expansion — in both population and range — took place after the late 1930s; and that, up to 1936, the situation remained fairly stable in Norfolk, and in Suffolk there was only a slight increase, with up to six pairs at three sites. Breeding had been suspected in Kent in 1935, although subsequent records suggest that it was probably not until 1938 that the species became established (Harrison 1953). 1 937s there was the only record of regular booming in Scotland this century (Baxter & Rintoul 1953)3 and the first regular booming was lecoided at Leighton Moss, Lancashire (Coombes 1949): a site which was to become increasingly important. At about this time, booming was first heaid in Ireland, but without proof of breeding (Kennedy et at. x954) ; and, in 1938, breeding was proved for the first time outside Norfolk and Suffolk, at Burwell Fen (Ennion 1949): unfortunately, the first and only breeding record for Cambridgeshire in the last 150 years. During the 1940s, the same trend continued and, by 1953, 13-14 pairs weie bleeding in Suffolk, at up to six sites. At Minsmere, where a large reed-bed had become established following wartime inundation of former grazing marshes, nine boomers were recorded, as against three ten years earlier (RSPB). Boomers had become well established in Lancashire, and there was an unconfirmed breeding record in 1946 (Eric Hardy in litt .); in the Stour \ alley, Kent, breeding was not proved until 1948, probably ten years after the likely date of establishment (Harrison 1953). In Lincolnshire, following an unsubstantiated breeding record in the early 1 94os3 breeding was finally proved in 1949. An unconfirmed breeding record for Hampshire in 1942 (Cohen 1963), further booming in Ireland xn x945 (Ruttledge 1966) and first booming for Somerset in 1952 (Palmer & Ballance 1968) were signs of a further spread. Despite all this activity, even by 1950, probably only some 15 pairs were breeding outside Norfolk: nearly 40 years after the original re- colonisation, the bulk of the British breeding population was still on the Norfolk Broads; the only other site in that county was Cley, where, following the first breeding in 1937, the population had increased to two or three regular pairs. The first attempt to census the Bittern population in Norfolk was in *954 and it revealed a total of about 60 pairs, including two boomers at Sutton, the original site, and 20 in the Hickling/Horsey complex (Seago t967)- this time, there were 19-22 pairs outside Norfolk, giving a total British breeding population in 1954 of just over 80 pairs. During the 1950s and 1960s, the spread in range continued (albeit at a slower rate), while, at a number of sites first colonised in the 1940s, Bitterns became regular breeders. In Lancashire, breeding was confirmed at Leighton Moss in 1958 (Spcncei 1973)3 and a steady increase began in that county and con- tinued throughout the 1960s until, by 1970, ten males were booming. Booming was first recorded in north Wales in 1955, but breeding was not Breeding Bitterns in Britain 1 17. Bittern Bolaurus stellaris removing egg-shell from nest with three chicks, Suffolk, June 1950 (Eric Hosking) proved until 1968; two years later there were as many as five regular boomers. In Lincolnshire, the Bittern became established during the 1950s and 1960s, and in 1968 six were booming (J. D. Wright in litt.); while, in Somerset, booming was heard regularly during the late 1950s (Palmer & Ballance 1968), and by 1970 probably two pairs were breeding regu- larly (D. E. Pauli in litt.). In Kent, numbers built up to as many as nine boomers in the early 1960s, then fell to three or four by 1970. 2go Breeding Bitterns in Britain Breeding was proved in Northumberland in 1956, and possibly also occurred in 1957? J95^ and I9^°5 indicating continuing spread, but the birds disappeared and there have been no further breeding records for the county (I. Armstrong verbally). In 1962, booming was heard again in Ireland (Major R. F. Ruttledge in litt.) and in Yorkshire (J. L. F. Parslow in litt.), but these were isolated records. At a new site in south Wales, however, a pair probably bred in 1969 and 1970, when possible breeding was again reported from Hamp- shire. During the whole of this period, the Suffolk population was slowly increasing, but, in marked contrast, a serious decline was taking place in Norfolk. In 1970, M. J. Seago organised a second survey of booming males in Norfolk, where, following a fall at Gley from four pairs in the early 1950s to none in 1963, the species was once again confined to the Broads. This revealed an alarming decline, with no regular boomers on the \ are, a reduction almost everywhere on the Bure, and numbers slightly down on the Ant and at Hickling and Horsey: altogether, num- bers had dropped by 55%, from 60 boomers in 1954 to 27 in 1970. This decline in Norfolk seems to have started in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but was partly balanced by increases elsewhere in the country so that, by 1970, the total British breeding population was probably in the region of 70 pairs. Colonisation and first breeding records from 1900 to 1970 ai’e sum- marised in table 1 . The current position In summer 19765 a national survey of Bitterns, based on the presence of regular booming males during March-April, revealed a state of affairs exceeding the worst expectations. The slow decline in Norfolk has, since i97°j accelerated and total numbers have slumped from 27 boomers to Table 1. Summary of recolonisation of Britain by Bitterns Botaurus stellaris For references, see text 1900 First booming record on Norfolk Broads 1901 First booming record in Suffolk 19 1 1 Proved breeding at Sutton Broad, Norfolk 1917 First breeding record at Hickling, Norfolk 1919 12-13 pairs on Norfolk Broads 1928 23-25 pairs on Norfolk Broads 1929 First proved breeding at Thorpeness, Suffolk J935 Unconfirmed reports of breeding in Kent 1937 First bred at Cley, Norfolk; booming at Leighton Moss, Lancashire 1938 Proved breeding at Burwell Fen, Cambridgeshire 1943 First recorded breeding at Minsmere, Suffolk 1948 First proved breeding in Kent T949 First proved breeding in Lincolnshire 1952 First booming record in Somerset J955 First booming record in north Wales 1 956 Proved breeding in Northumberland 1958 Proved breeding at Leighton Moss 1969 First booming record in south Wales Breeding Bitterns in Britain 291 Table 2. Numbers of breeding pairs of Bitterns Botaurus stellaris in Britain in census years 1954, 1970 and 1976 J954 1970 r976 Norfolk 60 27 IO Suffolk I4*I5 16-17 21-22 Kent 1-2 3-4 O Lancashire 1-2 IO IO Lincolnshire I 5-6 1-2 North Wales 1-2 5 2 Somerset 1? 1-2 I South Wales O I 0 TOTALS 78-83 68-72 45-47 only ten : apart from one at Gley, all these were in the Bi'oads area, but, for the first time since 1917, none was heard at Hickling; the Horsey/ Martham/Starch grass area held five and the original 1911 site, Sutton Broad, held one; regular boomers were present at only three other sites. This decline, although less marked, has been paralleled elsewhere in the country. In north Wales, numbers are down to two boomers, and in south Wales none was present at all in 1976. In Somerset, the species retains a precarious hold, with only one boomer in each year since 1972 (D. E. Pauli in litt.). In Lincolnshire, there has been a drop from five or six booming males in 1970 to only one, possibly two, in 1976 (J. D. Wright in litt.) . This pattern is repeated in Kent, where no regular boomers have been heard for three years (P. J. Mountford verbally). Fortunately, and in marked contrast, the Suffolk population has risen to 21-22 boomers, but the number of sites has dropped from at least six in 1971 to only three in 1976: Minsmere (13 boomers), Walberswick (seven or eight) and one other site. In Lancashire, numbers have re- mained steady, with ten regular boomers, nine of them at Leighton Moss. The present situation, therefore, shows a total of 45-47 regular boomers at 16 sites in six counties. The results of the 1976 survey, together with the population estimates for 1954 and 1970, are summarised in table 2. Factors affecting numbers The recolonisation of Norfolk and subsequent spread there owed much to the interest in, and protection given to, the species by enlightened private landowners and naturalists. Despite this, the 19th-century attitudes lingered on: B. B. Riviere collected evidence of 15 Bitterns having been shot between midsummer 1917 and mid 1918, while in 1928 the RSPB took the unusual step of issuing a public appeal to all sportsmen to afford the species special protection. A greater public awareness of the need to conserve rare birds, possibly helped by a reduction in sporting pursuits during the First World War, helped the Bittern to become firmly established in Norfolk by 1930. During the next 30 years, numbers increased, assisted by the founding of wetland reserves by bodies such as the Norfolk Naturalists Trust and the Nature Conservancy (now Nature Conservancy Council). Despite this, sporadic persecution continued, and there is strong evidence that the Bitterns breeding in Northumberland in the early 1960s were shot. n8. Bittern Botaurus stellaris regurgitating food for young, Suffolk, June 1950 (Eric Hosking) The creation of large new beds of reeds Phragmites, with old dyke systems, for example at Minsmere in 1940-43 and Stodmarsh in 1935-37, provided ideal conditions for the species to extend its range. Such sites have rapidly grown in importance as the Norfolk population has dwindled during the last 20 years, and today about 64% of the British breeding population is found at only three sites: the RSPB reserves at Leighton Moss and Minsmere, and the NGC reserve at Walbcrswick. The causes of the recent decline are difficult to establish, but a number of factors may have been — and may still be — relevant, and these are examined below. Breeding Bitterns in Britain Breeding Bitterns in Britain 293 Fig. 1 . Numbers of booming male Bitterns Botaurus stellaris at Hickling, Norfolk, Minsmere, Suffolk, and Leighton Moss, Lancashire, 1916-76 Hard weather There are many records of Bitterns found dead during severe spells of frost and snow (e.g. Riviere 1930, Bannerman 1957, Payn 1962, local bird reports), most in the exceptionally hard weather in early 1923, 1929, 1940-42, 1947 and, especially, 1962-63. It is difficult to know how drastically these winters affected the native population, since many of the dead birds may have been Continental ones wintering here. Foreign- ringed Bitterns recovered in Britain in winter have originated from the breeding populations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Sweden. In the Netherlands, it was estimated that the 1955/56 winter killed be- tween 11% and 23% of the resident Bitterns (Braaksma 1958) ; there was probably an even heavier mortality in 1963. In Britain, hand-feeding of captive, starving Bitterns, which were later released, has helped to maintain numbers at some sites, such as at Minsmere in 1962/63 (RSPB) ; elsewhere, Bitterns have been observed congregating to feed at open water in the ice: at Leighton Moss, up to six fed where the freshwater springs stayed open even during the severest frosts (J. A. G. Barnes verbally). The evidence available suggests that, even though mortality may be heavy, populations can recover fairly quickly: at Hickling and Horsey, for instance, numbers had recovered to their pre-1963 level by 1970. In contrast, Bitterns did not recolonise Cley, from where they disappeared in 1963, until 1971. Severe winters may affect the species in the short term, but are unlikely to have been a factor in the recent decline. Regionally, weather patterns can have markedly different effects. Fig. 1 shows population changes at Hickling, Minsmere and Leighton Moss since the date of establishment at each. The two east coast sites show a close correlation until 1970, with a peak in the first half of the 1 950s followed by a slight drop in 1956, reflecting the hard winter of that year, and a subsequent increase; at both, the population dropped sharply after the 1963 winter, then recovered steadily until 1970, when the Hick- ling numbers decreased rapidly. In contrast, at Leighton Moss, although the 1956 winter had a slight effect, Bittern numbers climbed steadily through 1963, when the weather on the western coast was much milder and the hard frosts shorter and less severe. Since 1969, a succession of exceptionally mild winters has resulted in 119. Bittern Botaurus stellaris at nest with five young. South Humberside, June 1951 (. Harold Auger) high populations of other resident species normally affected by cold (Batten & Marchant 1976); one would have expected Bittern popula- tions to follow this trend, if weather were the main factor affecting their numbers. Coypus Coypus Myocastor coypus first appeared on the Norfolk Broads in the early 1 940s, as escapes and releases from fur farms set up in the previous decade. They slowly increased in numbers and spread throughout Broadland and into Suffolk; then, following a severe setback in the hard weather of 1946/ 47, an increase took place until, by 1963, the population had reached an estimated 200,000 (Norris 1967). The winter of 1963 severely affected the 294 Breeding Bitterns in Britain Breeding Bitterns in Britain 295 numbers and until 1970 they remained at a much-reduced level, but there is now evidence of another build-up (Gosling 1974, 1975). It has been suggested that the populations of Bitterns and of some other marshland birds were affected by the large coypu numbers in the late 1950s and early 1960s. At Hickling, large areas of reed-swamp were grazed— in some places to the point where open water was created — by hundreds of coypus (A. Beales verbally) : while Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosas declined from three pairs in 1 953 to one pair in 1 960 and none in 1961, the Bittern population remained remarkably stable at five to seven boomers right up to the 1962/63 winter. Although there is some indication that preening coypus have trampled nesting or display plat- forms of Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus (RSPB) and have dis- turbed nests of Moorhens Gallinula chloropus (G. Atkinson in litt.), there seems to be no direct evidence of their affecting Bitterns. Great Crested Grebes do, however, breed in good numbers alongside a high coypu pop- ulation in the Yare valley (G. Atkinson in litt.). Although a large pop- ulation of these big rodents in a reed-bed must cause a degree of disturb- ance and varying damage to the vegetation, the available evidence suggests that, as far as Bitterns are concerned, this is possibly a significant factor only at a very local level. Human disturbance Disturbance of Bitterns at the nest is unlikely, since most of the main sites are protected and the nature of the habitat will deter all but the most determined. Disturbance of feeding birds is much more probable. On the Broads, boat traffic has increased enormously. In 1947, 3,400 licences were issued, 1,250 for powerboats; in 1976, the total was 11,644, an in_ crease of 242%, while the number of powerboat licences had risen by nearly 640%, to 9,247. Most of this increase, however, took place before 1967, and since then boat usage has not grown significantly (records of the Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners). At the same time, other forms of recreation on or around waterways, particularly angling, have increased enormously. While it is difficult to prove that this has directly affected Bitterns, it seems probable that, on the Broads at least, additional human activity on the edges of the reed-beds and on waterway margins has reduced the availability of undisturbed feeding sites. Reed-cutting and reed-burning On the Norfolk Broads, reeds have been harvested for a very long time, but comparative figures for the period under review are difficult to obtain. At Hickling, for instance, a far smaller area is cut now than formerly; the annual amount has remained constant for the last ten years and has been taken largely from places which have not traditionally been used by nesting Bitterns (S. Linsell in litt.). On the Norfolk coast, at Cley, about one- third of a very much smaller bed of 30 acres (12 ha) was cut each year between 1938 and 1969, and Bitterns bred right through this period until the hard winter of 1963; regular booming was heard in 1971 and, apart from 1975, every year since; cutting began again in 1976, when 10 296 Breeding Bitterns in Britain acres (4 ha) were cut (P. Stevens verbally). In Suffolk, at Walberswick, reeds have been cut for many years and Bitterns breed around the cut areas (C. Waller in litt.), presumably taking advantage of the ‘edge’ effect and the flooded reed stubble for feeding. The evidence from these three sites suggests that reed-cutting has not directly affected Bittern numbei'S. Disturbance may occur if cutting or burning takes place too late, into the breeding season (i.e. after mid March in East Anglia), and uncon- trolled burning can also be damaging. This was probably the case at Leighton Moss, where the population increased from five boomers in 1 964 to nine or ten by 1972, following the cessation of regular large-scale burning which was carried out each year to improve duck shooting. In the short term, reed-cutting is unlikely to harm Bittern populations at the bigger sites, where large uncut areas are left; but on smaller sites, where a proportionately larger area is cut, they could be affected. In the long term, controlled cutting pi'obably benefits Bitterns, since it results in areas of reeds being kept free from scrub and, at many sites, the dykes are maintained as canals for removing reed bundles. In many reed-bed localities, these dykes are the main open water habitat, providing not only fishing sites for Bitterns, but aquatic pathways along which fish and amphibians can move. Loss of habitat There has been no significant loss by drainage or development in either the number or the area of the larger reed-beds where Bitterns have bred this century, except at Wicken Fen. Indeed, as has been shown, several important new ones have been created. In Norfolk, George (1977), however, has drawn attention to the loss of marginal reed-swamp on the Broads and beside the associated river systems. The reasons for this are not as yet fully understood, but he suggested that several factors, including eutrophication, mechanical damage, and wave action generated by boat traffic, could be responsible. This dieback has reduced considerably the reed cover at the edge of open water, a favoured feeding habitat for Bitterns. In addition, many beds, especially those on the Broads, have probably become less suitable for Bitterns. This is due in part to a reduction in open water areas, not only from the natural succession of fen vegetation aided by silting, but from a decrease in dyke maintenance and a lowering of coypu numbers. This may have been further aggravated by a series of dry summers since 1970. It may be significant that Leighton Moss and Minsmere, both pre- viously agricultural land, retain intact the old field dyke systems within the reed-beds, together with substantial areas of open water; whereas at Stodmarsh, for instance, many ditches have become choked and silted (P. J. Mountford verbally). At many sites, the area of open reed has also been severely reduced by encroaching scrub willow Salix and alder Alnus glutinosa. Pollution Recent publicity has drawn attention to the ecological deterioration of Breeding Bitterns in Britain 297 the Broads and to the research being undertaken to help identify correct- ive measures. It has been suggested that eutrophication, caused mainly by nitrates and phosphates, combined with silting and turbidity, have been important factors in the impoverishment of the aquatic flora and benthic (bottom-dwelling) fauna (George 1976). At Hickling and Horsey, salt- water seepage could be a further complication. This deterioration of the Broadland ecosystem may have affected am- phibian and fish populations and, in turn, their predators, including fish-eaters such as the Bittern and the Grey Heron Ardea cinerea. Further- more, the increased turbidity may make it more difficult for these species to locate and catch their prey. Fig. 2 shows the Hickling population of Bitterns, based on the number 120. Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Netherlands, January 1977 ( Frits Houtkamp) of boomers, between 1954 and 1976; this is compared with both the Broadlancl and the national Grey Heron censuses from 1954 to 1973 (the last date for which figures, based on nest counts, are available). The three graphs show a broad similarity in population fluctuations be- tween 1954 and the late 1960s, with both species responding nationally and locally to the 1955/56 and 1961-63 series of cold winters. Nationally, heron populations show a steady recovery from 1963; on the Broads, however, numbers decline from 1969, although there is a slight increase in 1973 (unfortunately, we do not know whether this has been maintained). The Bittern shows a similar pattern, but the decline starts two years later, in 1971/72, and, despite a short recovery, continues into 1976. The figures seem to suggest that local factors are affecting populations of both species on the Broads. Outside Norfolk, for instance in Kent and Lincolnshire, no evidence is available that pollution has caused the decline; in Suffolk, however, the reeds in some coastal beds have been affected by saltwater inundation, and this could explain the fall in the number of sites used by Bitterns in that county. Conclusion It seems probable that pollution has been the main lactoi affecting Bittc 1 ns on the Broads, and that habitat deterioration and increased disturbance could also have played a part. Elsewhere, no clear pattern emerges and the declines are largely unexplained, particularly in Kent, Lincolnshire and north Wales. There is no evidence to suggest that any one factor may be responsible, but further investigation may show that habitat deteriora- Breeding Bitterns in Britain Breeding Bitterns in Britain 0gC) non has occurred. What seems clear, however, is that, at those sites where the Bittern does still breed, protection by reserve status is not in itself enough; a programme of active management combined with monitoring of water quality, and possible artificial feeding in cold winters, may do much to help maintain numbers Acknowledgements We wish to thank the following people, who provided 1976 census figures or other data lor their areas: I. Armstrong, H. E. Axell, A. Beales, R. S. Briggs, D. Elias, A. J. Mercer, 1J. Moore, P. J. Mountford, D. Mower, Miss E. M. Palmer, D. E. Pauli, Major R F Ruttledge, J. Sorensen and, particularly, I McLean, P. Stuttard, C. Waller and J. d! Wright. We are also grateful to G. Atkinson for much valuable information on coypus, to the BTO Ringing Office for the foreign-ringed returns, and to the RSPB library staff for much useful archive material. We are particularly grateful to M. J. Seago for organ- ising the 1976 Broadland census: without his foresight in organising similar censuses in ’954 and 1970, much of this paper could not have been written. Finally, we thank Dr C. J. Cadbuiy, Dr C. J. Bibby and Dr M. George for helpful criticism of an earlier draft, and D. Squires for drawing the figures. Summary The recolonisation of Britain by the Bittern Botaurus stellaris, and its subsequent fluctua- tions in population and range, are documented from 1900 to 1976. Estimates showed a national breeding population of 79-83 pairs in 1954, 68-72 in 1970 and only 45-47 pairs in 1976. Possible reasons for this decline are advanced and discussed. On the Norfolk Broads, where the decline has been most marked, habitat deterioration caused mainly by pollution appears to be substantially responsible. Elsewhere, the reasons are unclear. References Bannerman, D. A. 1957. The Birds of the British Isles, vol 6. London. Batten, L. A., & Marchant, G. A. 1976- Bird population changes for the years 1973-74 Bird Study 23: 11-22. Baxter, E. V., & Rintoul, L. J. 1953. The Birds of Scotland. Edinburgh. Braaksma, S. 1958. Aanvullende gegevens over de stand van de Roevdomp Botaurus stellaris L. als broedvogel in Nederland. Ardea 46: 158-166. Cohen, E. 1963. The Birds of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Edinburgh. Coleman, A. 1955. Land reclamation at a Kentish colliery. Institute of British Geographers transactions and paper No. 21. Coombes, R. A. H. 1949. Alleged breeding of Bittern in Lancashire. Brit. Birds 42: 32. Ennion, E. A. R. 1949. Adventurers Fen. London. George, M. 1976. Impoverishment of Broadland aquatic flora and fauna — a programme of research and rehabilitation management. Norfolk Nat. Trust Ann. Rep. 1975. 1 977- The decline in Broadlands aquatic fauna and flora — a review of the present position. Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc. 24: 41-53. Gosling, L. M. 1974-75. The coypu in East Anglia. Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc. 23: 495 24: 36. Gurney, J. H. 1920. Ornithological notes from Norfolk. Brit. Birds 13: 261. Harrison, J. M. 1953- The Birds of Kent. London. Kennedy, P. G., Ruttledge, R. F., & Scroope, C. F. 1954. The Birds of Ireland. Edin- burgh. Norris. J. D. 1967. A campaign against feral coypus ( Myocastor coypus molina) in Great Britain. J. Appl. Ecol. 4: 191-199. Palmer, E. M., & Ballance, D. K. 1968. The Birds of Somerset. London. Payn, W. H. 1962. The Birds of Suffolk. London. Reynolds, C. M. 1974. The census of heronries 1969-1973. Bird Study 21 : 129- 134. Riviere, B. B. 1930. A History of the Birds of Norfolk. London. Breeding Bitterns in Britain 300 Ruttledge, R. F. 1966. Ireland's Birds. London. Seago, M. J. 1967. The Birds of Norfolk. London. Spencer, K. G. 1973. The Status and Distribution of Birds in Lancashire. Butnley. Stafford, J. 1971. The heron population of England and Wales 1928-1970. Bud Study 18: 218-221. Ticehurst, C. B. 1932. -1 History of the Birds of Suffolk. Edinburgh. Turner, E. L. 1924. Broadland Birds. London. The following local reports were also consulted : Cambrian Bird Reports 1968-72; Cambridge Bird Club Reports 1935-75! Gower Birds 1969-75; Kent Bird Reports 1952-74; Lowestoft Field Club Reports 1946-75; Nature in Wales vol. 1 ; Norfolk Bird Reports 1953-75! Norfolk Naturalists’ Trust Annual Reports 1953.75; Transactions of ^ Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union 1949-75! Transactions oi the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society 1922-52; Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society 1929-75. J. C. U. Day, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire so 19 2DL J. Wilson, RSPB, Myers Farmhouse, Silverdale, Carnforth, Lancashire Special review Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Volume 1. Ostrich to Ducks. Edited by Stanley Cramp (chief editor) and K. E. L. Simmons, I. J. Ferguson-Lees, Robert Gillmor, P. A. D. Hollom, Robert Hudson, E. M. Nicholson, M. A. Ogilvie, P. J- S. Olney, K. H. Voous and Jan Wattel. Oxford University Press, 1977. 722 pages, 108 colour plates, 199 line-drawings, 168 maps, numerous diagrams. £25.00. With the publication of the first volume of BWP— an acronym already as well established an ornithological household word as Handbook before it- the size and scope of the enterprise can at last be fully appreciated. Hither- to its parameters have probably been known to comparatively few of the 283 contributors named in the title-page, introduction and acknowledge- ments, though doubtless many members of organisations w'hose support is also acknowledged have been aware of the formidable natuii ol ihe task in hand. By now, volume 1 and its treatment of topics or species ol particular interest to each individual will be familiar to the great majority of readers of British Birds. Of those who have not yet acquired it, few' will have resisted the temptation to start saving up for purchase, thus disposing of the myth that people fight shy of paying for something which, besides being costly, fails to conceal its scientific content. The fact is that a book which, like its predecessor (to whose chief editor, H. F. Witherby, it is dedicated), sets out to ‘review and present clearly the entire up-to-date knowledge’ of the birds of, in this case, a whole region, can scarcely fail to have very wide appeal. Even at the most primitive birdwatcher’s level — often dismissed in opprobrious terms, but usually just a combination ol Special review: BWP I delight in birds with a relatively harmless display of the hunter’s instinct the ioo plates of volume i, showing the plumage variations and appear- ance in flight of 122 species, are surely almost irresistible. No reasonably compendious field guide can compete. Incidentally, the idea of getting each ai tist to interpret the whole of one or more favourite groups is excellent, since it takes account of the fact that the great painter of an eagle is seldom equally at home with a Goldcrest. It should also please the many for whom a Barruel loon, Hayman shearwater, Coombs cor- morant, Gillmor ibis, Scott goose or Cusa duck is the paragon. An asset of BWP's comprehensive approach is its capacity for feeding the reader’s curiosity and setting in train a metamorphosis. The serious student who emerges from the chrysalis will find that it is now possible to check every observation against a summary of what is known or surmised of the paiticular aspect or activity observed; that, if this is insufficient, the point can be followed up in the references (which are admirably con- venient to use despite the fact that the essential details of the works of over i, 600 authors are fitted into 14 pages); and that it will then only need a search of more recent literature (the BWP cut-off date ranges around 1975/76) before deciding whether the observation merits publica- tion. Before a necessarily very summary attempt is made to gauge the success of volume 1 in thus providing a solid basis for future advances in know- ledge, two other general points are worth noting. In the first place, BWP will— and indeed must — serve as the major source book for ornithologists untd well into the 21st century; at best, the seventh and last volume can become available only in about 1987. So, we still have long to wait to be indoctrinated into the Baltimore (now alas Northern) Oriole, which, as recent recipients of The ‘British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978) will know, takes over the rearguard from Quail, Tree Sparrow, Snowfinch, Jackdaw or Raven, thanks to BWP's new — and one hopes more stable — taxonomic framework derived from Professor Dr K. H. Voous’s Holarctic list. In these circumstances, perhaps one may shed a passing tear that, with this break in tradition, the opportunity was not taken to reverse the entire sequence, if only to redress the gross imbalance in up-to-date and readily accessible baseline material, which looks like hampering passerinophiles for upwards of another decade. Be that as it may, most people will be happy enough to see the largest living bird once more in the van, even if it retains little more than a toe- hold in the western Palearctic as here defined. That definition is the other general point which needs to be touched on. Although to the west and south it conforms with Dr Charles Vaurie’s, except for the omission of Greenland and some justifiable adjustments along the northern borders of the Sahel and Arabian Desert, it is admittedly arbitrary in the east, where the limit is set along the Ural mountains and river to the Caspian, thence following the west coast of the seas and the Iranian frontier south to Kuwait. Reference to the latest classification of Biogeographical Provinces (prepared by Professor M. D. F. Udvardy for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1975) shows o02 Special review: BWP that, except for a section of the Yenisey valley which separates the west Eurasian and Siberian taiga, there is in fact no convenient north-south dividing line between western and eastern Palearctic. One must conclude that, for practical purposes, the boundary chosen is as good as any. It is perhaps a further point in its favour as the definition of a valid bio- geographical unit that, whereas 601 species breed or have recently bred in the region, no more than 1 1 known to visit it regularly breed beyond its borders. Of these 601 breeding species, the first 93 are dealt with in volume 1, plus four of the 1 1 regular non-breeding migrants (Great and Sooty Shearwaters, Wilson’s Storm-petrel and Red-breasted Goose) and 25 of the 1 31 currently listed ‘accidentals’. Thus, between one-sixth and one- seventh, just under one-third, and just over one-fifth of the totals in the three categories have already been covered. Some allowance has to be made for species which have not been recorded since 1900 and unpioven species, but the volume 1 ration may be taken as average. An idio- syncracy, however, which is unlikely to be matched in iuture volumes, is the 34-page introduction. Of this, for example, more than half is taken up by E. M. Nicholson’s exposition of the habitat and voice sections of the species accounts. Much of the first is devoted to a biave and mostly successful attempt to pin down the meanings of descriptive terms, though some etymologically sound definitions, such as those of ‘pond’ and ‘pool , may no longer win acceptance in a swimming-pool era. As foi voice, I confess that, for one to whom the ‘aark-aaww, AARK-aaww’ attributed to the Fulmar is more evocative than the equivalent sonagram, the explanatory text and diagrams are heavy going. But there is no doubt that they would repay intensive study, nor of the manifest supeiiontx ol modern techniques for recording, reference and comparative analysis. Several methods of saving space are used in volume 1 and will pre- sumably be standard practice in later volumes: for example, omission where appropriate of the world distribution map (Shag, Bald Ibis) 01 the regional map (all regular non-breeding visitors or only occasional breeders such as Steller’s Eider) ; the use of small print for the social pattern and behaviour section and for the concluding and partly statistical section on plumages, bare parts, moults, measurements, weights, structure and geographical variation; and the dropping of the sections on population, social behaviour and breeding for all non-breeding species and ol the food section also in the case of accidentals. One sometimes wishes that application of the last-mentioned economy was less rigid and that lor comparative purposes the rule had been more often waived (as it has been, for instance, by the inclusion of a population section for the Red-breasted Goose). As it is, later volumes, for reasons given, look like being somewhat slimmer, unless the average space given to each species is substantially increased (in volume 1, only four — Great Crested Grebe, Grey Hi ion, Mallard and Eider — reach or exceed ten pages). But, although one hopes this will help to peg the price, the possibility in future of brief summaries rather than total omission of breeding, behavioural and especially food data seems worth reconsidering. It would avoid the 11k ol having to look Special review: BWP 3°3 elsewhere to discover, for example, if the peculiarities of the Surf Scoter’s bill aie connected with feeding techniques or food preferences or are reflected in its display. A few points likely to be made by anyone using the book for what has been suggested as one of its prime functions (the checking of observations against what is known of the facts) can be classified as grumbles which almost inevitably plague compilations, especially those on the massive scale of BWP. An obvious example is occasional inconsistency, notably between the sections on field characters and plumage and the plates, all of which are to some extent concerned with identification. It is often due to the highly condensed style of the text or, in the case of the plates, to loss of definition or faulty colour reproduction (bill colour of the Wandering Albatross is a good example). In other instances (such as the diagnostic difference between the extension of the black line of the gape undei the eye of the Intermediate and of the Great White Egret) authors and artist may have been unable to compare drafts or, more probably, failed (as is only too easy) to spot the discrepancy when it occurred. Foi the sections on distribution and, to a lesser extent, on movements (including regular migration), great reliance is placed on the maps. These are very well designed and executed, the cunning projection used lor the world map being ideal for its purpose. The regional maps, in conjunction with the larger version reproduced as an end paper, in which country, sea and major river names are inserted, manage, with their two colours (red for breeding, grey for non-breeding range or, in the case of seabirds, total marine distribution), to convey a remarkable amount of information. Some minor inaccuracies are to be expected, especially in the small scale world map, affecting particularly such things as the delineation of wintering range in Africa (of Garganey and Shoveler, for example). One’s only serious regret, however, is thar, for reasons explained in the introduction, it was impossible to devise a method of indicating the varying reliability of the data. The result is that an unbroken patch of red may, as in the case of the Ferruginous Duck, mean that a large part of the population is to be found in that area or it may, as with the Little Bittern, mean that no atlas, other census, or detailed investigation has ever been carried out in the area concerned. Incidentally, an ingenious annual cycle diagram conveys a great deal of information on the timing of migration, breeding and moult in rather the same way, but, in this case, can only refer to a designated part of the total range of the species. For sections concerned with feeding, social behaviour, voice and breed- ing, such convenient shortcuts for conveying information are scarcely available, except for the diagrammatic indication of the timing of breed- ing and moult already mentioned and— a most valuable feature — a couple of hundred drawings of aspects of display, executed or organised by Robert Gillmor (some of them original drawings, of which J. Fjeldsa’s of grebes are particularly effective, others based on previously published work or on photographs). As a consequence, these ethological sections tend to take up the lion’s share of space and also to look rather indigestible. One wonders whether the sub-headings, particularly in the social pattern and 3°4 Special review: BWP behaviour section, of which a single half-page column can contain as many as 650 words of solid print, could have been made to stand out more clearly. Certainly, it may be quite a chase, or reminiscent of a maze, to check on a particular point, such as in which (if any) of the geese is the predilection for the ‘triumph ceremony’ not specifically mentioned (the answer is Pink-footed and Lesser White-fronted!). By and large, however, and despite some of the minor regiets and cavils that have been mentioned, the editors, other authors and artists ol BWP volume 1 have had every right to indulge in their own varieties of ‘triumph ceremony’, before knuckling down to further volumes. The more power to their elbows! Hugh Elliott Mystery photographs WLast month’s mystery bird should have presented few problems : there was a simple choice between Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula and Little Ringed Plover C. dubius. The main characteristics of the Ringed Plover are a broad white wing-stripe and long white- sided tail in flight, orange legs, and a mainly orange bill with a black tip. The Little Ringed, on the other hand, as well as being smaller, shows no clear wing-stripe and a less obvious tail pattern in flight, has dull, flesh-coloured, yellowish or greenish- brown legs, a mainly dark bill with a yellowish base, a white stripe over the black of its forehead, and a distinct yellow eye-ring. Of these seven differences, the eye-ring is the only one clearly shown in the mystery photograph, but this is sufficient to identify the bird in plate 1 12 (page 267), repeated at reduced size here, as a Little Ringed Plover; it was photographed in Cornwall by J. B. & S. Bottomley in April 1968. Such a good view is, however, not always obtainable in the field. Nevertheless, even a distant individual against the light may be readily identified by its 121. Adult Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula , Cornwall, August 1971 (J. B. & S. Bottomley) Mystery photographs 305 structure. As comparison of the mystery Little Ringed with the Ringed Plover in plate 121 reveals, (1) the bill of the Little Ringed is thinner and more pointed, that of the Ringed stubbier and almost bulbous; and (2) the legs of the Little Ringed are proportionately longer, producing a more elegant stance, while the relative shortness of those of Ringed give it a compact, chunky jizz. Further, in a front view, the body of the Little Ringed looks ‘boat-shaped’, being flattened beneath in comparison with the more rounded breast and belly of the Ringed Plover; this enhances the appearance of greater leg-length. These three structural differences are often discernible at great ranges. JTRS 122. Mystery photograph 20. What is this species? Answer next month Personalities 15 C. D. Hutchinson The history of ornithology in Ireland goes back at least three centuries, but it is only in recent years that it has gained any widespread popu- larity or scientific credibility. Clive Hutchinson is one of a new breed of Irish ornithologists who has had much to do with the advancement of this science. My first meeting with Clive was in Dublin in early 197°- Over a few pints of Guinness, after an evening meeting of the Dublin Field Group, I was roped in to join the editorial panel of The Dublin and Wicklow Bird Report which he had recently launched. Even then, he was working on his first book, and The Birds of Dublin and Wicklow, the result of more than six years’ research and writing, was published in 1975* The first book of its kind in Ireland in recent years, it was a tremendous success, an achieve- ment all the more spectacular as the author had been living in Dublin for less than eight years at the time. C. D. Hutchinson 3°6 Bom in Cork in 1949, the son of a local minister, Clive was educated there at Middleton College. With a number of other well-known Cork birdwatchers of his age, he frequented such famous south coast bird haunts as Ballycotton, Clonakilty, Akeragh Lough and Cape Clear Island during the early 1960s, turning up many interesting vagrants and Nearctic waders galore. In 1967, however, he moved to Dublin, a trend common among Cork men, where he read history and political science at Trinity College, graduating with honours in 1971. Far too honest, however, to become a politician, he turned his attentions to the financial world, and has been doing very nicely in accountancy ever since. Still, one would do well to avoid raising the subject of politics in his presence, unless of course one has the remainder of the day — and night — to devote to a discussion on the finer points of some ‘ism’ or other. In ornithology, too, Clive thrives on intellectual debate, whether the subject be a survey method or the identity of some obscure rarity. Some ornithologists make excellent administrators, whereas others are 123. C. D. Hutchinson (.Richard T. Mills ) C. D. Hutchinson 307 purely fieldworkers ; but Clive Hutchinson is one of the very few people who combine both attributes. His contributions to organised ornithology in Ireland over the last ten years, particularly on the Executive and Council of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, have been invaluable. His advice is ever sought on matters of financial, research and conservation policy, and it is not surprising therefore that he has been appointed as an IWC representative on the newly-formed National Wildlife Advisory Council. Clive claims, however, that his main interest in ornithology is re- creational, and consequently it is in the field that he spends much of his time. An interest in visiting Ireland’s many remote and often under- watched bird haunts — particularly wetlands — keeps him fairly busy; but occasionally he ventures abroad in search of more exotic prey. One of his chief regrets is that, during a visit to the United States some years ago, he failed to see his favourite bird species, the Roadrunner, while a close friend, also visiting America that summer, spent much of his time avoiding them . . . literally. Clive’s particular interest in wildfowl and waders led him in 1972 to initiate an IWC Wetlands Enquiry, which he then organised until 1975. The data gathered — much of it by Clive him- self—is essential for the assessment of the importance of these often threatened habitats; Clive is currently analysing the information for a book on Irish wetlands. On the subject of books and papers, there had long been a need felt in Ireland for a national ornithological journal. The Irish Bird Report was filling this role to an extent, but, under Clive’s direction and editorship, a new journal, Irish Birds , has just been launched. In 1975, the IWG set up a committee to co-ordinate amateur orni- thological research in Ireland, and Clive was the natural choice for its first chairman, a position which unfortunately he has recently been forced to relinquish. With Cape Clear Bird Observatory, however, his involvement goes back to his school days. He joined the observatory’s council in 1967, and at present is secretary and acting chairman. He has a great love for the island and its people and is a regular visitor there. In 1975, Clive returned to his native Cork, where he now lives with his wife Rachel and young son Andrew. I suspect that a Birds of Cork cannot be too far off. John Rochford Marsh Harrier apparently hunting over the sea On 19th November 1976, off the Nestos delta, northeast Greece, I saw a Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosas flying low over the water. It joined a group of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus and Black- headed Gulls Larus ridibundus feeding some 400 m offshore and began circling about 3-4^ m above the water, occasionally moving lower and hovering. It caused very little alarm to the other birds and, after apparently hunting in this way for about two minutes, circled up into the sky, where Notes 3°8 it was quickly mobbed by a mixed group of about 250 Jackdaws Corvus monedula , Carrion Crows C. cor one and Rooks C. frugilegus (oddly, Marsh Harriers over the land were seldom mobbed). It rose higher, then des- cended and flew over the waves in the typical hunting fashion ; it paused over another patch of water as before, although no other birds were nearby, then flew back to the delta and out of sight. I had the definite impression that the harrier was hunting. Paul A. Doherty 3 Bracken Hill, Leeds LS17 6 ad Oystercatchers nesting on roofs The contribution by Dr W. R. P. Bourne {Brit. Birds 68: 302) prompts me to record the following. During 1 967-69, new accommodation for the College of Education was constructed on a field site in a residential area of Aberdeen approximately i£ km from the Foresterhill Hospital and Medical School. Before 1967, at least one pair of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus bred regularly on this site, but none attempted to during the construction and early occupation of the new buildings. In 1971, one pair nested successfully on the roof of the tallest teaching block, 20 m high. This has a flat roof covered with granite chips laid in bitumen. The nest was an unlined scrape in the middle of a mound of these small stones, about 30 cm in diameter and 10 cm in height; the stones were collected from the roof of this and other blocks. Three chicks fledged. Subsequently, one pair has nested each year: one chick was raised in 1972, and two in both 1973 and 1974. In 1974, a second pair, present from late February to late March, attempted unsuccessfully to establish territory based on one of the lower blocks. In 1975? one Pah‘ attempted to nest in a cultivated part of the grounds: three eggs were laid but these disappeared soon after the onset of incubation; the Oyster- catchers then returned to the rooftop site, where they laid two eggs, one of which failed to hatch; the single chick fledged. The adults behave extremely aggressively towards passing crows (Corvidae) and gulls Larus, which tend to pass at rooftop height. Young remain on the roof until almost fully grown; in 1 973> a half-grown one was blown from the parapet during a gale and killed. Both parents collect food from grassy areas and from adjacent playing fields; earth- worms, carried hanging in the bill, seem to make up a fairly high pro- portion of the diet. As no natural food is available on the roof, the chicks are entirely dependent during their development on food carried up to them. Adults and young leave the site in early August. P. R. Mills Department of Biology, College of Education, Hilton Place, Aberdeen AB19 ifa In the Netherlands, a pair of Oystercatchers has bred on the roof of a hospital at Heerenveen, Friesland, since 1950, although not always successfully ( Limosa 41: 1 1 5) ; and, in May 1968, a pair bred on a flat roof of a school in The Hague ; both have returned almost every year since. M. J. Tekke Nederlandse Ornithologische Unie , Harderwijkstraat 136, ’s Gravenhage, Netherlands Notes 309 Snipe apparently using foot to control food On 31st January 1977, at the New Grounds, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, I was watching a Snipe Gallinago gallinago at a range of 12-13 m, when it pulled up a large, fat earthworm (Oligochaeta) 15-17 cm long. It had difficulty swallowing the worm, and about a quarter remained hanging sideways out of its bill. The Snipe raised a foot and straightened the worm lengthwise within its bill, pushing it with ease quickly between its mandibles before swallowing it. I did not notice any contraction or expansion of the foot to suggest that it took hold of the worm, nor any attempt to break it up or hammer it. During my observations, smaller worms were swallowed without difficulty. L. P. Alder 31 Hopton Road, Upper Cam, Dursley, Gloucestershire glii 5PD This may have been direct-scratching, or the same movements as those used in normal bill-cleaning, possibly stimulated by irritation from a movement of the worm. Eds Woodpigeon fledging in February On 20th January 1977, in a north London suburban garden, I discovered a Woodpigeon Columba palumbus sitting on a recently built nest about 7 m up in a silver birch Betula pendula. During the next four weeks, the weather varied from below freezing with thick frost to very heavy rain. In the fifth week, I saw a well-grown young in the nest, jumping and flapping its wings. The adult male, perched 1 m away, eventually fed the nestling, then flew away and was immediately joined by his mate. At 23.00 GMT on 26th February, I saw an adult crouching over the large young; the next morning, all the pigeons had gone. Jeremy Galton 63 Buckingham Avenue, London N20 gDG Woodpigeons feeding on oak galls C. F. Tebbutt’s note and Derek Goodwin’s comments (Brit. Birds 70: 546) are confirmed by data which I obtained during 1975. While carrying out a study of moult, weight variation and juvenile mortality, I also examined the crop contents of 1,842 Woodpigeons Columba palumbus shot in Surrey and Sussex. Not only were Woodpigeons deliberately feeding on oak-leaf spangle galls lying on the ground in the autumn, but in early May 1975 they were taking complete growing leaves from oaks Quercus, every one of which had at least one gall on it; leaves without galls were not selected. Crop content items were assessed on a volumetric basis over a complete sample, rather than for individual birds (table 1). Casual observation of crop contents during the previous four years had not shown galls to be a significant food of Woodpigeons, and it is possible that an exceptionally plentiful supply coincided with a shortage of normal foods in autumn 1975. Acorns and mast of beech Fagus sylvatica were taken in significant quantities only during November, and, because of dry weather, stubbles were nearly all ploughed by the end of Sep- tember. Seed grain was available in the study areas only during late October and late November, and clover Trifolium was taken in Notes 3 10 Table i. Oak-leaf galls in diet of 615 Woodpigeons Columba palumbus shot in Sussex and Surrey in 1975 at times when galls were being taken 0/ 0 Number of % of Woodpigeons Mean weight Woodpigeons’ crops examined (g) containing galls May 1- 1 5 Ad 59 480 10 Juv 0 — — Sep 16-30 Ad 107 505 1 Juv 1 1 425 0 Oct 1 - 1 5 Ad 107 510 50 Juv 44 435 34 Oct 16-31 Ad 1 1 525 27 Juv 10 465 50 Nov 1-15 Ad 27 540 59 Juv 12 485 58 Nov 16-30 Ad 5° 545 30 Juv 22 495 18 Dec 1-15 Ad 27 545 4 Juv 29 485 21 Dec 16-^1 Ad 68 530 12 Juv 5i 475 16 by volume of galls in diet (adults and juveniles combined) 18 2 53 32 4i 5 '5 8 quantity both in early October and again during December, much earlier than usual. Table 1 indicates that the galls provided an adequate food source, since the weights of adult and juvenile Woodpigeons both increased normally during the period when this food was eaten. Once it was finished, and clover was the major item in the diet, body weight was lost. M. Boddy Belton House, Church Lane, Clarborough, Retford, Nottinghamshire Passerines eating ladybirds On 7th July 1976, at Blackdown, Mendip, Somerset, I watched an adult Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis feeding on seven-spot ladybirds Coccinella septem-punctata which were migrating west- wards over the hill and swarming on an area of burnt ground. In half an hour’s observation, I did not see the pipit eat anything other than these insects. Besides having a warning coloration, ladybirds exude a distasteful secretion when seized and are usually avoided by birds. D. Warden Centaur, Ham Lane, Bishop Sutton, Bristol bsi8 4TZ During studies of Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata in Dorset in 1974-76. seven-spot and eleven-spot ladybirds C. undecim-punctata were abundant throughout the year, especially in gorse Ulex where the birds most frequently feed. I identified 771 prey items of adult Dartford Warblers (506 from 62 faecal sacs and 265 from the guts of four road casualties); although methodological errors would have exaggerated the frequency of ladybirds, only one, a seven-spot eaten by a male on 10th February 1976, was found. Further, I identified 2,773 food items of nestlings (1,191 Notes 3*1 from 147 faecal samples and 1,582 from 16 hours’ direct observation at nests) ; not one was a ladybird. On 4th May 1976, when many ladybirds were flying at heights of tens of metres, I watched a Stonechat Saxicola torquata feeding; occasionally it pursued flying insects, and once it chased and caught a ladybird, but I could not ascertain whether or not it ate this. Clearly, however, the Stonechat did not regard this large flight of ladybirds as the optimum prey of the moment : one brood of nestlings that I watched for three hours received 91 identified food items, none of which was a ladybird, although there were 17 woodlice (Isopoda), another taxon apparently avoided by some birds. On 6th September 1975, in Vienne, western France, I inspected the gut of a first-year Whitethroat Sylvia communis found as a road casualty. I identified 23 invertebrates: four were ladybirds, two of a large red species with black spots (probably seven-spot) and two of a smaller, yellow species with black spots; the warbler had also been eating ants (Formicidae), as had three Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca found in the preceding two days. As all but the sexuals of ants appear to be noxious to most birds, it is possible that these migrants grounded in France were faced with suboptimal feeding prospects. Many ladybirds taste disgusting to human beings (personal obser- vation) . The evil-smelling fluid which they discharge when disturbed has been regarded as defensive in function, although A. D. Imms (1957, Insect Natural History ) pointed out that ladybirds are eaten by several species of birds. Many ladybirds are brightly coloured and slow-moving and do not seem to possess defences against bird predation other than nox- iousness associated with a clearly recognisable appearance; captive young birds usually try them once, but not again. My observations suggest that they are, indeed, avoided by birds to a considerable extent, and, thus, that their defences are effective. The two confirmed instances of bird predation were in circumstances where feeding prospects for the birds might have been poor: a warbler in the depths of winter and a grounded migrant. In such cases, the cost of eating a noxious item might be less than that of not eating at all. Another situation in which ladybird-eating might be expected would be that of young birds learning for the first time. Thus, in spite of some predation, ladybirds have little to fear from birds, unless a persistent predator arises or exists as yet unnoticed. Colin J. Bibby 88 Church Street, Gamlingay, Sandy, Bedfordshire sg 1 9 3 jj Passerines feeding on tideline P. G. Goodfellow {Brit. Birds 57: 302) detailed 14 species of passerines, including wagtails Motacilla, feeding on tidewrack; The Handbook mentions Yellow Wagtails M. flava taking flies (Diptera) and small molluscs, and one whose stomach contained sand- hoppers (Amphipoda). At Marazion, Cornwall, I have seen Yellow Wagtails, as well as other species, feeding on sandhoppers and their larvae, as well as Diptera, among the wet seaweed. This shore-feeding by passerines is greatly facilitated by Turnstones Arenaria inter pres, Star- lings Sturnus vulgaris and crows (Corvidae), which excavate the beach Notes 312 debris; in particular, Ravens Corvus corax butt and push the wet seaweed apart with their heads and bills, exposing food both for themselves and for other species. Bernard King Gull Cry, g Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall Landbirds over the Strait of Dover Little or nothing has been published in recent years concerning landbird migrants at sea in the Strait of Dover. During many crossings of the Strait in the past 20 years, we have seen a few; but, on 19th October 1975, between 15.05 and 16.35 GMT, we observed a total of 88. Sixteen Skylarks Alauda arvensis, 40 Redwings Turdus iliacus, seven Fieldfares T. pilaris and 14 Starlings Sturnus vulgaris flew approximately southwest, and a Great Tit Parus major, a Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, a Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus and two Starlings were on or flying around the ferry; the bunting fluttered down to the surface of the sea several times, as if trying to alight, but eventually flew south out of sight, although at the time the English coast was just visible. In addition, four Rooks Corvus frugilegus flew east and two more later passed high to the west. All these species are normal autumn migrants in northwest Europe and their occurrence in the Strait of Dover is not unexpected. The numbers and variety observed on this occasion were, however, in our experience exceptional, particularly since the sky at the time was clear (although it had been overcast earlier on the French coast) and the wind easterly, force 2-3; furthermore, most migration visible from the adjacent coasts has usually ceased by midday. During the morning, at Cap Gris Nez, Pas de Calais, we had seen a fairly heavy migration involving all the above species apart from Reed Bunting, and with Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds T. merula drop- ping out of the sky from a great height ; also, 360 Great Tits and many Bramblings were seen migrating northeast, the former passing rapidly from copse to copse on a narrow front. P. S. Redman, D. L. Davenport, R. J. Elvy, P. J. Oliver and C. E. Wheeler Redwings, Crowhurst, Battle, East Sussex Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland At about 10.30 GMT on 24th Sept- ember 1973, I was at the southern end of Fair Isle, Shetland, watching a Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica which had been present for several days in a stubble strip. Suddenly, I was aware of a pipit Anthus foraging close to me among the roots of a potato crop. The general impression was of a uniform, dark-coloured pipit with the most amazing supercilium, unlike any other pipit I had seen before. After observing that bright-coloured mantle streaks, which are a feature of Pechora Pipit A. gustavi, were absent, I took the following notes: Size about that of Meadow A. pratensis or Tree Pipit A. trivialis , both of which were present on adjoining grass field for com- parison. Very white underparts, with bold black spots on upper breast. White belly. Broad white supercilium, tinged pink, reminiscent of small Redwing Turdus iliacus. Supercilium wide, but not particu- larly long: starting just in front of and finishing just behind eye. Back very dark Notes olive-coloured, appearing almost uniform. Conspicuous white outer tail feathers. Call harsher than that of Tree Pipit, inter- 313 mediate with Red-throated Pipit A. cervinus. Rather abruptly, the pipit towered into the air, and a search of the adjoining fields failed to relocate it. I subsequently identified this pipit as an Olive-backed A. hodgsoni, the fourth for Britain and Ireland. The wind had been southeast for several days, with an anticyclone over northern Europe. Associated arrivals on 24th September included a Little Bunting E. pusilla, an immature White’s Thrush ^oothera dauma and seven Yellow-browed Warblers Phylloscopus inornatus. G. J. Job son 54 Churchill Crescent , Wickham Market , Woodbridge, Suffolk Dunnock apparently finding food on dead House Sparrow On 30th December 1976, in my garden at Aldershot, Hampshire, I noticed a Dunnock Prunella modularis on the vegetable patch tugging at something with both wings spread in the manner of a Blackbird Turdus merula when anting . Through binoculars, I saw that it was pulling something out from the snow, which was 5-7I cm deep but patchy. I then noticed a leg sticking up through the snow. While I watched for ten minutes, the Dunnock succeeded in pulling out a dead bird, which it stood on and pecked; later investigation showed that the corpse was a House Sparrow Passer domesticus with a few feathers missing from the underside of its body, which appeared unmarked. Adequate food was available at the time, and none of the other birds in the garden showed any interest in the Dunnock s activities. I concluded that the Dunnock had probably been taking some kind of parasite from the sparrow’s body. Enid Smith Hazelhurst, W hite Lane, Ash Green, Aldershot GU12 6hw Stonechat taking food from water On 1 ith January 1977, I watched a female or immature Stonechat Saxicola torquata feeding from the edge of a reed-bed along the Lampen Wall, Stodmarsh, Kent. On three occa- sions in the space of about two minutes, the bird dropped from a reed into the water and appeared to pick something up in the tip of its bill. The action was quite rapid, and on each occasion the feet and belly were submerged, but only the tip of the bill appeared to touch the surface of the water, as shown in my sketch; the Stone- chat seemed to bounce off the surface, and returned to its original perch. Through X 12 binoculars at a range of about 25 m, I could see no food on the water, but the actions did not suggest that the Stonechat was drinking. Later, it was hopping about on some partially submerged reeds with its feet in several milli- Notes 3r4 metres of water: it was picking at something on the water surface. C. J. Hodgson The White House, Hastingleigh, Ashford, Kent Willow Warblers nesting close together On 18th May 1976, in Whitwell Wood, Derbyshire, I was shown two nests of Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus only 6 m apart; they were hidden by long grass and a light cover of bramble Rubus fruticosus on a small bank bordering a wide ride. The first had been found, complete but empty, by H. A. Pigott on 14th May; the second, with six eggs, by J. Ellis on the following day. On 4th June, there were newly hatched young in the hist nest, and foui young, which I ringed, in the second. No animosity was noticed between the two pairs of adults. Strangely, on nth June, after the young of the second nest had fledged, a chick from that nest was with those in the first. About the same time, three other, more normally spaced Willow Warbler nests were found along a 40°_in section of the lide. R. A Frost 66 St Lawrence Road, North Wingfield, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S42 5LL I. J. Ferguson-Lees has commented that Willow Warblers often nest on the edges of their territories and he has seen two nests 9 m apart; D. J. May ( Brit. Birds 40 : 2- 1 1 ; Ibis 91:24-54) twice recorded nests ‘only a few yards apart. Eds Behaviour and water-carrying of Goldcrests at nest in drought In the exceptionally hot, dry summer of 1976, in my garden in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, a pair of Goldcrests Regulus regulus nested in an exposed position about m up in a Norway spruce Picea abies. At 14.00 GMT on 30th June, when the temperature reached 28.2°C, the chicks appeared very exhausted, even though the nest was out of direct sun except lionr 15.30 to 17.00. At 15.50 hours, I saw one of the adults standing on the edge of the nest pecking the young vigorously for about 20 minutes. When I returned at 17.00, this or the other parent was bringing water to the young, a drop at a time, each clearly visible on the end of the beak, until by 20.00 hours all six young had revived and appeared strong. By 9th July, the first fledgling was on the edge of the nest, scratching and stretching; and, by 15.00 hours on 10th, all had flown. Auriole Archdale The Stride Pottery, 97 Carrigans Road, Omagh BT79 7TN Pine Bunting in Dorset At about 17.45 GMT on 15th April 1975, while walking through Reap Lane on the way to Portland Bill, Dorset, I heard what" I presumed to be a Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella. Then, however, I located the bird sitting on a bramble stem, and icahsed that it was something unusual. On raising my binoculars, I found that I was looking at a male Pine Bunting E. leucocephalos . It flew a short distance and perched on a barbed-wire fence, constantly flicking its tail and calling softly. I obtained excellent views down to about 15 in lor about five minutes, noted details of its salient features, and rushed to the Notes observatory but by then the light was failing rapidly. Searches on the next and subsequent days failed to relocate the bird. The following description summarises my notes taken in the field : plumage Immaculate, showing no traces point at centre, upperparts Pale grey- boX'I'T CrT aT,TP? pure WhltC’ br0wn’ quite heavi‘y streaked on upper boidered all round with black, thicker on back. Rump bright chestnut, as Yeflow- frn Chd|l mUte ,Cheek PatCh’ extendlnS hammer: very noticeable in flight. Wings fhrnatb H °Ughr chin’ well-marked, somewhat reminiscent of throat and rest of head bright chestnut, Ortolan E. hortulana, with dark centres to apenng towards nape, where ended in median coverts and pale brown edges to thin band. Small white patches on sides of both median and greater coverts. Primar- neck, and also on throat, where reduced to ies, secondaries and tertials also broadly edged pale brown. Tail long, colour as upperparts. Outer tail feathers showing large amount of white, penultimate ones to lesser degree, underparts Breast and sides warm pinkish-brown, finely streaked brown. Rest of underparts off-white. bare parts Bill pale horn. Legs pink. structure Build and size as Yellow- hammer: slender and long-tailed. voice Two quite different calls: soft ‘tillip’ in flight and metallic ‘tick’ both when perched and in flight, both apparently identical to calls of Yellowhammer. Pine Bunting Ember iza leucocephalos, Dorset, April 1975. Note white cap cheek patch, sides of neck and lower throat; bright chestnut foreheld, chin, upper Zat ant nape. {Drawn from field sketch by G. Walbridge ) x ™SnWfaS tHc fTth,reC°rd f°r Brkain and Ireland‘ The P^ous ones mu Pfr°mw°t and Jn autumn: Fair Isle, Shetland, on 30th October R , apa cstray> Orkney, on 15th October 1943; and North Ronaldsay, Orkney, from 7th to nth August 1967. G. Walbridge 1 1 Poundpiece , Weston, Portland, Dorset Fig Short reviews Hamlyn Nature Guides: Birds. By John Andrews. (Hamlyn, London, Syd- ney & Toronto, 1978. 128 pages; 168 colour photographs. £1.50). Most of the photographs are well chosen and well re- produced; arranged three to a page, with facing texts. The idea of an identification book illustrated by colour photographs instead of colour paintings is excellent, but this one fails by dealing with an inadequate selection of species. Although it includes species which are rarities and vagrants in Britain, such as Melodious Warbler and Crested Lark, it omits others much more likely to be seen (e.g. White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Bean Goose, Lesser Whitethroat). Birdwatching. By Neil Ardley and Brian Hawkes. (Macdonald Educational, London, 1978. 96 pages; many colour and black-and- white illustrations. Paperback, £1.25). Crammed with good advice and infor- mation about birds and birdwatching. As one would expect with Peter Grant as consultant: reliable. Strongly recommen- ded for beginners of any age. North American Bird Songs. By Poul Bond- esen. (Scandinavian Science Press Klampenbourg, 1977. 254 pages; 225 line-drawings and sonagrams. DKr 93.00.) Guide to the songs of some 300 North American passerines, using verbal descrip- tions and sonagrams based on a new tech- nique, with a key and full references. Short reviews 3l6 How Birds Live. By Tony Bremner. (Usborne Publishing, London, 1 97^* 4^ pages; many colour illustrations. Hard- back, £2.95; paperback, £1.25.) Profusely and well illustrated by colour paintings; text clearly aimed at 8- to 1 1 -year-old age- group; Peter Olney’s position as consult- ant editor has ensured that the readable text is also reliable. Good value. Danger- ous to Man. By Roger Garas. (Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1978. 327 pages; 30 black-and-white photographs. Paperback, £1.50.) Only four pages are devoted to birds, but this interesting, authoritative compendium of fact and anecdote re- lating to dangerous animals (from veno- mous snails and insects to giant squids and tigers) should leave us all content to re- main forever safely in cosy Surbiton. The Birdman. By Henry Douglas- Home. (Collins, London, 1977- 176 pages; 16 black-and-white plates. £4.95.) Auto- biographical anecdotes, including many about birds. Attractive line-drawings by Sir Peter Scott and Robert Gillmor. Watching Birds. By James Fisher; revised by Jim Flegg. (Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, 1978- J59 PaSes> !4 black-and-white photographs, many line- drawings. 75P.) Paperback version of the T. & A. D. Poyser revision, reviewed by Dr Jan Wattel in Brit. Birds 69: 37. Still excellent value. Where to Watch Birds in Europe. By John Gooders. (1 an, London & Sydney, 1978. 293 pages; 14 black-and-white photographs; 27 maps. Paperback, £1.75.) When this book first appeared (as a hardback costing 45s od in 1970), R. C. Homes (Brit. Birds 63: 394" 395) summarised well the opinions that we still hold: ‘I view with grave suspicion books of this kind’, but nevertheless ‘there is no question that this is an ex- tremely useful book for anyone interested in European birds.’ A Guide to Eastern Hawk Watching. By Donald S. Heint- zelman. (Keystone Books, Pennsylvania State University Press, 1 977- 99 Pa8es- Paperback, $4-5®-) About half of this book is devoted to flight identification of 24 species of raptors likely (or not likely) to be seen in the eastern USA; each has a short paragraph of text, and flight photo- graphs or drawings. Much of the second half is an account of the best places to see raptor migrations in the Eastern States. [R. F. Portf.rJ Spotter’s Guide to Birds. By Peter Holden, illustrated by Trevor Boyer. (Usborne, London, 1978. Hardback, £1.50; paperback, 65P.) Suit- able for 6- to 1 2-year-old age-group. Well- illustrated, but only 20-30 words for each of the 1 75 species covered. Presumably to attract European sales, includes species such as Black Woodpecker and Pygmy Owl; but others, far more likely to be seen (e.g. Garganey and Lesser Whitethroat), are omitted. Back from the Brink. By Guy Mountfort. (Hutchinsons, London, 1978. 192 pages; 25 black-and-white plates. £5-50.) Twelve examples of con- servation successes : Arabian oryx, orang- utan, Giant Pied-billed Grebe, Nen6 and so on. Written in this author’s usual highly readable style. Granivorous Birds in Ecosystems. Edited by J. Pinowski and S. C. Kendeigh. (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1977. 43 1 pages; maps and line-drawings. £19.50)- The results of studies by 12 specialists, as part of the International Biological Pro- gramme, into the populations, energetics, adaptations, impact and control of grain- eating species, especially House and Tree Sparrows. Much will have a relatively limited appeal, but the clear and trenchant analysis of pest control by M. I. Dyer and P. Ward is of importance to a wide audience. The Courtship of Birds. By Hilda Simon. (Cassell, London, 1 9 7 *7- 190 pages; illustrated in colour by author. £5.50.) Not recommended, even as a popular treatment of the subject, lacking both insight and accuracy; the lavish paintings, however, may appeal to those who collect picture-books of birds. [K. E. L. Simmons] A Bird Watcher’s Adven- tures in Tropical America. By Alex- ander F. Skutch, illustrated by Dana Gardner. (University of Texas Press, Austin & London, 1977- 327 pages. $13.95.) Anecdotes from journeys in tropical America during the 1930s and early 1940s, with such interesting chapter titles as ‘Through Peruvian Amazonia by gunboat’ and ‘Birdwatching during a revolution’. A Colour Guide to Hong Kong Birds. By Clive Viney and Karen Phillipps. (Hong Kong. 122 pages; 48 colour plates; several line- drawings. Paperback, HK$20.) Illus- trates ‘all the birds of Hong Kong that arc likely to be seen’, with three to six lines of text summarising a few field characters and status in Hong Kong. Most species are shown in only one plumage, but Karen Phillipps’s paintings are accurate and jizz is often captured Short reviews well; reproduction is, however, in rather garish colours. Appendix of 47 species vagrant to Hong Kong. Der Seggen- rohrsanger. By Heinz Wawrzyniak and Gertfred Sohns. (A. Ziemsen Ver- lag, Wittenberg Lutherstadt, 1977. 109 pages; 32 black-and-white plates; 8 text illustrations. DM 8.80.) A valuable monograph on the Aquatic Warbler, in- cluding much original research on its breeding biology in East Germany. The Gilbert White Museum Edition of ‘The Natural History of Selborne’. By Gilbert White, preface by Lord Selborne, introduction by David At- tenborough, illustrated by Frederick 317 Marns. (Shepheard-Walwyn, London, r977* J5° pages; 10 drawings. £9.95.) A fine edition of the book aptly described by David Attenborough as ‘modest, unobtrusive . . . truthful . . . enduring’. Crows, Jays, Ravens and their Rela- tives. By Sylvia Bruce Wilmore. (David and Charles, Newton Abbot, 1977. 208 pages; 52 text photographs and illus- trations. £5.95.) This covers, in a more popular and much less satisfactory way, the Corvidae recently treated magis- terially by Derek Goodwin in his Crows of the World (reviewed in Brit. Birds 7 1 : 43), which, curiously, is not mentioned in the bibliography. JTRS & SC Letters Diving methods of Great Northern and Black-throated Divers On inland waters, I have noticed that Great Northern Divers Gavia immer always slither under slowly when diving, whereas Black-throated G. arctica jump upwards slightly before they dive. Depth of water appears to be irrelevant: in February 1978, I watched a Black-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver swimming and feeding together on Foremark Reservoir, Derbyshire ; several times, they surfaced within a metre or so of each other, yet their diving actions remained distinct enough to enable them to be distinguished even at a distance such that they appeared as mere blobs on the water. Stephen Jackson 16 Kerry Drive, Smalley, Derbyshire DE7 6er J. R. Mather has commented that ‘the sliding under of Great Northern is certainly a good character’ and he considers that the jump by Black- throated is probably also diagnostic. We shall welcome notes on observa- tions of the diving methods of all Gavia species for possible inclusion in a future summary. Eds Grey Herons taking Water Rails and young grey squirrels Regarding the note by Christopher Murphy on Grey Herons Ardea cinerea eating Water Rails Rallus aquaticus on the Dee marshes, Cheshire {Brit. Birds 69: 369), this behaviour has been observed at this locality for many years (see ‘Countryside’ features in Liverpool Daily Post). More unusually, in April 1976, at Combermere, Cheshire, I found two new- born grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis among prey taken by the herons to their nests (see ‘Countryside’, Liverpool Daily Post, 19th April 1976; and Shropshire Magazine, June 1976). I can find no reference to squirrels in the diet of Grey Herons. Eric Hardy 47 Woodsorrel Road, Liverpool L15 6ub Letters 3l8 Call-notes of Firecrest and Goldcrest The Handbook describes the call of the Goldcrest Regains regulus as a ‘very thin, shrill “zeec,, zeec, zeec” and that of the Firecrest R. ignicapillus as ' “zit, zit, zit pei- ceptibly lower in pitch, less thin and feeble, than Goldcrest s and often o-iven singly’. While there is nothing wholly inaccurate in these intei - pretations, they deal only with the tone and— inadequately— the pitch of I have always found that the normal contact or feeding call ol the Goldcrest is indeed the familiar ‘zeec’ or ‘zee’ sound, but careful listening reveals that the full call consists of five such notes delivered at regular intervals and all at the same pitch. On the other hand, the equivalent ‘zit’ calls of the Firecrest are not only generally fuller and coarser m tone, but are also linked quite differently. Again, there are five notes, but there is a strong stress on the first and it is noticeably longer m duration than any of the subsequent four, which are of equal length and interval to those of the Goldcrest. These four notes, however, are m fact on a slightly rising scale, which is perfectly easy to discern. Occasion- ally, only the rising notes, or just two or three of them, may be delivered, but they remain quite characteristic. Michael J. Rogers zpj Vicarage Road , Sunbury-on- Thames, Middlesex TWib 7TP House Sparrows feeding at suspended feeders House Sparrows Passer domesticus eat peanuts in Canada as well as in Britain and Germany (Brit. Birds 67: 358; 70: 84-85)- In Ottawa, Ontario, I first noticed this on 1 oth July 1976, when a female clung to our cylindrical feeder which has a narrow slit, pecked until it extracted a nut and then Hew off. This was repeated very many times during the next week and, on 17th, two females fed in this way. ^ Gillian Boyd 1032 Pinewood Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 5V 5> Canada This feeding technique appears now to be widespread among Housi Sparrows. We feel that it has been adequately recorded and the subject is, therefore, now closed. Eds Crossbill evolution Reading Professor Dr K. H. \ oous’s paper on crossbills Loxia ( Brit. Birds 71: 3-1°). il is diffic^ toc understand his reticence concerning the possible common origin of the Scottish Crossbill L. scotica and Parrot Crossbill L. pytyopsittacus populations in Continental Europe during early postglacial times. During that period, forests o Scots pine Pinus sylveslris were continuously distributed across central Europe, from the Atlantic coast to European Russia (Frenzel 1967, 1068). With postglacial warming, pine forests migrated northwards en bloc spreading into Britain and Scandinavia across the then dry Eng is 1 Channel and southern Baltic. With such a distribution of pine woodland, there seems no real reason why any pine-feeding crossbill populations should have been geographically isolated in central Europe at that time. Letters 319 As the pines colonised northwards— presumably taking crossbill popu- lations into Britain and Scandinavia— the pine forests were replaced m central Europe by forests unsuitable for breeding crossbills, thus effectively isolating the ancestors of scotica and pytyopsittacus. This isolation was later reinforced by the rising sea, which flooded the southern North Sea and Baltic areas. The isolation of the two populations could potentially date from around 8,000 years ago. Eight thousand years (or generations) is more than enough for the two isolated pine-feeding populations of northern Europe to have diverged genetically from each other and from the geographically isolated pine- feeding crossbills of the Mediterranean area. The differentiation of scotica and pytyopsittacus was possibly also aided, as Professor Voous suggested, by character divergence’, due to the presence of spruce- feeding curvirostra populations, which probably colonised Europe only in the last 3,000-4,000 years, as the spruce Picea abies invaded Scandinavia from Russia (Moe 1970). Thus, the crossbills were first divided into the western Palearctic pine- feeding and the central and eastern Palearctic spruce-feeding populations during glacial periods. Subsequently, the western Palearctic populations were subdivided, during the postglacial, into three isolated groups that later evolved into the full species scotica, pytyopsittacus and the less well differentiated Mediterranean forms. The spruce-feeding curvirostra popu- lations then reinvaded the western Palearctic as their main food source colonised the area, to give rise to the present complex of populations. While I warmly applaud the recognition of Loxia scotica as a full species, this presents pioblems when the remaining curvirostra populations are considered. Some of the isolated forms, particularly himalayensis , are just as morphologically distinct as scotica and, if they were studied as inten- sively as scotica, several ‘new’ species could well appear. The curvirostra species complex is a superb example of evolution in action and warrants much closer study than it has hitherto received. R. D. Murray 143 Eskhill, Penicuik, Midlothian REFERENCES Frenzel, B. 1967. Grundziige der Pleistozanen Vegetationsgeschichte Nord-Eurasiens. Wiesbaden. 1968. The Pleistocene vegetation of northern Eurasia. Science 161 (3842): 637-649. Moe, D. 1970. The postglacial immigration of Picea abies into Fennoscandia. Botan. Notiser Lunds Botan. Loren. 4. Professor Voous has replied: ‘I was not as reticent in accepting the hypothesis of a common origin, on the lines described above for Loxia pytyopsittacus and L. scotica, as is suggested by my good friend Ray Murray. In view of the existence of other pine-feeding crossbills with similar adaptations, I found it wise to point to the fact that there is “no proof of a common origin”, but I should have added that this is not at all unlikely. The conclusion, that the recognition at species level of isolated south Palearctic crossbill populations is at stake, is likewise perfectly correct, but I found it better only to indicate this and not to elaborate. Eds Announcements Expeditions We shall shortly be starting a new, periodic feature dealing with scientific expeditions by British and Irish ornithologists. We hope that this will include notice of forthcoming expeditions, perhaps including invitations to potential new participants, and also biiel summaries of the highlights of the results of completed expeditions. We urge interested parties to report details of plans and results for possible inclusion to eithei of the two authors of this feature; Mnrk Beaman, Culterty Field Station, Newburgh, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB4 oaa, or Richard Porter, RSPB, Abinger House, Abinger Road, Portslade-on-Sea, Brighton, East Sussex BN4 i sb. Eds ‘The “British Birds” List of Birds of the Western Palearctic’ Established subscribers should have received their free copy with either the March or April issue of British Birds. New subscribers should claim their copy by sending their latest address sheet and a request to Betsy Gibson, Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF. Reduced subscription rates By using special forms obtained from their local organisations, members of the following clubs and societies, as well as those listed in December 1977 {Brit. Birds 70: 562), can now or will soon be able to subscribe to British Birds at a 1 educed late. Barnsley & District Bird Study Group Castleford & District Naturalists’ Society Cornwall Birdwatching & Preservation Society Derbyshire Ornithological Society Doncaster & District Ornithological Society Dorset Bird Club Gloucestershire Naturalists’ Society Great Yarmouth Naturalists’ Society Hampshire Field Club Harrogate & District Naturalists’ Society Hertfordshire Natural History Society Huddersfield Birdwatchers’ Club Isle of Wight Natural History & Archaeological Society Kendal Natural History Society Knutsford Ornithological Society Leeds Birdwatchers’ Club Middle Thames Natural History Society Norfolk Naturalists’ Trust Oxford Ornithological Society Rotherham & District Ornithological Society Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society Sheffield Bird Study Group Soci^te Jersiaise Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group Surbiton and District Bird Watching Society Teesmouth Bird Club Wakefield Naturalists’ Society Wiltshire Ornithological Society The Wren Conservation Croup Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. Enquiries from the chairman, secretary or treasurer of any other orni- thological club wishing to obtain a similar concession for its members will be welcomed by Dr Roger Woodham, Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF. Request Colour-ringed Purple Sandpipers and Dotterels During the 197H Cambridge 320 Request Norwegian Expedition, Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima and Dotterels Charadrius morvnellus will be colour-ringed. The expedition leader, John Innes, has asked that details of any colour-ringed individuals seen in Britain during the autumn or winter should be lepoited to A. J. Prater, Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NR. News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett Fair Isle news As recently as last Decem- ber, we mentioned that Fair Isle Bird Observatory had a problem: namely the need to raise £7,000 quickly to bring the observatory buildings up to the standards required by strict new fire regulations {Brit. Birds 70: 563). A letter from George Waterston, received in May, bore the good news that all the money had been found. Another letter was more depressing: soon after his arrival on the island, new warden Iain Robertson wrote to say that a visitor had stolen one of the observatory’s most valuable and useful books, the second volume of Charles Vaurie’s Birds of the Palearctic Fauna (1965). It has often been claimed that birdwatchers come from all walks of life, but it is sad to reflect that this clearly includes the criminal classes. Our congratulations, by the way, to Iain on his new appointment. He and his wife Sally will be sorely missed at Portland; and at least one fairly regular visitor will miss the touch of the north that they brought to that corner of Dorset! Roger Broad has followed Roy Dennis into a pleasant form of exile from the island: he has joined the RSPB staff (and Roy) in the Highlands. Nuthatches and guans The Algerian Nuthatch Sitta ledanli — the bird which startled us all when we heard that it had eluded discovery in Algeria until 1976 — numbers at least 20 pairs in the areas where it has been found so far, according to Aves (14: 240). Only slightly less exciting than the discovery of an entirely new species is the rediscovery of one long thought to be extinct, as in the case of the White-winged Guan Penelope albipennis. Once again, those redoubtable birdfinders from Louisiana State University are in the news: their Dr John O’Neill made the discovery, along with local man Gustavo del Solar, in northwest Peru. The species had not been seen since it was collected by a Polish expedition in 1877 (see World Pheasant Association Newsletter No. 6, January 1978). The Richard Richardson Appeal We are pleased to report that the Appeal (see Brit. Birds 71: 92) reached £1,000 in April; but more donations are needed if a permanent and suitable memorial to one of Norfolk’s best-known and best-loved birders is to become a reality. They should be sent to Miss Elizabeth Forster, Secretary, The Richard Richardson Appeal, The Double House, Wiveton, Holt, Norfolk. Dr Gareth Thomas Although this quiet-spoken man with the whimsical sense of humour may never be excused for being almost the only Welshman we know who Does Not Sing, nobody — least of all we who have worked with him — can doubt his prowess as a scientific ornithologist. It therefore gives us great pleasure to con- gratulate him on gaining a PhD for his work for the RSPB on the birds of the Ouse Washes. Crime and Punishment While it is true that the penalties for offences against Schedule One birds are a little more realistic today than they were a couple of years ago, most of us would agree that they still provide no really effective deterrent to egg-collectors and other wrong-doers. Sometimes we look in envy at the penalties imposed in other countries. Some years ago, we heard of a prison sentence im- posed in Sweden following egg thefts from White-tailed Eagle eyries. Now, we read of two cases from the USA involving big sums of money; these were detailed in The Raptor Report (5: 3), the bulletin of the Society for the Preservation of Birds of Prey (Box 891, Pacific Palisades, California 90272). In one case, a man was fined $8,000 for trying to smuggle four illegally- taken Peregrine chicks out of Fairbanks 322 News and comment 124. bird photograph of the year, 1977- Presentation by Mrs Joyce Grenfell to Peter Lowes, at press reception in London, April 1978 (Betsy Gibson) Alaska. In the second case, a man made an out-of-court settlement of $2,000 after facing possible fines of $3,000 for shooting a Peregrine and $3,000 per day for keeping its stuffed remains for almost two years. Comparing these cases with a con- temporary one in Britain, the Report called the penalty imposed here ‘petty’. Small wonder! . . . the fine and costs together totalled $168. Owl pellets A most useful publication has come from the Mammal Society: The Identification of Remains in Owl Pellets by D. W. Yalden. It costs a mere 25P plus postage (7p with sae, preferably 6" x 8£"), or 15P each plus postage if you order 10-50 copies, or iop each plus postage for more than 50. It is available from Mrs N. Chapman, Larkmead, Barton Mills, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk 1P28 6aa. New Sheffield journal We welcome the appearance of a new occasional journal, The Magpie, produced by the Sheffield Bird Study Group together with the Department of Zoology at Sheffield University. It aims to publish serious papers on birds in the Sheffield area and, judging from the first issue (November 1 977) , will be thoroughly worthwhile. Fuller details from K. V. Tayles, 160 Tom Lane, Sheffield sio 3P0. Bird Photograph of the Year 1 he winner of the 1977 award, Peter Lowes (see plate 124), was interviewed on Tyne Tees Tele- vision, and his winning photograph of a Sparrowhawk was included with articles in the Darlington & Stockton Times, Evening Gazette, Northern Echo, Yorkshire Evening Post, Yorkshire Post and was noted in The Times and on Radio Tees. Wings and bodies We see lrom RIO News (92, March 1978) that a reference collection of passerine feathers is being established at the BTO to aid the identifi- cation of avian prey remains. Robert Morgan (Beech Grove, Tring, Hertford- shire) would be glad to receive wings and tails from dead birds in good condition, or the whole bodies of less common species. Anything goes! Bird conservationists in Britain differ in their views as to what constitutes ‘artificial meddling' with bird populations that are in trouble, but, broadly speaking, we never have to take our measures to extremes. We, however, never have to face a situation in which we are responsible for the last seven individuals left in the world; if we did, would we be prepared to take the bold step of trapping the whole lot and transferring them else- where in a last-ditch effort to save them ? This is precisely what has happened with Mews and comment 323 the Black Robin Pelroica traversi of the Chatham Islands, one of the world’s rarest birds. By 1976, only seven of them remained on Little Mangere, the island which had been their last refuge for almost 100 years and where there had been 17 individuals alive only three years earlier. In the New Zealand Wildlife Service’s journal Wildlife Review (No. 8), we read that the forest habitat favoured by the robins had dwindled and deteriorated rapidly on the 15-hectare island and that they considered the species to be in imminent danger of extinction. So, it was decided that the birds should be trans- ferred to nearby Mangere, where poten- tially better conditions were available, and Opinions expressed in this feature are not over a five-day period five robins (two pairs and a spare male) were trapped and suc- cessfully relocated, leaving two males on Little Mangere. In 1977, the five birds had reorganised themselves, but two pairs nested : one failed and the other reared one young, a female. The spare male had apparently died in the meantime, so it was then decided that the other two males should be translocated also: this was duly done, so that the Mangere population became four males and three females. With three potential pairs and one spare male, the position has in theory improved since 1976, but much will depend on what happens during the 1978 breeding season. We await further news with great interest. necessarily those of the editors of British Birds Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records This report covers April and the first part of May; except where otherwise stated, all dates refer to April. remained in eastern counties awaiting favourable flying conditions. Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria were unusually common in the east Midlands, where flocks of several hundreds congregated in the Trent Valley and in Leicestershire. Although the winds were more southerly during 17th to 22nd, temperatures re- mained low 'as frontal systems moved slowly over the country bringing pro- longed cloud cover. Strong easterlies on 23rd and 24th, sandwiched between cold fronts approaching from the southwest and northeast, brought warmer air from the Continent. Although no spectacular rush of small migrants occurred, Cuckoos Cuculus canorus were commonly heard announcing their arrival, a Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos appeared at Dungeness (Kent) and two Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia reached Marazion Marsh (Cornwall). Farther west, in Ireland, a Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus and a Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax arrived at Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork). The most interesting occurrence, however, was a passage of Swifts Apus apus, accompanied by House Martins Delichon ttrbica, flying northwestwards in Cumbria. Swifts were Spring followed the trend of the past few years, with temperatures remaining below average for long periods. During the first half of April, cold northerly air was directed across the country by anti- cyclones centred to the north or west. As a result, summer migrants were few and far between, and winter thrushes Turdus 324 very scarce in other parts of the country during late April, and this was probably a migrant group exploiting an unusual windborne food source; local breeding Swifts do not normally arrive in Cumbria until mid May. An Alpine Swift Apus melba was seen in Dublin on 31st March. Inland tern passage Hopefully, recent papers on the separation of Arctic Sterna paradisaea and Common Terns S. hirundo in flight will lead to more information on their migration patterns, especially inland. Large flocks of mainly Arctic terns were reported from Leicester- shire at the end of April, and at Fairburn Ings (West Yorkshire) over 450 moved northeastwards from 5th to 8th May. A Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica was identified at Warsash (Hampshire) on 29th. Shetland divers A boat-trip in the vicinity of Yell, Fetlar and Unst on 3rd May revealed totals of 1 00 Red-throated Gavia stellata, 80 Great Northern G. immer, one Black-throated G. arctica and two White-billed Divers G. adamsii. Displaced migrants The last few days of April and early May were also rather cold and cloudy, with mainly light, easterly winds: migrants began to trickle in, together with some less regular species. At Flamborough (North Humberside) there was a passage of 42 blue-phase Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis on 30th, and a Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus and four Sabine’s Gulls Larus sabini on 1st May; ashore, the same day, a Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, a Stonechat Saxicola torquala of one of the eastern races and an Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana added to the excitement. On 2nd May, further arrivals were 23 Wrynecks Jynx torquilla, 52 Ring Ouzels Turdus torquatus and two Hobbies l'alco subbuteo. A Black Stork Ciconia nigra flew over Cley (Norfolk) on 28th, and a White Stork C. ciconia and a Little Bittern lxobrychus minutus were reported in Ireland. A Greater Ycllowlegs Tringa rnelanoleuca at Ballycotton (Co. Cork) on 27th was probably not a recent transatlantic wanderer, since Palearctic waders were on the move inland during this period. The English south coast also had its Recent reports moments. In The George Hotel at Cley, speculation on the next ‘twitch’ predicted a Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator to the astonishment of the habitues, a phone call shortly afterwards confirmed the prediction; the cuckoo was first seen on 27th. Portland Bill (Dorset) also attracted many watchers when a Black- headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala arrived on 5th May, to be joined on 6th by a Red-headed Bunting E. bruniceps, suggesting either that the latter may not have been an escapee, or that both were. The rarest bird, however, was a Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra (only the third ever in Britain1) on Fair Isle on 28th. Latest news June: Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus Chichester (West Sussex) and Dungeness/Rye (East Sussex); pratincole Glareola Rye; Great Reed Warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus Rye and Fair Isle; Fair Isle also: Red-throated Anthus cervinus and Tawny Pipits A. campestris and Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica. British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 Classified Advertisements £2.25 for 3 lines ( minimum) 75P for each whole or part extra line Classified display £2 a centimetre (min. 3 centimetres.) For the use of a box number there is a charge of sop. Replies to : The ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R3LF 01-240 IIOI HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION ALDERNEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS small very comfortable guest house with all the information required for watching. Alan Griffin, Farm Court, Alderney, C.I. 048 182 2075. (BB184) WEYBOURNE. Beau Norfolk coast and country. Ornithologists’ paradise. Mod. det. bungalow. Sleeps 4/5. Available from 9 September onwards. S.A.E. Ansell, 2 Bunyans Walk, Harlineton, Beds. (BB180) ORKNEY. Use our comfortable family- run guesthouse, overlooking the Loch of Stonness, as a hide. Brochure from Keld- roseed, Sandwick, Stromness, Orkney. Tel: Sandwick (Orkney) 628. (BB75) VILLAGE COTTAGES Modernised, quiet, personally super- vised. Easy reach sandy beaches, boating, bird-watching, fishing, ancient buildings. Lovely walks. Large s.a.e., brochure 1978. Daily terms in winter. Roberts, Woodlands, Swanton Novers, Melton Constable. (Tel. 285), Norfolk. (BB45) HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION Welsh Border. Rural riverside cottage for 6 near woodland. R. Passey, 399 Burton Road, Derby (BB 1 79) WESTER ROSS, near Ullapool. Mod- ernised cottage fully equipped except linen and towels, to let weekly from Sep- tember. Ideally situated to take advan- tage of an area of the Highlands renowned for its many interesting wild birds. (BB185) SCOTLAND. Isle of Mull, Scoor House. Self-catering holidays in converted farm- house flats. Quiet and secluded with a great variety of wildlife, birds — golden eagle, sea and coastal species and mi- gratory. Write — Mr and Mrs James McKeand, Scoor House, Bunessan, Isle of Mull. Tel. Fionnphort 297. (BB153) PERFECT FOR HAVERGATE, close to Minsmere. Log fire and warm bed- rooms. 1 6th century Inn by the River Ore. B&B, food. “The Jolly Sailor”, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Tel: Orford 243 (BB96) MINSMERE— COMFORTABLE AC- COMMODATION, hot and cold in all rooms; packed lunches, evening meals to order (but not on Wednesdays), AA listed. The White Horse Inn, Westleton, Suffolk. Tel: Westleton 222. SAE please. (BB154) BRECON, POWYS. Farmhouse bed/ breakfast and evening meal if required. Situated on the edge of the Brecon Forest ideal bird watching area. Car essential. Davies, Llaneglwys Farm, Erwood (Tel: 250), Powys. (BB140) FOR A QUIET RESTFUL HOLIDAY on the edge of Dartmoor. Blackaller House Hotel offers you ‘country house style’ comfort, good food, and personal attention. Licensed to residents. — Black- aller House Hotel, North Bovey, Devon. Tel: Moretonhampstead 322. (BBgo) v HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION SCOTTISH BORDERS. Self-contained holiday cottage sleeps 6-8. Fishing and walking in beautiful countryside with wide variety of wildlife. From £35 p.w. Apply with S.A.E. Willis, Watcarrick, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Tel: Eskdalemuir 230. (BB103) BED AND BREAKFAST for Bird Watchers on The Isles of Scilly £4. Tel. Scillonia 595. (BB50) BLAKENEY, NORFOLK. Comfortable, newly renovated, traditional flint and tiled cottages, sleep four, night storage heating, fully equipped, near bird sanc- tuary. S.A.E. for details: Mrs. Reeve, 100 Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex. Tel: Chelmsford 55210. (BB100) NEAR PRESTEIGNE, POWYS: two self contained cottages and a flat, each sleeping four in modern comfort but in isolation and the seclusion of a private estate. Available all the year. Low winter rates. Mrs Bromage, The Estate Office, Barland House, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: Presteigne 296. (BB49) ENGLISH LAKES. Send now for our 1978 list of self-catering holiday accom- modation. Flats, houses, cottages and bungalows. Seasonal rates March to November from £ 15 to £115 per week. Alfred Mossop & Co. FSVA, Kelsick Road, Ambleside. For immediate book- ings phone 09663 3015. (BB131) NEAR LEIGHTON MOSS AND MORECAMBE BAY. Bed and break- fast, evening meal (optional). Mrs J. Lambert, 17 Cove Road, Silverdale, Lancs. Tel: 701696. (BB144) PEACEFUL ROYAL FOREST of Dean. Wye Valley area. Georgian Coun- try House “Adult” Hotel. Resident props who care. AA*. full CH. Excellent food and wines. Lambsquay Hotel, Cole- ford. Tel: 05943 3127 for brochure please. (BB190) SELF-CATERING HOUSE at Silver- dale. Beautifully situated, quiet and se- cluded. Ideal walks, reserve birdwatching and all modern conveniences for up to six. Wilkinson, 4 The Row, Silverdale, North Lancashire. Tel: 701338. (BB147) SINGLE BEDROOM AND LOUNGE in market town. Easy reach. Salisbury, Bath, Slimbridge, Avebury, Stonehenge, etc. Retired gentleman preferable. Break- fast and evening meal, £2.50 per day. Use of bath and TV. Mrs M. Higgs, 4 Pans Lane, Devizes, Wilts. (BB146) ISLES OF SCILLY. St. Mary’s, family guest house. Situated on the shore, beautiful views, ideal for early or late holidays. Feb. to Oct. Send stamp for brochure to Derek and Mary Scofield, Beachfield House, St. Mary’s. Tel: Scillonia 463. (BB138) ISLE OF COLL. One of the smaller quieter, Inner Hebrides with bird life in abundance. The hotel is open all year, centrally heated, fully licensed. AA RAC MAY WE SEND YOU OUR BROCHURE? The Isle of Coll Hotel, Arinagour, Isle of Coll, Argyll PA78 6SZ Tel: Coll (08793) 334 (BB163) QUALITY SELF-CATERING accom- modation in North Yorkshire. All prices and sizes. Cottages, flats and houses. Also a large house in the Lakes. Details: Freedom of Ryedale, Ref. B, 8 Bondgate, Helmslcy, York YO6 5BT. Tel: Helmsley 282. ' (BB188) HOLIDAY CARAVAN to let on beauti- ful small island : 4 berth. No dogs please. S.A.E. for details: Coleman. Papa Stour, Shetland. Tel: Papa Stour 234. (BB189) MOFFAT SW SCOTLAND. A paradise for ornithology, over 140 species within ten mile radius. Local expert available. For comfortable accommodation and home cooking stay with Kay & Martyn West, llartfcll House. Moffat DG10 9AI. Tel: 0683 20153. Send for brochure. (BB130) vi HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION XVIIth CENTURY FARMHOUSE with fine views over Mendips. Bed and breakfast. Mrs Beynon, Ubley Park House, Breach Hill, Chew Stoke, Avon. (BBigi) SELBORNE, Hampshire. Queen’s Hotel and the “Limes” Motel Annexe (some rooms with private bathrooms). A. A. and R.A.C. approved. Mr and Mrs B. B. Paton. Write, or telephone Selborne 272 for brochures with tariff. (BB139) NEW FOREST. 6 self-catering fully- equipped caravans in valley overlooking Avon. 109 different species spotted. Perfect for families. S.A.E. Trevelyan, Godshill, Fordingbridge, SP6 2LN. (BB145) BERWICKSHIRE— small hotel over- looking Coldingham Bay, St. Abbs Head, — Lammamuir Hills and Whiteadder Valley within easy reach. Write for brochure. The Sheiling Hotel, Colding- ham Bay. Berwickshire. (BB 1 43) IDEAL CENTRE FOR EXMOOR. 200 yards beach. Easy access marshes, dunes, moors, coastal cliffs, Lundy Island. Raven, ring ouzel, curlew, dipper, merlin and much more. Resident expert. Brochure: The York Hotel, Minehead, Somerset. Tel: 2037. (BB127) SEEKING PEACE, and tranquillity — visit the Old Rectory, Mettingham, Bungay. Home baking. Lovely walks, good centre for Norwich. Broads, coast. Tel: Bungay 2934. (BB128) LUNDY FIELD SOCIETY. For excit- ing birdwatching holidays/courses send S.A.E. for full details to Bob Britton, 40 Exeter Road, Exmouth, Devon. (BB134) CAIRNGORMS. For those who love the outdoors, bed and hearty breakfast, lounge with open log fire, drying-room facilities. Mrs Pat Scarbrough, ‘Tigh- guish’, Rothiemurchus, Aviemore, Inver- ness-shire. Tel: Aviemore (0479) 810212. (BB124) DARTMOOR. RSPB members offer quiet comfort, excellent food. Ideal centre, touring, walking, bird watching. Dartmoor antiquities. Transport for non-drivers. Brochure: Mrs White, Rcw Meadow, Belstone, Okehampton. Tel: Sticklepath 261. (BB125) RADNORSHIRE — A44 Comfortable holiday house, sleeps six, four bedrooms, garage, well placed for border country and mid Welsh hills. S.A.E. I. Price, Hill House, Old Radnor, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: Kington 8175 (STD 05443). (BB166) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS WILDLIFE IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. Inclusive week-long holi- days from £100, including return rail travel from London. Write for illustrated brochure to: Caledonian Wildlife Services, 2 Kingsmills Gardens, Inver- ness IV2 3LU. (BB72) NORTH CORNWALL. Bird watching holidays at St. Minver Lodge. Field outings on the beautiful Camel Estuary (to be designated an AONB), magnifi- cent National Trust cliffs and wild moorland. Small parties (6 max.). Book now for autumn migration. For full details send large S.A.E. to: Mrs. Wake, St. Minver Lodge, Wadebridge, Corn- wall, PL27 6RS (Tel. 020 886 2233). (BB181) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS in UK. Individual attention. Stamp please to Derek Tutt (Barn Owl Travel), 27 Sea- view Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 4NL. (BB135) KENYA: BARINGO BIRD & GAME SAFARIS LTD. Individually Tailored Escorted Safaris. Private Tented Camps, Foot Safari, Coast, Sports: Choice is yours . . . Flexible too! (No package tours). U.K. — A. Wootton, 10 Lucas Way, Shefford, Beds. (i2p stamp). (BB187) vn British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 BOOKS COLLECTING BIRD STAMPS by Christine E. Jackson. Colour frontis- piece, many text illustrations. 128pp. £3.80 (postage 36p). H. F. and G. Witherby Ltd., 5 Plantain Place, Crosby Row, London SEi 1 YN. (BB178) FOR SALE, BIRD STUDY. Bound, Vol. 1 to Vol. 12, unbound to Vol. 22. Many other odd unbound volumes. Please make offers to Box No. BB183, British Birds, c/o Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF. (BB183) ORNITHOLIDAYS’ GUIDES in the “Let’s Look at . . . series. Majorca, S.W. Spain, The Camargue, Montenegro, Eastern Austria, Southern Morocco, North-East Greece and Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies. £1.50 per copy or £7.25 for any five titles. Orni- tholidays, 1/3, Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex, PO21 2PW. (XBB16) EXCLUSIVE DESIGN: BRITISH BIRDS BINDERS Original-design, leather look binders in our distinctive green are now available at a cost of £2. 50 each. The binders, which should last you many years, have an easy-to-operate system of metal rods for swift and secure insertion of your copies. Each binder, which holds a complete volume (one year’s copies), has the British Birds motif embossed in gold on the spine. These binders will prove invaluable either for storing the current year’s issues before orthodox binding or as a permanent method of storing your collection. To order your binder(s) simply write, enclosing £2.50 per binder (overseas US$25.00), to: British Birds Macmillan Journals Ltd Brunei Road Basingstoke, Hampshire BG21 2XS. England. (BB167) THE PHEASANTS OF THE WORLD. Jean Delacour, new 2nd edition. 7 pages in full colour. 434 pages. This standard work covers the 49 species. One of the fine bird books of this century. £19.50 post paid. From bookshops or Spur Pub- lications, Saiga Publishing Co. Ltd., Hindhead, Surrey (Hindhead 6141). (BB114) SPECIALIST BIRD BOOKS from Welland Book Services. (BB) Manor House, 58 Main Street, Middleton, Market Harborough LE16 8YU. Telephone: East Carlton 225. (BB169) FOR SALE EQUIPMENT. Leading makes of Ruck- sacks. Tents, sleeping bags, etc. Dis- counts on all items and post free, send s.a.e. for lists to: W. G. Needham, Market Hall, Wakefield, WFi iPP. (BB161) ZEUS WEST 10 X 50 Porro Binoculars. Immac. cond. £130. Box BB192, British Birds, c/o Macmillan Journals, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF. (BB192) SOUTH AFRICAN SHERRY £1 6.22 per dozen bottles £17.52 per assorted dozen bottles RENASANS (Pale Dry) ONZERUST (Medium Dry) M Y M E R I N G (Pale Extra Dry) GOLDEN ACRE (Rich Golden) Prices include VAT and delivery UK Main- land. Write for details of other Cape Wines. JEFFERY PHILLIPS (Wine Merchants) LTD 22 STATION STREET. LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE S04 9BA (BB70) viii Take a gander at Mr. Frank unusual binocular offer Test any FRANK-NIPOLE binocular free for 7 days and see for yourself why these remarkable binoculars were chosen by the successful 1975 Everest Expedition; why they are recommended and sold by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and entitled to carry the seal of approval of The Game Conservancy. You will see why professional bodies such as the Wildfowl Trust and Forestry Commission, to whom binocular performance is of paramount importance, select FRANK-NIPOLE. Four models particularly favoured by birdwatchers: — Model 8 X 10 X 8 X 10 X 30 50 40 40 Exit Relative Field of Pupil Brightness View Weight Height 3.7 13.6 7° 18 ozs 4^ ins 5 25 5.5° 36 ozs 7 ins 5 25 9° 36 ozs 5^ ins 4 16 7.5° 25± ozs 4i ins Price with Case £26.50 £37.00 £53.85 £53.85 It is our claim that FRANK-NIPOLE binoculars are comparable with other famous makes costing two or three times as much. If after 7-day free test you are not convinced that our claim is justified you may return the binoculars and we will refund any money paid. In addition, we will give you the opportunity of purchasing an East Zeiss, Leitz or Swift binocular at about 25% less than normal retail price. We will be pleased to send you details of this unusual offer, together with FREE colour brochure including 14 different models of Frank Nipole binoculars. Every FRANK-NIPOLE binocular is guaranteed for 7 years by Charles Frank, a name famous for binoculars since the turn of the century. - -J VJt4- Charles Frank10 144 Ingram St, Glasgow G1 1EH. Tei. 041 -221 6666 (BB2) British Birds News and comment Peter Conder, 12 S waynes I.ane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7ef Rarities Committee Michael J. 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All you have to do is to agree to take a minimum of four books from the hundreds of books about the countryside offered to you during your first year of membership of Country Book Society ■To: Country Book Society, PO Box 6, Newton Abbot, DevonTQl 2 2DW I I would like to join Country Book ■ Society andclaim the introductory book at the^ special price of 50p _ Mr/Mrs/Miss A d dress I the special price of 50p I' (post free) If I keep the book I will automatically become a member, | and agree to take 4 books (in addition to the introductory offer) during my first year of membership, and I will pay upon receipt for any books I choose. Signature (or if under 18 signature of Parent/Guardian) ^ „ ^€NDNOMONEY with this coupon UH Readers Union, Brunei House, Newton Abbot Reg in England No 843946 (BB224) 1 cWild Qeese by M. A. OGILVIE In range, Wild Geese covers the geese of North America, Europe and Asia, and thus the world species except for the Hawaiian Goose or Ne-Ne. 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SIZES S. M. L. Ex.L. COLOUR GREEN. MADE FROM THE FINEST QUALITY MATERIALS. WITH OR WITHOUT FULL SUEDE SHOULDER & ELBOW PATCHES. STUD CLOSURE. DEEP POCKETS. Jacket with Jacket Waistcoat Waistcoat suede without with without patches suede suede suede patches patches patches £14.99 £11.99 £9.99 £7.99 TERMS: ENCLOSE CASH, CHEQUE, P.O.s, ACCESS OR BARCLAYCARD BY LETTER OR PHONE, PLEASE QUOTE YOUR NUMBER. BARBOUR CLOTHING POST FREE, FOOTWEAR £1. OTHER CLOTHING 55p. JOHN NORRIS DEPT BB, 21 VICTORIA ROAD, PENRITH, CUMBRIA Telephone: Penrith 4211 (BB231 ) 11 British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER 8 AUGUST 1978 Rough-legged Buzzards in Britain in 1973/74 and 1974/75 R. E. Scott In the winters of 1973/74 and 1974/75, there were two very large influxes of Rough-legged Buzzards into Britain. In the first winter, 170 may have been present during October, and up to 250 in the same month of the following year. These numbers, and the subsequent wintering populations of up to 80 and 100 respectively, far exceeded those reported during any previous influx Sharrock (1970) detailed records of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain during 1958-67, including the then exceptional influx of 1966/67, which was more fully described by Scott (1968). Sharrock’s analysis also included a previous, smaller influx in 1960/61. Lists of earlier invasion years will be found in Witherby et at. (1940) and Scott (1968). To facilitate comparisons, and since the period covered by this paper partly predates the changes in counties which took effect in the springs of 1974 (England and Wales) and 1975 (Scotland), the new county names and boundaries are not used here. [Bril. Birds 71: 325-338, August 1978] 325 326 Rough-legged Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1 974/75 The arrival in the autumn of 1973 was, in common with earlier in- fluxes, centred on southeast England and was numerically similar to the 1966/67 influx. That the following winter (1974/75) should also produce Rough-legged Buzzards was surprising, since it was apparently the first time that there had been invasions in consecutive years. In the second year, there was an inci'ease of nearly 50% on 1973/ 74^ and far more wintered in the south. Autumn 1973 (figs. 1 & 2) The first two Rough-legged Buzzards in autumn 1973 were well in advance of the main arrival: Banks, Lancashire, on 22nd September and Haxby, Yorkshire, on 28th September. The first main arrival took place on 12th- 14th October. Most of those in this first wave probably came on 12th, some of the records on 13th and 14th simply reflecting increased observer activity, since it was then the weekend. At Formby Point, Lancashire, and Eastbridge, Suffolk, Rough-legged Buzzards remained for the week- end, while there were other arrivals in Yorkshire and on the Sussex Downs. On 13th October, two additional birds were recorded in Lanca- shire, three were noted at Ailsa Craig, Ayrshire, and — perhaps a suggestion Fig. 1. Distribution by counties of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland during October 1973 Rough-legged. Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/73 327 fflS Fig. 2. Distribution by counties of $ Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland during Novem- ber 1973 vJ .fX > a ^7 i ' r j / • 12 ZY A / • 34 #59 010 19 ^20* o of onward passage — one flew north over Harrow, London. There were indications of a more southerly arrival on 14th, when six were noted in the Beachy Head area, Sussex, and the first ones were recorded in Kent and Essex. Inland on this date, onward passage produced records at Shot- over, Oxfordshire, and Brockhall, Northamptonshire, the latter remaining until 2 1 st. Two days (15th and 16th October) with a lack of records were followed by a marked arrival on the east coast on 1 7th, involving at least 1 7 (five in Suffolk and six in Kent) from Guisborough, Yorkshire, south to Beachy Head, Sussex. The position then became less clear-cut because of those established in the country, particularly in east and southeast coastal counties. There were new arrivals on the coast from Yorkshire south to Kent, but no clear passage, except in Norfolk, where there were about 50 sightings between 20th and 31st, with perhaps as many as 45 on the north Norfolk coast. The main arrival there (hardly reflected else- where) appears to have been during 26th-27th, with over 30 in the Holme- Win terton area during 20th-2 7th. No comparable arrival was recorded in Suffolk, although a general increase in November perhaps resulted from onward movement from Norfolk. Certainly, November produced no 328 Rough-legged Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1 974/75 Table i. Numbers of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain in 1973/74 and 1974/75 1973/74 ’974/75 September 2 2 October 1 20-1 70 210-250 November 70-100 II5-I35 Wintering (Dec-Feb) 50-80 85-IOO March C30 9O-IO5 April C20 c8o May 5 C20 pattern of arrivals; rather, a general dispersal. From 31st October, a scattering of reports (involving at least five birds) were received from Scotland, including one at Fair Isle, Shetland, on 29th November. Winter 1973/74 (fig. 3) Any Rough-legged Buzzard which remained, or is presumed to have remained, in one area for at least two weeks in December-February is taken as a wintering individual; those recorded over a shorter period are taken only as possible wintering birds. The bulk of the records were on Fig. 3. Distribution by counties of wintering Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland, 1973/74 329 Rough-legged Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/75 125. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus, Netherlands, December 1973 ( Frits van Daalen) 126. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus, Czechoslo- vakia, January 1974 ( Ladislav Simdk ) 330 Rough-legged Buzzards in 1973! 7 4 and r 9741 75 127. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus, Netherlands, December 1973 • A lunsterman ) the east coast between Norfolk and Kent. The total was 50-80, probably 65-70: remarkably close to the upper limit of 67 wintering in 1966/67 (Scott 1968). Spring 1974 (figs. 4 & 5) Inevitably, trying to distinguish spring passage is extremely because of overwintering. Individuals known to have winter fiS difficult ed in a Fig. 4. Distribution by counties of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland during March 1974 Rough-legged. Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/75 33i Fig. 5. Distribution by counties of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland during April 1974 particular area were last recorded on dates varying from mid February to 28th April, perhaps even early May. It is possible, however, from the distribution of records, to deduce that most departures took place in two periods: 2 7th-30th March and 23rd-28th April. Following each of these periods, there was a scattering of new reports from areas without previous records. Only five were reported in May: Norfolk on ist-4th; one attempting to migrate northeast over Coquet Island, Northumberland, on 2nd; Fair Isle on 6th; and Aberdeenshire and Northumberland on 7th. Autumn 1974 (figs. 6& 7) Following two extremely early records surprisingly far west — at Kentmere, Westmorland, on 9th September and flying east at Marazion, Cornwall, on 1 6th September — there was a scattering of records between 2nd and 1 8th October on the east coast (Lincolnshire to Suffolk) and south coast (Sussex and Hampshire), wiih a noticeable gap in Essex and Kent. The pattern then became markedly different from that of the preceding winter, with a sudden marked arrival on 22nd October, concentrated on the Suffolk coast. 332 Rough-legged Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/75 Fig. 6. Distribution by counties of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland during October 1974 The October pattern from 22nd onwards is probably best summarised by counties from north to south: Yorkshire One at Spurn on 22nd. Small numbers recorded on passage at coastal sites from 31st until 14th November. Lincolnshire Five at Gibraltar Point on 22nd. Norfolk No obvious arrival, but wide- spread from 26th. Suffolk In 4^ hours on 22nd, total of 45 came in from sea and headed south at Minsmcre; mainly in small groups of one to three, but one party of 11. One flew south over Felixstowe on 22nd. On 24th, total of 40 flew southwest at Walberswick, including 13 in air at once; again, one over Felixstowe on 24th. (There is no way of knowing whether those at Walberswick on 24th were the same as those at Minsmcre on 22nd.) essex At least nine in coastal localities on 22nd, including one in from sea at Walton- on-Naze. Further arrival on 24th and 25th was probably onward passage from Suffolk, and this movement apparently continued into Kent. kent One at Dungencss on 22nd. Marked arrival from 24th onwards, presumably continuation of southward movement in Suffolk, although three arrived from east at Sandwich Bay on 24th. Sussex At least 15 watched arriving from sea at Beachy Head on 22nd, Scattered reports of about 18 during 23rd*3ist. Five arrived from sea at Beachy Head on 4th November. Dorset One at Portland Bill on 22nd. At least 78 were recorded in Britain on 22nd October. From 31st 128. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus, Netherlands, December 1973 (P. Munsterman) Fig. 7. Distribution by counties of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland during Novem- ber 1974 334 Rough-legged Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/75 October onwards, they were becoming widespread and settling into their eventual wintering areas. Winter 1974/75 (fig. 8) Generally more numerous than in the preceding winter, with 85-100 (probably 90-95) wintering. As in 1973/74, most were in the east; but 1$ Fig. 8. Distribution by counties of wintering Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland, 1974/75 there were also some spread along the south coast, with a substantial wintering population in Sussex, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Spring 1975 (figs. 9 & 10) Wintering individuals were last recorded between 22nd March (Kent) and 6th May (Huntingdonshire) ; but the majority left in mid April. There was, however, no standard pattern: in Sussex, for example, all 12 which wintered left between mid March and 8th April. Compared with the preceding spring, movements were more marked on the east coast (probably the result of the greater numbers wintering) and there was a later departure, including summering individuals. Isolated records, perhaps referring to passage birds, appeared from 14th March Rough-legged Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/75 335 4 • 12 • 34 • 59 £ 10 19 A 20- Fig. 10. Distribution by counties of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland during April 1975 Fig. 9. Distribution by counties of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain and Ireland during March 1975 4 336 Rough-legged. Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/75 (Argyll) and 15th March (Aberdeenshire) and continued throughout April and into early May. Reports of apparent migrants were recorded from Yorkshire and Norfolk: 13th April One flew north, Bempton, Yorkshire. 19th April Ten apparently attempting to migrate northeast, Winterton area, Norfolk. 28th April 15 arrived from northeast, soared away southwest, Holme, Norfolk. 30th April Three flew north, Hornsea, Yorkshire. 10th May One flew north, Bempton, Yorkshire. Other May records included four in Scotland and — the only concentra- tion in the month — a party of 12 at Winterton, Norfolk on 1st. Apart from possible summerers (see below), the only three June records were in Scotland: two in Shetland (Scalloway on 3rd and Fair Isle on 1 ith) and one in Perthshire (29th). Summer 1975 The party at Winterton, Norfolk, on 1st May included a displaying pair; they were noted in display again on 4th and remained in the area until at least 15th. What was presumably one of this pair was reported until at least 22nd June, and perhaps summered in the area, since a single bird was seen on 3rd August, and one at Salthouse Heath on 8th August. Another may have summered at the Wiltshire wintering site, since there were records there on 3rd July and 26th August. Three at Caistor, Lincolnshire, in mid April were observed displaying and carrying twigs (see Brit. Birds 71 : 30). Comparison with earlier years Sharrock (1970) summarised the status of this species during 1958-67; discounting the influx year of 1966/67, only one or two winter in Britain in an ‘average’ year. The 1966/67 influx (Scott 1968) provides the only comparable data (see table 2) and was remarkably similar to the 1973/74 influx as regards Table 2. Comparison of three influxes of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus in Britain 1966/67 1973/74 1974/75 First record 1st Oct 22nd Sept 9th Sept Total counties in autumn (Sept-Nov) 28 25 23 Peak passage 27-29 Oct 12, 17, 26-27 Oct 22-24 Oct Total counties in winter (Dec-Fcb) 18 16 20 Total wintering 57-67 50-80 85-100 Total counties in spring (Mar-June) 18 16 24 Last record 29 May 7 May 29 June both numbers and distribution. In the 1974/75 winter, however, there were not only more individuals, but also a higher proportion wintering in the south and west of Britain (fig. 8). Continental data Ringing recoveries indicate a north-south migration of the Fenno- Scandian Rough-legged Buzzard population (Schtiz 1971), with the Rough-legged. Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/75 337 wintering area extending no farther north than Denmark and the southern provinces of Sweden. The small numbers in eastern Britain in most winters are some of the most northerly winterers in Europe. Requests to Continental sources for information relating to 1973/74 and 1974/75 provided the following data: Finland ( Kalevi Hyytia) No unusual events in 1 973/74 or I974/75- On 1 2th October 1974, over 200 flew south near Helsinki, but marked passage occurs most Octobers. Norway ( Geoffrey Acklam) No unusual numbers in autumn 1973. On 6th October 1974, widespread passage, involving at least 150, including 49 at one site: above- average autumn migration in Norway. Sweden (Dr Soren Svensson & Christian Hjort ) The small wintering population in southern Sweden apparently stable, num- bers in 1974/75 similar to 1975/76. Autumn counts at Ottenby, Oland, were, however, high in 1973 and 1974. 1947-56: From 43 to 340 recorded each autumn, with grand total of 1,583 in the ten years (Edelstam 1972). 1973: First passage 23rd September ; total of 661, with peak of 413 on 5th Octo- ber. 1974: First passage 20th September; total of 1,775, with peak of 842 on 13th October. (On 10th October, about 1,000 passed over Torhamn.) 1975: No reliable total. 1976: First passage 16th September; minimum total of 137: considered to be a ‘normal’ year. Denmark ( Lasse Braae) In both winters, ‘a great deal below the normal figure.’ Some above-average numbers were recorded on spring passage in 1974 and 1975, but autumn numbers were ‘far below the normal figures’, and the larger passage in Sweden was not reflected in Denmark. Only the islands of Bornholm and Mon in the east recorded strong autumn move- ments. NETHERLANDS (M. J. Tekke) Wintering populations above-average in both 1973/74 and 1974/75, but unfortunately the quantitative data are divided by years and not winters, so much of the significance of the number of records is lost: 1969 28; 1970 50; 1971 37; 1972 26; 1973 71; 1974 62; 1975 50. Belgium (Dr Pierre Devillers) None in 1973/74; two records in 1974/75: normal status. France (Laurent Teatman) ‘Nothing excep- tional has been observed in France during the years of invasion in your country.’ From these summaries, one may tentatively suggest that the low numbers in part of the normal wintering range (e.g. Denmark) were counterbalanced by the wintering birds around the southern North Sea (e.g. eastern Britain and the Netherlands). It is possible that, rather than any change in population level or breeding area resulting from a fluctuating food supply, both influxes simply reflected changes of wintering ground, resulting from a more westerly autumn migration, particularly by the more western birds. The generally higher counts in the autumn of 1974, however, suggest that there may have been a higher total population in that year. Mortality During the two winters, there were instances of three shot, five others also found dead, and four picked up weak or injured; almost twice as many were found in 1973/74 as in the following winter, even though the popu- lation was only some two-thirds of that in 1974/75. Only one subsequently recovered and was released. One found dead at Lullington Heath, Sussex, on 1st December 1974 had probably been feeding on a dead rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus injected with phosdrin: an analysis of the crop content showed 120 micrograms of phosdrin (approximately 10 ppm). The oesophagus contained fur, suggesting that the bird had been trying to regurgitate; otherwise, it was 338 Rough-legged Buzzards in 1973/74 and 1974/75 in good condition, with no trace of organochlorine residues (per R. F. Porter) . Acknowledgements Thanks arc due to Keith Anderson, who undertook the initial collection and some pre- liminary analysis of the data, especially for the 1973/74 winter. This paper would not have been possible without the help of the many observers and county recorders who kindly answered my letters of enquiry. Similarly, grateful acknow- ledgement is made for the data provided by the Continental correspondents. Summary Influxes of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus occurred in Britain in two consecutive years, 1973/74 and 1 974/75- In both cases, autumn arrivals were concentrated in the third week of October and centred on east and southeast England. During October, as many as 1 70 and 250 individuals were recorded in Britain, with subsequent wintering populations of up to 80 and 100. The larger 1974/75 wintering population had a wider distribution, extending into south-central England. Two apparently summered in 1975 and some aspects of breeding behaviour were noted. Continental data suggest that the more westerly population crossed the North Sea to Britain. Twelve were picked up dead or injured in Britain during the two years, at least three having been shot and one poisoned. References Edelstam, C. 1972. The visible migration of birds at Ottenby, Sweden. Vdr Fdgelv. suppl. 7. Schuz, E. 1971. Grundriss der Vogelzugskunde. Berlin & Hamburg. Scott, R. E. 1968. Rough-legged Buzzards in Britain in the winter of 1966/67. Brit. Birds 61 : 449-455. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1970. Scarce migrants in Britain and Ireland during 1958-67. Part 3 Rough-legged Buzzard, Temminck’s Stint and Long-tailed Skua . Brit. Birds 63: 6-10. Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 1940. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. 3. London. R. E. Scott, Swigshole, High Halstow, Kent ME3 8sr Variations in Herring Gulls at a Midland roost The Herring Gulls observed in central England in winter appear to be of at least four distinct types. Can they be related to known races? Where do they originate? [Hrit. Hints 71: 338-345, August 1978] 339 Variations in Herring Gulls ■Most species of gull show relatively little individual variation in adult plumage, bare part coloration and size. Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus and, especially, Herring Gulls L. argentatus do, however, vary quite markedly. This paper is concerned mainly with the diversity observable in the field among adult or near-adult Herring Gulls in England in winter. Fig. i. Four types of Herring Gull Larus argentatus observed at Cannock Reservoir, Staffordshire/ West Midlands, during winters of 1974/75 and 1975/76. From left to right: type A ( L . a. argenteus?), type B [L. a. argentatus ), type C (L. a. argentatus: thayeri- type variant), type D (yellow-legged type). See text for full details I have watched winter gull roosts regularly at Cannock Reservoir, Stafifordshire/West Midlands, most intensively during the winters of 1 974/75 and 1 975/76- The Herring Gulls there, which usually number 500 to 1,000, vary considerably, and similar variants occur at other roosts in the West Midland area. Apart, however, from one yellow-legged Herring Gull, I did not notice such frequent differences during regular watching of gulls during 1968-74 in south Wales, where the coastal population is probably essentially local, unlike the purely winter-visiting flocks of central England. Firm conclusions as to the origins and races of these gulls are difficult to draw, but it is worth noting the variety which occurs and relating this to the characters of Herring Gulls elsewhere in Europe. Four main types, A, B, C and D, are broadly separable. These are summarised in table 1 and illustrated in figs. 1 and 2. type A L. a. argenteus ( ?) The majority of the gulls are of this type. size Not much larger than Lesser Black- backed Gulls of the British race graellsii. bill Pale or rich bright yellow, head In winter, dusky, brown-streaked, a small number with whiter heads; increasing numbers develop white head of summer plumage from February (a few from early January: G. H. Green in litt.). mantle Consistently pale, between Common L. canus and Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus in tone, wings With rather extensive areas of black, legs Pink. type b L. a. argentatus From the small, pale type A, there is more or less a gradation to the other 34° Variations in Herring Gulls extreme. Birds of type B appear at Cannock from early November and may number ioo or more by January. size Large or very large, some equalling small Great Black-backed L. marinus. bill Long, often very pale or dull, head Long and angular, dusky with heavy streaks. mantle In most, similar to that of Common Gull or a little darker; small proportion look considerably darker still: matt, neutral grey without silvery-bluish tinge of British race, some even approaching palest Lesser Black-backs in certain light. wings Broad with reduced black on tips. Largest and darkest individuals in partic- ular with much reduced black on primaries and extra grey extending from base rather than very much more white at tip; and underside of wing-tips may show very little or no black, but subterminal smudge of grey, and apparently complete white trailing edge to tip. legs Long, deep pink. type c thayeri ’ type These more or less distinct individuals have shown noticeably different wing-tip patterns. Type C gulls, seen irregularly from January to March, numbered no more than about five size Variable, medium-large, from rather large to average type A. bill Medium or rather large; dull coloration, head Dusky, streaked, mantle Darker than in type A (in one case approaching darkest type B). wings Tips with much white and little black : precise pattern difficult to see in field and varied in detail, but all individuals ap- per winter. peared to have large white tips to two outermost primaries with subterminal black streak on each (probably restricted to outer web) ; on next two or three primaries, extensive white areas and sub- terminal black marks; white trailing edge to wing broader than usual on at least one individual, legs Pinkish. Table i. Different types of Herring Gull Larus argentatus observed at Cannock Reservoir, .Staffordshire/West Midlands, during winters of 1974/75 an(l *975/76 See text for full details of types A-D TYPE A (1,000 individuals) TYPE B (100 individuals) TYPE C (5 individuals) TYPE D (under 5 individuals) Size Small, short- winged. Slightly larger then Lesser Black-backed L. fuscus Large, many half to two-thirds more in bulk than small individuals Medium-large Medium, long- winged Mantle Palest, between Common L. canus and Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus in tone Dark, similar to or shade darker than Common (some darker still) Dark or very dark Dark; slaty grey, darker than Common Wing-tips Fairly extensive black; small white tips and mirrors Markedly reduced area of black ; more grey rather than extra white; broad Little black, much more white Extensive black above and below; small white tips and mirrors; long and pointed Head in winter Very dusky, streaked grey- brown; small proportion whiter Dusky, heavily streaked; long and angular Dusky, streaked Typically pure white; large and rounded Bill Pale, to rich bright yellow Large and long; pale, dull Medium to large; dull Stout but not especially long; deep bright yellow with large dark ted spot Legs Pinkish Long; deep pink Pinkish Long; bright yellow 34i Variations in Herring Gulls o Fig. 2. Flight appearance and wing-tip pattern of four types of Herring Gull Larus argentatus observed at Cannock Reservoir, Staffordshire/ West Midlands, during winters 1 974/ 75 and 1975/76. From left to right: type A ( L . a. argenteus ?), type B ( L . a. argentatus), type C ( L . a. argentatus : thayeri- type variant), type D (yellow-legged type). See text for full details The wing-tip patterns ol this type simulate those described tor Glaucous L. hyperboreus X Herring Gull hybrids; at a distance, they could be mistaken for Glaucous or Iceland Gulls L. glaucoides, were it not for their unusually dark upperparts. (During autumn moult, gulls have short or missing outer primaries and much of the black is either absent or, if on part-grown feathers, cannot be seen from above. Black tips are, however, visible on growing feathers part-way along the primaries from below. An apparent lack of black may, therefore, be due to the primary moult rather than a genuine difference in pattern : a more likely source of confusion than the much-discussed effects of wear.) type d Yellow-legged gulls This most distinctive form has occurred for at least four winters. In November 1973, an adult Herring Gull with yellow legs was detected by A. R. M. Blake. In 1974, a similar one remained from 2nd November until mid winter, with occasional sightings of other, apparently identical gulls; it was watched by many observers, including J. E. Fortey, E. G. Phillips and D. Smallshire. In 1975, an adult, perhaps the same, was first seen on 1st November, and a series of sightings of both adults and sub- adults followed until February 1976. A near-adult appeared on 30th October 1976 and a full adult in November. All showed similar striking features and were generally quite easy to locate. size ‘Average’ Herring Gull, not especially large, bill Not unusually long, but noticeably thick; very bright, deep yellow with large, dark red patch extending slightly onto upper mandible from gonys (also black spot on sub-adults), head Large and rounded, on thick, smoothly curved neck. Always appeared pure white on adults all winter (or with only faintest of grey smudging near eye). One sub-adult had small brown marks between eye and bill. Head and bill, together with curved, narrow-based white neck, gave character- istic expression not due solely to white- ness. mantle Noticeably dark, slaty grey, darker than Common but not quite so dark as the darkest Herrings. White tips to secondaries always conspicuous, wings 342 Long and pointed; prominent white trailing edge, extensive black on tips. Four white spots showed on closed wing- tip; one white mirror on outermost primary (white lacking on sub-adults). Black extended right to base of outermost primaries; very fine, dark shaft streaks on primary coverts. Sub-adults had various amounts of brown on primaries and coverts. From beneath, band of grey across flight feathers almost as dark' as on Lesser Black-backed and extensive black patch Variations in Herring Gulls below tips.'Upper wing pattern much more contrasted and clear-cut than on Lesser Black-backed. On arrival (end of October/ early November), all had new and full- grown primaries, whereas other Herrings had outermost short or missing owing to moult (some not full-grown up to six weeks later), legs Long; those of adults, bright, rich yellow, regularly noted as being brighter than average winter Lesser Black-backed; those of sub-adults, paler yellow with brighter webs. In each case, these type D gulls often remained at the reservoir during the day, which few other large gulls did except in fog or hard weather. On most evenings, they fed and rested on or near the shore among groups consisting mostly of immatures, whereas the majority of the adults were in rafts on the reservoir centre. Type D gulls differed from all other types by their yellow legs, while only a very small number of pink-legged gulls retained such white heads in winter. The yellow-legged gulls had brighter bills than most, especially the dark type B ones: compared with other dark-mantled Herrings, they had brighter bills, whiter heads, much more black both above and below the wing-tips, and darker grey beneath the flight feathers; they moulted earlier; their whole appearance seemed cleaner, neater and more elegant. Discussion According to the BOU (1971), ‘Herring Gulls belonging to other races notably L. a. taimyrensis , L. a. michahellis and perhaps L. a. heuglini — may have occasionally wandered to Britain and Ireland, but we are unaware of any record definitely assignable to any subspecies other than L. a. argentatus.' At present, it seems practically impossible to prove the identity ol any race other than argentatus in the held; even with a specimen available it may be difficult. Nevertheless, individuals do occur in Britain which appear to have characters associated with other races; this applies parti- cularly to those with yellow legs, although this character alone is not sufficient proof. Taxonomy I he taxonomy of the group is notoriously complex, and it is difficult to establish which races are at present acceptable. Some authors still refer to Scandinavian Herring Gulls as L. a. omissus ; others regard omissus as no longer valid (a synonym of argentatus ), or split it between argentatus and heuglini. Whereas the BOU treats British individuals as belonging to the race argentatus , others consider the Scandinavian argentatus as distinct from British/North Sea/Icelandic ones, which thus become a. argenteus (the nomenclature tentatively followed in this paper). Some authors have placed the various yellow-legged races as subspecies of the Lesser Black- backed Gull rather than the Herring. Alexander (1954), on the other hand, considered them to be a distinct third species, the Yellow-legged Variations in Herring Gulls 343 Gull L. cachinnans , characterised by its sleek form, yellow legs, slaty mantle and white head in winter; although he recognised this last feature as a constant character, it has received less attention than leg colour and wing-tip pattern. In Sweden, records of cachinnans and omissus are no longer generally accepted: yellow-legged individuals are treated merely as variants within argentatus (L. Svensson in litt.). It has been suggested that yellow-legged Herring Gulls in Britain, such as those at Cannock, are also variants. Barth (1966, 1967a, 1967b, 1968, 1975) undertook very extensive studies of European Herring Gulls, especially in Scandinavia, where he regarded all as argentatus with no subspecific division; the form in the North Sea area, Britain, the Faeroes and Iceland he considered to be argenteus, with diagnostic features of paler mantle, short bill and short wings. In Norway, he demonstrated a continuous cline of L. a. argentatus from south to north (British birds may be regarded as one end of this). The situation is com- plicated, but, basically, the Scandinavian individuals are palest in the south and darkest in the north and in Finland; British ones are palest of all. Barth gave pale greyish legs as most common in Norway, but yellow or yellowish legs occur throughout the population, with yellow most common in north Norway and Finland (and perhaps most intense in colour in summer). Eye-ring colour varies from yellow through orange to red; orange or red is found widely, but most frequently in the north. It is not, however, associated with the colour of the legs: both pink/grey-legged birds and yellow-legged ones may have yellow, orange or red eye-rings. Although there are exceptions, in general the extent of black on the wing-tips diminishes towards the north and northeast. In Norway, a pattern which may be called a ‘thayeri- type’ (see type C) is found on a small number of gulls, most commonly in the far north. This resembles that ol Thayer’s Gull L. thayeri (or L. a. thayeri ) ol North America, with a reduced amount of black, especially on the inner webs, and extensive areas of white on the primary tips. Primary patterns of Scandinavian Herring Gulls as a whole are, however, very variable (Dr P. I. Stanley in Litt.). British Herring Gulls are the smallest: with short bills and wings. All dimensions increase northeastwards, with the largest individuals in Finn- mark and Finland. Those in northern Norway are characterised by dark mantles, long bills (except in Finnmark), long wings and tails, and large total size. Geographical origins With such extensive variations and the complex taxonomy, it is difficult to suggest with any precision the racial status and geographical origins of all the Herring Gulls observed at Cannock. It does, how'ever, seem clear that those in wanter include a very few of the thayeri- type (type C) ; and others (type B) have exactly those characteristics — large size, dark mantle, little black on the wing-tip — expected of more typical birds from northern Norway or Finland ( L . a. argentatus rather than argenteus ). Harris (1971) suggested that British Herring Gulls should have com- 344 Variations in Herring Gulls pleted their moult by October (earlier than the Scandinavians), and recent British catches have provided further confirmation of this. Herring Gulls roosting inland in southeast England appear to include a low pro- portion of British individuals, although there is a little evidence that both British and Scandinavian ones winter in Worcestershire (G. H. Green and Dr P. I. Stanley in litt.). The Cannock gulls of type A may, therefore, include some of southern Scandinavian origin rather than be all British: further observations of their state of moult after October should elucidate this. This may in turn support arguments that all should be regarded as argentatus, and that argenteus should not be recognised as a valid race; but, again, the southern North Sea section of argenteus could be involved. The yellow-legged gulls present most problems. Yellow legs, dark mantle, white head, bright bill and other features which make them distinctive in the field can all be explained in terms of individual variation. One would not, however, expect all these characters— and extensive areas of black on the wings (positively not associated with yellow-legged Scandinavian gulls) — to occur regularly in combination; nor that each individual should moult rather earlier than Scandinavian argentatus. Yellow-legged Herring Gulls trapped in southeast England have in other respects matched type B ones and are therefore likely to have been simple variants as described by Barth (Dr P. I. Stanley in litt.). Conclusions Despite the whole spectrum of variations found among argentatus, the constant combination of characters of the Cannock Herring Gulls suggests a distinct subspecies rather than individual variants. It is difficult to establish which one. Of the yellow-legged races, cachinnans has, according to Witherby et al. (1941), extended grey areas (less black) on the outer primaries, with a whitish patch inside the black tip: this does not accord well with the Cannock gulls. The race michahellis of Iberia and the Mediterranean has more black, as does the darkest race, heuglini of Siberia. Both are larger and darker than argenteus and were included by Alexander (1954) in his third species. The race michahellis seems liable to occur in southern England, but a gull visiting central England in winter is perhaps unlikely to have come from the south. The race heuglini seems a more probable winter visitor than either the very similar atlantis of the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands or michahellis, but the Cannock Herring Gulls may not be sufficiently large to be ascribed to this sub- species. Acknowledgements Lars Svensson helped with references and made comments at an early stage. A. R. Dean, P. J. Grant and E. G. Phillips read drafts and made valuable suggestions and, in later stages, G. H. Green and Dr P. I. Stanley helped to clarify several points. 1 also thank the observers mentioned in the text for being interested enough to watch and discuss gulls on cold winter evenings beside Midland reservoirs. Summary Variations observed among Herring Gulls Larus argentatus wintering in the West Midlands arc described and divided into four basic groups according to size, mantle colour, head Variations in Herring Gulls 345 colour in winter, wing-tip pattern and leg colour. It is suggested that British and Scan- dinavian birds are involved, with up to ioo showing characteristics — large size, dark mantles and little black on the wings — consistent with a north Scandinavian origin. Up to five per winter have shown characteristics of a ‘ thayeri-typS variant. Others (fewer than five, and probably the same individuals in successive years) have shown leatures which suggest a different area of origin — still unknown — and different racial status, being white-headed throughout the year, dark on the mantle, extensively black on the primaries and yellow-legged. References Alexander, W. B. 1954. Birds of the Ocean. New York. Barth, E. K. 1966. Mantle colour as a taxonomic feature in Larus argentatus and Lams fuscus. Nytt Mag. fool. 13: 56-82. 1967a. Standard body measurements in Larus argentatus, L. fuscus, L. canus, and L. marinus. JVytt Mag. fool. 14: 7-83. 1967b- Egg dimensions and laying dates of Larus marinus, L. argentatus, L. fuscus and L. canus. Nytt Mag. fool. 15: 5-34. 1968. The circumpolar systematics of Larus argentatus and Larus fuscus with special reference to the Norwegian populations. Nytt Mag. fool. 15, suppl. 1 : 1-50. I975- Moult and taxonomy of the Herring Gull Larus argentatus and the Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus in north-western Europe. Ibis 1 1 7 : 384-387. British Ornithologists’ Union. 1971. The Status of Birds in Britain and Ireland. Oxford. Harris, M. P. 1971. Ecological adaptations of moult in some British gulls. Bird Study 18: 1 1 3- 1 18. Voous, K. H. i960. Atlas of European Birds. London. Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, N. W. 1941. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. 5. London. R. A. Hume, 31 Lime Grove, Burntwood, Walsall WS7 oha Derek R. Langs low Large numbers of migrant Blackcaps have become very noticeable. This trend is quantified and its causes discussed Recent increases of Blackcaps at bird observatories rull-time wardening at bird observatories enables annual variations in ^ numbers and long-term population trends of migrants to be assessed. While analysing weights of Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla at British and European observatories (Langslow 1976), I examined the timing and size of migrations during 1970-76. By comparison with Davis’s (1967) analysis for 1948-66, it was evident that significant changes had occurred in the abundance of migrant Blackcaps. The aim of this paper is to demon- strate these changes and to discuss possible reasons and consequences. [Brit. Birds 71 : 345-354. August 1978] Blackcaps at bird observatories 346 Sources and methods Daily census figures of Blackcaps for the years 1970-76 were provided by the permanent wardens at Fair Isle, Shetland; Spurn, North Humber- side; Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire; Holme, Norfolk; Dungeness, Kent; Portland, Dorset; Skokholm, Dyfed (1970-74); Bardsey, Gwynedd (1966- 70 and 1974); and the Calf of Man, Isle of Man; and also from the volunteer-wardened observatory at Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork (see fig. 1). Most of these observatories are manned throughout the spring and autumn. The data have been analysed according to Davis’s (1967) method, estimating migration by five-day periods. Results Daily figures for the four observatories where Blackcaps are commonest (lair Isle, Spurn, Dungeness and Portland) reveal a marked increase in numbers in 1970-76 compared with those found by Davis (1967) for • 1 I'ig. 1. Locations of major bird observatories mentioned in text. 1 Fair Isle, 2 Spurn, 3 Gibraltar Point, 4 Holme, 5 Dungeness, (i Portland, 7 Skokholm, 8 Bardsey, 9 Calf of Man, 10 Cape Clear Island 347 Blackcaps at bird observatories Fig. 2. Migration of Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla at Fair Isle, Shetland, and Spurn, North Humberside, 1948-76. Shaded = 1948-66 (from Davis 1967); open = 1970-76 1948-66 (figs. 2 and 3); in spring, the increases were greatest at Fair Isle and Portland, while in autumn they were prominent at all four. Davis, for example, stated that 20 or more in a day in autumn at Fair Isle was exceptional (maximum 30 in October i960) ; but during 1970-76 this figure was exceeded on 51 days, with maxima of 75 (2nd October 1972), 70 (30th September 1975), 80 (4th October 1976) and over 100 (1st and 3rd October 1976). Eight was the maximum recorded in a day 34'’ Blackcaps at bird observatories at Spurn up to 1966; during 1970-76, however, more than ten were present on 67 days in autumn and over 25 at least once in each year, with a maximum of 80 on 8th October 1974. At both Dungeness and Port- land, a similar autumn picture emerges. Before 1966, the Dungeness maximum was ten and at Portland only seven. From 1970 to 1976, the former’s record was beaten 27 times, with maxima of 35 on 2nd October J974 and there is no way of distinguishing British and Continental Blackcaps in the hand (Williamson 1964, and table 1). There are three possible explanations for the increase in the numbers of migiant Blackcaps. If weather patterns had changed significantly to produce more easterly winds, then larger numbers of migrants could be drifted across the North Sea, producing more Blackcaps — especially in autumn on the east and south coasts, and in late spring on Fair Isle. The greater spring numbers at Portland and Dungeness, involving British breeders, are, however, unlikely to occur under similar easterly weather conditions. Both long-term climatic trends and short-term atmospheric effects can lead to changes in the numbers and distribution of birds. During the past 15 years, blocking anticyclones caused by colder conditions in the Arctic have become more frequent (Lamb 1975): these reduce the fre- quency of westerly winds in middle latitudes. The number of days with weather classified as generally westerly has, on average, declined steadily since 1950 (Lamb 1975). Blocking anticyclones in spring have probably led to important changes in the avifauna in Scotland: several boreal species have staged a recovery during the past decade, while other species have colonised the country (Williamson 1975, 1976). Hence, while the frequency of easterly winds in autumn at Lerwick, Shetland, and Kilnsea, Blackcaps at bird observatories 353 North Humberside, has not altered in the last 30 years, easterly airflows over northern and central Europe are probably now more common in autumn as well as in spring. This would bring greater numbers of Black- caps from Europe to the east coast of Bi'itain. Williamson & Whitehead (1963) recorded that the largest falls of Blackcaps in i960 occurred when an anticyclone was centred over Germany and a succession of depressions to the south and west of Britain produced a strong easterly airflow. Conditions producing a strong easterly airflow over the southern North Sea prevailed during the major falls of Blackcaps on the east coast on ist*5th October 1971, 2nd-3rd October 1972, 4th*5th October 1973, 8th-gth October 1974, 1 7th- 1 8th October 1975, and ist-4th and 25th-3ist October 1976. Furthermore, the evidence, both from ringing recoveries and from the species usually associated with falls of Blackcaps, suggests that they originate from south of 52 °N and east of 5°E in the autumn. Blackcap numbers at the observatories have, however, increased not only during these large falls but throughout the autumn, suggesting that more of the population is dispersing or migrating through western Europe. A second explanation is a significant growth in the total Blackcap population. There is some evidence of this in Britain: the Common Birds Census index for Blackcaps on farmland has almost doubled since 1966, although the woodland index increase is only slight (Batten & Marchant 1976); there is also subjective evidence for higher breeding numbers in Scotland ( Scottish Bird Reports 1972-75). If a similar increase had occurred over Europe, a significantly greater migration volume might be expected. The migrant numbers are, however, so much higher that this could pro- vide only a partial explanation. Many foreign observatories are concerned primarily with trapping passerine migrants; this has been done much more effectively in recent years with the widespread use of mistnets, and, therefore, their pre- 1 960 records are incomplete. Both Vogelwarte Radolfzell, West Germany (Dr P. Bertholdt in litt.), and Falsterbo Fagelstation, Sweden (Dr G. Roos in litt.), reported that Blackcaps have not become significantly commoner in the past few years. On the Polish Baltic coast, where the Blackcap is principally a September migrant, the average number trapped per mistnet has been determined by Busse (1973a, 1973b and in litt.) : the average for 1971-76 is slightly less than for 1961-66, although the years 1974-76 were especially good ones for the species. A third possibility is a change in the Blackcap’s habits. If fewer now go to West Africa (Moreau 1972) and more winter in the Mediterranean Basin, the spring migration may be earlier, the autumn one later, and incomplete migration by some individuals more likely. During the last decade, there has been an increasing tendency for Blackcaps to over- winter in Britain. This was especially marked in the 1976/77 winter when, for example, 58 were trapped in one Irish orchard in December and January (H. McBride in litt.). The evidence from recoveries of several foreign- and observatory-ringed birds in winter in Britain and Ireland, and the complete lack of recoveries of British-breeding Blackcaps in 354 Blackcaps at bird observatories winter in Britain (Langslow in prep.), confirm their Continental origin. This increase in the numbers of wintering Blackcaps coincides with the increase in late autumn migration (see fig. 4b). It is difficult to know whether late migration discourages further movement, or whether a real change in the wintering range of Continental Blackcaps is occurring through either climatic change or a growth in numbers. Thus, several factors are probably involved in this change in Blackcap migration. Whether this is a temporary or permanent feature can be ascertained only by examining, over the next decade or so, the numbers of Blackcaps overwintering, occurring at observatories and breeding in Britain. Acknowledgements I am giatelul to Peter Davis, C. J. Mead, and the late K.. Williamson lor their comments on the draft of this paper, and to the Bird Observatories Council for helping to provide the data. Summary Records from ten major British and Irish bird observatories of migrant Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla during 1970-76 were analysed. This shows that significant increases had occurred, particularly in autumn, compared with 1948-66 (Davis 1967). Comparisons with Conti- nental data are made. Possible reasons for the increases include weather conditions, a rise in the total Blackcap population and changes in the species’ habits. Further recording and analysis of breeding, wintering and migrant numbers in Britain are required over a period of time. References Bat ten, L. A., & Marchant, J. H. 1 97B. Bird population changes for the years 1973-74. Bird Study 23: 11-20. Busse. P. 1973a. Dynamika liczebnosci niccforych galunkow ptakow chwytanych na polskim wybrzezu Baltyku w latach 1961-70. Not. Orn 14: 1-38. I973t)- Analiza zroznicowania populacyjnego w oparciu o badania wielotetniej dynamiki liczebnosci przelatujacych ptakow Not. Orn 14: 51-61. Davis, P. 1967. Migration-seasons of the Sylvia warblers at British bird observatories. Bird Study 14: 65-95. Lamb, H. H. 1975- Our understanding of the global wind circulation and climatic variations. Bird Study 22: 121-141. Langslow, D. R. 1976. Weights of Blackcaps on migration. Ringing and Migration 1 : 78-91. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palearctic- African Bird Migration Systems. London. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1968. Migration seasons of the Sylvia warblers at Cape Clear Bird Observatory. Bird Study 15: 99-103. — '976- The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. Williamson, K. 1964. Identification for Ringers 3. The Genus Sylvia. Tring. I975- Birds and climatic change. Bird Study 22: 143-164. - 1976. Recent climatic influences on the status and distribution of some British birds. Weather 3 1 : 362-384. & Whitehead, P. 1963. An examination of the Blackcap movements of autumn i960. Bird Migration 2: 165-127. Voous, K. H. 1960. Atlas of European Birds. London. /ink, G. 1975. Der f_ug Europaischer Singvogel. Ein Atlas der Wiederfunde Beringter Vogel. vol. 1. Schloss Moggingen. Dr Derek R. Langslow , 32 Campbell Road , Longniddry , East Lothian EH32 oni* Mystery photographs From some tangled bushes, out pops a largish, dull warbler with prominent legs and an apparently enormous bill. It is obviously not a Phylloscopus or a Sylvia, so it is sensible to consider the genera Acrocephalus and Hippolais; the wide base to the bill suggests the latter. The warbler has a long flat forecrown (producing a head-shape not far from that of a Starling Sturnus vulgaris), a pale face and eye-ring, and olive-grey plumage lacking any obvious mark. The face pattern is characteristic of Hippolais, but distinguishing the pale variants of the Icterine Warbler H. icterina and the Melodious Warbler H. polyglotta and the rather drab Olivaceous Warbler H. pallida needs more than a mere glimpse. The half-rear view, however, allows a clear sight of the wing structure. The point of the folded primaries is markedly short, taking up less than a quarter of the visible wing length, and it falls at the end of the uppertail-coverts. So, the long- winged Icterine is eliminated. Both the Melodious and the Booted Warbler H. caligata tend to look small in the field and neither persists in showing such a dagger of a bill, such a flat head and such a plump rear body and full tail (in actual observations, most Melodious would also show at least tinges of green above and yellow below). Last month’s mystery bird (plate 122, repeated here) was an Olivaceous Warbler; it was photographed in Egypt by R- H. Greaves. DIMW 129. Mystery photograph 21. What is this species? Answer next month 355 Personalities 16 S. C. Madge ^When Steve Madge first saw the light of day at Tor Point, Cornwall, ™ in the winter of 1948, his mother gained what must have been the piototype bundle of joy and British ornithology one of its more colourful characters. His early days were spent within perambulator distance of the Tamar estuary, where his interest in birds was kindled. On leaving Saltash Grammar School, he became a wages clerk with the Post Office. After five years behind a desk in this steady, protected post he applied for four months unpaid leave, which he spent in Turkey and Iran. On returning to England, he promptly resigned from his job to join an Oxford Uni- versity expedition to Afghanistan and Kashmir for eight months. Once more back at home, the need to survive led him to take jobs as a high- ways cleansing operative and a refuse disposal officer, but the attractions ol birds and natural history in general led him to become assistant warden on the Calf of Man in 1972; in the following year, he moved to Yorkshire and then spent three seasons at Bempton Cliffs as a summer warden for the RSPB. Since 1976, he has been entrenched as the RSPB’s full-time warden at Fairburn Ings in North Yorkshire. That is where I first met him, after being aware of his presence in the county for the previous three summers as stories of a jolly fellow from the south of England who ‘knew his stud filtered through from the coastal birdwatchers. 130. S. C. Madge ( Yorkshire Television) 356 S. C. Madge 257 Steve’s activities are not confined to birds; he takes a keen interest in botany, and his bookshelves contain reference works on most branches of natural history. Large of stature and very fond of good food (two statistics not entirely unconnected), it is always a pleasure to have him round for a meal, appreciation of which he usually shows in the traditional manner of a satiated Turk. Always casually dressed, he would be the first to agree that he is to sartorial elegance what Ivor Novello was to all-in wrestling. He has many talents: he is an accomplished artist, a stimulat- ing lecturer and has a willingness to co-operate fully with the admin- istrative requirements of modern ornithology, a quality sadly lacking in many people. Those meeting him for the first time could be — and often are — quite misled by his manner; for, behind a rotund, weatherbeaten, gentle, unassuming exterior, there is a lively and imaginative side to his character which is the true Steve Madge. A recent appearance at his local natural history society annual buffet supper dressed as a Chinese emperor in full make-up, complete with eye-glitter, shocked none of us who knows him well: his performance deserved a wider audience. This he was to get when featured in the television pi'ogramme ‘Lifestyle’ in 1977, which dealt with his life as a nature reserve warden. He has recently been elected to the British Birds Rarities Committee. His watching in the Isles of Scilly and elsewhere gained him the respect of his field companions; this, added to his foreign experience, will stand him in good stead for his role on the committee. Steve has managed to escape any serious involvement with the opposite sex (though I suspect that he is trying) ; hopefully, this dedicated bird- watcher will be around in an active and unfettered capacity for many years. John R. Mather Notes Storm Petrels chasing albino At 06.00 gmt on 7th August 1977, on Bardsey, Gwynedd, my assistant warden, Trevor Jones, watched four Storm Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus for over ij minutes as they flew south close along the west coast. Three were normal, but the other was almost completely albino, off-white with grey flecks on its upperwing-coverts. The latter was constantly being pursued by the other three, which at times chased it vertically into the air and then returned to their normal flight, until the white bird rejoined them. Bryan L. Sage, in his review of albinism and melanism in wild British birds (Brit. Birds 55: 201-225), made no reference to albinism in any species of petrel or shearwater (Procellariidae) ; and I can find no mention of such aggression towards an albinistic individual by birds of the same or other species. P. J. Roberts Warden, Bardsey Bird Observatory, Aberdaron, Pwllheli, Gwynedd LL53 8de Derek Goodwin has commented that, although birds tend usually to 35^ Notes ignoie members of their own species which are conspicuously abnormal, he has seen repeated aggression by Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus towards a white individual which kept trying to join them. Eds Shag’s defence against Alsatian dog R. A. Hume’s note on a dog attacking and killing a Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (Brit. Birds 70: 260) 1 eminded me ol the following. On 12th September 1966, in Penzance Harbour, Cornwall, the quickly ebbing tide left an immature Shag P. cinstotelis stianded in the shallows. With exertion, it was making its way fail lv well over mud and pools of water towards the open sea when an Alsatian dog suddenly appeared, barking loudly and splashing through the water; with leaping bounds, it tried to grip the Shag by the neck. The Shag mounted a counter-attack and managed to stand upright, with head and neck thrust forward and wings quickly flaying. As the dog bounced this way and that, so the Shag pivoted to face it; sometimes the biid managed to hit the dog with its wings. The Shag then gradually made towards deep water and escaped out of the harbour. Bernard King Gull Cry, 9 Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall Parasitic worms causing deaths of Mute Swans On gth and 10th March 1974, 15 Mute Swans Cygnus olor, mostly adults, were found dead along 460 m of shore at the southeast corner of Loch of Stenness, a 780-ha sea loch joined by a narrow channel at the Bridge of Brodgar to Loch of Harray (990 ha) on the Mainland of Orkney. Stenness is slightly tidal and the two lochs show a gradation in salinity from almost pure seawater at the mouth of Stenness to eutrophic freshwater at the inner end of Harray. The winter population ol Mute Swans on the two lochs fluctuates between 150 and 200. Excessive numbers were not present in ig74> ample food appeared to be available and the weather had been mild. No ailing swans were seen and a search showed that deaths were confined to the southeast corner of Stenness. Three adults, two females (4.9 kg and 4.8 kg) and one male (5.8 kg), were sent for examination. On 10th April 1974, eight Mute Swans were found dead on the 40-ha North Loch on Sanday, a fairly eutrophic freshwater loch 46^ km northeast of Stenness, which has a 1 egular population of 40 swans. One adult female weighed 5.2 kg. Examination showed that all four swans were in poor bodily condition: the gizzards held only sand, and the intestines contained excess mucus surrounding numerous thorny-headed worms (Acanthocephala), identi- fied as Polymorphus minutus. These were in the mid-portion of the small intestine, starting 50 cm above Meckel’s diverticulum and finishing 30 cm above the junction of the small intestine with the caeca. The 4.8-kg female and the 5.8-kg male held 232 and 81 worms respectively; at the mid-point ol the affected length, three or four worms were attached to each square centimetre ol intestinal mucosa (plate 131)- Bacteriological examination was negative. The sudden deaths on Stenness and North Lochs were suspicious of poisoning, but chemical analysis using gas chromatography did not leveal the presence ol organophosphorus, organochlorine or organosulphur pesticides. Tests for alpha-chloralose were negative and Notes 359 131. Numerous thorny-headed worms (Acanthocephala) attached to intestinal mucosa of Mute Swan Cygmis olor ( W. M. Gordon) only background levels of mercury were found. The extreme emaciation of the swans ruled out the likelihood of acute poisoning. Peter Scott et al. (1972, The Swans ) gave the normal weights of Mute Swans as 12.2 kg (males) and 8.9 kg (females). D. W. T. Crompton and J. G. Harrison ( Parasitology 55: 345-355) included Mute Swans as final hosts of the P. minutus, which waterbirds acquire by eating the intermediate host of the parasite, freshwater shrimps of the genus Gammarus; 50% of their sample of wild Mallards Anas platyrhynchos and Tufted Ducks Ay thy a fuligula carried the parasite, but none appeared adversely affected by the numbers present. H. B. N. Hynes and W. L. Nickolas (J. Helminth. 37: 185-198) found that experimental infestations of domestic ducks with 200 to 300 worms retarded growth and caused emaciation; 48 hours’ starvation resulted in spontaneous expulsion of the worms. Depressed appetite of the male swan with only 81 worms may have caused such a loss. Hynes and Nickolas believed that, in the wild, ducks constantly exposed to small numbers of worms develop an immunity. On the other hand, when uninfected birds are suddenly exposed to large numbers of infected shrimps, many of the parasites establish themselves in the intestine and the disease becomes manifest. A build-up of shrimps may have taken place during the mild weather of March 1974. The numerous recurved hooks on the proboscis of acanthocephalan worms embed themselves deeply in the wall of the intestine, causing extensive damage; they were probably responsible for the weight loss and death of the Mute Swans at Loch of Stenness and North Loch. We are grateful to Dr C. Rayski for his comments and for identification of the worm. J. W. Macdonald, D. Lea and G. A. Hamilton MAFF, Veterinary Laboratory , Lasswade, Midlothian eh 18 ihu; RSPB, 6 Old Scapa Road , Kirkwall, Orkney kw 15 1 bb ; DAFS, Agricultural Scientific Services, East Craigs, Edinburgh eh 12 8nj One Little Owl preening another John W. Fitzpatrick ( Auk 92 : 598- 599) reported what was claimed to be the first instance of owls allopreen- ing in the wild. At Heerlen, Netherlands, I made the following observa- tions on Little Owls Athene noctua (published, without details, in Ardea 34: 214-246). On 13th April 1939, the male alternately nibbled his mate’s crown feathers and preened his own feathers. On 27th March 1941, the female started pecking at the male’s feet, and he responded similarly ; both preened themselves; the female then nibbled the male’s crown Notes 360 feathers, and he reciprocated ; after an unsuccessful attempt at copulation, they preened again, alternating this with repeated nibbling of each other’s crown feathers; they then copulated. F. Haverschmidt 16 Wolfskuilstraat, Ommen, Netherlands Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers apparently dismembering dead nestling to remove it from nest In 1977, a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos minor nested almost 2\ m up in an old apple tree in a garden just outside Norwich, Norfolk. After the chicks had hatched, on 22nd May (the date determined by the parents’ behaviour), we erected a hide. On 27th, when both parents were feeding the young at regular intervals, the male, who had been in the nest for some time, emerged with a leg, a wing and the body of one of the chicks (plate 132). 132. Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor removing part of dead chick from nest, Norfolk, May 1977 ( K . J. Carlson ) The owners of the garden thought that they had seen one of the wood- peckers flying away with a leg the previous day. We do not believe that there was time for much degeneration of the carcase, and consider that the parents had broken up a dead nestling in order to remove it from the nest. Kevin Carlson and Christine Carlson Park Lodge, Norwich Road, Wroxham, Norfolk nr 12 8sa Some insect food of nestling Swallows During the period 10th- 1 8th .July 1977, the food dropped by a pair of Swallows Hirundo ruslica as they fed their nestlings was collected on a sheet of white paper. The nest Notes 361 was situated behind newly laid tar sheeting under the roof tiles of Lodge Farm, 5 Compton Road West, Wolverhampton (the home of HCFN). The list ol insects collected compares well with the only previous accounts of nestling food, given by J. F. Thomas during 1933-39 from Carmarthen- shire (Brit. Birds 27: 231-232; 28: 1 71- 172; 29: 244-245; 30: 293-294; 31: 234-235; 32: 233-236; 33: 335-336), although our lists of aphids, Lepidoptera and Calyptrate Diptera are more extensive. In 1975, K.. R. Gabriel [Brit. Birds 68 : 248) recorded Swallows feeding wasps Vespula to their young. In the following list of insects, the numbers of each are given as an indication of relative frequency. Swallows are obviously opportunist feeders: insects which frequently occur in swarms or aggregations (e.g. Empis, Fannia ) figure largely in the list. Many of the other species are common (some pest species) and likely to be present in numbers in the air. Of course, food dropped by parent Swallows may not be completely representative of the food brought to the nest by them, nor of the food eaten by the young: it could be that abnormal or less palatable items are more likely to be dropped by the adults or rejected by the young. hemiptera-homoptera (plant bugs, etc.) Aphididae (aphids, greenfly) : Sitobion avenae (7), Drepanosiphum ? platanoidis (5), Macrosiphum euphorbiae group (1), Hyperomyzus lac- tucaelpallidus (1), Rhopalosiphum insertum (1), Eucer aphis (1). coleoptera (beetles) Staphylinidae (rove-beetles): Tachinus signatus (2); Scolytidae (bark-beetles) : Scolytus multistriatus ( 1 ) . lepidoptera (moths) Pyralidae : Chrysoteuchia culmella (2); Tortricidae: Clepsis consimilana (1), Cnephasia interjectana (1), Ditula angustiorana (3), Cydia janthinana (2), C. populana (1), indeterminate (1); Gelechiidae: Bryotropha terrella (1); Oecophoridae: Balia lunaris (1); Coleophoridae : Coleophora serratella ( 1 ) . hymenoptera (bees, wasps, etc.) Braconidae: Coeloides scolylicida (1); Aculeata: head only (1). diptera (flies) Tipulidae (craneflies) : Nephrotoma fiavescens (1); Sciaridae (lesser fungus- gnats): Bradysia (1); Stratiomyiidae (soldier flies): Microchrysa polita (2), Bens geniculata (1) ; Dolichopodidae : Chrysotus neglectus (1), Sciapus platypterus (1), Medetera nitida (2); Empididae (dance flies): Hilara litorea (2), Empis ( Coptophlebia ) albinervis (19); Lonchop- teridae: Lonchoptera lutea (2); Syrphidae (hover flies): Melanostoma mellinum (1) ; Pipun- culidae: Verrallia aucta (1); Lonchaeidae: Lonchaea (5); Pallopteridae : Palloptera ustulata (2) ; Sapromyzidae: Sapromyza (2), Minettia inusta (1), Lyciella decempunctata (1); Sepsidae: Sepsis cynipsea (1); Sphaeroceridae: Copromyza (1); Fanniidae: Fannia manicata (4), F. polychaeta (33), F. canicularis (less house fly) (1), F. armata (5), F. scalaris (latrine fly) (1); Muscidae (house flies, etc.) : Helina atripes (3), H. depuncta (1), //. setiventris (1 ), H. duplicata (1) , Azelia zetterstedti (3), Coenosia lineatipes (4), Hydrolaea occulta (1); Anthomyiidae: Lasiomma nitidicauda (3), L. meadei (1), Nupedia infirma (3), Pegohylemyia fugax (1), Pseudo- nupedia intersecla (1), Delia florilega (5), D. platura (bean fly) (1), D. coarctata (wheat bulbfly) (2) , Craspedochoeta pullula (1), indeterminate (2); Tachinidae: Actia pilipennis (1); Calli- phoridae (blowflies): Pollenia rudis (cluster fly) (1), Lucilia sericata (sheep blowfly) (1). In addition to the above insects, some of which were alive and active when recovered (inevitably some escaped), there were one or two ‘pellets’ dropped, which consisted of insect fragments. Thomas (Brit. Birds 29: 244) noted similar pellets and commented that this was unusual for Swallows; the production of such pellets is, however, now known to be much more widespread among birds than was previously supposed. We thank the following colleagues at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) Notes 362 for help with the identification of insects in their special groups: J. D. Bradley, M. J. D. Brendell, B. H. Cogan, P. S. Cxanston, J. P. Dear, E. A. Fonseca, J. H. Martin and A. C. Pont. K. G. V. Smith and H. C. F. Newton Department of Entomology, British Museum ( Natural History ), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Roosting of Long-tailed Tits In January 1965, at Castle Loch, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, I was shown a roost of Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus under the eaves of a house. The occupant, Mrs Hellyer, informed me that the roost had been there for a considerable time; I photographed it (plate 133). As the wind was westerly, the tits were i33- 1 .ong-tailcd Tits Aegithalos caudatus roosting under eaves of house, Dumfriesshire, January 1965 ( Robert T. Smith) sheltered by the eaves; but, when it changed to southeast, they left and presumably found a more suitable site. Robert T. Smith Applegarthtown, Lockerbie , Dumfriesshire dgi i isx Great Grey Shrikes feeding young on peanuts and bread From 1 6th to 30th April 1977, in southern Tunisia, I recorded some interesting feeding behaviour by two pairs of Great Grey Shrikes Lanins excubitor in the gardens of a hotel. Both pairs were feeding young on a basic diet of striped hawk moths Celerio livornica, which were abundant during the period, but on numerous occasions also took food items from around tables on the hotel terrace. They were almost constantly perched on the terrace umbrellas, from where they would fly down to the floor and Notes 363 pick up peanuts, which they fed to their young; they took bread from as near to the tables as 1 m, and once took it from an open hand. P. Greaves 1 12 Station Road , Arksey , Doncaster , South Yorkshire DN5 osd Magpie killing Swift On the morning of 17th June 1976, in a lane in Aberdeen, I saw a Swift Apus apus emerge from a ventilation hole high up in a disused garage. A Magpie Pica pica then flew out of a tree a few metres from the building, struck the Swift as it passed under it, beat it to the ground and attacked it with at least three heavy blows of its beak, before I chased it off. The Swift was severely injured and subsequently died. I later found a Magpies’ nest in the tree. Although Magpies are known to attack birds which have a fluttering flight (D. Goodwin 1976, Crows of the World) — probably usually young, weak or injured individuals -there are few references to their attacking apparently healthy adult birds and I can find none to their killing Swifts. C. B. Pulman 79 Argyll Place , Aberdeen Starling breaking off leaves to feed on aphids On 6th June 1977, in my garden at Brentry, Bristol, I saw several Starlings Sturnus vulgaris, a Blue Tit Parus caeruleus and House Sparrows Passer dornesticus feeding on a heavy infestation of aphids, probably plum-reed aphids Hyalopterus pruni, on the undersides of the leaves of a plum tree. One adult Starling plucked leaves, carried them to the ground and stood on them; as a result, this bird picked off and swallowed the aphids far more efficiently than did the other Starlings which stayed in the tree. A. P. Radford 2 Wyck Beck Road, Brentry, Bristol bsio 7je Pine Bunting in Highland On 6th January 1976, we were passing the evening in Golspie, Sutherland, with D. Davies, J. Rossetti and K. Rossetti, where we met G. Birch, R. Breese, B. Goater, R. Goater, D. Halsey, C. Harlow, R. Hobbs and J. Morris. They informed us that, at about 15.00 gmt, RG had noted an unusual bunting among a flock of 20 Yellowhammers Emberiza. citrinella feeding in lyme-grass Elymus arenarius on a narrow strip of shoreline behind a row of cottages ; periodically, the flock flew up to sit or preen in nearby young sycamores Acer pseudoplatanus. It was on these occasions that they had been able to observe the bunting clearly and in good light for three to four minutes down to 15 m and had identified it as a male Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos. In view of the rarity of the species, they asked us to confirm their identification. We assembled early the following morning and proceeded to search through the mixed flock of 150 finches (Fringillidae) and buntings, but had to wait until mid morning before the Pine Bunting flew in with five Yellowhammers to join the rest of the flock. During a short stay, it fed in the lyme-grass and then flew to one of the sycamores, allowing us clear but brief views. The distinctive head pattern, of which the white cheek patch was the most obvious feature, together with the otherwise black-and-chestnut face and pale crown-stripe, made immediate identifica- tion easy. After a long absence, it reappeared that afternoon and we watched it for Notes 364 approximately 15 minutes. It was seen again on 8th, but not subsequently. The two drawings by LAT show the bird’s distinctive character, and the following description is derived from our joint observations: shape and size Similar to nearby Yellow- hammers, but considered by some ob- servers to be marginally bulkier. plumage Forehead brownish - black, indistinctly edged with a few white feathers. Crown-stripe broad, extending from above forehead and narrowing at nape, gradua- ting from whitish-buff to pale grey, with faintly darker flecks. Crown-stripe edged by thin pale-flecked black line, ending abruptly at nape, serrated at edges. Lores mottled dusky. Thick black eye-stripe curved round and broadened to end at lower corner of ear-coverts. Thicker white bar extended from base of lower mandible to edge of ear-coverts. Rest of head chest- nut, pale grey below nape. Mantle very similar to Yellowhammer, warm buff streaked black. Rump rufous like Yellow- hammer, uppertail-coverts slightly darker. Chin black, fading to dusky on throat. Sides of neck chestnut. Clearly demar- cated crescentic white band on upper breast extended narrowly around neck. Pale cinnamon wash at sides of breast and flanks joined at centre of upper breast to form inverted U, and marked with narrow oval brownish spots slightly thicker and longer on flanks. Rest of under- parts whitish, faintly tinged grey, adding to general ‘frosty’ appearance. Wing- coverts black, edged tawny, with paler tips forming short prominent wing-bar on median coverts and a much fainter bar on greater coverts. Remiges blackish-brown, with broad golden-brown edges to tertials and thin buff leading edges to primaries and secondaries. Tail dark with white outer tail feathers, conspicuous from be- neath and in flight, notched as Yellow- hammer. bare parts Eye dark. Bill typical bunting shape, pale horn faintly tinged pinkish, darker on culmen. Legs pale to medium pinkish-brown depending on light. This Pine Bunting was only the fifth recorded in Britain and Ireland and the first in winter, three of the previous lour being in autumn, in Shetland on 30th October 191 1 and in Orkney on 15th October 1943 and 7th- 1 1 th August 1967; and one in spring, in Dorset on 15th April 1975 [Brit. Birds 71:314-315). N. Tucker and L. A. Tucker Arvalee, Clifton Down Rond, Clifton, Bristol Review Cruickshank’s Photographs of Birds of America. By Alan D. Cruickshank. Constable, London, 1 978. ix -j- 182 pages; 177 black- and-white photographs. Paperback, -£4.25. This is primarily a set of very fine black-and-white photographs by the late Alan D. Cruickshank, selected and prefaced by his wife Helen G. Cruickshank. The introduction is his, previously included, together with some of the photographs, in Wings in the Wilder- ness (1947). There are, however, 75 new photographs in this attractive volume. On first handling, one immediately gets the impression of a high-quality, glossy publication; although a paperback, it is well bound and opens flat. The 177 photographs depict 150 species on 182 pages: almost one photograph to a page; some are bled right to the edge, giving variety of layout to correspond with the large variety of species portrayed. The subjects are beautifully shown, at a good size, and the quality of the reproductions is excellent: this book is a ‘must’ for any keen photographer; it is only very slightly marred by one plate (the Verdin in plate 152) being reproduced on its side. The order of species is that of the American Ornithologists’ Union. Each plate is accompanied by a very brief text written by the photographer himself, giving general facts concerning the species and a few personal points of his experiences with it. This photographic publication does not aim to be and is not a comprehensive collection of portraits of the birds of America. The photographs, however, represent the work of a dedicated naturalist over a lifetime; although many of them are over 30 years old, most would be difficult to better in mono- chrome even today. It is a delight to see such an excellent piece of work, which well illustrates the value of good black-and-white photography, all too easily overlooked in these days when all-colour books are not rare. At its low price, many of us will wish to own this fine book. Michael W. Richards Letters Gallocanta Lagoon, Spain: an appeal We should like to draw the attention of British ornithologists to Gallocanta Lagoon, a wetland in northeast Spain. This lagoon, the very existence of which is scarcely known outside Spain, has in recent years become increasingly important as a breeding and wintering area for wildfowl and other aquatic species. The lagoon is a brackish steppe lake lying at an altitude of about 1,000 m some 1 10 km southwest of Zaragoza. It is about 8 km long by 3 km wide, with a maximum depth of only about 2.6 m. One of us (AA) has published some preliminary data (in Spanish) about the lagoon (. Ardeola 20: 229). Until 1972, there was considerable disturbance by shooting, but in that year the shooting rights were acquired for a ten- year period by the Instituto para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza (IGONA), which strictly controlled the shooting and appointed two local guards. Thanks in no small measure to enlightened management by the Zaragoza ICONA chief, Emilio Perez-Bujarrabal, each subsequent year has seen an increase in the population of breeding and wintering waterbirds. In the former category, the 1977 figures for pairs included: 100 Black-necked Grebes Podiceps nigricollis, 300 Gadwalls Anas strepera, 365 Letters 366 250 Red-crested Pochards Netta rujina, 200 Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus , 100 Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta, 20 Gull-billed Terns Gelo- chelidon nilotica, and 100 Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybridus (in 1976, none in 1977). In winter 1977/78, there was a peak count of over 200,000 waterfowl, including 30,000 Red-crested Pochards, which, according to the figures given in BWP (in which Gallocanta is not mentioned), would represent half the total European population. Other recent developments have been the wintering of 100-200 Greylag Geese Anser anser and up to 600 Cranes Grus grus. These figures clearly show the importance of Gallocanta once a measure of protection has been achieved. The ICONA lease, however, runs out in 1982 and we are anxious lest what has been achieved so far be lost by lack of further action. Our first objective is to increase our knowledge of the lagoon’s avifauna, so that a proposal for future conservation based on sound facts can be made to the Spanish government. We should, therefore, be very pleased to hear from any British ornithologists (or naturalists of other specialisations) who would be prepared to spend some time seriously studying the lagoon. A stone refuge capable of sleeping up to eight persons is available and a few photographic hides and a tower for counting wildfowl have been erected. Anyone interested should contact one of us; we will provide further information and arrange for ICONA to issue the necessary permits. The mere fact that foreign ornithologists are asking for permits will in itself help us to obtain recognition of the site’s importance. Adolfo Aragues and Jeremy Brock P'1 Maria Agustin 2 8- A, Zaragoza- 4, Spain ; 20 Hamilton Drive, Glasgow Insect swarms deterring predation by birds In calm conditions, at about 19.00 GMT on 21st July 1974, near Stoke Newington Reservoirs, London, I watched several insect swarms above medium-height trees. They resembled twirling plumes of smoke, as if the tree-tops from which they arose were actually on fire. Such social swarming is less familiar than slower-moving, roughly spherical swarms under lower sites such as street lamps, small trees and overhanging hedges. Although not fully under- stood, it has primarily social and display functions; and, although the swarms may obviously be more or less excited and violent, there seems to be no reason why any of them should resemble small tornadoes. I suggest, however, that any small insectivorous bird would be deterred from flying near to these apparent vortices, and that the resemblance to a dangerous airflow may be an adaptation against predation. It is certainlv true that insectivores tend to avoid dense swarms and masses. Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus, Swifts Apns apus and House Martins Delichon urbica were all catching insects over the reservoirs, and a few bats (C.hiroptera) were hunting near the trees, but none ventured to the easy and obvious prey at the broad tops of the swarms in the actually calm air above the trees. L. J. Davenport 4 Church Street , lietchworth, Surrey Announcement /U'C YOC cover design competition The competition for members of the Young Ornithologists’ Club to design a cover for British Birds was won by Paul Spencer, of Horsham, West Sussex. His design ‘Lonely sky’ appears on the cover and is reproduced in black-and-white here. The judges of the competition, Robert Gillmor (honorary secretary of the Society of Wildlife Artists), Peter Holden (national organiser of the Young Ornithologists’ Club) and Dr J. T. R. Shanock (managing editor of British Birds), were unanimous in placing it this striking tern design in first place. The runners-up were, however, of such a high standard that the three judges considered that they all deserved to be mentioned in this announcement: R. Whittlestone of Penistone, South Yorkshire (three designs); Andrew Waddington of East Looe, Cornwall; David Raeburn of Buckhurst Hill, Essex; and Stefan Jordan of Maidstone, Kent (two designs). The winning artist, Paul Spencer, received a copy of The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (1976) and a year’s subscription to British Birds. Eds 367 Requests Marked gulls Herring Gulls Larus argentatus on the coast from Fife to Durham have been marked as follows: heads dyed yellow (but may have faded), one leg with two colour rings, the other with a BTO ring, and, on adults, a red ring with a yellow stripe. Details of sightings are needed: (i) date, time and precise location; (2) if an adult was sighted, were fledglings present, marked or unmarked, and vice versa for fledglings? (3) Did fledglings beg, and were they fed or attacked? (4) Were the gulls feeding, and if so on what? Please send information to Dr J. Graves and Dr A. Whiten, Gull Research Project, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife. Ring-necked Parakeets The main concentrations of the Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri in Britain are in southeast England, but there is now evidence of breeding elsewhere. Numbers have increased steadily for the last ten years, and in the last two the population in Kent has doubled to 100-200 pairs, with winter flocks of up to 45 on the Isle of Thanet and 69 near Bromley. The species has been imported in considerable numbers from Asia (and a few from Africa) in recent years; it is the commonest imported parakeet and also the cheapest, 134. Pair of feral Ring-necked Parakeets Psittacula krameri, Kent, winter 1977/78 ( Brian Hawkes) 368 Requests with pi ices as low as £8.00. Some escape; others are deliberately released either because people find that they do not make good pets or to produce attractive free-flying flocks. So far in Britain, Ring-necked Parakeets are concentrated mainly in the vicinity of human habitations, such as town parks and gardens, but also occur in farmland. There is no evidence that hard winters reduce their numbers, since, in the urban areas where most of them live, they have a choice of ample food put out by bird-lovers. They fre- quently visit garden bird-tables and nut feeders, usually in the early morning and late afternoon (plate 134). They rarely take food from the ground. In Britain, the breeding season is from February to June. The nest-site is normally high in a hollow tree or in a hole excavated by another bird, but they also enlarge existing holes with great gusto; they not infrequently take over nest-sites that would otherwise be used by native species later in the year. Damage in Rent has included eating tree buds and garden rose buds in spring, tearing flowers to pieces in summer and feeding on apples on the trees in autumn (their most frequent destructive habit). The time may come when it is necessary to classify them officially as pests. There are probably about 1,000 living ferally in at least 16 counties in England and Scotland; it is doubtful whether it would now be possible to exterminate them here. In the USA, similar problems have arisen with feral Monk Parakeets Mycop- sitta monachus, which are proving difficult to eradicate. An enquiry into the past and present status of the Ring-necked Parakeet in south- east England, including the numbers and damage done to garden and farm crops, is now being launched, with the support of the BTO and co-operation of D. J. Montier (6 Cloonmore Avenue, Orpington, Kent) who is collecting London area records. Please send details of autumn and winter flocks, bi'eeding records (including numbers of young reared and species of tree used), information about feeding from bird-tables and damage done in gardens, parks and agricultural areas to Brian Hawkes, 55 The Street, Newnham, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 oln. 369 Wintering Blackcaps During winter 1978/79, the BTO will be conducting a survey of wintering Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla in Britain and Ireland. The following information is needed for each sighting during the period December 1978 to March 1979: place, dates, sex, altitude, habitat (including urban/suburban/rural), food and feeding habits, aggres- sion and song. These details, together with any further relevant information, should be sent to Iain H. Leach, 18 Burness Avenue, Alloway, Ayr. News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett Honours In the Birthday Honours List, we were glad to note that Charles Tunni- cliffe has been created an OBE for his services to painting. He is best known to birdwatchers for his bird paintings, which were featured for many years on the covers of the RSPB’s magazine Bird Notes and its Christmas cards. John Barrett, has been made an MBE for his services to conservation. Originally a bird-and-butterfly man, but then, as warden of Dale Fort Field Centre since 1947, he specialised in marine biology and geo- graphy. Since retiring from that post, he has been much involved with the National Parks and his lecture-walks, on different aspects of the Pembrokeshire landscape and its people, on behalf of the National Parks Commission, have been immensely popular. We were also glad to hear that Stanley Cramp OBE has been further honoured, by the Zoological Society of London, which has presented him with the Stamford Raffles Award for his services to amateur ornithology. Captain H. R. H. Vaughan (RN), OBE, DL, JP Captain Vaughan died on 3rd June at his home at Cilycwm, Dyfed, at the age of 85. He would never have claimed 37o News and comment to have been a birdwatcher, but with his wife, Irene (herself a distinguished botanist), he organised protection for the small population of Red Kites in Wales from 1949 to 1971, when he handed over to the RSPB and the Nature Conservancy (Brit. Birds 66: 181-182). With Mrs Vaughan, he is the only person to have been awarded both the Silver and the Gold Medals of the RSPB for services to bird protection. His efforts, and those of his small ‘field committee’, with the help of the local police headed by the Chief Constable, Rowland Jones, Welsh farmers and local naturalists, who kept tabs on all vehicles entering the valleys, resulted in the increase in the number of pairs of Red Kites recorded breeding in Wales. Amberley Enquiry The end of March saw conservation bodies united at a Public Enquiry in West Sussex. A proposal for an extensive drainage scheme, put forward by the Southern Water Authority, was hotly contested by, among others, the Nature Conservancy Council, the RSPB, the BTO, the Wildfowl Trust, the Sussex Ornitholo- gical Society and the Sussex Trust for Nature Conservation. The ornithological case was put on behalf of all the wildlife conservation bodies by the RSPB. Evidence con- centrated on the international importance of the Wild Brooks for Bewick’s Swans and Shovelers and the area’s national impor- tance for Teal. It established that if the scheme went ahead the essential conditions upon which these species, and many others, depend would disappear. The farmers, it argued, could scarcely be blamed for taking advantage of grant-aided improve- ment of their land. The real problem lay with a government policy which allowed one public body (the Ministry of Agricul- ture) to provide cash for the destruction of vital wetlands, while another such body (the NCC) struggled to defend them. The conservation bodies urged that the proposal be turned down, believing that alternatives could be found which would take account of the farmers’ needs, at the same time preserving the vital scientific importance of the Wild Brooks. The Enquiry Inspector's findings will be exa- mined by the Secretary of State for the Environment, whose decision will be announced in due course. (Contributed by John O’Sullivan) The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Naturalists’ Trust Appeal This year, the Trust is launching an appeal for £100,000: money needed for it to play an effective part in the wildlife conservation of the two counties. The Trust was established in i960, and has made great progress towards this aim. It now manages 1,100 ha as natural reserves and employs two full-time wardens, at Farlington Marshes and on the new Lower Test reserve. The area controlled will soon rise to 1 ,400 ha as a result of a generous gift of woodlands on the edge of the New Forest. Reserves range from large expanses of chalk downland and tidal marsh to small ponds and copses. A full-time conservation officer was first employed in 1974 to over- see the general management of nature reserves and to co-ordinate the many volunteer helpers. For further information write to Bob Page, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Naturalists’ Trust Ltd, Princes Road, Romsey, Hampshire S05 8ds (telephone Romsey 513786). Nylon fishing-line For several years, the Young Ornithologists’ Club has been con- cerned about the amount of nylon fishing- line discarded by anglers along banks of rivers and around lakes. An amazing number of species are affected by these discarded lines, even Tawny Owl, Stone- chat, Robin and Reed Bunting. During the 1975/76 coarse fishing season, YOC members found and burnt 9.1 km of discarded line (Brit. Birds 69: 278). To coincide with the start of the next season, the YOC has planned a new project. Members are being asked to search the banks of open water for discarded nylon line or tackle, especially lead shot, to estimate the length of river bank they search, to measure any line found, and to count the number of pieces of lead shot. They should then burn the line, or send it to the YOC headquarters, where a ‘Black Museum’ will be prepared. The children are also being asked to look for fishing tackle left on the seashore, although these statistics will be kept separate. Since launching this project, the YOC has had the support of the National Federation of Anglers, who arc urging their members to be more careful; if the YOC proves that some stretches of river bank arc particularly affected by discarded fishing line, the NFA will take the matter up with the club News and comment responsible. Furthermore, the NFA will approach all nylon line manufacturers with a request that every spool carries a warning about the dangers of discarded nylon. Adult birdwatchers are invited to join in this project: the more line that is destroyed, the fewer the number of birds likely to become entangled. The ‘Cain and Abel’ mystery Why, in an eyrie containing two young Golden Eagles, does the first-born so often kill its younger brother or sister? And why does this also happen with a number of other eagle species ? The answer has eluded raptor biologists for years, but at least it is known from the large amount of research carried out so far that the phenomenon does not relate to poor food supply, to extra aggression ensuring survival or to innate aggressiveness or territoriality. A new idea was put forward by Dr Bernd- U lrich Meyburg a few years ago ( Ibis 1 1 6 : 224-228) when he suggested that the second egg acts as a ‘reserve’ or, in effect, that a species laying two eggs is more likely to breed successfully than one laying only one. This implies that eagles which lay two eggs should have better breeding success than those laying one. Now, three eminent raptor specialists working in Africa, Leslie Brown, Valerie Gargett and Peter Steyn, have tested this theory by comparing a mass of breeding data from ten species of African eagles — five which lay two eggs and five which lay one — and have published their results in Ostrich (48: 65-71). They found no significant difference between the breeding success of the two groups, and also noted that, in the case of Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii, probably the best studied eagle in the world, of 120 instances in which two eggs were laid, the second-egg-in-reserve theory would have held up in only three cases: in 1 10 the second egg was ‘wasted’. So, it seems that this theory joins all the others on the reject pile. It is difficult to believe that the ‘Cain and Abel’ battle is simply biological wastage — as it would seem to be — but the phenomenon is still completely unexplained. Golden Eagle killings A federal judge in San Antonio (Texas) has fined three people a total of $6,000 for conspiring to kill 70 Golden Eagles from a helicopter. The judge warned that further convictions would result in imprisonment. 371 ‘The Birds of Rostherne Mere National Nature Reserve’ A valuable account of the birdlife of Rostherne Mere and its surrounding area in Cheshire, covering the period from about 1900 to 1976. With 80 pages, eight photographs, seven line-drawings and a map, the publication includes a description of the area’s habitats, systematic accounts of each of the 199 species recorded, and bio- graphical notes on two well-known previous chroniclers of birdlife at Rostherne: T. A. Coward and A. W. Boyd. Obtainable, price £1.25 (£1.40 post paid), from Nature Conservancy Council, Calthorpe House, Calthorpe Street, Banbury, Oxon 0x16 8ex. ‘The English Sparrow in the American Landscape: a paradox in the nine- teenth century wildlife conservation’ Written by Robin Doughty (Research Paper 19, School of Geography, Mans- field Road, Oxford, no price given), this 36-page booklet is a useful survey of the reactions of experts and public opinion to the House Sparrow when it was deliberately introduced into the USA in 1851: everyone welcoming it as, erroneously, a caterpillar-eater, but finally regarding it as vermin. Professor Doughty measures its population growth in relation to developments in America, particularly to the problem of human immigration. Its success as a pest was the origin of a new department of Economic Ornithology. Environmental Directory The Civic Trust has produced a directory of national and regional organisations of interest to those concerned with amenity and the environment. This includes government departments and agencies, voluntary societies, professional institutions and trade associations. Addresses and telephone numbers are given, with a brief description of the function of each organisation and the services available. There are 285 organisa- tions included and the Directory is obtainable (£1. 20 plus 2op postage) from the Civic Trust, 1 7 Carlton House Terrace, London swiy 5AW. Recording death on the roads The Bedfordshire Natural History Society, greatly concerned at the vast number of birds and other animals killed on the road, appealed to its members to scour high- ways and byways for every animal, even 372 News and comment the squashed bits. Those taking part were warned to be careful: ‘We don’t want you to end up as a specimen.’ Then, in Maulden Woods, where goings-on in 1976 apparently necessitated the presence of the Police [Brit. Birds 69: 520), the collection was examined at an all-night meeting followed by a barbecue. Participants were reassured in advance that the specimens would not be barbecued ! Ups and downs The BTO staff have just completed analysing the 1977 Com- mon Birds Census returns. On farmland. Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis showed the greatest increase (index figures — com- pared in each case with 100 in 1966 — of 140 in 1976 rising to 202 in 1977); both partridges also improved: Red-legged Alectoris rufa (126 to 178) and Grey Perdix perdix (108 to 141). Although they marginally increased from the previous year, Garden Warbler Sylvia borin (30 to 42) and Whitethroat S. communis (28 to 33) were both still at very low levels com- pared with their peak values in 1968 ( 1 1 7 and no respectively). In woodland, Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major (221 to 233), Nuthatch Sitta europaea (no to 145) and Treecreeper Certhia familiaris (J30 to 164) all increased to their highest levels since the CBC started. Of scarcer species, the largest change was in the index for Redpoll Carduelis Jlammea (313 to 416). The only other species shown to be over four times as numerous now as it was in 1966 is Stock Dove Columba oenas (389 to 403). Data for Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto, however, were too few for analysis in 1966, so the index is based on 100 in 1972: this colonist continues to increase (308 to 353). The largest decrease was shown by Little Owls Athene noctua, after their highest level in 1976 (152 to 101). The importance and interest of the CBC are demonstrated even by these few examples. (JTRS) L. J. Yeatman We learn with great regret of the death of the man who achieved the impossible: Laurent Yeatman, mastermind and energy-source of the French Atlas. The new French delegate to the Euro- pean Ornithological Atlas Committee has yet to be named, but his successor as joint secretary of the EOAC is Dr Francisco Purroy, Facultad de Ciencias, Terccr Pabellon (Planta 9), Madrid-3, Spain. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of the editor of British Birds Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge These are largely unchecked This report covers May and the first part of June; except where otherwise stated, all dates refer to May. The cyclonic conditions of late April, with light winds and periods of cloud and rain, continued into the first week of May, reports, not authenticated records producing a scatter of displaced migrants down the cast coast of Britain. In contrast, the remainder of the month was anti- cyclonic, with predominantly northeast- erly winds, becoming very warm towards the end. Recent reports Raptors There was a good scattering of migrant Ospreys Pandion haliaelus through the eastern half of Britain as far north as Fair Isle (Shetland) during the spring, with a late one on the River Seven at Hartoft (North Yorkshire) on 10th June. Other large raptors of note included a Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus on Fair Isle on 2nd June and a Red Kite Milvus milvus at Prawle Point (Devon) on 20th. Terns and gulls There was an impressive inland passage of Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea during the first ten days (see Brit. Birds 71: 324). Information received so far indicates that this movement was quite widespread, but we should like to hear from as many areas as possible in order to build a more com- plete picture for the spring summary. The only odd terns reported to us were a White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus at Hornsea Mere (Humberside) on 13th, a Caspian Tern S. caspia off Fair Isle on 29th and — a rarity at the latter observatory — a Sandwich Tern S. sandvicensis on 12th. May is not normally all that brilliant for 373 odd gulls and the biscuit must go to the Laughing Gull Lams atricilla that was on Nant-y-Moch Reservoir on 19th and at Llyn Syfydrin Reservoir (both Dyfed) on the following day: perhaps the individual that overwintered in Cornwall was on the move ? A Sabine’s Gull L. sabini was seen off Prawle Point on 20th, and the only inland record of Mediterranean Gull L. melanocephalus was an immature at Fairburn Ings on 4th June. We have no details of the spring skua passage off the Hebrides as yet, apart from 46 Pomarine Skuas Stercorarias pomarinus moving north off Balranald on 23rd. Wading birds Many inland areas reported a poor spring passage of waders. There were few reports of Temminck’s Stints Calidris temminckii, although two turned up as far west as Bolton (Lancashire) on 21st. Single Broad- billed Sandpipers Limicola falcinellus were found at Breydon Water (Norfolk) on 8th and Minsmere (Suffolk) on 19th- 2 1st. Perhaps the wader species of the spring was Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, with ones and twos scattered through southeast England as far inland as Oxfordshire and Berkshire in April ; farther north, singles appeared at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) on 21st and Filey Brigg (Humberside) on 2gth-30th. More exotic was a summer-plumaged Sociable Plover Cheltusia gregaria near Ranskill (Nottinghamshire) on 30th, which was chased off by the resident Lapwings Vanellus vanellus almost as soon as it arrived and tried to live up to its name. On the following day, a Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola arrived at Fairburn Ings (North and West Yorkshire) for a two-day stay. Two Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia had flown east over the latter reserve on 29th and were undoubtedly the same as 374 two at Killingholme Point (Humberside) on the following day. Another had been at Martin Mere (Lancashire) earlier in the month, there had been one at Loch of Strathbeg (Aberdeenshire) in April, and Fairburn had another on 12th- 13th June. Single Cranes Grus grus were found at Marshside (Cheshire) on 7th and at Stodmarsh (Kent) on 20th-2ist. Passerines Hirundines arrived in force during May, but there are rumours from many areas that Swallows Hirundo rustica are down in numbers. An odd bird that arrived at Cruden Bay (Aberdeenshire) on 6th was considered to have been a hybrid Swallow X House Martin Delichon urbica. The eastern origin of scarce migrants on the east coast this May is reflected by more Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca than normal being reported from several sites. Wood Warblers Phylloscopus sibilatrix are rather scarce on passage : ten at Horn- sea Mere on 6th was a quite exceptional record there. Fair Isle had 320 Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe on 1st, a day when Flamborough Head (Humberside) reported 55 Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis. Later, on 24th, Fair Isle had 18 Red- backed Shrikes Lanius collurio and a Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia. There was a scattering of singing Savi’s Warblers Locustella luscinioides as far west as south Devon, and a migrant reached Flamborough Head on 6th. A male Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) on 27th was followed by an Alpine Swift Apus melba, two Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus and a Wood Warbler, all on 2nd June. Eastern Stonechats and Pallid Swift Perhaps the strangest records of the month were three male Stonechats Saxicola torquala showing characters of one of the eastern races. The first was at Flamborough Recent reports Head on 1st, amidst a fall of eastern migrants: this one was considered to be of the race stejnegeri, as was the second, which appeared at Donna Nook (Lincoln- shire) on 23rd. Flamborough produced another on 25th, which was photographed in the field and was considered to be of the race maura. It seems unlikely that these birds had reached western Europe from the east in spring: they had most likely moved west the previous autumn and were heading north. 135. Pallid Swift Apus pallidus , Kent, May 1978 {Jeff Pick) Yet another surprise turned up at the other end of England: a Pallid Swift Apus pallidus discovered at Stodmarsh (Kent) on 13th, which stayed for about two weeks. Although four have been claimed in Britain during the past four years, the species has not yet been admitted to the British and Irish list. The situation may now be rectified, as this one was seen by a multitude of observers, and even photographed in the field (plate 135). Latest news Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax : one Sheffield (West Yorkshire), six Blackmoor- foot Reservoir (West Yorkshire) ; White Stork Ciconia ciconia Ashford (Kent) ; five or six Spoonbills Cley (Norfolk), where also Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio, doubtless escapee ; Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Brcydon Water; Ring-Billed Gull Larns delawarensis Radipolc Lake (Dorset). British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 H OLID A Y A CCOMMODA TION FAIRWINDS, CARRBRIDGE, SPEY VALLEY, INVERNESS-SHIRE, SCOTLAND. Three Alpine bungalows to let and two country house flats — Fully furnished including linen, fridge, TV, Surrounded by woods. There is a small loch in the grounds. CRESTED TITS in garden. Special terms for Sept, and October. S.A.E. for details to Mrs Dunlop. Tel Carrbridge 240 (BB196) VILLAGE EDGE BODMIN MOOR. Spacious heated caravans, small quiet rural site. Own bathrooms/hot showers. Fresh produce, home cooking. Pets welcome. Brochure: Rivermead, St. Breward, Bodmin. Tel: St. Tudy 709 (BB197) NEAR BIDEFORD: a country hotel with lovely views across the River Torridge. Cordon Bleu cuisine, licensed, private bathrooms. Cliffs and estuary nearby. Yeoldon House, Durrant Lane, Northam, N. Devon. Tel: Bideford 4400. (BB198) COMFORTABLE bed and breakfast accommodation — overlooking harbour. Robertson, 1 Old Coastguard, Amble, Northumbria. Tel: Amble 710001. (BB199) ANGLESEY. Guesthouse, 25 yards beach. Every comfort. Dinner, bed and breakfast, packed lunches. Safe bathing, boating, birdwatching, walking, fishing, golf. Mrs Rivington, Cynfal, Ravens- point Road, Treorddur Bay, Anglesey, Gwynedd. Tel : 0407 860 078 (BB202) ISLE OF MULL. Dinner. B. & B. Detached house three minutes from harbour. Large garden. Children. Pets welcome. S.A.E. : Brenda Vernon, Strongarbh House, Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2328. (BB204) GLANRANNELL PARK HOTEL CRUGYBAR, LLANWRDA, DYFED AA ** RAC BIRDS HORSES FISH Kite country’s own commended country house hotel. The ideal centre for West Wales, easy reach of mountains and coast. RSPB, Trust and Conservancy reserves within easy reach, Buzzards, pied flycatchers, redstarts regular in our grounds. Resident Expert ! ! ! behind the bar. David and Bronwen extend a welcome to all. Please send stamp for our colour brochure to David Davis. (BB206) BED AND BREAKFAST in fully modernised farmhouse in Pembs. Nat- ional Parkland overlooking sea. H & C in bedrooms. Write to: Pugh, “Dyffryn”, Dinas Cross, Dyfed. S.A.E. please. (BB205) XVIIth CENTURY FARMHOUSE with fine views over Mendips. Bed and breakfast. Mrs Bcynon, Ubley Park House, Breach Hill, Chew Stoke, Avon. (BB191) BERWICKSHIRE— small hotel over- looking Coldingham Bay, St. Abbs Head, — Lammamuir Hills and Whiteadder Valley within easy reach. Write for brochure, The Sheiling Hotel, Colding- ham Bay. Berwickshire. (BB143) DARTMOOR. RSPB members offer quiet comfort, excellent food. Ideal centre, touring, walking, bird watching. Dartmoor antiquities. Transport for non-drivers. Brochure: Mrs White, Rcw Meadow, Belstone, Okehampton. Tel: Sticklepath 261. (BB125) BLAKENEY, NORFOLK. Comfortable, newly renovated, traditional flint and tiled cottages, sleep four, night storage heating, fully equipped, near bird sanc- tuary. S.A.E. for details: Mrs. Reeve, ioo Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex. Tel: Chelmsford 55210. (BB100) RADNORSHIRE A44 Comfortable holiday house, sleeps six, four bedrooms, garage, well placed for border country and mid Welsh hills. S.A.E. I. Price, Hill House, Old Radnor, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: Kington 8175 (STD 054 43). (BB166) NEAR LEIGHTON MOSS AND MORECAMBE BAY. Bed and break- fast, evening meal (optional). Mrs J. Lambert, 17 Cove Road, Silverdale, Lancs. Tel: 701696. (BB144) PEACEFUL ROYAL FOREST of Dean. Wye Valley area. Georgian Coun- try House “Adult” Hotel. Resident props who care. AA*, full CH. Excellent food and wines. Lambsquay Hotel, Cole- ford. Tel: 05943 3127 for brochure please. (BB190) NEAR PRESTEIGNE, POWYS: two self contained cottages and a flat, each sleeping four in modern comfort but in isolation and the seclusion of a private estate. Available all the year. Low winter rates. Mrs Bromage, The Estate Office, Barland House, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: Presteigne 296. (BB49) QUALITY SELF-CATERING accom- modation in North Yorkshire. All prices and sizes. Cottages, flats and houses. Also a large house in the Lakes. Details: Freedom of Ryedale, Ref. B, 8 Bondgate, Helmsley, York Y06 5BT. Tel: Helmsley 282. (BB188) FOR A QUIET RESTFUL HOLIDAY on the edge of Dartmoor. Blackaller House Hotel offers you ‘country house style’ comfort, good food, and personal attention. Licensed to residents. — Black- aller House Hotel, North Bovey, Devon. Pel: Moretonhampstead 322. (BB90) MOFFAT SW SCOTLAND. A paradise for ornithology, over 140 species within ten mile radius. Local expert available. For comfortable accommodation and home cooking stay with Kay & Martyn West, Hartfell House, Moffat DG10 9AI. Tel: 0683 20153. Send for brochure. (BB130) MINSMERE -COMFORTABLE AC- COMMODATION, hot and cold in all rooms ; packed lunches, evening meals to order (but not on Wednesdays), AA listed. I he White Horse Inn, Westleton, Suffolk. Tel: Westleton 222. SAE please. (BB154) LLEYN/SNOWDONIA — choice cotta- ges, sleep 5-9. i3ac. Llyn, Woodlands. S.A.E. Glasfryn Estate, Pwllheli. (076688203) (BB212) ISLES OF SCILLY. Centrally heated holiday flats. Open all year. S.A.E. for brochure to : Mrs M. Nicholls, Sea- Waves, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. Tel: Scillonia 752. (BB213) GALLOWAY, three miles Balmaclellan. Will sleep four. For further particulars: Hodgson, Barnshalloch, Balmaclellan. Tel: New Calloway 248. (BB214) HANDY LEIGHTON MOSS, Lakes/ Dales. Lovely walks. Open always. B. & B., evening meal optional. Home baking, your warmth and comfort assured. S.A.E. please: Manwaring, Yew Tree House, Silverdale. Tel: 701532. (BB2.7) ISLES OF SCILLY situated on the main island of St Mary’s, a quiet family- run hotel. Central heating in public rooms, most rooms with private bath- room. Bar and good food. Write or phone, Hotel Godolphin A. A. * * * Scillonia 316 (07204). (BB220) ORKNEY. Use our comfortable family- run guesthouse, overlooking the Loch of Stonness, as a hide. Brochure from Kcld- roseed, Sandwick, Stromness, Orkney. Tel: Sandwick (Orkney) 628. (BB75) IV British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-240 1101 HOLIDAY CARAVAN to let on beauti- ful small island: 4 berth. No dogs please. S.A.E. for details: Coleman, Papa Stour, Shetland. Tel : Papa Stour 234. (BB 1 89) ISLE OF COLL. One of the smaller quieter, Inner Hebrides with bird life in abundance. The hotel is open all year, centrally heated, fully licensed. AA RAC MAY WE SEND YOU OUR BROCHURE? The Isle of Coll Hotel, Arinagour, Isle of Coll, Argyll PA78 6SZ Tel: Coll (08793) 334 (BB163) PERFECT FOR HAVERGATE, close to Minsmere. Log fire and warm bed- rooms. 1 6th century Inn by the River Ore. B&B, food. “The Jolly Sailor”, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Tel: Orford 243 (BB96) WEYBOURNE. Beautiful coast and birdwatching country. Modern fully equipped and well furnished bungalow. Sleeps 4-5. S.A.E. Ansell, 3 Bunyans Walk, Harlington, Beds (BB209) KING’S ARMS HOTEL CASTLE DOUGLAS Tel: 2097 AA** RSAC** RAC** Egon Ronay Recommended Fully licensed. Open all Year Castle Douglas is the perfect centre for birdwatching in roman- tic Galloway. Birdwatchers will receive a 10% reduction to the room charge from November until April. Proprietors : Iain and Betty MacDonald For Brochures write to: B. MacDonald (BB211) NEAR ULLSWATER, Dinner B. & B. for 2/3 in 17th c. cottage; private bath- room; TV; £6.25 p. p. per day. Thom- son, Parcey House, Hartsop, Penrith, Cumbria. Tel. Glenridding 413. (BB210) LLEYN/SNOWDONIA. Rural Cottages sleep 5-9. Free May, Sept., Winter lets. 400 ac. woods, 13 ac. lake, sea cliffs, s.a.e. Glasfryn Estate, Pwllheli. 076 688203. (XBB86) SCOTTISH BORDERS. Self-contained holiday cottage sleeps 6-8. Fishing and walking in beautiful countryside with wide variety of wildlife. From £35 p.w. Apply with S.A.E. Willis, Watcarrick, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Tel: Eskdalemuir 230. (BB103) ARCH HOUSE, Mill Road, Wells, Norfolk. Attractive, comfortable rooms in an interesting listed building. B&B £4.50. Evening meal if required. Wells 696. “ (BB219) WESTER ROSS, near Ullapool. Mod- ernised cottage fully equipped, except linen and towels, to let weekly. Ideally situated in an area of the Highlands renowned for its many fascinating and varied wild birds. For further particulars apply to Smiths Gore, 7 The Square, Fochabers, Moray. Tel. No. Fochabers 820213. (BB221) CAIRNGORMS — Nethybridge, com- fortable modern holiday houses/con- verted smithy. Excellent birdwatching area. S.A.E. please to Mrs Patrick B.B.S. 1, Chapelton Place, Forres, Moray. Tel: 2505. (BB227) Upper Nidderdale near Gouthwaitc Reservoir. B&B, E.M. Poole, The Bungalow, Heathfield, Pateley Bridge, North Yorks. Tel: 0423 71 1530. (BB229) V For the discerning birdwatcher seeking proximity to reserves, tranquility, gourmet food and personal service. Try “Copper Beech”, 22 York Avenue, Hunstanton, Norfolk (048 53) 2707 Prop. J. Smart. S.A.E. for brochure (BB228) ESKDALE — Bunkhouse for four, self- catering, in the heart of Eskdale, £25.00 per week. Easy access to Scafell range. Birdwatchers, climbers, fellwalkers welcome. S.A.E. Eskdale Vicarage, Boot, Holmrook, Cumbria CA19 iTF. Eskdale 242. (BB226) SNOWDONIA National Park, Nr Dolgellau, Gwynedd. Cottage, coach- house and bungalow all modernised, sleep 4-6. Peaceful, not isolated, in beautiful surroundings. Open all year. S.A.E. to Mrs P. Richards, Caerynwch, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2RF (XBB225) PEMBROKESHIRE COAST National Park. Try an Autumn or Winter break in comfortable country cottages ad- joining the Rosemoor Nature Reserve. Full gas-fired CH. £17.28 pw for two — £21.60 pw for six. “Rosemoor, Walwyn’s Castle, Haverfordwest. (BB230) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS in UK. Individual attention. Stamp please to Derek Tutt (Barn Owl Travel), 27 Sea- view Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 4NL. (BB200) BIRDS IN AUTUMN with M. H. Me Sweeney, 3-5 November 1978. Details from Curator, UWIST Field Centre, Newbridge on Wye, Powys, LDi 6NB £10 per person. (BB201) WILDLIFE IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. Inclusive week-long holi- days from £100, including return rail travel from London. Write for illustrated brochure to: Caledonian Wildlife Services, 2 Kingsmills Gardens, Inver- ness IV2 3LU. (BB72) KENYA: BARINGO BIRD & GAME SAFARIS LTD. Individually Tailored Escorted Safaris. Private Tented Camps, Foot Safari, Coast, Sports: Choice is yours . . . Flexible too! (No package tours). U.K.— A. Wootton, 10 Lucas Way, Shefford, Beds. (i2p stamp). (BB187) SPAIN BIRD WATCHING HOLIDAYS English Ornithologist living remote central Spain offers one week bird watch- ing for parties 3 or 4 friends April May June 1979. Accommodation, own house. Expeditions by Range Rover. Expect to see 1 20/ 1 50 different species, including most rare birds of Iberian Peninsular such as Eagles (5) Vultures (3) other Raptors (9) Bustards (2) Sand Grouse (2) Eagle Owl Stocks (2) many Ducks Waders, etc., £280 person/week all inclusive. Please write Tom Gullick, 15 Stanley Road, Brighton, Sussex. (BB208) HOLIDA YS/ TOURS FALKLAND ISLANDS and Argentina. 24 days escorted tour. Small group depart Oct/Nov. Superb wildlife, seals, penguins, petrels, albatross, geese, etc. Varied scenery, coast, islands, moun- ains, glaciers, lakes, tundra. £1,300. Sequoia Holidays, 1 Beech Avenue, Southbourne, Bournemouth, BH6 3ST. (BB207) BOOKS BIRDS AND NATURAL HISTORY books — new and secondhand bought and sold — mail order only. Dernam Books, Addlestead, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. (XBB46) BOOKS ON BIRDS New and Second- hand, Catalogue 2op, surplus bird books urgently sought open Thursday to Saturday, Bird Books of Sevenoaks, House of Seal, Church Street., Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: Sevenoaks 62155. (BB194 ' RARE and out-of-print ornithological and natural history books for sale Catalogue sop. Books on all subjects purchased. Blest, Broomscroft, Water- ingbury, Maidstone, Kent. (BB203) v BIRDS IN CUMBRIA 1977/78. £1 (inc p. and p.) from Malcolm Hutcheson, Garden Cottage, Sizergh Castle, Kendal. LA8 8AE. (BB215) ESSEX BIRD REPORT. 1976. £1.40 post included. D. J. Weston, 78 Wood- berry Way, Walton-on-Naze, Essex, CO 1 4 8EW. (BB216) ORNITHOLIDAYS’ GUIDES in the “Let’s Look at ... . ’’series. Majorca, S.W. Spain, The Camargue, Montenegro Eastern Austria, Southern Morocco, Vancouver and the Rockies, and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). £1.50 per copy. Orni- tholidays, 1/3 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex. (BB218) THE PHEASANTS OF THE WORLD. Jean Delacour, new 2nd edition. 7 pages in full colour. 434 pages. This standard work covers the 49 species. One of the fine bird books of this century. £19.50 post paid. From bookshops or Spur Pub- lications, Saiga Publishing Co. Ltd., Hindhead, Surrey (Hindhead 6141). (BB114) COLLECTING BIRD STAMPS by Christine E. Jackson. Colour frontis- piece, many text illustrations. 128pp. £3.80 (postage 36p). H. F. and G. Witherby Ltd., 5 Plantain Place, Crosbv Row, London SE 1 iYN. (BB178) COURSES (Residential) AUTUMN COURSES at nine resident- ial centres in England and Wales include ‘A Country Harvest’ in Snowdonia, ‘Evolution by Natural Selection in 1978’ in Somerset, ‘The Badger’ in Shropshire and ‘Exploring the Stour Valley’. Also several on Bird Study and many other subjects. The average fee is £52.00 per week. For full details write to the Information Office (BBF), FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL, Preston Montford, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury SY4 iHW. (BB193) FOR SALE EXCLUSIVE DESIGN: BRITISH BIRDS BINDERS Original-design, leather look binders in our distinctive green are now available at a cost of £2.50 each. The binders, which should last you many years, have an easy-to-operate system of metal rods for swift and secure insertion of your copies. Each binder, which holds a complete volume (one year’s copies), has the British Birds motif embossed in gold on the spine. These binders will prove invaluable either for storing the current year’s issues before orthodox binding or as a permanent method of storing your collection. To order your binder(s) simply write, enclosing £2.50 per binder (overseas US$5.00), to: British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire BG21 2XS, England. (BB.67) EQUIPMENT. Leading makes of Ruck- sacks. Tents, sleeping bags, etc. Dis- counts on all items and post free, send s.a.e. for lists to: W. G. Needham, Market Hall. Wakefield, WFi iPP. (BB161) RICHARD RICHARDSON Litho Prints still available. 1977 Annual Report includes photo R.A.R. £1.00 P.P. Details: Norfolk Ornithologists, Association, Aslack Way, Holme next the Sea, Hunstanton, Norfolk. (BB222) SOUTH AFRICAN SHERRY £1 6.22 per dozen bottles £1 7.52 per assorted dozen bottles R ENAS AN S (Pale Dry) ONZERUST (Medium Dry) M Y M E R I N G (Pale Extra Dry) GOLDEN ACRE (Rich Golden) Prices include VAT and delivery UK Main- land. Write for details of other Cape Wines JEFFERY PHILLIPS (Wine Merchants) LTD 22 STATION STREET. LYMINGTON. HAMPSHIRE S04 9BA (BB70) British Birds Volume 71 Number 8 August 1978 325 Rough-legged Buzzards iu Britain in 1973/74 and 1974/73 R. E. Scott 33** Variations in Herring (lulls at a Midland roost R. A. Hume 345 Recent inc reases of Blackcaps at bird observatories Derek R. Langslow 355 Mystery photographs D. 1. M. Wallace 356 Personalities 16 S. C. Madge John R. Mather Notes 357 Storm Petrels chasing albino P. J. Roberts 358 Shag’s defence against Alsatian dog Bernard Kin « 358 Parasitic worms causing deaths of Mute Swans J. If. Macdonald , /). Lea and CL A. Hamilton 359 One Little Owl preening another F. Haverschmidt 360 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers apparently dismembering dead nestling to remove it from nest Dr Kevin Carlson and Mrs Christine Carlson 360 Some insect food of nestling Swallows K. (L V. Smith and //. C. I'. Newton 362 Roosting of Long-tailed Tits Robert T. Smith 362 Great Grey Shrikes feeding young on peanuts and bread P. Creates 363 Magpie killing Swift C.. B. Putman 363 Starling breaking off leaves to feed on aphids Dr A. P. Radford 363 Pine Bunting in Highland .V. Tucker and Mrs /.. .1. Tucker Review 365 Cruickshank's Photographs of Birds of America by Alan 1). Gruiekshank Michael W. Richards Letters 365 Gallocanta Lagoon, Spain: an appeal Adolfo .1 r agues and Jeremy Brock 366 Insect swarms deterring predation by birds /.. J. Davenport Announcement 367 YOC cover design competition Requests 368 Marked gulls Dr J. Craves and Dr A. Whiten 368 Ring-necked Parakeets Brian Hawkes 369 Wintering Blackcaps Iain H. Leach 369 News and comment Peter Cornier and Mike Everett 372 Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge Line-drawings: Rough-legged Buzzard on page 325 ( A. Baldridge ) ; Herring Gulls on page 338 ( R . A. Hume); Blackcap on page 345 (Ray Turley) ; Osprey on page 373 (R. A. Hume) ; Honey Buzzard on page 373 ( S . C. Madge); Broad-billed Sandpiper on page 373 (R. A. Hume) ; Lapland Bunting on page 374 ( Robert Gillmor) Front cover: voc com ic di.sk, n winni.r ‘Lonely sky’ (Paul Spencer) Printed by Henry Burt & Son Ltd, College Street, Kcmpston, Bedford MK42 8na Published by Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London \vc2R 31.F British Birds Volume 71 Number 9 September 1978 Breeding ecology of the Merlin Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal Personalities: Dr Stephanie Tyler Mystery photograph • Notes • Reviews • Letters Rarities Committee news and announcements News and comment . Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr J. T. R. Sharrock D. I. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £12.00; rest of world US $19.50 or equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG2 1 2xs, England.) UK Post Office Giro Account No. is 519 2455. Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to : Advertisement Department, British Birds, 3 Dyers Buildings, London ecin 2nr {tel: 01-831 6901/5) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Shorter contributions, if not typed, must be clearly written and well spaced, and notes should be worded as concisely as possible. Authors of papers and notes should consult this issue for style of presentation (especially for systematic lists, reference lists and tables). Tables must cither fit into the width of a page or into a whole page length- ways, and should be self-explanatory. English names of birds should have capital initials for each word, except after a hyphen, but group terms and names of other animals and plants should not. Both English and scientific names of birds, and the sequence, follow The ‘British Birds' List oj Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). English and scientific names of plants follow John G. Dony el al. (1974, English Names of Wild Flowers). Scientific names (underlined) should appear immediately after the first mention of the English name. Dates should always take the form Tst January 1978’, except in tables where they may be abbreviated. Figures should be numbered with arabic numerals, and the captions typed on a separate sheet. All line-drawings should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper, drawing paper or board (not of an absorbent nature) or, where necessary, on light blue or very pale grey graph paper. It is important to consider how each drawing will fit into the page when reduced. Any lettering or numbering that is an integral part of a text-figure should be inserted lightly in pencil. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive 25 free copies of the journal (15 each to two authors, ten each to three to six. and five each to seven or more). News and comment Peter Conder, 1 2 Swaynes Lane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7EF Rarities Committee Michael J. Rogers, 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex twi6 7TP © Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photographers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF {tel: 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 WILD GEESE THE HEN HARRIER M A Ogilvie Donald Watson 352 pages 16 colour plates, drawing and distri- 304 pages plus 4 colour plates, drawings, maps button maps £ 7.80 net and diagrams. £6.80 net THt ATLAS OF BREEDING BIRDS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND J T R Sharrock ( ed ) 480 pages, drawings and over 250 maps, 2nd impression. £10.00 net WATCHING BIRDS James Fisher Ft Jim F/egg 160 pages plus 8 plates, drawings and diagrams. £2.80 net DUCKS OF BRITAIN AND EUROPE M A Ogilvie 208 pages plus 1 6 colour plates, drawings and distribution maps. £5.00 net PINE CROSSBILLS Desmond Nethersoie-Thompson 256 pages plus 1 6 plates and a colour plate, drawings and diagram £5.00 net FLAMINGOS Janet Kear Ft N Dup/aix-Ha/i ( eds ) 256 pages plus 7 colour and 48 monochrome plates, drawings and diagrams. £8.00 net FLIGHT IDENTIFICATION OF EUROPEAN RAPTORS R F Porter, ian Willis, B P Nielson Ft S Christensen 2nd edition, 184 pages plus 80 plates, over 300 drawings £6.00 net BIRDWATCHERS' YEAR Leo Batten, Jim F/egg, Jeremy Sorenson, Mike J Wareing, Donald Watson Ft Malcolm Wright 351 pages plus 12 plates, drawings. £4.60 net BIRD OBSERVATORIES IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND Roger Durman {ed) 292 pages plus 16 plates. £5.00 net BREEDING BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND John Pars low 272 pages, drawings and 225 distribution maps. £4.60 SEVENTY YEARS OF BIRDWATCHING H G Alexander 264 pages plus 8 plates, drawings. £4.60 net SCARCE MIGRANT BIRDS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND J T R Sharrock 192 pages plus 12 plates, drawings and maps. £3.80 net RARE BIRDS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND J T R Ft E M Sharrock 336 pages, illustrated throughout. £6.00 net T. & A. D. POYSER 281 HIGH STREET, BERKHAMSTED, HERTS (BB242) 1 BARBOUR ALL WEATHER CLOTHING AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 34 in to 48 in Price Price Solway Zipper £32.95 £29.65 Gametair Jacket (lined) £31.25 £28.10 Gamefair Stud-on-hood £4.30 £3.85 Durham Jacket £24.70 £22.20 Threequarter Coat £25.75 £23.15 Gamefair Trousers S, M. 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Kurzi AG, CH 8840 Einsiedeln - Switzerland (BB244) 11 British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 1978 Unlike the majority of ornithological journals, British Birds is not the organ of a club or society. With no captive audience, continued publication must depend upon satisfied readers renewing their subscrip- tions each year. Thus, it is vital to ensure that the journal’s contents not only justify its existence by their scientific worth but are also interesting and entertaining. We neither criticise nor envy some other journals, the contents of which are of acknowledged scientific importance, but which are often so specialised that they have limited appeal. Our aim is to main- tain variety in British Birds, with numerous features in addition to the main papers, so that, for everyone, every issue contains something of interest. Receipt of over 1,100 replies to the readership survey questionnaire in the June issue has enabled us to assess the wishes of subscribers. A majority of readers considered that every feature was either ‘about right’ or should be given more space, but there were marked differences between ‘new’ subscribers (the one-third who have been readers for only one or two years), those who have taken the journal for three to nine years (another one-third) and old hands of ten or more years’ standing. To take ‘Mystery photographs’ as an example, 78% of new subscribers like it as it is and 16% want more, while only 4% want less and a mere 2% would like the feature dropped; in contrast, the percentages among ‘old’ subscribers are 67% ‘same’, only 4% ‘more’, but 12% ‘less’ and as many as 1 7% want it discontinued. We can, however, please 70% of all subscribers by keeping it at its present level. Adjustments will, however, be made to the space devoted to some other features as a result of the survey. Colour plates are expensive and we have no ambition to try to compete with the magnifi- cently illustrated RSPB magazine Birds, but we shall include occasional colour photographs. Even before the survey, we knew that our present policy was mainly approved: the number of subscribers has increased by 58% in the past two years, to reach its highest ever level. Of course, this huge circulation increase also reflects considerable promotional effort by our colleagues in Macmillan Journals Ltd. 375 Editorial 376 As promised in our last general editorial two years ago (Brit. Birds : 237"23^)> Macmillan Journals Ltd froze the subscription price of British Birds, despite large increases in costs. The dramatic growtla in the number of subscribers since then has not only made it possible to have an enlarged and improved journal, but now makes the inevitable price rise less than it could otherwise have been. Furthermore, the reduced rate concession to members of a number of bird clubs and societies, including the RSPB, means that British Birds is now available to many ornithologists at less than it was over three years ago. To sum up, we now know what our readers want and shall try to provide it. We intend to do our best to ensure that BB improves, but that it retains its present general form and remains excellent value. We rely on your continued support to achieve these aims. Breeding ecology of the Merlin in Northumberland I. Newton , E. R. Often elusive on its breeding grounds, the Merlin is still perhaps the least well-known of all our falcons Anly meagre information has been published on the Merlin Falco ” columbarius in Britain since the pioneer study by Rowan (1921-22); but the species is widely thought to have been decreasing since at least the turn of the century (Parslow 1967), and is known to have suffered from organochlorine contamination in recent years (Newton 1 973a) . The Merlin shows as much shell-thinning and as much organochlorine residue in its eggs as the more widely publicised Peregrine F. peregrinus and Sparrow- hawk Accipiter nisus (Ratcliffe 1970, Newton 1973b, Newton & Bogan I974)- addition, much of its traditional open breeding habitat in the uplands of Britain has been converted to plantation forest. The species thus seemed in need of detailed study. [Brit. Birds 71 : 376-398, September 1978] Breeding ecology of the Merlin 377 1 his paper describes the habitat, breeding, food and movements of Merlins in Northumberland, based on observations during 1961-76 by members of the Northumbria Ringing Group. The uplands of Northum- berland fall into three main regions: (1) the Northern Pennines south of the Tyne Gap; (2) the Border Forests and Cheviots north of the Tyne Gap; and (3) the eastern Fell Sandstone Ridge (fig. 1). In general, these uplands are gently contoured hills, and such rocky crags as occur are mostly small and inconspicuous. Earlier this century, the Northumbrian uplands supported two main habitats: open grasslands under sheep and heather moors managed for Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus. These areas were kept largely devoid of trees by grazing and burning, but isolated trees occurred here and there, and some small copses were planted to provide shelter. Large-scale aflfore- 30 miles 0 10 20 30 40 50km Fig. 1 . Part of northern Britain, showing land over 800 feet (244 m) on which Merlins Falco columbarius breed (all shaded areas), Northumberland study areas (darkest shading), and ringing recoveries (open circles, May to July; filled circles, August to April). One more recovery was obtained south of area shown Breeding ecology of the Merlin station began in 1927 at Kielder, and by 1970 more than one-quarter of the land over 300 m had been planted, mainly in the southern Cheviots. In recent decades, therefore, these uplands have supported three main habitats. In the study area, Merlins nested in trees, on small crags or on the ground among heather Calluna vulgaris. They used the same traditional nesting areas in different years (confirming Seebohm 1883, Rowan 1921- 22 and others). The term ‘nesting area’ is used here for the precise localitv where Merlins bred, and the term ‘nest-site’ for the situation of the nest. ‘ esting aieas usually contained more than one potential nest-site. When occupied, they might equally well be called ‘nesting territories’, because they were used by only one pair at a time, which kept away other Merlins. Not all nesting areas were occupied in the same year, and some may have been alternatives of particular pairs and their successors. Moreover, nesting areas did not necessarily contain the main hunting areas, and we could not discover whether the hunting areas of different pairs were mutually exclusive. Observations and prey remains showed that falcons often flew farther to hunt than the minimum distance between nests. Methods Knowledge of nesting areas was built up over many years, by regular searching of hill country, checking likely places and following up the records of other observers. Occasional visits to breeding habitat were made in autumn and winter, and some nesting areas were found then, by signs left from the previous summer. In early years, the main objective was to ring the young, so not all nesting areas were visited at an early stage in the season. Samples were therefore biased in favour of successful nests, which survived longest. The number of known nesting areas was increased in 1973 by the use of information gleaned from the data labels of clutches in museum collections. For this, checks were made in nearly all the main museums in Britain. It is likely, however, that there are some nesting areas in the county of which we remain ignorant. Each year from 1974, all known nesting areas were visited in April, before laying, and again in May, when eggs were expected. These visits provided more complete information than hitherto on the number of areas which were occupied each year and on the number in which nesting was attempted. All nests found were visited at least a third time, in late June or in July, to check on success and to ring the young. Survival of young to the age at which they could be ringed (usually at least two- thirds grown) is here taken as successful fledging. Also, any nesting areas where the first nest had failed, but where adults were still present, were revisited to check for repeat clutches, although none was found. During these routine visits, prey remains were also noted, and unhatched eggs were collected for examination of organochlorine levels and shell-indices. I he compounds assessed included DDE (the main terminal metabolite of the insecticide DDT), PCB (industrial polychlorinated biphenyls) and HEOD (from the insecticides aldrin and dieldrin). Chemical analyses were those described by Newton & Bogan (1974), and shell-indices were Breeding ecology of the Merlin 379 measured as described by Ratcliffe (1970). Three eggs were also examined for mercury levels. Movements of Merlins were studied from recoveries of birds ringed as nestlings. Habitat and nest-sites Merlins were not found breeding in extensive well-grown forest, only in open sheep walk, heather moor or young plantations; and, in the last, all occupied nests were within 1 km of open land. Many nests were in small valleys near the headwaters of streams, or on rough hillsides, with small crags and boulders. The attractiveness of such places seemed to depend as much on their position in the general landscape as on the presence of suitable nesting and perching places. They generally offered a wide view over neighbouring terrain. Where ground-nesting occurred, the nearby boulders used for perching and for plucking prey became splashed with conspicuous white droppings. In narrow valleys, some of these perches were at the same level as the nest on the opposite hillside. There was usually a direct flight line from perches to nest. Isolated trees used for nesting were often in similar situations, near the head of a stream or on a hillside, and nearby crags and rocks again served as perching and plucking places. When nesting in copses, however, Merlins often accepted fairly flat, featureless areas, and used branches in the trees for perching and plucking. Six main types of nest-sites were distinguished, but the various crag and ground sites tended to grade into one another: (1) on the face of a low crag, either on a bare ledge or in an old stick nest of Ravens Corvus corax ; 136. Site of nest of Merlin Falco columbarius in heather bank (just left of centre), Northum- berland (I. Newton ) 38° Breeding ecology of the Merlin 137. Site of nest of Merlin Falco columbarius among heather on top of large boulder, Northumberland (I. Newton ) (2) among heather on top of a low crag or bluff; (3) among heather on top of a huge boulder; (4) among heather or under the branches of young conifers on a slope; (5) among heather on flat featureless ground; and (6) in an old stick nest of Carrion Crows C. corone in an isolated tree or a copse. No nests were found in bracken Pteridium aquilinum or other herba- ceous vegetation. These various sites differed in the protection they offered against mammalian predators. Tree nests offered complete security, as did two of the three boulder sites used. All other sites could be reached by such predators, including those on crag ledges, but some of the nests among heather were extremely well hidden. Ground nests were also vulnerable to treading by sheep. The use of different nesting areas is examined in table 1 in relation to the types of nest-sites they contained. Some nesting areas offered more Table 1. Use by Merlins Falco columbarius of nesting areas containing different types of nest-site, Northumberland 1974-76 One nesting area checked in one year = one ‘Opportunity for nest to be found’. Variation among site types significant only at 10% level (y| = 10.67) Nest-site Opportunities for nest to be found NESTS FOUND No. % Tree 57 23 40 Boulder top 6 2 33 Crag top I I 4 36 Crag ledge 20 3 '5 Slope 15 1 49 32 Flat i» IO 56 Several 8 5 (>3 TOTAL 271 96 (35% 381 Breeding ecology of the Merlin than one kind of site, and, in at least three areas, the nest was in a tree in one ycai and on the ground in another (even though the tree-site was always available). The tendency for nesting areas based on certain kinds of site to be occupied more frequently than others was significant only at the 10% level (x| = 10.67). Within each nesting area, the nest itself was changed in position from year to year, sometimes by more than 100 m, depending partly on the availability of suitable tree nests or ground vege- tation. 1 he ci ags used by Mbrhns tended to be only up to a few metres high. Largei crags in the area — many of which offered complete security from 138. Copse in open sheepwalk containing tree nest of Merlin Falco columbarius in old nest of Carrion Crow Corvus corone, Northumberland (/. Newton) mammalian predators — were almost always occupied by Kestrels F. tinnunculus, or in some instances in former years by Peregrines. Neither of the smaller species nested close to Peregrines, but, on some crags, Kestrels and Merlins commonly nested simultaneously, sometimes within 30 m of one another, the Kestrel on the higher part and the Merlin on the low part at one end. In only two instances in 16 years did the two species lay eggs in the same scrape (in different years). The two species also some- times nested within 30 m of one another in old nests of Carrion Crows in trees, and, with a surfeit locally available, were unlikely to compete for such nests. No evidence was found that Merlins built proper nests. Ground nests, however, were scraped out, and small pieces of heather and other stiff vegetation from within reach were often placed in the hollow, occasionally forming a substantial lining. This began before laying and continued into incubation. Nibbling of thick heather stems by the sitting bird also occurred at many ground nests. 382 Breeding ecology of the Merlin Recent changes in suitability of former nesting areas From a total of 37 areas known to be used for nesting in 1880-1940, at least 25 were used in 1971-76. They provided a further illustration of the long use of nesting areas where change in environment was not marked. Of the 12 that were not used in 1971-76, seven were judged as still suitable, and five as no longer suitable. Two of the latter were in terrain previously covered by long heather, but in 1971-76 heavily grazed and under short grass; the third ground site had been thickly afforested with spruce Picea\ a fourth was greatly disturbed by rock climbers; while the fifth was on a fiat heather moor next to a busy road, and very much disturbed. Thus, the disuse of three former nesting areas was associated with changed land- use and two with increased human presence. These figures indicated how many former nesting areas had become unsuitable in recent decades; but they did not indicate how many places formerly not suitable have since become so. In addition, three other nesting areas used in the early years of the present study were not used in later years, after they became over- grown with trees; at a fourth area, which became much disturbed by picnickers, the Merlins found an alternative site several hundred metres away. Spacing, and nesting densities Only for two small tracts of mixed heather moor and young forestry plantation were we reasonably certain that all recently used nesting areas were known, and that all occupied nests were found in 1974-76 (fig. 2). In the first tract of 30 km2, 13 previously used nesting areas were known. During 1974-76, the numbers at which signs of Merlins were found in April in each year were five, three and five; and the numbers at which a nest was subsequently found were four, two and two. These were equiv- alent to densities of 13, seven and seven nests per 100 km2 in the three years. In the second tract of 41 km2, eight previously used nesting areas were known. The numbers at which signs of Merlins were found in April were four, four and six in 1974-76; and the numbers at which a nest was subsequently found were four, one and four: equivalent to densities of ten, three and ten nests per 100 km2 in the three years. In both areas, most nests were separated by distances of 1.0 to 1.6 km, but some were up to 4.8 km apart. Once, three pairs nested at the corners of a triangle 1 .0 to 1 . 1 km apart. The shorter distances were not as close as known nesting areas would have allowed, but were perhaps as close as Merlins were prepared to nest in these conditions. The longer distances were often in terrain devoid of suitable intervening nest-sites. Behaviour Each year, male Merlins were present on particular nesting areas at least from late February, and were joined later by females. If successful in breeding, the pair remained into August, when their young became independent. Pairs which failed usually left the immediate nesting area within a few days. Breeding ecology of the Merlin 383 Fig. 2. Spacing of nests of Merlins Falco columbarius in two areas of Northumberland in which all nests were known. Upper area covers 30 km2 and shows nest distribution in 1974; lower area covers 41 km2 and shows nest distribution in 1976 On the nest, most Merlins were tight sitters, and left only when an observer was within a few metres. Once in the air, some then left the area silently, and others flew around noisily in wide circles; the loud calling of the female often attracted the male, who flew around at a greater distance. While some pairs demonstrated against people from before egg- laying and throughout the season, others did so only when they had small young. Merlins also attacked any large birds that flew over their nesting area: behaviour which sometimes helped us to locate a pair. 384 Breeding ecology of the Merlin The roles of the sexes in breeding was assessed by noting which partner was present at each visit. In the pre-laying period (in April), both sexes, the male alone and the female alone were seen on the nesting area on 31, 21 and 33 occasions respectively. Thus, at this stage, neither sex was present significantly more than the other. Of 22 Merlins flushed from nests in the laying period, six (27%) were blue-backed males; of 97 put off in the incubation period, 33 (34%) were blue-backed males; and, of 29 put off in the nestling period, none was a blue-backed male. The ratio of brown-backed (yearling) to blue-backed (two years or more) males in the breeding population was 1:17 (figures for 1976 only), so it seemed reasonable to conclude that males did less than half the daytime incubation, and none of the brooding of young. This should be viewed in relation to Rowan’s (1921-22) finding that, during a single night of ob- servation, the male incubated throughout. Our figures for the male: female ratio in the incubation period were almost identical to those ob- tained in the same way in Newfoundland by Temple (1972). In all except two instances when males were put off eggs, the female was seen to be present in the nesting area at the same time; but, while the female brooded, the male was seldom present, unless attracted by her calling. Even when the young were too large to brood, the female was usually near the nest, and again her calling sometimes attracted the male. Of nine Merlins seen away from the nest during the laying, incubation and nestling periods, all were blue-backed males. Possibly, brown- backed males (except for the small proportion that bred) were absent from the breeding habitat at this time. In conclusion, the female did about two-thirds of the incubation and all of the brooding of the young, and stayed on or near the nest, at least until the young were large; the male participated substantially in incubation, and also hunted away from the nest. This was a less marked division of labour than in the case of the Sparrowhawk, the males of which do not incubate (Newton 1973b). Numbers Only in 1974-76 were all known nesting areas checked from the start of the season (table 2). In general, at little over half were signs of Merlins found in the pre-laying period in April. Such signs varied between areas, from a single plucking or dropping to lots of pluckings, droppings, pellets and demonstrative adults. Nests were subsequently found at less than two- thirds of the areas at which signs had been found in April (table 2). Consistently fewer, however, of the known nesting areas in region 2 (the Border Forests/Cheviots) were used compared with those in regions 1 (Northern Pennines) and 3 (Eastern Fell Sandstone Ridge). This was perhaps because of the greater density of nesting areas in region 2, from which the birds could choose. On some nesting areas used in April, but on which no nest was found, Merlins were still present in May. Probably, they did not nest; but, des- pite thorough searches, we could not exclude the possibility that a few had nested and failed at an early stage. Such individuals were not present at later visits. Breeding ecology of the Merlin 385 Table 2. Occupation of nesting areas and nest success of Merlins Falco columbarius, Northumberland 1974-76 Nesting area defined as: where Merlins known to have nested in past and still apparently suitable; a few were so close together that unlikely to be used in same year. Droppings, pellets, pluckings or sightings of birds in April/early May all taken as signs of usage NESTING AREAS No. at No. at at which at No. of nest- which which No. at which LEAST I YOUNG ing areas No. nest eggs at least 1 FLEDGED Year Region checked used found laid egg hatched No. 0/ /o 1974 Northern Pennines 15 12 6 6 6 6 100 Border Forests/ Cheviots 54 27 16 16 I I I I 69 Eastern Fell Sandstone Ridge l6 !4 I I I I 10 10 91 TOTAL 85 53 33 33 27 27 82 •975 Northern Pennines 15 I I 7 7 7 7 IOO Border Forests/ Cheviots 57 26 16 16 13 12 75 Eastern Fell Sandstone Ridge 18 10 7 7 5 5 7i TOTAL 90 47 30 30 25 24 80 1976 Northern Pennines 19 •3 7 7 3-4 3-4 43-57 Border Forests/ Cheviots 59 28 •5 H 12 I I 73 Eastern Fell Sandstone Ridge 18 >4 I I I I 6 6 56 TOTAL 96 52 33 32 21-22 20-21 61-67 GRAND TOTAL 271 •52 96 95 73-74 71-72 (74-75%) There was considerable constancy during 1974-76, both in the numbers of known nesting areas at which signs of occupation were found in April, and in the numbers of nests in May. This constancy held for the total number of nests found (33, 30 and 33 in the three years), and for the num- bers in each of the three regions (table 2), even though some different nesting areas were used in different years. Of 55 known nesting areas used at least once in 1974-76, 14 were used in all three years, 13 in two years and 28 in only one year. Breeding Some 3% of all newly worked nests were empty when first found, and provided no indication of whether eggs had been laid. In the remaining nests, clutches consisted of three to five eggs (once six) and broods con- sisted of one to five young, mostly three or four (table 3). Complete failures were usually recorded as the breakage, disappearance, desertion or addling of clutches, or as the predation (when remains were found) or disappearance of broods. The first category probably included some clutches broken by parents (shell-thinning occurred) and others broken by predators (perhaps following desertion), while clutches and broods which disappeared probably included losses to both natural and human 3^6 Breeding ecology of the Merlin Table 3. Breeding performance and causes of complete nest-failure of Merlins Falco columbarius in Northumberland in three periods, 1961-76 Eggs probably not laid’ might include pairs which laid and lost their eggs at early stage. Comparing the three periods, significant improvements occurred in proportions of nests which produced young (x2 = 9-25> P < 0.01), and in proportions of broods which contained more than three young (xa = 6.39, P < 0.05) NESTS IN WHICH No. in which No. in which AT LEAST I No. nests eggs at least 1 YOUNG FLEDGED Period found laid egg hatched No. 0/ /o 1961-70 36 35 18 l8 50 «97i-73 50 46 35 30 60 1974-76 96 95 73-74 7'-72 74-75 All years 182 176 126-127 I 19-120 65-66 FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTIONS AND MEANS CLUTCHES BROODS Period 3 4 5 6 Mean 1 2 3 4 5 Mean 1961-70 0 9 7 O 4.44 5 2 16 6 3 3.00 «97i-73 2 18 •3 O 4-33 6 3 9 13 2 3.06 1974-76 6 22 28 I 4.42 0 n 18 24 12 3-57 All years 8 49 48 I 4.40 11 16 43 43 17 3-30 CAUSES OF COMPLETE NEST-FAILURE Eggs Nestlings prob- Eggs taken by Female ably broken by Eggs Eggs human or died not parent or Eggs desert- Eggs tramp- natural (egg- Period laid predator taken ed addled led predator bound) Unknown 1961-70 I 3 I 0 4 I O I 7 1 97 1 -73 4 6 2 0 1 0 5 O 2 1974-76 I 7 •3 1 O 0 2 O (1) All years 6 6 16 1 5 • 7 I 9-10 predators. The analyses of nest success set out below were based only on nests found at the pre-egg or egg stages, and followed through. If nests not found until a late stage had also been included, they would have biased the sample in favour of success. Breeding performance in different years The years 1961-76 saw a progressive decline in organochlorine usage in Britain. To find whether any change in nesting success occurred during these years, the data were divided (after first being checked to be sure that they were sufficiently homogeneous within each period to warrant these groupings) into 1961-70, 1971-73 and 1974-76 (table 3). Com- parison of these periods showed that significant increases occurred in the proportions of nests that were successful (P No significant differences in the proportions of nests that were successful, in mean clutch size or in mean brood size, occurred between nests in three altitude zones (less than 300 m, 300-400 m and more than 400 m above sea level) . Nor were any significant differences found between the records from the three upland regions. Breeding performance in different types of nest-site Highly significant variation occurred in the proportions of nests which were successful in different types of sites. This resulted mainly from the high success of nests in trees (94% successful), and in the relatively low 3^8 Breeding ecology of the Merlin Table 4. Breeding performance of Merlins Falco columbarius in different types of nest-site, Northumberland 1971-76 ‘Tree’ sites were in old nests of Carrion Crows Corvus corone ; ‘boulder top’, ‘crag top’ and ‘flat’ sites were in heather; ‘crag ledge’ sites were exposed and include some on bare ledges and others in old nests of Ravens C. corax ; ‘slope’ sites were in heather or young trees. Three nests excluded: two reported by other observers without note of site, and one fate unknown Significant variation occurred between different types of nest-site in proportions of nests which successful (x| = 29.8, P 29 29 94 4.27 3.22 Boulder top 4 3 3 3 75^ Crag top 7 6 1 I 14 Crag ledge 8 8 3 2 25 ► 4-41 3-44 Slope 84 81 63 57 68 Flat 9 9 7 7 78j TOTAL >43 .38 106 99 (69%) 4-39 3.40 success of nests on crag tops and crag ledges (table 4). This was in turn associated with differences in the incidence of predation, nests in trees suffering the fewest losses and those on open crag ledges the most. The two failures recorded in tree nests were due to known parental egg- breakage and Carrion Crow predation respectively, and in the latter case the eggs may have been deserted first. The tall ground-cover in which some Merlins nested evidently offered more protection than crag ledges. The latter sites were more open, easily seen by crows and easily accessible to mammal predators. No trends in success were apparent between nests on the flat and on slopes, nor between different kinds of slope situation (tested in a preliminary analysis). The high success of nests in heather on flat ground was surprising, although they were in relatively few, well-hidden and well-keepered nesting areas. From these results, it appears that almost all the complete failures after laying in the period 1 97 1 -76 were due to predators. Foxes Vulpes vulpes and stoats Mustela erminea were suspected as culprits, but chiefly because they and Carrion Crows were the only predators that were common, rather than from direct evidence. Only one nest was destroyed by trampling, presumably by sheep. The effectiveness of the Merlin’s nest defence against Carrion Crows was shown by the fact that in most places where Merlins nested successfully in trees there was also a pair of crows. No significant differ- ences were found between clutch and brood sizes in nests in different situations. Breeding performance in different habitats Data were grouped according to whether the main land-use within 1 km of the nest gave rise to short grassland, to heather or to young conifer plantation. Cases where the area around the nest was split about equally Breeding ecology of the Merlin 389 Table 5. Breeding performance of Merlins Falco columbarius in different habitats, Northumberland 1971-76 Significant variation occurred between habitats in proportions of nests successful (x|= 9-9> P<0.oi); this resulted from the high success of nests in grassy sheepwalk, which were nearly all in trees Habitat No. nests found No. in which eggs laid No. in which at least ' egg hatched NESTS IN WHICH AT LEAST I YOUNG FLEDGED No. % Mean clutch- size Mean brood- size NESTS IN TREES No. % Grassy sheepwalk 19 19 19 19 100 4.30 3-42 17 89 Heather moor 65 62 46-47 43-44 66-68 4.40 3-34 13 20 Young forestry plantation 43 41 30 27 63 4.42 3.46 I 2 Forestry plantation/ open land *9 19 13 12 63 4-33 3-42 0 0 TOTAL 146 141 1 08- tog 1 01- 1 02 (69-70%) 4-38 3.40 31 ( 21%) between plantation and open grass or heather were grouped into a fourth category. Nesting success was much better on the short grassland than in any other habitat (table 5) : all 19 nests found in such sheepwalk in 1971- 76 produced young. This, however, was because almost all the nests involved were in trees, which also offered the most secure nest-sites (see above). Tree nests in other habitats did just as well. No difference in mean clutch and brood sizes occurred between habitats. To summarise, nesting success improved between the 1960s and 1970s, associated with less organochlorine usage. 1 he major natural influence on success was apparently the nest-site : tree nests being significantly more successful than ground or crag nests. In these last two situations after 1970, predation was apparently the main cause of complete failure. Partial failures Depletion of some otherwise successful clutches occurred from the addling, breakage or disappearance of eggs or the deaths of young (table 6). Nest- ling mortality, however, was rare up to the age of ringing; it was recorded for certain in only six out of 102 successful broods in 1971-76, and account- ed for less than 2% of all young hatched. Post-fledging mortality The young remained in the vicinity of the nest for a fortnight or more after fledging and were at least partly dependent on their parents. Over the years 1961-76, 16 successful territories were visited ten to 14 days after the young had fledged. In all cases, young were still present, with an average of 2.8 seen per territory. Compared with the 3.3 young per brood at the time of ringing, this suggests a 15% l°ss over this peiiod, but this estimate is maximal because not all fledged young were necessarily seen. In the five of these territories in which the young were seen both before and after they left the nest, the total was 15 at the first visit and 14 at the second: a loss of only 7%. 390 Breeding ecology of the Merlin Table 6. Partial losses in successful nests of Merlins Falco columbarius, North- umberland 1971-76 Mainly at egg-stage All eggs hatched Depleted by egg-addling Depleted by egg-breakage or loss Depleted by egg-addling and breakage/loss Uncertain whether depleted by loss of egg or small chick Uncertain whether depleted or not total (clutches in which at least one egg hatched) No. clutches/ broods 4* 1 14 9 3 13 -9 109 Mean no. eggs/young lost per nest o 1 .2 '•9 '•7 1 .0 Mainly at nestling stage All young fledged Depleted by nestling mortality Uncertain whether depleted by loss of egg or small chick Uncertain whether depleted or not total (broods in which at least one young fledged) o 1 .0 Organochlorine and mercury levels in eggs Unhatched eggs from 13 clutches in 1973-75 were analysed for residues ol DDE, PCB and HEOD. All these eggs showed little or no develop- ment, and most came from nests in which at least one young fledged. With each clutch represented once by average values, the mean DDE content of the 13 clutches was 137 ppm in lipid (range 35-225), the mean PCB content was 1 16 ppm (range 41-189), the mean HEOD content was 13 ppm (range 3-26), and the mean shell-index was 1.011 0.022. With such small samples, and wide variation between clutches, it was not possible to check whether any difference in organochlorine levels and shell-indices occurred between these eggs and the 12 obtained from various parts of Britain in the 1960s (Ratclifle 1970). The shell-indices, however, were 22% lower in our eggs than the pre-DDT mean of 1.293 ± 0.012, P < 0.00 1. Three eggs from different clutches were also analysed for mercury, and levels of 0.25, 0.26 and 0.39 ppm in fresh weight were found. Food Almost all ol more than 500 prey items found near nests during April to July were birds, but, on three occasions, the wings of a few moths were found (northern eggars Lasiocampa quercus calluuae and emperors Saturnia pavonia ), and once a small vole (Cricetidae) and a bat (Chiroptera). Insect prey were almost certainly underrepresented by this method. About 82°, , of the bird prey consisted of species less than 50 g in weight, and 67% was of species less than 30 g. I he heaviest commonly taken prey was the Fieldfare Turdus pilaris (about 140 g). In early spring, an adult Red Grouse was found plucked in one territory and two small feral Rock Doves Columba livia in others, but these seemed large prey for a Merlin. Breeding ecology of the Merlin 391 and may have been killed by another species; the two doves were at places where Peregrines had nested in the past. Only one young Red Grouse was found, but nestling pipits Anthus on several occasions. The commonest prey species was the Meadow Pipit A. pratensis, which comprised 48% of all birds recorded; this was followed by the Skylark Alauda arvensis (12%), Starling Sturms vulgaris (4%), Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs (4%) and Fieldfare (4%), but at least 40 species were recorded. The importance of Starlings to breeding Merlins may have been under- estimated because of the small number of records after mid July, when Starlings began to flock on hill grassland. About 83% of all prey were classed as ‘open country species’, and 17% as ‘woodland species’; many of the latter could have been taken as they left cover to forage on nearby open land. The proportion of woodland prey did not differ significantly between nests surrounded mainly by grassy sheepwalk, by heather moor, by mixed forestry plantation and open land, or by forestry plantation; Table 7. Composition of diet of Merlins Falco columbarius according to main land-use within 1 km of nests, Northumberland April-July 1974-76 Grassy Species sheepwalk Heather moor Mixed forestry plantation/ open land Forestry plantation ALL AREAS No. % Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 10 101 24 109 244 48 Skylark Alauda arvensis 7 25 10 20 62 12 Starling Sturnus vulgaris 8 8 3 3 22 4 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 4 12 2 I 19 4 Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe O 7 2 3 12 2 Other song-birds1 4 10 4 6 24 5 Snipe Gallinago gallinago 0 13 2 I 16 3 Other waders2 I 4 2 I 8 2 Other birds3 0 3 O 2 5 I Total ‘open-country’ birds 34(85%) 183(85%) 49(79%) 146(81%) 412 83 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 2 5 0 15 22 4 Goldcrest Regains regulus I 3 6 3 13 3 Song Thrush T. philomelos 2 3 0 4 9 2 Other song-birds4 1 22 7 13 43 9 Total ‘woodland’ birds 6(15%) 33(15%) 13(21%) 35(19%) 87 17 'Included House Martin Delichon urbica , dree Pipit Anthus tnviahs , Pied Wagtail .Motacilla alba, Wliinchat Saxicola ruhetra. Ring Ouzel T Urdus torquatus, Mistle Thrush T. viscivorus, Linnet Carduelis cannabina, Snow Bunting Pleclrophenax nivalis, Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus. "Included Golden Plover Pluvial h apricaria, half-grown Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Dunlin Calidris alpina, Redshank Tringa totanus. "Included fledgling Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, adult and young Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus, feral Rock Dove Columba livia, small white dove Streptopelia. 'Included Wren Troglodytes troglodytes, Dunnock Prunella modularis, Robin Erithacus rubecula, Blackbird Turdus m-rula. Redwing T. iliacus, ChifTchaflf/ Willow Warbler Phylloscopus collybita/trochilus, Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos cauditus, Marsh Tit Purus palustris, Great Tit P. major, Treecreeper Certhia familiaris, Greenfinch Carduelis chi iris, Goldfinch C. carduelis, Redpoll C. flammea, Crossbill Loxia curviroslra, Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula. 392 Breeding ecology of the Merlin and Merlins nesting in young plantations were still dependent chiefly on open country prey (table 7). Movements Of 394 Merlins ringed as nestlings in 1961-76, 23 (6%) had been recovered by the end of 1976, 19 in the period August to November, two in March, one in May and one in June. They were all in northern Britain, 18 of them within 100 km of their birthplace, but in various directions (fig. 1). All except the May bird were on farmland or sea-coast, at lower ele- vation than their breeding areas. The chance of birds being recovered in the uplands in winter were small, but, since Merlins were hardly ever seen there between October and February, there was probably a general movement to low ground for the autumn and winter. The earliest re- covery on low ground of one ringed as a nestling was on 8th August, but others followed on 14th, 21st, 23rd and 24th August. The recovery in June was a five-year-old on the sea-coast near Bridlington: possibly a failed breeder which had left the hills early. In all, 16 were recovered in their first year, two in their second, one in its third, two in their fourth, one in its filth and one in its ninth. This last is the oldest Merlin recovered under the BTO ringing scheme and also the farthest recovery of a North- umbrian Merlin (280 km SSE). In general, these various recoveries give a similar impression of movements to that demonstrated by Mead (1973) for the whole British population, except that those from Northumberland did not disperse exclusively to the south, and none was recovered on the Continent. Discussion Nesting areas and nest-sites The habit of Merlins to nest in the same restricted areas year after year was stressed by Seebohm (1883), Walpole-Bond (1914) and others. In some cases, such areas in Northumberland were used over periods of 70 or more years. Many similar places looked as suitable to the human eye, yet were not used. The same point was stressed by Rowan (1921-22) in his Yorkshire study, and has parallels in Peregrines and other falcons (Ferguson-Lees 1951, Ratcliffe 1972, White & Cade 1971, Newton 1976). In some species, continued occupancy has been attributed to the return of the same individuals, each partner attracting a new mate to the site after the death of its previous mate. In the Merlin, however, this cannot always be the explanation. Continued use was the rule in Rowan’s (1921-22) area, even though both partners were shot year after year, and never raised young, so that recolonisation was by fresh pairs each time. Further, in a Canadian study with marked birds, individuals did not necessarily use the same nesting areas in successive years, although males were more faithful than females (Hodson 1975). Probably, there- fore, the nesting places have some feature of importance to the falcons which is not obvious to the human observer. Any bird settling to breed will normally be constrained to a limited area by the presence of other territorial individuals and, within this area, 393 Breeding ecology of the Merlin will probably choose the best potential nesting place available. In this way, some continuity of use is ensured. Tradition, however, may also be involved, since part of any year’s breeding population will normally have bred in the area in previous years — or perhaps have been present as non-breeders — and will presumably be aware of several nesting places in use then. If such birds selected known places, they would also restrict the choice available to newcomers, a further factor encouraging con- stancy in distribution from year to year. A bird may on balance stand more chance of breeding successfully if it settles in a known and well- tried place than if it attempts to nest somewhere new. Thus, there might be some resistance in the population to establishing new nesting areas. Land-use artel habitat Owing to the heavy grazing pressure, the vegetation on sheepwalk was generally too short to permit ground nesting; the disuse of two out of five former nesting areas was attributed to a shift in emphasis from Red Grouse to sheep. The fact that almost all nests on sheepwalk were there- fore in trees meant that nesting success was much better there than in areas where ground nesting was prevalent. It was surprising that more of the Merlins in other habitats did not use trees. Over the area as a whole, trees containing old Carrion Crow nests were not in obviously short supply, but the restriction of Merlins to traditional nesting places might have limited the extent to which these were utilised. Also, many of the trees were on streamsides, sites not generally favoured by Merlins. Large-scale afforestation of open land has led to the loss of both nesting and feeding areas. Merlins continued to use traditional nesting areas in planted land until the trees reached thicket stage, shaded out the ground cover and made it difficult for the birds to reach the ground. Until this stage, Merlins continued to nest in the spaces between the trees, either in heather or under low conifer branches. To retain their wide view, they abandoned the low perches previously used, in favour of the tree tops. Because only some of the traditional nesting areas in Northumberland were occupied in any one year, more could probably be lost without causing any general reduction in breeding population from the levels found in 1974-76. More serious, perhaps, might be loss of foraging habitat caused by tree growth. To judge from species taken as prey, Merlins depended mainly on open areas for hunting, even when nesting in a forested land- scape. Furthermore, the forest at Kielder covered an area 30 km by 20 km, yet no Merlins were found breeding more than 1 km from the edge, which again implied that access to open land was important. If afforestation continues, there could presumably come a stage when insufficient open land is left to maintain the population at its recent level, through loss of both nesting and feeding areas. In sheltered places, trees were planted to 1,500 feet (457 m), but in most places to 1,300 feet (396 m). Only 3% of the Merlin nesting areas known to us were above 1,500 feet and only 19% were above 1,300 feet. Thus, the afforestation of all but the high tops would probably destroy more of the recently used nesting areas. In 394 Breeding ecology of the Merlin Kielder, some nesting areas were saved accidentally because they were on ground unsuitable for ploughing, and so were left unplanted and occasionally incorporated into larger open areas to form fire breaks. Merlins were hardly ever seen in areas clear-felled within the forest. These conclusions, on the dependence on open land for feeding, fit with findings from elsewhere in the range. Merlins breed most commonly on tundra, steppe or prairie and, in boreal forest, are found only near openings provided by extensive bogs and lakes, and wide river valleys (Bent 1938, Dementiev & Gladkov 1954). The general movement of Merlins to low ground for the winter pre- sumably occurred because the hill country was almost devoid of suitable prey at that season. More curious, however, was the failure of Merlins to nest in certain farmland areas, even though there were nesting sites in trees and open land for hunting. Elevation as such cannot have been important, because breeding occurs often on low-lying mosses in Lanca- shire and Cumberland and on coastal sand-dunes in south and north Wales, northwest Devon and Aberdeenshire (Brown 1974, Parslow 1967, R. Rae in lilt.). Most likely, it was due to the scarcity on farmland in summer of suitable open-ground prey, especially pipits. In winter, several small prey-species were present in flocks in open fields, but, even at this season, Merlins are largely concentrated in coastal and other very open areas. The disappearance of breeding Merlins from parts of the Canadian prairies was associated with the reduction in prey following cultivation (Hodson 1975). Numbers and breeding performance Low nesting-densities seem general in all areas where Merlins have been studied, both in Eurasia (Rowan 1921-22, Hagen 1969, Dementiev & Gladkov 1954) and in North America (Bent 1938, Temple 1972, Hodson 1974), although in some regions this was evidently due to shortage of nesting sites. The maximum densities of ten and 13 nests per 100 km2 found in the two Northumberland areas may be compared with the eight nests per 100 km2 found in Yorkshire by Rowan (1921-22) and calculated for Orkney by IN from data supplied by E. Balfour (un- published). In the three years in which appropriate data were obtained, breeding numbers were relatively stable, which agrees with the earlier findings of Seebohm (1883), Rowan (1921-22) and others over longer periods. The Merlin thus parallels other raptors which live on a wide range of prey- species (Newton 1976). That part of the study period in the 1970s was also characterised by lack of hard winters or other extremes likely to cause general population crashes of small birds. At about 37% of all nesting areas where signs of occupation were found in April, no nest was found in May. Possibly, some nests had failed at an early stage, and remained unfound despite a thorough search, but this is unlikely to have accounted for more than a small fraction of cases. Such signs in April could have been produced by those which (a) later bred at another site, (b) attempted to breed, but did not reach the laying Breeding ecology of the Merlin 395 stage, or (c) were unable to find a mate, although some at least were pairs including a blue-backed, adult male. Interestingly, ‘failure’ before egg-laying also occurred on 37% of territories occupied in Hodson’s ( 1 975) Canadian area. 140. Female Merlin Falco columbarius feeding young in old nest of Carrion Crow Corvus corone in hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, Dumfriesshire, June 1973 ( Robert T. Smith ) After egg-laying, most failures were apparently due to mammalian predators, although organochlorine compounds were also involved (as found in previous studies: Fox 1971, Temple 1972, Newton 1973a). In a large sample of eggs from Canadian Merlins, Fyfe et al. (1976) concluded that DDE levels of 100 ppm in lipid (calculated from a wet weight value of 6 ppm, assuming 6% lipid) and shell-indices of less than 1. 1 72 were generally associated with decreased production of young (but did not necessarily entail the failure of the whole clutch). Eggs from ten out of 13 Northumberland clutches had DDE levels greater than 100 ppm in lipid, and 11 out of 13 clutches had shell-indices below 1.172. PCB levels were also generally higher in the Northumberland than in the Canadian eggs. Organochlorine compounds were therefore likely to have reduced the number of young produced by at least some of the Northum- berland pairs. Compared with the Canadian Merlins and with other falcon species (Lincer 1975), the shell-thinning of the Northumberland eggs seemed excessive in relation to their DDE contents, and in relation to the incidence of egg-breakage. The mercury levels in the three Northumberland eggs examined were considerably lower than in most Canadian eggs (Fyfe et al. 1976). They were also lower than the levels found to be associated with reduced productivity in experimental Pheasants Phasianus colchicus (Borg et al. 39^ Breeding ecology of the Merlin 1 969) • There is thus no reason to suppose that mercury seriously in- fluenced the breeding of these particular Merlins. Early egg-collectors claimed that British Merlins often renested if their first clutch was taken soon after completion (e.g. Walpole-Bond 1941). Most failures in our area probably occurred too late in the season for much repeat laying, but it is strange that none was found. Possibly, a few of the nests that we took for firsts might have been repeats, following very early failures. Also, if any had renested in another area, they would probably have been missed because areas that were vacant at the May visit were not rechecked the same year. Such behaviour — if it occurred would have been analagous to the familiar Peregrine tactic of shifting to an alternative cliff when renesting. Otherwise, we have no explanation for the apparent lack of repeat laying, except for the lateness in the cycle at which most failures occurred. Acknowledgements Over the years, most members of the Northumbria Ringing Group helped in this project; but the intensive coverage of recent years would have been impossible without the great efforts of a few people. Foremost among these were J. A. Ginnever and L. G. Macfarlane, who covered the north and southwest of the county respectively: they spent innumerable hours in the field, and without their efforts the picture would have been far less complete. C. Jewitt and W. G. Johnson were also dedicated Merlin hunters and provided invaluable help for several years; but when, in 1976, pressure of work forced them to spend less time in the field, A. M. Bankier, G. Christer and R. Temple stepped in with competent help. Our thanks also go to the various landowners and tenants on whose land the Merlins nested. In this respect, special mention should be made of the Forestry Commission, who gave us unrestricted access to the land under their jurisdiction. For information on Kielder Forest and other help, we thank S. J. Petty; for analysing the eggs for organochlorine content, J. Bogan; and for drawing the maps, J. A. Gammie. For constructive comments and discussion of the manuscript we are grateful to Dr D. Jenkins. Dr M. Marquiss and Dr D. A. Ratcliffe. Finally, we thank the World Wildlife Fund for their support, and for grants in 1974-76 which largely offset our transport costs and made the intensive coverage possible. Summary This paper summarises work on Merlins Falco columbarius in Northumberland in the period 1961-76 and includes details of success from 182 nests. The falcons nested in the same restricted areas in different years, either in trees (in old nests of Carrion Crows Corvus corone ), on small crags, or on the ground among the heather Calluna vulgaris. Males in- cubated for about one-third of the daylight hours and the females for the rest; but only females brooded the young. In 63% of known nesting areas on which signs of Merlins were found in April, nests were found in May. The nesting population was almost constant over the three years for which good records were obtained (33 nests in 1974, 30 nests in 1975, 33 nests in 1976). A significant improvement in the proportions of nests which produced young, and in the proportions of broods containing more than three young, occurred between the periods 1 961-70, I97,*73 ar|fl I974"7®- This coincided with a reduction in the use of organo- chlorine compounds in Britain as a whole. Nonetheless, substantial levels of DDE and PCB were found in recent eggs, and were thought to have depressed breeding success. Shell-thinning was marked. In 1971-76, significantly higher proportions of tree nests produced young compared with crag and ground nests. This was associated with the greater accessibility of crag and ground nests to mammalian predators, which in these years were probably the main cause of nest failure. A significantly better success of nests in grassy sheepwalk compared with heather moor and young forestry plantation was linked with the fact that almost 397 Breeding ecology of the Merlin all the nests on sheepwalk were in trees. Clutches consisted of three to five eggs, once six; and broods consisted of one to five young, mostly three to four. No difference in mean values occurred between different habitats or different types of nest-sites. Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis formed 48% of the prey found near nests during April to July, but at least 40 bird species were recorded in all. About 83% of such prey were classed as ‘open country species’, and this proportion did not differ significantly between nests surrounded mainly by sheepwalk, heather moor or conifer plantation. Although Merlins nested commonly in young plantations (but not mature ones), they thus de- pended largely on open land for foraging. On a large scale, afforestation ultimately entails the destruction of some nesting areas, and much feeding habitat. The historical data are too few to tell whether afforestation has reduced the breeding population at Kielder. Merlins moved to low ground for the autumn and winter. Most recoveries were within 100 km of the birthplace, and in various directions, but mainly near the coast. The oldest bird was in its ninth year. References Bent, A. C. 1937-38. Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey. Part 2. New York. Borg, K., Wanntorp, H., Erne, K., & Hanko, E. 1969. Alkyl mercury poisoning in terrestrial Swedish wildlife. Villrevy 6: 301-379. Brown, R. H. 1974. Lakeland Birdlife. Carlisle. Dementiev, G. P., & Gladkov, N. A. 1954. Birds of the Soviet Union, vol. 1. Moscow. Ferguson-Lees, I. J. 1951. The Peregrine population of Britain. Bird Notes 24: 200-205, 309-3 1 4- Fox, G. A. 1971. Recent changes in the reproductive success of the Pigeon Hawk. J. Wildl. Manag. 35: 122-128. Fyfe, N. W., Risebrough, R. W., & Walker, W. 1976. Pollutant effects on the repro- duction of the Prairie Falcons and Merlins of the Canadian prairies. Canad. Field- Nat. 90: 346-355. Hagen, Y. 1969. (Norwegian studies on the reproduction of birds of prey and owls in relation to micro-rodent population fluctuations.) Fauna. 22: 73-126. (Norwegian, with English summary.) Hodson, K. A. 1975. Some aspects of the nesting ecology of Richardson’s Merlin ( Falco columbarius richardsonii) on the Canadian prairies. M.Sc. thesis, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Lincer, J. L. 1975. DDE-induced eggshell-thinning in the American Kestrel: a com- parison of the field situation and laboratory results. J. Appl. Ecol. 12: 781-793. Mead, C. J. 1973. Movements of British raptors. Bird Study 20: 259-286. Newton, I. 1973a. Egg breakage and breeding failure in British Merlins. Bird Study 20: 241-244. 1973b. Studies of Sparrowhawks. Brit. Birds 66: 271-278. 1976. Population limitation in diurnal raptors. Canad. Field-Nat. 90: 274-300. & Bogan, J. 1974. Organochlorine residues, eggshell thinning and hatching success in British Sparrowhawks. Nature 249: 582-583. Parslow, J. L. F. 1967. Changes in status among breeding birds in Britain and Ireland. Brit. Birds 60: 2-47. Peakall, D. B. 1976. The Peregrine Falcon and pesticides. Canad. Field-Nat. 90: 301-307. Ratcliffe, D. A. 1970. Changes attributable to pesticides in egg breakage frequency and eggshell thickness in some British birds. J. Appl. Ecol. 7: 67-107. 1972. The Peregrine population of Great Britain in 1971. Bird Study 19: 117-156. Rowan, W. 1921-22. Observations on the breeding habits of the Merlin. Brit. Birds 15: 122-129, 194-202, 222-231, 246-253. Seebohm, H. 1883. A History of British Birds , with Coloured Illustrations of their Eggs. vol. 1 London. Temple, S. A. 1972. Sex and age characteristics of North American Merlins. Bird- banding 43: 191-196. Walpole-Bond, J. 1914. Field-studies of Some Rarer British Birds. London. 398 Breeding ecology of the Merlin White, C. M., & Cade, T. J. 1971. Cliff-nesting raptors and Ravens along the Colville River in Arctic Alaska. Living Bird 10: 107- 150. Dr I. Newton, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, 12 Hope Terrace, Morningside, Edinburgh ehq 2 as ;E. R. Meek, 3 Lindisfarne Lane, Stobhill, Morpeth, North- umberland', B. Little, 37 Stella Hall Drive, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear Nesting of Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal JV. J. Collar Although not on the British and Irish list, and with a mere toe- hold in Europe, the graceful and elegant Black-shouldered Kite has enormous appeal to ornithologists The Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus is known as a European breeding species only from the southwestern quarter of the Iberian peninsula. England (1963) was the first to supply a properly documented account of nesting in Portugal, where it had long been suspected, and in 1975 five nests were found in Spain, the first proof there (Suetens & van Groenendael 1977a, 1977b). I can add five further records of nesting: two in 1976, one in 1977 and two in 1978, all in the Alto Alentejo province of Portugal. Dr W. Suetens [in lilt.) has informed me that the chick which he and P. van Groenendael photographed (plates 141 & 142) fledged. These are, so far as I know, the only recorded instances of entirely successful breeding in Europe, although there have been a few observations of juveniles in Iberia, which were clearly of local origin. 1976 At the first site, a pair was seen at the end of March, and on 2nd April the female betrayed the position of the nest by flying to it immediately after copulation. Two days later, I went to the tree she had flown to, a small 141 & 142. Adult male Black-shouldered Rite Elanus caeruleus with four-week-old young in nest at 4 m in evergreen oak Quercus ilex, Spain, June 1975 {W. Suetens & P. van Groenendael ) [Brit. Birds 71 : 398-412, September 1978] Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal 401 *43 & I41* Adult male Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus at roosting place, Spain, June 1975 ( W. Suetens & P. van Groenendael) evergreen oak Quercus ilex, and confirmed that a nest had been built about 5 m from the ground, at one side of and just below the level of the tree’s very flat top (plate 145). The oak itself was one of a loose grove of a dozen, on pasture extending in three directions, with a field of wheat running along one edge (about 25 m from the nest-tree). There was a small stream some 80 m beyond the grove, cutting across the wheat and pasture; on the far side, which was rather steeply rising, there was an isolated wild pear Pyrus communis in which one of the adults — presumably the male — and, later, two of the young roosted. 145. Breeding habitat of Black- shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus’. nest in nearest evergreen oak Quercus ilex, Port- ugal, April 1976 (N. J. Collar ) Although the kites would readily alight on any tree or telegraph pole, the most favoured perches were the low fence-posts dividing the wheatfield from the pasture. Pellets and plucking-remains were found at the base of these posts, and the copulation seen on 2nd April took place there. 1 he female initiated this mating, by settling briefly on the perched male’s back, then flying to the next post, ruffling her feathers repeatedly and once opening her wings; he then flew to her and mounted her lor about ten seconds, she holding her body almost horizontally forward, he balancing 402 Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal 146. Pair of Black-shouldered Kites Elanus caeruleus copulating at roosting place, 150 m from nest containing nearly-fledged young, Spain, J une 1975; in July, another nest found nearby ( W. Suetens & P. van Groenendael ) by gracefully lifting his wings in a high V above his head (cf. plate 146). The male then moved to another fence-post and, after a moment, the female flew up to the nest-tree and dropped out of sight into it. England (1963) could find no record of eggs laid before April. On 6th May, however, three nearly- fledged chicks could be seen in the nest and, on 1 ith, all of them made free flights in the vicinity of the nest-tree. Van ORNITHOLIDAYS MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS HO LID A TS ORGANISED B T BIRD WA TCHERS FOR BIRDWATCHERS Ceylon S.VV. Spain India Majorca Isle of Mull Florida California Fhe Seychelles Kenya Israel Morocco Tunisia Turkey Arctic Norway Greece The Gamargue Yugoslavia Lake Neusiedl Austrian Alps Hungary Romania Central Wales Isles of Scilly Isle of Islay The Solway The Cairngorms Hebridean Cruise Dorset New Forest West Sussex Suffolk The Fames & Bass PARTICULARS SENT ON RECEIPT OF STAMP TO LAWRENCE G. 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Limifed Cross St., Polegate, Sussex. Tel. 032 123813 (BB239) iii Precious Silver Precious Boxes-an explanation Delight has always greeted these little works of art, and mixed with the delight is the admiration for the ingeniousness of their design and great respect for their value as investments. They have been described by Sacheverell Sitwell as“among the most lovely and entrancing objects made by human hands!’ Precious boxes in gold and silver and enamel have been made for very many purposes; that their purpose is not always apparent is shown by many museum curators who label their exhibits simply as “boxeslTheir uses have included patch boxes, for the little shapes of tafetta that ladies placed on face or bosom to heighten their charms or hide unsightly pimples; sweet meat boxes for those who wanted a mouthful between meals, sponge boxes, tooth pick boxes and vignettes. 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Populations not in captivity live in Windsor C ireat Park and Slimbridge C Chinese culture has been influenced by the Mandarin A RUDDY DI CK Found throughout North America except the Arctic North. Being a member of the Stifftail tribe it uses its tail as a rudder w-hen swimming under water. The female lays five to six large eggs equal to her own body weight BUFFLFHIAI) A small, elegant North American dm k It nests in holes in trees at ross Canada, migrating south in winter The hatched young are enticed to jump from tlu hole by the female md are protei ted by their soft down. ( AROI.INA DU K Found in l ast and West ( anada ami tlu l LS A. it lives on rivers and lakes in wooded country Its nest is made in holes in trees with soft dow n from the females breast BAIKAI I I A I A small dabbling duck found in the far east ot Siberia In winter it normally migrates to ( hina and |ap.m but h is been seen in North America and I urop». 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(c]ty) Set (s) of Six WildfowITrust Silver Boxes in hallmarked sterling silver and enamel, heavily plated with 2-1 carat gold @ T39f». 10 per set. □ I wish to pay { as full payment for which 1 enclose my chequc/bankers order. □ 1 wish to pay by subscription (STLKI.INCt SI I A I K SETS ONLY) at ^*39.83 per month for six months. I enclose T39.85 for my first box and undertake to pay for each additional box on receipt ot your invoice. I understand I will receive my presentation case with mv third box. c 1 prefer to charge { to my American Exprcss/Dincrs (.lub Account No. r 1 The price includes presentation box. \ A 1 .delivery and insurance until delivered: \ mn Add res Payments made to "The St. James’s I louse ( ollec tioiv' l 'nsueecssful applicants will he refunded immediately. Signed i i i m i I i I M I i I i The Si James's I louse Collection. I This pjymcnt mvtlli hI full mis only 1 -"'I'-'"' "•■t’ 1 v '"C1""1 5 V 5 LONDON BRIDGE WALK 120 NOTTING HILL GATE LONDON. SE1 2SX LONDON. 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To order your binder(s) simply write, enclosing £2.50 per binder (overseas US$5.00), to: British Birds Macmillan Journals Ltd Brunei Road Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 2XS England Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal 403 147. Nest of Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus with four eggs, Portugal, May 1976 ( David Bishop ) Someren (1956) gave 25-28 clays for incubation and 30-35 days for fledg- ing, so that, if 1 ith was the first day on which the young took wing, egg- laying would have occurred between 9th and 1 7th March, and hatching between 6th and nth April. In 1978, eggs were laid even earlier (see below). On 27th April, a pair was located at a second site, 6 km to the north of the first. There, the terrain was predominantly cultivated, and the kites were seen perching on cork oaks Q,. suber spaced regularly and relatively densely across a wide field of oats. This crop was bordered on one side by a large open field of wheat, on another by an uncultivable stony hillside, and elsewhere by orchard pasture. Because of the standing crop and the number of trees, I found it impossible on this or occasional subsequent visits to judge where the nest might be; it was only when David C. Bishop visited the area with me on 18th May that we managed, by triangulation, to pinpoint the site. With the local farmer’s permission, DCB entered the field, climbed the tree and quickly photographed the nest (plate 147). The four eggs had a white ground colour, richly overlaid with patches and specklings of purplish-brown, and they were somewhat worn. The tree was about 150 m into the field, and once again the nest was situated in one corner of the rather flat top, 5-6 m from the ground. During June, I returned on a number of occasions to see if young were visible, but, while the pair appeared still to be actively nesting, there was no indication of success. On 26th June, Primrose J. Ridley-Thomas climbed to the nest and discovered that, alongside the now very worn clutch of four, there had appeared a fresher group of three eggs (plate 1 48) . Although, on three successive days in the middle of May, what I had hoped might be a third kite was seen hunting over a field of wheat 1 km from this nest, no solid evidence of a second female ever emerged, and it seems probable that the original hen laid a replacement clutch alongside eggs she had at least partially lost the stimulus to incubate. In August, 404 Black-shouldered R ites in Portugal 148. Nest of Black- shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus with seven eggs (four very worn, three fresher), Portugal, June 1976 ( Primrose Ridley- Thomas) after I had left the country, PjRT climbed to the nest a second time and, finding all seven eggs worn and three of the originals cracked and putrid, took them and gave two for analysis to the relevant authorities in Lisbon and sent the remainder to England lor similar tests. Toxic residue was found in extremely low concentrations in a clutch that failed in 1964 (Sacarrao 1966), and pesticide spraying seems still relatively uncommon where I was in Portugal; the one egg that proved suitable for analysis here (probably one of the replacements) contained a half-incubated embryo and the following residues in ppm (mg kg x) wet weight : DDE 710, TDE 0.1, Dieldrin 0.1, PCBs o. The DDE level is on the borderline at which shell-thinning can occur, but the cause of failure remains obscure. Desertion may be ruled out, since the eggs continued to show signs of wearing; and the possibility of chilling or ‘cooking’ as a result of tem- porarily absent birds can equally be discounted, for on both occasions when the tree was climbed the disturbance was very short-lived, with both birds quietly keeping watch at only 70-80 m distance and immediately afterwards returning to and around the nest-tree. The domestic tenacity of this second pair — characteristic of many birds of prey — conforms with evidence in the literature. Van Someren (1956) kept a hen who, from her third month, would attempt to brood anything red (including a large notebook) and from that age readily incubated eggs and fostered young, whether of her own kind or not. The sexual bond is strong: for a bird apparently mute outside the breeding season (Glut/. et al. 1971), vocal communication between partners is both frequent and varied. Spennemann (1934) noted that mating occurs rather often, which was certainly true of the second pair during May. A behaviour which both pairs showed, and of which I can find no clear previous account, was a sort of ‘patrolling’ or game of tag: one kite would fly up to the other and perch with it in a tree near the nest; they would remain together for a minute or so and then one or other would fly to a second perch; and the bird left behind would wait a while and then join it. This process would continue, so that a whole sequence of contacts would be established in the trees around the nest; this seemed to be largely an evening activity. There are remarks in the literature on the crepuscular habits of the Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal 405 Black-shouldered Kite, but, although hunting was most often observed (at the unsuccessful nest) in the late afternoon, no truly crepuscular behaviour was noted. Indeed, on the one occasion when I mounted a dawn watch at the first site — -on nth May (first light about 05.45) — a Kestrel Falco tinnunculus was on the wing at 07. 1 o and a Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus at 07.20, but, although the young kites could be seen clam- bering about in the nest, the one roosting adult visible did not leave its perch to visit them until 08.05. It was, however, immediately joined by the other, also evidently roosting until that moment in a nearby tree. England (1963) thought that his kites were feeding largely on insects, a habit which in Hobbies F. subbuteo helps to account for their evening activity, but he does not mention whether hunting took place more fre- quently at any particular time of day. Suetens & van Groenendael (1977a, 1 977b) , who watched kites with young which were not selectively crepus- cular and brought no insects, pointed out that Hobbies replace insects with vertebrate prey once they have chicks. I never saw insects taken in 1976 although elytra and other remains have been found in some kite pellets (S. Macdonald in litt.). At the first nest, some fresh heads of Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra were found during April and May under plucking-posts, and DCB and I once witnessed a kite in the act of decapitation on a roadside telegraph pole. Corn Buntings are probably the most numerous birds in the Alentejo, but this predation by the kites seems more likely to have been of females on nests than of males at song-perches, at least if the characteristic hover- hunting method was employed: bill-measurements of 15 skulls recovered from plucking-posts at this site strongly support such a probability (see appendix). At the second site, I twice saw small rodents taken in the cereal crops, and one of these captures was followed by a neat piece of aerial food-passing as the female came off the nest towards her returning mate. There, hunting was commonly undertaken within a short distance of the nest, whereas at the first site no kite was seen hunting in the area, except on the first day that one was seen (28th March) ; on the other hand, mating took place rather far from the nest (120- 150 m) at the second site, but very close to it (20-30 m) at the first. My impression was that most hunting at the second site was done over or along the edges of crops; likewise, at the first, the directions of departure and arrival were always to and from expanses of growing cereal. Two of the three young at the first nest behaved from the outset with great attachment for each other, and were regularly to be seen roosting huddled together, or sitting side-by-side on a favourite bare twig (plate 149). When showing interest in something, they would jerk their heads with the comical sideways and circular movements associated with young owls (Strigidae), eyes always trained on the object (adults also sometimes did this). Their greeting to a parent and between themselves was a hoarse dry hiss, best rendered by trying to whisper a long-drawn-out ‘skeeeek’ ; Glutz et al. (1971) mentioned this call as being produced only when the young kites are badly cowed. The alarm-call of the adult, which in both 1976 and 1977 I heard used only when the young had fledged, struck me 4°6 Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal 149. Two juvenile Black-shouldered Kites Elanus caeruleus sitting side-by-side on favourite roosting twig, Portugal, May 1976 (JV. J. Collar ) as curious, being composed of two elementally disparate sounds: a high descending whistle punctuated by a sharp guttural rasp. When England (1963) heard this call, his birds were on eggs and the second syllable was almost inaudible; probably my birds were in a greater state of agitation, needing to be heard over a much wider area by both mate and offspring. Once the juveniles were in the air, it became fairly difficult to distinguish them from the adults. They were far less obviously brown than the literature unanimously suggests. Although the back feathers, wing-coverts and primaries were conspicuously edged with buff (plate 150), and they bore greyish-brown markings on the crown, their uppersides generally were only darker and perhaps more extensively grey than those of their parents, lightly tinged with brown only between the shoulders. Further, while each of them had rust-brown stains on its breast plumage, at any height overhead the only feature that dis- tinguished them from mature birds was their more rounded wings. Like England’s birds, the adults were intrusion, but none of the five pairs I saw over the three years could be described as ‘extraordinarily inconspicuous in the nesting area’, on the contrary, at a safe distance they were always extremely easy to spot, the white of their plumage standing out sharply as they perched in the tops of trees near their nests. On various occasions, they showed intolerance of Montagu’s Harriers, Magpies Pica pica and Jays Garrulus glandarius. Once, too, one of them apparently ‘escorted’ a pair of White Storks Ciconia ciconia that was wheeling quite high across the territory. The Jays and Magpies sometimes mobbed in return, and in 1977 I saw a Woodchat 150. Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus, Portugal, May 1976 (TV. J. Collar) retiring in the face of human Black-shouldered. Kites in Portugal 407 Shrike Lanius senator pursue one of the adults. On the other hand, while Great Grey Shrikes L. excubitor loudly and virulently harassed Montagu’s Harriers, at the first 1976 site a pair readily shared its territory with the kites. Inevitably, the sharp angle of the Black-shouldered Kite’s wings to its body when gliding was reminiscent of a harrier; but the adult may recall a Barn Owl Tyto alba, having a rather large head, stocky but tapering white body, and short tail, with pale wings which are relatively broader than a Kestrel’s. When hovering, its wingbeats sometimes flicker as fast as a Kestrel’s, but usually decelerate to a less regular series of balancing strokes and pauses, with deeper, more deliberate beats, sometimes recal- ling a Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus. The similarity of gliding silhouette, however, between the kite and this last species, mentioned by Porter et al. (1974), completely escaped me: most gliding was in the soaring position they described, with the wings held in a stiff V a little forward of the body, giving the flight the slight body-wobble which one sometimes sees in the display-glide of domestic Rock Doves Columba livia. When taking prey, the Portuguese kites rarely dropped ‘gently into the grass’ (Brown & Amadon 1968): the stoop was commonly a rapid and emphatic plunge, with wings held vertical and talons outstretched well in advance of impact. 1977 On 10th April, I found a nest with four eggs roughly midway between the two 1976 sites, constructed near the top of a very small isolated cork oak; its height above the ground was no more than 4 m. The terrain was sheep pasture, with a few other, larger oaks scattered across it. The pair had been seen in the area since February by PJRT. Three eggs had hatched by 6th May, and two days later the fourth chick had emerged. At the next visit, on 23rd May, all four young were still alive and apparently healthy, but when I returned on 7th June only two of them were to be seen, both flapping somewhat clumsily out of the tree as I approached. Their landings were equally unskilful, and they may have been making their first flights. This was just 31 days after the hatching of the last egg (which I take to have occurred on 7th May). Since the previous visit, a pair of House Sparrows Passer domesticus had woven a loose bulbous nest of hay and straw into the twigs forming the base of the kite nest, and were incubating. The fate of at least one of the other two chicks was revealed next day, when PJRT discovered a regurgitated leg, talons intact, amid a mass of pellets under an oak used by the adults. It is just possible that this was dropped by one of the fledglings on an earlier flight, but, given their age and condition, it seems more likely that a parent, when removing the less digestible remains of its offspring, had eaten these (cronism). The other missing young kite would almost certainly not have absconded at this stage, for at the successful 1976 nest all three juveniles stayed in the vicinity for some weeks after fledging, as did the two in 1977: no third youngster was ever seen. Suetens & van Groenenclael (1977a, 1977b) Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal suspected that the single surviving chick had starved the other two members of the brood by sheer aggression, and Madden (1977) concluded that two fledglings at a nest in South Africa had killed and eaten a third. Where hatching is staggered and the chicks vary considerably in size, as noted by van Someren (1956) and others, such aggression is to be expected. What seemed slightly unusual here, however, was the extreme similarity in size of all four newlv-hatched chicks (plate 151), which, even at two weeks of 151. Four newly hatched nestling Black-shouldered Kites Elanus caeruleus: note similarity- in size, Portugal, May 1977 (TV. J. Cottar) age, on 23rd May, were showing no appreciable differences. The violence must have started soon after this date, to judge from the size of the leg in the pellet. Suetens & van Groenendael (1977a, 1977b) found that the one chick was fed independently by both adults, who thus shared hunting duties. Lack of the need to divide prey between the offspring probably accounts for this style of feeding; at any rate, at the Portuguese site in the late afternoon of 31st May (when the chicks were 3^ weeks old), food-passing was observed by DCB, who wrote the following description: ‘The female adult was seen perched in a tree close to the nest. She sometimes made a foray after prey, but on the four or five occasions she did so she was not seen to catch any, suggesting that her efforts were not very serious. ‘The male was also seen hunting about 300 m from the nest tree, although he ranged much farther away than this. On two occasions, a food pass was made to the female. She would leave her perch near the nest tree and fly towards the male who, beating slowly, would dangle the prey in his talons as she came up underneath him, stretching her legs up to take the item. ‘After the pass, the female (lew straight to the nest, where she proceeded to feed the young kites. When she had finished, she returned to perch in a tree close to the nest. This happened on both occasions. She was later seen plucking prey, which she then took to the young, but it was not known if this was food which had been passed to her by the male. ‘As the female after the pass flew straight back to the nest, it would appear that the Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal 409 function of this behaviour was not to try to conceal the whereabouts of the nest from predators. The more likely explanation is that it proved an efficient way of feeding the young.’ Among other prey remains found by PJRT under the nest just after the young had fledged were the tail of a lizard ( ILacerta ) and the skin of a young but extremely sharp-spined hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus. Evidently, the young kites returned to the nest to roost for some days, one flying from the nest-tree at my approach on 30th June, and all four being seen within a mile (1.6 km) of the site on the occasion of my last visit on 4th July. PJRT continued to see individuals in the area until November. For just five minutes on 31st March, at a much more distant site which I could not revisit, I watched a pair of Black-shouldered Kites over orchard pasture. During this time, they mated, one uttering a hoarse ‘k’laa k’laa’ as they did so. This was the only time that I ever noted a call during copulation, although Suetens & van Groenendael (1977a, 1977b) recorded the female’s invitation as a shrill nasal ‘piay, piay’ : very likely we heard the same thing. 1978 During a very brief visit to Portugal (20th-28th March) to count Great Bustards Otis tarda, Allen M. Rackham and I saw nine Black-shouldered Kites on four successive days. These included two pairs subsequently found to have nests, both in low cork oaks, one above crops, the other above fallow. The first nest, scaled on 25th March, already contained three half-grown but different-sized young, plus one egg. The clutch must have been laid at about the end of the second week of February, and nest- building undertaken at the end of January; there is a similar record of such precocious behaviour from the neighbourhood of Tangier, Morocco (Pineau & Giraud-Audine 1977). The second nest, found and examined by AMR on 27th March, contained four eggs. PJRT subsequently established that young from both nests successfully fledged. Thus, despite the paucity of records from Iberia, Black-shouldered Kites are known 10 have had eggs in February and young in September (Miguel & Rodriguez 1977); the chances of their being regularly double-brooded seem accordingly high. Status In the wake of England’s (1963) discovery, Sacarrao (1966) published a full account of the recorded occurrences of the Black-shouldered Kite in Portugal: data that he has twice had to supplement in papers which, although less exhaustive than the first, bear witness to a considerable growth in the volume of sight-records since the mid 1960s (Sacarrao 1970, 1 975) * Similarly, the short-note pages of Ardeola since 1969 testify to a sharp increase in the number of observations in Spain, culminating in the publication of the first nesting records {Ardeola 22: 1 13-129). Although Sacarrao (1975) attributed this growth to increasing observer activity in Iberia, claiming that the species is (my translation) ‘much more frequent in Portugal than authors have thought it’, he did not revise his earlier 410 Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal opinion that Black-shouldered Kites breed only sporadically in western Iberia, thus implicitly regarding as coincidence the fact that England’s search for a nest was successful at the first attempt. Furthermore, there is nothing in his more recent papers to indicate a change in the opinion insistently expressed in the first, that the Portuguese population could not be entirely sedentary, but must be augmented by irregular influxes from Africa, otherwise it would long since have been exterminated by hunting and nest-despoliation. Across the border and at the other end of the scale, Garzon (1977) estimated a total of 100 pairs breeding in Spain. Despite the absence of evidence or argument in support of this claim (made at a time when news of the first breeding records could only just have been emerging), it does not seem wildly exaggerated or improbable. Sacarrao’s view of the situation might at any rate be resisted, on the following points. (1) Portugal has suffered considerable numbers may be augmented by immigra- ornithological neglect, so that studies of the changing status of many species have the shallowest base for development. Indeed, in making the point himself, in order to suggest that the Black-shouldered Kite is at least commoner than records would indicate, Sacarrao (1966) drew attention to England’s (1966) then very recent discovery that there were rather more Great Bustards in Portugal than the 40 quoted by Bannerman (1962); yet, where England’s highest figure was 59, my own counts made throughout the Alentejo in early spring 1977 indicated that the true number in the country lies between 650 (actually counted) and 1,000. If such populations — living on what is evidently traditional habitat little altered in cen- turies— have up to now escaped the notice of ornithologists as well as hunters, it scarcely seems improbable that a small and uncommon raptor, breeding in the huge areas of cork oak that extend across so much of southern Portugal, might also have been almost totally missed. (2) Only one Black-shouldered Kite has ever been recorded in Gibraltar, ‘flying north on 14 May 1977, apparently having arrived from Morocco’ (Cortes el at. 1978). While even such an isolated observation tends to support the belief that Iberian tion from Africa, it is clearly insufficient to establish the dependence of the popula- tion on such a phenom enon for its survival. (3) There is some evidence of traditional areas for these species. England (1963) found his pair 16 km from an estate where two nests had been built in 1944, and what were presumably the same individuals returned the following year to nest (again unsuccessfully) just 50 m from the tree used in 1963 (Sacarrao 1966). Victor H. Reynolds showed me a cluster of trees where he had found a nest in the 1930s, only 800 m from my first 1976 site; while, at the second, the local farmer reported seeing six together over his land some autumns previously, and one was shot there in mistake for a Woodpigeon Columba palumbus in 1969: the first 1978 nest was on the same man’s land. (4) Any record from the last century tends to suggest that the species must have been present in sufficient numbers to be a permanent resident. Lilford (1865), for example, noting one that had been shot in April near Seville, described the Black- shouldered Kite as ‘certainly not a common species in Spain’. Chapman & Buck (1893) called it rare, but recorded a pair they had seen, again in April near Seville. Clearly this is only balancing negative evidence against negative evidence; but it seems at least as plausible as Sacarrao’s view to suggest that the Black-shouldered Kite has been present in southwestern Iberia in steady, unobtrusive numbers ever since the records began. One would naturally like to think that such an attractive species is in a phase of expansion there at present (an impression I find hard to resist after my most recent visit); it is a possibility which Sacarrao (1975) allows, and Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal 41 1 there are in fact two or three unpublished nesting records for Portugal in the 1 970s (L. Palma in litt.). Even so, it needs to be repeated that the current ornithological activity in Iberia may be giving a misleading impression by reflecting its own growth, rather than that of the numbers of Elanus caeruleus. Nevertheless, there need now be no hesitation in describing it as a resident and regular breeding species in Europe. Acknowledgements I am indebted principally to Primrose and David Ridley-Thomas for many kindnesses, and to the former particularly for collaboration on fieldwork. David Bishop and Allen Rackham also gave much valuable help. I am grateful to Dr R. P. Prys-Jones for assistance over the issue of Corn Bunting dimorphism, and to Dr C. F. Mason for his criticism of these notes in draft. The egg analysis was organised by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood Experimental Station, which kindly allowed the publication of the results. I wish also to record my thanks to the late Dr R. K. Murton for his helpful comments. Summary Accounts are given of the discovery and breeding behaviour of Black-shouldered Kites Elanus caeruleus at five nests in Portugal during 1976-78. This raptor is confidently de- scribed as a resident and regular breeding species in Europe. References Bannerman, D. A. 1962. Birds of the British Isles, vol. 1 1. London. Brown, L., & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World, vol. 1. Feltham. Chapman, A., & Buck, W. J. 1893. Wild Spain. London. Cortes, J. E., Finlayson, J. C., Garcia, E. F. J., & Mosquera, M. A. 1978. The Birds of Gibraltar. Gibraltar. England, M. D. 1963. Observations on the Black-winged Kite in Portugal with prelim- inary notes on its status. Brit. Birds 56: 444-452. 1966. Great Bustards in Portugal. Brit. Birds 59: 22-27. Garzon, J. 1977. Birds of prey in Spain, the present situation. In Chancellor, R. D. (ed.). Report on Proceedings, World Conference on Birds of Prey, Vienna, 1-3 October 1973. pp. 1 59- 1 70. International Council for Bird Preservation. Glutz von Blotzheim, U. N., Bauer, K. M., & Bezzel, E. 1971. Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas. vol. 4. Frankfurt am Main. Lilford, Lord, 1885. Notes on the ornithology of Spain. Ibis 1 : 166-177. Madden, S. T. 1977. Notes on two nests of the Black-shouldered Kite. Ostrich 48: 1 15-1 16. Miguel, C. G., & Rodriguez, J. L. 1977. Nidificacion en Salamanca del Elanio Azul. Ardeola 22 : 124- 125. Pineau, J., & Giraud-Audine, M. 1977- Notes sur les oiseaux nicheurs de P extreme nord- ouest du Maroc: reproduction et mouvements. Alauda 45: 75-104. Porter, R. F., Willis, I., Christensen, S., & Nielsen, B. P. 1974. Flight Identification of European Raptors. Berkhamsted. Prys-Jones, R. 1976. Wing-length in the Corn Bunting. Bird Study 23: 294. Sacarrao, G. F, 1966. Sobre a ocorrencia em Portugal de Elanus caeruleus (Dcsfontaines). Arquivos do Museu Bocage 1 (6) : 77-109. 1970- Novos dados sobre Elanus caeruleus (Desf.). Arquivos do Aluseu Bocage 2, suppl. 18: XXXIX-XLII. 1975. Notas sobre Elanus caeruleus (Desf.) em Portugal. Ardeola 21: 173-182. Spennemann, A. 1934. Einige Beobachtungen fiber Elanus caeruleus hypoleucus Gould. Beitr. FortpfiBiol. Vogel 10: 2 19-221. 412 Black-shouldered, Kites in Portugal Suetens, YVr., & van Groenendael, P. 1977a. Observacioncs en 1975 en un par de nidos extremenos de Elanio Azul. Ardeola 22: 1 13-123. — 1977b. Nidification de l’Elanion blanc [Elams caeruleus) en Espagne. Gerjaut 67 : 54-72- van Someren, V. G. L. 1956. Days with birds. Fieldiana: Z°°logy 38. Dr N. J. Collar, Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford oxi 3PS Appendix Table 1. Mean, standard deviation and range of bill measurements (in mm) of Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra in skin collection of British Museum (Natural History) and found near nest of Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus in April/ May 1976 in Portugal Bill BRITISH MUSEUM (NAT. HIST.) dimension Males (16) Females (6) Kite victims (15) Depth 8.81 ±0.49 (8.2-g.8) 7.934:9.19(7.7-8.2) 7-94±°-33 (7-3-S-3) Length 9.45^0.31 (8.95- io.i) 8.96 fo. 1 7 (8.8-9.25) 8.65d;0.38 (7.95-9,2) In discussing evidence that wing-lenglh can be used for sexing Corn Buntings, Prys-Jones (1976) suggested that some skins in the British Museum (Natural Flistory) might have been wrongly sexed. When comparing skulls removed by Black-shouldered Kites with skins in the Museum, I was accordingly suspicious of the labelling, and restricted my sample to the 15 West European and North African specimens obtained by Col. R. Meincrtzhagen — a reliable bird-sexer and to the seven sexed Iberian specimens in the collection. Of these 22 skins, six were female (three from Iberia) and 16 male (four from Iberia). Measurements were taken of depth of bill in the perpendicular where it meets the feathers, and of length of upper mandible from the anterior edge of the nostril to the tip. The data (table 1) suggested that the kite victims were mostly females. Personalities 17 Dr Stephanie Tyler If Stephanie visited the United States (from where we write), she would undoubtedly be dubbed a ‘ball of fire’. This phrase aptly describes this remarkable and personable young woman. Nurtured in Lincolnshire, Stephanie moved a short distance south to Cambridge to graduate in zoology and then gain her PhD with a three-year study under Professor Robert Hinde of the behaviour of free-range ponies in the New Forest. In this period, she met Lindsay Tyler, her veterinarian husband-to-be; following their marriage, they settled in Wiltshire and, after the normal incubation periods, she brought forth a splendid brood of two pulli: Robert and Sally. It is appropriate to introduce all members of the family, for Stephanie is essentially a family-oriented person, and it is difficult for us to consider her in isolation; indeed we can think of no occasion on which she was engaged in outdoor activities without the presence of at least one member of her family. During her four years’ residence in Wiltshire, her time was not devoted only to family care, but also to a study of the local Grey Wagtails; and among other achievements, she gained the distinction of becoming Dr Stephanie Tyler 4X3 152. Dr Stephanie Tyler ( Lindsay Tyler ) Britain’s leading female bird-ringer. Then, from this parochial level, the family’s horizons broadened when they accompanied Lindsay on a six- month assignment to the United Arab Emirates. There, she became acquainted for the first time with birds of an arid region, and experienced the wonders of seeing the vast hordes of Palearctic migrants bound for Africa. In 1973, the fireball arrived in Ethiopia, and our days of tranquil leisure were over. We were faced with demands for bird-rings; were pressed into providing monthly contributions for the newsletter of the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society and articles and illus- trations for the conservation journal Agazen , which was distributed to over 2,000 schools throughout the country; and were persuaded to lead natural history tours. Such are Stephanie’s dynamism, enthusiasm and powers of persuasion that we — and many others — did it all willingly. Greatly rewarding for Stephanie, both in the field and at her desk, the period in Ethiopia also brought out the toughness of her character, 414 Dr Stephanie Tyler although far be it for us to suggest that she lacks femininity: she is just a tough female with tough children. We soon discovered this on joint field trips to Borana and Koka Lake; even more rugged ventures were undertaken on family trips to (aptly named) Lake Stephanie and the Omo River, and to the Gilo River close to the Sudan in western Ethiopia. Throughout this period, she was also engaged in a BOU-supported investigation into the ecological factors determining the distribution of local and migrant wagtails. During this time, a number of trying experi- ences were to put her further to the test: plunging into a burning tent to rescue her sleeping children; bashing on the head with a stone an attacking Ethiopian, who had thrown her to the ground, and then re- turning to base splattered with his blood ; being thrown from her horse which had bolted into a forest, and then somehow managing to remount and ride home with a broken leg. All this, however, was but a foretaste — albeit valuable training — for the hardships to come. In May 1976, the whole family was captured by rebel forces in northern Ethiopia and held captive for over eight months under particularly exacting circumstances. The full story has been told many times, and will be familiar to most readers of this profile. Un- doubtedly, the factors which carried them through this harrowing ex- perience, when every day was filled with doubts about their ultimate fate, were their close-knit family unity and their shared interest in the phenomena of nature around them, with which they were obliged to live in close intimacy. That Stephanie made good use of her time during this period will be evidenced by a forthcoming paper in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists ’ Club on the birds she observed during her captivity. Her only regret was that her binoculars were confiscated by the rebels, so that ornithologically she was unable to make the best use of her time. We said at the start that Stephanie is a remarkable woman. We meant it! J. S. Ash and J. W. Ash Mystery photographs It is late August and there are Ruffs Philomachus pugnax and Wood Sandpipers Tringa glareola with the other regular waders at the local sewage-farm. Creeping about ‘below’ a Dunlin Calidris alpina, there is a much smaller bird, with noticeably dull plumage and a rather long outline: obviously a stint of some sort. When on its own, it allows a close approach. The uni- formity of its dull (actually rather olive) plumage remains striking and its obvious chest patches are very Mystery photographs ^lr) 1 eminiscent of a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos . The amorphous head pattern, with a rather dark face and the lack of any real supercilium, also seems odd. Its rather short legs look dark at a distance, but are certainly not black (close to, they may have a yellow tone or appear greenish or brownish). I he last point alone excludes four of the seven Holarctic stints and the choice falls between Temminck’s C. temminckii, Long-toed C. subminuta and the Nearctic Least Sandpiper C. minutilla. There is the lack of any marked head pattern, but no sign of any pale Y on the mantle (one would expect some trace on Least), and the short legs do not suggest a Long-toed. The combination of characters fits only 1 emminck’s, a juvenile with dark subterminal fringes to the scapulars and wing-coverts giving a scaly pattern. Although difficult to distinguish whether it is the outer tail feathers or the lateral tail-coverts which create the bright white band visible at the side of the base of the rump, the former — a unique feature of Temminck’s among the stints and peeps — - will hopefully be revealed when the wader flies : characteristically tower- ing away into the distance, calling with a trilled multisyllable. Almost equally distinctive is its lethargic feeding action. Would that all stints were this easy. The bird in plate 129 (and repeated here) was photo- graphed by W. H. Dady in Berkshire in August 1956. DIMW 153. Mystery photograph 22. What is this species? Answer next month Notes Bittern apparently feeding at night by artificial light At 23.30 GMT on 23rd January 1976, while walking along a canal at Kingsmead, Ware, Hert- fordshire, I noticed something moving under a sodium lamp a little ahead of me. On further investigation, I discovered a Bittern Botaurus stellaris standing in 8-10 cm of water, app- arently fishing by the yellow light of the lamp. Unfortunately, it flew off when I approached, although it had seemed completely unaware ol cats passing only 30-40 m away. Barry B. Reed 16 The Ridgeway, Ware, Hertfordshire Although crepuscular or nocturnal feeding by herons (Ardeidae) is not unusual, the Bittern is usually a crepuscular or day-time feeder (see BWP 1 : 245, 249). John Day has also commented that Bitterns will more readily feed in the open when hungry, perhaps during a cold spell, when they may also, therefore, vary their times of feeding. Of particular inter- est here is the use by the bird of artificial light. Eds Melanistic Grey Heron A melanistic Grey Heron Ardea ciiteiea fre- quented Coatham Marsh, Cleveland, from 23rd July to 5th September 1973. It was usually on short grass and could be approached to within 100 m. It was first found by Graham Goates, who correctly identified it as a ‘brown heron, but probably not a Purple Heron A. purpurea , but a fortnight later it was independently located by an observer with ex- perience of the latter species and was at least tentatively identified as such. After an exciting 24 hours for local observers, general agreement on the bird’s identity was reached, but the difficulty that could be caused by such an individual seen briefly by an incautious observer is clear. 1 he bird’s stance, behaviour and habitat exactly resembled those ol the ac- companying Grey Herons, but its strikingly different plumage was briefly as follows: Belly and neck dark chocolate brown, with no noticeable streaking; crown darker. Towards end of stay, upper third of neck rather paler, buffier brown than lower part. Closed wings dark brownish slate-grey. In (light, bird predominantly brown. Legs dirty yellowish; leg length and bulk of feet as Grey Heron. Bill: dark upper mandible and base to lower; rest of lower mandible dull yellow. Two other recent records of melanistic Grey Herons (Brit. Birds 70:76 and 70: 343) did not mention any identification difficulties. David Britton 44 Kirkleatham Avenue, Marske, Cleveland In general, we shall not publish observations of birds with abnormal plumage or bare parts, unless — as in this case the aberration creates an identification problem. A letter concerning Great Blue Herons A. heiodias and melanistic Grey Herons appears on pages 420-421. Eds Notes 417 Wing-bar of Baird’s Sandpiper Adost bird identification books refer to the lack of a wing-bar in Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii, although several illustrations show white tips to the greater coverts, producing a thin white line confined to the inner wing just above the secondaries (see references). On 4th October 1977, one of a series of photographs which I took of an adult on the Great Pool on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, caught it in flight and shows a noticeable white wing-bar extending along the tips of the greater coverts and merging into the pale bases of the outer secondaries and inner primaries (plate 154). On the primaries, the wing-bar is made more 154. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii showing wing-bar in flight, Isles of Scilly, October 1977 (T. E ■ Bond ) prominent by its contrast with the blackish carpal patch on the primary coverts. These features were readily visible in the field, and, although the wing-bar was not quite so prominent as those on the accompanying Dunlins Calidris alpina, demonstrate that Baird’s Sandpiper can have a noticeable wing-bar. My thanks are due to P. J. Grant for his assistance with a draft of this note. T. E. Bo nd Joyter bi Tur, West Town Avenue , Brislington, Bristol 4 D. I. M. Wallace has commented that he has never seen a Baird’s Sandpiper that did not show at least a faint wing-bar. Eds REFERENCES Bruun, B., & Singer, A. 1975. The Hamlyn Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe. 2nd edn. London. Heinzel, H., Fitter, R., & Parslow, J. 1974. The Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. 3rd edn. London. Hollom, P. A. D. i960. The Popular Handbook of Rarer British Birds. London. Peterson, R. T. 1947. A Field Guide to the Birds. Boston. — — Mountfort, G., & Hollom, P. A. D. 1974. A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. 3rd edn. London. Robbins, C. S., Bruun, B., & Zim, H. S. 1966. Birds of North America. New York. Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 1940. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. 4. London. Notes 418 Feeding action of Baird’s Sandpiper I write concerning Douglas Page’s note {Brit. Birds 71 : 78) on what he regarded as a distinctive feeding action of Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii. In company with many other people, my wife and I watched a Baird’s Sandpiper on 4th October 1977 at the Abbey Pool, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, and I took some cine film of it at a range of 20-25 m. The bird’s action was very lively : the way that it ran reminded us of a Sanderling C. alba ; on occasion, it pecked singly at the surface, but at other times it pecked several times rapidly. We confirmed these observa- tions by repeated viewings of our film. It does seem, therefore, that the method of feeding will not of itself assist identification. H. Huggins 21 Washford Gardens, Clacton on Sea, Essex C015 ixa As D. I. M. Wallace has pointed out, however, these observations do confirm that Baird’s Sandpiper ‘is, by nature, a pecker and not a prober’. Eds Marsh Sandpiper with orange legs On 3rd May 1977, at Kulu Golu in central Turkey, I saw a full summer-plumaged Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis with distinctly orange legs. The literature stresses greenish legs as one of the main field characters of the species and I have found no mention of occasional individuals having orange legs. S. J. M. Gantlett 15 London Road, Brandon, Suffolk Leucistic Swift The notes on partially albino Swifts Apus apus {Brit. Birds 7 1 : 222-223) prompt me to record the following. On 5th August 1971, M. W. A. Martin and I watched an unusually pale swift for ten to 15 minutes at Chew Valley Lake, Avon. The odd bird was picked out with ease from several hundred Swifts feeding over the lake and it frequently came close to us before disappearing high to the south. We obviously considered the possibility of its being a Pallid Swift A. pallidus, but it was so pale that this idea was immediately discounted, leaving us in no doubt that it was in fact just a leucistic Swift A. apus. The entire plumage was pale sandy-brown, the shade perhaps similar to ripened corn, and it therefore stood out conspicuously. Apart from the pale plumage, it in no other way appeared to differ from the other Swifts. Neither of us had seen Pallid Swift, but our bird was clearly much too pale and was sand-brown, rather than the mouse-brown of Pallid. The identification problems posed by this bird were highlighted when, later the same day, other observers at the lake saw what was obviously the same bird and claimed it as a Pallid Swift. This record was submitted to the Rarities Committee and subsequently rejected {Brit. Birds 65: 353). K. E. Vinigombe 1 Exton Close, Whitchurch , Bristol BS14 qqn Reviews Wildlife Sound Recording. By John B. Fisher. Pelham Books, London, 1977. 173 pages; 16 black-and-white photographs; 17 figures. £5-95- Many would-be sound recordists are discouraged by the thought that the subject is too technical. This book explains the fundamental principles of sound recording and offers much practical advice, yet succeeds in being thoroughly readable. Although a number of manufacturers and their current models of recorder or microphone are cited, there is little that will become out-of-date. The choice between a cassette machine or open-reel — perhaps the most crucial decision for the beginner — is treated in a most lucid and helpful manner. Yet, there is plenty for the more experienced recordist, with diagrams showing how to construct a home-made parabola, filter circuits and microphone pre-amplifiers. The author is a self-confessed recordist-turned-naturalist and this explains why perhaps the book’s weakest aspect is its treatment of the biological side, for which the help of a co-author was enlisted for the two chapters entitled ‘Identifying birds from their sounds’ and ‘Some bird sounds of possible interest’. The first contains information treated much more comprehensively in the many field guides, while the second quite fails to highlight any of the more scientific aims of bird sound recording. There is no mention whatever, for example, of the sound library movement and the scientific value conferred to a recording by systematic documentation. In fact, the possibility of furthering the study of behaviour by sound recording is never given a mention. Symptomatic of the author’s standpoint is his blind eye to the possibility that two-channel recorders might be useful in ways other than solely for making stereo recordings. P. J. Sellar A Guide to the Birds of Scotland. By Eric Hardy. Constable, London, 1978. 312 pages; 27 photographs; 11 maps. £3.95 This successor to W. K. Richmond’s A Regional Guide to the Birds of Scotland (1968) is a pocket-sized survey of birdwatching haunts in Scotland, region by region, with lists of breeding and migrating birds for each area, and notes on local societies, recorders and literature. In a mass of detailed information — sometimes rather cryptic — many small errors may be found, especially in place-names. A difficult responsibility in preparing such a guide is to balance the interests of bird and birdwatcher. As a lifelong conservationist, the author omits the locations of nest sites of rare species to protect them from collectors and others who would knowingly harm them. But is this now enough? The rising flood of visitors to remote parts of Scotland can be a real — though mainly unknowing — threat to sensitive species that have found seclusion there. It is no surprise that people want to see Scottish birds in their wild and beautiful haunts; the snag is that so many now have the means to get there. One person briefly disturbing an eagle or a grebe from its nest may do little harm; but what of a succession of them at intervals throughout the day? Such pressure can stop shy species breeding successfully; or even lead to birds being quietly eliminated to get rid of birdwatchers. Most of us would rather not have to suppress localities, but some conservationists now see birdwatchers as the major threat to birds in the Highlands. Yet, the more people interested in birds, the more likely that planners and politicians will respond to the needs of birds. The problem for a writer of a popular guide to bird- watching areas — in Scotland or anywhere else — is to direct readers to where they will see birds without seriously harming them. This is no collector’s guide to rare species — in general it does not pinpoint nest sites — but it is likely to benefit birdwatchers more than birds. Author and publisher deserve credit for deleting 340 localities of the rarest birds. Nonetheless, one could wish for much greater caution, for instance with localities of 419 420 Reviews heronries and tern colonies, and even with information that is readily available from specialised sources such as The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (1976). This is not from any wish to restrict the most exciting birds to a privileged few, but for fear that, if we do not take care, the birds will suffer. The author makes a point that there is no legal ownership of wild birds, and anyone who does not harm them or their haunts has the right to observe and study them. The trouble is that, in some places, more than a handful of people exercising this right inevitably harm them. Andrew T. Macmillan Guide to the Identification and Ageing of Holarctic Waders. BTO Guide No. 16. By A. J. Prater, J. H. Marchant and J. Vuorinen. British Trust for Ornithology, Tring, 1977. 168 pages; 2 colour and 32 black-and-white photographs. £2.50. In covering all the waders of Eurasia (excluding India and southeast Asia), North America and North Africa — 1 17 species or 58% of the world total — the need for the first detailed guide to waders has been fulfilled with laudable overkill. Species breeding in the Holarctic are treated in detail — with emphasis on the most numerous ones — under headings of identification, ageing, sexing, geographical variation and biometrics. For irregular breeders and vagrants, only the basic identification criteria are given. Thumb- nail line drawings are scattered through the text to illustrate points of detail, and a clever coded system indicates the breeding and winter range of each species. Robert Gillmor’s beautiful cover design of Ringed Plovers is a masterpiece. Primarily designed for ringers, this guide will automatically have its place in the ringing bag whenever waders are the quarry. Much of the content stems from sexing and ageing research by wader-ringing groups: it is good to see their published data summar- ised under one cover. But this book is much more than a guide for ringers. Numerous field guides have in recent years greatly widened the base of field identification skill. The tip of the pyramid is proportionately that much higher, too. Birdwatchers may look back smugly now as they routinely identify species which, only 20 or even ten years ago, were beset with puzzles. Further advances, however, will not be fuelled by the necessarily abridged generalities of the modern field guides. The serious bird identifier will now no longer be content to determine the species of wader, but will seek to discover its age, sex and subspecies. This book points the way forward and answers the questions so often asked about the ap- parently complex array of wader plumages. The gallery of black-and-white photographs by J. B. & S. Bottomley is typically superb. The mind boggles at the industry of the authors in completing such a comprehensive, standard work on waders in the hand. I urge them, however, to consider producing a version specifically for field use, perhaps dealing with a smaller geographical area (the west Palearctic?), without the biometric data, but with many more photographs and illustrations. The demand for such a book would surely be enormous. Peter Grant Letters Great Blue and aberrant Grey Herons T was interested to learn of the two observations of melanistic Grey Herons Arden cinerea {Brit. Birds 70: 76, 345-346), as well as the one seen in the Camargue, France, by Dr J. G. and Dr P. F. Harrison and described and illustrated as a hybrid Purple A. purpurea x Grey Heron {Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 88: 1-4). When unusually dark herons of Grey Heron size are seen, serious consideration should perhaps lie given to the possibility of American Great Blue Heron A. herodias. R. S. Palmer (1962, Handbook of North American Birds, p. 403) Letters 421 stated that ‘largest cinerea about as large as smallest herodias’ ; and the colour plate opposite page 278 gives an excellent indication of the colour phases of the Great Blue. The many adult and immature Great Blue Herons which I have since seen in Florida, USA, seemed to exhibit a wide variety of colour tones. The species could well arrive as a vagrant in Europe. In October 1968, following severe storms in the Atlantic, a Great Blue Heron alighted on M. V. Picardy as she neared the Azores (Brit. Birds 65: 442-443). Captain J. G. Street of the Picardy informed me (in litt.) that, as they neared Land’s End, Cornwall, the crew twice threw the heron overboard, only for it to return immediately. Had the heron flown from the Picardy near Land’s End, taken refuge on the Isles of Scilly, and been correctly identified, would it now be included on the British and Irish list as a vagrant? In the event, it was taken to Avonmouth, Bristol, and then sent to Rode Tropical Bird Garden at Frome, Somerset (now Avon), where Roy Curber and I obtained the following details of its plumage on 30th November : Immature. Head dark brown, slightly white on forehead; neck, back and wings dull slate-blue/brown, with tinge of rufous on leading edge of wings ; carpal area rufous-brown. Throat white to buff; elongated dull buff patch on side of upper breast; rest of underparts off-white to dirty light-brown, with very much darker streaking. Bill rather heavy and long, fairly thick at base; upper mandible horn but lighter along cutting edge, lower mand- ible dull yellow-horn. Iris yellow. After recovering from its ventures, the heron was placed in a large open aviary, from which it was allowed to escape. Bernard King Gull Cry , g Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance , Cornwall Grey-cheeked Thrushes in Europe I was struck by the comment under Olive-backed (now Swainson’s) Thrush Catharus ustulatus (Brit. Birds 70: 430): ‘For a species that passes abundantly along the Atlantic coast of North America, its great rarity here compared with the next species [Grey-cheeked Thrush C. minimus ] is rather surprising’. Actually, there are several reasons why Grey-cheeked might be more common in Britain than Swainson’s; indeed, I am surprised that it is not the most common North American passerine in Britain and Ireland. The Grey-cheeked Thrush is slightly larger than Swainson’s and has slightly longer wings proportionately. It is the largest nocturnal passerine migrant of those that breed abundantly in extreme northeastern North America (excluding Greenland), and is notably numerous in New- foundland and Labrador, about 3,700 km from the Scillies. Allowing for favourable winds, a fat Grey-cheeked should be able to make an unassisted crossing. It may not, however, be the eastern Grey-cheeked Thrushes that are reaching Britain. The species breeds west through Alaska into north- eastern Siberia, and these western birds withdraw east during the fall for 3,000-5,000 km before turning south. The species is accidental west of the Rocky Mountains and is uncommon, especially in fall, west of the Mississippi drainage. Grey-cheeks are abundant in the vast, stunted 422 Letters forests of spruce Picea in northern Canada and Alaska; if only a minute proportion of these birds fails to turn south, an absolutely large number of Grey-cheeks will be continuing east to the Maritimes. Research on vagrant eastern warblers (Parulidae) in California suggests that disoriented (or misoriented) individuals continue out into the Pacific. If off-course Grey-cheeks continue out into the Atlantic — as I suspect they do — you should get them regularly. Will Russell Box 287, Seal Harbour, Maine 04675, USA Tail-cocking by Moustached Warblers I read with interest the letters by Dr J. T. R. Sharrock {Brit. Birds 70: 349-350) and Dr H. Kumerloeve {Brit. Birds 71 : 89-90). In my experience, the habit is seasonal: frequently observed in July and August, but often not at all in spring and early summer. When I first encountered Moustached Warblers Acrocephalus melanopogon in the Camargue, France, in the springs of 1961 and 1962, my companions and I continued to watch long after identification had been clinched, in the hope of seeing the tail-cocking habit mentioned by R. T. Peterson et al. (1961, A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe, 1st edition), but we were usually disappointed. Singing males at Neusiedl, Austria, in the springs of 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1970 never really exhibited this behaviour. Later in the year, however, on the Ebro Delta, Spain, in July-August 1966, and in Mallorca in August 1971 and August 1972, I saw adults and large young tail-cocking continuously, but not, in the very same localities on the Ebro Delta, in April 1974, when all those seen were singing males. Can this habit be linked with the presence of fledglings? J. N. Hollyer 21 Temple Way, Worth, Deal, Kent CT14 oda P. J. Grant has suggested that ‘cocks tail when alarmed, unlike Sedge A. schoenobaenus and Aquatic Warblers A. paludicola’ may summarise the species' behaviour. We welcome comments. Eds The use of flash in bird-photography The 1977 ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ {Brit. Birds 71 : 195) captures superbly the arrival of a female Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus at the nest. The pose is a dramatic one and most of the hawk is in sharp focus and beautifully depicted. The general impression, however, is surely totally erroneous: it looks as if the Sparrow- hawk were building its nest at midnight. So many published colour photographs now show pin-sharp birds technically near-perfect in detail, against a solid black background as if they were taken very late on a dark night. The use of flash does, of course, open up fields of photography impossible to exploit by other means, especially of birds in action — the beautiful pictures by Stephen Dalton are just one example — allowing birds in rapid motion to be recorded in minute ‘frozen’ detail. Many are, however, highly misleading and some — to me at least — aesthetically displeasing, through the use of flashlights being excessively evident. Surely, in general, the best use of flash produces results in which it is not immediately obvious that the technique has been used ? R. A. Hume 5/ Lime Grove, Burntwood, Walsall wsj oha Rarities Committee news and announcements P. J. Grant and the Rarities Committee The committee’s annual meeting was held at Blunham, Bedfordshire, on i ith March 1978. In the year ending 31st March 1978, the mem- bership of the committee was P. J. Grant (chairman), J. M. O’Sullivan (secretary), R. H. Dennis, D. J. Holman, R. J. Johns, B. Little, S. C. Madge (co-opted), J. R. Mather, Dr R. J. Raines, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and G. A. Williams. As proposed previously [Brit. Birds 70: 306-308) and in the absence of other nominations, S. C. Madge began his official term of membership, and R. H. Dennis his second term, on 1st April this year. New secretary Owing to his appointment as RSPB Regional Officer for East Anglia, John M. O’Sullivan has had to resign as secretary to the committee. We thank John for his work in the past year, which included the prompt and efficient production of the report for 1976, and wish him success in his new job. As already announced (71: 229), his successor, appointed by the editorial board in consultation with the committee, is Michael J. Rogers, to whom all correspondence concerning records should now be sent, at 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex twi6 7TP. Mike’s 30 years of bird watching experience (nowadays mainly in Sussex — especially Beachy Head — and the Isles of Scilly), his rarity identification expertise, and his constructive interest in the committee’s operation, promise to be great assets. The appointment is again in a non-voting capacity. Election of new member As the longest-serving member, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock will automatically retire from the committee at the end of March 1979. T. P. Inskipp (see 70: 496-498) is the committee’s unanimous nomination to fill this vacancy: his knowledge ol world birds, accrued from numerous and lengthy field trips abroad and from detailed investigations into bird importation, and his opinion on the escape likelihood of rarities, would be most useful. We hope that this nomination will be widely endorsed, but any others should be sent to me by 31st December 1978: as in past elections, the regional recorders and bird observatories will then be invited to vote. Species list The committee considered and accepted a proposal from J. Cantelo that, in view of the clearer taxonomic situation now surrounding crossbills Loxia (see 71: 3-10), Parrot Crossbill L. pytyopsittacus should be added to its species list from the beginning of 1978. 423 424 Rarities Committee news mid announcements Identification papers and notes The central deposit of rarity descriptions and opinion on tricky identi- fication topics means that problem areas can be quickly pinpointed, and it is an important offshoot of our work to promote the publication ol notes and papers to clarify them. The past year has seen the first of a five-part series on gull identification and ageing (71 : 145-176), numerous notes on new or improved identification criteria, and details of several occurrences of species which have been recorded five or fewer times in Britain and Ireland. The ‘Mystery photograph’ feature is welcomed for more than its entertainment value: the texts provide an opportunity for an up-to-date identification summary of the subject species, and several additional points have arisen in correspondence which they have prompt- ed. Among other topics currently being investigated or reviewed by sever- al authors are the identification of small species in the genus Calidris, skuas Stercorarius, Citrine Wagtail Mot ac ilia citreola, Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii, Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum , Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides and the separation of Serin Serinus serinus from similar finches which are kept in captivity but liable to escape. Anyone with relevant photographs or comments is invited to contact me, so that they may be put in touch with the authors concerned. P. J. Grant, 14 Heathfield Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8qd Announcement The Ornithological Society of the Middle East At the annual general meeting of the Ornithological Society of Turkey on 27th April 1978, a resolution was passed changing its name to ‘The Ornithological Society of the Middle East’. The geographical area of interest has now been enlarged to include all countries of the Middle East and a new scientific journal entitled The Sandgrouse will be published annually; supplementary issues will be published from time to time, containing up- to-date checklists, including one for Turkey. New members and support are welcomed. Enquiries, records and contributions should be sent to the hon. secretary of the OSME, Don Parr, 40 Leatherhead Road, Ashtead, Surrey KT21 2sy. Request Partially albino Swifts So that a summary may he prepared for publication, details of sightings of partially albino Swifts Apus apus, including full descriptions of the distribu- tion of white in the plumage, arc required by G. P. Gatley, Southend, Goxhill, Barrow- on-Humber, South Humberside iin 19 71/r. News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett Surrey’s first NNR Thursley National Nature Reserve, some 320 ha on Thursley, Ockley and Rodborough Commons, was declared by the Nature Conservancy Council in early July. At a time when southern heathland is a fast-dwindling habitat, this — the 162nd NNR in Britain — is an important acquisition. The Surrey Trust for Nature Conservation, which has done sterling work in managing the land as a nature reserve for 14 years, will continue to assist in this way. As well as dry heath, the -reserve includes the most important bog left in southeast England; breeding birds include Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, Stonechat Saxicola lorquata and Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus. Polish bustards A paper on the ecology of Great Bustards Otis tarda in Poland in Roczniki Akademii Rolniczej w Poznaniu, by Andrjez Bereszynski of the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Agricultural Academy in Poznan, gives some indication of the species’ decline in Poland over the last 40 years. Taking the population in 1936-38 as the index (100), a drop to 22.8 had occurred by 1972, with a further fall to 17.6 by 1975. The latest (1975) population estimate is of only 123 birds. The English summary (which is worth reading, incidentally, for its excruciating English) makes no reference to the reasons for the decline, but, by inference, these seem to be associated with loss of habitat, as elsewhere in Europe. WWF aids terns The World Wildlife Fund has made a grant of £2,000 to the North Wales Naturalists’ Trust to enable it to repair and modify a weir and control water levels at an Anglesey tern colony. About 900 pairs of Sandwich Sterna sand- vicensis, Common S. hirundo and Arctic Terns S. paradisaea are threatened by flooding at this site; hopefully, the work to be carried out will enable this important Welsh colony to fare better in future than it has in recent years. 1 Dyfed Wildlife Appeal The West Wales Naturalists’ Trust has launched an appeal to raise £60,000 to purchase and manage reserves in Dyfed, including especially Dynevor Castle Woods and rights on the adjacent water meadows, a really good regional site for birds. Dona- tions to, and more information from: WWNT, Appeal Headquarters, 20A High Street, Haverfordwest, Dyfed. USA: some contrasts It was heartening to read in the March 1978 issue of Massa- chusetts Audubon that the population of Ospreys Pandion haliaetus from the Con- necticut River to Long Island Sound is no longer declining. Contamination by DDE residues is now a thing of the past and, after falling to 0.5 in 1969-73, the average breeding success has risen to 1.2 young per pair per annum: a good step upwards towards the pre- toxics average of 1.71 in 1938-42. One of us (ME) was lucky enough to visit some Connecticut pairs this summer: one nest was on an artificial platform about 100 m from a busy road, a small airfield and a smallish factory block and was totally safe from any form of molestation — simply because nobody would dream of interfering with it. It was sickening to reflect that it would not have lasted five minutes in this country. A better slant on our activities, however, comes from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s winter 1978 Newsletter : a conference at Cornell in February looked at the role of amateurs in ornithology and concluded that the USA lags far behind in the field of using co-ordinated amateur effort in major projects. BTO President John McMeeking was among the speakers and the Trust’s record in the use of its membership was not only highly praised but also very clearly envied. North Staffs moorlands Recent comment in the national press on the loss to agriculture of moorland habitat on Exmoor has culminated in the Porchester Report, suggesting conservation measures broadly supported by the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture. This loss of moorland, however, is not confined to Exmoor and 425 News and comment 426 many birdwatchers will be sad to hear of a similar case in prospect in North Stafford- shire. Some 450 ha of former grouse moor and woodland between the Roaches and Back Dane, as well as Gun Hill Moor, were sold with the Swythanley Estate last November. The Peak Joint Planning Board was outbid by sheep-farming interests: there are now 1,200 sheep on the area, a number which may double in the near future. Detrimental changes to the vegetation are inevitable in an area which holds valuable populations of breeding Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix. Short-eared Owls Asio flammeus, Ring Ouzels Turdus torquatus, and Twites Carduelis flavirostris . The shooting rights are for sale separately and the presence of Black Grouse has been advertised. Some 80% of the 130- 150 Black Grouse in the Peak Park live on the North Staffs moors and are the nearest ones to birdwatchers in southern and eastern England. Most national parks include moorland and it is probable that other good bird habitats are threatened by agricultural changes. Many of these changes are economically viable only through Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances under the EEC Less Favoured Areas Directive and these subsidies can encourage high stocking rates that can lead to degradation of the land. Roy Jenkins, President of the European Com- mission, has now said that these allowances are not mandatory and need not necessarily be given in areas where reclamation would conflict with conservation. A local cam- paign is under way in Staffordshire to make sure that the various statutory bodies are aware of the feelings of natura- lists. In this connection, it would be of interest to know of similar threats in other national parks and the action being taken : information should be sent to Frank Gribble, 22 Rickerscote Avenue, Stafford. (Contributed by Frank Gribble) Tom Keogh Memorial Trophy Named in memory of the late Tom Keogh {Brit. Birds 70: 402), the premier award in a recent Irish national wildlife photographic competition, organised by the Photo- graphic Society of University College Dublin, and sponsored jointly by Radio Teleffs fiireann and the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, was won by Richard T. Mills with his photograph of ‘Barn Owl feeding young’ (plate 155). 155. WINNER of TOM KEOGH memorial trophy. Barn Owl Tylo alba feeding young, Co. Cork, Augu st >975 (Richard T. Mills) News and comment Peregrine conference A most useful booklet, Pilgrimsfalk, edited by Peter Lindberg, reports the proceedings of a conference on Peregrines Falco peregrinus held at Grimso Wildlife Research Station, Sweden, in April 1977. Papers on Peregrine populations and conservation measures are included for the three Scandinavian countries and Finland, and our own Douglas Weir reports on the species in relation to food and pesticides in his Highland study area. Copies are available (price not stated) from SNF, Kungsholms Strand 125, 112 34 Stockholm, Sweden. Ornithological group in Algeria Three amateur ornithologists employed by the Algerian civil service have formed a group with the aim of bringing knowledge of Opinions expressed in this feature 427 Algerian avifauna up to date. Observers who have visited Algeria since 1965 are asked to send all their records to J. P. Jacob, Institut National Agronomique, I.aboratoire d’Horticulture, Avenue Pasteur, El Harrach, Algeria. White-fronted Geese A group of 12 observers plans to study the ecology of the Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris at Disko Bay, west Greenland, in 1979. There is very little information on this subject in the literature and any previously unpublished breeding season observations of these geese (or the Russian, nominate race) will be welcomed by Tony Fox, Zoology Department, University College of Wales, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Dyfed. of the editors of British Birds are not necessarily those Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records This report covers late May, June and the first part of July; except where otherwise stated, all dates refer to June. The weather during this period was changeable and often cool, with the mean temperature a little below average. The first few days of June were very warm, with an easterly airflow bringing a taste of the Continental summer, and several Continental ‘overshoots’ to the the northern half of the country. Fair Isle (Shetland) received the lion’s share with Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus. Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris, Red-throated Pipit A. cervinus and Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica arriving on 1st, followed by Marsh Warblers Acrocephalus palustris on 2nd and 3rd, Great Reed Warbler A. arundinaceus on 2nd, and Scarlet Rose- finch Carpodacus erythrinus on 4th. The latter species was also found at Grutness (Shetland) on 3rd. Two reports of Black- headed Buntings Emberiza melanocephala , on the Calf of Man on 1st and from Strand (Shetland) on 2nd, following the one at Portland Bill (Dorset) on 5th May, suggest that all may have been genuine vagrants. A further Golden Oriole arrived at the Calf of Man on 7th, and another Rustic Bunting at Flamborough Head (North Humberside) on 4th. A male Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator at Fleet- wood on 1st was a new species for Lanca- shire, the same county also reporting an Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana at Formby in the first week. A Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus on the Calf of Man on 4th was no surprise with the easterly weather, but a Saker F. cherrug on May 27th on Fetlar (Shetland) sounds exciting, if not an escape. .After these late spring migrants, few 428 Recent reports passerine movements were reported, so that the discovery of a White-throated Sparrow % onotrichia albicollis on Fair Isle on 17th was quite a surprise. This North American species has a pleasant but somewhat persistant song aptly described by the phrase, ‘Old Sam Pea- body Peabody Peabody’, from which it has been popularly named ‘the Peabody bird’. A ship-assisted transatlantic crossing would seem the most likely explanation of the occurrence. A Snow Bunting Pleclro- phenax nivalis on Flamborough Plead on 25th was also a surprise. Seabird movements Further details of the spring passage of Pomarine Skuas Stercorarius pomarinus off the Hebrides have been received. Half- hourly counts on 12th and 14th May were 25 and 24, followed by 46 in 1 £ hours on 23rd May. One was also reported off Flamborough Head on 18th, where eight Great Skuas 5. skua had been seen the previous day. At the beginning of a rather cool period of northerly weather with strong winds in the North Sea, 260 Manx Shearwaters Ptiffinus puffinus flew north at Flamborough on 11th. Further con- centrations near the coast were reported: 60 at Start Point (Devon) on 171I1 and 132 in Q hours at Blackpool (Lancashire) on 3rd July. Sooty Shearwaters P. griseus were noted at Flamborough on 10th and 17th, and Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea off Filey Brigg (North Yorkshire) on 25th and 29th. None of these shearwater reports suggests any unusual movements. More surprising was the appearance of two Black Guillemots Cepphus grylle at Flamborough on 2nd July. Wading birds Apart from a few Greenshanks Tringa nebularia, no significant return migration had been reported by early July, and, with inland reservoirs generally full, prospects of a good wader autumn appear slim. Coastal areas, however, will always pro- duce the unexpected, Breydon Water (Norfolk) in this period attracting a Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus, and, on the south coast, a Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus made short visits to Dungeness (Kent), Rye, Chichester and Pagham Harbours and Sidlesham Ferry (East and West Sussex) (see plate 156). This common Mediterranean wader rarely ventures north, this being only the fifth record in the last ten years. Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia were again reported summering on the north Norfolk coast, and six were seen at Killingholme (South Humberside) from 19th to 26th. A Great White Egret Egretta alba , an increasingly frequent visitor in the past few years, was present at Loch of Strathbeg (Grampian) on 30th. Latest news First three weeks of August rather slack, but two White-winged Black Terns Chlidonias leucopterus at Queen Mary Reser- voir (Middlesex) on 19th, immature Woodchat Shrike at Portland on 20th. and report of Calandra Lark Alelanocory- pha calandra near King’s Lynn (Norfolk) also on 20th. 156. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus , Sidlesham Ferry, West Sussex, July 1978 (Jeff Pick) British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 6901/5 Classified Advertisements £2.25 for 3 lines ( minimum) 75p for each whole or part extra line Classified display £2 a centimetre (min. 3 centimetres ) For the use of a box number there is a charge of 3 op. Replies to: The A D VER TISEMENT MANAGER British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 3 Dyers Buildings, London ECi N2NR 01-831 6901(5 HOLIDAY A CCOMMODA LION NEW FOREST. 6 self-catering fully- equipped caravans in valley overlooking Avon. 109 different species spotted. Perfect for families. S.A.E. Trevelyan, Godshill, Fordingbridge, SP6 2LN. (BB145) SCOTLAND. Isle of Mull, Scoor House. Self-catering holidays in converted farm- house flats. Quiet and secluded with a great variety of wildlife, birds — golden eagle, sea and coastal species and mi- gratory. Write — Mr and Mrs James McKeand, Scoor House, Bunessan, Isle of Mull. Tel. Fionnphort 297. (BB153) OUTSTANDING Birdwatching, easy reach Carse Sands, Caerlaverock, Dee Valley. Warm comfortably furnished flat in Galloway farmhouse, £ mile coast and Urr Estuary. Weekly lets all year, Spring and Autumn particularly attractive. Tel: Rockcliffe 354 and 205 (BB249) NEW FOREST. 6 self-catering fully- equipped caravans in valley overlooking Avon. \ mile from nesting Dartford Warblers. Perfect for families. S.A.E. Trevelyan, Godshill, Fordingbridge, SP6 2LN. (BB118) OPEN ALL YEAR round, ij miles north of Loch Ken. Mrs B. Forrest, Ken Bridge Hotel, New Galloway, Kirkcud- brightshire, DG7 3PR. Tel: New Galloway 21 1. (BB235) ARCH HOUSE, Mill Road, Wells, Norfolk. Warm, attractive, comfortable rooms in an interesting listed building. B & B /'4.R0. Evening meal £2.73. Wells 696. ' (BB219) COUNTRY HOME WEST IRELAND. Stone farmhouse, 19th C. renovated 1940’s, fully furnished, west shore, L. Mask. Two storeys, 3 BR. Central heat, complete kitchen and bath. Wide lake view. Fine birding, walking, fishing, boating J m. Annual lease, most reason- able. Brendan Tuohy, Ballyheane, Co. Mayo; tel. Ballyheane 5. (BB248) THE BIOLOGY OF PENGUINS Edited by Bernard Stonehouse Special Reduced Price This lavishly illustrated book contains reviews and papers by many well-known penguin researchers, ranging from the Galapagos islands to the Antarctic and including an item on the seldom studied Little Penguin. The whole is a comprehensive and highly readable account for amateur and professional ornithologists alike. Price £9.50 reduced from £18.50 ISBN 0333 16791 0 121 MACMILLAN PRESS Vll British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 6901/5 NEAR BIDEFORD: a country hotel with lovely views across the River Torridge. Cordon Bleu cuisine, licensed, private bathrooms. Cliffs and estuary nearby. Yeoldon House, Durrant Lane, Northam, N. Devon. Tel: Bideford 4400. (BB198) COMFORTABLE bed and breakfast accommodation — overlooking harbour. Robertson, 1 Old Coastguard, Amble, Northumbria. Tel : Amble 71 0001. (BB199) ANGLESEY. Guesthouse, 25 yards beach. Every comfort. Dinner, bed and breakfast, packed lunches. Safe bathing, boating, birdwatching, walking, fishing, golf. Mrs Rivington, Cynfal, Ravens- point Road, Treorddur Bay, Anglesey, Gwynedd. Tel: 0407 860 078 (BB202) ISLE OF MULL. Dinner. B. & B. Detached house three minutes from harbour. Large garden. Children. Pets welcome. S.A.E.: Brenda Vernon, Strongarbh House, Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2328. (BB204) GLANRANNELL PARK HOTEL CRUGYBAR, LLANWRDA, DYFED AA ** RAC BIRDS HORSES FISH Kite country’s own commended country house hotel. The ideal centre for West Wales, easy reach of mountains and coast. RSPB, Trust and Conservancy reserves within easy reach. Buzzards, pied flycatchers, redstarts regular in our grounds. Resident Expert ! ! ! behind the bar. David and Bronwen extend a welcome to all. Please send stamp for our colour brochure to David Davis. (BB206) FAIRWINDS, CARRBRIDGE, SPEY VALLEY, INVERNESS-SHIRE, SCOTLAND. Three Alpine bungalows to let and two country house flats — Fully furnished including linen, fridge, TV, Surrounded by woods. There is a small loch in the grounds. CRESTED TITS in garden. Special terms for Sept, and October. S.A.E. for details to Mrs Dunlop. Tel Carrbridge 240 (BB196) VILLAGE EDGE BODMIN MOOR. Spacious heated caravans, small quiet rural site. Own bathrooms/hot showers. Fresh produce, home cooking. Pets welcome. Brochure: Rivermead, St. Breward, Bodmin. Tel: St. Tudy 709 (BB197) SCOTTISH BORDERS. Self-contained holiday cottage sleeps 6-8. Fishing and walking in beautiful countryside with wide variety of wildlife. From £35 p.w. Apply with S.A.E. Willis, Watcarrick, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Tel: Eskdalemuir 230. (BB103) DARTMOOR. RSPB members offer quiet comfort, excellent food. Ideal centre, touring, walking, bird watching. Dartmoor antiquities. Transport for non-drivers. Brochure: Mrs White, Rew Meadow, Belstone, Okehampton. Tel: Sticklepath 261. (BB125) BERWICKSHIRE— small hotel over- looking Coldingham Bay, St. Abbs Head, — Lammamuir Hills and Whiteadder Valley within easy reach. Write lor brochure, The Sheiling Hotel, Colding- ham Bay. Berwickshire. (BB143) XVIIth CENTURY FARMHOUSE with fine views over Mendips. Bed and breakfast. Mrs Bcynon, Ubley Park House, Breach Hill, Chew Stoke, Avon. (BB191) BED AND BREAKFAST in fully modernised farmhouse in Pembs. Nat- ional Parkland overlooking sea. H & G in bedrooms. Write to: Pugh, “Dyffryn , Dinas Cross, Dyfed. S.A.E. please . (BB205) British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 6901/5 UPPER NIDDERDALE near Gouthwaite Reservoir. B & B., E. M. Poole, The Bungalow, Heathfield, Pateley Bridge, North Yorks. Tel: 0423 71 1530. (BB229) FOR THE DISCERNING birdwatcher seeking proximity to reserves, tranquil- ity, gourmet food and personal service. Try “Copper Beech”, 22 York Avenue, Hunstanton, Norfolk (048 53) 2707 Prop. J. Smart. S.A.E. for brochure (BB228) FOR A QUIET RESTFUL HOLIDAY on the edge of Dartmoor. Blackaller House Hotel offers you ‘country house style’ comfort, good food, and personal attention. Licensed to residents. — Black- aller House Hotel, North Bovey, Devon. Tel: Moretonhampstead 322. (BBqo) QUALITY SELF-CATERING accom- modation in North Yorkshire. All prices and sizes. Cottages, flats and houses. Also a large house in the Lakes. Details: Freedom of Ryedale, Ref. B, 8 Bondgate, Helmsley, York YO6 5BT. Tel: Helmsley 282. (BB188) PEACEFUL ROYAL FOREST of Dean. Wye Valley area. Georgian Coun- try House “Adult” Hotel. Resident props who care. AA*, full CH. Excellent food and wines. Lambsquay Hotel, Cole- ford. Tel: 05943 3127 for brochure please. (BB190) NEAR LEIGHTON MOSS AND MORECAMBE BAY. Bed and break- fast, evening meal (optional). Mrs J. Lambert, 17 Cove Road, Silverdale, Lancs. Tel: 701696. (BB144) NEAR PRESTEIGNE, POWYS: two self contained cottages and a flat, each sleeping four in modern comfort but in isolation and the seclusion of a private estate. Available all the year. Low winter rates. Mrs Bromage, The Estate Office, Barland House, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: Presteigne 296. (BB49) BLAKENEY, NORFOLK. Comfortable, newly renovated, traditional flint and tiled cottages, sleep four, night storage heating, fully equipped, near bird sanc- tuary. S.A.E. for details: Mrs. Reeve, 100 Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex. Tel: Chelmsford 55210. (BB100) HOLIDAY CARAVAN to let on beauti- ful small island: 4 berth. No dogs please. S.A.E. for details: Coleman, Papa Stour, Shetland. Tel: Papa Stour 234. (BB189) PERFECT FOR HAVERGATE, close to Minsmere. Log fire and warm bed- rooms. 1 6th century Inn by the River Ore. B&B, food. “The Jolly Sailor”, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Tel: Orford 243 (BB96) LLEYN/SNOWDONIA— choice cotta- ges, sleep 5-9. i3ac. Llyn, Woodlands. S.A.E. Glasfryn Estate, Pwllheli. (076 688 203) (BB2 12) ENGLISH LAKES. Wateredge, Country House Hotel, convenient for Leighton Moss, Morecambe Bay and the Solway. Open all year except November. Tel: Ambleside 2332. (BB237) ISLES OF SCILLY. Centrally heated holiday flats. Open all year. S.A.E. for brochure to: Mrs M. Nicholls, Sea-Waves, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. Tel: Scillonia 752- (BB213) KING’S ARMS HOTEL CASTLE DOUGLAS Tel: 2097 AA** RSAC** RAC** Egon Ronay Recommended Fully licensed. Open all Year Castle Douglas is the perfect centre for birdwatching in roman- tic Galloway. Birdwatchers will receive a 10% reduction to the room charge from November until April. Proprietors : Iain and Betty MacDonald For Brochures write to: B. MacDonald IX British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 690C5 MOFFAT SW SCOTLAND. A paradise for ornithology, over 140 species within ten mile radius. Local expert available. For comfortable accommodation and home cooking stay with Kay & Martyn West, Hartfell House, Moffat DG10 9AI. Tel: 0683 20153. Send for brochure. (BB130) GALLOWAY, three miles Balmaclellan. Will sleep four. For further particulars: Hodgson, Barnshalloch, Balmaclellan. Tel: New Galloway 248. (BB214) HANDY — LEIGHTON MOSS, Lakes/ Dales. Lovely walks. Open always. B. & B., evening meal optional. Home baking, your warmth and comfort assured. S.A.E. please: Manwaring, Yew Tree House, Silverdale. Tel: 701532. (BB217) ESKDALE — Bunkhousc for four, self- catering, in the heart of Eskdale, £25.00 per week. Easy access to Scafell range. Birdwatchers, climbers, fellwalkers welcome. S.A.E. Eskdale Vicarage, Boot, Holmrook, Cumbria CA19 iTF. Eskdale 242. (BB226) PEMBROKESHIRE COAST National Park. Try an Autumn or Winter break in comfortable country cottages ad- joining the Rosemoor Nature Reserve. Full gas-fired CH. £17.28 pw for two— £21.60 pw for six. “Rosemoor, Walwyn’s Castle, Haverfordwest. (BB230) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS in UK. Individual attention. Stamp please to Derek Tutt (Barn Owl Travel), 27 Sea- view Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 4NL. (BB200) KENYA: BARINGO BIRD & GAME SAFARIS LTD. Individually Tailored Escorted Safaris. Private Tented Camps, Foot Safari, Coast, Sports: Choice is yours . . . Flexible too! (No package tours). U.K. — A. Wootton, 10 Lucas Way, Shefford, Beds. (i2p stamp). (BB187) SPAIN BIRD WATCHING HOLIDAYS English Ornithologist living remote central Spain offers one week bird watch- ing for parties 3 or 4 friends April May June 1979. Accommodation, own house. Expeditions by Range Rover. Expect to see 1 20/ 1 50 different species, including most rare birds of Iberian Peninsula such as Eagles (5) Vultures (3) other Raptors (9) Bustards (2) Sand Grouse (2) Eagle Owl Stocks (2) many Ducks Waders, etc., £280 person/week all inclusive. Please write Tom Gullick, 15 Stanley Road, Brighton, Sussex. (BB208) SOCIETIES THE BRITISH BUTTERFLY Con- servation Society. President: Sir Peter Scott. The Society promotes the study of endangered species and is carrying out valuable surveys. For details of mem- bership, the Society’s aims and pro- gramme please write to: The Hon Publicity Officer, British Butterfly Con- servation Society, Dept. H, Tudor House, Quorn, Leicestershire, LE12 SAD. (BB238) BOOKS ORNITHOLIDAYS’ GUIDES in the “Let’s Look at . . . .” series. Majorca, S. W. Spain, The Camargue, Montenegro, Eastern Austria, Southern Morocco, North-East Greece and Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies. £1.50 per copy or £7.25 for any five titles. Orni- tholidays, 1/3, Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis. Sussex. PO21 2PW. (XBB16) ’KEY TO THE NAMES of British . . .’ by R. D. Macleod. (1) Birds, (2) Plants, (3) Butterflies and Moths, (4) Fishes, Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles. Now available as paperbacks at £1.00 each (inc. p & p) or £3.50 per set of four. Mrs S. Doust, 121 Warren Drive, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 4OU. (BB233) X British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 690C5 FOR SALE unbound in good condition British Birds vols. 68, 69, 70. Bird Study vols. 17 to 23. Wildfowl nos. 21 to 28. West Midlands. B.C., 24 Annual Reports. Wanted odd volumes Witherby’s Hand- book British Birds. Box No. 236. British Birds, (Advertisement Dept.) c/o Mac- millan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF. (BB236) BIRD BOOKS BOUGHT. Please let me quote you for the purchase of good bird books. The Book Squirrel. Hart-on-the- Hill, Dalton Piercy, Hartlepool, Cleve- land. (BB243) BOOKS ON BIRDS New and Second- hand, Catalogue 2op, surplus bird books urgently sought open Thursday to Saturday, Bird Books of Sevenoaks, House of Seal, Church Street., Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: Sevenoaks 62 1 (BB194) COLLECTING BIRD STAMPS by Christine E. Jackson. Colour frontis- piece, many text illustrations. 128pp. £3.80 (postage 36p). H. F. and G. W'itherby Ltd., 5 Plantain Place, Crosby Row, London SE 1 iYN. (BB178) ESSEX BIRD REPORT. 1976. £1.40 post included. D. J. Weston, 78 Wood- berry Way, Walton-on-Naze, Essex, CO 1 4 8EW. (BB216) ORNITHOLIDAYS’ GUIDES in the “Let’s Look at ... . ’’series. Majorca, S.W. Spain, The Camargue, Montenegro Eastern Austria, Southern Morocco, Vancouver and the Rockies, and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). £1.50 per copy. Orni- tholidays, 1/3 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex. (BB218) THE PHEASANTS OF THE WORLD. Jean Delacour, new 2nd edition. 7 pages in full colour. 434 pages. This standard work covers the 49 species. One of the fine bird books of this century. £19.50 post paid. From bookshops or Spur Pub- lications, Saiga Publishing Co. Ltd., Hindhead, Surrey (Hindhead 6141). (BBi 14) RARE and out-of-print ornithological and natural history books for sale Catalogue 50p. Books on all subjects purchased. Blest, Broomscroft, Water- ingbury, Maidstone, Kent. (BB203) FOR SALE GLAMORGAN Bird Report 1977. £i post paid from D. H. Binstead, 37 Penhill Road, Cardiff CF 1 9PR. (BB232) VISITING TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ? Professional Cassette Tape Recording of bird song and calls. £2.50 from: Terry White, 6C Rosebery Avenue, Harpenden, Herts. (BB234) EXCLUSIVE DESIGN: BRITISH BIRDS BINDERS Original-design, leather look binders in our distinctive green are now available at a cost of £2.50 each. The binders, which should last you many years, have an easy-to-operate system of metal rods for swift and secure insertion of your copies. Each binder, which holds a complete volume (one year’s copies), has the British Birds motif embossed in gold on the spine. These binders will prove invaluable either for storing the current year’s issues before orthodox binding or as a permanent method of storing your collection. To order your binder(s) simply write, enclosing £2.50 per binder (overseas US$5.00), to: British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire BG21 2XS, England. (BB167) TRADITIONAL LEATHER BELTS TJ Hand-made from English Oak Bark Tanned Leather with brass buckle. Light or Dark Tan. £4.25 inc. post & VAT Overseas add Ij" £6.00 inc. post & VAT £1 per belt PLEASE STATE COLOUR AND WAIST SIZE 7 days’ despatch from : DODDS DANIELL, 10 Chancery Lane, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3PX Tel 22831 (BB24I) British Birds Volume 71 Number 9 September 1978 375 Editorial 376 Breeding ecology of the Merlin in Northumberland Dr I. Newton, E. R. Meek and B. Little 398 Nesting Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal Dr N. J. Collar 412 Personalities iy Dr Stephanie Tyler Dr J. S. Ash and Mrs J. W. Ash 414 Mystery photographs D. I. M. Wallace Notes 416 Bittern apparently feeding at night by artificial light Barry B. Reed 416 Melanistic Grey Heron David Britton 417 Wing-bar of Baird’s Sandpiper T. E. Bond 418 Feeding action of Baird’s Sandpiper H. Huggins 418 Marsh Sandpiper with orange legs S. J. M. Gantlett 418 Leucistic Swift K. E. Vinicombe Reviews 419 Wildlife Sound Recording by John B. Fisher P. J. Sellar 419 A Guide to the Birds of Scotland by Eric Hardy Andrew T. Macmillan 420 Guide to the Identification and Ageing of Holarctic Waders by A. J. Prater, J. H. Marchant and J. Vuorinen Peter Grant Letters 420 Great Blue and aberrant Grey Herons Bernard King 42 1 Grey-cheeked Thrushes in Europe Will Russell 422 Tail-cocking by Moustached Warblers J. N. Hollyer 422 The use of flash in bird-photography R. A. Hume Announcement 424 The Ornithological Society of the Middle East Don Parr Request 424 Partially albino Swifts G. P. Catley 425 News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett 427 Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge Line-drawings: Merlin on page 376 ( Stephen Abbott)', Black- shouldered Kite on page 398 ( Robert Gillmor); Rustic Bunting on page 427 ( L . A. Tucker)', White-throated Sparrow on page 428 (. Robert Gillmor) ; Pomarine Skua on page 428 (C. J. Hodgson) Front cover: Swallow Hirundo rustica, Bedfordshire, September 1977 ( Michael W. Richards) Printed by Henry Burt & Son Ltd, College Street, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8na Published by Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF British Birds Binoculars and Telescopes Survey Oystercatchers on the Wash Best recent black-and-white bird photographs Mystery photograph • Notes * Letters P8ird Illustrator of the Year • Bird Photograph of the Year News and comment * Recent reports British Birds A 1 imaging Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr J. T. R. Sharrock D. I. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £12.00; rest of world US $19.50 or equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2xs, England.) UK Post Office Giro Account No. is 519 2455. Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to: Advertisement Department, British Birds, 3 Dyers Buildings, London ecin 2Nr {tel: 01-831 6901/5) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Shorter contributions, if not typed, must be clearly written and well spaced, and notes should be worded as concisely as possible. Authors of papers and notes should consult this issue for style of presentation (especially for systematic lists, reference lists and tables). Tables must either fit into the width of a page or into a whole page length- ways, and should be self-explanatory. English names of birds should have capital initials for each word, except after a hyphen, but group terms and names of other animals and plants should not. Both English and scientific names of birds, and the sequence, follow The ‘ British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). English and scientific names of plants follow John G. Dony el al. (1974, English Names of Wild Flowers). Scientific names (underlined) should appear immediately after the first mention of the English name. Dates should always take the form Tst January 1978’, except in tables where they may be abbreviated. Figures should be numbered with arabic numerals, and the captions typed on a separate sheet. All line-drawings should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper, drawing paper or board (not of an absorbent nature) or, where necessary, on light blue or very pale grey graph paper. It is important to consider how each drawing will fit into the page when reduced. Any lettering or numbering that is an integral part of a text-figure should be inserted lightly in pencil. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive 25 free copies of the journal (15 each to two authors, ten each to three to six, and five each to seven or more). News and comment Peter Conder, 1 2 Swaynes Lane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7EF Rarities Committee Michael J. Rogers, 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex twi6 7TP © Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photographers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF {tel: 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 Swift Gold Riband Audubon Binoculars. Designed by birdwatchers for birdwatching. Swift Audubon 8.5X44. The world’s finest birdwatching binocular by virtue of the amazingly wide angle of view and the exceptional close focusing. n Address . Please send colour brochure containing full details of the Audubon and the complete Post to: Pyser Ltd Fircroft Way, Edenbndge, Kent TN8 6HA range of Swift Binoculars Telephone: Edenbridge (0732) 864 1 1 1 (8 linesp (BB284) 5 LONDON BRIDGE WALK, LONDON. SE1 2SX TELEPHONE: 01-407 6833 PERSONAL SHOPPERS OR MAIL ORDER (Gt. Britain and N. Ireland only) BINOCULARS Li Nikon 7x35 Nikon 8 x 30 . Nikon 9 x 35 7 x 26 Roof Pnsm 7 x 30 Roof Prism £1 04*45 £105.00 £113.45 £124.59 £135.95 Supreme 10 x 50 Supreme 8 x 40 Audubon II 8 5 x Storm King II 7 » Newport II 10 * 50 Skipper II 7 X 50 Saratoga II 8 x 40 Triton 7 x 35 Apollo II 8 x 30 Trilyte III 10 x 40 Trilyte III 9 . Trilyte III 8 i £111.15 £102.60 £88.95 50 £142.20 £64.85 £63.40 £59.15 £57.70 £49.60 £66.70 £62 40 £62.40 ZEISS-WEST Porro Prism 8 x 30B £242.00 7x50 B,'G A (no cas.*) £290.00 15x60 (Porro) £442.60 Dialyt M matures 6 x 20B £86.40 8 x 20 £84.75 8 x 20B £95.45 10 x 25B £107.80 Dialyt Roof Pr sm 8 x 30B £192.85 8.30 B GA (no case) £167.70 8x56B/GA (no case) £260.50 8x56B GA (me. caso)£277.00 10 x 40B £222.75 10 x 40 B GA £226.60 AT LOW DISCOUNT PRICES LEITZTRINOVID ■ PENTAX 7 x 35B (Case £17.95) £195.80 7 x 42B (Case £17.95) £249.95 8 x 32 B (Case £1 7 95) £225.00 8 x 40B (Case £17.95) £246.95 10x40B (Case £1 7.95) £255.00 Opt. Soft Case for above £13.50 LEITZ COMPACT TRIN0VID Pentax 8 x 30 ZCF Pentax 7 x 35 ZCF Pentax 7 x 50 ZCF Pentax lOx 50ZCF Pentax 12 x 50 ZCF Pentax 16 x 50 ZCF Pentax 7 x 35 WCF Pentax 8 x 40 WCF £51.95 £50.20 £56.30 £58.10 £58.95 £60.75 £60.75 £64.40 ZEISS-JENA 8 x 20C 10 x 22C .. Hard Case Soft Case . H0YA £119.95 £127.50 £5.95 £9.95 MONOCULARS Zeiss West 8 x 20 £42.35 Zeiss West 8 x 30B £105.00 Zeiss- Jena 26 x 63 £125.00 TELESCOPES Zeiss West 40 x 60 £278.00 Hertel & Reuss Televan 25 x 60 x 60 £105.20 Compact 8 x 20 £65 00 Jenoptem 8 x 30 £35.88 8 x 40ZCF £31.95 15 x 60 x 60 £109.35 Ranger 10 x 50 £54.15 Jenoptem 7 * 50 £59.95 10 x 50ZCF £36.95 Nickel Supra Zoom Grand Prix 8 x 40 , £49.20 Jenoptem 10 x 50 £66.95 8 x 40BWCF .... £45.95 15 x 40 x 40 £93.95 County 10 x 40 £53.45 Deltnnlem 8 x 30 . £52.95 10 x 50BWCF .. £55.95 Swift Telemaster Belmont 10 x 50 £39 90 Bmoctem 7 x 50 £78.95 8 x 20RWCF .. .. £49 95 15 x 60 x 60 £115.80 Belmont 8 x 40 £36.75 Dekarem 10 x 50 £36.95 8 x 30RWCF £62.95 Case for Telemaster £16.95 Belmont 8 x 30 . £34.90 Zeiss 80/500 Teles. £569.94 10 x 40RWCF .. £69.59 Tripod tor Telemaster £21.50 ALL INCLUDE CASE UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED FANTASTIC TELESCOPE OFFER! SWIFT TELEMASTER JR. MOD 842 A Compact spotting scope and telephoto lens Magnification 25x to 50x. Zoom. Objective diameter 50mm. 13 elements in 8 groups all glass to air surfaces fully coated. Focusing down to 16ft. Length only 14.9 in. Weight only 2 lb 1 oz (940 gr). Ideal for rifle or pistol shooting, birdwatching or just looking at distant objects. Adaptor available for Camera Use. This converts camera end to use T2 mounts. (The first 100 sold will also receive a free case). For mail order add Cl 00 post, package and ins. ACCESSORIES Camera mounts £5.50 Tripods £19.95 OFFER ONLY WHILST STOCKS LAST Qmfts SPECIAL OFFER PRICE £69.95 normally £100 THE TELESCOPES i ii 2x70 OF THE BIRDWATCHER, WHO ALWAYS NEED THE 30x75 I CLEAREST and BRIGHTEST IMAGE AND THE BEST Closed: 12 Vi" Extended: 19' 2' Weloht: 44 02. Field: 120 ft at 1000 yds. List price: £215.27 Our Price: £134.50 + 75p p & p. incl. of case. Used by professional birdwatchers, the Wildfowl Trust for watching wildfowl, the RSPB for the observation of Ospreys at Loch Garten and the enthusiasts who appreciate the quality, the unbeatable brilliant and clear image (practically free of colour fringes) combined with natural colours and the panoramic wide field provided by the multi- coated optical system. The superior per- formance can be realised and believed only when compared with other telescopes. To recognise and see in sharp and clear details, to distinciuish between features of different birds from long range, possibly only through these telescopes, they are rubber covered, showerproof, fitted“with fold down rubber eyecup for spectacle wearers and with tripod adaptor. May be supplied with de-luxe leather case or leather end caps with sling, compact, easy to use and a pleasure to own. Optolyth have been specialists in the manufacture of high quality optical instru- ments for over a century and during the years they have developed binoculars of robust but lightweight construction with superior optical performance and marketed at reasonable prices. The latest introduc- tions are the Ceralin multi-coated Roof prism, Alpin and Optolyth models. The 10 x 40 Alpin (illustrated) is the lightest 10 x 40 available today and the only binocular which has all the require- ments of the birdwatcher built into one instrument. Compact, wide angle, rubber armoured, fitted with fold down rubber eye- cups (all Optolyth binoculars) for spectacle wearers. The 8 x 30 Alpin and the 8 x 30 Optolyth are both multi-coated, lightweight and compact, with performances comparable only to those costing around £200. The 12 x 63 has clearly no equivalent. All Optolyth Binoculars and Telescopes are guaranteed for life, and sent for 14 days’ approval upon receipt of full remittance by return of post. Colour brochure on the complete range of Optolyth products are available on request. i« 10 x 40 ALPIN Weiciht: 17 oz. Field: 345 ft at 1000 yds. List Price: £1 18.19 Our Price: £83.00 + 75p p & p. incl. of soft case. 8 x 30 ALPIN Weiaht: 14 oz. Field: 420 ft at 1000 yds. List Price: £1 1 3.35 Our Price: £69.00 r 75p p & p. incl. of soft case. Closed: 9" Extended: 13" Weiaht: 32 02. Field: 165 ft at 1000 yds. List Price: £206.00 Our Price: £125.00 + 75p p & p. incl. of case. 12 x 63 OPTOLYTH Weiaht: 39 oz. only Field: 240 ft at 1 000 yds. List Price: £272.05 Our Price: £190.65 + 75p p & p. incl. of leather case. 0PTICR0N (Dept. BB) 400 HATFIELD RD„ ST. ALBANS, HERTS. AL4 0DU. TEL. 56516 8 x 30 OPTOLYTH Weight: 16 oz. only Field: 450 ft at 1000 yds. List Price: £94.02 Our Price: £59.00 + 75p p & p. incl. of sport case iii (BB256) onourprkes Retail Price Our Price Heron £33.78 8x40 Bwcf Binoculars The Birdwatchers Glasses As used by the forestry commission. Ideal for the young and beginners. Lightweight (26oz), extra wide angle. 514 ft. field of view, also suitable for spectacle wearers. We believe them incomparable value at £33.78 inc. case and ^ lanyard plus £1 towards p&p. j Top quality optical goods at enormous savings Heron quality, Heron service, Heron choice — we hold in stock what we believe to be the largest range of telescopes and binoculars for birdwatchers in the country. A few examples are shown below: BINOCULARS Swift Audubon 8.5X44 MK .11 (38oz) Swift Grand Prix 8X40 MK I (24oz) Carl Zeiss 10X40 B Dialyt (24oz) Carl Zeiss 8X30 B CF(18'/?oz) £253.69 Zeiss Jena 8X30 Jenoptem ( 1 7oz) Zeiss Jena 10X50 Jenoptem (35oz) Habicht Diana 10X40 (23oz) Leitz 10X40 B(21oz) TELESCOPES B Nickel Supra 15X60X60 (28oz) Hertel & ReussTelevari 25X60X60 (32oz) Order direct from this list — Prices correct as of 1st June 1978. inclusive of case, lanyard and manufacturer's guarantee, plus £1 post and packing charge. Access and Barclaycard accepted Apply for details and send for your guide to Binocular & Telescope ownership. Further details and comprehensive price list available in return for this coupon, including Field & Trek Catalogue of camping, rambling and climbing equipment. Or call in person ancf see our vast stock for yourself. £293.04 £100.44 £232.23 'Heron NEW 10x40 Wide-angle Binoculars £34.93 Quality, power and light weight, too — a mere 20oz! 367 ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Slim Zeiss-type body, centre focus, black finish, fully-coated lenses, also suitable for spectacle wearers. Excellent value at £34.93 inc. case, ^strapsand lanyard, plus £1 p&p. ^ Heron NEW 8x40 Zcf binoculars. £24.81 Weight 21oz, 341ft field of view at 1,000 yards. Fold-down rubber eyecups. Only £24.81 us £1 p&p. £10800 £79.40 £59 06 £43.40 £222.75 £192.85 £5994 £39.96 £66.94 £168.37 £268 82 £15863 £105,50 £153.57 £101.50 14 DAY APPROVAL SERVICE To Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road, Brentwood Essex CM14 4ER Please send me details and price lists on: Binoculars) [ Telescopes | | Field &TrekCampingEquipmenl | I NAME_ ADDRESS X. (BB1 0) / \plt Schmidt & Bender 15-60xzoom telescope with 60 mm This quite ObjGCt magnificent |prK telescope from iciio West Germany is ideal for use on reservoirs and seashore Robust in construction, excellent in optical quality We believe £101. 50 this to be the best on the market today Weight 950 g. length 300 m closed, 560 mm open. Fitted with tripod bush. Exit pupil 4-1 mm. light gathering power 16 1 twilight 30-60, field of view 1,000 m 47 12 m At a recommended retail price of £153.57 the Heron price of £101.50 including leather case and rubber eyecup for spectacle wearers is outstanding value Add £1 p&p. mi ^ Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM 14 4ER. Tel: (0277) 221259/219418. Telex: 995566. Only 5 minutes from Brentwood Station, 30 minutes from London's Liverpool St. Station (Soulhend Line). Open daily 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, Thursday 1pm. (BB253) IV ORNITHOLIDAYS MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS HO LIDA TS ORGANISED B T BIRD WA TCHERS FOR BIRDWATCHERS Ceylon India Florida California The Seychelles Kenya Israel Morocco Tunisia Turkey Arctic Norway S.W. Spain Majorca Greece The Camargue Yugoslavia Lake Neusiedl Austrian Alps Hungary Romania Central Wales Isles of Scilly Isle of Mull Isle of Islay The Solway The Cairngorms Hebridean Cruise Dorset New Forest West Sussex Suffolk The Fames & Bass PARTICULARS SENT ON RECEIPT OF 7p STAMP TO LAWRENCE G. HOLLOWAY ORNITHOLIDAYS (Regd.) (WESSEX TRAVEL CENTRE) 1/3 VICTORIA DRIVE, BOGNOR REGIS, SUSSEX, ENGLAND P021 2PW Telephone 02433 21230 Telegrams: Ornitholidays, Bognor Regis (BB240) BINOCULARS ZEISS (WEST) • LEITZ • ZEISS (JENA) SWIFT • NIKON • HARTMANN • RUSSIAN TELESCOPES NICKEL SUPRA • HERTEL TELEVARI SWIFT • KOWA • PERL Brochures Available • Callers Welcome PRICE CONCESSIONS 20% - 40% We are located on high ground with uninterrupted views over miles of open countryside including the GT. LINFORD GRAVEL PITS. We like you to call and spend an hour testing glasses and ’scopes before coming to a decision. Time spent testing under field conditions in a leisurely way is far better than a snap decision in a busy store If you are too far away to call you can order by post in complete confidence— our packing is 100% efficient and all goods over £5 are sent by insured post. (Open Tuesday to Sunday inclusive. Closed Monday) METWOOD ACCESSORIES (F. N. HUMPHRIES, C.ENG. M.I.MECH.E.) DEPT. BB BROADACRE, LITTLE LINFORD ROAD, HAVERSHAM, Nr. WOLVERTON, BUCKS Milton Keynes 312789 (STD 0908) calls can be made at cheap rate times (BB255) V Publication 27th October BARBOUR ALL WEATHER CLOTHING AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 34 in to 48 in Price Price Solway Zipper £32.95 £29.65 Gamefair Jacket (lined) £31.25 £28.10 Gamefair Stud-on-hood £4.30 £3.85 Durham Jacket £24.70 £22.20 Threequarter Coat £25.75 £23.15 Gamefair Trousers S, M. L £16.95 £15.25 Gamefair Leggings S, M, L £8.75 £7.85 Thornproof Trousers S, M, L £17.15 £15.45 Thornproof Leggings S, M, L £7.60 £6.85 LongStud-onLeggingsS.M.L £13.40 £11.99 Short Stud-on Leggings 20 in £10.95 £9.85 Fleece Lining £10.50 £9.45 Dressing — £1.10 UNIROYAL FIELD & STREAM FOOTWEAR AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 6-12 GRADE 1 Price Price Royal Hunter Boots (Studded) £19.30 £13.95 Hunter Boots (Rubber) £10.20 £7.35 Gamesman Ankle Boots (Studded, size 6-1 1 ) £17.45 £14.45 Hunt-aire Boots, sizes 8-1 0 (Dr Martens Sole) £13.95 £10.95 Keenfisher Thigh Waders (Studded) £23.60 £17.45 Keenfisher Chest-Hi Waders (Studded, sizes 6-8) £29.30 £24.99 JOHN NORRIS FINEST QUALITY QUILTED JACKETS AND WAISTCOATS. SIZES S. M. L. Ex.L. COLOUR GREEN. MADE FROM THE FINEST QUALITY MATERIALS. WITH OR WITHOUT FULL SUEDE SHOULDER & ELBOW PATCHES. STUD CLOSURE, DEEP POCKETS. Jacket with suede patches £14.99 Jacket without suede patches £11.99 Waistcoat with suede patches £9.99 Waistcoat without suede patches £7.99 TERMS: ENCLOSE CASH, CHEQUE, P.O.s, ACCESS OR BARCLAYCARD BY LETTER OR PHONE, PLEASE QUOTE YOUR NUMBER. BARBOUR CLOTHING POST FREE, FOOTWEAR £1. OTHER CLOTHING 55p. JOHN NORRIS DEPT BB, 21 VICTORIA ROAD, PENRITH, CUMBRIA Telephone: Penrith 4211 (BB273) THE GANNET F Bryan Nelson The author is internationally known fot his work on the North Atlantic gannet and the boobies. His studies of the gannetry on the Bass Rock have formed the basis for most of our knowledge of the gannet’s ecology, its breeding cycle and behaviour. The present work is a distillation of studies and researches on Sula bassana in Europe and North America, with frequent reference to the African and Australasian gan- nets. There is also a chapter on the boobies, all of which species have been studied at first hand by Dr Nelson. The authoritative text is complemented by John Busby’s brilliant and evocative draw- ings, plus 32 pages of photo- graphs. 3 36 pages plus 3 2 plates, £ 8.00 net T. & A. D. POYSER (BB269) VI British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER 1978 f ‘British Birds’ Binoculars and Telescopes Survey M. A. Ogilvie andj. T. R. Sharrock What binoculars and telescopes do experienced birdwatchers use? Are they satisfied with them? What are the virtues and faults of the main makes and models? As announced in the June issue {Brit. Birds 71 : 280-281), we are attempt- ing the difficult task of offering advice on the selection of binoculars and telescopes. Information is already available, in booklets such as Flegg (1971) and those published by one or two major suppliers, while Which , the magazine of the Consumers’ Association, has featured reports on both items in recent years, suggesting its usual ‘best buys’. We felt, however, that we could improve on all these publications by first conducting a survey of our readers to find out what active birdwatchers already use; why they bought that equipment; what they think of it; and what they would seek if purchasing new items. A total of 1,211 questionnaires was returned; but, to ensure prompt publication, we analysed the first 732 forms, covering 740 pairs of binoculars and 475 telescopes. To the results of the survey, we have added our own knowledge, based on extensive experience of different makes and models : MAO has been a professional, working with wildfowl, for about 18 years, and probably uses a telescope more concentratedly — and over more extended periods — than most amateurs would want to; while JTRS could be regarded as an average, keen birdwatcher, binoculars and ’scope always at the ready, using them in a variety of situations, from seawatching to desert and woodland. Finally, we took the opportunity of comparing the most popular makes and models, by making use of the facilities at Metwood Accessories, Haversham, Buckinghamshire, where customers may call and try out different types, looking through them at the birds on the neighbouring gravel-pit. While no substitute for months or years in the field, this visit enabled us to make direct comparisons of optical and mechanical quali- ties, and to see for ourselves the reasons behind the comments— both favourable and adverse — made by readers. [Brit. Birds 71 : 429-439, October 1978] 429 Binoculars and telescopes 430 Binoculars The vast majority of binoculars can be readily classed as one of two main types: conventional prism or roof prism. The latter have straight bodies between eyepiece and objective lens and are widely known by the word ‘Dialyt’, as used in our questionnaire, although this is, in fact, a trade name of Zeiss, makers of the most popular roof prism model. We apologise to those readers who did not understand what the word meant, but believe that the use of ‘roof prism’ instead would have perplexed even more. Dialyt binoculars are more compact than conventional ones, indeed some people with large hands find them too small to hold con- veniently. They are usually — although not always— more expensive than conventional models and, at least at the top end of the price range, have what are generally acknowledged to be superior optics, providing a clearer, brighter image. The field of view of different binoculars varies greatly. It is usually expressed as the diameter in feet of the viewing area at 1,000 yards. For most binoculars, this lies between 300 and 600 feet, with the 10 x 40 roof prism models towards the lower end of this range, and ‘wide-angle’ 7 x 50 at the upper end. We doubt whether this aspect matters as much to the observer as do clarity and brightness of the image. Focusing of most binoculars is by a centre wheel, with separate focus- ing on one eyepiece. A few models have individual focusing on both eyepieces instead. We make no judgement on this difference, as it will be largely a matter for personal preference. What we did like, however, were those models with large centre focusing wheels (2 cm or more long), which were that much easier to locate and control with one’s fingers. A new range of models by Chinon is now available, with so-called ‘fast focusing’ mechanisms, where pressure on a central bar alters the focus rather more quickly than can be achieved by turning a wheel. We did not have the opportunity to test one, and it remains to be seen how this type of focusing stands up to prolonged use. On the whole, centre wheel focusing is quite adequate, becoming unacceptably loose only after very many years’ service, when new spindles or wheels may become necessary. Makes and models A total of 125 different models of some 76 different makes are owned by the 732 readers in our sample. This alone gives some idea of the vast range available to the would-be purchaser, and highlights the fact that this report must, of necessity, be restricted to the most popular makes. It needs to be noted that a number of different names are often given to identical models of binoculars, depending on the importer or the retailer; thus, ‘own-brand’ binoculars of different firms, including high street chains, can appear in a variety of different guises. Five makes of binocular accounted for two-thirds of the total : Zeiss, East Germany, 140 pairs of four models; Swift, Japan, 138 pairs often models; Zeiss, West Germany, 127 pairs of three models; Leitz, West Germany, 49 pairs of five models; Ross, Britain, 37 pairs of seven models. At the other end of the scale, no less than 42 makes were represented by Binoculars and telescopes 431 only single pairs. Within the commoner makes, the most popular models were: Zeiss, West Germany, 10 x 40B Dialyt, 1 19 pairs (16% of the total) ; Zeiss, East Germany, 10 x 50 Jenoptem, plus a few 8 x 30 and 7 x 50, 88 pairs (12%); Swift Audubon 8.5 x 44, 66 pairs (9%); Leitz Trinovid 10 x 40B, plus some 8 x 40B and 7 x 42B, 43 pairs (6%); Zeiss, East Germany, Deltrintem 8 x 30, 27 pairs (4%); Swift Saratoga 8 x 40, 20 pairs (3%); Zeiss, East Germany, Dekarem 10 x 50, 20 pairs (3%). Magnification and objective size, and prism type As can be seen from the above figures, 10 x magnification is much the commonest size, used by over half our sample, while 8 x comes second, favoured by rather over one-fifth. When combined with objective size, the order of preference is 10 x 50, 10 x 40, 8 x 40, 8 x 30 and 8.5 x 44. No other combination attained more than 5%, compared with over 25% for the first two, and around 10% for the other three. 9 x 35 and 7 x 50, as well as some larger magnifications, such as 12 x and 15 x, retain the loyalty of some birdwatchers (although see later for their future prefer- ences). Zeiss Dialyt and Leitz Trinovid are the principal models with roof prisms; this type accounts for almost exactly one-quarter of our sample. Length of time since purchase Just on 60% of our sample have bought a new pair of binoculars within the last five years, and a further 25% in the last ten. This is perhaps surprisingly high and may reflect the advent on the market of greatly improved binoculars in the last ten years or so, and perhaps also the age structure of our readers, although this latter aspect is only speculation. The percentage purchasing binoculars in each of the last four years was remarkably constant, at around 12%, which could indicate that rising prices have had their effect on what otherwise probably ought to be a growth market. Reasons for purchase A number of readers made the point that it was a combination of reasons rather than any single one which led to their choice. Taking just main reasons, however, it is apparent that no one of the five possibilities we listed was overwhelmingly important: about one-third of the sample had tried other makes or models, another third had either received a recom- mendation or seen someone else’s pair, while the final third responded to advertisements or to finding them available at the right price. There is little doubt that, at the top end of the price range, models like the Zeiss 10 x 40B Dialyt are selling on their reputation built up by word ol mouth, by comparisons in the field and in the shops, and through re- commendation, rather than through advertisements, this overriding their not inconsiderable cost. Spectacles and their influence on choice About one-third of the people who returned the questionnaire admitted 432 Binoculars and telescopes to wearing spectacles, compared with the national average for persons over 1 8 of 55% (1975 figures, Department of Health & Social Security), suggesting some sort ol relationship between having good sight and becoming a birdwatcher. Of the spectacle wearers, roughly half selected binoculars that they could use more easily: several models come with rubber eyecups which roll back, enabling the binocular eyepiece lens to come close to the spectacle lens without actually coming in contact (the letter ‘b’ after the designation of Zeiss and Leitz models signifies this fitting). The resultant increase in the field of view compared with that of a solid eyecup is of considerable benefit to those observers with spectacles who do not push them up out of the way before using binoculars (an action which often results in the loss of a few vital tenths of a second and the missing of a fast moving bird as it vanishes into a bush). Purchase and use of a case Cases, formerly of leather, now more usually a plastic substitute, are offered inclusive in the price of most binoculars; fortunately, we have seen little of the ploy adopted by camera shops where the case is a non- optional extra. We were interested, however, to see how many bird- watchers bought a case and then how many actually used it regularly. A bare 2% bought their binoculars without a case, but no less than one-third of those buying a case did not subsequently use it, or at most used it only for storage. As cases usually cost from £3 to £8, there is a possible saving here for at least a proportion of those considering buying binoculars. Satisfaction with current model, and plans for replacement Complete satisfaction was expressed by nearly three-quarters of the sample, a mere 3% were not really happy, and the remainder were fairly content. These figures are also reflected by the intended replacement rate, with again nearly three-quarters stating that they had no intention of doing so in the foreseeable future, 5% who intend doing so in the next five years, and about 10% who plan to buy binoculars in six to ten years’ time. These figures are interesting when compared with the length of time since purchase (dealt with above), which might suggest that the actual replacement rate ought to be higher. The choice of a pair if replacement became necessary was not answered by everyone, but the sample of 709 showed an even stronger preference for 10 x 40 (32%) and 10 x 50 (31%) than was shown by what people actually own, with only one other combination, 8 x 40 (15%), coming above 5%. Comparison of the binocular currently owned with what would be preferred revealed that many people would like a slightly higher magnification than their current 8 x or 9 x, but there is much more satisfaction among owners of 10 x. Even owners of 7 x, and the larger magnifications like 12 x and 15 x, who were often quite vehement in their defence of their minority types, showed a marked preference for higher or lower magnifications respectively (about 50% in each case). 433 Binoculars and telescopes The Zeiss io x 40B Dialyt came out very strongly as the most popular make among owners and non-owners alike, again reflecting its tremendous reputation. In all, some 70% of binocular users are content with their present make, if not model, and would buy the same again ; the remainder would change. The money available for binoculars, if a purchase was necessary, generally reflects current price ranges, although a number of people who expressed a desire for Zeiss 10 x 40B allocated a wholly inadequate sum, suggesting that inflation and sterling depreciation have gone farther than they realise. Many readers added the understandable rider that the sum they were quoting was not necessarily yet available, but approximate thirds of the sample were prepared to spend under £100, between £100 and £200, and over £200. Telescopes A telescope for birdwatching has to be a compromise between those magnifications and objective lens sizes which are practical optically and worthwhile to the birdwatcher, and portability. We were, perhaps not surprisingly, taken to task by owners of brass-and-glass monsters for so describing them. We acknowledge users’ loyalty to such instruments, but must point out that, in our experience, while the owner of an old-fashioned telescope is settling himself on the ground (hopefully not too wet) and propping his three- or four-foot monster on his knees, thereby lowering what is usually an already low vantage point, his counterpart with a modern lightweight telescope is already viewing the birds from a com- fortable standing position behind his tripod. He also zooms with ease to a higher magnification to look in more detail, instead of having to pull out a tube to a precise mark and then reapply his eye. We are not, most certainly, trying to denigrate those birdwatchers who possess and are perfectly used to their old types oi telescope, but we feel that it would be a great mistake for a birdwatcher contemplating obtaining his first telescope even to consider such a model (secondhand and therefore cheap though it might be) in view of the range of modern instruments available. Some of the largest old telescopes do boast a 3-inch (7.6-cm) objective lens, larger than almost all modern ones and therefore likely to produce a brighter image, but this single advantage is, in our opinion, outweighed by all the other positive features of modern telescopes, including portability, ease of use and lens coatings. Modern telescopes come in two forms: those with drawtubes, usually one or two and quite short, and those without, most of which are pris- matic, with the eyepiece offset from the line of the telescope body. A few makes place the eyepiece at an angle (usually about 450) to the body, so that the observer stands looking down into his telescope, enabling him to rest it at a lower level ; this takes some getting used to, and neither of us found it convenient. While some modern telescopes have a fixed magnification, the majority are zooms, from 15 x or 25 x tip to 50 x or 60 x, with a few going higher. 434 Binoculars and telescopes The controls for zoom and focus are not always placed for the most convenient use, bearing in mind that with most models it is necessary to refocus after changing magnification. If the telescope is first focused when on maximum magnification, it will stay more or less in focus when the magnification is reduced; but, in the great majority of cases, a bird- watcher is going to start at a low magnification and zoom up, so that this feature is of little help. Sometimes, the two controls are side by side and easy to use singly or in combination, but equally they can be a handspan apart and not nearly so straightforward to adjust. Almost anything can be got used to in time, but we think this is a point would-be purchasers should consider. Makes and models The 475 telescopes detailed in the questionnaires covered 82 models and 47 makes. The models and makes, however, were not all different: a number of identical models are disguised under different names (e.g. Regent, Lumex, Solus, Perl). The two most popular models, by a long way, are the Hertel & Reuss Televariabel or Televari 25-60 x 60 (owned by 124, just over 25%), and the Nickel Supra 15-60 x 60 (118, just under 25%). Lying well back in third place is the Swift Telemaster 15-60 x 60 (27, 6%). The various old-fashioned brass-and-glass instruments, most made by Dollond or Broadhurst & Clarkson, and often with the same model name (e.g. Target Major or Super 60), accounted for 64 (13%). No other single model made up more than 3%, although seven different models of Kowa together reached 24 (5%), and others between 2% and 3% were Mirador, Optolyth, Schmidt & Bender Spectiv and Greenkat. Magnification and objective size A total of 56 fixed magnification telescopes are owned, mostly between 20 x and 30 x with objectives from 40-75 mm, and another 59 had variable focus (i.e. a number of different, but fixed, magnifications). The remaining 360 telescopes incorporated zoom ; magnifications varied a lot, but most were 15-60 x, 20-60 x or 25-60 x (all with 60-mm objectives), with some 15-40 x 40, 20-45 x 60 and 25-50 x 50. Drawtubes Modern telescopes have either no or only one or two drawtubes. The Swift Telemaster, the various Kowas, Mirador, Bausch & Lomb Dis- coverer, Greenkat and some models of Solus, Lumex, Tasco and Perl have no drawtubes. The Hertel & Reuss Televari has one or two, depend- ing on definition: one drawtube has to be pulled out before use, a second acts as the zoom magnification changing device. The Nickel Supra has two drawtubes. The various old-fashioned telescopes have mainly three or four drawtubes, including one that changes the magnification, while one undoubted monster has no fewer than six. Angle of eyepiece As already mentioned, the majority of telescopes have straight eyepieces; 435 Binoculars and telescopes the exceptions include single models of Kowa, Greenkat, Alpine Eagle, Philo and Tasco. A number have the eyepiece offset from the line of the telescope, including several of the shorter, no-drawtube models. Length of time since purchase The results were very similar to those for binoculars, with 50% having- bought one within the last five years, and a further 24% in the last ten. The proportions buying in recent years show a steady increase, from 9% five years ago to 17% in the last year. Much of the telescope market is for first-time buyers, not just for replacement, as with binoculars. It is worth noting that as many as 257 binocular owners in our sample (35%) do not yet possess a telescope. Reasons for purchase These followed much the same pattern as for binoculars, although with a slightly higher proportion having seen another birdwatcher’s model and bought one similar, and less having tried out other types. Amount of use About 41% of birdwatchers use their telescope frequently, and another 32% do so fairly often. As many as 27% are only occasional users. Tripods These are regarded as indispensable by some telescope users, while others make do with car windows, car roofs, or fence posts. Even bearing in mind that most old-fashioned telescopes cannot be used with a tripod, the figure of 43% who never or rarely use a tripod seems high; 22% of users said they always did, and 35% sometimes. A tripod may seem a bulky and heavy addition to a birdwatcher’s load, but we strongly urge those who have not tried one to borrow a good tripod and see what an enormous difference it makes to be able to stand at a comfortable height with the telescope held firmly. Modern tripods, like modern telescopes, have come a long way, and offer the birdwatcher a really worthwhile aid. We cannot overstress this point. Purchase and use of a case Cases are bought with 78% of telescopes; the old-fashioned instruments often had one built in. Although 89% of owners use their case regularly— many more than for binoculars — we received a number of complaints about the shoddy nature of the case supplied; some of those with the Hertel & Reuss Televari lasted only a few months before disintegrating. Satisfaction with current model, and plans for replacement Owners’ satisfaction with telescopes was much lower than with binoculars, only 53% expressing complete satisfaction, 35% being fairly content, and 12% not really happy at all. Looking at particular makes and models, the Hertel & Reuss Televari scored 68%, 30% and 2% in the three categories of satisfaction, compared with the Nickel Supra figures of 436 Binoculars and telescopes 52%, 38% and 10%: a clear difference in favour of the former. Among owners of brass-and-glass instruments, the scores were 36%, 42% and 20%, despite those protests at our supposedly denigrating remarks. Although the samples were rather small, the various models of Kowa were well thought of on the whole, as were Optolyth, Mirador, Swift and Bausch & Lomb. On the other hand, there was considerable dissatisfac- tion with Schmidt & Bender Spectiv, Perl, Greenkat, Prinz Astral and the Lumex, Regent and Solus models. It is difficult to be certain of the main reasons for this low satisfaction rate, but it may be associated with the relatively little use given telescopes by many owners. Telescopes are by no means so easy and straightforward to use as is a pair of binoculars. Some birdwatchers find it difficult to resolve a clear image and give up, when perseverance might pay off: it is necessary to get the right distance from eye to eyepiece, perhaps cope with spectacles, find out what to do with the unused eye (try closing it, but not too tightly), and hold the telescope still (try a tripod). Asked whether they would buy the same make again, owners again showed discontent, with a fairly massive 39% saying ‘No’, even allowing for brass instruments which are no longer obtainable. Only 71 people specified what make they would buy, with Nickel and Optolyth scoring 16 each, and Hertel & Reuss 12, while eight others had under ten preferences each. The sample is probably not big enough to be meaningful. Similarly, magnification was not specified by many, although a desire for fixed rather than zoom magnification, expressed by a number of readers, may reflect problems experienced w'hen using their present telescope. The money needed for the best quality telescopes available is less than for binoculars, reflected in the proportions of 20% willing to spend under £100, 7l0/o between £100 and £200, and only 9% over £ 200 . Recommendations We have not attempted to give ‘best buys’ along the lines of Which reports, but have listed the most popular makes, together with some which may not have figured largely in the survey, but which have im- pressed us. Our comments against each model or make are based on the results of the survey, on our personal experience, and on the tests we carried out. We hope they will prove helpful to intending purchasers, but stress that there is no real substitute for trying various makes and models for oneself, while bearing in mind some of our points. Binoculars z.Eiss (west Germany) 10 x 40B dialyt Top quality at top price. Most popular, even fashionable, model. Will seem very small in large hands, especially after con- ventional pair, but optically should give complete satisfaction; suitable for spec- tacle wearers. Not very robust, even with available rubber ‘armour’. Manufacturer’s minimum permitted discount price c. £222. Weight 680 g. Smaller magnifica- tions of Zeiss Dialyt (e.g. 8 30B) do not seem worth the price. leitz trinovid io x 40B Almost indis- tinguishable in looks and quality from Zeiss 10 x 40B, although some users prefer focusing mechanism. Higher price (c. £255) not worth paying. Slightly lighter 437 Binoculars and telescopes at 595 g- The 8 x 40B is a nice instrument, but too expensive at c. £245. zeiss (east Germany) jenoptem 10 x 50 A conventional binocular with clear, bright image and good field of view. On the heavy side, but robust and stands up to a lot of use. Gets a good report from current owners. At c. £67, very good value, but is quite heavy (990 g) and spectacle wearers would have to remove or lift their glasses. There are also 8 x 30 and 7 x 50 models of Jenoptem which could be suitable for a second pair in a family. Zeiss Deltrintem 8 x 30 and Dekarem 10 x 50 do not seem so much better as to justify their higher prices. swift audubon 8.5 x 44 A popular model, with good field of view and bright image. Many owners, however, now desire higher magnification. For their power, are large and heavy (1,080 g), and fairly expensive at c. £80. swift Newport io x 50 Worth consider- ing, but compare first with Jenoptem 10 x 50, which are slightly lighter and slightly cheaper. swift grandprix 8 x 40 One of the better lightweight conventional binoculars if the lower magnification is thought sufficient, but compare with the Mirador 8 x 40 before purchase. Price c. £43, weight 680 g. swift trilyte i o x 40 Roof prism model. Much the cheapest of the readily available roof prism binoculars, but not worth serious consideration. swift Saratoga 8 x 40 Slightly better quality than Grandprix, but also very heavy for 8 x 40 at 965 g, and more expensive at c. £52. mirador 10 x 40 & 8 x 40 Both sizes most impressive in optical quality, handling and price. Both have rubber eyecaps which fold down to allow spectacle wearers full field of view, both have large focusing wheels, both have bright clear images, comparing very favourably with Zeiss or Leitz of similar power. Price c. £51 for 10 x 40 and £47 for 8 x 40. Weight 765 g each. Look at these very carefully before you spend any more, or less. habicht diana i o x 40 Undoubtedly excellent optics, but very expensive for conventional prism shape, and difficult to escape feeling that, if one can afford these, then it is worth finding a bit more to buy Zeiss Dialyt, or saving a great deal by buying Mirador. Price c. £170. Weight 650 g- There are many other makes and models on the market worth a second look, including those made by Haartman, Optolyth, Hilkinson, Greenkat and others. There are also makes more usually found in high street shops, such as Boots own brand, Dixon Prinz, and Pentax, and suppliers’ own brands, such as Frank Nipole. Few of these binoculars are actually bad, some are very good, but none figured largely in our readership survey. We conclude this section of the report by strongly recommending that any would-be purchaser try out several makes and models before buying, looking particularly at the brightness and clarity of the image and the field of view, at the ease of handling and focusing, at the size and weight, and checking for obvious faults such as distortion of the image at the edges and coloured (usually orange or red) fringes to the image and circle of view: too many of the cheaper binoculars suffer from these two faults, including some of the own-brand models, which are normally Russian or Japanese in origin. One can spend too little on binoculars as well as too much. Telescopes HERTEL AND REUSS TELEVARI 25-60 X 60 One drawtube, with second, which moves out in spiralling action, forming zoom. Focus by ring at near-end of middle draw- tube. Excellent optically, markedly sup- erior in clarity and brightness to Nickel Supra, although lacking lower magnifica- tions of latter. Method of zooming poor, as it necessitates moving one’s head back some distance, while the focusing ring is left behind, so that one has to move one’s hand again to reach it. The middle draw- tube must be fully out before focusing is possible. Very poor case. Price c. £101. Weight 1,220 g. Length extended 675 mm. nickel supra 1 5-60 x 60 Two complete 438 drawtubes, zoom by means of eyepiece ring, focusing by small knob close by. Not so good optically as Hertel & Reuss Televari, but shorter and lighter, and more flexible, with magnification down to 15 x . Zooming and focusing much easier, al- though still not most convenient, with hand right up by eye. Need for both tubes to be fully out before focusing is possible must be emphasised: in many, tubes very difficult to pull out, while, conversely, after heavy use, they can become very loose. Price £105. Weight 910 g. Length extended 560 mm. SWIFT TELEMASTER 15-60 X 60 No draw- tubes and excellent mechanics. Two large knurled rings lie side by side nearly over the tripod mounting place and, therefore, where the hand quite naturally rests, one for focus, the other for zoom. Alas, opti- cally not so good as Hertel & Reuss or Nickel, especially at higher magnifications. Price c. £116. Weight 1,360 g. Length 430 mm. mirador 20-45 x 60 Short compact pris- matic telescope, but lacking higher magnifications, which, however, not every- one wants. Optically quite good; zoom by means of eyepiece ring; focus by small knurled wheel on front of prism housing, about 15 cm away and requiring hand movement. Price c. £75. Weight 910 g. Length 310 mm. optolyth 30 x 75 Single drawtube, fixed focus; larger-than-average objective gives Binoculars and telescopes wider field of view, but not noticeably brighter image than at equivalent magni- fication on the good zoom instruments. Popular with owners. If you want fixed focus, we suggest you compare with Kowa before purchase. Price c. £125. Weight 1,250 g. Length extended 490 mm. KOWA, INTERCHANGEABLE EYEPIECES Avail- able straight or angled (we much preferred straight), with 15 x, 25 x, 40 x, 60 x, or zoom 25-50 x eyepieces. No drawtube, focusing by small knob on end of prism housing away from eye, so same drawback as Mirador. Optical quality excellent with fixed or zoom eyepieces, slightly better even than Hertel & Reuss Televari. More compact and slightly lighter than Opto- lyth. Eyepieces screw in; two fixed focus cost approximately same as one zoom. Price of body without lens c. £70, fixed focus lens c. £ 15 each, zoom lens c. £32. Weight 1,135 g. Length 350 mm. BAUSCH AND LOMB DISCOVERER 1 5-60 X 60 Available only direct from USA (Bushnell Optical Co., 2828 East Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena, California), but included here as it is arguably the finest instrument currently on the market. Lucky owners or envious borrowers give unanimous rave reviews. No drawtube, focus and zoom by well-placed knurled rings, superb clarity and brightness of image. Price S295 (if in USA, look for it in discount stores), so not cheap (but worth every cent!). Weight 1,360 g. Length 445 mm. We also note the following models and makes owned by readers and widely available, but consider them all inferior to the Hertel & Reuss Televari, the Kowa or the Bausch & Lomb Discoverer: Perl 15-60 x 60; Schmidt & Bender Spectiv 15-60 x 60; Greenkat, Regent, Alpine Eagle, Lumex (various models of each) ; Prinz Astral 15-60 x 60; Hilkin- son 25-40 x 60. Of the 48 owners of these different makes answering the questionnaire, only 12 were completely satisfied, 21 were fairly so, and 15 not really: a judgement we tend to endorse. As with binoculars, our advice is not to buy without trying several different models. Consider carefully whether you want fixed focus or zoom. The former is easier to use and may cope with many situations, but there is little doubt of the value of a zoom when a really detailed look at a particular bird is needed. Do not be put off if you find the telescope awkward to use at first: persevere. And do try using a good tripod. Our personal choices Individual taste plays an important part in the purchasing of binoculars and telescopes, but our own choices, which have evolved over the years, may be of interest. MAO used Ross 9 X 35 binoculars until 1973, then changed to an Optolyth to \ 40 Dialyt and now is seriously considering buying a Mirador 10 X 40; having owned a Nickel Supra tele- 439 Binoculars and telescopes scope since 1964, he has just purchased a Bausch & Lomb Discoverer. JTRS bought Ross Stepmur 10 X 50 binoculars and a Nickel Variabel 25-50 X telescope in 1959, but this autumn has acquired Mirador 8 X 40 binoculars and a Bushnell Spacemaster II 20-45 x telescope, (very highly recommended in the USA; from the same stable as Bausch & Lomb). Acknowledgements We are most grateful to the 1,211 British Birds readers who completed our long and complicated questionnaire; and to F. N. Humphries, proprietor of Metwood Acces- sories, for allowing us to test and compare a large number of binoculars and telescopes, and for his helpful, expert advice. Reference Fj.egg, J. J. M. 1971. Binoculars, Telescopes & Cameras for the Birdwatcher. BTO Field Guide 14. Tring. M. A. Ogilvie, Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester GL2 7BT Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK.44 3NJ Origins and movements of Oystercatchers on the Wash K. R. Anderson andC. D. T. Minton Thousands of Oystercatchers arrive on the Wash in autumn. Where do they come from? Do they move on, or are the winter hordes the same birds ? In a comprehensive analysis of movements ol Oystercatchers Haemalopus ostralegus in Britain and Ireland, Dare (1970) pointed out the lack of [Brit. Birds 71 : 439-447, October 1978] 440 Oystercalchers on the Wash information from eastern England. This situation has now been changed by the ringing of about 12,000 Oystercatchers on the Wash, Lincoln- shire/Norfolk, between 1967 and 1975, the majority being caught in cannon-nets by the Wash Wader Ringing Group. Excluding 1,921 recaptures and 50 recoveries on the Wash itself and on the adjacent Norfolk and Lincolnshire coasts, there were 209 recoveries up to the end of 1975, 180 overseas and 29 elsewhere in Britain; in addition 25 captured on the Wash already carried foreign rings and 15 had been ringed else- where in Britain. This paper analyses these movements in the light of Dare’s findings. The breeding areas of Oystercatchers occurring on the Wash in autumn and winter are compared with those of Oystercatchers occurring in western Britain (Dare 1970). The age of first return to the breeding areas is also considered. Origin of population occurring on the Wash The 140 recoveries in the breeding season (late March to end of July) of Oystercatchers ringed on the Wash, together with the ringing sites of 34 chicks subsequently caught there, are shown in fig. 1. Although a few of those recovered at the beginning and at the end of this period may' have been on passage, there is no temporal difference in the pattern of re- coveries, which suggests that the majority were at their breeding areas, as does the coincidence between recoveries of adults and areas in which chicks were ringed. The lack of recaptures of chicks originating in northern Norway may be due to fewer young being ringed there. The distribution of recoveries of those ringed in winter is similar to that for autumn-ringed individuals, indicating that the same population is present on the Wash during both periods. The distribution of breeding season recoveries differs markedly from that demonstrated by Dare (1970) for the west coast of Britain (table 1). Since the geographical distribution of recoveries may be subject to certain Table 1. Breeding season (late March to July) recoveries of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus ringed on the Wash and on the west coast of Britain Data for the Wash from this study; for western Britain from Dare (1970 and in lilt.). Country abbreviations: Iceland, Faeroes, Scotland, England/Wales, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden Place of No. of percentage recoveries in each country ringing recoveries Ice Fae Sco E/W Net Den Nor Swe The Wash 140 0-7 21 5'0 5’7 5'0 0 80 0 >4 West coast of Britain 270 5'2 18-0 555 7'5 04 °'4 130 O biases, the percentages given in table 1 do not necessarily represent the exact proportions of birds from each area. The results, however, enable a valid comparison to be made between the composition of flocks on the west and on the east coasts of Britain. The majority of Oystercatchers on the Wash are of Norwegian origin (80% of breeding season recoveries) with comparatively few from Scotland and the Faeroes (7.1%), which Oyster catchers on the Wash 44 1 \25*E are the main breeding areas of those occurring in Wales and west England (73-5% °f recoveries). The Norwegian recoveries are from virtually the whole length of the coastline, as far north as Porsanger Fjord (70° 20'N, 250 o6'E), with particular concentrations in Rogaland and Vest Agder (southwest Norway) and in the Kristiansund/Trondheim area. These concentrations may reflect high numbers of breeding Oystercatchers, or possibly concentrations of people reporting rings. Some Oystercatchers ringed on the Wash breed in the Netherlands and a few farther east in Sweden and the EJSSR (see also fig. 2): areas not reached by those from western Britain. The distribution of ringing sites of the 34 chicks later recaptured on the Wash is broadly similar to the recovery pattern detailed above, with 20 442 Oystercatchers on the Wash Fig. 2. Recoveries in autumn (August to October) of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus ringed on the Wash (dots) or ringed elsewhere in autumn and recaptured on the Wash (triangles) from Norway, three each from Scotland and the Netherlands, one each from Denmark and Sweden, and six from estuaries on the east coast of England, including four from the Humber, Humberside. A minor effect, which may relate to differences in breeding habitats, is the extent of foot damage caused by sheep’s wool: 3.3% of those on the west coast (Dare & Mercer 1968) compared with less than 1.0% of the Wash population. This suggests that Norwegian Oystercatchers breed mainly in areas where sheep are absent, such as rocky shores, whereas those breeding in northern Britain and the Faeroes frequently use sheep pastures. In addition to those of more distant origin, 19 Oystercatchers ringed as chicks either on the Wash or on nearby Scolt Head Island, Norfolk, were recaptured on the Wash. These locally bred birds cannot, however, form more than a small proportion of the total Wash wintering population of 21,000 (average annual peak count 1970-75, Minton & Prater in prep.), since only about 100 pairs breed on the Wash (Cadbury et al. 1974) and a similar number on Scolt Head (R. Chestney in lilt.). Two early autumn recaptures of breeding adults from Walberswick, Suffolk, indicate that some Oystercatchers from other parts of East Anglia also use the Wash. Autumn recoveries Fig. 2 shows the distribution of 47 recoveries away from the Wash during August to October of Oystercatchers ringed there, and of five recaptured 443 Oystercatchers on the Wash on the Wash having been ringed elsewhere during this period. Although most adult Oystercatchers in Europe moult their primary feathers during this period (Dare & Mercer 1974, Minton 1974, Pienkowski & Knight 1975), ^ appears that some are still at or near their breeding areas. Most notable are two recoveries, both in 1969 (30th August and 13th Septem- ber), in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia, close to the northeastern breeding limit of the species (Voous i960). These are the only recoveries of British-ringed Oystercatchers east of the Baltic. The autumn re- coveries in eastern Denmark are possibly a further indication of the presence of small numbers from these eastern breeding areas. The recoveries in western Denmark could, on the other hand, be associated with the known heavy migration from Norway down this coast in autumn (Thelle 1970). The comparative lack, however, of recoveries from Britain on southern North Sea coasts (e.g. the Netherlands) in autumn suggests that most of the Oystercatchers which come to the Wash from Norway migrate directly across the North Sea. Recoveries of Norwegian Oystercatchers (Holgersen 1962) indicate that many are present along the southern coast of the North Sea in autumn. The lack, however, of recaptures on the Wash of Oystercatchers ringed along the north coast of Europe suggests that they remain on the Continent rather than move into Britain. The cluster of recoveries on the north coast of France (a pattern probably accentuated by local hunting pressures) indicates that a few Oystercatchers visiting the Wash move farther south. Of the 15 recoveries in France, 12 had been ringed on the Wash in late summer or autumn (between 29th June and 4th September) and three in winter (January). Only two were recovered in the same season, both having been ringed as non-moulting adults in early autumn. These, together with two further non-moulting adults and a juvenile recovered in subsequent autumns, were probably on passage when ringed on the Wash. Seven, all of which were moulting when ringed on the Wash, were recovered in France in subsequent autumns, which suggests that they had changed their moulting areas. Five of these had been ringed as one-year-olds and were recovered in the following year, when they would still have been non-breeding immatures. Of the three ringed in winter, the two adults, trapped on the same occasion in January 1971, were both recovered in the following August in the same part of northern France. The other, ringed in its first winter, was recovered in August three years later. These three had pre- sumably changed their wintering grounds. There were only eight movements within Britain between the Wash and areas to the south or west, and all but one involved individuals ringed and recovered in autumn. This further indicates the comparative lack of onward movement or change of moulting area. There is, however, some evidence of a more significant movement ol Oystercatchers between the Wash and the south side of the Humber estuary, a distance of 45-70 km. Of 38 full-grown Oystercatchers ringed on the south side of the Humber, nine have subsequently been recaptured on the Wash (in addition to four from a total of 29 chicks, fig. 1). Of 19 444 Oystercatchers on the Wash movements of full-grown Oystercatchers between the two estuaries, 14 relate to individuals moulting on the Wash between late June and early October, and present on the Humber during winter. Eight of these move- ments were in the same ‘year’ as ringing. While there may be some bias due to the different patterns of ringing activity at the two estuaries, the count data (A. J. Prater in litt .) also support the suggestion that some of those moulting on the Wash in early autumn move to the south side of the Humber for the winter. There is a sharp drop in the size of the Wash population in October, while numbers on the Humber are much higher in winter than in earlv autumn. Fig. 3. Recoveries in winter (November to mid March) of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus ringed on the Wash (dots) or ringed elsewhere in winter and recaptured on the Wash (triangles) 445 Oystercatchers on the Wash Winter recoveries A large proportion of the Oystercatchers originally ringed on the Wash were subsequently recaptured locally. Of the 12,000 ringed on the Wash, 1,921 (16%) have been recaptured there (up to the end of 1975), sug- gesting that the majority of those which visit the Wash do so year after year. On the other hand, 1 1 of the 22 recoveries abroad between November and March illustrate that there is some onward movement of autumn- ringed Oystercatchers to wintering grounds to the west and south of the Wash (fig. 3). One juvenile ringed in August had reached Morocco by December of the same year. Four others were recovered in the winter immediately following ringing, and three of these (two adults and one first-summer) were known to have moulted on the Wash. Of the re- maining six, five were adults and two of these were also in moult when ringed. Furthermore, two adults ringed at Poole, Dorset, and one juvenile ringed in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, were moulting when recaptured on the Wash in subsequent autumns. The individual from the Burry Inlet, West Glamorgan, was, however, not moulting when recaptured on the Wash in mid August. Nevertheless, in relation to the total number of Oystercatchers ringed, the number of recoveries which indicate the existence of a passage through the Wash is small. Thus, most of those arriving on the Wash in autumn remain for the winter. This is in marked contrast to the behaviour of some other waders, especially Knots Calidris canutus and Dunlins Calidris alpina, some populations of which show considerable onward movement across Britain or into France, southwest Europe and beyond (Minton 1974). There have been, for instance, only three interchanges of Oystercatchers between the Wash and Morecambe Bay, the area with the highest wintering numbers of Oystercatchers in Britain and Ireland (Dare 1966). There are nine recoveries in winter, which suggests that some Oyster- catchers change their wintering grounds. Of five such recoveries in the Netherlands, two had been ringed in a previous autumn and three in a previous winter. Four were ringed as adults, but one first-year, ringed in March, was found in the Netherlands during the following December. The recoveries in Sweden (22nd February 1974) and Norway (25th February 1975) may be further examples of change of wintering area, but it seems more likely that they relate to early return towards breeding- areas, following exceptionally mild winters. Finally, mention should be made of two in their second autumn which were moulting when ringed on the Wash in autumn and were subse- quently recovered wintering in France when adult; and of a first-winter ringed at Morecambe Bay in December and recaptured on the Wash in its second summer. These could either have come to the Wash from their wintering areas in order to moult when immature, or have changed their wintering areas. Age of return to breeding grounds There have been 50 recoveries in Noway of Oystercatchers of known age (table 2). Few appear to return to the breeding areas before their third 446 Qystercatchers on the Wash Table 2. Age when recovered in Norway of Oystercatchers Hciematopus ostralegus ringed on the Wash when immature (first- or second-year) Age when recovered (years) 12345678 Number recovered in Norway o 2 13 9 15 3 5 3 year. This conclusion is supported by the predominance of those in im- mature plumage in the non-breeding population of about 2,500 on the Wash in May and June (personal observations) ; all were in their first or second year. Oystercatchers migrate from the Wash to their breeding grounds at the end of March and in early April. Although most of those which visit the Wash appear to return to Norway for the first time when three years old, it is not known whether they breed at that age. The presence of arrested primary moult in some third-years on the Wash in early autumn suggests that they may have returned to the breeding areas in Norway but not actually attempted to nest, this allowing them to start moulting early, on their future breeding grounds. In this context, it is interesting that Oystercatchers on the island of Skokholm, Dyfed, generally start breeding in their fourth year, although some individuals appear — but do not breed — in their third year (Harris 1967). Conclusions The Oystercatchers on the Wash are markedly different in origin from those on the western coasts of Britain. The Wash is an important moulting and wintering ground for Norwegian Oystercatchers, and is visited by comparatively few of Icelandic, Faeroese or British origin. There is little passage of this species through the Wash. Some immatures may remain there throughout the period from their first autumn until they return for the first time to their breeding grounds, the majority doing so in their third year. The population moulting and wintering on the Wash appears to suffer relatively little interchange of individuals with those wintering elsewhere in Britain and western Europe. Acknowledgements We thank the Natural Environment Research Council for financial assistance, and the Wash Wader Ringing Group, whose members carried out the fieldwork and whose Publications Committee commented on the manuscript. We are also grateful to Dr P. J. Dare for allowing the use of unpublished data which appear in table 1, and for his comments on the first draft. Summary Analysis of the 249 ringing recoveries resulting from the capture of about 12,000 Oyster- catchers Haemalopus ostralegus on the Wash shows a marked difference in breeding areas from those occurring in the west of Britain. The main breeding areas of those visiting the Wash are in Norway, extending to north of the Arctic Circle, with a few from as far east as the USSR; a relatively small number come from Scotland and the Faeroes, which are the main breeding areas of Oystercatchers frequenting the west coast of Britain. Most movements between the Norwegian breeding grounds and the Wash apparently take place directly across the North Sea. The majority of the population reaching the Wash Oyster catchers on the Wash 447 in autumn remains there throughout the winter. Most do not return to their breeding grounds before their third year. References Cadbury, C. J., Berry, R., Chapman, B., Collier, R. V., Parker, A., Redman, B., Wilkinson, R. B., & Wilson, P. 1974. Breeding birds of the Wash. Wash Feasibility Study, Ecological^Rcport, Scientific Study L. ITE duplicated report. Dare, P. J. 1966. The breeding and wintering populations of the Oystercatcher Haemal- opus ostralegus in the British Isles. Fishery Invest. Ser. n, 25 : No. 5. 1970. The movements of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus visiting or breeding in the British Isles. Fishery Invest. Ser. 11, 25: No. 9. & Mercer, A. J. 1968. Wool causing injuries to legs and feet of Oystercatchers. Brit. Birds 61 : 257-263. - 1974. The timing of the wing-moult in the Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus in Wales. Ibis 116: 21 1-2 14. Harris, M. P. 1967. The biology of Oystercatchers on Skokholm Island, S. Wales. Ibis 109: 180-193. Holgersen, H. 1962. Ringing and Recoveries of Norwegian Oystercatchers. [In Norwegian] Stavanger Museum. Minton, C. D. T. 1974. The waders of the Wash — ringing and biometric studies. Wash Feasibility Study, Ecological Report, Scientific Study G. ITE duplicated report. Pienkowski, M. W., & Knight, P. J. 1975. Wing moult of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus in Iceland. Ibis 1 1 7 : 114. Thelle, T. 1970. The migration of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus from west Norway to the Wadden Sea. [In Danish] Dansk. Orn. Foren. Tidsskr. 64: 229-247. Voous, K. H. i960. Atlas of European Birds. London. K. R. Anderson, Carisbrooke High School, Mountbatten Drive, Newport, Isle of Wight P030 5QU Dr C. D. T. Minton, 45 Bodenham Road, Hereford Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs Much more so than even a few years ago, many bird-photographers now concentrate on colour. The change in the name of this feature, from ‘Best recent work by British bird-photographers’, acknowledges that much of the best work is now in colour. Indeed, our annual competition for ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ will in future be restricted to colour transparencies. Black-and-white photography does, however, still have an essential role to play. Therefore, to enlarge our choice for this series, we shall from next year be widening the field to include foreign photo- graphers; the only restriction will be that the species must be on the west Palearctic list. This year’s 14 photographs, chosen from a total of 214 by 47 photo- graphers, include two owls which were originally selected as sixth and seventh in the 1977 ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ competition {Brit. Birds 71 : 195-198). Reflecting the appeal of the species, Barn Owls have appeared six times in this series. Donald A. Smith’s flight portrait shows one carrying a common shrew Sorex araneus to its young in a nest-box [Brit. Birds 71 : 447-458, October 1978] 448 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs (plate 157). The feather detail — never easy to capture on a white bird — is superb, but it is the symmetry that makes it so special. Likewise, Derick Scott’s Little Owls (plate 158) provide an unusual picture, with two adults together near their nest-hole, both carrying food for the young. The foresight and industry of successful bird-photographers are well illustrated by these two selections. Donald Smith had placed the Barn Owl’s nest-box in the barn five years earlier; and Derick Scott chose what he considered to be the best of 15 Little Owl nest-sites to attempt his two- with-food picture. Photographs of birds away from the nest often require special skills or patience. Frank V. Blackburn’s subtly lit Blue Tit (plate 159) was the result of calling it down to a tape-recording, a technique which he often uses and which can do no harm outside the breeding season. J. Russell’s two photographs (plates 160 & 161) were both obtained from a hide near which food was put out regularly for gamebirds: winter photography calls for hardiness and he had to arrive before dawn to avoid disturbing the birds which came to feed soon after sunrise. Simplicity of composition and the natural pose of the bird give his Reed Bunting a special appeal; his Grey Partridge imparts with clarity the feeling of a crisp December morning. The next two photographs are also from winter feeding sites. Michael C. Wilkes noticed many Fieldfares feeding on rotten fruit thrown out in an orchard; he put up a hide, and his unusual off-ground study of this rather infrequently photographed species (plate 162) was one result. Michael Wilkes is the only photographer new to this series this year, although his Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos won him the ‘Bird Photo- graph of the Year’ award for 1976 [Brit. Birds 70: 133). Douglas N. Dalton took advantage of an invitation to use a friend’s hide, erected on two logs over liquid mud in a rcedbed, to obtain the unusual picture of two Water Rails (plate 163) : regularly fed on maggots, they responded to a bang on the maggot tin as if it were a dinner gong. From winter studies, we move to spring with the Grey Heron (plate 164). Not only has Keri Williams achieved a sharp portrait, but the feeling of height is given most effectively by the background: he set out to achieve this effect of a heron’s-eye view when working on more traditional shots from a hide over 20 m up in the tree. The next five photographs all evoke the atmosphere of high summer, none more so than Dr Kevin Carlson's Turtle Doves (plate 165) at their nest 1.5 m from the ground in brambles growing through a small haw- thorn in his local copse. The second of three photographers to have two studies included this time, Dennis Green also sets a record by being the first to achieve this in consecutive years (see his night-feeding Teal Anas crecca and incubating Merlin Falco columbarius, Brit. Birds 70: 382-383). His Curlew (plate ififi) was a lucky shot: he went to remove his hide, thinking that all the young would have left the nest, but was surprised to find the female still sitting on an addled egg, with three chicks clambering all over her. She eventually abandoned the hopeless task in the evening, after Dennis Green had enjoyed a nine-hour session in the hide watching her. The shy Stock Dove 157 & I5^' Above, Barn Owl Tyto alba, Strathclyde, July 1977 ( Donald A. Smith); below, Little Owls Athene noctua, Nottinghamshire, July 1977 ( Derick Scott) i59j 160 & 161. Above, Blue Tit Partis caeruleus, Surrey, March 1973 (!•'. V. Blackburn) ; top right, Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, Derbyshire, January 1977 (J. Russell); bottom right. Grey Partridg z Perdix perdix, Derbyshire, December 1 97b (J. Russell) '*4 wmm ct..jp j .- -JrtJM Ik Jr .' jn , ■ JreaMaj 1 -* "S3 IB 165 166 & 167. Top left, Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur, Norfolk, July 1977 {F.J. Cailson) ; bottom left, Curlews Numenius arquata, Clwyd, June 1973 ( Dennis Green)-, above, Reed Warblers Acro- cephalus scirpaceus, Powys, June 1 97® {G. F. Date) i68, 169 & 170. Above, Stork Doves Coliimba oertas, Lancashire, September 1974 (Dennis Green ); top right, Goldcrcsts Regains regains, Surrey, June 1974 ( /•'. V. Blackburn ); bottom right. Dotterel Characlrius morinellus, Gwynedd, October 1977 (R. II. Fisher) 458 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs (plate 168), on the other hand, was no chance opportunity: a week of preparation at a ruined farm was necessary to install the hide, which he entered at 5 o’clock on many mornings before he successfully filmed the adult with its chick. To our astonishment, the Reed Warbler has never before been included in this series, although this is the nineteenth annual selection: Graham F. Date has achieved not only a delightful study, but also one entirely without reed-movement (plate 167). Frank Blackburn’s second photo- graph this year is a standard bird-at-nest picture of Golclcrests (plate 169), but nonetheless one of the nicest we have seen of this tiny bird. After winter, spring and summer, our last selection spells autumn. The stalked Dotterel (plate 1 70) was a migrant photographed by R. H. Fisher on the Great Orme: a well-grasped opportunity. The closing dates for entries to our two photographic competitions will be: bird photograph of the year 31st January 1979 (see page 470) BEST RECENT BLACK-AND-WHITE BIRD-PHOTOGRAPHS 31st March 1 979 We must again stress that birds on Schedule i of the Protection of Birds Act 1967 may not be disturbed at or near the nest without special approval from the Nature Conservancy Council (A. J. Lennox, 19-20 Belgrave Square, London swix 8py). In view of the comments by Arno Magnusson {Brit. Birds 71: 279), with which we agree, we shall not accept photo- graphs of breeding divers Gavia for either of our competitions and we hope that bircl-photographers will seriously consider the advisability of disturb- ing these shy birds at the nest. MWR, IJF-L & J IRS Mystery photographs Hopefully, everyone will have identified this bird as a raptor, otherwise we have serious problems. In fact, it is a medium-sized species and, with its long, fairly broad wings, medium long tail with no broad bands, and generally dark plumage, most people should have homed in on either dark-phase Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus or Black Kite Milvus migrans, all three of which can, in certain situations, look surprisingly similar. The faint barring on the rather square-cut tail, however, rules out dark-phase Booted Eagle, which has a rounded tail when fanned; further- more, the underwing of Booted is dark, with pale wedges between primaries and secondaries, not the suffused pale patch around the carpal joint shown by this bird. The faintly barred tail also rules out Marsh Harrier (as would the flight: of the three species under discussion, the 459 Mystery photographs harrier is the only one which glides or soars on wings raised above the level of the body in a shallow V) . Thus, we are left with Black Kite ; the one in plate 153 (repeated here) was photographed in France in May 1976 by I. R. Hornsby. In Europe, this essentially central and southern migratory species occasionally reaches Britain on spring or autumn passage, and care should be taken with any dark raptor watched coming off the sea or circling over an east coast marsh : as can be seen in this photograph, the tail when spread may show little or no fork. When closed, however, this should always be apparent. The Black Kite is all dark, frequently with a paler head and, as can be seen here, a lighter area at the base of the primaries. On the closely related Red Kite M. milvus, these patches would be white and con- spicuous, the head would be very pale, with the rest of the plumage russet in tone, especially the tail, which, of course, shows an obvious fork even when spread. Apart from its darkness, perhaps the most charac- teristic feature of a distant Black Kite is its flight: a series of flaps followed by a glide, on wings slightly arched and curved downwards and forwards, a character that accentuates the length of its tail and gives this species a sinister look. R. F. Porter 1 7 1. Mystery photograph 23. What is this species? Answer next month Notes Swans flying at 8,000 metres At about 15 00 GMT on gth December 1967, M. J. Quale, a radar controller at a Civic Air Traffic Control Radai Unit in Northern Ireland, reported an echo in position 56° 3o'N/o7° 00' W moving in a southerly direction at a ground speed of about 75 knots. He venfied that theie no meteorological balloons in the area, so presumed that the echo 460 Notes from a Hock of birds. A height finder gave a reading of 26,000-28,000 feet (about 8,000-8,500 m), which seemed very high for birds. MJQ, asked the pilot of a civilian transport aircraft due to land at Prestwick Airport, Strathclyde, to make a slight course deviation while descending to pass near the suspected Hock of birds; passing within 1 .6 km, the pilot reported ‘a flock of about 30 swans \Cygnus\ , at just over 27,000 feet (8,200 m). MJQ had the flock in sight as a radar echo until it disappeared about 27 km from Lough Foyle, Co. Londonderry, probably having descended below the cover of the radar. A height of 8,200 m seems to be the highest so far recorded for any species of bird over the UK. Captain K. U. G. Mitchell {Brit. Birds 48: 59-70) published some of his sightings of birds over Europe from the cockpits of piston-engined aircraft at much lower levels; with the modern jet aircraft and much-improved radar, more such reports are now possible and should be encouraged. A. G. Stewart 31 St Andrew's Avenue , Prestwick KA9 2dy Persecution of migrating raptors by Peregrines at Gibraltar Raptors migrating past Gibraltar are commonly attacked by locally- resident Peregrines Falco peregrinus of the small subspecies brookei, par- ticularly during the northward passage, when the Peregrines are nesting. This causes a small but steady mortality among the migrants. Attacks are especially intense when directed against large raptors, the commonest of which is the Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus . Usually, the repeated stoops by one or both of a Peregrine pair succeed in driving off the intruder. In most cases of mobbing, physical contact does not occur; typically, an attacked raptor attempts to evade the stooping Peregrine by performing a half-roll or by suddenly changing its direction of flight. Nevertheless, physical contact is not infrequent and it must occasionally have the effect of stunning or injuring the migrant, since, although 1 have not seen a Peregrine actually strike down another raptor, I have seen marks on the head of a dead Short-toed Eagle which suggested that this is what had happened. Numerous eye-witnesses speak of raptors literally falling out of the sky after receiving blows from Peregrines. The more ferocious attacks occur over the east side of the Rock, where the eyrie of one Peregrine pair is situated. The coastal strip is narrow there, so that stunned raptors generally fall into the sea and drown, unless rescued (usually by inhabitants of nearby Catalan Bay village). The numbers affected vary from year to year: J. Saez of the village, who has been responsible for numerous rescues, has informed me that about six are obtained alive from the sea annually. These usually recover quickly and are released in a safe locality. Presumably, an unknown but probably fairly small number does drown unnoticed. Short-toed Eagles account for most victims, but Booted Eagles Hieraaetus pennatus are also commonly rescued, as well as occasional Black Kites Milvus migrans , Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus and, once, a female Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. On the other hand, the locally-commonest migrant raptor, the Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, appears to pass unscathed. Notes 461 Passing raptors are also mobbed by Herring Gulls Larus argentatus, which often force them to land but have never been seen to make contact. Mobbing by large numbers of gulls may, however, bewilder raptors, which are then less able to evade stoops from the Peregrines. E. F. J. Garcia 50 Governor’’ s Street, Gibraltar Peregrine retrieving prey from sea On 7th May 1977, at a coastal Welsh eyrie, I noticed a female Peregrin t Falco peregrinus flying low across the beach beneath the cliffs carrying prey, pursued by Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus. It headed out over the sea, but, after about 10 m, when the gulls were closing on it, dropped the prey (possibly a pigeon Columba). Most of the gulls then flew down after the prey and landed on the water next to it. The falcon climbed quickly, still pursued by one or two gulls, but these dropped back as it increased its speed; it then began to circle about 13-16 m above the floating prey and surrounding gulls. The latter did not seem to touch the prey, although obviously interested in it. After a minute or two, the falcon dived down, flew low across the heads of the gulls, climbed and circled again. It re- peated this several times, and, on the fourth dive, flew lower still and hit the prey with one talon; on the fifth attempt, it connected and raised the corpse a few centimetres above the water, before dropping it again; on the sixth, it lifted the prey out of the water and flew off towards the eyrie, again pursued by several of the gulls. Col. R. Meinertzhagen (1959, Pirates and Predators ) recorded an account of a Peregrine catching and carrying off a Wigeon Anas penelope from an area of shallow water; and A. C. Bent (1938, Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey ) recorded a Peregrine attempting unsuccessfully to pick up a dead Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus from the surface of the sea. David Fisher RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL Red-legged Partridge apparently listening to music The note on Red-legged Partridges Alectoris rufa attracted by music {Brit. Birds 70; 260-261) prompts me to record the following. On 7th April I977> at Feigh-on-Sea, Essex, I was cleaning my car with the car cassette playing when my attention was drawn to a Red-legged Partridge perched on the fence about 2 m away. My parents informed me that it had been there for at least 15 minutes. The partridge continued watching me until, after five minutes, I switched off the cassette and went to get my camera. When I returned ten minutes later, it had gone. My parents subsequently told me that it had left shortly after I switched off the cassette. David Fadbrook Olive Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex ssg 3PX Waders following pigeon flocks At around high tide on the morning of 8th September 1974, large numbers of homing pigeons Columba livia were crossing the Wash from Gibraltar Point, Fincolnshire. They flew in a southeasterly direction in flocks of about 40-50, a minute or two 462 Notes apart. Noticeably, almost every flock was followed by fi'om one to four waders, including most of the common larger species: Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, Curlew Numenius arquata and Redshank Tringa totanus. David Norman 2j Villiers Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire cv8 2JB It would be interesting to know whether the waders stayed with or detached themselves from the homing pigeon flocks when they pene- trated inland. We welcome further observations. Eds Bimaculated Lark in Shetland On 7th June 1976, the southwest to westerly winds that had prevailed on Fair Isle for several days were replaced by light southeasterlies. Clear skies and calm weather followed, producing what seemed to be excellent overshooting conditions, but, after a thorough search on 8th, it seemed that a single Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata was the only new migrant. At about 20.00 gmt, however, David Wynn and I were walking along the main road at Field, when a rather heavy-looking lark got up from a small square of newly sown land and flew low to land in short pasture on the other side of the road. It looked odd and, on raising my binoculars, my suspicions were confirmed : it was clearly a lark of the genus Melano- corypha, with heavy build and a prominent black patch on each side of the neck. Just as the lark rose again and returned to the original patch, W. E. Fletcher arrived and, in good light following details: About size of Skylark Alauda arvensis, but more bulky. Generally pale sandy grey- brown. head Crown brown, with darker streakings; nape paler, virtually un- streaked. Fairly dark line through eye, thicker anteriorly. Bright, pale, quite broad supercilium. Cheeks and ear-coverts pale brown with darker border to ear- coverts and pale off-white top border to cheeks, underparts Upper throat un- marked white. Throat patches jet black, broader at shoulder, tapering gradually towards breast, nearly meeting in centre: each patch appeared slightly forked at shoulder when head held up, but at rest each patch appeared as fairly thin band. Pale brown wash with darker oval central area in upper middle belly. Dirty buff wash along flanks; vent and undertail- coverts off-white. No spots or streaks any- where on underparts, upperparts Mantle sandy-brown, with rows of darker brown streaks; rump brown, with paler streaks. Lesser coverts darker brown, with pale at a range of 15 m, we obtained the edges; median coverts with dark — almost black — centres and pale silvery-white edges. Greater coverts dark brown, with pale brown edgings, forming a lower wing- bar. Rest of flight feathers dark brown, with slight pale edges. White spot on tip of each tertial. Pale base to bastard wing. Tail appeared short, protruding only slightly beyond primaries at rest. Open tail showed almost-white spot at the tip of each feather, except outermost; tips appeared pale even in flight. Outer edges of outer tail feathers brown. In flight, no white trailing edge to secondaries, bare parts Bill large and thick, yellow-pink with dark top to upper mandible. Legs pinky-orange, proportionally long for a lark. Eye dark, voice and behaviour In flight, Skylark-like calls heard, as well as lower-pitched bursts. Bird aggressive to two Skylarks alongside. Flight undulating. Pecked at ground, and often sat on it, but, when standing, bold upright stance maintained. The lark was under observation for about 100 minutes. From the above Notes 463 features, W. E. Fletcher and I identified it as a Bimaculated Lark M. bimaculata : the first record for Fair Isle and Scotland. The two previous records in Britain and Ireland were both in the west country: on Lundy, Devon, during 7th to nth May 1962 {Brit. Birds 58: 309-312) and on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, during 24th to 27th October 1975 {Brit. Birds 70: 298-300). S. M. Whitehouse 1 8 Constance Road, Worcester WR.3 7nf Robin killing nestling Song Thrushes In April 1977 , in AB’s garden at Higher Bebington, Merseyside, a pair of Song Thrushes Turdus philomelos nested in a hedge of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, and a pair of Robins Erithacus rubecula built in a nestbox about 1 5 m away. The thrush laid its eggs about ten days before the Robin. Soon after the Robin had laid, there were a number of conflicts with the adult thrushes, usually close to the latter’s nest. When the Robin’s eggs hatched, on about 5th May, a Robin made a series of raids on the thrushes’ nest and, despite the frantic activity of the adults, succeeded in killing three of the four nestlings, by severely pecking at their skulls. The surviving youngster escaped along the hedgerow, but its parents had to defend it vigorously against the Robin. Neither the adult nor fledgling Song Thrush was seen in the garden again. Although Robins are renowned for territorial conflict, we know of no incident similar to that described. P. Coffey and A. Boyd 1 16 Ennisdale Drive , West Kirby, Wirral, Merseyside L48 9HB These events are in marked contrast to those recorded previously {Brit. Birds 61 : 34), involving a Robin feeding nestling thrushes. Eds Chats’ method of eating caterpillars In late summer, in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Stonechats Saxicola torquata and Whinchats S. rubetra take fairly large numbers of brown or blackish-brown hairy caterpillars, which they seek energetically along rough paths or in heather Calluna\Erica or bracken Pteridium aquilinum. They seldom pull their prey apart, but soften them up from end to end by running them through their bills, and also by beating them on the ground with forward or side- to-side head movements, before swallowing them whole. Individual Stonechats take five to ten minutes to deal with one of these caterpillars, depending on the size of the prey. The only other passerine >vhich I have observed using this method with hairy caterpillars was a Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, on 24th October 1975 at Portland, Dorset. I have also seen Stonechats and, particularly, Whinchats deal in the same way, but more quickly, with fairly large green caterpillars taken from the ground, before swallowing them whole. Unfortunately, I have not identified either of the two species of caterpillars. Bernard King Gull Cry, 9 Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall Aberrant Wheatear in the Isles of Scilly At about 15.00 GMT on 7th October 1976, at Lower Moors, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, I found a wheatear Oenanthe on bare ground about 10 m ahead of me. It was clearly Notes 464 unusual, having a conspicuous white rump and all-black tail. After 15 seconds, it flew over a hedge, giving an impression of a Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula, and disappeared. At 16.30, it was relocated by C. R. Ireland, and was watched subsequently until dusk by about 15 observers, mainly through telescopes at 60-80 m range, as it fed in a ploughed field. It had disappeared by the next day. The following further points were noted : General impression of sandy-buff immature Wheatear 0. oenanthe, with slightly buff- tipped, all-black tail. Folded wings slightly darker than mantle, with pale tips to secondaries and large pale buff bar across greater coverts. Ear-coverts slightly darker than rest of head. Underparts pinkish-grey, except for prominent white undertail. Stance and feeding behaviour similar to Wheatear. The bird was the subject of much discussion: was it an aberrant Wheatear, or a Desert Wheatear 0. deserti, as suggested by the tail pattern? The literature consulted was sometimes contradictory or lacking in detail. In Morocco in April 1977, I saw over 100 Desert Wheatears, which struck me as compact and short-tailed, with a passing resemblance to Stonechats Saxicola torquata in their habits: quite different from the Scillies’ bird. Mainly in view of this, I identified the latter as an aberrant Wheatear. D. j. Fisher (in lift.) agreed that Moroccan Desert Wheatears appear small and compact and S. C. Madge (in litt.) described them as ‘stubby’, but some observers who have seen the species in the Middle East and Asia consider its shape to be more like that ofa Wheatear : there may be significant differences in field appearances between western 0. d. homo- chroa\deserti and eastern 0. d. atrogularisjoreophila. The confusion over the individual in Scilly is related as a cautionary tale, but also highlights the need for publication of detailed plumage information on wheatears, especially females, immatures and aberrants. Dave Norman 66 Avenue Road, Torquay , Devon P. J. Grant has commented that the possibility that the bird’s tail had become soiled in some way — obscuring its actual pattern— should not be overlooked. Eds Unusual Yellow-browed Warbler in Northumberland At 17.00 gmt on 7th November 1970, J. A. Ginnever, T. Hallam and I trapped a Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus in one of the Heligoland traps at Low Hauxley, Northumberland. The bird was very dull compared with other examples of this species which we had seen and handled before: the upperparts, wing and tail feathers lacked the usual bright greenish tinge and had a greyish cast; and the supercilium, although characteristically prominent, was dull whitish rather than yellow. The main differences, however, lay in the wing markings: the distinct wing-bar formed by the pale tips to the greater coverts was, like the supercilium, bullish-white rather than yellow, while the usual second wing-bar formed by tips to the median coverts was barely visible; in addition, the pale tips and edgings to the tcrtials, usually so diagnostic, were reduced to narrow fringes, again barely Notes 465 visible. In all other aspects it was undoubtedly a Yellow-browed Warbler: the wing formula was consistent with that species, and the measurements (wing 56 mm, bill 12 mm, tarsus 17 mm, tail 48 mm, weight 5.5 g at 17.20 hours) all fell within the theoretical ranges given by Williamson ('967)- The bird’s appearance fitted the description given by Williamson for ‘Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler’ P. i. humei, but at the time we tended to dismiss this possibility. My interest was rekindled, however, by the description and drawing of Yellow-browed Warblers, probably of the subspecies humei, which Wallace (1973) and others found in Iran in April 1972, the plumage characters of which bore a striking resemblance to those of the Low Hauxley bird; and the appearance of Yellow-browed Warblers which I saw in eastern Rajasthan, India, in February and March 1978. I saw large numbers in several localities, and trapped one at Sawai Madhopur: all were identical to the Low Hauxley bird and all, according to the distributions given by Williamson, must have been humei. The possibility of Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler occurring in Britain and Ireland does not appear to have been previously considered, although its range — which includes the western Pamirs, the Altai Mountains and the Sayan Mountains — is no more distant than that of Pallas’s Warbler P. proregulus, which is now a relatively frequent vagrant to Britain and Ireland (103 records during 1958-76). Even though subspecific identifica- tion of a single trapped individual cannot be cast-iron, it is, I feel, im- portant to place on record that Yellow-browed Warblers showing the characteristics of humei may occur in Britain. E. R. Meek 7 Lindisfarne Lane, Stobhill, Morpeth, Northumberland REFERENCES Wallace, D. I. M. 1973. Identification of some scarce or difficult west Palearctic species in Iran. Brit. Birds 66: 376-390. Williamson, K. 1967. Identification for Ringers 2. The Genus Phylloscopus. BTO Field Guide 8. 2nd edn. Tring. Vegetable food of Willow Tit For the five years 1972-76, in West Sussex, we made observations during late summer and autumn on the vegetable foods taken by Willow Tits Par us montanus on a farm at West Chiltington and in a garden at Slinfold. The specificity shown by these tits for the seeds of a limited number of plants impressed us. On the farm, there was a clear preference for the ripe seeds of hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica', seeds were taken less frequently from marsh woundwort S. palustris, and occasionally from red hemp-nettle Galeopsis angustifolia. In the garden, only the lengthy seed heads of lamb s-ears S. lanata were taken: if undisturbed, the species often fed on these continuously for periods of 15 minutes, and sometimes considerably longer. J. A. G. Barnes (1975, The Titmice of the British Isles ) referred to the attractiveness of hemp- nettle to the Willow Tit. Our observations suggest that some other members of the family Labiatae may be equally attractive. Certainly, in areas where the Willow Tit occurs, the provision of lamb’s-ears can almost be guaranteed to induce this species to feed regularly in gardens from late August onwards. S. W. M. Hughes and F. W. Dougharty 6 West Way, Slinfold, Horsham, West Sussex Letters Birds in Bulgaria Since I have just returned to Britain after having lived in Bulgaria for three years, I may be able to supply information on the status of birds in that country to British Birds readers with serious enquiries; alternatively, I may be able to put them in touch with know- ledgeable Bulgarian ornithologists. J. Lawton Roberts Kandy Lodge , High Street , Ruabon, Wrexham, Clwyd Bitterns at Wicken Fen J. C. U. Day and J. Wilson, in their valuable review of breeding Bitterns Botaurus stellaris (Brit. Birds 71 : 285-300), were I fear guilty of one terminological inexactitude. They suggested (page 296) that the only British breeding site where the area of suitable habitat has declined is Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire; some readers might take this to refer to the National Trust Nature Reserve of Wicken Fen, an impression which should be corrected. The Wicken Fen reserve does include part of Burwell Fen, but not, unfortunately, that part on which the species bred in 1938 (see page 288). At the time of that record, the section of Burwell Fen actually within the reserve was probably of marginal suitability for Bitterns, being less extensively flooded, less dominated by common reed Phragmites australis, and with much more bush cover. Both Dr Eric Ennion’s ‘ Adventurers Fen’ and the National Trust’s portion of Burwell Fen were drained for agri- cultural purposes between 1939 and 1942, despite the strong opposition of the committee responsible for the management of Wicken Fen; it was this drainage which led to the loss of habitat. Since derequisition in the early 1950s, the National Trust has pursued an active policy of habitat management in its section of Burwell Fen, with a view to recreating some of the lost fenland communities. To this end, an artificial mere of approxi- mately 4 ha, with extensive fringing reed-bed, has been constructed, and a large reed-bed of about 20 ha developed; the areas occupied by these features are almost certainly more suitable as Bittern habitat now than they were before 1940. Rather than loss of habitat, therefore, there has been at Wicken Fen (sensu stricta ) an increase. This increase has not, unfortunately, resulted in the Bittern returning as a breeding species, but there has been an increase in the number of winter records. H. J . Harvey Department of Applied Biology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3DX Field identification of Gull-billed Terns The identification of Gull- billed Terns Gelochelidon nilotica has been a perennial problem facing ornithologists unfamiliar with the species in this country. Wallace (1970) showed that 25-30% of records in Britain during 1965-67 were rejected, and we have calculated that this rate increased to 36.7% during 1968-76. They are considered difficult because of confusion with Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis, especially by observers unfamiliar with Gull-billed (Sharrock 1972). A review of the identification criteria seems necessary. 466 Letters 467 Gull-billed Terns Gelochelidon nilotica, Camargue, France, July 1976: juvenile (left) and adult (right) ( K . E. Vinicombe ) Standard identification literature highlights the various differences from the similar-sized Sandwich — particularly heavier body, broader wings, shorter tail and grey rump and tail of summer adults — but most books tend to stress the thick black bill as the main difference. We believe that this misdirects observers, since the bill is not always easy to see at any distance. We have found the following features to be of much greater use in initial identification: (1) heavier body; (2) long, broad and less pointed wings; and (3) possibly shorter tail. These create an impression strongly reminiscent of a small or medium sized gull, such as Black-headed Larus ridibundus, an effect heightened by noticeably slower, gull-like wing beats. This appearance has on occasion enabled us to identify Gull-billed Terns at long range, even with the naked eye. These characters have of course been mentioned before, for example by Hollom (1962) and Heinzel et al. (1972), but they have not been given the emphasis which they deserve. The grey rump and tail are also good features of summer Gull-billed, as is the greyer, less ‘white’ appearance of the upperparts. We have also gained the impression that Gull-billed Terns tend to have a very distinct, often prominent, dark trailing edge to the primaries, particularly on the underwing, obvious at considerable distances. Sandwich Terns which we have watched in April and May have had a large dark grey ‘wedge’ on the outer upper primaries and a fairly inconspicuous grey border to the under primaries (see Brit. Birds 68: plates 16-22). This, however, is not a consistent feature, since we have also seen Gull-billed with very striking dark blackish ‘wedges’ on the upper primaries in August and, conversely, there is a photograph in Gooders (1969) which shows a winter-plumaged adult virtually lacking any dark on the upperwing. This feature obviously depends on the state of moult, wear and time of year, and unfortunately can be taken only as a guide. Juveniles lack the grey rump and tail, and, like winter adults, have the distinctive black wedge-shaped head patch strongly reminiscent of most first-year Mediterranean Gulls L. melanocephalus . Juveniles also show a 468 Letters conspicuous dark border to the under primaries (see Brit. Birds 66 : plate 55.) Calls of adults are distinctive: a deep, slightly liquid ‘ger-erk’ or ‘ger- vik’ ; but we have heard begging juveniles give a piping, high, but soft ‘pee-eep’ or faster ‘pe-pe-eep’, which is less distinctive and potentially confusing. Differing habitat preferences may also be a guide, but one should beware particularly of Sandwich Terns in unfamiliar habitats, such as freshwater marshes, lakes and reservoirs. The above notes are somewhat tentative, but we hope that they may stimulate discussion. Meanwhile, we urge observers of possible Gull-billed Terns to concentrate on the general appearance rather than on the finer aspects of the bill and plumage often stressed in books. A. H. Davis and K. E. Vinicombe references 10 R°wan Walk, Keynsham , Bristol bsi8 2RE Gooders, J. (Ed.) 1969. Birds of the World, vol. 4. p. 1047. London. Heinzel, H., Fitter, R., & Parslow, J. 1972. The Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. London. Hollom, P. A. D. 1962. The Popular Handbook of British Birds. 3rd edition. London. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1972. Scarce migrants in Britain and Ireland during 1958-67. Part 7. Brit. Birds 65: 187-202. Wallace, D. I. M. 1970. The first ten years of the Rarities Committee. Brit. Birds 63: 1 13-129. P. J. Grant has commented that, ‘The main pitfall which fails so many records is the failure to eliminate juvenile Sandwich Terns, which look, fly and call quite differently from adults, and may have shorter bills.’ We hope that observers will respond to Messrs Davis & Vinicombe’s penulti- mate sentence and send their comments to us, since we plan to publish a short paper on Gull-billed Tern identification within one or two years. Photographs, particularly flight shots, will also be welcome. Eds. Upperwing pattern of adult Gull-billed and Sandwich Terns A paper by R. A. Hume and me (Brit. Birds 67: 133-136) drew attention to the different upperwing patterns of adult Common Sterna hirundo and Arctic Terns S. paradisaea. The Common Tern has dark outer primaries, which contrast with the paler inner ones, and in the field appear as a dark wedge extending forward from the rear edge of the outer wing; the Arctic Tern has a uniform upperwing, lacking the dark wedge. I have noticed a similar difference between adult Sandwich S. sandvicensis and Gull-billed Terns Gelochelidon nilotica, which is not des- cribed in the literature. The Sandwich Tern has three to six outer primaries older — and thus darker — than the rest, forming a clear-cut dark leading edge to the outer wing; this contrast becomes more obvious in summer, as wear increasingly darkens the outer primaries. The Gull- billed Tern has a more uniform upperwing (without sharp contrast between the outer and inner primaries), pale grey in spring, but gradually darkening through wear. The dark triangle is invariably obvious on adult Sandwich Terns, even at long range when bill shape and other differences may be difficult to Letters 469 determine, thus providing a useful further distinction from Gull-billed. This difference is valid only for adults outside their southern wintering areas: juvenile and first-winter Sandwich Terns (and Gull-billed) lack the clear-cut dark leading edge. P. J. Grant 14 Heathfield Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8qd We draw readers’ attention to the editorial note below the previous letter. We welcome further opinions. Eds Bird Illustrator of the Year We announce the first annual competition for the title ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’. Amateur and professional artists are invited to submit four line-drawings suitable for reproduction in British Birds (pen-and-ink or scraper-board, but not pencil or wash). When reduced for publication, the sizes will be (width x depth in cm) 12.2 X 13.7, 10.9 x 4.6 and 5-3 x 4.0; but drawings should be ‘half-up’ or double these reproduction dimen- sions : each set of four drawings should include at least two of the three sizes. Subjects should be of birds which have been recorded in the west Palearctic (Europe, North Africa and the Middle East). The four judges of the competition will include three members of the Society of Wildlife Artists, Dr Eric Ennion, Robert Gillmor and D. I. M. Wallace, together with the managing editor of British Birds, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock. The winner will receive £75 and an inscribed salver, and the two runners-up will receive £40 and £25. All three artists will also be invited to attend the award presentation at a press reception in London, where a selection of the drawings will be displayed. Entries will remain the copyright of the artists, but are accepted on the understanding that they may be reproduced free in or on the cover of British Birds. If accompanied by a suitable stamped and addressed envelope, all drawings will be returned to the artists, but any selected for possible use in British Birds may be retained for up to 12 months after the award presentation. Each drawing must be marked clearly on the back with the artist’s name and address, the identity of the species and any other relevant information about the illustration. The closing date will be 31st May 1979; the set of four drawings should be sent to ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’, c/o Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK.44 3NJ. Bird , Photograph of the Year Past winners of this competition have been Michael C. Wilkes (1976) and Peter Lowes (1977)- Their prizes (cheques for £100 and engraved salvers) were presented at press receptions in London by Sir Peter Scott and Mrs Joyce Grenfell. The 1978 award will be marked by a similar ceremony, with the presentation made by a well-known personality. The closing date for submission of entries for the third of these annual awards is 31st January 1979. For this 1978 competition, only colour transparencies are eligible. Up to three transparencies, each taken during 1978, may be submitted by each photographer. They will be judged on interest and originality, as well as technical excellence. Preference will be given to photographs taken in Britain or Ireland, but those of species on the British and Irish list taken elsewhere are also eligible. A brief account (not more than 200 words) should be enclosed with each, giving the circumstances in which obtained, the method used, technical details (focal length of lens and make of camera and film), locality, date and photographer’s name and address. Transparencies will be returned only if accompanied by a suitable stamped and addressed envelope. Transparencies should be clearly marked ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ and sent to the editorial office at Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK.44 3NJ. News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett California Condors Anyone interested in vanishing species should read Faith McNulty’s two-part feature ‘Last Days of the Condor?’ in the March and May 1978 issues of Audubon. Apart from telling the complicated and ultimately sad story of attempts to save the California Condor Gymnogyps californianus during the last 40 years, the author estimates the remnant population at about 40 birds and makes it quite clear that breeding success has been so poor in recent years that extinction must now be regarded as imminent. Almost certainly, a last-ditch effort to save the species will be made by captive- breeding and release techniques. The new Cape Clear Bird Observatory The renovation of the Harbour House headquarters of the observatory on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, has been com- pleted after six weeks of intensive work as part of an AnCO (the Irish industrial training authority) Community Youth Project Scheme. On 8th July 1978, the observatory was officially reopened by Eamon de Buitlear. Representatives of the Press, AnCO, the Forest & Wildlife Ser- 470 News and comment 47 1 172. Trawkieran, the north harbour of Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, with the newly decorated and renova- ted bird observatory on far side, July 1978 ( R . T. Mills) vice, the Irish Wildbird Conservancy and the CCBO Council were present. After the tape-cutting ceremony, wine was served and there was dancing to Eamon de Buitlear’s mouth organ. Penalties for illegal possession of Peregrines How some falconers manage to keep large numbers of falcons at their mews, or whatever they are called, without apparently applying for licences to take wild birds or to import them has for long been a bit of a mystery to those concerned with the status and welfare of falcons. On 20th July 1978, John Greaves of Rothes, Managing Director of a company con- tracted by the Ministry of Defence to use trained falcons to keep Lossiemouth run- ways clear of gulls Larus and other seabirds, was fined £75 at Elgin Sheriffs Court when he admitted being in possession of two wild Peregrines Falco peregrinus. Alan Cass was also fined in the same court for being in possession of two Buzzards Buteo buteo which had been taken from the wild. It would be interesting to know what the attitude of the Ministry of Defence is towards a company contracted to clear birds from their airfields when it is shown that some of the falcons used were held illegally. Perhaps they should ask the Department of the Environment, which issues all the licences for falconry and importation of birds, to run a licence check for the other birds held by members of this and any other company holding similar contracts at British or American airfields. Prison for shooting at Whooping Cranes A New Mexico man, convicted of trying to kill two Whooping Cranes Grus americana near a Federal Refuge last autumn, has been sentenced to serve 30 days of a six-month jail sentence and has been prohibited from hunting or carrying a firearm for three years. The violation occurred near a refuge in New Mexico’s central Rio Grande Valley. These cranes are a part of an experimental flock that the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service are trying to establish, in the hope that a second wild flock, separate from the Texas one, will increase the Whooping Crane’s chance of survival. Last winter, there were seven Whooping Cranes in the experimental New Mexico flock and 70 in the original flock that winters on the Gulf of Texas. Manx Shearwaters nesting off New- foundland Until quite recently, Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa was the only tubenose known to breed off the east coast of North America, although there are vast colonies of Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis in the Arctic. Then, in 1973, a colony of Fulmars News and comment 472 was found at Witless Bay, Newfoundland, and a Manx Shearwater Pt/Jfinus puffinus bred on Penikese Island, Massachusetts. While the Fulmars have apparently re- turned and have also been seen off Labrador, no more breeding Manx Shear- waters were reported until 1977, although their regular occurrence at sea has sug- gested that they are becoming established in the northwest Atlantic. In the report on the nesting season of 1977, it is now stated [American Birds 31: 1110) that Jon Lien found a number of burrows and breeding pairs on an island off Newfoundland, and thought that there might be more on other islands in the area. This was the first year that they had bred at this locality. It seems increasingly clear that the Manx Shear- water has now joined the seabirds such as the Fulmar and larger shearwaters which are profiting by feeding behind fishing boats and is also beginning to increase in numbers and extend its range. It may be noted that the first definite record of the Storm Petrel Hydrobales pelagicus in the western North Atlantic also occurred at Sable Island, off Nova Scotia, in 1970- ft seems at least as likely to breed along the northeast coast of North America as the larger European petrels, although it is much harder to find. (Contributed by W. R. P. Bourne) News from Bardsey In July 1 978, HRH Prince Charles visited Bardsey Island and the bird observatory to which last year he had presented a Prince of Wales Award for work undertaken by volunteers to maintain the farmhouse and buildings in good repair and to ensure access to the island. The Prince said, ‘I am an incurable romantic at heart. I find this place fascinating. It is wonderful to meet people who live here in this sort of environment and see and hear all about the splendid work the Bardsey Island Trust is doing.’ During the visit, Will Evans, the island’s oldest inhabitant, presented the Prince with a freshly caught 5-lb lobster. The Bardsey Appeal was launched this April in an effort to raise money to pur- chase and endow the island [Brit. Birds 71 : 91). The results today are very encourag- ing, and by July the appeal had reached £57,000. For further information write to the Appeal Chairman, Mrs Susan Cowdy, The Lee, Great Missenden, Buckingham- shire. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of the editors of British Birds Recent reports S. C. Madge and K. Allsopp New reporting arrangements The recent readership survey showed that 55% of subscribers thought that the length devoted to this feature was ‘about right’, but 33% of all readers (and 45% of new subscribers) wanted more space devoted to it. We shall, therefore, be slightly increasing the length of ‘Recent reports’ in those months when this is justified by the available information. We hope that individual observers, as well as bird observatory wardens and bird club recorders, will submit records, to reach us by roth of the succeeding month. Rather than sending them via the editorial office, we request that from now on these monthly reports be addressed to us at 2 Springholme, Caudle Hill, Fairburn, Knot- tingley, West Yorkshire WF11 9JQ,. All letters will be acknowledged, unless you tell us not to do so (which helps, by saving us time and money). These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records This report covers July and the first part of continued to be dull, cool and rather un- August; except where otherwise stated, all promising. July was dominated by a series dates refer to July. The summer weather of depressions coming in from the Atlantic, Recent reports 473 broken only by a week of warm, anti- cyclonic weather from ioth. Seabirds Intensive sea-watching off the northeast coast has produced some fascinating results in recent years (see Brit. Birds 69: 463-464) and the signs are that things are warming up for an interesting autumn again this year. Seven Pomarine Skuas Stercorarius pomarinus moved east off Dun- geness (Kent) on 6th and singles were reported from Flamborough Head (Hum- berside) on 8th and nearby Filey Brigg (North Yorkshire) on nth and 17th, with 2 on 26th; it was not until 1st August, however, that things really improved, after a fairly swift depression had crossed the country: Filey Brigg had 100 Arctic S. parasiticus and 50 Great Skuas S. skua, with 750 Manx Puffinus puffinus and 25 Sooty Shearwaters P. griseus', farther up the coast, off Teesside (Cleveland), 12 Storm Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus were reported on the same day. A few days earlier, on 29th, a Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea had flown north at Flamborough Head and this same watch point produced two more strange shear- water sightings on 21st: a Little P. assimilis and a bird that showed all the characters of the eastern Mediterranean subspecies of Manx, known colloquially as the ‘Levantine or Yelkouan Shearwater’ P. p. yelkouan ; a similar bird was reported from Portland Bill (Dorset) on 21st June. This race has not yet been accepted as occurring in British waters, perhaps due to confusion with the mauretanicus race of Manx (see Brit. Birds 47: 292-294 and 50: 201); but, as it occurs in the Strait of Gibraltar outside the breeding season, where it mixes with P. p. mauretanicus, its occurrence is fairly likely. A rather re- markable passage of dark-morph Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis took place at Flam- borough Head on 16th, when 13 moved north and odd ones were noted elsewhere off the northeast coast at about the same time. A total of 35 Black Terns Chlidonias niger moved west at Dungeness on 30th, and in early August single White-winged Black Terns C. leucopterus appeared at Tophill Low (Humberside), Abberton (Essex) and Eye Brook (Leicestershire) Reservoirs. The only other odd tern re- ported to us was a Gull-billed Gelochelidon nilotica at Whitburn (Tyne & Wear) on 6th, and odd gulls included single Medi- terranean Larus melanocephalus at Dun- geness on 1 4th- 1 5th and Flamborough Head on 18th, and a first-summer Sabine’s Gull L. sabini at the latter spot on 28th. Herons and allies July is not the best month for rare herons to turn up in Britain, but wandering Spoon- bills Platalea leucorodia regularly appear at this time of year in eastern England. Cley (Norfolk) had five or six early in the month, and on 6th August a Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus appeared there. A Purple Heron Ardea purpurea was seen at Stodmarsh (Kent) on 30th June and a Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax was reported from near Sheffield (South York- shire) early in the month; six birds seen in flight at dusk at about the same time at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir (West Yorkshire) may also have been Night Herons. A White Stork Ciconia ciconia was found near Reading (Berkshire) on 8th August. Cley then produced another exotic: a Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio, which must have escaped from somewhere as it was of one of the green-backed Oriental races. There were few waterfowl of note apart from the usual July inland reports of parties of Common Scoters Melanitta nigra in the north of England, a party of nine drake Scaups Ay thy a marila at Eccup Reservoir (West Yorkshire) on 2nd August and a drake Surf Scoter M. perspicillata in Spey Bay (Morayshire) on 20th. 474 Waders In most years now, a few Nearctic waders are discovered in midsummer in Britain, doubtless associated with the more intense coverage that the country is getting; it seems likely that these birds arrive in Europe during a previous autumn rather than being fresh arrivals from the New World. Only two, however, were reported to us this summer: a Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subrujicollis at Rain- ham (Essex) on 28th June and a summer- plumaged Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii at Rye (Sussex) from 2ist-26th. Of equal interest were two reports of Stone- curlews Burkinas oedicnemus from the north of England, perhaps relating to one wandering individual : one gave a shock to a local birdwatcher doing census work on a disused railway track at Hawsker, near Whitby (North Yorkshire) on 20th, and another birdwatcher had a similar shock when he spotted one sitting among a pack of gulls on a stony spit at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir on 7th August. Another strange record came from Bodymoor Reservoir (Warwickshire), where a Purple Sand- piper C. maritima was discovered on 7th. During early August, there were reports of single Tcmminck’s Stints C. temminckii at Hanningfield Reservoir (Essex) and at Cley, where up to ten Curlew Sandpipers C.ferruginea had been present in mid July. Landbirds The spate of late spring Ospreys Pandion haliaetus continued, with singles in off the sea at Filey Brigg on 1st and at Flam- borough on 8th and 11th. There were several reports earlier in the summer of Red-footed Falcons Falco vespertinus in the south and east of England and one turned up as far north as Balmedie (Aberdeenshire) on 20th-2ist. An Alpine Swift Apus melba at Flam- borough on 1 st was the only one of the summer and the start of the return passage was echoed at Dungeness by a heavier passage than usual of Cuckoos Cuculus canorus, which reached a peak of 30 on 1 8th. Also at Dungeness, there was a Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus on 14th- 15th. Migrant passerines of other than British origin made an appearance on the east coast at the end of the month, with the first Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca on the north Norfolk coast on 31st. During the first week of August, we also heard of a Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria on the Aberdeenshire coast and a Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 4th August. Latest news Big mid-September news: Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa and Little Stints C. minuta. Rarities, however, probably at lowest ebb since 1963: noth- ing on Fair Isle, except one Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla. Spotted Sandpipers Actitis macularia St Mary’s and Tresco (Scilly), Long-tailed Skua S. longicaudus Fetlar (Shetland), Pectoral Sandpipers Calidris melanotos Lodmoor (Dorset) and Bedford Sewage-farm, Lanceolated Warbler I.ocustella lanceolata Out Skerries (Shetland). Jon Fjeldsa Guide to the\bung of European Precocial Birds The motivation for writing this book was the almost complete absence in ornithological literature of compiled descriptions of bird chicks sufficiently detailed to enable identification. Bird chicks are, in general, hard to identify — those of some groups have been given up as hopeless. Nevertheless, meticulous studies by the author of this book have revealed some, though often slight, differences between any species studied. It is possible to distinguish, with certainty, between most species from their very day of hatching. The need for a guide on bird chicks may be most strongly felt by bird-ringers and bird-ecologists who have worked in mixed gulleries or terneries, or in wetland with numerous breeding waterfowl or waders. The text is divided into two main parts: first a general discussion of precocial breeding in birds; then a systematically arranged treatment of the individual families and species. The book covers all 178 birds of Europe (including Russia and European dependencies in the Arctic) which have precocial or nidifugous young. The main aim of the book is to provide a description of the young, and means of identification. This will be especially useful for bird-ringers and museum-people. To make the book useful to a wider spectrum of ornithologists, from amateurs to wild-life ecologists, all our present knowledge of the family life and ecological relations of these species during the period, when they have their young has also been collected here. The book also gives suggestions to the pure taxonomist. Nature Publications Kongevejen 45 Dk-2840 Holte Denmark 288 pages, including 39 colour-plates 75 drawings illustrated by the author. Format: 17x25 cm. Bound. Isbn: 87-87581-12-4. Danish Kroner 200- (approx. US $34,50: £19,50 sterling: DM 79 inclusive postage and packaging. For further details, please write to Skarv. vii (BBno) EXCLUSIVE-DESIGN Original-design, leather look binders in our distinctive blue are now available at a cost of £2.50 each. The binders, which should last you many years, have an easy- to-operate system of metal rods for swift and secure insertion of your copies Each binder which holds a complete volume (one year's copies), has the British Birds motif embossed in gold on the spine. These binders will prove invaluable either for storing the current year's issues before orthodox binding or as a permanent method of storing your collection. To order your binder(s) simply write, enclosing £2.50 per binder (overseas US$5.00), to: British Birds Macmillan Journals Ltd Brunei Road Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 2XS England Following the success of our visit in 1978 we are arranging a further BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAY IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ❖ ♦> April 14, 1979 for 12 days Flights by British Airways Fully escorted ❖ ❖ Numbers restricted — Send now for details: BIRDQUEST HOLIDAYS (Laycock Travel Services) 1A Preston New Road, Southport. Te : 29757 Members of the Association of British Travel Agents (BB254) The monthly magazine of the Swiss Society for Protection of Birds, VOGEL DER HEIMAT publishes actual reports on ornithology and bird protection in Switzerland and abroad. 1 1 issues P.A., with many photos and other illustrations ; annual subscription sFr. 21 .50 plus postage. Please order a free copy from : Druckerie M. Kurzi AG, CH 8840 Einsiedeln - Switzerland (BBi 75) British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 6901/5 Classified Advertisements £ 2.25 for 3 lines ( minimum) 75P for each whole or part extra line Classified display £2 a centimetre (min. 3 centimetres) For the use of a box number there is a charge of 5 op. Replies to : The AD VER TISEMENT MAN A GER British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 3 Dyers Buildings, London ECi N2NR 01-831 6901)5 HOLIDA Y A CCOMMODA TION ROSE COTTAGE, Guest House, Gel- ston, Castle Douglas. Centre for wild geese, birdwatching, walks and attractive scenery. Very good accommodation, heating, electric blankets, H&C all bed- rooms, good food. Open all the year round including Christmas and New Year. No pets permitted in the house. SAE for brochure. D. F. & E. T. Donaldson. Tel: Castle Douglas 2513. (BB251) BED AND BREAKFAST in fully modernised farmhouse in Pembs. Nat- ional Parkland overlooking sea. H&C in bedrooms. Write to: Pugh, “DyfTryn”, Dinas Cross, Dyfed. S.A.E. please. (BB205) UPPER NIDDERDALE near Gouthwaite Reservoir. B & B., E. M. Poole, The Bungalow, Heathfield, Pateley Bridge, North Yorks. Tel: 0423 71 1530. _____ (BB229) FOR THE DISCERNING birdwatcher seeking proximity to reserves, tranquil- ity, gourmet food and personal service. Try “Copper Beech”, 22 York Avenue, Hunstanton, Norfolk (048 53) 2707 Prop. J. Smart. S.A.E. for brochure (BB228) ARCH HOUSE, Mill Road, Wells, Norfolk. Warm, attractive, comfortable rooms in an interesting listed building. B & B £4.50. Evening meal £2.35. Wells 696. (BB219) OPEN ALL YEAR round, i£ miles north of Loch Ken. Mrs B. Forrest, Ken Bridge Hotel, New Galloway, Kirkcud- brightshire, DG7 3PR. Tel: New Galloway 2 1 1. (BB235) NEAR BIDEFORD: a country hotel with lovely views across the River Torridge. Cordon Bleu cuisine, licensed, private bathrooms. Cliffs and estuary nearby. Yeoldon House, Durrant Lane, Northam, N. Devon. Tel: Bideford 4400. (BB198) COMFORTABLE bed and breakfast accommodation — overlooking harbour. Robertson, 1 Old Coastguard, Amble, Northumbria. Tel: Amble 71 0001. (BB199) ANGLESEY. Guesthouse, 25 yards beach. Every comfort. Dinner, bed and breakfast, packed lunches. Safe bathing, boating, birdwatching, walking, fishing, golf. Mrs Rivington, Cynfal, Ravens- point Road, Treorddur Bay, Anglesey, Gwynedd. Tel : 0407 860 078 (BB202) ISLE OF MULL. Dinner. B. & B. Detached house three minutes from harbour. Large garden. Children. Pets welcome. S.A.E.: Brenda Vernon, Strongarbh House, Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2328. (BB204) DARTMOOR. RSPB members offer quiet comfort, excellent food. Ideal centre, touring, walking, bird watching. Dartmoor antiquities. Transport for non-drivers. Brochure : Mrs White, Rew Meadow, Belstone, Okehampton. Tel: Sticklepath 261. (BB125) IX British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 690C5 NORTH NORFOLK COAST. The Bird Watchers’ Paradise. Tolcarne Private Hotel, Hunstanton is 50 yards from cliffs, near Holme B.O. and easy reach of Cley and others. Good food, comfort, hospitality, AA and RAC listed with Res. Licence. D. B & B £7.50 (£46 week) Tel: 04853 2359. (BB282) LLEYN/SNOWDONIA -8 country cot- tages, sleep 5-9. 13 acre Llyn, Wood- lands. S.A.E. Glasfryn Estate, Pwllheli. (XBB86) SNOWDONIA National Park, Nr Dolgellau, Gwynedd. Cottage, coach- house and bungalow all modernised, sleep 4-6. Peaceful, not isolated, in beautiful surroundings. Open all year. S.A.E. to Mrs P. Richards, Caerynwch, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2RF (XBB225) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS WELNEY (Wildfowl Trust). Spacious observatory plus series of hides over- looking the famous Ouse Washes pro- vide superb Summer and Winter view- ing. In Winter the lagoon (floodlit at night) attracts hundreds of wild Bewick’s Swans — a spectacular sight. Within easy reach of RSPB and Cambient Nature Reserves. Charges for bed or bunk and breakfast at Wigeon House includes free access to Trust observatory. Scott, Pintail House, Hundred Foot Bank. Welney, Cambridgeshire. Tel: Ely 860711. (BB276) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS in UK. Individual attention. Stamp please to Derek Tutt (Barn Owl Travel), 27 Sea- view Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 4NL. (BB200) SPAIN BIRD WATCHING HOLIDAYS English Ornithologist living remote central Spain offers one week bird watch- ing for parties 3 or 4 friends April May June 1979. Accommodation, own house. Expeditions by Range Rover. Expect to see 1 20/ 1 50 different species, including most rare birds of Iberian Peninsula such as Eagles (5) Vultures (3) other Raptors (9) Bustards (2) Sand Grouse (2) Eagle Owl Stocks (2) many Ducks, Waders, etc., £280 person/week all inclusive. Please write Tom Gullick, 15 Stanley Road, Brighton, Sussex. (BB208) SOCIETIES THE BRITISH BUTTERFLY Con- servation Society. President: Sir Peter Scott. The Society promotes the study of endangered species and is carrying out valuable surveys. For details of mem- bership, the Society’s aims and pro- gramme please write to: The Hon Publicity Officer, British Butterfly Con- servation Society, Dept. H, Tudor House, Quorn, Leicestershire, LE12 8AD. (BB238) BOOKS BIRDS AND NATURAL HISTORY books — new and secondhand bought and sold mail order only. Dernam Books, Addlestead, East Peckham, Tonbridge. Kent. (XBB46) RARE and out-of-print ornithological and natural history books for sale Catalogue 5op. Books on all subjects purchased. Blest, Broomscroft, Water- ingbury, Maidstone, Kent. (BB203) XII BIRDWATCHING IN ISRAEL and Historical Sites. Easier 1979. For details phone Bourne End 23559. (BB279) British Birds j Classified Advertisements 01-831 6901/5 KEY TO THE NAMES of British . . by R. D. Macleod. (i) Birds, (2) Plants, (3) Butterflies and Moths, (4) Fishes, Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles. Now available as paperbacks at £1.00 each (inc. p & p) or £3.50 per set of four. Mrs S. Doust, 12 1 Warren Drive, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 4QI . (BB233) BIRD BOOKS BOUGHT. Please let me quote you for the purchase of good bird books. The Book Squirrel, Hart-on-the- Hill, Dalton Piercy, Hartlepool, Cleve- land. (BB243) BOOKS ON BIRDS New and Second- hand, Catalogue 2op, surplus bird books urgently sought open Thursday to Saturday, Bird Books of Sevenoaks, House of Seal, Church Street, Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: Sevenoaks 62155. (BB194) ESSEX BIRD REPORT. 1976. £1.40 post included. D. J. Weston, 78 Wood- berry Way, Walton-on-Naze, Essex, CO 1 4 8EW. (BB216) ORNITHOLID AY S’ GUIDES in the “Let’s Look at ... . ’’series. Majorca, S.W. Spain, TheCamargue, Montenegro, Eastern Austria, Southern Morocco, Vancouver and the Rockies, and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). £1.50 per copy. Orni- tholidays, 1/3 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex. (BB218) BOOKS ON NATURAL HISTORY, islands and mountaineering bought and sold. Catalogue available (S.A.E. please). J. T. Radford, Bramblings, West Wal- berton Lane, Walberton, Arundel, Sussex. (BB265) WILTSHIRE Ornithological Society Journal ‘Hobby’ 1978 includes 1977 County Bird Report, pop post free from WOS, 5 Leighton Green, Westbury, Wilts. A few 1976 and 1977 copies avail- able at 75p. (BB264) BEDFORDSHIRE BIRD ATLAS by B. D. Harding. To be published on 31st March 1979 and recording on a tetrad basis the distribution of the 113 species of birds known to have bred in the county between 1968 and 1977. Complete species list also included. Illustrations by Ray Turley, Foreword by Dr. J. T. R. Sharrock, 140 pp. 240 mm X 175 mm. £4.20 (postage and packing 50p) or £2.95 (postage and packing 50p) for orders received before 31st January 1979- Orders, or send for brochure with speci- men page, to Bedfordshire Natural History Society (to which cheques should be made payable), c/o Luton Museum and Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton LU2 JHA. (BB274) OUT OF PRINT bird and wildlife books. Send stamp for catalogue 13. Individual Books, 9 Hammers Lane, Mill Hill, London NW7 4BY. (BB277) FOR SALE FIELD NOTES typed by Qual. SH Typist. S.A.E. For details, sample, Mrs B. J. Lowe, 26 Fairview Road. Denton, Manchester M34 2EG. (BB275) CAP GRIS NEZ REPORT 1977 now available £1.25 post paid from Redman. East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. (BB263) TRADITIONAL LEATHER BELTS Hand-made from English Oak Bark Tanned Leather with brass buckle. Light or Dark Tan. £4.25 inc. post & VAT Overseas add li" £6.00 inc. post & VAT £1 per belt. PLEASE STATE COLOUR AND WAIST SIZE 7 days' despatch from : DODDS DANIELL, 10 Chancery Lane, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3PX Tel 22831 (BB24I) British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 690C5 i — FOR SALE BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES FOR SALE, ‘Birds of Eastern and N. Eastern Africa’, Series I, Vols. i and 2 — Mackworth, Praed & Grant. In good condition. Offers to: D. R. Hewitson, 2 Donnelly Road, Tuckton, Bournemouth, Dorset. (BB268) LEITZ TRINOVID. 7 X 42 Roof Prism Binoculars. Immac. cond. £175. Tel: Plymouth 42428. (BB261 TELESCOPE. Nickel Variabel Supra 25-50 X. No case. Offers to Box BB267. British Birds Magazine, 3 Dyers Build- ings, Holborn, London ECiN 2NR. (BB267) NORTHANTS BIRD REPORT. Don’t dip out. Discover what goodies were seen in *77 in the centre of England. Articles include Redpoll study. Also Ringing Report. Well illustrated. £1 from C. J. Coe, 67 West St., Lower Weedon, Northampton. (BB272) SCHMIDT & BENDER 15 X 60 X 60 Telescope. Immaculate, 1 year old £80. Swift Trilyte 10 X 40 Binos. £30. (0639) 820672. (BB278) FOR SALE BINOCULARS. 10 X 40 Habicht Diana £90.00; 7 X 40 Zeiss (Jena) Supers £50.00 (scarce). Hertel & Reuss Televari 25-60x60 Zoom Tele- scope £60.00. All instruments as new. 25 Willowcroft Road, Spondon, Derby. (BB260) TELESCOPE. Hertel & Reuss 25-60 X60. Excellent condition but case show- ing signs of wear. £75.00. Tel: 0508 281 13. Norfolk. (BB281) GLAMORGAN Bird Report 1977. £1 post paid from D. H. Binstead, 37 Pcnhill Road, Cardiff CFi 9PR. (BB232) SPECIALIST REPAIR Services and sales to all binoculars, telescopes, rifle sights, compasses, etc. — Contact: J. T. Quigg (Optical), 94 Stockwell Street, Glasgow Gi. Telephone 041-552 6823- (BB250) Christmas Gifts Puzzle books by Tim Sharrock THE BIRDWATCHERS’ QUIZ AND PUZZLE BOOK THE BIRDWATCHERS’ SECOND QUIZ AND PUZZLF.’bOOK 50 p each post free from Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mkj^jnj (BB266) XIV BADGER boot Richard Mabey Bird Count T.RFUES FOOD )R FREE BIRDS of BRITAINand EUROPE Take any 3 books ONLY 25p EACH m PLUS CARRIAGE Endeavour Pub £4 95 and save up to £13.20 when you join .COUNTRY, -M'} BOOK SOCIETY C iJ* Pub The fascination of wildlife and natural history; free food that’s yours for the finding, country life, customs and traditions; archaeology, architecture and environment, landscape and conservation. Every year the Country Book Society offers over 300 practical and information books to help you recog- nise, interpret and understand what you see in the British countryside. In addition we offer a fine range of gardening titles. All Society titles are produced to the same high standards as the publishers’ own editions — the only difference is that they are offered at discounts of up to 25% off publishers’ prices and some- times even more. •You need not take a book each month Remember, it is you who decides which books, if any, you want each month. All we ask is that you agree to take 4 books during your first year of membership from our Monthly Newsletters and Seasonal Catalogues — all at big discounts. Readers Union Group of Book Clubs Brunei House, Newton Abbot Reg in England No 843946 r ii i i i i i i i i i i i i i i T To: Readers Union Group of Book Clubs PO Box 6, Newton Abbot, Devon I would like to join COUNTRY BOOK SOCIETY and claim the 3 books marked below at the special introduc- tory price of 25p each (plus 60p total carriage). If I keep the books I will automatically become a member, and agree to take 4 books (in addition to the introductory offer) and I will pay upon receipt for any books I choose. If I am not satisfied with the introduc- tory books I may return them within 10 days and owe nothing. Please allow up to 21 days for delivery PLEASE SEND BOOKS NOS Mr /Mrs /Miss Address. Signature (or if under 18 signature of Parent/Guardian) with thiS SEND NO MONEY coupon UF (BB177) British Birds Volume 71 Number 10 October 1978 429 ‘British Birds’ Binoculars and Telescopes Survey M. A. Ogilvie and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 439 Origins and movements of Oystercatchers on the Wash K. R. Anderson and Dr C. D. T. Minton 447 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs 458 Mystery photographs R. F. Porter Notes 459 Swans flying at 8,000 metres A. G. Stewart 460 Persecution of migrating raptors by Peregrines at Gibraltar E. F. J. Garcia 461 Peregrine retrieving prey from sea David Fisher 461 Red-legged Partridge apparently listening to music David Ladbrook 461 Waders following pigeon flocks Dr David Norman 462 Bimaculated Lark in Shetland S. M. Whitehouse 463 Robin killing nestling Song Thrushes P. Coffey and A. Boyd 463 Chats’ method of eating caterpillars Bernard King 463 Aberrant Wheatear in the Isles of Scilly Dave Norman 464 Unusual Yellow-browed Warbler in Northumberland E. R. Meek 465 Vegetable food of Willow Tit S. W. M. Hughes and F. W. Dougharty Letters 466 Birds in Bulgaria J. Lawton Roberts 466 Bitterns at Wicken Fen H. J. Harvey 466 Field identification of Gull-billed Terns A. H. Davis and K. E. Vinicombe 468 Upperwing pattern of adult Gull-billed and Sandwich Terns P. J. Grant Announcements 469 Bird Illustrator of the Year 470 Bird Photograph of the Year 470 News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett 472 Recent reports S. C. Madge and K. Allsopp Line-drawings: Oystercatchers on page 439 ( Crispin Fisher ); White Stork on page 473 and Stone-curlew on page 474 (C. J. Hodgson) ; Osprey on page 474 ( D . I. M. Wallace ) Front cover: Black Grouse ( D . A. Thelwell ) Printed by Henry Burt & Son Ltd, College Street, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8na Published by Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF British Birds White-tailed Eagles Report on rare birds in 1977 R. C. Homes (1913-1978) • Dr R. K. Murton (1932-1978) Mystery photograph • Notes • Short reviews * Letters Autumn migration 1977 News and comment * Recent reports British Birds News and comment Peter Conder, 12 Swaynes Lane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7ef Rarities Committee Michael J. Rogers, 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex twi6 7tp (C) Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photographers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF (tel: 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr J. T. R. Sharrock D. 1. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £12.00; rest of world US $19.50 or equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG2 1 2xs, England.) UK Post Office Giro Account No. is 519 2455. Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to: Advertisement Department, British Birds, 3 Dyers Buildings, London ec in 2NR (tel: 01-831 6901/5) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Shorter contributions, if not typed, must be clearly written and well spaced, and notes should be worded as concisely as possible. Authors of papers and notes should consult this issue for style of presentation (especially for systematic lists, reference lists and tables). Tables must either fit into the width of a page or into a whole page length- ways, and should be self-explanatory. English names of birds should have capital initials for each word, except after a hyphen, but group terms and names of other animals and plants should not. Both English and scientific names of birds, and the sequence, follow The ‘ British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). English and scientific names of plants follow John G. Dony et al. (1974, English Names of Wild Flowers). Scientific names (underlined) should appear immediately after the first mention of the English name. Dates should always take the form ‘1st January 1978’, except in tables where they may be abbreviated Figures should be numbered with arabic numerals, and the captions typed on a separate sheet. All line-drawings should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper, drawing paper or board (not of an absorbent nature) or, where necessary, on light blue or very pale grey graph paper. It is important to consider how each drawing will fit into the page when reduced. Any lettering or numbering that is an integral part of a text-figure should be inserted lightly in pencil. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive 25 free copies of the journal (15 each to two authors, ten each to three to six, and five each to seven or more). Heron vr ~ £33.78 8x40 Bwcf Binoculars The Birdwatchers Glasses. As used by the forestry commission. Ideal for the young and beginners. Lightweight (26oz), extra wide angle, 514 ft. field of view, also suitable for spectacle wearers. We believe them incomparable value at £33.78 inc. case and ^lanyard plus £1 towards p&p. , Top quality optical goods at enormous savings Heron quality, Heron service, Heron choice — we hold in stock what we believe to be the largest range of telescopes and binoculars for birdwatchers in the country. A few examples Retail Price Our Price £108 00 £79.40 £5906 £43.40 £293.04 £222.75 £192.85 £59 94 £39.96 £100.44 £232.23 £66.94 £168.37 £268.82 £158.63 £105.50 £153 57 £101.50 are shown below BINOCULARS Swift Audubon 8.5X44 MK.il (38oz) Swift Grand Prix 8X40 MK I (24oz) Carl Zeiss 10X40 B Dialyt (24oz) Carl Zeiss 8X30 B CF(18'/roz) £253.69 Zeiss Jena 8X30 Jenoptem (17oz) Zeiss Jena 10X50 Jenoptem (35oz) Habicht Diana 10X40 (23oz) Leitz 10X40 B(21oz) TELESCOPES B Nickel Supra 15X60X60 (28oz) Hertel & Reuss Televari 25X60X60 (32oz) Order direct from this list — Prices correct as of 1st June 1978, inclusive of case, lanyard and manufacturer’s guarantee, plus £1 post and packing charge. Access and Barclaycard accepted. Apply for details and send for your guide to Binocular & Telescope ownership. Further details and comprehensive price list available in return for this coupon, including Field & Trek Catalogue of camping, rambling and climbing equipment. Or call in person and see our vast stock for yourself. 14 DAY APPROVAL SERVICE To Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4ER Please send me details and price lists on: Binoculars] | Telescopes □ . Field & Trek Camping Equipment | | NAME ADDRESS (BB11) onourprkes -v- Heron NEW 10x40 Wide-angle Binoculars £34.93 Quality, power and light weight, too — a mere 20oz! 367 ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Slim Zeiss-type body, centre focus, black finish, fully-coated lenses, also suitable for spectacle wearers. Excellent value at £34.93 me. case, ^straps and lanyard, plus £1 p&p. Heron NEW 8x40 ' Zcf binoculars. £24.81 Weight 21oz, 341ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Fold-down rubber eyecups. Only £24.81 \plus £1 p&p. Schmidt & Bender 15-60xzoom telescope with 60 mm This quite k ObjfiCt magnificent |pns telescope from ^ lell:> West Germany is ideal for use on reservoirs and seashore. Robust in construction, excellent in optical quality We believe £101. 50 this to be the best on the market today Weight 950 g. length 300 m closed. 560 mm open. Fitted with tripod- bush. Exit pupil 4-1 mm. light-gathering power 16 1. twilight 30-60. field of view 1.000 m 47-12 m At a recommended retail price of £153.57 the Heron price of £101.50 including leather case and rubber eyecup for spectacle wearers is outstanding value Add £1 p&p ) dram T Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4ER. Tel: (0277) 221259/219418. Telex: 995566. Only 5 minutes from Brentwood Station. 30 minutes from London's Liverpool St. Station (Southend Line). Open daily 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Thursday 1pm. (BB253) l ORNITHOLIDAYS MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS HO LIDA rs ORGANISED B Y BIRD WA TCHERS FOR BIRDWATCHERS Ceylon India Florida California The Seychelles Kenya Israel Morocco Tunisia Turkey Arctic Norway S.W. Spain Majorca Greece The Camargue Yugoslavia Lake Neusiedl Austrian Alps Hungary Romania Central Wales Isles of Scilly Isle of Mull Isle of Islay The Solway The Cairngorms Hebridean Cruise Dorset New Forest West Sussex Suffolk The Fames & Bass PARTICULARS SENT ON RECEIPT OF 7p STAMP TO LAWRENCE G. HOLLOWAY ORNITHOLIDAYS (Regd) (WESSEX TRAVEL CENTRE) 1/3 VICTORIA DRIVE, BOGNOR REGIS, SUSSEX, ENGLAND P021 2PW Telephone 02433 21230 Telegrams: Ornitliolidays, Bognor Regis (BB240) BINOCULARS ZEISS (WEST) • LEITZ • ZEISS (JENA) SWIFT • NIKON • HARTMANN • RUSSIAN TELESCOPES NICKEL SUPRA • HERTEL TELEVARI SWIFT • KOWA • OPTOLYTH • MIRADOR Brochures Available • Callers Welcome PRICE CONCESSIONS 20% - 40% We are located on high ground with uninterrupted views over miles of open countryside including the GT. LINFORD GRAVEL PITS. We like you to call and spend an hour testing glasses and ’-scopes before coming to a decision. Time spent testing under field conditions in a leisurely way is far better than a snap decision in a busy store If you are too far away to call you can order by post in complete conlidence - our packing is 100% efficient and all goods over £5 are sent by insured post. (Open Tuesday to Sunday inclusive. Closed Monday) METWOOD ACCESSORIES (F. N. HUMPHRIES, C.ENG. M.I.MECH.E.) DEPT. BB BROADACRE, LITTLE LINFORD ROAD, HAVERSHAM. Nr. WOLVERTON, BUCKS Milton Keynes 31 2789 (STD 0908) calls can be made at cheap rate times (BB309) ii PEREGRINE HOLIDAYS 1978/79 Special Interest Tours Directors: Raymond Hodgkins. MA(Oxon) Patricia Hodgkins, MTA/ Neville Wykes FAAI, ACE A Fully Bonded Atol No. 275B All with Guest Lecturer(s) and a Tour Manager: Usually by Scheduled Air and Inclusive. CHRISTMAS IIM CRETE ‘Provisional Dec 21-28 Birds, Flowers, Sites At the de luxe Minos Beach Hotel Agios Nikolaos (also SPRING Et AUTUMN IN CRETE) of the famous TV series "Who Pays the Ferryman" and "The Lotus Eaters". INDIA AND NEPAL Feb 1 0-27 Feb 1 7-Mar 6 Eric Hosking, OBE, Dr Jim Flegg VENEZUELA, John Gooders Mar 6-22 SPRING IN CRETE Apr 5-19 SPRING IN PELOPONNESE Apr 4-18 CORFU, Anthony Et Alyson Huxley Apr 9-16 CORFU, Anthony & Alyson Huxley Apr 16-23 CORFU, "Mont" Hirons, B.Sc. Apr 23-30 CORFU, Ken Waterfield — Painting May 7-21 “LOST ATLANTIS", Trevor Rowley, MAURITIUS AND SEYCHELLES Oct 8-25 Birds, Wildlife Birds, Wildlife Birds, Flowers Birds, Flowers Flowers Flowers Birds, Flowers Oils, Watercolour etc Birds, Flowers £191 the area £849 £945* £390 £390 £155 £155 £155 £255 £850 Anthony Huxley MA, David Tomlinson B.Sc. Registration: Costs nothing, does not commit you in any way but gives you first sight of the brochure on publication. PEREGRINE HOLIDAYS at TOWN AND GOWN TRAVEL, 40-41 SOUTH PARADE, SUMMERTOWN, OXFORD, OX2 7JP. Tel: Oxford (0865) 511341 (BB 302) Binding ‘British Birds’ All British Birds subscribers receive a comprehensive index automatically. Volumes for binding (with the form on the back cover of the index filled in) should be posted, not to the publishers, but direct to the binders : P. G, Chapman & Co. Ltd. Kent House Lane Beckenham Kent BR3 1LD the charge is £5 00 per volume, which includes the cost of packing and return postage. The binding will be in the same style as in previous years and earlier volumes can also be bound at this rate. BARBOUR ALL WEATHER CLOTHING AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 34 in to 48 in Price Price Solway Zipper £37.55 £33.79 Gamefair Jacket (lined) £35.65 £32.10 Gamefair Stud-on-hood £4.90 £4.39 Durham Jacket £29.75 £26.75 Threequarter Coat £29.45 £26.49 Gamefair Trousers S, M. L £19.35 £17.39 Gamefair Leggings S, M, L £9.95 £8.95 Thornproof Trousers S, M, L £17.85 £16.05 Thornproof Leggings S, M, L £8.65 £7.79 LongStud-onLeggingsS.M.L £15.35 £13.79 Short Stud-on Leggings 20 in £1 2.25 £10.99 Fleece Lining £10.50 £9.45 Dressing — £1.25 UNIROYAL FIELD & STREAM FOOTWEAR AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 6-12 GRADE 1 Price Price Royal Hunter Boots (Studded) £19.30 £13.95 Hunter Boots (Rubber) £10.20 £7.35 Gamesman Ankle Boots (Studded, size 6-1 1 ) £17.45 £14.45 Hunt-aire Boots, sizes 8-10 (Dr Martens Sole) £13.95 £10.95 Keenfisher Thigh Waders (Studded) £23.60 £17.45 Keenfisher Chest-Hi Waders £29.30 £24.99 (Studded, sizes 6-8) JOHN NORRIS FINEST QUALITY QUILTED JACKETS AND WAISTCOATS. SIZES S. M. L. Ex.L. COLOUR GREEN. MADE FROM THE FINEST QUALITY MATERIALS. WITH OR WITHOUT FULL SUEDE SHOULDER & ELBOW PATCHES. STUD CLOSURE, DEEP POCKETS. Jacket with Jacket Waistcoat Waistcoat suede without with without patches suede suede suede patches patches patches £14.99 £11.99 £9.99 £7.99 TERMS: ENCLOSE CASH, CHEQUE, P.O.s, ACCESS OR BARCLAYCARD BY LETTER OR PHONE, PLEASE QUOTE YOUR NUMBER. BARBOUR CLOTHING POST FREE, FOOTWEAR £1. OTHER CLOTHING 55p. JOHN NORRIS DEPT BB, 21 VICTORIA ROAD, PENRITH, CUMBRIA Telephone: Penrith 4211 (BB273) Birdwatchiru, by Peter Conder £2.50 Here is a comprehensive introduction to the hobby of birdwatching. Written by the former director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the book covers every aspect of this absorbing and increasingly popular pastime. The author, as well as giving expert advice on equipment and fieldcraft, also introduces the reader to the lives and habits of the birds themselves, showing how there is far more to birdwatching than just being a passive onlooker. To this end there are chapters on counting birds, migration, bird gardening and conservation as well as on ecology, territory and behaviour. ’V-v Birdwatching Other hooks published by Hamlyn in collaboration are the RSPB Guide to British Birds Cl. 75 and RSPB Book of Garden Birds C2.95. Obtainable from W.H. Smith, John Menzies, Boots and leading booksellers. T JGjThe Hamlyn Group, Astronaut House, Hounslow Road, Feltham, Middlesex, TW14 9AR (BB308) IV British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER I I NOVEMBER 1978 White-tailed Eagles in Britain and Norway J. A. Love , M. E. Ball and I. Newton Exterminated here by man, the second attempt to reintroduce this magnificent raptor to Scotland is now in full swing The White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla is distributed widely through- out the Palearctic region. While little is known in the West about its status in the USSR, it is much threatened in western Europe. Loss of habitat and persecution by man have severely reduced its numbers in many countries and eliminated it altogether from others. A more recent and insidious threat is from chemical pollutants, such as certain mercurial compounds, DDT and PCBs, which have seriously reduced the breeding success of White-tailed Eagles, especially in countries bordering the Baltic Sea. Only around the unpolluted waters of northwest Norway, where it enjoys relative freedom from disturbance, does a healthy population remain, which Dr Johan Willgohs (in litt.) estimates at nearly 500 pairs. Sea cliffs and crags are favoured nest sites; tall trees are much less com- monly used. On the low offshore skerries of northern Norway, nests may be placed on the ground, where they are particularly vulnerable to human interference. The eyrie is a large bulky structure of twigs and sticks (plates 176 & 177). Two large white eggs are normally laid and, more often than in the case of the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, both chicks live together in the nest (plate 176). The young are fed on seabirds, such as auks (Alcidae), Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis, eiders Somateria and gulls Larus, some small mammals and fish, which the parent birds catch or find washed up dead; some adults steal fish from otters Lutra lutra and [Brit. Birds 71: 475-481, November 1978] 475 476 While-tailed Eagles 173. Whi te-tailcd Eagle Haliaeelus albicilla, Norway, June 1977 {P. van Groenendael & W. Sue tens) gulls, while others follow fishing boats (Willgohs 1961, Waterston 1964). In Britain and Ireland, the more inaccessible cliffs of the north and west formed the last refuge of White-tailed Eagles, following persecution at the hands of shepherds, gamekeepers and, finally, egg-collectors. It is doubtful whether this large eagle posed any threat to lambs, most of which would have been taken as carrion. On Skye, as many as 40 White- tailed Eagles could be seen gathered at a carcass, and carrion-feeding would have made the species particularly vulnerable to poisoning. Only a few breeding pairs survived into the 20th century and the very last nesting attempt is said to have taken place on Skye in 1916 (Baxter & Rintoul 1953). The Golden Eagle survived longer in its remote moun- tainous retreats and, gaining respites during the two world wars, spread out to occupy many old White-tailed Eagle haunts on the coast. Unlike the migratory Osprey Pandion haliaetus, few White-tailed Eagles have been seen in Britain since their extinction here; so, in 1968, Dr George Waterston arranged the release of four Norwegian eaglets on Fair Isle, Shetland. One of the two males is known to have died when its plumage became matted in oil spat out by the young Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis upon which it tried to feed, while one by one the others left the island during the next 14 months (Dennis 1968, 1969). Perhaps one or two may yet survive, accounting for occasional claimed sightings in recent years in northern Scotland. To have some chance of success, reintroduction attempts should ideally be repeated over several years and involve as many individuals as pos- sible, especially since the White-tailed Eagle takes five years or more to reach sexual maturity. In 1975, the Nature Conservancy Council began 174 & 175. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeelus albicilla , Norway, May/June 1977 (P. ran Groenendael & W. Suetens) . * _ ttIK ^ - _ ' ... — ' if' v^. •» ^ AnEHHfeF'A^ ' \a *®j, »TV - • *> -1" .? •• B, T. A • ^ s v White-tailed Eagles 479 178. Captive White - tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, Rhum, June 1977 (J. A. Love) a new attempt on the island of Rhum in the west of Scotland. With an area of 10,690 ha, Rhum is nearly 14 times larger than Fair Isle; it is also less isolated and is in the heart of the former range ol the species, the last nest occurring there as recently as 1907. A variety of fish and seabird prey is available, as well as carrion of red deer Cervus elaphus and goats Capra. There are fewer Fulmars than on Fair Isle, and Rhum has a famous colony of over 100,000 pairs of Manx Shearwaters P uffinus piiffinus, which are preyed upon to a small extent by the four resident pairs of Golden Eagles. In the period 1975-77, 13 young White-tailed Eagles were released on the island, using the falconers’ technique of hacking. The eaglets (eight females and five males) had been obtained as large, feathered nestlings, and kept in individual cages within sight of one another; they were released one by one over the succeeding months. Once free, they con- tinued to utilise food dumps provided for them until they became self- sufficient; some were seen to catch live prey (gulls and adult Fulmars) 176 & 177. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla at bulky nest, Norway, June 1977 ( P . van Groenendael & W. Suelens) White-tailed Eagles 481 *79 & I8°* Captive White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla , Rhum, September 1976 ( J . A. Love ) within a month of release. Two females have been recovered dead, but reports indicate that several of the others are still around the island or its vicinity. A two-year-old male hunts regularly at a locality where a female now in her third year was seen during the summer of 1977 and where White-tailed Eagles once nested last century (Love & Ball in prep.). Eight more — four of each sex — were obtained from Norway in June 1978 for release during the autumn. Two pairs from 1976/77, retained on tethers as an option for breeding in captivity, may be used to try to produce a continuous supply of other young for release: captive White- tailed Eagles have already bred successfully in West Germany (Fentzloff 1 977) • References Baxter, E. V., & Rintoul, L. J. 1953. The Birds of Scotland. Edinburgh. Dennis, R. H. 1968. Sea Eagles. Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 21 : 17-21. 1969. Sea Eagles. Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 22: 23-29. Fentzloff, C. 1977. Successful breeding and adoption of Sea Eagles ( Haliaeetus albicilla). In Cooper, J. E., & Kenward, R. E. (eds.) Papers on the Veterinary Medicine and Domestic Breeding of Diurnal Birds of Prey. pp. 71-91. British Falconers’ Club. Waterston, G. 1964. Studies of less familiar birds. 130. White-tailed Eagle. Brit. Birds 57: 458-466. Willgohs, J. F. 1961. The White-tailed Eagle Haliaetus albicilla albicilla in Norway. Bergen. J. A. Love, Bayview, Isle of Rhum, Inverness-shire ; M. E. Ball, if Craigrory, North Kessock, Inverness-shire ; Dr I. Newton, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, 12 Hope Terrace, Morningside, Edinburgh EHg 2AS Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1977 Michael J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee This is the twentieth annual report of the Rarities Committee. Details of the Committee membership and other matters relating to its work during the year have already been published (Brit. Birds 71 : 423-424). Despite occasional pruning of our species list, the annual volume of records continues to grow. In the committee’s first ten years, the annual average of accepted records was about 300, and this figure rose in the last nine years to about 600. The total of accepted records for 1977 is an unprecedented 935, which is 86% of those submitted. The number of rarities reaching Britain fluctuates from year to year, mainly through the varying conduciveness to vagrancy of different weather patterns, but this general increase clearly reflects greater observer cover and improving identification skills. [Brit. Birds 71 : 481-532. November 1978] 482 Report on rare birds in 1977 With the high volume of records for 1977, and a change of honorary secretary at a crucial time, the committee was fully stretched. The late publication of this report and our less efficient than usual liaison with county and regional recorders were undesirable products of this situation, for which we apologise. MJR has taken over the secretaryship with enthusiasm, and entirely due to his hard work the situation is now back to normal, but we are again looking at ways to reduce the workload. As a start, and to save about 500 postage costs a year, it has been decided to discontinue acknowledging receipt of record submissions: correspondents who require acknowledgment should enclose a stamped, addressed post- card for the honorary secretary to sign and return. We regret this action, but hope that correspondents will understand the reasons for it. For the first time in this report, amendments and additional records for previous years have been incorporated in the main systematic list, preceded by the relevant year in bold type: this is in place of the separate appendices used previously. The new format saves space and makes for more convenient reference. An index at the end of the systematic list cross-references all these amendments and additional records to help readers who wish to update past reports. D. I. M. Wallace has again written the year summary and species comments: we are most grateful to him for this and his continued keen interest in Committee matters. As usual, the species comments include the accepted Irish records, which are adjudicated by the Irish Records Panel and published annually in the Irish Bird Report. We are grateful for permission to repeat them here, and thank J. Fitzharris, the Panel’s honorary secretary, for supplying the records in advance of publication. The idea of including running totals of records for each species has proved popular and useful, and we include them for the second year. They appear in brackets after the species name, the three figures referring respectively to (1) the total to the end of 1957, (2) the total for the period since the formation of the Rarities Committee in 1958, but excluding (3) the total for the current year. We again thank D. J. Britton for com- piling these data. A detailed breakdown of the figures for previous years is held by the honorary secretary. During 1977, there were claimed records of the following species occurring for the first time in Britain and Ireland: Black Vulture Aegypius monachus, Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae, Riippell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli, Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina, and White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys. As usual, our publication of these records awaits their endorsement by the BOU Records Committee. The increased response to requests for rarity photographs for possible inclusion in the report is most welcome, and we thank the photographers who have submitted them. The selection used this year is larger than be- fore, and we should like to publish even more. Black-and-white prints (or good quality colour transparencies for conversion to black-and-white) are welcomed, and should be sent to MJR. John M. O’Sullivan was the committee’s honorary secretary until the end of March 1978, and we thank him for his work in the preparatory Report on rare birds in igyy 483 stages of this report. We are grateful to M. D. England and T. P. Inskipp for expert advice on escapes and introductions; M. A. Ogilvie for com- ments on wildfowl escape and identification problems; Derek Goodwin, who has helped with research on museum skins; and A. T. Macmillan for a detailed cross-check between the data in our reports and those in Scottish Birds. As always, the completeness and accuracy of this report has also been due to the valued co-operation of county and regional recording bodies, the bird observatories, and many other people too numerous to acknowledge individually. All records should be addressed to the honorary secretary, Michael J. Rogers, 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex twi6 7tp. A copy of the list of species considered by the committee (67: 347- 348) and copies of the ‘Unusual record’ form are obtainable free of charge from the same address: the latter should be used, or its format followed, when submitting reports, as it makes record assessment easier. PJG Summary of the year The year began briskly. January produced a flurry of Nearctic ducks, fresh proof of regular wintering by King Eiders and several interesting- single occurrences, notably of a White-billed Diver (as far south as Go. Sligo and only the second for Ireland), a Pied-billed Grebe (to stay in Grampian until late March) , a Glossy Ibis, a Crane, an American Robin (in Go. Cork) and yet another wintering Little Bunting (this time in Ross & Cromarty). February, however, was quiet, with only one major event. This was the discovery of at least five Ring-necked Ducks, to be followed by a procession of others through the next three months (and again from November). March was a busy month, opening amazingly with two Richard’s Pipits (in Cheshire) and soon producing the forerunners of marked spring- influxes of White Storks and Cranes. Thei'e was another flurry of rare ducks and an early Lesser Yellowlegs. The first rare gull of the year, a Ring-billed, appeared, as did the first of 14 spring Serins. Towards the end of the month, there was another large pipit, but it was a Tawny. In April, a second Pied-billed Grebe popped up, three early Gory’s Shearwaters appeared and, with more White Storks, came the first of the annually expected southern and eastern herons. These 484 Report on rare birds in igyy included a Great White Egret. No less than six Ring-necked Ducks were discovered. Other surprises included a Lesser Golden Plover and, over- shooting from the south, two Whiskered Terns, a Scops Owl, a Black- eared Wheatear (on a deserted isle in Scilly), six Savi’s Warblers and half-a-dozen Serins. Probably the most enjoyable bird of the month (and first half-year) was a Wallcreeper. As always, May saw the incidence of rai'ities jump dramatically. Al- though tinged with the possibility of being an escape, a Great Bustard (cleaving the air across the Cotswold escarpment) was the large bird of the month and more storks, including at least two and perhaps four Black, and herons appeared. Black Kites and Red-footed Falcons came in: what better supporting cast to a Great Bustard? A party of five Surf Scoters was seen (close to Islay) and there were records of five Nearctic waders. Even more exciting, two American passerines appeared (in northern Scotland). These were a Yellow-rumped Warbler (as the charming Myrtle is now boringly renamed) and a Slate-coloured Junco. As usual, rare terns strayed west, but, although 12 more Savi’s Warblers sang (from reed-beds and even clifftop bushes), there were only two Alpine Swifts and only one Bee-eater. Fenno-Scandian night-migrants were also relatively scarce, although four Thrush Nightingales, nine Scarlet Rose- finches and single Little and Yellow-breasted Buntings did show. Red- throated Pipits also came on cue, as did one or two other southerners such as Subalpine Warblers. To rival the Great Bustard, came a flock of 24 beautiful Long-tailed Skuas (off a Hebridean island). The pattern of occurrences in June was largely an extension of that in May, with herons and particularly storks still widespread, more Red-footed Falcons and the last of the year’s four Collared Pratincoles. Another spring Marsh Sandpiper was found and both Broad-billed and Terek Sandpipers kept their recent run of annual appearances going (though this year avoiding East Anglia). More southern vagrants came in, notably White-winged Black Terns, two Rollers, Great Reed Warblers, four shrikes and the last two of four spring Red-rumped Swallows. A Little Shearwater died in Cheshire and, clearly conscious of what is expected of its species, Britain’s second Fan-tailed Warbler arrived and sang (in Dorset). July, as usual, was not so dull. At least 14 species of rarity were dis- covered. These included King Eiders (including the veteran in Go. Donegal), the year’s only Solitary Sandpiper, the first of two Franklin’s Gulls (having trekked all the way from the Nearctic prairies), the first two of 28 Aquatic Warblers and three Woodchat Shrikes. Rather surprisingly, the Solitary Sandpiper and a Long-billed Dowitcher were the only American waders of midsummer. The recent trend towards marked summer vagrancy of such birds ceased; and there was only one Rose- coloured Starling too. Drift migrants were soon visible in August and there was a widespread and splendid fall in the middle of the month. Red-backed Shrikes Lanius collurio and Icterine Warblers Hippolais icterina leapt in all directions Report on rare birds in igyy 485 (see page 549) and observers following them found all sorts of rarities: a Little Crake (on Cape Clear Island), two Thrush Nightingales, the first of two Booted Warblers, no less than ten Greenish Warblers (increasingly obvious in August, especially on the 21st), six Woodchats, a Two-barred Crossbill and 18 Scarlet Rosefinches. All these contributed to a promising small-bird start to the autumn, but the occurrences of the large ones were less rich. No multitudes of seabirds came by, though once again a Little Shearwater got well up (or down) the North Sea and Long-tailed Skuas did their best to get noticed by all the people now looking for them. Even so, their numbers decreased to about 40% of the 1976 passage. For most of the month, rare waders were just so, but at the end the first members of another big transatlantic flight of Buff-breasted Sandpipers appeared. It was also a time for rare gulls, with Laughing, Bonaparte’s and Ring-billed coming in from the west (while all four regular rare terns appeared from the opposite point of the compass) . White Storks and southern herons were still evident. There had been enough to keep one going: this was the general verdict on August. In September, however, the weather became unhelpful and no general falls occurred to match that of August. Soon, observers sensed that the Atlantic storm track was stuck in its old place and that, after all the glories of 1975 and 1976, things were going to be different. The arrival of over 40 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, four Long-billed Dowitchers, four Wilson’s Phalaropes and other Nearctic waders spoke of the dominant westerlies. Reports of Siberian and Asiatic birds were few and far between. Even so, the month’s crop included two adult Lesser Golden Plovers, lots of Richard’s Pipits (out- numbering Tawny), a Pechora Pipit, a Siberian Stonechat (in Suffolk), a Lanceolated Warbler and a second Booted Warbler. From Europe, birds came more freely. Good numbers of Scarlet Rose- finches, Little and Yellow-breasted Buntings appeared, and an Olivaceous Warbler (in Co. Cork) helped to keep up hopes for October. The hopes were soon dashed, however, and the autumn continued re- latively quietly. As in 1971, only on Fair Isle and in the Scilly archipelago did any rich mix of rarities appear. Elsewhere, it was all rather hard work. Rare seabirds showed nowhere; American waders petered out (except for six more Long-billed Dowitchers and three more Wilson’s Phalaropes). While praying for better, observers dllUl - 486 Report on rare birds in igyy picked up more and more Richard’s Pipits, but otherwise, apart from marked influxes of Short- toed Larks (to Scilly) and Red-rumped Swallows (to the East Coast), yet more Scarlet Rosefinches and Little Buntings, it was search and not find. Six Pallas’s Warblers did get through, and there was a second Siberian Stonechat, but there were no Dusky Warblers and only one Radde’s. Rare small pipits were restricted to a single Olive-backed. Frustration reached a peak when a Great Spotted Cuckoo overflew Cley (and passed away into the low cloud of the day). Even so, one small place did try to please. Bryher, the smallest inhabited isle in Scilly, had been patiently worked by one young observer (whose humility secures the absence of his name from this report) through the month. Suddenly, out popped an Arctic Redpoll and after it came squads of twitchers. They discovered in just seven days an amazingly diverse collection of vagrants. Where or when else in the whole world did the various avian hemispheres draw so close together as they did on Bryher in late October 1977? The redpoll fed near a Spanish Sparrow, and a Blackpoll Warbler was within a few hundred metres of an Acrocephalus which may yet prove to have been the little understood Blyth’s Reed Warbler A. dumetorum. Even in a poor October, there are miracles! November was a fuller month than usual, with another flurry of rare ducks, the year’s only Gyrfalcon, more rare gulls, including two close- dated Ross’s, a Black-throated Thrush and the Somerset Wallcreeper (back home in its quarry). December, too, had its moments, with a late White Stork, the second of the year’s two Sociable Plovers, wintering dowitchers, another Briinnich’s Guillemot corpse, and the ultimate in stocking content, a Siberian Thrush on Christmas Day. Inevitably, with the liberal ornithological feasts of 1975 and 1976 still fresh in memory, the sparser fare of 1977 will be rated poorly. As far as rarities are concerned, however, no year is boring. Negative information might irritate the collector, but not the scientist. The striking contrasts of presence one year and absence the next (in several genera and families) always deserve attention. Thus, while the southern herons broke no new ground, the increasingly wholesale appearances of both storks and Crane did. Buff-breasted Sandpipers flooded in, but the smaller peeps were scarce. Long-tailed Skuas refused to be rare, merely posing the question of how common they are. In total, the rare marsh terns were not scarce. Savi’s Warbler reinforced itself and reached several new localities. Once Report on rare birds in igyy 487 again, however, it is the dichotomy in the recurrence pattern of the small European and Asiatic vagrants that really holds the mind. Scarlet Rose- finches and, on their coat-tails, Little and Yellow-breasted Buntings piled in, but, of the many species whose ranges lie or are centred 5,000 km or so to the east, there were few indeed. Can it have been just the lack of tail winds? DIMW Systematic list of accepted records The principles and procedure followed in considering records were explained in the 1958 report {Brit. Birds 53: 155-158). The systematic list is set out in the same way as in the 1976 report (70: 405-453), apart from the change described in the fourth paragraph of the introduction to this report; the following points show the basis on which the informa- tion has been put together in the list. (i) The details included for each record are (i) county; (2) locality; (3) number of birds if more than one, and age and sex if known (in the case of spring and summer records, however, the age is normally given only where the bird concerned was not in adult plumage); (4) if trapped or found dead, and where specimen is stored, if known; (5) date(s); and (6) observer(s) up to three in number, in alphabetical order. In accordance with our declared policy (see Brit. Birds 68: 1-4), the new county names have been used, and ob- servers are asked to bear this in mind when submitting records. (ii) In general, this report is confined to records which are regarded as certain, and ‘probables’ are not included. In the case of the very similar Long-billed Limnodromus scolopaceus and Short-billed Dowitchers L. griseus, however, we are continuing to White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii (18, 31, 5) Highland Gairloch, Wester Ross, 31st May (J. Hornbuckle). Shetland near Fetlar, 1st May (J. N. Dymond, R. J. Tulloch). Yell, 5th to 9th June (M. J. Cowlard, K. D. Edwards). Hascosay, 5th October (R. J. Tulloch). Grampian 1972 The individual at Buckie, Banff, was first seen on 5th March, not 14th March as previously stated (Brit. Birds 67: 342). Grampian 1975 Findhorn Bay, Moray, 14th December (D. Noble, I. S. Suttie). (Arctic Russia, Siberia and Alaska) Also one off Rosses Point, Co. Sligo, on 28th January, constituting only the second record for Ireland. The deduction of J. T. R. Sharrock and E. M. Sharrock (1976, Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland) that the records of this diver stem from the presence of a small wintering population is further supported. Such is made most visible as the birds assume summer plumage and even paler bills in inshore Shetland waters ! publish indeterminable records, and this also applies to observations of the two pratincoles Glareola and of such difficult groups as albatrosses Diomedea and frigate- birds Fregata. (iii) The sequence of species, vernacular names and scientific nomenclature follow The ‘British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). Any sight records of subspecies (including those of birds trapped and released) are normally referred to as ‘showing the characters’ of the race concerned. (iv) The three numbers in brackets after each species name are explained in the sixth paragraph of the introduction to this report. (v) The world breeding range is given in brackets at the beginning of each species comment. 488 Report on rare birds in igyy 181. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps, Grampian, March 1977 (J. R. East ) Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps (o, 4, 2) Grampian Loch of Strathbeg, gth January to 27th March (J. Dunbar et at.) (plate 181). North Yorkshire Gouthwaite Reservoir, 23rd April to 15th May (J. & Mrs A. Denison, J. R. Mather et al.). (North America) Although of almost annual recurrence from 1963 to 1968, this bird has been seen only once in the last eight years. Extended stays are typical, but none before has coped with a winter in northern Scotland. Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris (2, 18, o) Shetland Adult again present at Hermaness, Unst, 23rd March to 20th September (I. Spence et al.). (Southern oceans) None off Ireland in this year. Albatross Diomedea (3, 33, 1) Norfolk Clcy, 19th October (M. King, C. Oldershaw). (Southern oceans) Figures include Black-browed Albatrosses as well as those not specifically identified. Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea (a few, 1,633, 32) Cornwall ofTNewlyn, 29th September (R. A. Chapman, P. A. Fraser, N. A. Preston). Dorset Portland, 10th May (P. P. Jennings); 20th July (W. R. Brackcnridge, R. C. Forrester). Humberside Flamborough Head, 19th June (D. I. M. Wallace); 12th August (A. Grieve, S. Holliday et al.). Withernsea, 17th June (S. M. Lister). Hornsea, 16th August (D. P. Sharpe); another, 18th August (W. F. Curtis). Kent Dungeness, two, 15th May (T. E. Bowley) ; two, iithjune (A. J. Greenland, M. J. Sinden). Kent/East Sussex Rye Bay, 4th April (K. Redshaw, K. Thomas). Lothian Barns Ness, two, 18th April (S. T. Buckland, I. H. Leach). Norfolk Holme, 10th June (P. R. Clarke). Great Yarmouth, 23rd July (P. R. Allard). North Yorkshire Filey Btigg, 7th August (M. Atkinson, A. Patterson). Dorset 1976 Portland, 1 8th June (R. Filby). Norfolk 1976 Clcy, 13th September (G. Scllors). (East Atlantic and Mediterranean) Also single birds off Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, on 31st July and 4th August, with ten thereon nth August, and further solitary occurrences ofi'Dungarvan Bay, Co. Water- ford on 1 ith August and offHelvick Head, Co. Waterford on 12th August. Once again, the majority of British records come surprisingly from the North Sea, as does another late 1976 occurrence; the Dorset, Kent and East Sussex records hint strongly at passage through the English Channel. 489 Report on rare birds in igy 7 Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis (5, 40, 2) Cheshire Rostherne Mere, sick individual, 29th June, caught 2nd July, died 3rd, identified as Madeiran race P. a. baroli (M. Calvert, R. Harrison, T. H. Wall). Humberside Flamborough Head, 27th August (P. A. Lassey, Miss I. Smith). (Atlantic south from Madeira and Caribbean, and southern oceans) Once again none was seen off Ireland. Since 1974, five out of seven British birds have been seen well away from the traditional ‘tubenose southwest’ (but it is very difficult to judge whether this is a real shift in occurrence pattern or the effect of increased seawatching from new stations). Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus (150, 104, 11) Devon Slapton Ley, 14th May (P. R. Bregazzi). Dorset Radipole Lake, (J, 18th to 20th May (P. A. Coe, G. Walbridge et al.). East Sussex Birling Gap, Beachy Head, adult, freshly dead, 30th April (A. Ciok, M. Mathews). Rye Harbour, immature, 19th to 27th August (C. H. Dean, P. J. Grant, T. & T. A. Wyatt et al.) ; two immatures, 23rd August (A. V. Moon, J. Willsher). Humberside Hornsea Mere, 2nd April (T. F. Box, A. Pay), considered to be the indivi- dual from Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset (see below). Gwynedd Llyn Bodgylched, 30th to 3 1st January and 1 1 th February (M. J. Donahue, P. R. Harris, K. E. Vinicombe et al.). Report on rare birds in igyy 493 Hampshire Dibden Bay, <$, 17th to at least 18th April (R. E. Cooke, T. Martin, R. Ship). Norfolk Welney, 23rd October (D. J. Fisher, R. B. Hastings). North Yorkshire Fairburn Ings, $, 17th September (S. C. Madge). Somerset Cheddar Reservoir, first seen on 13th October 1976 (Brit. Birds 70: 417) remained until 21st February, when it moved to Chew Valley Lake, Avon; it was not present at Cheddar Reservoir on 2nd April as previously noted (B. Rabbitts et al.). Avon/Wiltshire 1976 confluence of Rivers Frome and Avon, two 30th August (N. Collar, A. Rackham). (North America) Also a pair at Rogerstown, Co. Dublin, from 22nd April to 8th May and a duck near Tuam, Co. Galway, on 8th and 9th October; the latter was shot and found to have been ringed on Prince Edward Island, Canada, on 30th August. The year’s total was high, but there were 16 in 1968 (another year in which a shot bird provided a recovery from eastern Canada). Teal Anas crecca (13, 89, 7) Drakes showing the characters of the North American race A. c. carolin- ensis, colloquially known as the Green-winged Teal, were recorded as follows : Avon Chew Valley Lake, 17th November to 26th January 1978 (K. E. Vinicombe). Cornwall Hayle Estuary, 16th January to 4th March (D. J. Barker, L. P. Williams et al.); 5th November to February 1978 (S. M. Christophers, G. W. Davis, P. A. Rutter el al.). Highland Loch of Mey, Caithness, 18th December (Dr D. M. & MrsJ. Edge). Western Isles Aignish, Lewis, 26th to 29th March (W. A. J. Cunningham, R. Mac- Intyre, W. Matheson). (North America) Also singles on River Lee, near Coachford, Co. Cork, on 15th November, at Ballymacoda and Carrigadrohid, both Co. Cork, on 1 8th and 29th December respectively. Another good showing, typical of the years since 1968. Black Duck Anas rubripes (1, 6, o) Scilly Tresco; one of the two first seen on 27th October 1976 (Brit. Birds 70: 416) remained until 16th May, reappeared on 29th August and was still present at the end of the year (R. W. Allen et al.). (North America) A long stay by this close relative of the Mallard A. platyrhynchos . Blue-winged Teal Anas discors (19, 39, 2) Scilly St Mary’s, immature $, 24th August to about 9th September, then Tresco, 12th September to 27th October (R. W. Allen, D. B. Hunt et al.). Cambridgeshire 1969 Grafham Water, Huntingdonshire, a pair, 19th January (T. J. Norris). West Yorkshire Fairburn Ings, 17th March to August (D. J. Britton et al.), probably the same as that in 1971 and J97 2 (Brit. Birds 65: 328; 66: 337)- (North America) Also one at Bull Island, Co. Dublin, from 16th September to 14th March 1978. This duck has been recorded annually since 1966 (but it must be remembered that the risk of escapes has increased since 197°)- 494 Report on rare birds in 7977 Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris (1, 25, 15) Avon Chew Valley Lake, two first seen 29th December 1976 [Brit. Birds 70: 417), to 5th February; three <$<$, 8th January to 16th February, four 6th to 12th February, at least two to 27th; one to 27th March (A. J. Merritt, M. Ryder, K. E. Vinicombe et at.). Blagdon Water, $, 8th January (J. Cantelo, A. H. Davis, T. J. Norris). The presumed hybrid with Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, first seen 19th December 1976 (Brit. Birds 70: 417), remained at Chew Valley Lake until early April, then Blagdon Water to at least 10th April (J. B. O. Rossetti, K. E. Vinicombe et at.). Cambridgeshire Earith gravel-pit, 23rd March to 24th April (R. Frost, R. Gray, T. R. Talbot et al.). Cleveland/Durham Crookfoot Reservoir, 5th May (T. Francis) : same as Durham individual. Dorset/Somerset Sutton Bingham Reservoir, 22nd April to 21st May (C. Cornell, B. A. Crouch, B. J. Widden). Durham Hurworth Burn Reservoir, d, 30th April to 4th May (A. Bottirill, T. Charlton, J. Whitehead), considered same as Northumberland individual. Gloucestershire Slimbridge, trapped, 1st March (M. Lubbock, M. A. Ogilvie, Sir P. Scott et al.), shot in southeast Greenland in May 1977 (per M. A. Ogilvie). Hertfordshire Tring Reservoirs, 2nd to at least 30th April (M. Bradberry; per B. Taggart). Kent Westbere Lakes, d> 2nd February (D. C. Gilbert). Sevenoaks, d> 15th April (G. C. D. Flarrison, A. J. Holcombe et al.) {Brit. Birds 70: plate 78). 182. Female Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris , Lothian, February 1977 (d. R. D. da Prato) Lothian near Drem, $, 7th to at least 23rd February, and 23rd March (A. Brown, S. R. D. da Prato) (plate 182); same individual, East Fortune, 8th to 9th May (Mrs D. E. Abbey, D. J. Bates). Northumberland Derwent Reservoir, 13th February to 26th March (B. Little); reappeared 27th August to October (C. Jewitt, G. Tuthill et al.) ; same individual, Cap- heaton Lake, 29th May to 14th June (D. P. Hammersley, P. W. West), and three localities in Tyne & Wear. Somerset Witcombe Bottom, Longload, 5th to 8th April (D. E. Pauli et al.). Tyne & Wear Gosforth Park, d> 3rd to 26th April and 12th May (F. Colley, B. Gallo- way, G. Sutton et al.), Wallsend Swallow, 9th to 11th May (G. F. Miller et al.), and Holywell Pond, 14th to 22nd May (C. E. Douglas et al.), all presumed to relate to the Northumberland and Durham individual. West Yorkshire Ncwmillcrdam, <$, 31st May (P. Smith, G. J. Speight). (North America) Also three drakes and a duck at Carrigadrohid, Co. Cork, from 28th November into 1978, when there was a further large arrival of at least 19 to Britain. Compared with a previous peak of six (in 1976), the influx in winter and spring had been remarkable, but it was soon eclipsed (the events of late 1977 and 1978 will be fully reviewed in the next report). The clear evidence of a successful return flight across (or up) the North Atlantic provided by the recovery of the Gloucestershire drake is noteworthy. King Eider Somateria spectabilis (62, 68, 13) Dumfries & Galloway Loch Ryan, first seen 26th December 1976 {Brit. Birds 70: 418), remained until at least 26th February (R. H. Hogg et al.). Report on rare birds in igyy 495 Essex Colne Point, 25th to 29th June (B. S. Duffin et at.). Farlington Marshes, first-year, trapped, 21st August (R. Tofts). Humberside Tophill Low Reservoir, 30th April to 30th May; second individual, 25th May (N. A. Bell, G. E. Dobbs). Blacktoft Sands, d> 12th May to 2nd July; two 1 6th May to 4th June (A. Grieve et at.). Flamborough Head, d> 15th to 19th May (P. A. Lassey, Miss I. Smith, D. I. M. Wallace). Kent Stodmarsh, 3rd April to 25th September; up to five pairs, two probably bred (P. J. Mountford et at.). Locality withheld, 24th April to 4th September, one pair bred (observers’ names withheld). Merseyside Marshside Marsh, 28th April (Dr B. McCarthy). Norfolk a Broadland site, present throughout breeding season (per G. E. Dunmore). Suffolk locality A, 30th April to at least 1 1 th August, one pair bred (observers’ names withheld). Locality B, present throughout breeding season (observers’ names withheld). Warwickshire locality withheld, 8th June (D. S. Flumm, D. B. Hunt, V. Stratton). Shetland Fetlar, 19th December (Dr N. R. Rogers). Humberside 1976 Cleethorpes, <$, 5th to 7th May (R. K. Norman). Kent 1976 Margate, 15th May (R. Bunten, S. E. Crooks, Dr A. T. & Mrs I. W. Jennings el at.). Shetland Out Skerries, $ or immature, 4th September (M. W. Fraser, R. J. Miller); immature, 13th to 14th September (J. N. Dymond, R. J. Tulloch). Fair Isle, four VV or immatures: 1 ith to 15th September; 18th to 23rd September; two, 21st to 23rd; another, 20th to 27th, trapped 20th (R. A. Broad, C. D. R. Heard, M. P. Sutherland et al.). Shetland 1976 Whalsay, $ or immature, 23rd to 24th September, trapped 23rd (Dr B. Marshall et al.). (Northeast Europe across north Asia) Nine in one year sets a new level of occurrence. They were also more widely spread than usual. That in Lincolnshire is the second in spring. Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala (9, 34, 2) Dorset Portland, ve identification prob- lems, especially to the birdwatching newcomer. Faced with an unidenti- fiable bird at this time of year, the possibility that it may be an un- familiar juvenile, perhaps of a common species, should be a first thought. With luck, the adults will be nearby, or it will show enough diagnostic plumage characters or behaviour to give the game away. Close study of the appearance of common birds — of all ages — is important groundwork in identification. Given this, last month’s mystery photograph (plate 171, page 459, repeated here at reduced size) should have been identified easily. The dark lores, pale face and throat, ill-defined streaking below and pale- fringed wing and tail feathers give a totally distinctive pattern to the otherwise dull brown of a juvenile Starling Sturnus vulgaris. The term ‘juvenile’ refers to birds in the plumage in which they first fly, before their post-juvenile moult into first-winter plumage. In many species, only the juvenile head and body feathers are replaced, and the moult is completed within a few weeks of fledging. Most passerines also Mystery photographs 537 replace most of their wing-coverts and some or all of their tail feathers- Some species have a complete post-juvenile moult which may not be finished until late autumn. A few migrant species do not start the post- juvenile moult until the autumn, or until they reach their winter quarters. The first-winter plumage of some species is inseparable from that of winter adults; other species, however, through the retention of some distinctive juvenile feathers or the acquisition of age-diagnostic plumage, are ageable in this and subsequent immature plumages (some, like the large gulls Larus, for up to three or more years after hatching) . Exact knowledge of the timing and extent of the post-juvenile and subsequent moults of each species is useful: the precise ageing of im- matures is increasingly a part of improving field identification standards. For this, the detailed information in guides intended primarily for ringers, such as A Guide to Moult in British Birds (Snow 1967), Identification Guide to European Passerines (Svensson 1975) and Guide to Identification and Ageing of Holarctic Waders (Prater et at. 1977), is often essential. The Starling’s moult is a complete one, and there is a striking patchy bicoloured stage (caused by the mixture of juvenile and new feathers) before the first-winter birds become virtually inseparable in the field from the winter adults when the moult is finished in late autumn. The Starling in the mystery photograph had already acquired one first-winter feather (the white-tipped breast feather), indicating the beginning of its post-juvenile moult. If, last month, we had noted the fact that this Starling photograph by Dr J. E. C. Flux had been taken in January 1978, the month would have made solution of the mystery more difficult than usual. Although most of our photographs are obtained in Britain and Ireland, or at least in the west Palearctic, this common British bird was actually photographed in New Zealand, where January is midsummer. P.J. Grant 205. Mystery photograph 24. What is this species? Answer next month Notes Oystercatcher driving lamb from nest On 14th May 1977, along the shore of Scallastle Bay, Mull, Strathclyde, my attention was attracted by the agitated piping of an Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus. Scanning the tideline, I noted an incubat- ing Oystercatcher about 50 m ahead, and a ewe and lamb approaching the nest site. When the ewe was about ii m from it, the wader stood up piping vigorously, which was sufficient to turn the ewe aside so that she avoided the nest by about 2 m. The lamb, however, did not react; the Oystercatcher tried injury-feigning, but was unsuccessful in diverting it. At the last minute the distressed bird flew at the lamb and I clearly saw it strike the animal’s flank with its legs and wings, but did not see it use its bill. The lamb moved immediately and joined its mother. I examined the site and found that the lamb had missed the three eggs by less than 50 cm. Richard Coomber Staffa Cottages Guest House, Tobermory , Isle of Mull PA75 6pl M. & F. Penrose (Brit. Birds 52 : 384-385) reported and illustrated similar interactions between an Oystercatcher and a ewe with her lamb. In that case, the female Oystercatcher sat tight on eggs while her mate reacted violently towards the lamb and, then, the seated ewe: but he became calmer when the ewe moved to face away from the nest, although she was still just as close. Eds Aggression of Lesser Yellowlegs to Redshanks From November 1 975 to about 6th April 1976, a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa ffavipes wintered on a small area of marsh in the Teign estuary, Devon. On 19th February, it was particularly restless and active, and was seen on several occasions to engage in disputes with Redshanks T. totanus feeding nearby : it appeared to be trying to drive them off its usual feeding area. Twice it flew 25-30 m at the nearest Redshank, uttering loud ‘took’ calls, and then hovered clumsily over the offending bird, which crouched low with its bill held upwards. While hovering, dangling its legs and striking with its bill, the yellowlegs gave a series of clipped calls ‘tuk-tuk-tuk’, similar to those of a Turnstone Arenaria interpres; it then landed a metre or so from the Red- shank and the two circled around each other, head and body in line horizontally, crouching down with tails fanned. On both occasions, the Redshank then ran forward and drove off the yellowlegs, which flew 3-5 m before running at the larger wader again, but with no greater success. The Redshanks started to disperse in early March and no further disputes of this intensity were observed. D. M. Norman Top Flat, 66 Avenue Road, Torquay, Devon Dr K. E. L. Simmons has commented that: ‘The Lesser Yellowlegs was presumably defending an individual feeding territory, as recorded for Notes 539 other waders (e.g. Redshank) : an alternative practice to flocking when feeding in winter (see J. Goss-Custard in Social Behaviour in Birds and Mammals , edited by J. H. Crook, London, 1970, pp. 3-25).’ Eds Arctic Skua forcing Swift into sea On 7th August 1977, at Cley, Norfolk, in bad visibility, with rain and strong winds, Norman Parr, David Sampson, Steve Webb and I saw a light-phase Arctic Skua Ster- corarius parasiticus in close pursuit of a Swift Apus apus about 100 m out to sea. The chase continued for three to five minutes, before the Swift flew over the sea and disappeared into the waves. The skua hovered briefly over it, flew off southwards, then turned and made two passes, once more hovering, before flying off again. Although we saw the Swift on the sea, the skua made no attempt to land on the surface. C. R. Grafton 4 Norbury Gardens, Chadwell Heath , Romford, Essex rm6 5TS Pied Wagtails persistently attacking Dipper On 16th September 1 977? on ^e River Coquet near Rothbury, Northumberland, I observed a Dipper Cinclus cinclus feeding in shallow water and being repeatedly attacked by three Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba. At first, it appeared to take no notice, but gradually the wagtails became more aggressive and began to dive-bomb and peck at the Dipper’s head, forcing it to submerge into deeper water. It resurfaced farther downstream, where the attacks were immediately resumed until the Dipper was forced to move to another part of the river. Each time that it returned to the original area, it was subjected to the same treatment. D. J. Perray 74 Winding Way, Alwoodley, Leeds LS17 7R £ Dr K. E. L. Simmons has commented that the wagtails were perhaps defending a ‘flock feeding territory’. Eds Exhausted Fieldfare reaching shore after landing on sea On 26th October 1977, during a heavy migration of thrushes Turdus at Holy Island, Northumberland, my daughter, my son and I watched an exhausted Fieldfare T. pilaris drop in the sea about 100 m offshore. It floated gull-like for about half a minute and then pattered a metre or so across the surface, before dropping again. It rested for a similar time and then flew once more, only to drop again, about 20 m from the rocks. It rested for another half minute, got up a third time, and dropped on the rocks. When picked up, it felt extremely light. We placed it among marram Ammophila arenaria ; later, it had gone. Ian Kerr 27 Eddrington Grove , Chapel House, Newcastle upon Tyne Nuthatch caching insect larvae On 30th April 1977, at the Ullen Wood National Star Centre for the Disabled, Gloucestershire, I watched a Nuthatch Sitta europaea for ten minutes at 4-6^ m collecting small, white grubs from the bark of a large Lawson cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. On three occasions, when it had a bill full of grubs, it rammed them into a crevice in the bark, very deliberately tore off a flake of bark and wedged 540 Notes it over the cache of food. It never returned to the same store, but selected three separate ones, all in the same tree. A. R. Ball ii Westdown Gardens , Hewlett Road , Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 6ax Crossbills ‘feeding’ on soil In August 1976, in the Black Forest, near Wolfach, south Germany, my wife and I noted a group of Crossbills Loxia curvirostra apparently feeding on a patch of bare red soil below a stone wall. As we approached, they flew to nearby trees, but returned as soon as we moved off. Crossbills were present throughout the three days we were in the area, and this behaviour was repeated many times ; indeed, when we drove to the site and parked within 3 m or so, they were so preoccupied that they usually ignored us (plate 206). Elspeth Bartlett {Brit. Birds 69: 312^ recorded Scottish Crossbills L. scotica feeding around chimney- stacks in Scotland, and suggested that perhaps they were looking for 206. Crossbills Loxia curvirostra, Federal German Republic, August 1976 ( M. Sainsbury) insects; however, we carefully examined the German soil in situ for insects, their pupal cases and eggs, but without success. An editorial footnote to Mrs Bartlett’s note commented that, in the USA, Crossbills are known to feed on salt put out for cattle and on urine-impregnated snow. The German soil does not contain significant amounts of chloride ion, and mass spectrometric analysis shows the absence of urea and uric acid which would characterise material contaminated with urine. Additionally, the chemical composition determined by atomic absorption of the soil was quite unexceptional and similar to that of samples taken elsewhere in the same locality (strong silicon, magnesium, aluminium, calcium, iron; medium sodium, lead, manganese, titanium, copper; weak nickel, chromium, tin, silver). It was apparent that the Crossbills’ method of ‘feeding’ was not random but, even though we were very close, so fast was the selection process and ingestion that it was impossible to decide what they were taking. Sub- sequently, a microscopic examination confirmed a lack of insects and also the absence of seeds. Small flakes of calcium carbonate 0.5-1. 5 mm long and up to 0.5 mm wide are, however, present, presumably originating Notes 541 from the adjoining stone wall through weathering. I am forced to con- clude that it was these flakes that were of such interest to the Crossbills in Germany; one wonders if similar items were being sought by the Scottish Crossbills. Malcolm Sainsbury 2j Claverton Road, Saltford, Bristol bsi8 3DW Dr Alan Knox has commented as follows: ‘Since searching for insects or seeds has been ruled out (and would be extremely unlikely anyway), there are two possible explanations for the behaviour of the Crossbills in Germany. Crossbills are well known for their habits of picking around chimney-stacks and eating putty (e.g. D. Nethersole-Thompson 1975, Pine Crossbills, p. 147; A. Watson 1955, Scot. Nat. 67: 12 1- 122), and they might indeed have been ingesting the material eroded from the wall for its calcium content. Alternatively, they might have been taking in grit for use in the gizzard to help break up seeds. They usually select only one or two types of mineral, even when faced with a wider choice, and often repeatedly use particular areas as grit sources. This behaviour is very common, but surprisingly poorly documented.’ Eds Black-and-white Warbler in the Isles of Scilly At about 10.45 GMT on 29th September 1977, I was watching a rather sparse selection of birds along the Lower Moors nature trail on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. I had sat down to look at a Chiffchaff Phylloscopus colly bita, which had shown itself briefly in the shadowy canopy of a large copse of mature sallow Salix, and was about to move farther down the trail, when I focused on a movement about 20 m away near the foot of a gnarled sallow trunk covered with ivy Hedera helix. There, slinking into view around the trunk, came a beautiful, unmistakable, near-apparition: a Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia. It flew to a nearer trunk, where it continued to feed for a few seconds, pecking from the trunk and branches, then flew into the sallow canopy about 3 m above my head, and disappeared. I scribbled a sketch, noting its main features, waited a few minutes trying in vain to relocate it, then left the area to fetch others. By 1 1 .30, about 20 observers had gathered at the spot. After a rather desperate ten- minute wait, someone glimpsed the warbler flying back into the copse, and soon it had shown itself to all of its much relieved and highly appreci- ative audience. It remained in or near the same copse for three days, until the afternoon of 1st October, and was seen by about 250 observers, some of whom had travelled from as far away as Fair Isle to see it! The following notes were taken: Rather large warbler, close to Garden Warbler Sylvia borin in length, but slimmer. Bill rather long, strong, and slightly de- curved; blackish with pale base to lower mandible. Chin, throat, long supercilium, and thin, clear-cut crown stripe from bill to nape, white. Coronal bands (from bill to nape) and line from eye to nape, black. Ear-coverts and lores washed grey. Eye black, with thin white crescent below. Mantle striped black and white. Median and greater coverts black, broadly tipped white, forming two wing-bars. Tertials black, broadly edged white. Secondaries blackish, finely fringed whitish except for broad black band across bases bordering 542 Notes white greater covert bar. Primary coverts and primaries blackish, latter finely fringed whitish. Thus, wing pattern re- called Goldcrest Regulus regulus. Under- parts white, with neat black streaks in lines down flanks and across breast, barely meeting in centre. Undertail with black chevrons or arrowheads. Tail blackish, with fine whitish fringes to outer webs and white flashes on inner webs visible only when tail fully spread. Legs dark orange- brown; feet yellowish. No call heard. Its tree-creeping habits were striking: the warbler shuffled around trunks and branches, pecking and probing into crevices. It also pecked from leaves in normal warbler fashion and once it ate an earwig (Dermap- tera) , from which it first removed the pincers by rubbing them vigorously against a bough. It disappeared for long periods— at times for up to an hour and a half — but was never seen away from the shaded, sparsely vegetated, damp understorey of the dense sallow copse where it was first found. The lack of any pale buff tones in the plumage suggests that it was an adult male in winter plumage rather than a first-winter individual or winter female ; the rather extensive streaking on the underparts, which joined across the upper breast, are also indicative of a male. This is the third record for Britain and Ireland: one was found dead at Scalloway, Shetland, in mid October 1936 (Brit. Birds 53: 97-99), and one observed in the Isles of Scilly — also on St Mary’s— during 27th to 30th September 1975 (Brit. Birds 69: 354). P • J- Grant 74 Heathfield Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8qd Short reviews Birds. By Neil Ardley. (Ward Lock, London, 1978. 128 pages; 32 colour photo- graphs, many colour illustrations. £1.95) Coverage of species is so meagre that this book must be aimed at young beginners; if so, one wonders how many will have need to identify Cretzschmar’s Bunting, for instance. More space should have been devoted to fewer species. A few of the drawings are quite attractive, but the colour is appalling, varying from wishy- washy to lurid; some drawings would be almost totally unidentifiable without their captions. The 20 or 30 words of text for each species are insufficient, even for a work of this sort. There are too many poor- quality identification guides for beginners on the market at the moment; this is one of them. The Young Naturalist’s Guide to Conservation. By Neil Arnold. Fore- word by Sir Peter Scott. (Ward Lock, London, 1977. 54 pages, many black-and- white and colour drawings. £2.95) Written in simple, yet practical and interesting manner: it should satisfactorily do its job of involving young people in conservation. RSPB Book of Garden Birds. By Linda Bennett, with colour-plates by C. F. Tunnicliffe and line-drawings by Robert Gillmor. (Hamlyn, London, New York, Sydney & Toronto, 1978. 124 pages; 36 colour plates; 45 line-drawings. 7(2.95). There are 29 useful pages of general introduction before the start of the Short reviews 543 one or two species to a double-spread, based on the good idea of writing texts to accompany Tunnicliffe paintings (many of which appeared as covers to the old RSPB magazine Bird Notes). This system, how- ever, results in Whitethroat and Fieldfare receiving full treatment, whereas House Sparrow and Collared Dove are relegated to what almost amounts to an appendix, with only half a page each and a black- and-white Gillmor drawing, at the back of the book. Should be popular; for bird- lovers and also for fans of Tunnicliffe and Gillmor. Day by Day. By Althea Braithwaite. (Dinosaur Publications, Over, Cambridge, 1978. 64 pages; many small colour illustrations. Paperback, 8op.) Small (132 X 108 mm), naturalists’ diary for young children. The Natural History of the Garden. By Michael Chinery. (Collins, London, 1978. 287 pages; 24 colour plates, many line-drawings. £4.95-) Ornithologists who buy this book will not do so for the 18 pages and two plates devoted to birds. Most useful for identifying the various creepy-crawlies and weeds which the birds we observe are feeding on, but more than a mere reference book, making fascinating reading for any gardener-naturalist . Recommended. Faglar over Land och Hav. By Kai Curry-Lindahl. (Albert Bonniers Forlag, Stockholm, 1975. 243 pages; 40 colour plates; many maps. No price quoted.) Compendium of facts and theories relating to migration, more comprehensive than the title (‘Birds over Land and Sea’) suggests. Now somewhat dated, the last references quoted relating to 1973- ^-,n' fortunately, text entirely in Swedish; it deserves an English edition. Wild Australia: a view of birds and men. By Douglas Dorward, paintings and drawings by John Olsen. (Collins, Sydney & London, 1977. 128 pages; 50 black-and-white photographs; 13 colour paintings; many black-and-white draw- ings. AS 1 1.95.) Seven stories of man and birds, based on an Australian Broad- casting Corporation television series. The text, although with sound scientific basis, is — like the photographs, paintings and drawings — aimed at evoking the atmo- sphere of Australia rather than document- ing facts. Birds of Derbyshire. By R. A. Frost. (Moorland Publishing Company, Buxton, 1978- 182 pages; 57 black-and- white plates. £6.00.) The format of county avifaunas is by now well established, and this one conforms. A total of 38 pages is devoted to a detailed description of the county and its habitats, excellently illustrated by 28 well-chosen photographs of different areas. The bulk of the book (108 pages) is devoted to a most competently compiled systematic list of the 273 species recorded in Derbyshire in modern times up to 31st December 1977. Every birdwatcher living in, living near, originating from, or travelling to Derby- shire will wish to own this book. It is an elegant example of the genre. Vanishing Birds: their natural history and con- servation. By Tim Halliday. (Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1978. 296 pages; 16 colour plates, 46 black-and-white draw- ings; 9 maps. £7-50.) The colourful cover suggests that this will be just another of the many picture books churned out with little apparent purpose other than to line the pockets of the authors, artists and publishers. It isn’t. This is a logical and considered view of the processes of extinc- tion, with numerous well-documented examples. The author has also illustrated the book with colour-paintings and black- and-white drawings. The book is a pleasure to read : its design is simple and the text is authoritative, well written and interesting. If it gets bought because of its attractive cover, many purchasers will get a surprise . . .and it will be a pleasant one. This volume can be read with pleasure from cover to cover, leaving us sadder, but distinctly wiser. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. By Colin Harrison. (Collins, London, 1978. 416 pages; 64 colour plates and many line-drawings. £6.50.) Companion work to this author’s A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of British and European Birds (1975) reviewed by M. A. Ogilvie {Brit. Birds 6g: 38-39). This work illustrates 622 eggs and 147 nestlings by means of colour photographs (mostly by F. Greenaway) and colour paintings by Dr Philip Burton; there are also some nest drawings by Andrew Burton. The Ornithology of Shake- speare. By James Edmund Hardng. (Unwin, Old Woking, 1978. 346 pages; 34 black-and-white illustrations. £5.25). Facsimile printing of the first edition published in 1864: scholarly documenta- tion of references to birds in Shakespeare’s works. Die Trauerseeschwalbe. By P. Haverschmidt. (A. Ziemsen Verlag, Wittenberg Lutherstadt, 1978. 74 pages; 544 Short reviews 26 photographs and maps. DM 7.20.) The Black Tern is attempting to return as a British breeding bird; this comprehensive survey of all aspects of its biology may assist conservationists to help it, especially by providing artificial nesting platforms like those used successfully in the Netherlands. Ringing recoveries suggest that, like other terns, many die in winter on the coasts of Ghana and elsewhere in West Africa. It seems a pity that some of the titles in this useful series have not been translated into English: this would be an excellent first choice. Roberts Birds of South Africa. Revised by G. H. McLachlan and R. Liversidge. (The John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, 1978. 660 pages; 72 colour plates; many marginal maps and line-drawings. R 1 2.00.) This is the twenty-first printing and the fourth edition of the book first published in 1940. The original colour plates by Norman Lighton are now reproduced at slightly larger size than in previous editions and there are 31 new colour plates by Ken Newman (who has also repainted some of the species on the old plates). The new plates are an enormous improvement and it is a pity that (pre- sumably for financial reasons) the book could not have been illustrated entirely by the one artist. Even now, however, the illustrations are tiny (e.g. no fewer than 39 raptors shown on one plate). The 850 species receive on average about four lines on identification (often wholly inadequate, even in conjunction with the colour plates), three lines on distribution, five lines on habitat, one line on food, two lines on voice and five lines on breeding. There are useful, small, marginal distribution maps. The wide margins are also used to advantage for the inclusion of small line- drawings (many drawn especially for this edition by Jill Adams) to expand or emphasise points made in the text. A valuable work of reference. Wildlife in Britain and Ireland. By Richard Perry. (Croom Halm, London, in associa- tion with the World Wildlife Fund, 1978. 253 pages; 60 black-and-white photo- graphs. £7.25.) Rather than an account of wildlife in Britain and Ireland as it is now, this is a history of extinctions, reductions, increases and colonisations, based on a wide variety of literature, and supported by many quotations, frequently from some- what obscure sources. Regrettably, the detail is such than one frequently cannot see the wood for the trees. Many of the photographs are excellent, but the repro- duction is distinctly poor. Layout and design are so bad (there is a 7-cm white space in the centre of every double-page spread, with the text forced outwards to within 1.7 cm of the edge of the page; some photographs are bled, others are not) that the book almost takes on a macabre fascination. A pity, for many hours of work (and many references to articles in Animals) have gone into this still-dippable compendium. The Bird Table Book in Colour. By Tony Soper, illustrated by Robert Gillmor. (David & Charles, Newton Abbot, fourth, revised edition, 1977. 128 pages; 36 colour photographs; many paintings, drawings, and cartoons. £3.50.) The title is misleading: this is a most useful, comprehensive guide to methods of making every garden a minia- ture bird reserve. Well — and often humorously — illustrated. Thoroughly re- commended. The California Quail. By A. Starker Leopold. (University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles & London, 1977. 281 pages; 1 colour plate, many line-drawings and photographs. £10.50.) An authoritative survey of the natural history and management of California’s state bird, which has been introduced elsewhere in the Americas and the Pacific, with attempts, mostly abortive, in some part® of Europe. JTRS & SC Letters A symbol for individuals not adult males For use when reporting observations of dimorphic species of birds in which adult females and immature individuals of both sexes are not readily distinguishable from each other under field conditions, but arc easily separated from the adult males, E. Kiviat (1975, A symbol for individuals not adult males, Amer. Letters 545 Birds 29: 818) recommended a single shorthand symbol for all dull- plumaged birds that are not adult males. He proposed the symbol (Greek letter phi ) for all birds not sexed, reserving the conventional symbols 8 and $ for individuals of identifiable sex. Kiviat pointed out that the symbol might also be useful with monomorphic species, when colour rings or behaviour permit sex identification of some but not all individuals, any individual of unidentified sex being denoted . The symbol P is mnemonic as used here, since the words ‘female’ and ‘first-year’ have the same initial phoneme as phi. The symbol is also a diagrammatic hybrid of 8 and $. It can be formed on a standard type- writer keyboard by combining the characters o and /. (Or, if the charac- ters M and F are used for male and female, P could be used for phi.) G. J, Oreel Institut voor Taxonomische Z oologie ( Zoologisch Museum), Plantage Middenlaan 55, 1018 DC Amsterdam, Netherlands Iain S. Robertson also drew this suggestion to our attention. A univer- sally accepted abbreviation for the long-winded ‘female or immature’ would be useful in many systematic lists. We welcome comments on this particular proposition. Eds Association of nesting Woodpigeons and Hobbies In the course of recent reading, I have been struck by the number of instances where observers have found Woodpigeons Columba palumbus breeding close to the eyrie of a pair of Hobbies Falco subbuteo. The first reference occurs in Naumann & Naumann (1905), who remarked that, as a consequence of the falcon’s considerable aggressiveness, crows (Corvidae) tend to keep away from the nesting area ; they continue (my translation) , this may well be the reason for a phenomenon frequently observed by many, namely that the shy Woodpigeon readily rears its brood in very close proximity to the Hobby’s eyrie, since it thus enjoys a measure of protection from crows. In many cases one can more easily find a Hobby s eyrie in a parti- cular part of a wood if one first looks at where the Woodpigeons are nesting.’ Tinbergen (1932) reported four nests within a radius of 50 m of a Hobby nest he was studying, and Scholze (1933) found several pairs near another. Elsewhere, only single nests of Woodpigeons have been mentioned. The first of these was Ashley (1918), who found the two species nesting in the same tree. Roberts (1936), Pflugbeil (i960) and Fiuczynski (1978) each recorded Woodpigeon nests just 3 m below Hobby eyries, while Gebhardt (1941) found nests of the two species only a few metres apait , and once saw a Woodpigeon cooing ardently among the just fledging young falcons on the rim of their eyrie. Robin Khan and Mrs Heathei Woodland {in lilt.) report that ‘we have observed Woodpigeons almost sitting alongside a Hobby while the latter was incubating, and on other occasions a Wood- pigeon perched close to an eyrie without any hostility being shown by the falcon ’ Martin Wright (also in litt.) saw a female Hobby tolerate a Wood- pigeon within 2 ft (0.6 m) of her eyrie, and at the same site two fighting 546 Letters Woodpigeons actually dislodged the male Hobby from his perch in the lower branches of the nest-tree. In Spain, Woodpigeons have been found nesting near Hobbies (Morata 1971) and other birds of prey (Valverde 1967). In a study on the Goto Donana, seven out of every ten Woodpigeon nests were within 40 m of a (used or disused) nest of Black Kite Milvus migrans, the theory being that not only do Woodpigeons derive benefit from being under the ‘umbrella’ of the raptor’s aggression towards potential nest-despoilers, but they may also return the favour by giving early warning of any approaching danger (Cain & Hillgarth 1974). Naturally the Hobby/Woodpigeon relationship is not clear-cut. Some Hobbies may always drive Woodpigeons away ; others may act tempera- mentally, attacking them briefly and then ignoring their return to or near where they originally were. Frank Blackburn (in litt.) watched a female Hobby who virulently attacked Woodpigeons only if they went too close to a cache of food being used for hei young. N. J. Collar Edu ard Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford oxi 3PS REFERENCES Ashley, M. 1918. On the breeding habits of the Hobby. Brit. Birds 1 1 : 194-196. Cain, A. P., & Hilloartii, N. 1974. Nesting relationships between Golumba palumbus and Milvus migrans. Donana, Acta Vert. 1 : 97-102. Fiuczynski, D. 1978. Zur Populationsokologie des Baumfalken ( Falco subbuteo L., 1758). Zool. Jb. Syst. 105: 193-257. Gebhardt, L. 1941. Zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie des Baumfalken ( Falco s. subbuteo). Beitr. FortPJIBiol. Vogel 17: 81-86. Morata, G. 1971. Observaciones sobre la reproduction del Alcotan ( Falco subbuteo). Ardeola 15: 37-48. Naumann, J. A., & Naumann, J. F. 1905. In Hennicke, C. R. (ed.) Naturgeschichte der Vogel Deutschlands, nach eigenen Erfahrung entworfen. vol. 5. Gera. Pflugbeil, A. i960. Vom Baumfalk um Karl-Marx-Stadt. Falke 7: 1 70-1 72. Roberts, J. E. 1936. Some field notes on the Hobby. London Naturalist 1936: 68-72. Scholze, W. 1933. Ein Beitrag zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie des Baumfalken ( Falco s. subbuteo L.). J. Orn. 81 : 377-387. Tinbergen, N. 1932. Beobachtungen am Baumfalken ( Falco s. subbuteo L.). J. Orn. 80: 40-50. Valverde, J. A. 1967. Estructura de una comunidad de vertebrados terrestres. Mono- grafia Estacion Biologica de Donana, no. 1. C.S.I.C. Madrid. Head-pattern of Hippolais warblers P. J. Grant's note on the relatively unpatterned heads of Icterine Hippolais icterina and Melodious Warblers H. polyglotta (Brit. Birds 71 : 132) prompts us to record our own experiences of this feature. Our observations of all six species ot Hippolais in various parts of their ranges indicate that the ‘bare-faced’ expression described by P. J. Grant is in fact common to the genus as a whole. In particular, we have found the lack of a dark eyestripe bordering the supcrcilium a useful feature in separating Booted Warbler H. caligata from similar warblers in the genus Phylloscopus. Mark Beaman and Martin Woodcock Culterty Field Station, Newburgh, Grampian AB4 oaa Announcements ‘The Frontiers of Bird Identification: a “British Birds” guide to some difficult species’ Over the years, British Birds has built up a reputation for publishing classic papers on the field identification of pairs or groups of species which are difficult to distinguish. The 29 most recent of these, from Kenneth Williamson’s ‘Juvenile and winter plumages of the marsh terns’ (i960) to Ian Wallace & Malcolm Ogilvie’s ‘Distinguishing Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teals’ (1977), have now been collected together in a single volume to be published in the first half of 1979. The original papers are published largely unaltered, but each author has added a postscript, updating or correcting his conclusions. Readers of British Birds will be entitled to a special prepublication reduction of £1.50 off the full price (which will probably be £5.95). If you wish to make sure of your cheap copy, send a self- addressed and stamped envelope now, with a request for your special reduced offer coupon, value £1-50, to w* * Dr Roger Woodham, Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF. New ‘British Birds’ check-list The ‘ British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic is now available as a booklet, with five columns for recording field observations or other information. We take this opportunity to apologise for and correct seven errors in the fold-out copies of the list supplied free to all 1978 subscribers: Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta (insert after Temminck’s Stint) Long-toed Pigeon Columba trocaz (not Columba trocas) Namaqua Dove Oena capensis (insert after Laughing Dove) Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythrophlhalmus (not Coccyzus erythropthalmus) Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (not Calandrella cinerea ) Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos (insert before next species) Common Bulbul P. barbatus (not merely Bulbul) The new list includes these corrections, and also additions up to June 1978. Copies may be obtained, price 65P each post free, from Macmillan Journals Ltd, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2xs. Requests More colour-ringed flamingos For the second year in succession, part of the creche of chicks of Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber hatched in the Camargue, France, has been colour-ringed. White PVC bands were placed on the right legs of 650 chicks in 1978 (yellow bands were used in 1977: Brit. Birds 70: 461). Each carries a unique three- letter combination engraved in black three times around the ring. Please report any sightings to Alan Johnson, Foundation Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200 Ailes, Fiance. More wing-tagged Goosanders Young Goosanders Mergus merganser trapped in Northumberland have been wing-tagged for the third successive year. If past observations reported as a result of an earlier request {Brit. Birds 69: 457) were not acknowledged, they may not have been received as a result of a recent change in ERM s address. Please send details of all sightings to E. R. Meek, 10 Shaftoe Way, Dinnington, Newcastle-upon- Tyne. 547 Migration review: autumn 1977 K. Alls op p and S. C. Madge For the majority of migrants overflying the British Isles, the weather during the autumn of 1977 presented few hazards; consequently, no extensive falls of the commoner migrants occurred: good news for conservationists, but frustrating for migration-watchers. Rare vagrants, while not as numerous as in 1975 or 1976, did, however, satisfy most itinerant seekers. A recent review of radar studies of migration over Europe (Bruno Bruderer, K)77, Weather-dependence of height, density and direction of migration in Switzerland. Bird Strike Committee Europe, 25. pp. 14. Cyclostyldd) has shown that the heaviest autumn nocturnal movements occur in the northeasterly winds created when a cyclone to the southeast is opposed to high pressure to the northwest, the birds choosing their height of migration to gain the most favourable winds to maximise their groundspeed along their preferred track. The disruption of this strategy, especially over extensive stretches of water by adverse weather during the flight, usually results in the familiar coastal falls of the slower flying small passerines, usu- ally first-year birds, which are unable to respond successfully to the changing wind patterns. This review will first relate the slower flying migrants to the weather, leaving the stronger flying species to later sections. Weather patterns and small migrants Passerine movements began in mid July, when high pressure to the west and a low over Europe brought northerly winds. This pattern was disrupted by the 18th, when a cyclone with associated fronts crossed the country. The strong southwesterlies over- night resulted in a small fall at Dungeness (Kent), involving Yellow Wagtails Mola- cilla Jlava, Whinchats Saxicola rubetra, Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Black- caps Sylvia atricapilla and a Red-backed Shrike Lanins collurio, and farther north, at Tynemouth (Tyne & Wear), migrant Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus began appearing in gardens. High pressure again became established to the west to- wards the end of the month, with ensuing northeasterlies. A hint of the migration overhead came on 1st August at Dungeness, when 150 Willow Warblers arrived. The month of August was the most interesting of the autumn, with migrants arriving from the northeast and the south. In the first week, a depression tracked in from the Atlantic, with resulting westerlies, and a slow moving wave depression developed in the Channel on 6th in its wake, with pres- sure rising in the North Sea. A stationary front across the southern North Sea divided the westward moving air to the north from the northerly flow across the Channel. Result: Melodious Warblers Hippolais polyglotta were found along the south coast from the Isles of Scilly to Sussex and eight Icterine Warblers H. icterina on Blakeney Point (Norfolk) on 7th, to the north of the front. The low pressure centre with associated murky weather became inactive by 10th. Icterine Warblers appeared at Cape Clear Island (Cork) on 10th and nth, while Melodious Warblers were found on the Calf of Man and Bardsey (Gwynedd) from 1 ith. Closer to the centre of the disturbed weather, Dungeness had had falls of Willow Warblers on 8th and gth, with five Wood Warblers P. sibilatrix also on 8th. With high pressure now established over Scandinavia and depressions approaching from the west and developing over Ger- many, further arrivals were to be expected. More Icterine Warblers appeared on the Norfolk coast on 12th and 13th and five Melodious at Portland Bill (Dorset) on 13 th. A slow westerly moving weather front, opposing the northeasterlies, suc- cessively grounded birds at Cape Clear Island on 14th and Norfolk on 15th, in- cluding the autumn’s first Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca. Over the next few days, a thundery low pressure centre approached from the south, bringing intense rain storms. The most dramatic effects upon the migrants were centred in the Irish Sea. About 2,000 Willow Warblers were grounded at Bardsey on 19th, with smaller number of Migration: autumn igyy Whitethroats Sylvia communis and Grass- hopper Warblers Locustella naevia; the Calf of Man reported ioo Willow Warblers, while on Walney Island (Cumbria) 33 were trapped, together with an Icterine Warbler. The next day, the East Coast received its largest fall, featuring over 200 Red-backed Shrikes, with lesser numbers of Wrynecks Jynx torquilla and Icterine Warblers (one Icterine even reached inland to Derbyshire on 21st). The effects of the depression lingered for two more days before moving eastwards: Fair Isle (Shetland) had a small fall of 70 Willow Warblers on 22nd and Dungeness numbers reached 600 on 23rd. A feature of the whole period was the appearance of Wood Warblers — usually seldom seen at coastal stations — which were widely reported in small numbers. The decline of the Scandinavian anti- cyclone and return to mainly westerly weather halted the arrival of Continental migrants, but Icelandic Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba alba became regular passage birds at the Calf of Man, and Swallows Hirundo rustica gathered in large flocks along the English east coast. T he westerlies continued until 12th September, when a high pressure area began to build over the country. The Atlantic depressions were diverted to northern Europe producing a 549 strong northeasterly airstream from nor- thern Siberia on 15th. The high pressure had moved eastwards into the Baltic by 23rd, with consequent southeasterlies across the North Sea. Five Yellow-browed Warblers Phylloscopus inornatus arrived on Fair Isle, a few Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva in northeast England and the first influx of Richard’s Pipits Anthus novaeseelandiae on the following few days. Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus were be- lated migrants during this period, mainly in East Coast localities, and the hirundines were reported departing south. A strong westerly flow developed across the Atlantic at the end of the month, bringing a Black- and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia to St Mary’s (Isles of Scilly), but no mass Nearctic arrivals as in 1976. The westerlies continued to blow until 6th October, when a rise in pressure over Scandinavia diverted a depression south- wards into Biscay, turning the winds southeasterly. An enormous influx of thrushes, chats and Blackcaps Sylvia atri- capilla occurred in misty conditions on 7th and 8th along the English northeast coast; there were 200 Blackcaps on Fair Isle on 9th, with no accompanying thrushes. Further Richard’s Pipits arrived at Bardsey, Norfolk and the Isles of Scilly, with one inland in Nottinghamshire. For the remainder of the month, an anticyclone stayed over eastern Europe, giving mainly southerly winds across Britain, these turning westerly as depres- sions approached from the Atlantic. Red- breasted Flycatchers can almost be guaran- teed under such conditions, and about 30 were reported, mainly from western Britain and Ireland. Yellow-browed Warblers numbered around 25, of which 15 were on the Isles of Scilly, and Pallas’s Warblers Phylloscopus proregulus occurred at several localities, including one inland at Blackmoorfoot Reservoir (West York- 550 Migration: autumn igyy shire). By the end of the month, the Isles of Scilly resembled some European Avian Safari Park, and its list of exhibits can more appropriately be read in the Rarities Committee’s report (see pages 481-532). Of the commoner species, mention must be made of Black Redstarts Phoenicurus ochruros, which were widely reported from inland as well as coastal areas from 16th to the end of October, a few remaining on the north Wales coast until late December. Waders No unusual widespread movements of Palearctic species are apparent from the records received. Wood Sandpipers Tritiga glareola were more frequently seen during July and August than in some previous years, 19 being reported from Dibden Bay (Hampshire) on 18th. As in 1976, Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus arrived in good numbers. The wader event of the autumn was the arrival of Nearctic species at the beginning of September, when a succession of deep cyclones with strong westerlies crossed the Atlantic between 25th August and 10th September. The full list of num- bers and species involved appears in the ‘Rarities report’. The only non-rarity in- volved was the Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos: before the late August arrivals, six had been reported, with a further 22 arriving during the main influx, 13 of them in Ireland, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Coastal movements Sooty Shearwaters Piiffinus griseus were present off all coasts throughout the autumn, but only occasionally were any seen close inshore. Over 300 in an hour passed Cape Clear on 15th August, and 120 flew northwards past Seaton Sluice (Northumberland) on 18th August. Fur- ther concentrations reported that month were 120 off Mull (Strathclyde) on 29th and 40 on 26th near Fair Isle. During September, the northeast again had a good passage on 16th and 17th, with 855 at Seaton Sluice and 230 at Flamborough (North Humberside). On the English coast, nothing was seen of the huge move- ment which took place along the French coast on 1st and 2nd October, when 1.300 were reported from Cap Gris Nez and 322 in the Channel Islands on 2nd. A few Great Shearwaters P. gravis were seen during the autumn movements, but no concentrations. The numbers of skuas Slercorarius along the coasts were disappoint- ing, the only large passage being on 27th August, when 700 Arctic Skuas S'. parasiticus passed Flamborough Head. The only extensive movements of Black Terns Migration: autumn igyj 551 Chlidonias niger were confined to the south coast during August, with ioo on 16th and 200 on 22nd at Dungeness, followed by another ioo off Devon and Cornwall from 26th to 28th. Inland, very few appeared at the reservoirs. Acknowledgements We wish to thank all observers who have contributed records month by month, and also the clubs and societies for the many and interesting newsletters from which this review has been compiled. News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett The Philippines Eagle We wonder how often a bird has had its vernacular name changed by a Presidential Proclamation? This happened in the case of the Monkey- eating Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi in May of this year, when Proclamation No. 1732, signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos of the Philippines, declared that hence- forth it would be known as the Philippines Eagle: partly because it is confined to the Philippines, but also because it was felt that reference to monkey-eating ‘denigrates its qualities’. Hopefully, the final part of the Proclamation, which goes on to in- struct all government agencies to take special note of the change, may lead to better conservation measures to help this rare and interesting bird. More Archaeopteryx finds A single fossil feather impression, the discovery which established the existence — and in- spired the name — of Archaeopteryx litho- graphica, has now been augmented by partial or entire skeletons of a further four specimens. Since 1861, this fossil creature has held the distinction of being the most ancient known bird, estimated to be about 135 million years old. The Archaeopteryx may now have to share the limelight with two new species. A palaeontologist at Brigham Young Uni- versity, Dr James Jensen, has unearthed two femurs from rock formed 130 million years ago, about the time Archaeopteryx was living. The new fossil femurs appear to belong to two different species. The femur of the Archaeopteryx has a large well- developed knob that fits into a socket in the pelvis, which is typical of animals that run or manoeuvre well on the ground ; the newly discovered femurs, however, are small, a characteristic shared with birds that are good flyers. Generally regarded as being a direct link between birds and reptiles, if the Archaeopteryx shares the same period in time with other birds that were more adept at flying, its singular status may now be challenged. (Cornell University Labora- tory of Ornithology) New journals From time to time, we like to include mention of new journals, or others which come to our notice that may not be widely-known to BB readers. Any- one interested in the birds of Bulgaria might like to note the first issue (1977) of the Ornithological Information Bulletin, pro- duced by the Ornithological Centre of the Zoological Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia, and that it is written in Bulgarian; editorial address: Zoological Institute and Museum, Boule- vard Ruski 1, Sofia. From East Germany comes the Ornithologische Jahresberichte des Museums Heineanum, a new annual from the Ornithological Museum in Halberstadt replacing the earlier Naturkundliche Jahresberichte des Museums Heineanum ; edi- torial address: K. Handtke and H. Konig, Domplatz 37, 36 Halberstadt, DDR. The Bolletino Ornitologico Lombardo is a welcome newcomer from Italy, a quarterly publica- tion dealing with ornithological work in Lombardy; editorial address: c/o Sede LIPU, Galleria Passarella 2, 20122 Milano, Italy. The Malta Ornithological Society have produced Bird's Eye View, which is complementary to Il-Merill and will deal with the more popular aspects of the Society’s activities, the older journal being the official and more scientific publication. Twice each year, we shall be able to learn more about birds at Gibraltar from Alectoris, the first issue of which appeared 552 News and comment from the Gibraltar Ornithological Society in March 1978; editorial address: the GOS, c/o the Gibraltar Museum, Bomb House Lane, Gibraltar. Finally, there is Aureola, a new bulletin produced by the Ornithological Club of North Pohjanmaa, Oulu, Finland; editorial address: Dept of Zoology, University of Oulu, SF-90100 Oulu 10, Finland. Winter atlas Hard on the heels of the publication of the French breeding bird atlas comes news of a new project: an atlas of wintering birds. After a start made in Provence by the Centre de Recherches Ornithologiques de Provence (which ap- parently produced promising results), further winter atlassing is to be undertaken throughout the country. If you would like more details or, better still, would like to join in, write to La Societe Ornithologique de France, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris. Magenta Petrel Seabird buffs will be glad to know of the rediscovery of the Magenta Petrel or Chatham Island Taiko Pterodroma magenlae. After years of searching, two were trapped, photographed and released on Chatham Island on New Year’s Day 1978: a good way to start your new annual list, perhaps, but more impor- tantly a find of considerable importance. Hitherto, the bird was known only from a single specimen collected by Italian researchers as long ago as 1866. Dick Homes Memorial Dungeness Bird Observatory, of which Dick Homes was vice-chairman of the Trustees and a committee member, proposes to erect a new sea-watching hide in his memory. This will be a fitting memorial to one of the foremost Kent birdwatchers of our time, and one which, with his great interest in Dungeness, he would surely have liked very much. Donations towards the project should be sent to G. J. Harris, 1 1 Barnficld Road, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Kent. Natwest cheques The National West- minster Bank have had the unique distinc- tion of providing their customers with pictorial chequebooks ever since 1970. Now, they have produced one which, we hope, will promote a little more interest in wildlife: it costs iop plus VAT and features Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, badger, stoat and yellow-necked mouse. No Westray mink After a long delay, the result of the public inquiry of 21st- 24th February into a proposal by George Drever to establish a mink farm on the island of Westray, northwest Orkney, close to seabird colonies of international impor- tance (see Brit. Birds 71: 281-282), was announced on 16th August. It was con- sidered that the presence of mink Mustela vison would present an unacceptable hazard to the exceptional local ecology and, after some consideration of the uncertain legal position, permission was refused. The applicant is reported to have said he will not exercise his right to appeal. The Chief Reporter, A. J. Hunt, con- cluded that the farm should be com- mercially viable and beneficial to the uncertain local economy. If it was con- structed according to the specifications suggested by the Islands Council, it should be exceptionally secure. One could not, however, be certain that no mink would escape. If they escaped there was food and shelter nearby, and, while exceptional efforts would doubtless be made to capture or kill them, this could not be certain either. The consequences of the establishment of a feral population were not precisely fore- seeable, but must be harmful, especially to ground-nesting birds. The risk that they might get to the adjacent island of Papa Westray, which has a large population of ground-nesting birds, was slight, but the consequences would be very serious. It was noted that permission to keep mink went with the land, and future owners might not be so careful. ‘A final conclusion on the merits turns on the balance between the more certain advantages that would accrue to Mr Drever and the local economy if his enterprise is implemented and the unquanti- fiable consequences that might follow if mink escaped and became established in the wild on Westray. My judgement is that the quite exceptional circumstances of the island ecology, particularly the major seabird nesting areas, arc such as to justify such action as may be available to eliminate all risk of mink infestation.’ Those who opposed the establishment of a mink farm are grateful to all those people throughout the world who pro- vided evidence of the harmful impact of feral mink. (Contributed by W. R. P. Bourne) Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of the editors of British Birds Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records This report covers August and the first part of September; except where otherwise stated, all dates refer to August. Birdwatchers visiting their favourite coastal observation points during August, hoping to see passerine migrants, were mainly disappointed. The weather pattern was persistently westerly during the first three weeks, finally turning northerly during the last week. The southeast corner of England was the only area reporting significant movements as British migrants were halted on their flight south. At Dungeness (Kent), these occurred on only four days before the onset of the northerly winds on 23rd. Willow Warblers Phyllo- scopus trochilus predominated, with a maxi- mum of 300 on 1 1 th, with lesser counts of Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe, Garden Warblers Sylvia borin, Whitethroats S. communis and Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis. From 23rd, a daily passage of Lesser Whitethroats S. curruca took place, with a peak of 100 on 27th; there was a similar pattern at nearby Sandwich Bay (Kent). A short period of northeasterlies, during 23rd to 25th, produced a minor fall of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca at Dungen- ess, numbering 35 on 25th. A few ‘reverse migrants’ were reported. Four Melodious Warblers Hippolais polyglotta and a Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator, species which do arrive on southwesterlies, were observed at Portland Bill (Dorset). Barred Warblers S. nisoria were scarce, with singles at Portland Bill and Pitsea Marsh (Essex) and two on Fair Isle (Shetland), which — apart from a Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides on 4^, Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludicola on 14th and 1 6th and a Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala on 1 1 th to 1 5th — - also had a lean August. The only other passerine rarity was Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris, with singles at Richborough (Kent) on 16th and Filey Brigg (North Yorkshire) on 7th. Early September, however, produced a little more activity. Slow-moving fronts, opposing north and southeasterly winds across the North Sea from the 6th to 8th September, resulted in small falls of migrants on the East Coast. Holkham Woods (Norfolk) held Pied Flycatchers, Wrynecks Jynx torquilla, Icterine Warblers Hippolais icterina and a Red- backed Shrike Lanius collurio. A further Tawny Pipit arrived at Dungeness on 6th. On 8th September, Fair Isle reported two Yellow-breasted Buntings Emberiza aureola, a Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi and a Lanceolated Warbler Locus tella lanceo- lata : the new warden now thinks that ‘This place shows promise.’ The following day, a Booted Warbler Hippolais caligala was reported from Spurn Point (North Hum- berside), which, if accepted, will be the first mainland record. Movements of Swifts After the cool spring, insect populations were not high this summer, which may have caused most Swifts Apus apus to make an early departure. During a period of thundery conditions at the beginning of August, concentrations of Swifts were reported along the English south coast. On 5th, thousands were departing out to sea at Rame Head (Cornwall) and at Port- land. The following day, 6,000 were seen at Dungeness and 10,000 passed southwest at Sandwich Bay. An Alpine Swift Apus melba was present at Richborough from 13th to 17th; usually, appearances of this species are very brief, observed only by those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Black Tern influx A popular belief is that arrivals of Black Terns Chlidonias niger occur during easterly weather conditions. This has not been the case this autumn. The number involved was not high, but the occurrence of the rarer White-winged Black Tern C. leucopterus with them was unusual. The first influx came after 5th in the southeast, with White-winged Black Terns appearing at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) and Tophill Low Reservoir (Humberside). Then, from 19th, two of the rarer species accompanied 1 1 5 Black Terns at Queen Mary Reservoir (Surrey) with a further White-winged 553 554 Black Tern at Eye Brook Reservoir (Leicestershire), two at Dungeness, where Black Terns numbered ioo on 23rd, and two at Chew Valley Lake (Avon) in early September. Other rare terns occurring during August were a Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica at Dungeness on 13th and a Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata at Sand- wich Bay on 1 5th, the latter date conform- ing to all previous autumn records. At Castle Eden Dene Mouth (Durham), congregations of Little Gulls Larus minutus have been noted in late summer in the past few years. The pattern has been repeated this year, with numbers exceeding 100 reported. Little Stint invasion A westerly autumn usually means more waders to look at, and so far this year more have been halted on passage than last autumn. First-winter Curlew Sand- pipers Calidris ferruginea began to arrive in moderate numbers at the end of August, but by far the largest influx was of Little Stints C. minutus from about 6th Septem- ber. These, the smallest of European waders, were badly affected by the weather front lying along the East Coast on that date. Flocks of over 100 were found at Tynemouth, Wisbech Sewage-farm (Cam- bridgeshire/Lincolnshire/Norfolk), Mins- mere (Suffolk) and Cliffe (Kent). Other species were apparently unaffected by the conditions. The westerly winds looked likely to bring Nearctic waders over the Atlantic, but few arrivals have been re- ported. Wilson’s Phalaropes Phalaropus tricolor were seen at Buxton (Cheshire) in mid August, at Steart Point (Somerset) on 22nd to 30th, and on Alderney (Channel Islands) from 6th September, but the only other records were White-rumped Sand- piper Calidris fuscicollis at Sandwich Bay On 1st, Pectoral Sandpipers C. melanotos on Teesside in mid August and at Eye Brook Reservoir on 9th September, and Recent reports Buff-breasted Sandpipers Tryngites sub- ruficollis at Crowdy Reservoir (Cornwall) on nth September and at Chasewater (Staffordshire) on 14th September. Sea-watches Compensating for the lack of passerine migrants has been the excitement of sea- bird movements. Once more, Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus have been the attraction in the North Sea, with the maxi- mum count at Filey Brigg on 26th, when 482 flew northwards. Five Great Shear- waters P. gravis off Fair Isle on 30th followed one at Cley (Norfolk) on 20th. Filey Brigg also claimed the heaviest skua passage, with 200 Arctic Skuas Stercor- arius parasiticus moving south on 26th. We have, however, heard of only four Long- tailed Skuas S. longicaudus, three at the last locality and one at Kinnaird’s Head (Grampian). A northwesterly blow on nth September brought many Manx Shear- waters Puffinus puffinus close inshore at St Ives (Cornwall) and also a Wilson’s Petrel Oceanites oceanicus. This last species, although common in the Bay of Biscay, is surprisingly rare close inshore. Weak individuals, which must occur in the popu- lation, might be expected to be seen in British and Irish waters rather more frequently than the seven records up to 1 977 suggest. Latest news Few rarities in first half of October, but three Radde’s Warblers Phylloscopus schwarzi, on Sark (Channel Islands, at Spurn and at Holkham; Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus at Donna Nook (Lincolnshire); Desert Wheatear Oenanlhe deserti at Cley; Citrine Wagtail Molacilla citreola, Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus and Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus in Isles of Scilly; and Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia on Cape Clear Island (Cork). British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 690F5 Classified Advertisements -£2.25 for 3 lines ( minimum) 75P for each whole or part extra line Classified display £2 a centimetre (min. 3 centimetres) For the use of a box number there is a charge of sop. Replies to : The AD VER TISEMENT MANAGER British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 3 Dyers Buildings, London ECiN 2NR 01-831 6901/3 HOLIDAY A CCOMMODA TION ROSE COTTAGE, Guest House, Gel- ston, Castle Douglas. 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(BB238) TRADITIONAL LEATHER BELTS Christmas Gifts Puzzle books by T im Sharrock THE BIRDWATCHERS’ QUIZ AND PUZZLE BOOK THE BIRDWATCHERS’ SECOND QUIZ AND PUZZLE BOOK 50p each post free from Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ (BB266) British Birds Volume 71 Number 11 November 1978 475 White-tailed Eagles in Britain and Norway J. A. Love, M. E. Ball and Dr I. Newton 481 Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1977 Michael J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee Obituaries 532 Richard Constantine Homes (1913-1978) Robert Spencer 534 Ronald Keir Murton (1932-1978) Dr N. J. Westwood 536 Mystery photographs P. J. Grant Notes 538 Oystercatcher driving lamb from nest Richard Coomber 538 Aggression of Lesser Yellowlegs to Redshanks D. M. Norman 539 Arctic Skua forcing Swift into sea C. R. Grafton 539 P'ed Wagtails persistently attacking Dipper D. J. Perray 539 Exhausted Fieldfare reaching shore after landing on sea lan Kerr 539 Nuthatch caching insect larvae A. R. Ball 540 Crossbills ‘feeding’ on soil Dr Malcolm Sainsbury 541 Black-and-white Warbler in the Isles of Scilly P. J. Grant 542 Short reviews Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and Stanley Cramp Letters 544 A symbol for individuals not adult males G. J. Oreel 545 Association of nesting Woodpigeons and Hobbies Dr N. J. Collar 546 Head-pattern of Hippolais warblers Mark Beaman and Martin Woodcock Announcements 547 The Frontiers of Bird Identification: a ‘ British Birds' guide to some difficult species 547 New British Birds checklist Requests 547 More colour-ringed flamingos Alan Johnson 547 More wing-tagged Goosanders E. R. Meek 548 Migration review: autumn 1977 K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge 551 News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett 553 Recent reports K. Allsopp and S. C. Madge Line-drawings: White-tailed Eagle on page 475 ( Ian Willis)-, Glossy Ibis, Ring- necked and Tufted Ducks, and Pied-billed Grebe on page 483, Long-billed Do- witcher on page 484, Bonaparte’s Gull and Pechora Pipit on page 485, and Red- rumped Swallow and Arctic Redpoll on page 486 (D. I. M. Wallace ) ; Red-backed Shrike, Wood Warbler and Blackcap on page 549 ( Laurel Tucker) ; Pectoral Sand- piper on page 550 (D. I. M. Wallace) ; Sooty Shearwaters on page 550 (R. A. Hume) ; Wilson’s Phalarope on page 554 (B. E. Slade) ; Wilson’s Petrel on page 554 (D. I. M. Wallace) Front cover: Purple Sandpipers (Keith Brockie) I rinted by Henry Burt & Son Ltd, College Street, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8na I ublished by Macmillan Journals Ltd, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF British Birds XVII International Ornithological Congress Long-toed Stint, Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland European news Mystery photograph • Notes • Reviews • Letters phic requests * Diary dates * Other regular features British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Editors Stanley Cramp I. J. Ferguson-Lees M. A. Ogilvie Dr J. T. R. Sharrock D. I. M. Wallace M. W. Richards Photographic Consultant Annual subscription including index UK £12.00; rest of world US $19.50 or equivalent in any currency at current exchange rates. (Prices correct at time of publication.) Orders must be accompanied by remittance. Cheques should be made payable to Macmillan Journals Ltd (Subscription Department, Brunei Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2xs, England.) UK Post Office Giro Account No. is 519 2455. Enquiries concerning advertising space and rates should be addressed to : Advertisement Department, British Birds, 3 Dyers Buildings, London ec in 2NR {tel: 01-831 6901/5) British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic or, where appropriate, on the species of this area as observed in other parts of their ranges. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that the material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Shorter contributions, if not typed, must be clearly written and well spaced, and notes should be worded as concisely as possible. Authors of papers and notes should consult this issue for style of presentation (especially for systematic lists, reference lists and tables). Tables must either fit into the width of a page or into a whole page length- ways, and should be self-explanatory. English names of birds should have capital initials for each word, except after a hyphen, but group terms and names of other animals and plants should not. Both English and scientific names of birds, and the sequence, follow The * British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1978). English and scientific names of plants follow John G. Dony et al. (1974, English Names of Wild Flowers). Scientific names (underlined) should appear immediately after the first mention of the English name. Dates should always take the form ‘1st January 1978’, except in tables where they may be abbreviated Figures should be numbered with arabic numerals, and the captions typed on a separate sheet. All line-drawings should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper, drawing paper or board (not of an absorbent nature) or, where necessary, on light blue or very- pale grey graph paper. It is important to consider how each drawing will fit into the page when reduced. Any lettering or numbering that is an integral part of a text-figure should be inserted lightly in pencil. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive 25 free copies of the journal (15 each to two authors, ten each to three to six, and five each to seven or more). News and comment Peter Conder, 12 Swaynes Lane, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7EF Rarities Committee Michael J. Rogers, 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex twi6 7TP © Macmillan Journals Ltd 1978 Copyright of photographs remains with the photographers British Birds is published monthly by Macmillan Journals Limited, 4 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LF {tel: 01-836 6633) ISSN 0007-0335 Published in association with the British Museum (Natural History) BIRDS OF MAN’S WORLD Derek Goodwin Many species of birds have managed to thrive alongside man, often because of the changes he has wrought in the environment rather than in spite of them. In this book, an eminent ornithologist offers fascinating insights into the ways in which birds have adjusted to man’s presence and activities on the planet. Mr. Goodwin shows how birds benefit from paths and roads, how they use man-made nesting sites, and how they are affected by man’s domestic animals. He devotes a chapter to birds in cities with which he is familiar, including New York and London, Cairo and Colombo. Liberally using examples, he discusses birds fed by man and birds that man has introduced in various parts of the world. In a final chapter he speculates on possible future environ- mental developments and their effects on the birds of man s world. With its wealth of information and its many photographs and specially commissioned line illustrations, this handsome book will be welcomed enthusiastically by ornithologists, ecologists, and all bird watchers. Derek Goodwin is a Principal Scientific Officer in the Department of Zoology of the British Museum (Natural History). 192 pages, 20 black and white photographs, 8J' x 64", £5.95 Companion volumes by Derek Goodwin , illustrations by Robert Gillmor CROWS OF THE WORLD 360 pages, 3 colour plates, 114 line drawings, 8F x lli", £15.00 PIGEONS AND DOVES OF THE WORLD 446 pages, 3 colour plates, line drawings, 83' x lli", £15-00 Cornell University Press 2-4 Brook Street, London, W.l (BB321) A new Colour Print by PHILIP RICKMAN edition limited to 250 numbered copies size 18" x 13" These full colour prints each signed by the artist have been generously given to the FRIENDS of the CHEYNE CENTRE for SPASTIC CHILDREN. A beautiful Christmas present that will help a children's charity. Order now from the Secretary, FCCSC, 63 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea S.W.3, enclosing a cheque for £15 plus £1.50 postage and packaging. Mallard at Hedgecourt, Sussex A BIRDWATCHING TOUR OF YEMEN A camping expedition accompanied by an experienced Ornithologist. 21 April to 6 May 1979 A unique opportunity to see the little known birds of this exciting country. Yemen is where the Palearctic, African and Indian Faunal regions meet. Visited at the height of the northern migration from Africa. Brochure and details from Dept. MJ Explore Beyond Ltd, 1 Ludgate Circus Buildings, London EC4M 7LQ. Phone 01-248 9082 (BB312) De-Luxe (escorted) Tropical Bird Tour of Malaysia February 1979 Tour escort: Bernard D. Bond, P. J. K., M.B.O.U. (23 years in Malaya) Economy class airline ticket on a group basis on all flights. Accom- modation in deluxe/first class hotels and other accommodation. Three meals per day throughout the itinerary. All visits, transfers and sightseeing tours as indicated in the itinerary. Services of a full- time tour escort during the tour. All taxes and service charges. The cost of the tour based on : Sharing twin room — £920.00 Single room — £985.00 For further details contact: Tour Operator, Moon Group Travel, 32 High Street, Petersfield, Hants GU32 3JL. Tel.: 0730 401 1. (BB336) Heron vx —£33.78 8x40 Bwcf Binoculars The Birdwatchers Glasses. As used by the torestry commission. Ideal for the young and beginners. Lightweight (26oz), extra wide angle, 514 ft. field of view, also suitable for spectacle wearers. We believe them incomparable value at £33.78 inc. case and ^lanyard plus £1 towards p&p. Top quality optical goods at enormous savings Heron quality, Heron service, Heron choice — we hold in stock what we believe to be the largest range of telescopes and binoculars for birdwatchers in the country. A few examples are shown below: BINOCULARS Swift Audubon 8.5X44 MK II (38oz) Swift Grand Prix 8X40 MK.I (24oz) Carl Zeiss 10X40 BDialyt (24oz) Carl Zeiss 8X30 B CF(18Woz) Zeiss Jena 8X30 Jenoptem ( 1 7oz) Zeiss Jena 10X50 Jenoptem (35oz) Habicht Diana 10X40 (23oz) Leitz 10X40 B (21oz) TELESCOPES B Nickel Supra 15X60X60 (28oz) Hertel & Reuss Televari 25X60X60 (32oz) Order direct from Prices correct as of 1st Nov. 1978. inclusive of case, lanyard and manufacturer s guarantee, plus £1 post and packing charge. Access and Barclay- card accepted. Apply for details and send for your guide to Binocular & Telescope ownership. Further details and comprehensive price list available in return for this coupon, including Field & Trek Catalogue of camping, rambling and climbing equipment Or call in person and see our vast stock for yourself. 14 DAY APPROVAL SERVICE To Heron Optical Co 23-25 Kings Road. Brentwood. Essex CM144ER Please send me details and price lists on: Binoculars] | Telescopes | | field STrek Camping Equipment Retail Price Our Price 1 Price on j Application £293.04 £253.69 £222.75 £192.85 £59 94 £39.90 £100.44 £279.88 £66.90 £223.90 £268.74 £164.81 £109.60 £159 41 £105.37 this list — onourprkes Heron NEW 10x40 Wide-angle Binoculars £34.93 Quality, power and light weight, too — a mere 20oz! 367 ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Slim Zeiss-type body, centre focus, black finish, fully-coated lenses, also suitable for spectacle wearers. Excellent value at £34.93 inc. case, ^ straps and lanyard, plus £1 p&p / Heron NEW 8x40 Zcf binoculars. £24.81 Weight 21oz, 341ft. field of view at 1,000 yards. Fold-down rubber eyecups. Only £24.81 plus £1 p&p. name ADDRESS Schmidt & Bender 15-60xzoom telescope with 60 mm This quite k 0 b] GCt magnificent 3k lone telescope from West Germany ideal for use on reservoirs and seashore. Robust in _____ construction, excellent in optical quality. We believe £105 37 this to be the best on the market today. Weight 950 g. length 300 m closed. 560 mm open. Fitted with tripod- bush Exit pupil 4-1 mm. light-gathering power 16-1. twilight 30-60. field of view 1.000 m 47-12 m. At a recommended retail price of £159.41 the Heron price of £105.37 including leather case and rubber eyecup for spectacle wearers is outstanding value. Add £1 p&p. rp}[ Tffi] TTl J lyJ _ L 1 — (BB12) ( Heron Optical Co. 23-25 Kings Road. Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4ER. Tel: (0277) 221259/219418. Telex: 995566. Only 5 minutes from Brentwood Station, 30 minutes trom London's Liverpool St. Station (Southend Line). Open daily 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Thursday 1pm. (BB31 7) BARBOUR ALL WEATHER CLOTHING AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 34 in to 48 in Price Price Solway Zipper £37.55 £33.79 Gamefair Jacket (lined) £35.65 £32.10 Gamefair Stud-on-hood £4.90 £4.39 Durham Jacket £29.75 £26.75 Threequarter Coat £29.45 £26.49 Gamefair Trousers S, M, L £19.35 £17.39 Gamefair Leggings S, M, L £9.95 £8.95 Thornproof Trousers S, M, L £17.85 £16.05 Thornproof Leggings S, M, L £8.65 £7.79 Long Stud-on LeggingsS, M,L £15.35 £13.79 Short Stud-on Leggings 20 in £1 2.25 £10.99 Fleece Lining £10.50 £9.45 Dressing — £1.25 UNIROYAL FIELD & STREAM FOOTWEAR AT BARGAIN PRICES Retail Our Sizes 6-12 GRADE 1 Price Price Royal Hunter Boots (Studded) £19.30 £13.95 Hunter Boots (Rubber) £10.20 £7.35 Gamesman Ankle Boots (Studded, size 6-1 1 ) £17.45 £14.45 Hunt-aire Boots, sizes 8-10 (Dr Martens Sole) £13.95 £10.95 Keenfisher Thigh Waders (Studded) £23.60 £17.45 Keenfisher Chest-Hi Waders (Studded, sizes 6-8) £29.30 £24.99 JOHN NORRIS FINEST QUALITY QUILTED JACKETS AND WAISTCOATS. SIZES S. M. L. Ex.L. COLOUR GREEN. MADE FROM THE FINEST QUALITY MATERIALS. WITH OR WITHOUT FULL SUEDE SHOULDER & ELBOW PATCHES. STUD CLOSURE, DEEP POCKETS. Jacket with Jacket Waistcoat Waistcoat suede without with without patches suede suede suede patches patches patches £14.99 £11.99 £9.99 £7.99 TERMS: ENCLOSE CASH, CHEQUE, P.O.s, ACCESS OR BARCLAYCARD BY LETTER OR PHONE, PLEASE QUOTE YOUR NUMBER. BARBOUR CLOTHING POST FREE, FOOTWEAR £1. OTHER CLOTHING 55p. JOHN NORRIS DEPT BB, 21 VICTORIA ROAD, PENRITH, CUMBRIA Telephone: Penrith 4211 (BB273) THE GANNET Bryan Nelson The author is internationally known for his work on the North Atlantic gannet and the boobies. His studies of the gannetry on the Bass Rock have formed the basis for most of our knowledge of the gannet’s ecology, its breeding cycle and behaviour. The present work is a distillation of studies and researches on Sula bassana in Europe and North America, with frequent reference to the African and Australasian gan- nets. There is also a chapter on the boobies, all of which species have been studied at first hand by Dr Nelson. The authoritative text is complemented by John Busby’s brilliant and evocative draw- ings, plus 32 pages of photo- graphs. 336 pages plusj2 plates, £8.00 net T. & A. D. POYSER (BB;v-29) British Birds VOLUME 71 NUMBER 12 DECEMBER 1978 Special feature XVII International Ornithological Congress Ornithology marches on, and its brief four-yearly stops for International Ornithological Congresses afford the best opportunities we ever get for assessment and renewed inspiration. Imperfect as the Congresses are in so many ways, they at least demonstrate some of the main trends in orni- thology, even though the evaluation of these is usually neglected. As 20 years have passed since the Helsinki Congress led us to examine the subject critically {Brit. Birds 53: 447-452 and subsequent correspondence 54: 80-92), the conclusion of the XVII Congress in West Berlin in June 1978 provides a good occasion to return to it. Since the previous Berlin Congress in 1910, the city has been flattened in the Second World War, divided and impressively rebuilt, yet remains artificially separated from the rest of the Western World. This has made it a symbol, particularly expressed in the superb Kongresshalle, given by the American Benjamin Franklin Foundation as an international meeting place. (Naturally, the symbol is regarded as uncongenial by the Soviet bloc, few of whose ornithologists attended.) As a building it is excellently planned and highly suitable, providing amply — even luxuriously—under one roof for all congress activities. It contrasted in this respect with the Spartan living enforced on many participants, notably from Britain, by the adverse exchange rate and the high prices, as well as the high Con- gress fee (over £80). Additional discouragements to attendance were the June timing (inconvenient to many field workers and to European academics), the expensiveness and long travel time involved for excui- 555 [Bril. Birds 71 : 555-557, December 1978] 556 XVII International Ornithological Congress sions through the political and geographic obstacles to finding goals of special interest reasonably close at hand to Berlin, and the holding of all the meetings in English without translation. The last point alone ensured that some 80% of the participants were either English-speaking Germans or native English speakers. Subject to final official data, it appears that, excluding those who may be categorised as fellow-travellers, the attend- ance was limited to some 500 active ornithologists, of whom about 190 came from the German Federal Republic, about 120 from the LTSA, about 60 from Great Britain, and nearly 20 each from France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and Australia. Only two other countries, both neighbouring, sent over ten (Switzerland and Sweden) ; from the USSR, more entered but fewer actually came. China was wholly un- represented, and the Soviet bloc and Third World very sparsely. It is fortunate that the worldwide advance of ornithology can be as well sustained by greater and well-integrated efforts from a few countries as by a more even global effort. Nevertheless, it is regrettable that so many obvious potential participants should have been put off or shut out by such factors as those mentioned above. If future International Con- gresses are to justify their title, they must do better in this respect. This was a young Congress: quite likely the youngest ever in terms of average age. No doubt many young professionals, by contributing papers, were able to get their attendance costs grant-aided, while the hiving off of conservation problems so largely to other bodies kept down the number of administrators, managers and more peripherally interested people. Unfortunately, however, most amateurs, especially the younger ones, left to carry their own costs, could not make it. There were also, in addition to the long obituary list, surprisingly large absences of stalwarts of previous Congresses, up to ex-President level. Indeed, the governing International Ornithological Committee — the so-called Committee of One Hundred — could muster barely a 50% attendance: 12 of the 40 member countries failed to send their repre- sentatives, and even the United Kingdom team was at one-third strength. The Congress was well organised and well conducted, with no more than the inevitable deviations from its published programme. The meetings were remarkably well attended, often several at a time holding well over a hundred participants, in one observed case for an unbroken four hours and 35 minutes, on the not so obviously fascinating theme of Resource Utilization, Competition, and Avian Community Structure. Reflecting the interests of the dedicated President, Professor Donald S. O Earner (USA), and his Scientific Program Committee, the agenda gave strong prominence to physiological and other basic scientific aspects ol ornithology. The main symposia included energetics, neuroethology of bird song, biorhythms, circulation and respiration, physiology and morphology of hearing, and control of reproduction. Among the excellent morning keynote addresses, the most stimulating was that by Professor William Keeton of Cornell University, ostensibly on bird orientation. He showed how the search for one simple explanation of bird navigation had led into a baffling world of sensory resources largely 557 XVII International Ornithological Congress beyond human experience, such as finely tuned reception of the earth’s local magnetic field, a grasp of star compass patterns memorised for life by sky-gazing nestlings at night, biological clocks and interpretation of polarised light in the absence of a sight of the sun, local gravity differ- ences and capacity to read mysterious signature factors peculiar to each place, on the nature of which men can as yet only speculate. More compre- hensible, but still defying interpretation, are the noises at frequencies below the threshold of human — but not of avian — hearing, which ap- parently can be deafeningly loud at a range of hundreds of miles, such as the whistling of the wind over mountain peaks and the lowest com- ponents of waves breaking in a storm at sea. There is even fresh experi- mental evidence for birds being able to navigate by their sense of smell. All this confirms a suspicion that, as bumbling and sensorily impoverished heavy mammals, we have been too complacently counting on unveiling the nature of a bird’s world, which stays far beyond our crude and simplistic capacities, at least until we have devised an entire series of new techniques and instruments the implications of which, if we succeed in developing them, could be revolutionary for ourselves. At any rate, the long forecast day when there would be nothing more to find out about birds has again been postponed for a decent interval. Professor Ernst Mayr reviewed the advances and frustrations ol avian taxonomy so realistically as to evoke some sympathy in unexpected quarters for the taxonomists. They have at least succeeded in advancing precision beyond that for any other animal group; at the latest count, we have just over 9,000 species arranged in 2,051 genera and 28 orders. Professor Farner pulled together field and laboratory approaches to the mysteries of circadian and circannual rhythms, illustiated by the life of the White-crowned Sparrow. His German colleague, Professor Jurgen Aschoff, analysed the workings and significance of biological clocks. As a finale, Dr Chris Perrins succinctly and wittily rounded up the Edward Grey Institute’s long-term study in depth of the Great Tit. His conclusion on this perhaps expressed the message of the entire scientific programme : we now begin to know fairly well what birds do, but it will take a lot more research to find out how they do it. In othei words, the results of field studies are tending to outstrip those of experimental work in and out of the laboratory, and to set up a creative tension in which the professional researcher increasingly has to understand and explain the findings of field workers, many of whom are still amateurs, but whose numbers, enthusiasm, and resourcefulness, plus theii fuller contact with living wild birds, give them a certain initiative in showing the way ahead. Where do we go from here? The short answer is: to Moscow, in 1982. The IOC and the Congress had mixed views on the next venue, but the view which prevailed was that, if the next Congress is to lediess the narrowness discussed above, it cannot go on being held among a cosy club of western, advanced countries, and must take the uncomfoi table plunge of meeting outside the West. Whether this more adventurous attitude will do good only time can tell. E. M. Nicholson T3 Upper Cheyne Row , London SW3 5JW Identification of Long-toed Stint, Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher Alan R. Kitson These three Asiatic species are not on the British and Irish list . . . yet I spent the 24 weeks from 9th February to 26th July 1977 watching birds in Mongolia, on a scholarship awarded to me by the British Council under the Cultural Exchange Programme now existing between the United Kingdom and the People’s Republic of Mongolia. I was based at Ulan Bator and made most of my observations in the Toal River valley there. In addition, I undertook two expeditions. The first, in April and May, was to Orok Nor, a lake which lies in the arid steppe region between the Gobian Altai and the Hangai mountains, approximately 750 km southwest of the capital. The second was to wetlands in the Hangai mountains themselves. All my observations were between 96° and io8°E, and 450 and 50°N. A full itinerary is given in Kitson (1978). Of some 360 species recorded in Mongolia, I saw 230, many of which are poorly or misleadingly described in the European literature. In this paper, I attempt to remedy this in the case of three non-passerine species; future papers will cover eight passerines. I must stress that my notes refer to birds in or approaching breeding plumage. Where relevant, I have included other notes derived from personal observations in Turkey and Canada. Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta I saw four in Mongolia: two in winter or transitional plumage at Orok Nor on 7th May and two in breeding plumage at Ulan Bator from 16th to 23rd May (Kitson 1978). The latter pair was intensively studied and 1 was also able to photograph one of them with Temminck’s Stint C. temminckii and to compare them with that species and my memories of Least Sandpiper C. minutilla. Since typical birds of all three species exhibit pale yellow to brown or olive legs, their separation in trio from the other four Holarctic stints is not difficult, but their individual characters arc still incompletely understood. To my eyes, Long-toed is the same size as Temminck's, although, when it stretches its neck (see below), it can seem to be fractionally larger. Certainly, it never appears as diminutive as Least. Conversely, in plumage 558 [/in/. Hints 71 : 57,8-562, December 1078] 559 Long-toed. Stint , Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher tones, Long- toed is — with Least — the darkest of all stints, far more re- miniscent in bi'eeding dress of Little Stint C. minuta than the relatively drab and uniform Temminck’s. Thus, Long-toed in summer is essentially a bright, black-and-orange-spangled bird, with a strong, warmly coloured pattern to its head reminiscent of a Pectoral Sandpiper C. melanotos in autumn (fig. i). My description of the Ulan Bator birds contains the following greater detail: Forehead and crown dark brown, with chestnut tinge and heavy black flecking; supercilium white and prominent behind eye, white, tinged rusty over and in front of eye; cheeks rufous-brown; sides of neck light rusty brown, this colour extending as a wash behind pectoral band of dark flecks. Mantle mainly black, bordered on both sides by single fine yellow-buff lines (most obvious from behind). Scapulars black, with broad orange fringes and white tips, the former forming conspicuous band over folded wing. Tertials black, with broad rufous-orange fringes. Wing-coverts also centrally black, with orange fringes and white tips. Underparts below chest pure white. Fig. i. Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta in summer plumage, Mongolia, May 1977 (Alan R. Kitson) Thus, the breeding plumage of Long-toed is close to that of Least except for a greater incidence of orange and rufous tones, which is lesponsible for its generally brighter, more fiery appeal ance. It should also be noted that my observations do not support an earlier indication by Wallace (1974) of sullied underparts on Long-toed. Judging from the individuals at Orok Nor, Long-toed in wintei plumage takes on a more dun appearance. The red tones ol bleeding diess aie replaced by brown, but retention of the black feathei centies ensures that the pattern of spangled upperparts is not lost. Interestingly, both my birds showed pale lines on their mantles — a feature not noted on skins by Wallace (1974), but present on the Swedish immature of October 1977 (per P. J. Grant)— and had their breast markings reduced to more or less pectoral patches. 560 Long-toed Stint} Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher All four called with an unvaried dry purring ‘prrp’ and never pro- duced any of the variant calls or rapidly repeated notes described by Slater (1970) or Wallace (1974). To my ears, Least utters a high thin ‘preet’. I also noted two behavioural points of interest. First, it seemed to me that the two at Ulan Bator, which frequently associated closely with larger waders such as Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, were using them as watch-dogs. When the larger, longer-necked birds saw me, they invariably took flight and were instantly followed by the stints. Secondly, I can con- firm that, as mentioned by Wallace (1974), Long-toed adopts an un- usually pronounced alert posture when alarmed, as shown in my drawing (fig. 2). They were always quick to detect my presence and, long before Fig. 2. Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta in summer plumage, Mongolia, May 1977, showing alert posture adopted when alarmed ( Alan R. Kitson) any Temminck’s showed unease, would cease feeding and stretch their necks up to a greater extent than I have seen done by other stints. I. J. Ferguson-Lees (in litt.) confirms that this neck stretching and generally elongated appearance was very characteristic of Long-toed in winter habitats in Sri Lanka. Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura During May, I saw snipes which were certainly not Snipe G. gallinago, although of the same size. Since Pintail has been taken in Mongolia far more widely than Swinhoe’s Snipe G. megala (Vaurie 1964) and the birds showed features not associated with Swinhoe’s by Madge ( 1 977) > I assumed that they were the former. I agree with the points that Madge made. In comparison with Snipe, the blunter wing tips, barred underwing and paler, browner upperwing of Pintail Snipe were obvious. I was parti- cularly struck by the similarity of the pale buff mottling on the upper- wing to that of Solitary Snipe G. solitaria. This character, and the lack of a prominent white trailing edge to the secondaries, makes Pintail Snipe look very different from Snipe. My birds rarely called, but, when they did, it was with a short, rasping ‘squik’ or ‘squok’. The note had a rather more definite structure than the usually extended call of Snipe. Long-toed. Stint , Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher 561 Those that I saw were migrants. They frequented grassy areas around pools and dykes. Unlike the ever-present Snipe, which stood probing in mud or flooded grass at the water’s edge, the Pintail Snipe consistently kept to higher, grassy ground and always sat. All members of a flock of 60 on 23rd, when the weather was inhospitable, with the temperature below freezing, behaved thus, sitting in grass up to their flanks, or behind tus- socks, apparently not feeding. Asiatic Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus I came across a total of 14 in Mongolia, all in summer plumage: two at Ogii Nor on 17th June and a flock of 12 at Hont Nor on 22nd June (Kitson 1978). I have found the descriptions of this species in the literature, for example King et at. (1975), somewhat confusing and I consider it important to stress that the Asiatic Dowitcher differs distinctly from its two Nearctic congeners in size, plumage pattern and voice. But for its true dowitcher bill, it is more likely to be mistaken for a Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica. To my eyes, Asiatic is the same size as Bar-tailed Godwit, and not smaller than that species as stated by King et at. (1975)- ^ was able to compare all 12 members of the flock at Hont Nor with a Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, doubtless of the small eastern race melanuroides (Vaurie 1965). I judged that they stood practically as tall and were equal in bulk. In general appearance too, I saw a resemblance to Bar-tailed. My notes on structure and plumage may be summarised as follows : Bill straight and thick with barely dis- cernible bulb immediately behind tip; bill length between 150 and 200% of head length. Leg length estimated to equal that of Bar-tailed, with feet fully protruding beyond tip of tail in flight and not partly so, as in Long-billed Dowitcher L. scolo- paceus. On ground, large snipe-like head and long, godwit-like neck striking; in flight, heavy body (and shallow wing beats) also noted. Both bill and legs black (former ruling out confusion with godwits). Head, throat, neck, breast and belly red, varying individually in tone from rusty to orange-red and apparently unmarked. Dark eye-stripe and paler supercilium. Mantle, upper forewing, outer primaries and tertials dark brown. Inner primaries and all secondaries silvery, sullied white on upper surface and palest on primaries and trailing edge of secondaries; pattern of silver on hindwing more pronounced than on Nearctic dowitchers and Spotted Red- shank Tringa erythropus. Underwing mainly white, with contrasting dark point and sullied dusky (but not noticeably barred) coverts. Stripe up back, rump and tail basically white, but heavily overlaid with black bars: back divide thus much less marked than on other dowitchers, which exhibit unmarked white blaze. Ventral area white, probably lightly barred or spotted, apparently the only marked part of underbody. Thus, the Asiatic Dowitcher is bigger, more robust and longer-legged than either Long-billed or Short-billed L. griseus. Its plumage pattern is distinctive, with paler upper hindwing and wing linings (the latter lacking heavy barring) and in summer virtually unmarked undeipaits and a less obvious white blaze up the back. My drawing (fig. 3) shows the main characters in flight. The usual call of my birds was a soft moaning ‘kiaow’, but once I heard a soft ‘kewik-kewik-kewik-ku’, which may have been a song phtase. 562 Long-toed. Stint, Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher Fig. 3. Asiatic Dowitcher Limnodrornus semipalmatus in flight, Mongolia, June 1977 {Alan R. Kitson ) Finally, it should be noted that I did not observe my birds using the ‘sewing machine’ feeding action considered characteristic of the genus Limnodrornus. Acknowledgements L wish to thank members of the British Embassy in Ulan Bator for their assistance duiing my stay in Mongolia, members of the British Council who negotiated my study, and Mongolian colleagues at the State University: Otgon Tsagaan, Gaadan and Professor Dashdorj. I am also indebted to Tim Parmenter for photographic advice, to the British Museum staff for access to skins, and to Sally for enduring my absence in Mongolia. Summary Field characters of Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta, Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura and Asiatic Dowitcher Limnodrornus semipalmatus are described, based on observations made in Mongolia in spring and summer 1977. References King, B. F., Dickinson, E. C., & Woodcock, M. W. 1976. A Field Guide to the Birds of South East Asia. London. Kitson, A. R. 1978. Notes on the waterfowl of Mongolia. Wildfowl 29: 23-30. Madge, S. C. 1977. Field identification of Pintail Snipe. Brit. Birds 70: 146-152. S 1 .ATI: r , P. 1970. A hield Guide to Australian Birds. Non-passerines. Adelaide. Vaurie, C. 1964. A survey of the birds of Mongolia. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 127. 105-143. lg65. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Non-passeriformes. London. Wallace, D. I. M. 1974. Field identification of small species in the genus Calidris. Brit. Birds 67: 1-17. Alan R. Kitson, 43 Channel View Road, Woodingdean, Brighton , Sussex BN2 6dr Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland C. D. Hutchinson and Brian Neath kTM Far commoner now; but do the patterns of records shed any light on the reasons for the increase and the probable origin? Since the early 1950s, short papers and notes scattered in the regional ornithological literature of Britain and Ireland have indicated an increase in the number of Little Gulls Larus minutus recoided in various parts of these islands. The status of the species has been reviewed for at least eight widely scattered counties of mainland Britain, and also for Ireland (Hutchinson 1972): in all cases, increases in the frequency of records and the occurrence of much larger parties than hitherto were reported. Since these accounts covered only very limited areas, and most were published in local journals or reports, there is an obvious need for a general review of all records of Little Gulls. This paper outlines the status in Britain and Ireland, based on an analysis of the recoids up to the end of 1973. The great majority of the records have been extracted from the annual bird reports of the English and Welsh county and regional ornithological societies, Scottish Birds and the Irish Bird Report. The Scottish, Irish and major county avifaunas were consulted for older records. Supplementary unpublished data were obtained from county and regional recorders, bird observatory wardens and other individuals. One of us (BN) began a search of the literature in the early 1960s and requests for information were published in British Birds, Bird Study and Scottish Birds. Much useful information was received from some areas, but in general the response was poor. For comparison between areas, we have estimated the minimum number of Little Gulls recorded in every county in every month. Some counties, such as Sussex, published records in this form themselves, but most gave summaries of status each month and details of the largest 563 [Brit. Birds 71 : 563-582, December 1978] Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 564 counts. In these cases, we have used our judgement to estimate the mini- mum number which occurred. When making these estimates, we have assumed that the number per month is the highest count unless (a) lrom an analysis of the ages of the birds recorded, it is clear that there were more, or (b) it is indicated by the narrative of the source that different birds were involved in a series of sightings. Some counties gave very much abbreviated summaries (e.g. ‘1-4 on 48 dates in all months except Jan- uary’) and in these cases we sought further information from the editor or recorder and converted the records to birds per month. The old county names and boundaries have been used throughout, as the majority of the records under consideration occurred before the reorganisation of county boundaries in England and Wales on 1st April 1974 and in Scotland on 16th May 1975- Status in Britain and Ireland (a) Up to igoo The first known record is of an immature shot near Chelsea, London, ‘before 1813’; by the end of the 19th century, the Little Gull had become recognised as a scarce but fairly regular autumn and winter visitor to the east and south coasts of England. Throughout western Britain, Scotland and Ireland it was extremely rare, although the few Scottish records included some surprisingly large parties for that period: seven or eight together in the Old Harbour at Dunbar, East Lothian, in 1840 and ten in Orkney on 8th October 1899. Occurrences on the east coast were often associated with severe gales and there was an exceptional influx in such conditions in February 1870, when at least 1 1 r were seen, the majority being shot. The largest numbers were obtained in Yorkshire and East Anglia, but there were records from all along the east and south coasts from Northumberland to Devon. Generally, only single birds were seen and the remaining 226 Little Gulls recorded in England and Wales up to 1900 included only four records of more than two together. The month of occurrence is known for 176 of these: all but 17 were between September and March. (b) 1900-33 In the first 34 years of this century, Little Gulls continued to occur primarily as scarce autumn and winter visitors to the east and south coasts. There was, however, a tendency for relatively fewer to appear in winter and more in spring and summer. Of the 201 dated records for this period in England and Wales, only 21% occurred between December and March, compared with 44% before 1900. The months April to July in- clusive showed an increase from 5% to 17%. The species remained rare in western Britain and Ireland, but in Scotland there was an increase in the number of records from the Tay and Forth areas. The shortage of observers in eastern Scotland unfortun- ately resulted in the records being very spasmodic, but it seems probable that the Little Gull’s association with the counties of Angus, Perth and Fife began during this period, for it was recorded there in all months 207. Adult Little Gull Larus minutus, Cornwall, March 1969 (J. B. & S. Bottomley ) 208. Adult Little Gull Larus minutus, Tyne & Wear, September 1977 ( Daniel M. Turner ) Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 567 209. Juvenile Little Gull Larus mimitus, Lincolnshire/Norfolk, August 1974 ( Keith Atkin ) except February, March and August. The only large flock seen during this period was about 30 off Redcar, Yorkshire, in October 1905. Parties of seven were reported at Lowestoft, Suffolk, in August 1927 and at Berwick, Northumberland, in January 1930. (c) 1934-73 Fairly comprehensive information is available for this 40-year period, and a detailed analysis of these data has shown that the status of the Little Gull changed completely in most parts of Britain and Ireland (figs. 1-4)- 500 — 400 — 300 — 200 — 100 — |34|35(36|37|38|39|4Oi4l|42|43|44(4S|46|47|48(49l50|5l|52l53lM|55|56|57|58|59|6O|61|62|63)64]6S!66|trl6fi|69i70|7l|n!/3l Fig. i . Numbers of Little Gulls Larus minutus in five areas on east coast of England in each year during 1934-73 From the late 1940s, flocks of from 40 to 135 began to appear annually in the Firths of Tay and Forth, mostly during spring (March to April) and autumn (August to November). From the early 1960s, even larger flocks were recorded, including some of more than 500. In other parts of Britain, the increase was less spectaculai and much later. There is little evidence that the more frequent observations during 210. First-winter Little Gull Larus minutus, Cornwall, March 1973 {J. B. & S. Bottomley) Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 568 the 1 940s and 1950s were anything more than a reflection of the larger number of birdwatchers, combined with a greater interest in sea-watching. From 1952, however, flocks of up to 30 were observed on autumn passage in Kent, and, from 1956, flocks of up to 35 began to appear in autumn in Durham, both on the coast and at inland reservoirs; on 24th September 1964, there was an extraordinary influx of at least 200 at Hurworth Burn Reservoir. Large westerly movements were observed off Portland Bill, Dorset, in the autumns of i960 and 1961 ; although these have not been repeated in subsequent years, a steady increase in the annual totals seen in southwest England began at about that time. In the mid 1960s, larger numbers began to be reported from inland and northwest England and from Ireland. During the late 1960s, the increase gathered momentum, with flocks of over 100 becoming regular on the Lancashire coast, and the species appearing annually in Wales. Between 1970 and 1973, there were large increases in Yorkshire, Norfolk, Kent and all along the south coast of England; parties of 24 to 30 occurred in widely scattered localities in Wales; and the first sub- stantial flocks appeared in Ireland, including a flock of 45 in February 1972, and 134 off the Wicklow coast in October and November 1973- Most of this increase took place in the autumn migration period and |34|35j36l37i38l39|40|4l|43]43M4S|4«|47|48|49|so(sl|SQ|S3|S4|ss|M|S7|S8|59|60|&l|63|&3|64|6s|66l67|6S|69|7oi7l|r2l73l Fig. 2. Numbers of Little Gulls Lams minutus in three areas on south coast ol England in each year during 1934-73 Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 569 approximately three-quarters of all the Little Gulls reported in England and Wales were seen during August to November. In Scotland, the autumn passage occurred slightly earlier, and about 75% °f those recorded there were during July to October. The species was, however, more frequently recorded at all times ol the Somerset and North Devon English inland counties 154]35M37|38|39l«0|41 |42|43|44|4Sli6|47T48|49|50)51|Stl 153|54|55 |56|57|58|59|aO)61 |A2|63)64|&S|6t|67|68 |W170|71|r2|73| Fig. 3. Numbers of Little Gulls Larus minutus in five areas ol western and inland England and Wales in each year during 1934-73 Rest of Scot I and 100 — j |34|35|36l37)38t39l40l4l|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|50|5l|52|53|54|SS|5«|57|S«|59|60|6l|62l63|64|65|66l67|68|69|70|7l|7J|73 Fig. 4. Numbers of Little Gulls Larus minutus in Scotland in each year during 1934-73 Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 570 year and in most areas. One exception was on the east coast of England, where Little Gulls became scarcer during the winter months (December to March) from about 1950, apart from one major influx in December 1959, and there were still some areas where they remained rare: the Isles of Scilly, Cumbria, and north and northwest Scotland, including the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. (d) 1973 status English east coast Common autumn passage migrant, moving north and south along coast between Northumberland and Yorkshire and flying west along north- facing coasts of Norfolk and Kent from July to November; also assembling at freshwater localities close to coast, such as Hurworth Burn Reservoir, Durham, and Hornsea Mere, Yorkshire. Rare along this entire coastline in winter, and uncommon in spring. Small parties of immatures appear at favoured localities in June and often stay through July. Most-frequented sites in summer are Cresswell Ponds, Northumberland, the Tees Marshes and Minsmere, Suffolk. south and southwest England Common autumn passage migrant with regular westerly movements observed at Dunge- ness, Kent; Beachy Head, Sussex; and Selsey Bill, Sussex, from August to October, a few remaining through winter, especially in Dorset and farther west. In spring, peaks in Devon and Cornwall in February and March, and regular easterly movements at Beachy Head and Dungeness in April and May. Numbers usually much smaller than in autumn, but 355 flew east at Dungeness on 4th May 1974. Unusual spring feature is regular occurrence of flock of about 20 at Arlington Reservoir, Sussex, in April. As on East Coast, small flocks of immatures summer at favoured haunts, such as Radipole Lake, Dorset; Langstone Harbour, Hampshire; and Dungeness. northwest England Present on south Lancashire coast throughout year, often in large numbers, but, in contrast, extremely rare from Morecambe Bay to Solway. Flocks of over 100, sometimes over 200, in August and September, mostly in vicinity of Alt Estuary, near Forntby, Lancashire, and flocks also regular in May and June at Crosby Marina/Seaforth Dock complex and on Ribble Marshes, both in Lancashire. Situation during rest of year 211. Adult summer Little Gull Larus minutus, Lincolnshire, June 1973 (Keith Atkin) Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 571 212. First-summer Little Gull Larus minutus, Lincolnshire, June 1975 ( Keith Atkin) not at all clear. Large flocks have occurred in all months, but not consistently. Those seen in January to March could be early spring migrants, or may result from weather movements of a wintering population in Irish Sea. South Lancashire is one of three major haunts in Britain and Ireland. inland England Recorded at inland waters in all months, but most occur in April, May, August and September; least likely to be seen from December to March. Although large flocks appear at some fresh- water haunts near coast, singles and parties of up to five more usual farther inland, seldom exceeding 12 at any one water. Most frequented localities are in areas with greatest concentrations of reservoirs, such as London and West Midlands. wales Reported throughout year, but scarce from November to February. Flocks of 15 to 27 appear in April and May in such localities as Blackpill and Kenfig Pool, Glamorgan, and Portmadoc/ Minffordd, Caernarvon. More widespread from August to October, but generally in smaller parties. ANGUS, FIFE and Perth Firths of Tay and Forth are still the two major haunts in Britain and Ireland. Present throughout year, with large numbers from March to October, and peaks in April/May and July to September. Principal localities Monifieth on Firth of Tay and Largo Bay and Kilconquhar Loch on Firth of Forth, where over 500 at times. (Many data in Boase 1961, 1962, 1964, 197°-) REST OF SCOTLAND Despite large numbers in Firths of Tay and Forth, and dramatic increase in other parts ot Britain and Ireland, remains remarkably uncommon over most of Scotland. Regular south of Forth, but in very small numbers, in May and from August to October. In northeast and southwest, occurs in similarly small numbers from July to September. Else- where, occurrences very few. In Orkney and Shetland, mostly in May and June. Ireland Regular spring migrant in south- east, mostly in May, but small parties of first-years summer at brackish lagoons in some years. In August and September, steady passage of singles and small parties on south coast and, to lesser extent, else- where. In October and November, large flocks (up to 140) appear in some years on east coast. Rare in December, but influxes on east and west coasts in January and February. West coast records mainly from sheltered Galway Bay. In largest influxes, adults outnumber immaturcs. MIGRATORY MOVEMENTS (fig- fl) First autumn migrants arrive east Scotland, 572 Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland northeast England and Kent late July and early August. During August and Septem- ber, passage heavy along East Coast, in Irish Sea and along Kent, Sussex and Hampshire coasts. Peak numbers occur east Scotland and northwest England in August; in most of remainder of Britain in September. The peak in Ireland and in Norfolk, however, is in October, and in Cornwall in November. While numbers drop rapidly in October in northeast Britain, Norfolk peak is complemented by large numbers on Yorkshire coast and influx on north coast of Kent, indicating arrival of second wave of migrants (Oliver 1976). This late passage continues through November in Norfolk and Kent, and even extends into December in some years. Spring passage most noticeable in Irish Sea, southwest England, southeast England and east Scotland. Peaks occur in south- west England in March, in southeast England and east Scotland in April/May and in Irish Sea and northeast England in May /June. Spring numbers much lower than those in autumn, with average ratio of approxi- mately one to four. (e) Behaviour, site preference and age ratios The Little Gull occurs in a wide range of habitats and can turn up almost anywhere at any time of year. It is mostly associated with water (fresh, brackish and salt), but has also been observed on a number of occasions following the plough, usually in the company of Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus. As the species has become more numerous, however, certain preferred habitats have become apparent. Two sites which have consistently attracted large flocks for many years are Monifieth and Largo Bay : at both sites, a freshwater burn runs out to sea across a shore of fine sand. Since 1968, Little Gulls have occurred in large numbers on the Alt Estuary, another area of extensive sandy beaches and, again, the mouth of a small river is the centre of activity. In August 1975, 103 were seen at a similar site at Castle Eden Dene Mouth, Durham. These sandy beaches are generally used only as roosts, the gulls flying out to feed over the sea; when winged insects are abundant, however, they have been seen feeding in the air over adjacent sand dunes. We have only one record of Little Gulls feeding on the foreshore: on 2nd July i960, BN watched 30 immatures and one adult at the mouth of Buddon Burn, Monifieth, picking at the surface of the mud and wading into the shallow water running across the beach. The largest flocks reported in Ireland have been seen along an 8-km stretch of steeply sloping sandy and shingle beaches in Co. Wicklow in January-February and October-November. They have never been seen roosting on this shoreline, but instead are seen feeding off the coast, resting on the sea or flying north or south along the coast. There is evidence to suggest that some show a preference for feeding over fresh or brackish water near to the coast in spring and early summer. Such feeding behaviour has been observed at several localities where the species is more regular in spring than in autumn, including Crosby • 1-25 . 26-50 • 51-75 • 76-100 • 101-150 • 151-200 •201-250 0 251-300 • 301- A 401- A 501- A601- A 01 ^^801- ^^901- ^^1001- 400 V 500 W 600 W 700 800 900 lOOO^B 2000 Fig. 5. Distribution by regions of I.iltlc Gulls Larus minutus in Britain and Ireland in each month, 1969-73 MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY JUNE APRIL SEPTCM3ER AUGUST DECEMBER NOVEMBER OCTOBER § Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 574 150—1 100 — 50- I J I F I Ml A |M[ J IJ I A I S I O I N I D I IjIfImIaImU |J I A 1 S I O I IM 1 D I Fig. 6. Numbers of Little Gulls Larus minutus recorded each month at beaches and at lagoons on east coast of Ireland, 1969-73. Adults and second-years shown in black Marina/Seaforth Docks in south Lancashire, Morton Locks in Fife and the brackish lagoons behind beaches in Co. Wicklow and Co. Wexford (fig. 6). Other freshwater lakes and reservoirs within a few kilometres of the coast are mostly frequented in July and August: these include Kil- conquhar Loch in Fife, Hurworth Burn Reservoir and Hornsea Mere. Little Gulls are also seen in numbers passing certain sea-watching promontories, particularly in autumn on the east coast between Hartle- pool, Durham, and Spurn, Yorkshire, and along the southeast coast from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, to Selsey Bill. Most of the few records relating to spring migration are from southeast England, particularly Beachv Head and Dungeness. Throughout Britain and Ireland, immatures are, on average, three or four times more frequent than adults. In the two areas, however, where the Lagoons Table 1. Percentages of adult and second-year Little Gulls Larus minutus of all those aged in each month at selected localities Asterisk (*) indicates sample of five or less Locality Individuals and years Jan Feb Mar Apr 1 MayJ un J ul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec in sample Angus-Fife- Tay, 1948-73 88 69 79 32 47 •5 89 63 89 77 65 63 3 >240 Lancashire, Feb 1969-Feb 1974 (after Smith 1974) 87 92 59 55 O 16 90 92 70 45 2 1,217 F.nglish inland counties, •934-73 42 67 20 53 32 12 30 9 •7 35 31 70 75° Ireland, i969-73 26 34 25 20 6 20 24 38 •9 36 43 5° 722 Cornwall, •961-73 •7 3i •2 32 80* _ - 27 4 7 31 32 426 Durham, 1967-73 100* IOO* IOO* 9 22 26 21 38 IOO* 57 _ 361 Northumber- land, 1961-73 0* ()* 50* 20* 6 6 • 6 63 23 24 37 0* 285 Somerset, '965-73 20* — l6 12 12 o' * 0* 13 12 30 18 () 283 Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 575 largest numbers occur — south Lancashire and east Scotland — adults outnumber immatures from January to March and from July to Septem- ber, often by as large a ratio as four or five to one (table i ) . Only from April to June, when the majority of adults have returned to the breeding grounds, do the flocks in these areas regularly contain a higher proportion of first-years. In other areas, the highest adult to immature ratios occur from November to February, although, at inland waters, small parties of up to four or five adults appear most frequently in April and May. (f) Breeding indications Up to 1950, June and July were the months when the Little Gull was least likely to be seen in Britain and Ireland. From 1952 onwards, how- ever, the species has been recorded annually in these months and, since 1966, there has been a sharp increase. Small summering flocks of im- matures have been established in many areas and, between 1957 and 1970, there were eight records of Little Gulls in breeding colonies of other gulls (table 2). Sharrock (1976) gave three records of possible breeding during 1968 to 1972. In 1975, a nest was found in a colony of about 100 pairs of Black-headed Gulls in the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire/ Norfolk, but the three eggs and the female were destroyed by predators, probably brown rats Rattus norvegicus (Carson et at. 1977)* Status and movements in Europe, the Atlantic and North America (a) Europe and eastern Atlantic Analysing the British and Irish data in the wider context of the species’ status in Europe and the recent colonisation of North America highlights how little is known about the movements of the Little Gull outside the breeding season. Table 2. Little Gulls Larus minutus in colonies of Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla or Black- headed Gulls L. ridibundus during breeding season Year County Comment 1957 Kent Pair in gullery on Stoke saltings during May 1958 Yorkshire Adult in gull colony for about two weeks from 17th June, until heavy rains caused many birds to desert; performed aerial display, involving shallow dive with neck and head held up •959 Dorset Adult in Kittiwake colony at Portland from 22nd April to 25th June; carrying nesting material on 6th June 1964 Norfolk Adult and first-summer in aerial display at Cley marsh on 24th April; first-summer present until 29th. Presumably same pair discovered subsequently at Salthouse in gull colony, where fre- quently displaying between 20th and 26th May 1966 Yorkshire Adult present in gull colony in Derwent Valley from 14th to 28th May; seen to display 1966 Suffolk One made scrape and built thin nest on island at the Scrape at Minsmere in June 1967 Dorset Immature in Kittiwake colony at Portland during June 1970 Cardigan Adult in gull colony at Tregaron on 13th May 576 Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland Fig. 7. Breeding distribution of the Little Gull Larus minutus in western Europe (after Erard i960) The three main breeding areas are eastern Siberia, western Siberia and a large stretch of northern Europe eastwards from the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic. There are small isolated colonies in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and parts of southeast Europe (fig. 7). Nesting was first proved in Denmark in 1905; between 1920 and 1 94° about 100 pairs were estimated to be breeding; but -in the 1940s and 1950s the population was considered to be between 20 and 50 pairs (Erard i960). Nowadays, there are between ten and 30 pairs (T. Dybbro in litt.). A small colony, discovered in the Netherlands in 1942, built up to 15 pairs (Haverschmidt 1946), but was abandoned in 19565 ar*d breeding was not proved again until 1972 (Marra 1973). In Poland, Tomialojc (1972) described the Little Gull’s status as ‘Extremely scarce breeder in the north; regular only on Lake Druzno (in 1962 — 14 pairs), sporadic in a few other places.’ Erard (i960) considered the species to be mostly resident in the extreme eastern part of its range; those recorded in Britain and Ireland in autumn probably all originate west of the Urals. Some fly overland across Germany and Austria to the Black and Mediterranean Seas, following the Rhine and the Danube and, to a lesser extent, the Oder and Elbe, but many others probably move on a broad front (Erard i960, Isenmann 1975). The overland route is, however, adopted by far fewer in autumn than in spring (Knotsch 1964, Isenmann 1975), and the main dispersal from the breeding grounds appears to be via the Baltic into the North Sea. Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 577 In late July and early August, numbers begin to build up in east Scotland and, soon after, huge flocks of up to 1,000 occur at Zeebrugge on the Belgian coast (van Impe 1966), several hundred remaining until mid September. Adults occur first, around mid August, and immatures follow, from the end of the month (Vande Weghe 1962). In contrast, the peak numbers at Cap Gris Nez on the French coast are in October and early November (Oliver 1977); the largest movements so far recorded there were of over 1,400 during three days in October 1970 (Oliver & Davenport 1972) and of about 1,900 during three days in October 1974 (Oliver 1977). The movements at Cap Gris Nez coincide with the secondary wave of migrants in eastern England, which is noted primarily in Yorkshire, Norfolk and north Kent. In winter, Little Gulls occur in the Caspian, Black and Mediterranean Seas, in the eastern Atlantic Ocean south to west Africa, and northwest to the Faeroes, Iceland and Greenland. Erard (i960) considered, however, that the main winter quarters were in the Mediterranean, particularly at both the western and eastern ends, with a second, large wintering area in the North Sea, the English Channel and along the French Atlantic coast. Vaurie (1965) referred to the Little Gull as a pelagic species in winter, comparing it with the Sabine’s Gull L. sabini. In December and January, flocks of several hundred have been reported, usually in gales, from much of the Atlantic coast of Europe. Dr W. R. P. Bourne (in litt .) has observed parties moving in to coastal lagoons in Cyprus during stormy weather in winter, but they do not settle there for long. The best-documented observations of the return migration in spring on the Atlantic coast are those by S. Bamiere at Cap Gris Nez from March to May 1974 (P. J. Oliver in litt.). They show that very large numbers of Little Gulls, mostly adults, move northeast through the English Channel in April: a total of 2,225 was counted between 30th March and 30th April, of which 1,752 were adults, 12 second-years and 218 first-years, the other 243 remaining unaged. Smaller numbers were seen in May, and only one in the nine days before 30th March. The main spring movement in Denmark and Sweden occurs in May (Bruun 1968). In the Mediterranean, Isenmann (1975) recorded flocks of up to 1,560 at the Camargue in southern France in April and May; adults predomi- nated in April, and first-years in May. (b) The colonisation of North America The Little Gull has been known as an autumn and winter visitor to the east coast of North America from Newfoundland south to New Jersey and west to the Great Lakes since the late 19th century. The first Canadian breeding record was in 1962 (Scott 1963)3 when thiee nests weie found near Lake Ontario. Breeding took place at the same site again in 1963 and at several other Canadian localities in subsequent yeais, but was not proved in the United States until 1975, when four nests were found in Wisconsin (Tessen 1 9 75) • Although the number of bleeding lecoids is few, the large increase in numbers of adults, second-years and fiist-yeais in recent years suggests the presence of a larger breeding population than Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 578 the published records indicate. The origin of Little Gulls in North America is a matter of some con- troversy. Baillie (1963) argued that, as they occur in North America in association with Bonaparte’s Gulls L. Philadelphia, some of those breeding in eastern Siberia might make contact with Alaskan Bonaparte’s Gulls in the region of the Bering Strait and migrate southeastwards with them. In June 1975, several Little Gulls were seen in the Yukon in northwest Canada, and there have been observations on the west coast of North America since 1968 (Johnson & Adams 1977). There is, however, no evidence as yet of Little Gulls nesting in far-eastern Siberia and no Alaskan records, so it seems more likely that the association with Bona- parte’s Gulls has led Little Gulls west and northwest from eastern North America, rather than the reverse. Other authors, notably Bruun (1968), have assumed that those occur- ring in eastern North America originated in Europe. The species’ wide- spread distribution in autumn off southwest Europe, and as a vagrant, south to Nigeria (Wallace 1973) and west to Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland in the north and Bermuda in the south, indicates how readily it wanders in the North Atlantic. Bruun (1968) suggested a dual exodus from the Baltic in autumn, the second one farther to the north in October and November, bringing Little Gulls into the Atlantic north of Scotland at a time when easterly gales are particularly frequent and some Little Gulls reach North America. The occurrence of two waves of migrants from the Baltic to the North Sea and English Channel has al- ready been referred to, and observations in southeast Sweden (Edelstam 1973) corroborate it, but sightings in northern Scotland are very rare at any season and there is no reason to suppose that the later birds move farther north. It seems more likely that some stray across the Atlantic each year by a variety of routes, rather than by a movement to the north of Scotland. Some may drift across from southwest Europe to the Caribbean in the northeast trade winds as Dr W. R. P. Bourne ( in litt.) has suggested, but records from Iceland and Greenland indicate a northerly element as well. Whichever route the birds follow, some Little Gulls appear in the vicinity of Buffalo, New York, from late August, and passage reaches peaks of up to ten in a day in late September and again in November (Burger & Brownstein 1968). Late August is remarkably early for any to have crossed the Atlantic: summering in North America seems more likely; even if those in late September originated in Europe, they must have crossed the Atlantic much earlier than Bruun suggested. Discussion The Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland are mainly spring and autumn migrants from the western and central European population. I he breeding range ol these birds covers a wide area, but ringing has been concentrated at relatively few sites in Estonia, Lithuania and f inland, on the fringe of the Baltic, so we do not know the extent ol their area ol origin. Nor do we know whether they winter along restricted stretches of Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 579 the western European seaboard; how many move into the Mediterranean, or how far from land they spend the winter months. We do know, however, that flocks occur occasionally in December and January gales in bays or coastal lagoons on the west coast ot Euiope. Although Little Gulls are capable of transatlantic wandering, their occurrence in gales indicates that many are wintering not very far from land. The species can hardly, therefore, be considered pelagic like the Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla or Sabine’s Gull, with which Vaurie (1965) compared it. Off Britain and Ireland, there is evidence that some now spend at least late winter in the south Irish Sea, close to the coast of Angus and Fife and off Galway Bay. Records are still very rare in Decem- ber, even in these areas, but in January, February and March small flocks— usually mostly adults— occur, particularly when the wind is blowing onshore or in anticyclonic conditions. These flocks usually disappear out to sea when the weather changes, but they or others appear with the return of suitable weather. Although not strictly pelagic, Little Gulls do move from their inland breeding areas to the sea in autumn. Records of adults in eastern Scotland in July and August and on the Belgian coast in August are indications of early movement away from the breeding colonies, although this dispersal appears to be rather restricted. In Ireland, for example, only 19% of those seen in September during 1969-73 were adults; similarly in most paits of Britain and Ireland, except eastern Scotland and Lancashire, immatures greatly outnumbered adults. It seems likely that many adults remain in the Baltic and North Seas, and smaller numbers in the Irish Sea, until October, when there is a sudden exodus of all except a few wintering birds. The preponderance of adults among at least some of the late September and early October flocks at Cap Gris Nez supports this view. The few ringing recoveries, together with observations from Scotland, indicate that most juveniles have a rather similar, but slightly later, dis- persal from their natal colonies. Of 12 Little Gulls ringed as fledglings in Finland Estonia and Lithuania and recovered before the end of October in the year of ringing, two had moved up to 220 km NNE, two south across central Europe, and the remainder were recovered in the Baltic or North Seas. None was recovered southwest of the Netherlands 01 in the Mediterranean. From observations in Britain and Ireland, we know that iuvenile Little Gulls reach Kilconquhar Loch in eastern Scotland from mid August and are recorded on the east and south coasts in September but the ringing recoveries confirm that some remain in the Baltic unti October. From November to February, first-winter birds are rarely seen in British and Irish waters. r ,, Six recoveries between mid July and mid October in the year following fledging show that at least some return towards their natal area during their first summer and remain into October : two were recovered close to the original ringing site in Lithuania, in August and October, and the other four were recovered in the Baltic or North Seas. The most economical explanation of the initial dispersal from the breeding colonies, followed by a later movement away from the coast, is Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 58° that the limited nature of the first dispersal permits Little Gulls to undergo their autumn moult in relatively sheltered conditions, a suggestion similar to that advanced by Bourne (1970) to explain the pattern of occurrence of Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus in Britain : a post-breeding dispersal to late-summer quarters where they regularly complete their moult, followed in some, but not all, cases by a late-autumn movement to regular winter quarters. In spring, Little Gulls appear on return passage to the Baltic, both adults and first-years being involved. The pattern of ringing recoveries suggests that Little Gulls tend to return towards the natal colony in the first summer after fledging; Black-headed Gulls and some Kittiwakes show the same tendency (Coulson 1966, Cox & Flegg 1972). The move- ment of many first-year Little Gulls in May into habitats similar to that in which the adults breed may be allied initially to this homing. Those first-years which do not reach the breeding range usually move on to lagoons. Later, in late June and early July, marshes and lagoons, such as Farlington Marshes in Hampshire, Minsmere in Suffolk and Gresswell Ponds in Northumberland, provide the conditions suitable for moulting. The most perplexing aspect of the Little Gull records in Britain and Ireland is their increase. Although there has been an enormous growth in popular interest in ornithology over the past 40 years, which has exag- gerated its extent, there can be no doubt that the increase has been real. Until the early 1950s, and with the exception of eastern Scotland, the Little Gull was at best a scarce bird throughout Britain and Ireland. The increase was first noted in Angus and Fife; then, in the 1950s, on the east and south coast of England; and, finally, on the west coast of Britain and in Ireland, with even greater numbers in the areas already frequented. This increase culminated in the breeding attempt in 1975. Clearly, during the period of increase, substantial numbers of Little Gulls have been taking a more westerly route when dispersing from and returning to their breeding areas. The most likely explanation is that there has been an expansion of the breeding population, but our knowledge of the Little Gull’s status on the edge of its range does not support this hypothesis. The history of breeding in Denmark and the Netherlands does not lend any support to a theory of an increasing population, but it may be that the species has increased considerably farther east without attracting attention. The fact that the dramatic nature of the increase in the Kittiwake population — by 50% every ten years since 1900 — was not detected until 1959 (Coulson 1963) illustrates how easily quite massive population fluctuations can be overlooked. The alternative explanation, that a much larger proportion of the Little Gull breeding population disperses through the English Channel and across England nowadays than formerly, seems much less likely. Acknowledgements Without the carefully recorded observations of thousands of birdwatchers and the hard work of local bird report editors, papers such as this could never be written: we arc grateful to them all. A number of people went to considerable trouble to provide us with additional information: for their assistance in supplying unpublished data we wish to Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 5®1 thank R. H. Appleby, E. L. Arnold, R. H. Baillie, the late Rev. J. E. Beckerlegge, D. F. Billett, W. D. Campbell, A. H. Chapman, Mrs S. Cowdy, Dr P. J. Dare, J. W. Donovan, D. A. Dorling, G. E. Dunmore, T. Dybbro, R. A. Eades, B. Galloway, N. L. Hodson, P. Hope Jones, C. M. James, Miss N. Jenkins, H. Lapworth, R. R. Lovegrove, J. R. Mather, R. McAndrew, J. M. McMeeking, R. A. McWilliams, J. Mullins, Miss E. M. Palmer, A. G. Parsons, J. Partridge, Major A. D. Peirse-Duncombe, Dr R. J. Raines, N. Riddiford, D. H. Roberts, Major R. F. Ruttledge, R. E. Scott, K. G. Spencer, P. J. Stead, R. Stokoe, the late G. W. Temperley, B. Unwin, Mrs P. V. Upton, A. E. Vine and R. Waters. Robert Hudson was unfailingly helpful in forwarding journals from the BTO Lending Library; P. F. Bonham and S. Holohan also provided us with copies of papers. Robert Spencer supplied us with details of ringing recoveries. Earlier drafts of this paper were read and commented on by Dr W. R. P. Bourne, T. C. Kelly, P. J. Oliver, Major R. F. Ruttledge and Dr P. H. Smith. Summary Up to the early 1950s Little Gulls Larus minulus were scarce on the east and south coasts of England, appearing largely in autumn, and were even rarer elsewhere, except in Angus and Fife, where flocks had been regular since at least the early 1940s. On the east and south coasts of England, an increase began in the 1950s. It became even more pronounced in the 1960s; and was then especially evident in eastern Scotland and the Irish Sea. By 1973, Little Gulls occurred commonly in many parts of Britain and Ireland in autumn on dispersal from their breeding grounds to the sea. In winter, they occur close to land in adverse weather conditions, mainly in eastern Scotland and the Irish Sea, but also off western Ireland. The spring movement represents the return passage to the breeding area. Some first-years remain on marshes during the summer to moult, and in 1975 breeding was attempted in Britain for the first time. It is suggested that Little Gulls undertake a dual dispersal after breeding: the first to sheltered bays where they moult; the second farther out to sea for the winter. The increase in records is discussed: it seems most probable that it is due to an increase in the breeding population east of the Baltic. The species began to nest in North America in 1962. The source of the American colonists is discussed in the context of the Little Gull’s migrations in western Europe. References Baillie, J. L. 1963. Three bird immigrants from the Old World. Trans. Roy. Canad. Inst. 34(H) : 95-105. Boase, H. 1961. Birds of North and East Perth. Private publication. 1962. Birds of Angus. Private publication. 1964. Birds of North Fife. Private publication. 1970. Bird records of the Tay area. Private publication. ... Bourne, W. R. P. 1957. Manx Shearwaters, Little Gulls and other seabirds wintering off the Algerian coast. Ibis 99: 1 17- 1 1 8. . _ iq70 Field characters and British status of Mediterranean Gulls. Brit. Birds 63 : 91-93. Bruun, B. 1968. Migration of Little Gulls Larus minutus in the North Atlantic region. Dansk. Orn. Foren. Tidsskr. 62: 126-136. Burger, J., & Brownstein, R. 1968. The Little Gull in western New York. Kingbird Cornford, G. A., & Thomas, G. J. 1977. Little Gulls nestinS on the °use Washes. Brit. Birds 70: 33 1 “332 *- . , „ . . , T . D. , c, Coulson, J. C. 1963. The status of the Kittiwake in the British Isles. Bird Study 10.147- I JQ. iq66. The movements of the Kittiwake. Bird Study 13: 107-115. . . r'nv C T & Flegg T T. M. 1972. Movement of Black-headed Gulls from colonies in England and Bird Study 19: -8-240 „ , „ . 0 RebforIQ7I. Cudworth, J. 1972. Little Gulls at Spurn. Yorkshire Nats. Union Orn. Rep. for 1971. Ed6e4 *l"stam, C. 1973. The visible migration of birds at Ottenby, Sweden. Vdr Fdgelv., Suppl. 7: 360. Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland 582 Erard, C. i960. Sur l’aire de reproduction, les zones d’hivernage et les migrations de la Mouette Pygmee Larus minutus Pallas. Alauda 28: 198-228. — — 1963. Complements a l’etude des migrations de Larus minutus Pallas. Alauda 31: 285-293. Ferguson-Lees, I. J. 1959. Photographic studies of some less familiar birds. 94. Little Gull. Brit. Birds 52 : 56-59. Furze, J. N. 1967. Little Gulls in Scotland. Sea Swallow 19: 18-26. Grierson, J. 1961. Little Gulls in Angus and Fife. Scot. Birds 1 : 362-367. Hutchinson, C. D. 1972. The changing status of the Little Gull Larus minutus in Ireland. Irish Bird Rep. 19: 1 1 -2 1 . Isenmann, P. 1975. Observations sur la Mouette Pygmee Larus minutus en Camargue de 1971 k 1974. La Terre et la Vie 29: 77-88. Johnson, S. R., & Adams, W. J. 1977. The Little Gull ( Larus minutus ) in arctic North America. Canad. Field-Nat. 91 : 294-296. Knotsch, G. 1964. Zum Durchzug der Zwergmowe Larus minutus in der Schweiz, in Siiddeutschland und in Osterreich. Orn. Beob. 61 : 34-42. Lassey, P. A., & Greenhalgh, M. E. 1969. Age ratios of Little Gulls on passage in Lancashire. Brit. Birds. 62: 385-386. Marra, N. 1973. Twee broedgevallen van de Dwergmeeuw Larus minutus in Oostelijk, Flevoland. Limosa 46: 240-242. Oliver, P. J. 1973. Little Gulls in the London area. London Bird Rep. 37: 56-60. 1976. Little Gulls in Kent. Kent Bird Rep. 23: 76-79. 1977. Autumn passage of Little Gulls at Cap Gris Nez. Alauda 45: 191-196. & Davenport, D. L. 1971. Large passage of seabirds at Cap Gris Nez. Seabird Rep. 2: 16-24. Ruttledge, R. F. 1974. Unprecedented numbers of Little Gulls in Ireland. Brit. Birds 67: 166-167. — — 1974. Abnormal numbers of Little Gulls in Ireland in summer. Brit. Birds 67: 514. Scott, G. A. 1963. First nesting of the Little Gull Larus minutus in Ontario and in the New World. Auk 80: 548-549. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1974. Scarce Migrant Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. Smith, P. H. 1974. The Little Gull in Lancashire. The Lapwing 1 : 4-5. Tessen, D. D. 1975. The nesting season: June i-July 31, 1975. Western Great Lakes Region. American Birds 29: 974-979. Tomialoj6, L. 1972. Ptaki Polski. Warsaw. van Damme, B. 1967. Nota over het overzomeren van Dwergmeeuwen Larus minutus Pallas in Belgie. Le Gerfaut 57: 221-224. Vande Weghe, J. P. 1962. De Dwergmeeuw Larus minutus Pallas in Belgie. Le Gerfaut 52: 353-369- van Impe, J. 1966. Note sur la migration d’automne de Larus minutus sur la cote Beige. Alauda 34: 63-65. Vaurie, C. 1965. The Birds of the Palear die Fauna. Non-Passeriformes. London. Wallace, D. I. M. 1973. Seabirds at Lagos and in the Gulf of Guinea. Ibis 1 15: 559-571. C. D. Hutchinson, 20 Dundanion Court, Blackrock, Cork Brian Neath, 17 Old Downs, Hartley, Dartford, Kent DA3 7aa European news This is the fourth summary of interesting records on the Continent, now established as a regular six-monthly feature. From the six participating countries in the first summary {Brit. Birds 70: 218-219), the total has now grown to 19 countries supplying records six-monthly or annually. We are \Brit. Birds 71: 582-587, December 1378] PEREGRINE HOLIDAYS at Town and Gown Travel 40/41, South Parade, Summertown, Oxford. 0X2 7JP Telephone 51 1 341 Telex 837321 Fully Bonded A to I No. 275B Dec 1978 - Jan 1979 (No. 62) Directors: Raymond Hodgkins M.A., (Oxon) MTAI Patricia Hodgkins MTAI Neville Wykes FAAI ACEA CONSERVATION Regular readers of this bulletin will know that there is a continuous preoccupa- tion by our company directors, with the promoting of the Conservation ideal. To this end a good deal of the company resources are devoted in cash, workhours and consultation, and we at Town and Gown Travel have a genuine feeling of pride in what we have achieved. In particular the Cretan Conservation Poster Project has been an unqualified success and the initial grant of £300 by 1CBP has been swollen to more than £750 by subscriptions from clients and readers of this bulletin. Enough for 5-colour heavy duty posters, showing eight striking birds with a message in Greek appealing to the public not to shoot them. It should be possible to reproduce the poster in our next bulletin. Encouraged by this, we propose to initiate or support a major conservation project each year, which leads us to the consideration of: — A DISGRACE TO WORLD TOURISM The Slaying of Mountain Gorillas for Heads and Hands as Tourist Souvenirs Those of you who have read George Schaller’s book “The Year of the Gorilla will already have an acquaintance with the characteristics and habits of the Mountain Gorilla, (Gorilla gorilla beringei) and his year’s study of them in the Virunga chain has been amplified by Dr. Dian Fossey in Rwanda. Articles in the Sunday Times, National Geographic and TV films have since brought the Mountain Gorilla into the ken of a very wide public indeed. This agency has promoted two tours to see Mountain Gorillas and Patricia Hodgkins our Sales Director has twice stood within a few feet of the famous Kasimir of the ITV film. Gorillas, despite their huge size - a dominant male (silverback) may weight 4001b - and immense strength, are peaceful, even lethargic animals with strong social instincts. They quickly become habituated to humans and having no natural enemies except ma a!re exceptionally vulnerable to trophy hunters. The Mountain Gorilla has always been under pressure from man through forest clearance andcultivation audj:ven quite recently, obscene as it may appear, European trophy hunters treated them 1 big game ,V . . The Rwanda Virunga population of beringei, never more than 1 00§0!Tad shrunk to about 500 in 1958 and is now reckoned at not more than 250 and recently, to the lashes laid upon the hapless Mountain Gorilla by man, has been added the most painful and disgraceful of all - the buy ing o/.?on/a heads, skulls and hands as souvenirs by mindless tourists. Happily, as far a know’, no British tourist has degraded himself and his country by sue a vTchadTearL^this appalling trade during a visit to theVuungaPark.n 1976 and passed on the information to the EPS, but it was not until Feb 1 978 that the storv of the Death of Digit, a wild gorilla, became public and thus afforded the sad end of Digit is best described by Dian fossey herself. THE DEATH OF DIGIT - continued “The harmless, beloved Digit was killed solely for his head and his hands, which the poachers had hastily hacked off and taken away. They left his mutilated corpse lying on its side on the edge of a flattened, blood-soaked area about 16 metres in diameter.” The Fauna Preservation Society (FPS) has since launched a Mountain Gorilla Project with Dr. A. (Sandy) Harcourt as coordinator. Sandy who worked for two years with Dian Fossey went with Dr. Kai Curry-Lindahl, world-renouned ecologist and Vice-president of FPS, and Brian Jackman (Sunday Times) to Rwanda in August 1978 to investigate and report — the first news they received was that two more of Dian’s gorillas had been slain. Again, apparently for tourist trophies, although only one head had been severed as the poachers were surprised by Karisoke Research Centre staff. The investigation resulted in some strong recommendations, chief of which were: — (a) That the present stimulus to poaching provided by the sale of gnsly souvenirs should be countered by effective propaganda aimed at educating tourists. (b) Paradoxically, that properly controlled tourist visits with habituated gorillas and more patrolled reserves, offered the best chance of conserving the gorilla population. (c) The need of international financial support for Rwanda, a poor country, if any conservation proposals were to get beyond paper recommendations. The Mountain Gorilla Project is now in being with £50,000 as its target. Obviously cash donations are urgently needed and, as the Israelis say “Help given at once, is help given twice”. Please help with a donation of any size, and send to:— Fauna Preservation Society, c/o Zoological Society of London, Regents Park NW1 4RY . .. or to us here at Oxford. Please make cheques out to Mountain Gorilla Project. Any donations over £2.00 received by us will receive in return a copy of the Mountain Gorilla Project Report and reprints of the Death of Digit from “Wildlife” and is possible a reprint of Brian Jackman’s Sunday Times article. Donations of over £5.00 received by us will be supplemented by £1.00 for each £5.00 value when passed on to Dr. Harcourt. IN ANY CASE, AS BEFORE STATED, THE RESOURCES OF THIS AGENCY WILL BE DIRECTED THROUGH 1979 TO THE SUPPORT OF AND PRO- MOTING THE FAUNA PRESERVATION SOCIETY MOUNTAIN GORILLA PROJECT. ******************************************* TOUR PROGRAMME - 1979 INDIA & NEPAL Feb 10-27 Birds Wildlife Photography £849 With Eric Hosking OBE FRPS. This tour should be of particular interest to photographers since at Bharatpur Sanctuary there are unrivalled opportunities for bird studies. Storks, cormorants, purple gallinules, even eagles and perhaps Siberian Cranes. Bharatpur is about the only accessible place where this endangered species can be seen and with luck photo- graphed. . . A few places left (Nov. 30). Brochure at once. NB. This tour will be repeated in 1980 and you are invited to register . . . Registration costs nothing, confers no obligation but gives you first sight of the brochure. SPRING IN VENICE Mar 4 - 1 1 Art, History £195 A revived version of a tour previously suspended because of lack of cooperation from the airline concerned in 1978. Our recent successful joint enterprise on Crete (now full) with British Airways has encouraged us to pre-empt a number of seats on their Venice programme. The tour will be based on the Saturnia Hotel, once a 14th Century Palace, now a 1st Class Hotel, retaining much of its Renaissance elegance. There will be walks through the peaceful streets and squares of Venice with our young Guest Lecturer Mark Davie MA: an optional excursion to Aquilia is an extra attraction and is considered the highlight of the tour. Price includes a book of coupons issued by the Venice Chamber of Commerce giving free entrance to main museums, galleries, churches and casino and reduced prices for opera, ballet and at shops and restaurants participating in the scheme. Brochure at once. VENEZUELA Mar 6 - 22 Birds & Wildlife £1011 This tour, despite its price increases, has proved immensely popular and is full. There is sometimes a cancellation through illness but, since it will be repeated in 1980 registration now is strongly recommended. SPRING IN CRETE Mar 8 - 1 b Flowers Leisure . £1®? The first tour (in 1978) produced some pleasant botanical surprises and was greatly enjoyed by all who travelled; as the tour was based as usual on the Minos Beach Hotel, Agios Nikolaos this is not really surprising! 1978 sees us again at this delightful hotel with the usual free and easy optional excursions done on an ad hoc basis to Knossos, Mallia, Lassithi etc. Francis Fearns Esq. for Flowers and Neville Wykes Esq. for Admin. Brochure at once. SPRING IN ARGOLIS Mar 1 3 — 22: 21 — 30 Sites Flowers £195: £215 At the ever-popular Minoa Hotel, Tolon, this third year tour already has some registrations at the time of writing (April 17). One of the most popular of the early tours the friendliness and qood cuisine of the family hotel; the shore location with mountains immediately behind and the easy access to Mycenae, Epidauros, Argos, Mistra etc., make this an ideal tour tor mixed interest groups. Possibilities of swimming and fishing add to the attraction. Hub* Synge B.Sc., for flowers, John Pinsent for sites and Patricia Hodgkins for Admin. Brochure at once. QPPiNft IN ISRAEL Mar 25 — Apr 7 Sites Flowers £540 Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Akko, Tiberias, Nazareth, Capernaeum, s^t, GaMlee, Hdzar, Beniyas, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Em Gedi. En Boqeq, Combines flower discovery and study with the opportunity of visiting | most of the major historical sites of Israel, all done at the pleasantest time of the year wher i the ^"trysrie at its best and tourist numbers relatively low. Includes once the pines of Mt. Carmel. Sites David Miles BA, flowers, Martin Jones BA. Brochure at on . SPRING IN CORFU Apr 9 - 1 6: 1 6 - 23: 23 - 30: May 7 -21 £1 55 & £255 This series will have the first two weeks with Anthony and Alyson Huxley, and the emphasis will obviously be on Flowers ... The next week sees Mont Hirons dealing with both Birds and Flowers . . . Then from May 7 - 21 Ken Waterfield and landscape artist will be available for his painting (and art generally ^ sessions whl^ were so well-received this year. Since we already have a healthy list of registrations for these tours, an early application is recommended. Brochure at once. 3-centre* toul^if Cre.e ^5^ succession of Guest Lecturers. For birds "Mont" Hirons and flowers Brmdsley Burbidge. Brochure at once. nmnc O, FLOWERS OF THE PELOPONNESE Apr 4 -18 £390 Another 3-centre tour which continues to run each year along the now familiar route to unusual areas ending with the Deep Mani. The emphasis is on Natural History but the sites of t he Argo tid Plai ^(Mycenae, Tiryns, Epidaurus) and Laconia (Mistra Monemvas, a) are all visited as well as remote Methoni and Nestor's Palace. Some of the finest scenery in Greece will be seen as the Taygetus Mts are traversed. For birds Dudley lies B.Sc. and flowers Humphrey Bowen. Brochure at once. "LOST ATLANTIS" (Crete & Santorini) May 8- 22 . £396 Samodnla^^ panies again with Patricia Hodgkins. Brochure at once. i 7 91 £390 So 1 u'nlVull sitlsW(e g. ?odona) and superb botanizing from sea-level to Alpine Meadow is unique. Brochure at once. SUMMER IN TURKEY Aug 29 - Sep 12 Ancient History £540 Probably the most comprehensive study of Turkey's ancient civilizations ever attempted for the tourist as such. Has been planned by the scholar who will lead it, to cover the entire chronology of peoples who have influenced Turkey from the Hittites to the Byzantines and the final conquerors — the Ottomans. Troy, Assos, Pergamon and Ephesus will all be visited en route to Kusadasi from Istanbul. Then via Didyma, Miletos and Priene to Denizli, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Laodicea, Side, Perge, Aspendos and Termessos. Three day cruise back to Izmir from Antalya, with John Evans MA, Patricia Hodgkins and Fuat Dulger. This tour has been planned for a famous public school but has a certain no. of extra places available. Brochure at once. DR. PINSENT'S TOUR Sep 4 - 18 £445 Once more (the eighth time!) our scholarly colleague takes to the roads of the Peloponnese to explore its ancient wonders, arrange picnics and demonstrate to his awe-struck clients his boundless knowledge and enthusiasm. Athens — (Archaeological Museum and Acropolis) — Daphni — Corinth — Nemea — Argos — Nauplia — Mycenae — Tiryns — Epidaurus — Lerna — Sparta — Mistra — Langada Pass — Kalamata — Pylos (Nestor's Palace) — Temple of Bassae — Delphi — Hosias Lucas — Thebes — Athens. BIRDS OVER THE BOSPHORUS Sep 22 - 29 Spectacle of Eagles £240* Fifth year and this time, after some disappointments at cheaper hotels we use the Divan, 1st Class with excellent cuisine. Guest Lecturer to be announced. Brochure at once. MAURITIUS & SEYCHELLES Oct 8 - 25 £850* With Anthony and Alyson Huxley for flowers and photography and David Tomlinson for birds, this tour should be an immediate success. Arrangements are well advanced and the brochure will be ready by Dec. Registration for this and other tours is strongly recommended — it costs you nothing and guarantees first sight of the brochure . . . There will be visits to the out-islands and ample days of leisure to enjoy the tropical island bathing and relaxing. ♦ ♦■a*#***#**#*#**********#****#*###** ************ SUPER DE LUXE IN VENICE 8 days Art, History, Haute Cuisine from £320 At the famous Gritti Palace Hotel. CIGA Hotels Italy (Compagnia Italiana dei Grandi Albergi) have arguably the finest hotels in Italy and among them even the Gritti Palace is exceptional. Beloved of Somerset Maugham and Ernest Hemingway the Gritti has always bee n famous — even in its own time as the 15 Cent, home of Andrea Gritti who became a Doge. Gourmet Cuisine Course. 3 day Course £320 5 day Course £400 Lectures, cooking demonstrations, wine talks and tastings, visits to markets etc. Rest of 8 days free in each case. Individuals 25 June — 25 Aug Small Party ( 10 only) Feb 17 — 24 ( Reduced price to be announced). Art and History Course. Prices as for Gourmet Courses. Private lectures in the hotel on art, architecture, tradition and history of Venice. Guided visits including buildings and residences not normally open to the public. Individuals 1 Mar — 30 Apr Small Party (10 only) Feb 18 — 25 (Reduced price to be announced). Descriptive brochures available at once Your Flights . . All by Scheduled Air Services of IATA Carriers, e.g. British Airways, Olympic Airways, Air India, or by British Airtours (Brit. Airways Charter) from Gatwick. Plant and Bird Lists . . Many available at 50p. Please remit, your tour account will be credited if you decide to book. "Straight" Travel and "Tailor-Made" Holidays . . . We have a flourishing ABTA and IATA accredited office and all our experience is at your disposal for any journey (including °f her operators' packages, cruises, long air itineraries etc.) , that you may wish to do. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHICH OF THE TOURS INTEREST YOU. BROCHURES WILL BE MAILED AT ONCE BY FIRST CLASS POST. European news 5^3 pleased that, for the first time in this selection of observations, ‘European news’ now includes records from Austria, Bulgaria and Romania. Records awaiting formal verification by national assessment committees are indicated by an asterisk (*). Unless otherwise stated, records refer to 1978 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Norway Breeding population increasing and spreading: from about 50 pairs in 1970 to about 200 pairs in 1978. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Austria Bred Seewinkel 197° ar*h Neusiedlersee 1972; displaying at ponds in southeast Styria, but no broods seen yet. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Austria Breeding range includes ponds of Waldviertel in northwest Lower Austria. Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Austria Has not bred since late 1960s. Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus Austria Sixth record : immature Gralla in southeast Styria on 20th November 1977. Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Austria Marchegg, deserted since late 1960s, recolonised in 1978. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Portugal See Little Egret. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Portugal Colony at S. Jacinto (Aveiro Marsh), established 25 years ago, where 200 pairs of egrets (Little and Cattle) nested in 1977, abandoned in 1978. On other hand, at least seven other egret colonies now exist. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Austria Burgen- land: c. 20 pairs in one to three reed-bed colonies at Neusiedlersee; Carinthia: c. 15 pairs in one colony, plus a few isolated pairs on Drau; Lower Austria: c. 60 pairs in seven colonies on Danube and c. 65 pairs in two on March; Upper Austria: c. 45 pairs in three colonies on Danube; Salz- burg: two isolated pairs successfully breeding in Flachgau; Styria: c. ten pairs in one colony on lower Mur, but none on upper Mur and Raab. Black Stork Ciconia nigra Austria Total of 30-40 pairs, mainly in Lower Austria, also central and south Burgenland, south- east Styria and southeast Upper Austria. White Stork Ciconia ciconia Finland Many in south in spring: never commoner. Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus Austria Becoming more frequent in winter on Bodensee (cf. increase in Poland, Brit. Birds 71: 255)- Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Austria Wintering regular Bodensee since late 1960s: 20 or more on Austrian shore in 1977/78. Greylag Goose Anser anser Austria Neusiedlersee: 300-400 pairs, plus 300-500 non-breeders. Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Sweden Remarkable increases in numbers on migration (especially in autumn) and summering. More than 200 summered on island of Gotland, where colony of at least 20 pairs now established. Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis Bulgaria In various localities in district of Tolbuhin, flocks totalling 1,000 on 6th January 1976, one flock of 1,500 on 17th March 1976 and one flock of 1,580 on 12th February 1978. Sweden Increasing: now observed every year. Teal Anas crecca Austria Locally distri- buted Salzburg, Styria and southeast Carinthia. Red-crested Pochard Netla rufina Austria As well as regular breeding on Bodensee, bred Seewinkel/east Neusiedlersee in 1968, where regular during migration and some- times summering since mid 1960s. Czechoslovakia As well as long-established sites at and near Lednicke ponds in southern Moravia, had bred since 1952 in Qeske Budejovice basin and since 1971 in Trebon basin, both in southern Bohemia. Pochard Ay thy a ferina Austria Breeding range includes southeast Styria; in central Carinthia, first breeding 1977. Ferruginous Duck Ay thy a nyroca Austria Main concentration Neusiedlersee and Seewinkel (no broods seen northwest Lower Austria since 1961). Tufted Duck Ay thy a fuligula Austria Breeding range includes ponds of Wald- viertel in northwest Lower Austria (largest concentration in the country) and of southeast Styria; in central Carinthia, first breeding 1977. Eider Somateria mollissima Austria A few summering Zellcrsee/Salzburg since 1972 5^4 (five in 1978), and one pair attempted breeding in 1975. King Eider Somateria spectabilis SWEDEN Considerable and continuing increase in number wintering on Baltic coast in recent years (cf. Steller’s Eider) : one to two a year in early 1960s, about ten a year in late 1960s and early 1970s, but now about 20 a year. Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri Sweden Considerable and continuing increase in number wintering on Baltic coast in recent years (cf. King Eider) : observed ever)' year since end of 1960s, with peak of 130 indivi- duals in 1977 (cf. increases in Finland and Poland, Brit. Birds 71 : 255). Red-breasted Merganser Mergus senator Switzerland Mixed pair of male Red- breasted Merganser and female Goosander seen Lake Thun April-May 1977 and 1978; in May-June 1978, hybrid seen on Lake Thun, presumably reared there. Goosander Mergus merganser Austria Breeds (less than ten pairs) north Vorarl- berg and north Tyrol. Switzerland See Red-breasted Merganser. Red Kite Milvus milvus Denmark After two years with exceptionally high numbers on passage (Brit. Birds 70: 495), 1978 rather normal. Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus Sweden Increasing: 114 individuals in 1977; in last four years, one to four breed- ing pairs outside island of Oland. Buzzard Buleo buteo Denmark 3,500 migrants on 15th October 1977 at Dorns Klint, Langeland. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Denmark Up to 650 per day on migration in autumn 1977 at Due Odde, Bornholm (cf. more than usual in winter 1977/78 in Finland, Brit. Birds 71: 255). Sweden High breeding numbers (cf. Snowy Owl). Saker Falco cherrug Austria One pair still present at breeding site in east throughout summer, but no evidence of any success. Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca Romania Considered absent since 1938, but heard in Nera Gorges (Banat) on 24th July 1976. Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrula alleni Spain Second record: one captured in Murcia on 14th December 1975 (first also in Murcia, in 1854) (Doff ana 3(1): 99-101). Little Bustard Tetrax telrax Malta Eighth record: one March. European news Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Portugal In January, 6,520 present (6,080 on Tejo Estuary); in February, flock of 1,000 on Aveiro Marsh. White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura Romania First record: Techirghiol on 17th May 1977. Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris rnelanotos Austria Eleventh record : Gralla Reservoir in southeast Styria on 18th May, the first in spring. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Finland First breeding record. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Denmark Second record: June-July, Kon- gelunden, Copenhagen. Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Denmark Three or four times normal numbers in autumn. Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus Sweden High breeding numbers (cf. Snow)' Owl). Great Skua Stercorarius skua Norway Nested in county Finnmark since 1975; pair nested in Spitsbergen in 1977 and again present 1978. Mediterranean Gull Larus melano- cephalus Austria Pair hatched three young at Seewinkel in 1977, one young found dead after three weeks; two adults and two first-summers present in 1978, but no breeding evidence. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia Portugal Continues to occur in Algarve (especially Faro Marsh and salt-pans of Ludo Nature Reserve) from end of summer through to spring. Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata Sweden First record: northwest Scania in July 1977. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus Den- mark First record: one Hasle Sydstrand, West Bornholm, 31st May 1977. Puffin Fratercula arctica Malta One December 1977 , the first since 1938. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca Sweden Breeding in great numbers in various parts of Lapland. Total of several hundred pairs: apparently one of highest ever peaks. Most pairs reared more young than usual: several nests with more than ten young. Short-cared Owl Asio Jlammeus Sweden High breeding numbers (cf. Snowy Owl). Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius mai.ta One April, the first since 1973. European news Little Swift Apus affinis Malta Sixth record: one April 1977. Bee-eater Merops apiaster Austria Four colonies in Lower Austria, including one north of Danube, where none since 1950s; two colonies in Burgenland; Austrian total c. 30 pairs. Sweden Small colony near Jonkoping (Brit. Birds 70: 495) again occupied: three pairs attempted to breed, one raised young almost to fledging, but then killed by fox Vulpes vidpes. Roller Coracias garrulus Denmark ‘Rather heavy influx, exact numbers not known yet.’ Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus Czechoslovakia First (in south) in 1949, then expanded north and northwest; reached southern Moravia in 1953, central Moravia (Olomouc) in i960 and northern Moravia (Sumperk) in 1966; by 1967, only 10 km from frontier with Poland (Opava in Silesia) ; reached eastern Bohemia in 1974. Mixed pairs with Great Spotted Woodpecker D. major rather frequent. Yugoslavia Mixed pair of female Syrian and male Great Spotted bred successfully in Park Tivoli in Ljubl- jana. Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes Malta Thirteenth record: one December 1 977 ? fourth for 1977 (see Brit. Birds 71: 256), most ever in one year. Red-rumped Swallow Hirtmdo daurica Romania First record: male and female Cobadin (Dobrogea) on 14th July 1976; one Nera Gorges (Cheile Nerei-Banat) on 25th July 1976. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Austria Before 1977, believed to be confined to Rhine Valley. In 1977, broods Wallers ee/ Salzburg; in 1978, more sites Salzburg, singing males Walchsee in Tyrol and several broods at two sites at Waldviertel in Lower Austria. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jlava Austria A few pairs of M. f. feldegg breeding Neusiedlersee and Seewinkel in 1974-77; only singing males there in 1978; t>ut bred at two sites in Salzburg. In addition to usual sites of M. f. cinereocapilla (Rhein- delta in Vorarlberg and Zellersee in Salzburg), several new ones found in Salzburg, Styria and Carinthia in 1978. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Sweden Remarkable increase in south in last decade; now, in last few years, some breeding records in Lapland, 1,000 km 585 north of previous limit : abundant suitable habitat there, so we may be seeing start of considerable range extension and popula- tion increase (cf. first Estonian nesting in 1975, Brit. Birds 71 : 256). Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris Finland First record: Lagskar in spring*. Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos BELGIUM Spring passage stronger than usual, breed- ing numbers high and present in summer at sites where absent for many years. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Austria Small population of red-spotted race L. s. svecica at Radstatter Tauernpass in Salzburg discovered in 1975: six successful pairs in 1978 (several clutches lost due to severe weather), but site threatened by expansion of Obertauern skiing resort. Romania First breeding records: nests with eggs and young in Danube Delta in June 1967 an(i May 1968. Stonechat Saxicola torquata Denmark One of Siberian race S. t. maura on Christianso in spring. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Malta Seventh record: one November 1 977- Eye— browed Thrush Turdus obscurus Finland First records: singly at two localities in spring*. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Austria Range expanding eastwards. Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Salzburg almost entirely colonised, as is most of Upper Austria (but still scarce in central part) ; in Lower Austria, only in Waldviertel; expansion now most obvious in Styria and Carinthia, where colonies have reached Lower Austrian border at Semmering and Yugoslavian border near Bleiburg (cf. westerly expansion in France and Low Countries, Brit. Birds 71: 256 and Ardeola 21: 801; and colonisation of Scotland and northern England since 1967, presumably by Scandinavian birds). Yugoslavia Since discovery of breeding in valley of Sava Dolinka in 1975, has spread southeastwards and more frequent and regular in central Slovenia, on Ljubljana Marsh. Redwing Turdus iliacus Austria Third breeding record: one pair bred Karwendel in Tyrol in 1977; previous records were of single pairs in Tyrol in 1939 and in Carinthia in 1974; in late May 1978, one singing in mountains at border of Salzburg and Carinthia. Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis Netherlands First breeding: in 1976 in 586 IJsselmeerpolders, hatching as late as between ist and 6th October ( Limosa 51 : 69-73). Yugoslavia After discovery of breeding in valleys of Dragonja, Mirna and Rasa, now becoming more frequent and regular in whole Istra archipelago; two nests in 1978 at Vransko Lake near Zadar in Dalmatia: in one, young hatched after 4th September. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dwne- torum Romania First records: near Sulina on Danube Delta, four on ist-2nd August 1975, three on 6th August 1975. In May- June 1976, nine ringed at Sulina and Eforie Nord. Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris Norway Influx in early June to counties Akershus and Ostfold; in former (where only two previous records), at least seven singing males and probably bred at one locality. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arurtdi- naceus Sweden Very large recent increase: about five males a year in early 1960s, but now 1 25- 1 50 annually. Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum Romania First record: one in wood of willow Salix in southwest Dobrogea on 25th June 1977. Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta Malta Fourth record: one in April. Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans Romania First record: Nera Gorges (Cheile Nerei — Banat) on 25th August 1976. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Denmark First record: one ringed Christi- anso on ist June. Romania First records: at Agigea, one on 27th March 1970 and several on 31st March 1970. Riippell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli Romania First record: male on Black Sea coast in southeast Dobrogea on 30th June 1977. Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis Malta Fifth record: one in April. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Denmark ‘Heavy influx, exact numbers not known yet.’ Finland Very common in whole country in summer. Poland Range extension : in Bialowieza Forest, where in most years only one itinerant singing male, at least 12 singing males, some of them in territory; at least one pair reared young, the first breeding record for the forest. Three other singing males : near Olsztyn, on Biebrza Marshes anti in urban park in European news Legnica, the last being first record in Silesia. All records between 26th May and 25th July. Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Sweden One at Ottenby on 28th May: spring records very rare. Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva Belgium First record outside August to October: singing male in coppice of beech Fagus sylvatica near Brussels for several weeks in May and June. Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis Denmark ‘Rather heavy influx, exact numbers not known yet.’ Willow Tit Parus montanus Denmark First record and first breeding record : two adults with seven or eight fledglings in forest Grib Skov, North Zealand, on 27th May 1977; adults with three young seen nearby one week later; appearance and locality indicated Scandinavian subspecies P. m. borealis. Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Switzer- land One brood reared at Ins. Jay Garrulus glandarius Switzerland Many reports of high numbers of migrants during 20th to 30th April, maximum 250 flying east over Gaissau area between 06.00 and 08.00 on 22nd April (cf. autumn 1977 movements, Brit. Birds 71 : 257). Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes Austria One of two shot in Styria in December 1977 was Siberian race N. c. macrorhynchos. Sweden Strong movements in autumn 1977 (see Brit. Birds 71 : 257) led to breeding in 1978 in many southern towns where species not recorded before. Rook Corvus frugilegus Austria Total of c. 250 pairs, in six colonies in north Burgen- land and two in Lower Austria; all except one in or near towns or villages, where protected from shooting. Sweden Unusually abundant in spring 1977 in east-central and north, where usually sparse. Several thousand north of normal range, compared with about one hundred in previous springs, including 200 as far north as Umea. Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni Romania First records: ten male and six female C. h. exilipes collected in south during period 18th November 1972 to ist April 1973. Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Austria Expansion continuing: most 1977 sites reoccupied, new sites found in north- west Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria and European news Tyrol (cf. colonisation of Norway, Brit. Birds 70: 219). Yugoslavia Two pairs summered on Ljubljana Marsh and nest with five eggs found in young willow Salix less than 1 m from ground, but young killed by predator just before fledging. White-throated Sparrow 2i onotrichia 5^ albicollis Netherlands Third record: near IJmuiden on 24th April 1977 ( Limosa 51: 75-76)- Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Sweden Strong and rapid expansion to west and south from northern Bothnian area, where initially colonised from Finland. Correspondents Austria Peter Prokop, Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Vogelkunde, c/o Naturhistonsches Museum Wien, A- 10 14 Wien 1, Burgring 7, Postfach 417 Belgium Rene de Liedekerke, L’ Agaric, 5371-Pailhe . ..... BULGARIA Dr Stefan Dontchev, Zoologisches Institut, Bulgarische Akademie der Wis- senschaften, Boulev Ruski 1, Sofia 1000 . . CZECHOSLOVAKIA Dr Karel Stastny, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Bezrucova 927, 251 01 Ricany Denmark Lasse Braae, Bistrupvej 145A, 346° Birkerod Finland Kalevi Hyytia, Itaranta 40 C 15, 41160 Tikkakoski .. MALTA Joe Sultana & Charles Gauci, Malta Ornithological Society, PO Box 498, Valletta Norway Geoffrey Acklam, Nordliveien 18, 132° Stabekk POLAND Dr Ludwik Tomialojc, Museum of Natural History, Sienkiewicza 21, Wroclaw PORTUGAL Nuno Gomes Oliviera, Portuguese Center for Wildlife Study and Protection, Rua da Boa Hora, 85 r/c E, Porto 1 Romania Dr Victor Ciochia, Str. Pavilioanele CFR nr 30, R2200 Brasov SWEDEN Dr Soren Svensson, Department of Animal Ecology, University of Lund, S-223b2 SWITZERLAND Dr Raffael Winkler, Schweizerische Vogelwarte, CH-6204 Sempach YUGOSLAVIA Iztok Geister, YU-64202 Naklo 246 Mystery photographs Wildfowl-watchers, scanning 'through flocks of Tufted Ducks Vthyafuligula or Pochards A.ferina 1 the look out for a solitary Scaup . mania. Ferruginous Duck A. >roca or Ring-necked Duck A. llaris, have constantly to be on leir guard against hybrids. Al- tough of absorbing interest to a w — and rightly so — their exist- ice is the bane, not only of most irdwatchers, but also of county reorders and their committees, 'ho have the task of assessing . icords of rarities. Was it really one of the less usual species of diving uck (leaving aside the second vexed question of whether or not it was n escape), or was it some hybrid that looked like an actual species . It is one of the more remarkable aspects of Aythya hybrids that some of 588 Mystery photographs them do appear very similar indeed to true species, at least in the field. The ‘Lesser Scaup Affair’ which came to a climax in these pages in 1961 (Brit. Birds 54: 49-54) is a case in point: a bird, which was sufficiently similar to a Lesser Scaup A. affinis to fool a great many birdwatchers into thinking that it was the first European record of the species, was after- wards proved to be a hybrid between a Pochard and a Tufted Duck. Other hybrids can look very like Tufted Duck, Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, or even Baer’s Pochard A. baeri, an Asian species. So what is the poor birdwatcher, and his county records committee, to do ? The answer is to try to get the same kind of view of each suspect bird as that shown by last month’s mystery photograph. In some difficult cases, eye colour, head-sheen colour and head shape may also be impor- tant, but the key to identification lies in observation of the bill, especially the shape of the black tip and the colour of the remainder of the upper mandible. In instances where this — admittedly quite hard — ideal cannot be attained, some doubt must attach to the identification. There are three basic types of black bill tip: (1) the black is confined to the actual nail and there is no black on the mandible itself (Lesser Scaup, Scaup and, rarely, male Tufted Duck) ; (2) the black extends in a fan shape on either side of the black nail (Tufted Duck, Ferruginous Duck; also hybrids of the ‘Scaup’ and ‘Baer’s Pochard’ types); and (3) the black takes on a crescent shape, and extends some way up the sides of the upper mandible (Pochard, Ring-necked Duck, and hybrids of the ‘Lesser Scaup’, ‘Tufted Duck’, ‘Pochard’ and ‘Ferruginous’ types). To the critical observation of the black tip must be added details of the colouring of the rest of the upper mandible, especially the presence or absence of black or darker shades at the base, and its extent forwards towards the tip of the bill; also the presence of white bands. The whole subject of Aythya hybrids, including a series of descriptions 213. Mystery photograph 25. What is this species? Answer next month Mystery photographs 589 of different types of males, and a set of drawings of the bills of different species and hybrids will be found in a paper by E. Gillham, Di J. M. Harrison and Dr J. G. Harrison (1966, A study of certain Aythya hybrids, Wildfowl Trust Ann. Rep. 17: 49-65). This, however, covered only males; the far harder subject of female Aythya hybrids has yet to be tackled in print. From the small fan-shaped amount of black on the bill tip, plus the dusky shading extending from the base of the bill over nearly three- quarters of the upper mandible, the bird in plate 205 (repeated heie), which was photographed in Sussex in January 1978 by Pamela Harrison, is clearly a Ferruginous Duck, and not a hybrid. The pale eyes confirm it as a male, but note that the eyes of some other Aythya ducks, including hybrids, can look nearly as pale (perhaps especially in photographs). The high crown of the Ferruginous Duck — particularly noticeable in side views — is also detectable. MAO Notes Marsh Harriers hunting over water 1 aul A. Doherty’s note {Brit. Birds 71: 307) recalls some similar incidents involving Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus. The first occurred on 21st September 1976 at Fake Buyuk Ghemiche in northwest Turkey as I watched some Marsh Harriers quarter the great reedbed fringing the northern shore. I noticed some Herring Gulls Larus argentatus clusteied low in the air over a spot in the lake about 400 m from the neaiest leeds. The gulls repeatedly dipped to the surface in an attempt to pick a large fish from the water; one succeeded in seizing the fish in its bill and partially raised it out of the water, but it proved to be much too heavy for the gull; the fish twisted its body a couple of times before sinking back into the water. At this point, the gulls rose in the air and maintained their position over the spot, clearly either watching the fish or awaiting its reappearance. Just then, an adult female Marsh Harrier left the reedbed and flew over the open water, directly to the spot where the fish had been pulled out, and proceeded to hover low over the water with semi-dangling legs At intervals, she dropped low and thrust one foot into the water so that her tarsus was submerged for its entire length. She hovered for more than a minute in this manner, facing into the wind, and thrust her e t leg under the water eight or nine times, stretching it down as far as she could reach without wetting her underparts. She apparently failed to make contact with the fish and rose into the air, circled the spot twice and drifted back to the reedbed. It seemed clear that the harrier had been attracted in the first instance by the activity of the gulls, which suggested that she had had previous experience of finding food m this manner Paul A. Doherty watched his harrier off the Nestos Delta in northeast Greece: not far from Fake Buyuk Chemiche. It is evident, however, that 590 Notes this behaviour is not confined to the Marsh Harriers of that region, as I found one on 8th April 1977 hunting over a tidal inlet north of Fajara on the coast of The Gambia. The harrier, again an adult female, had the appearance of hunting in typical fashion. At first, she quartered an area of young mangroves along the muddy edge, but later drifted out over open water, where she flew very slowly to and fro, quite visibly inspecting the water a metre or so beneath her. Sometimes, she hovered for several seconds while dropping a little for a closer inspection, but never actually attempted to fish. After four or five minutes of this behaviour, she skirted the mangroves until lost to view. Royal Terns Sterna maxima, Caspian Terns S. caspia and Grey-headed Gulls L. cirrocephalus were all resting on a nearby sandbank, but none was attracted by the harrier’s activities. Two Pied Kingfishers Ceryle rudis were hovering and plunging in the same inlet, but not in the vicinity of the Marsh Harrier. This harrier’s hunting over open water was clearly entirely on her own initiative. Frank King The Orchards, Blennerville , Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland Feeding methods and prey of Cuckoo During 28th May to 12th June 1977, a male Cuckoo Cuculus canorus regularly visited a garden in Darfield, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, where it fed on caterpillars of the magpie moth Abraxas grossulariata which were mainly in the centre portions of both sides of a 2-m high hedge of their food plant, Euonymus japonicus. On its arrival in the garden, the Cuckoo normally searched through the ground debris, but appeared to find little (during frequent examinations of this material, I found no caterpillars). On each occasion, the Cuckoo then stood on the ground at the base of one side of the hedge, often for long periods, and attentively surveyed the vegetation above; periodically it leapt in the air, obviously preying on individual cater- pillars. On one occasion it spent almost three hours in this manner, regularly altering its station to survey a different part of the hedge. During June 1976, at Wintersett Reservoir, West Yorkshire, a Cuckoo regularly visited a small area of nettles Urtica which held caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell butterfly Aglais urticae. I did not observe the precise feeding method, but regular examination showed a substantial reduction taking place in the colony. J. S. Armitage 2 West View, Beacon Hill, Silkstone Common, Barnsley, South Yorkshire A description of Cuckoos feeding on magpie moth caterpillars has been published previously {Brit. Birds 68: 514, plate 67). Eds Song flight of Pied Wagtail On 2nd June 1977, at Gairloch, Highland, I observed a Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba perform a song flight similar to that described by D. J. Fisher {Brit. Birds 71 : 223). A male, apparently alone, flew upwards to a height of approximately 15 m and then des- cended nearly vertically downwards, singing strongly, not unlike a Grey Wagtail M. cinerea. The ‘parachute descent’ also reminded me of the song Notes 59 1 flights of Yellow Wagtail M. Jlava , pipits Anthus , Whitethroat Sylvia communis and Sedge W arbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. J. Hornbuckle jo Hartington Road, Sheffield S7 2lf A letter on this subject appears on pages 599-600. Eds Blackbird entering railway station At about noon on 18th November 1977, from a stationary railway carriage some 25 m inside the roofed-over part of York Station, I noticed a first-winter male Blackbird Turdus merula on the adjacent track eating an apple core. When it had finished, it hopped on to the platform, stood for a while, then approached a nearby litter bin. I was distracted, but looked back a moment later and saw the Blackbird close to the bin with another partly eaten apple. When a woman approached to within 5 m, the Blackbird flew up to the rook Robert Spencer Warwick House, Grove Road, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5HA Until recently, Derek Goodwin, who has made particular note of birds at stations, had recorded only feral Rock Dove Columba livia, Woodpigeon C. palumbus, House Sparrow Passer domesticus. Jackdaw Corvus monedula and Black Kite Milvus migrans actually inside stations, although he had seen many other species, including gulls Larus and Rook C. frugilegus, just out- side (not actually under the station roof). Since reading Mr Spencer’s note, however, he has seen a male Blackbird fly right into Victoria Station in London, from the open end to the enclosed part where people wait before going onto platforms. Eds Calls of Blackcap I was interested to read David E. Paulks note concerning a Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla uttering a call like that of a W rv- neck Jynx torquilla (Brit. Birds 70: 458). I have heard similar calls in Gibraltar. On 31st May 1972, I watched a Blackcap singing in an olive tree Olea europaea : the song was normal except that it almost invariably ended with a loud, clear, ringing ‘quee-quee-quee-quee’. I heard an identical call several times in 1973’ 'DUb as ^ ^ar greatei carrying power than the song, I could never be certain whether or not song and call were associated; I took these to be Blackcap calls, since Wrynecks are very scarce migrants in Gibraltar and are, in my expeiience, silent on passage. I concluded that the call was a variant peculiar to the repertoire of the local breeding population. It is perhaps significant that Mi Pauli s record occurred only 60 km from my own. N. Elkins 10 Oakbank Place, Elgin, Grampian 1V30 2LZ On 4th May 1977, at Staines Moor, Surrey, I heard a call which, to me, resembled the opening phrase of the song of a Yellowhammer Emberfa citrinella: it had a rasping or wheezing quality, but was fuller m timbre. I eventually traced this to a female Blackcap which was making a circuit ol bushes, calling from each. At no more than 10 m, I detected quite a 592 Notes melodious note behind the rasping calls, each of which consisted of about eight rapid repetitions of the same note. L. F. Rodgers 24 St Margaret’s Avenue, Ashford, Middlesex A recent letter by R. S. R. Fitter (Brit. Birds 71 : 189) referred to the Blackcap’s well-known mimicry as an explanation of various sounds made by the species, rather than their being separate calls. It seems clearly established that Wryneck-like calls are not uncommon. Eds Bigamous Willow Warbler Since 1976, at Witley Common, Surrey, I have colour-ringed Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus to enable indi- vidual recognition. During spring 1977, a total of 20 males established firm territories; of these, 19 were ringed, and the other held territory at the very edge of my study area. Several females were also ringed, most having been trapped away from the males’ territories, but their origin was not always certain; eight, however, were eventually assigned to particular males, and several males were known to have unringed mates. On 2nd May 1977, one male (A) was ringed at a site (i) where he seemed to have established territory ; on 6th May, a female (a) , ringed as a juvenile on 3rd July 1976, was seen nearby apparently carrying nesting material. At another site (ii) about 200 m away, a male (B) was ringed on 27th April and seen again briefly on 29th and 30th; this bird took up a new territory about 100 m away, but finally disappeared altogether. Another male (C), ringed as a juvenile in 1976, apparently took over male B’s new territory. Since the disappearance of male B, I observed male A several times from 8th May singing at site ii, and at first thought that he had changed his territory from site i. On 3rd June, however, I located male A back at site i with female a; both were carrying food, and the next day I found a nest with six very recently hatched young (which I ringed on 8th June) ; both A and a frequently fed the nestlings until at least 1 ith June, but just before they fledged only the female (a) was seen doing so. On 8th June, I discovered an unringcd female ( b ) carrying food at site ii; during several hours of intermittent observations to locate the nest, I saw only this female with food, although once or twice 1 glimpsed a male nearby, occasionally singing. I could not see this male’s rings clearly, but believed him to be A. The nest held five young nine or ten days old (about two days older than those at site i), which I ringed. I kept record cards of both nests until the young successfully fledged from each. At site ii I saw only the unringed female ( h ) feeding the young; at site i only female a was seen doing so during the latter stages and after fledging. At site ii, however, shortly after the young fledged, male A was frequently present, often singing, and close to female b and the young. On 15th June, he was calling there; he carried food into a dense hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, where 1 saw and heard the young, and a moment later emerged without the food. This was my only obser- vation of male A apparently feeding the young at site ii; but, during the few days after this brood fledged, lie was frequently at the site, often Notes 593 singing. He was only rarely at site i, where he was never seen to pay any interest in female a and her young. In effect, male A was defending two territories some 200 m apart: at least twice he was seen to fly directly to site i, where he gave a few song phrases, before returning to site ii. There can be little doubt that male A was bigamous, although I could not confirm that he fertilised both clutches. The only other male which I believe could have fertilised the eggs at site ii was male B, but he had apparently moved to a different area very early in the season befoie disappearing completely ; it is hard to believe that, if pair formation had already taken place, this male would desert his mate (b) and allow an intruding male (A) to take over the territory. There was no evidence of second broods, and male A was not seen again until 30th July, in com- pletely fresh plumage and singing at site ii. The likely sequence of events was as follows: male A arrived and established territory at site i; male B took up territory at site ii, male T paired with female a , who chose the nest site and started building, male B moved from site ii, leaving a vacant territory; male A changed territory to site ii, maintaining a pair bond with female a and limited hold ovei territory at site i; new female {b) arrived and mated with male A at site ii, which was then defended more actively than site i ; male A directed main territorial behaviour towards site ii, but parental behavioui to site i. M. R. Lawn 20 Croft Road, Godaiming, Surrey GU7 iby There is no mention of polygamy in D. J. May’s two major papers on territory and breeding behaviour of Willow Warbler {Brit. Birds 40. 2-1 1 ; Ibis 91 : 24-54), M. Philips Price’s studies of this species and Chiff- chaff P. collybila {Brit. Birds 29: 158-166) or The Handbook. Eds Blue Tit sitting on empty nest Alan E. Male’s note on a Great 1 it Barns major sitting on an empty nest {Brit. Birds 70: 394) reminded me of the following. In 1975, a pair of Blue Tits P. caeruleus nested in a hollow branch of an isolated elder Sambucus nigra in the middle of a reed-bed m Cambridgeshire. The nest was inaccessible so, during the following winter, a nestbox was erected in the bush. At the beginning of May 1976, a single eog was found in the box, but no nest. The situation remained the same during the next week, but, on 23rd May, activity in the bush suggested that young were being fed; the box was inspected at 12.00 gmt and an adult Blue Tit was found sitting on an empty but fully-lined nest. The tit had been ringed as a juvenile in November 1972 at a site 200 m away. The box was later cleaned out. In 1977, a further nest was built and, on 29th May, a tightly-sitting Blue Tit was present, but no eggs were found; examination of the ring on its leg revealed that this was the same bird as I iN. T HT T1 T "F in the previous season. ; 36 Newtown , Codicote, near Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 8uq, A letter on the subject of tits sitting on empty nests appears on page 600. Eds 594 Notes Starling interfering with Blackbird’s nest Geoff Shaw's note (Brit ■ Birds 70: 394) on the apparent predation of the eggs of a Robin Erithacus rubecula by a Blue Tit Pams caeruleus prompts me to record the following. In 1975, a pair of Blackbirds Turdus merula nested in a cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus 10 m from the window of my house in York. On 4th June, the nest held four young about five days old. At 10. 10 gmt I was attracted by the persistent, agitated alarm calls of the female, sitting on a hedge next to the laurel. After a few minutes, she flew into the bush, ‘pinking’ loudly, and what was obviously a fight ensued inside the bush; she then emerged together with a Starling Sturnus vulgaris. The Blackbird immediately returned to the bush, presumably to brood her young; the Starling flew away, but within minutes returned and re-entered the bush. Both birds were invisible to me, but there was considerable movement around the nest, with ‘pinking’ by the Blackbird and periods of subdued singing by the Starling; from time to time, one or both burst out into the open. This lasted for nearly 45 minutes, until I decided to look at the nest. When I approached, the Starling flew 30 m to a tree on which there was a nestbox containing a Starling’s nest; the Blackbird flew away. The Blackbird’s nest was considerably disturbed with grass scattered from the rim; two of the young were bleeding profusely from the head and back, while the other two appeared unharmed. Within minutes of my returning to the house, the Starling reappeared, and for a time sang loudly from inside the bush near the nest. At 11.ro hours, the Blackbird returned, and fighting broke out again. I formed the impression that the Starling was trying to stay very close to, if not actually on, the nest, and that the Blackbird was trying to eject it. I had to leave the house at 1 1.15, with the fight still going on; when I returned at 15.00, the nest was badly damaged and empty, and there was no sign of Starling, Blackbird or young. At no stage did I see the male Blackbird. The most remarkable thing was the frenzied persistence of the Starling in trying to get on, or very near to, the Blackbird’s nest, which was visible from above through a hole in the canopy of the bush; and the viciousness of the fights. I suspect that the Starling was nesting in the box 30 m away. The behaviour might be explained as misdirected parental care by the Starling, which was trying to brood the young Blackbirds (these presumably being accidentally injured in the ensuing fight). Predation seems unlikely since the Starling sang, at times very loudly, from inside the bush. J . H . Lawton Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York yoi 5DD The interpretation of these strange events is difficult; we hope, there- fore, that any comparable observations will be reported to ns. Eds Reviews The Crows: a study of the Corvids of Europe. By Franklin Coombs. Batsford, London, 1978. 255 pages; 4 colour plates; 12 photographs; 86 maps and line-drawings. £ 7.95. Reviews 595 The scope of this attractive book is more accurately expressed by the subtitle. It deals with the 1 1 European members of the crow family, some common and familiar, others more local and relatively little known. Dr Coombs is well qualified for such a task, ioi he has made important field studies of the Rook and has kept several species in captivity , moreover his superb skills as an artist have enabled him to provide not only foul plates in colour, but many elegant line-drawings of postures used in displays, based on accuiate observation and real feeling for the living bird. The book opens with a short chapter on crows and man: their widespiead occurrence in folklore, their use as food and their clashes with human interests, from agriculture to gamekeeping. Then, after a brief survey of taxonomic relationships, there are chapters on each species, covering field characters, plumage, distribution, behavioui, tenitory and breeding, roosting, food, predators, parasites and mortality. These chapters vaiy considerably in length from five pages for the Azure-winged Magpie to 37 for the Rook, reflecting largely our knowledge of each species. They include not only his own caieful studies, but make liberal use of the scientific literature (although I should have liked to have seen more space devoted to Rook population studies). As in all good summaries of existing knowledge, they help us to understand the behaviour of a group of birds often taken for granted or little loved, and serve also as an incentive to fill the gaps. Some ol these are surprising; for example, virtually nothing is known of territory in the Jay, although with reduced persecution this shy species is now invading some populated areas. As a bonus, there is a short account of the Great Spotted Cuckoo, which is parasitic on many crows. After a chapter comparing territory and other matters within the group, the book ends with an account of the year-long study of Rooks made by Lewis Harding in Cornwall as long ago as 1847-48, devised as a form of occupational therapy by his doctor. Franklin Coombs, another doctor from Cornwall with natural history interests, has shown that amateurs can still make a major contribution to ornithology, though few are likely to possess his insights or tenacity and fewer still can ally these with such artistic , Stanley Cramp Birds of Wood, Park and Garden. Birds of Sea and Coast. By Lars Jonsson. Penguin Nature Guides, Harmondsworth, 1978. Both 128 pages; many colour illustrations. ^ 1 -95 each. These are the first two of five books which will cover all bird species regularly nesting ot occurring in Europe. Every European ornithologist will surely wish to purchase them The left-hand page of each double-page spread has texts covering identification and behaviour, and European distribution maps of two to four species, which are illustrated by paintings on the right-hand page. The texts flow freely over their subjects, unconstrained by a rigid format: in consequence, they contain some gaps, with important identification features missing, but, on the other hand, include some points of value which are usually omitted from standard field guides. The maps are adequate, but again are sometimes incomplete, lacking up-to-date range changes. But it is for the^ paintings that these books will be purchased. I have never seen such a fine collection of lifelike portraits of European birds. This young artist quite clearly knows his birds exceedingly well and has captured the distinctive posture and jizz of nearly every species. The paintings are not of birds all in standard poses: each species is in its characteristic stance, thereby giving the book enormous value for identification purposes. Naturally, not every picture is as good as the best (the skuas and the flying waders are, to me, the most unpleasing), but the best ones are truly superb. Lars Jonsson has exactly captured the shape, posture, movement an plumage of such diverse species as Great Shearwater (including its distinctive B ack Tern- ike shoulder marks) and Firecrest, which are my personal favourites m these two books. The excellence of these illustrations will surely not be bettered for many years, except perhaps in the third to fifth volumes in this series, which I am impatient to obtain. How I wish however, that this series had been planned differently. I five volumes had to be produced why not follow systematic sequence? Wanting to look at the paintings of Stonechat I naturally turned to the volume dealing with the coast, but there was no mention whatever; and the two index entries in the volume on parks and gardens were merely to general references; presumably, I have to wait for my Stonechat portrait until Reviews 596 one of the next three volumes. Let us hope that this highly talented artist soon illustrates a single book or series of volumes which are easier for reference. In the meantime, buy your own copies of these books at once: splendid value for money. J. T. R. Sharrock The Natural History of Britain and Northern Europe. Towns and Gardens. By Denis Owen. Mountains and Moorlands. By Arnold Darlington. Edited by James Ferguson-Lees and Bruce Campbell. Hodder & Stoughton, Sevenoaks, 1978. Each over 200 pages; many colour and black-and-white illustrations. £4.75 each. The 1970s will no doubt go down in the annals of natural history publishing as the decade of the field guide. With Towns and Gardens and Mountains and Moorlands, a series with a difference has been launched on the scene. Instead of adhering to the familiar pattern of each volume dealing with a particular taxonomic group, the aim of the new series of five books is for each to provide a guide to a particular habitat or group of habitats. The nearest existing contester in this field is Collins’s excellent Guide to Wildlije in House and Home (H. Mourier and O. Winding, 1977). The books are divided into two parts: an ecological account of the habitat, followed by illustrated descriptions of the characteristic flora and fauna, very much on familiar field guide lines. Those who conceived the series are to be congratulated. The availability of books for the general reader on the major kinds of habitat has not kept pace with the shifting emphasis, from the purely species-orientated to ecosystem-based studies within both ecology and conservation, that has occurred within the last two decades. This series aims to provide the reader with a coherent view of the natural history of the north European countryside. The subject matter of the first two volumes could not be more different. One deals with the totally artificial, intensely organised, small-scale natural history of our towns and gardens, while the other seeks to encompass in one volume the vast spaces of the northern European mountains, moorlands, heathlands, coniferous forests and arctic tundra. This presents the authors with different problems and inevitably colours the treatments given to the ecological essays. In the event, Mountains and Moorlands succeeds best. Arnold Darlington’s ecological sketches admirably capture the atmosphere of his five habitats, as well as providing factual — but at the same time interesting — accounts of the natural history. This is helped both by an economic style and a selection of beautiful landscape photographs. Denis Owen’s task should have been simpler, but the result is not quite such a happy one. The ecological account consists of a number of separate topics and, in some, the imagery employed strikes just the right note. For instance, the section on ‘Insects and flowers’ begins, ‘A herbaceous border to a butterfly or bee is like a filling station to a motorist.’ The whole, however, is lacking in coherence, so that at the end one is left with no very clear integrated picture of the essential nature of the town environment as a wildlife habitat. The section on encouraging wildlife to the garden is also disappointing. Inevitably, the second half of the books will be compared in quality with existing field guides. Unhappily, the standard of illustration, with the exception of the vertebrates, is not as good as we have come to expect. In particular, some of the plants are very poor indeed and would be no help at all in identification. The choice of species for inclusion is obviously something about which everyone will have their own views, but the plants of Towns and Gardens do seem to include a rather inconsequential mix of cultivated and ‘weed’ species; and, surely, more than eight species of small passerines commonly occur in the gardens of northern Europe? David Streeter Letters Disturbance by birdwatchers The first quarter of 1978 was marked in east Kent by the presence of a Great Bustard Of is tarda which attracted birdwatchers in large numbers from far afield to a hitherto isolated and Letters 597 rural area. The majority of the visitors behaved laudably and with good sense. There was, however, an irresponsible minority. The bustard was discovered on Saturday 7th January and was seen by four birdwatchers on that day. By 08.00 gmt the next morning, in spite of dense fog, at least 200 birders had arrived. The majority, with great discipline, then sat out most of the day in the fog and were rewarded with at least a brief glimpse of the bird; some, however, frustrated at the end of the day, crossed fields of growing crops to search for it. The bird then moved to a new locality. Considerable effort was made to reassure landowners, who had heard about — and in some cases witnessed- the initial visitation. As a result of careful and continued consultation, local birdwatchers were able to release the news of the new site over the next two months and more than 200 Kentish observers saw the bird. During this time, there were no incidents. In mid March, however, the national grapevine picked up the story again and the area was subjected to a new influx of birders from all over the country. As soon as the news broke, the landowners informed the police, who were stationed near the site over two weekends, and undoubtedly were responsible for minimising disturbance. Again, the majority of visitors were well behaved and this is fully appreciated locally. Nevertheless, the following incidents occurred : following the abuse given to him about killing foxes. 6. On most days, some birders, after watching the bustard feeding, became impatient to see it in flight and walked across the fields to flush it. Not only did this involve trespass, but it made the bird fly away so that others arriving later were unable to see it. They in turn became impatient and attempted to walk over private land in an effort to find the bird. 7. Another landowner finds it difficult to believe that the loss of a dozen duck decoys that had been out all winter was not associated with the arrival of 200 birdwatchers. These incidents combined to jeopardise the fragile relationship between local birdwatchers and landowners. Most birdwatchers enjoy seeing rare birds and the fact that some deiive their sole pleasure from this sort of birdwatching is not usually a problem. There is, however, both an individual and a corporate responsibility to make sure that people pursuing their interests do not do so at the expense of local landowners, other birdwatchers or the local avifauna. We suggest, therefore, that all those involved in the finding ol a rare bird should caie- fullv consider their responsibilities before widely broadcasting the occurrence: is the locality capable of accommodating an invasion of birders, which will unfortunately but inevitably include an irresponsible minority? Certain areas, such as bird observatories, may welcome laige numbers of visitors, but most privately owned land is different. We also urge all those birders who travel the country to see rarities to respect 1 . Fields of young corn were walked over. 2. Nesting Mallards Anas platyrhynchos deserted their nests and in one instance a nest was actually trodden on. 3. Pheasants Phasianus colchicus being reared by the landowners left areas where nesting had been expected. 4. The local gamekeeper, who did a lot to ensure the well-being of the bustard and to allow many birdwatchers to see it, was subjected to abuse by birdwatchers de- manding to be allowed to walk over private land to go searching for it. In addition, he was lectured by one group on the ethics of shooting foxes Vulpes vulpes. 5. The gamekeeper’s traps were sprung Letters 598 the local environment and the feelings of local people and actively to prevent the occurrence of unacceptable incidents. It is in their own interests to do so. If the warning is not heeded there is a danger that the amateur study of ornithology in Britain could suffer a major setback. The number of local ornithologists who feel unable to disclose details of their studies, including the occurrence of rare birds, could increase. They have nothing to gain — and everything to lose — from visitations by masses of other birdwatchers if relationships with landowners are soured. At a time when the gathering of ornithological information to the benefit of all, including the birds, has reached new heights of efficiency and sophistica- tion, we could see a return to the days of parochialism and the suppression of information. Let action be taken now to avoid this risk. R. E. C. Collins and W. G. Harvey Chalkgarden, The Length , St Nicholas-at-Wade , Birchington, Kent Waders nesting on buildings Dr W. R. P. Bourne [Brit. Birds 68: 302), reporting events in Aberdeen in 1971-74, thought it rather sur- prising that Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus should nest on buildings. P. R. Mills (71: 308) gave further details and M. J. Tekke (71: 308) recorded Oystercatchers breeding on roofs at Heerenveen, Friesland, Netherlands, since 1950. Mrs E. M. Fisk (in litt.) has informed me that the American Oyster- catcher H. palliatus has nested on roofs in the United States, and, in a recent paper ( Florida Field Naturalist 6(1) : 1-8), she also mentioned Black Skimmer Rynchops nigra, Wilson’s Plover Charadrius wilsonia and Killdeer C. vociferus, as well as terns, nesting on buildings in Florida. Bernard King Gidl Cry, 9 Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall We note that another paper by Mrs Fisk (Bird-Banding 49: 1 34-1 41) listed 23 roof-nesting species, including Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda, nine gulls Larus, four terns (Sternidae), Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba , Raven Corvus corax and Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor, as well as those mentioned above. Eds Synchronous diving as feeding strategy I was interested to read P. K. Kinnear’s note (Brit. Birds 71: 126-127) on the synchronous diving of Great Northern Divers Gavia imrner , and his speculation that the birds ‘actively co-operate under water to obtain food’, since his ideas are mirrored to a certain extent by some of my own observations of Puffins Fratercula arctica. Synchronous splash diving of small groups of Puffins and Guillemots Uria aalge is quite commonly seen off the breeding places (sec Lockley 1953). Such splash diving can be seen in response to the near passage of Letters 599 a boat, and also as a part of courtship. I feel, however, that it could also be important in fish capture. These auks feed on small fry of schooling species, such as sprats Sprattus sprattus and sand-eels (Ammodytidae), and the schools are thought to have a confusing effect on predators (see Curio 1976). The cohesion of a prey group can be broken down by the concerted attack of several predators, and each individual prey becomes more vulnerable when separated. It follows that, for many birds which feed on schooling fish (as Great Northern Divers do during the winter months), two beaks — or more — may be better than one. No altruism need be involved, since each bird stands to gain from synchronised attack; asynchronous attack would probably just buffet the school as a unit and not fragment it. The size of schools will also impose a ceiling on the size of predator groups: if too many beaks stabbed at the same school, the birds would interfere with each others’ performance and nullify the effect of concerted action. There are too few data on the size distribution of sprat and sand-eel schools to allow predictions to be made concerning the optimum size for auk fishing groups, but some of my observations of Puffins seem to support the ideas outlined above. On sea crossings between Grail and the Isle of May, Fife, in spring 1977, I counted Puffin groups up to half a mile (0.8 km) from the island; those closer than this were mainly occupied in activities other than fishing. Median group size was two, with 96.5% of them in groups of two to eight. Thus, a minority of Puffins were seen alone. While this could be due to a kind of ‘local enhancement effect’, where new arrivals at the fishing grounds seek out birds already fishing, the ceiling group size of eight seems small in comparison with the several thousand Puffins breed- ing nearby. It would be interesting to compare these observations with counts of other school-fish-eating birds elsewhere. Kenneth Taylor Isle of May Field Station, Firth of Forth REFERENCES Curio, E. F. 1976. The Ethology of Predation. Berlin, Heidelberg & New York. Lockley, R. M. 1953. Puffins. London. Song flights of wagtails The editorial comment after D. J. Fisher’s note (Brit. Birds 71: 223) suggested that a song flight by a Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba, with a ‘parachute descent’, is unusual. It seems worth mentioning, however, that both Yellow Wagtails M. flava and Grey Wagtails M. cinerea have a song flight similar to that desciibed by Mr Fisher. Stuart Smith (1950, The Yellow Wagtail ) gave a good description of the song-flight display of the Yellow Wagtail and noted its similarities to those of Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis and Tree Pipits A. trivialis. The Handbook mentions a trilling associated with the song flight of Grey Wagtails and I have frequently noted that species singing while descending to the ground from a tree or cliff, in a parachute display with the tail spread and raised, Letters 600 showing off the conspicuous white outer tail feathers. Stephanie J . Tyler Tew Tree Cottage, Lone Lane, Penality Gwent A note relating another observation of the Pied Wagtail’s song flight appears on pages 590-591. Eds. Tits sitting on empty nests The note by Alan E. Male {Brit. Birds 70: 394) prompted us to check our data. Since 1959, we have studied tits Parus in a number of areas around Ghent, Belgium (see Bird Study 15: 1 2 7- 1 34). During 1969-77 about 1,500 pairs of Great Tits P. major and 1,000 pairs of Blue Tits P. caeruleus bred in our nestboxes. In this period, we observed ‘incubation’ of empty nests by Great Tits twice, and by Blue Tits seven times. Mr Male suggested that the Great Tit he observed on an empty nest might have been a case of deferred breeding, the tit being sub-aclult; since two of the tits in our study were identified individually, our data shed some light on this. On 14th April 1976, in the study area of Zevergem, we found a com- pleted Great Tit nest; no eggs had been laid by 5th May, so the nest was removed. In the same box, a Great Tit was seen incubating an empty nest on 1st, 8th and 21st June; this, a yearling female, was caught and ringed. On 14th April 1977 , a completed nest was found in a nestbox nearby; we checked it weekly. On 17th and 24th May and 1st June, a Great Tit was incubating the empty nest: it proved to be the same female as in the previous year. On 9th April 1970, in the study area of Maria-Middelares, a completed nest was found in box A; on 13th May, a Blue Tit was incubating the empty nest. On 24th May, a new nest was found in box B, and on 1st June the female on the empty nest was identified. On 8th April 1971, a completed nest was again found in box A. The same female was observed on this empty nest on 1 ith April and 22nd May; it had been ringed as a juvenile in January 1968, and was thus three and four years old when incubating empty nests. In the five other cases, Blue Tits on empty nests were not identified individually, but in one area observations were made in two consecutive years at nestboxes close together, suggesting that the same tit was involved. Our observations show that: (1) it is very unusual for tits to incubate empty nests; (2) the frequency of this behaviour seems to be higher in Blue than in Great Tits (7/1,000 and 2/1,500 respectively); and (3) it cannot be compared with deferred breeding in other species, since the same individual incubated an empty nest in consecutive years, and the identified Blue Tit was three and four years old. Perhaps tits sitting on empty nests are unable to lay eggs. Andre A. Dhondt and Roman Eyckerman Departement Biologic, UIA, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Laboratorium voor Oecologie der Dieren, RUG, B-gooo Ghent, Belgium An observation by T. Kittle (see page 593) suggests that tits ‘incubating’ empty nests may be capable of egg-laying. Eds Photographic requests We are, of course, always pleased to receive series of prints of individual species, of interesting behaviour or on a special theme: we have always relied on the willingness of photographers to allow us to use their work. To give even greater range to the selection in British Birds , we shall now regularly be listing species of which we require photographs. In some cases, these will be to illustrate a paper which is currently in preparation, but in others a special photographic article may depend upon our receipt of suitable prints. We try to show each species in a variety of plumages and situations, so that, as well as photographs at the nest, we seek flight shots and pictures of flocks, of birds in non-breeding plumage, of migrants, of display, and so on. We hope that this regular advance warning of our needs will be welcomed and may even encourage photographers to tackle one or more of the listed species. MWR & Jd RS We especially require good quality lowing species: Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis White Pelican Pelecamis onocro talus Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillala Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Tawny/Steppe Eagle Aquila rapax Imperial Eagle A. heliaca American Kestrel Falco sparverius Hobby F. subbuteo Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Little Crake P. parva Baillon’s Crake P. pusilla Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semi- palmatus Lesser Sand Plover C. mongolus Greater Sand Plover C. leschenaultii Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Western Sandpiper C. mauri Red-necked Stint C. ruficollis Little Stint C. minuta Temminck’s Stint C. temminckii Long-toed Stint C. subminuta Least Sandpiper C. minutilla Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Grey Phalarope P. fulicarius Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus Arctic Skua S. parasiticus Long-tailed Skua S. longicaudus Great Skua S. skua South Polar Skua S. maccormicki Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica black-and-white prints of the fol- Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis Black Tern Chlidonias niger Scops Owl Otus scops Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Hawk Owl Surnia ulula Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum Ural Owl Strix uralensis Great Grey Owl S. nebulosa Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Wryneck Jynx torquilla Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius Woodlark Lullula arbor ea Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Dipper Cinclus cinclus Dunnock Prunella modularis Siberian Ruby throat Luscinia calliope Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melano- pogon Blyth’s Reed Warbler A. dumetorum Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Arctic Warbler P. borealis Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus Crested Tit Parus cristatus Isabelline Shrike Lanins isabellinus Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Pallas’s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi Please send prints for consideration to the editorial address: British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ- 601 We remind photographers that the closing date for receipt of colour transparencies for this competition is 31st January 1979. Anyone intend- ing to submit transparencies should consult the full announcement in the October issue [Brit. Birds 71: 470) , where details of the rules and address were set out. Request Birds of prey in Suffolk The Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group is collecting records of all sightings of birds of prey in Suffolk from 1973 onwards, for four species (Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, Barn Owl Tyto alba, Tawny Owl Strix aluco and Little Owl Athene noctua) only breeding records and unusual sightings are required, but for all others every observation is requested. As well as date, locality and other obvious information, behaviour, prey, migration, unusually high numbers, absence from areas where previously known, individuals found dead (with reason for death if known) and any other apparently relevant point will be of interest. Information should be sent to A. R. J. Paine, 22 Spriteshall Lane, Felixstowe, Suffolk ipi 1 9QY. ~ Bird X Photograph of theYearj^ Diary dates This list covers events taking place during January to December 1 979- We welcome the submission of details for possible inclusion in the next list, covering July 1979 to June 1980. 9th January British ornithologists’ club. J. H. R. Boswall on ‘Mutual mimics, men as birds and birds as men — an ornithological frolic’. Central London. Non-members should write to hon. secretary, c/o P. Hogg, 33 Vine Court Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. i6th-i8th February bto conference. ‘Birds of town and village’. Hayes Con- ference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. Applications to BTO, Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NR. 2nd-4th March all-ireland conference. Jointly organised by RSPB and Irish Wildbird Conservancy, Belfast. 6th March boc. M. D. England, OBE, illustrated lecture on ‘The birds of the Seychelles group of islands’. Central London. Applications to hon. secretary. 17th March irro one-day conference. Nottingham University. Applications to BTO. 6th-8th April rspb members’ weekend. Warwick University. Applications to Con- ference Secretary, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2dl. 2ISt April BOU AGM AND VISIT TO WILD- FOWL TRUST, SLIMBRIDGE. 2ISt April BTO ONE-DAY CONFERENCE. University of East Anglia, Norwich. Applications to BTO. 2 1 St April RSPB LAKELAND ONE-DAY conference. Keswick. Applications to Conference Secretary, RSPB. 28th April south west ringers’ con- ference. Bristol area. Applications to John Elcy, 1 Bloomfield Close, Timsbury, Bath BA3 ilp. 24th May WILDFOWL TRUST AGM. Slim- bridge, Gloucester. 12 noon. Diary dates 15th September rspb one-day con- ference. Manchester. Applications to Conference Secretary, RSPB. 22nd September rspb one-day con- ference. Canterbury- Applications to Conference Secretary, RSPB. 13th October rspb londay day/agm. Applications to Conference Secretary, RSPB. 26th-28th October Scottish ornitho- logists’ club annual conference. Marine Hotel, North Berwick, East Lothian. 603 Applications to SOC, 21 Regent 1 errace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT. 27th October rspb one-day conference. Bournemouth. Applications to Conference Secretary, RSPB. 2nd~4th November bou annual con- ference. ‘Bird population studies’. Hayes Conference Centre. Applications to BOU Office, c/o Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London nwi 4RY. 30th November-2nd December bto annual conference. Hayes Conference Centre. Applications to BTO. County, regional and bird observatory recorders in Britain and Ireland We have in the past usually published a complete list of county and re- gional recorders’ names and addresses each year. This, however, takes up several pages of valuable space. We shall in future, therefoie, be publish- ing the full list biannually. Thus, this year we are including only changes in names and. addresses which have been notified to us. Otherwise, so far as we are aware, recorders’ names and addresses are still as shown in Brit. Birds 70: 356-360; 566. ENGLAND Bedfordshire B. Nightingale, 9 Duck End Lane, Maulden, Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire For the old county of Huntingdonshire, including the Soke of 1 eter- borough: J. D. Limentani, 10 Acacia Avenue, St Ives, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Cheshire Dr R. J. Raines, c/o The Surgery, 270 Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, Mersey- East and West Sussex M. J. Rogers, 195 Vicarage Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex TWl6 7TP Greater Manchester B. T. Shaw, 87 Gleneagles Road, Heald Green, Stockport Isles o/Scilly D. B. Hunt, 16 Silver Street, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly TR2i ojg Northamptonshire C. J. Coe, 67 West Street, Weedon, Northampton Somerset John A. McGeoch, 15 Ash Grove, Wells BA5 2LX Suffolk D. R. Moore, Crosslands, Cage Lane, Boxted Cross, Colchester, Essex WALES Powys (. Breconshire ) E. Bartlett, Chapel House, Llechfaen, Brecon, Powys SCOTLAND Orkney D. Lea, 6 Old Scapa Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 ibb Fife K. Brockie, Morven, Russell Street, Strathmiglo, Fife Q „ . , Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire A. J. Smith, Glenview, 3 Croft Terrace, Selkirk TD7 4.LX 604 County , regional and bird observatory recorders IRELAND Northern Ireland Bird Records Committee Mrs P. M. Vizard, 9 Dillons Avenue, Whiteabbey, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim BIRD OBSERVATORIES Bardsey Postal code should be LL53 8de Sandwich Bay Postal code is CT13 gPF News and comment Peter Conder and Mike Everett World Wildlife Fund Yearbook 1976-7 Dr Fritz Vollmar, Director-General of the World Wildlife Fund, in his introduction to the Yearbook, points out that 1976 was a record year for WWF, and grants totalling $4,815,954 were given to 201 major international projects located largely in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In addition, grants totalling $1,915,112 were made by WWF national organisations to important conservation projects in their own countries. In Europe, a grant was given for the promotion of conservation in Greece with special attention being given to the Evros Delta. A Birds of Prey Campaign in Sardinia was started in 1974 after 960 raptors had been killed in the Province of Sassari alone. Birds of prey are now given full protection, poisoned baits have been banned, and nature reserves and feeding places established for vultures. Birds of prey protection also featured in a project for central Spain; White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla were protected in northern Europe; and the breeding pro- gramme for Peregrine Falco peregrinus was given continued support. In other parts of the world, bird pro- jects featured less frequently in the list of grants awarded, although there was one for the feeding of the Japanese Crane Grus japonensis in Korea, one for the conserva- tion of waterfowl habitats in Pakistan, and a third for a study of the ecological require- ments of the Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis, which normally nests at an alti- tude of 4,000 m or more on the Tibetan plateau, of which the only accessible part is Ladakh in northern India. The range of the projects supported by the Fund is wide: some are of an adminis- trative nature, but most are concerned with endangered species or habitats. Some of the largest donations are to administrations: $500,000 to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for its basic operations. The second largest ($145,000) was given for the establish- ment of the Great Karoo National Park in South Africa, and the third largest ($112,000) went to the Wildfowl Trust towards the purchase of the Caerlaverock Wildfowl Reserve, Dumfries & Galloway. When one looks at the size of grants to projects in other parts of the world, one is tempted to ask if the priorities are right, particularly when one sees that promotion of nature conservation in Greece rates only $1,000, and that aid to various educational units in countries with conservation prob- lems rates only $5,000. Generally speaking, however, the Yearbook shows how well the WWF in its international field is providing support for many sound and valuable pro- jects of which we hear too little. The Yearbook is published by the WWF, 1110 Morges, Switzerland. ‘Living with Cruelty’ This 54-page booklet, the Labour Party’s charter for animal protection, results from studies, with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of problems which arise from experiments on, transport and export of live animals, factory farming, zoos, and wildlife parks and gardens. The Labour Party wants all animal welfare legislation consolidated in one ‘Animals’ Act’, backed by increased enforcement and a permanent supervisory body. The last News and comment section deals with blood sports and re- commends the banning of fox-hunting, hare-coursing, beagling, and stag- and deer-hunting, but recommends that no action should be taken against shooting and angling (the sports of the ‘working man’ we suppose!) Available, price 45P, from Literature Sales, Transport House, Smith Square, London swip 3ja. Wildlife Police Force Meanwhile, the RSPB returns again to the need for a wildlife police force. This call is one of 13 recommendations highlighting the short- comings of wildlife legislation submitted by the RSPB to the Royal Commission on Criminal Proceedings. The RSPB argues that, in recent years, a number of Acts of Parliament have been passed protecting wildlife, but, compared with the wildlife protection forces of the USA, Canada and Australia, our Government does very little to enforce them. Surely something like the Inspectorate of Weights and Measures, linked to the Department for the Environ- ment, would help to ensure that all the Acts concerned with endangered species, conservation and protection of wild animals are properly enforced, rather than leaving this burden largely to charitable organisations such as the RSPB and the RSPCA. First breeding of Egyptian Vultures in captivity The Birds of Prey Consei- vation and Falconry Centre at Newent, Gloucestershire, has succeeded in breeding Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus for the first time ever in captivity. Two young have been reared; the first hatched on June 30th and the second on July 5th. At the time of writing, they are feeding well, walking and exercising their wings, but have not flown. Washington Convention Egypt has ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (Washington Con- vention), becoming the 44th contracting party. ( IUCN Bulletin ) ‘The Irish Hare’ The first issue of the newsletter of the Ulster Trust for Nature Conservation was published in September 1978 and records the launching of this new trust earlier in the year. While aiming to complement field clubs, it will be cam- 605 paigning in Ulster for greater protection for wildlife outside nature reserves and for the end of needless destruction of habitats. By educational activities, it hopes to encourage a more sensitive attitude to wildlife among the public in general and especially among those managing the countryside. Ian Forsyth tells us that, but for the ‘disturbances’, this trust would have come into being years ago. The annual subscription is £3.00. For further information, write to the Hon. Secretary, J. Forsyth, 24 Malone Park, Belfast BT9 6nj. Sizes of bird reports We have had a cri de coeur from a reader who is alarmed at the frequent changes in format of some county bird reports and newsletters. He found that one series of issues changed from quarto to foolscap to A4 and then back to foolscap in successive years. Few complete sets of any society’s publications exist at all, let alone as bound volumes. A policy of uniformity would encourage the collection of sets, whereas constantly changing shapes, which will not file neatly and conveniently, tend to make one regard the newsheet or report as not worth preserving. He pleads that societies should stick to one size for at least ten years. European wetlands campaign A total of 22 European countries participated in the Council of Europe’s ‘Wetlands Cam- paign’ during 1976-77. A report of Campaign activities in the United King- dom was published in August 1 97^ by the Nature Conservancy Council on behalf of the UK Co-ordinating Committee for the Wetlands Campaign. Copies are available on request from the Librarian, NCC, 19/20 Belgrave Square, London swix 8py. Rostherne Mere At Rostherne, there is a comfortable 12-seater hide (known as the A. W. Boyd Memorial Observatory) which overlooks the Mere. It houses two powerful telescopes and provides excellent opportunities for watching all the British freshwater ducks, and much else besides. Permits cost only //i a year or £2 for a family permit (prices which will be main- tained during 1979) ; they are valid for any number of visits and are available without restriction to any member of the general public. The warden, Tony Wall, 6o6 News and comment challenges anyone to tell him of a better permit bargain anywhere in Great Britain and offers a free copy of The Birds of Rostherne Mere by Ronald Harrison and David H. Rogers (which can normally be obtained from the NCC, Rowans, Ros- therne, Knutsford, Cheshire wai6 6ry, price £1.40 post paid) to the first person who, in his opinion, produces details of better value for money. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of the editors of British Birds Recent reports S. C. Madge and K. Allsopp These are largely unchecked reports not authenticated records This report covers September and the first part of October; except where otherwise stated, all dates refer to September. The weather during the month con- tinued to be influenced by westerly winds as a series of depressions moved into western Europe. From 21st to 30th very strong winds persisted across the northern North Atlantic culminating in a deep depression bringing very strong north- westerly gales during the last few days of the month. Leach’s Petrels Rumours of a ‘wreck’ of Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa soon spread through the country, and the northwest of England must have been more intensely seawatched than at any time before. Reports of up to 1,000 a day off Hilbre (Merseyside) were rumoured, but accurate counts must have been hampered by lingering birds and by others moving up and down that part of the coast. Leach’s were first noted on the Mersey on 1 ith, 25 per hour moved through on 15th, numbers built up to 100 per hour west on 17th, and then continued regularly to the end of the month. Thousands must have been in- volved, and counts of over 500 were made on several days. Birdwatchers flocked to the area to witness the sight and few were disappointed, as some birds flew between observers, and dipped over pools on the shore. Parts of the Lancashire coast also shared this wreck, and counts from Morecambe included 60 south in two hours on 15th. Fifty passed Castlerock (Co. Derry) in an hour on 1 1 th and there were several reports from east coast watch points later in the month and into October, but numbers from St Ives (Cornwall) were not particularly noteworthy. It was to be expected that this wreck would produce inland records, but, so far, few have been reported: singles at Fairburn Ings (North Yorkshire) on 28th, Leighton Moss (Lancashire) on 29th, near Wake- field (West Yorkshire), Eyebrook Reservoir (Leicestershire), Chew (Avon) and Lang- ley Mill Canal (Derbyshire) on 30th and Swithland Reservoir (Leicestershire) on 2nd October. Doubtless we will hear of other inland records, particularly in the north of England. Other seabirds Relatively few Storm Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus were associated with this wreck and only two or three were reported from the Mersey; one, however, turned up inland at Draycote (Warwickshire) on 17th and a Manx Shearwater Puffmus puffinus was picked up near Retford (Nottingham- shire) on r)th. An albatross Diomedea was Recent reports seen off Meols (Merseyside) on iith. Sabine’s Gulls Larus sabini featured quite heavily after the gales, particularly in late September and early October; St Ives is traditionally a good place to find them under suitable weather condi- tions, but a total of over 40 in a week in early October was quite staggering. Counts also reached double figures at some Irish watch-points. There were also several reports from coastal districts in northwest, northeast and eastern England, but only one inland : an adult at Knotford Nook (West Yorkshire) on 6th. There was a scattering of Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus during the period, chiefly from northeast coasts, and five were noted on the Wirral on 30th, on the same day as six Sabine’s Gulls and over 300 Leach’s Petrels. The passage of Sooty Shearwaters P. griseus has also been good, with counts of up to 1,000 per day moving north off Flamborough Head (Humberside) in early September, while no less than 1,500 passed Malin Head (Co. Donegal) in only three hours on 10th; few usually penetrate the southern part of the North Sea, so a count of 17 flying east off Dungeness (Kent) on 21st was most interesting, and 180 off St Ives on nth was a record total there. Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) and Flamborough Head both reported two Little Shear- waters P. assimilis towards the end of the month, the latter point having produced no less than seven sightings of this species this autumn alone. Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers This was mentioned in the last report and the immensity of the influx of Little Stints Calidris minuta has been reflected by records of quite large parties from the 607 far west. Unfortunately, records so far received are rather piecemeal, but note- worthy ones have included 40 at Virkie (Shetland) on 6th, 28 at Wick (Caithness) on 7th, up to 20 at Bull Island (Co. Dublin) and 18 on North Uist (Outer Hebrides) on gth. Curlew Sandpipers C. ferruginea also penetrated the far west, with counts of up to 50 at Bull Island and up to 30 in several other places in Ireland; one even turned up on Bermuda. Nearctic vagrants As was to be expected with this weather pattern, we had another good autumn for American waders. Pectoral Sandpipers C. melanotos were in the vanguard, with 2X4. Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos, Kent, September 1978 (/?. J. Chandler) at least 17 reported so far: Scilly, Cornwall (2), Bedfordshire (2 or 3), Leicestershire, Cleveland, Channel Islands (3), Co. Cork (2), Avon, Kent (2), Worcestershire and Dorset. Few Buff-breasted Sandpipers Tryngites subruficollis arrived and two or three on Scilly and one in Co. Cork were the only ones to add to the last report. There was, however, a notable influx of W hi te-r umped Sandpipers C. fuscicollis, with four singles in Co. Cork and one in 6o8 Belfast in mid month, and others on the Hayle estuary (Cornwall) on 16th and at Wath Ings (South Yorkshire) on 27th. Two Spotted Sandpipers Actitis macularia were found on the Scillies and another was identified at Union Hall (Co. Cork) on 28th. Much earlier, there was a Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca on South Uist (Outer Hebrides) on 12th August and additional reports of Wilson’s Phala- ropes Phalaropus tricolor came in from Alderney (Channel Islands) early in the month, and later at Ossett (West York- shire). Long-billed Dowitchers Limno- dromus scolopaceus were noted singly on St Mary’s (Scilly), at Lough Beg (Co. Derry), and other dowitchers on Cape Clear Island and at Stithians (Cornwall). The only Lesser Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica were reported from Davidstow (Cornwall) on 12th and from the River Humber (Humberside) at about the same time. Without doubt, the wader of the autumn was a Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus which was dis- covered on St Agnes (Scilly) on gth October; if accepted, this will be the first record for the west Palearctic of a species Recent reports that was formerly one of the notorious 'Hastings Rarities’. This first record may be long overdue, but, as this species bears such a close resemblance to, and may even be conspecific with, the Ringed Plover C. hiaticula, this is perhaps not so surprising. There were also reports of three adult Laughing Gulls L. atricilla after the storms: one flew north at Flam- borough Head on 19th, one flew west at Fairburn Ings on 24th, and yet another was discovered at Loch Ken (Kirkcud- bright) at about the same time. Nearctic waterfowl also appeared in the form of a Blue-winged Teal Anas discors at Fairburn Ings on 1 2th and Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris at Clonakilty (Co. Cork) and in south Wales in mid month. The dearth of Nearctic passerines was surprising, but single Red-eyed Vireos Vireo olivaceus turned up on Cape Clear Island on 27th and on St Mary’s on nth October. Latest news In the first half of November: Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Elmley, Isle ot Sheppey (Kent) ; Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus, Sheppey, and Holkham (Nor- folk), Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus, Sandwich Bay (Kent); Pallas’s Warbler P. proregulus, Dungeness; Wallcreeper Tich- odroma muraria back at Cheddar (Somer- set) ; Semipalmated Plover still in Scilly. Corrections VOLUME 70 Page 434 Caption to plate nfi. ‘October’ should read ‘August’. volume 71 Pages 77 Line 6. ‘plate 7 (page 33)’ should read ‘plate 8 (page 34)’. 86 Twites wintering in woodland. Line 15. ‘northeast’ should read ‘northwest’. British Birds Classified Advertisements 01-831 690C5 CAMARGUE. Caravan 4-5 persons, Classified Advertisements ■£2.25 for 3 lines ( minimum ) 75P for ea°P whole or part extra line Classified display £2 a centimetre ( min. 3 centimetres) For the use of a box number there is a charge of sop. Replies to : The AD VER TISEMENT MANAGER British Birds, Macmillan Journals Ltd., 3 Dyers Buildings, London ECiN 2NR 01-831 6901)5 H OLID A Y A CCOMMODA TION SHETLAND. Country house tastefully modernised. All bedrooms with facilities en suite. Busta House, Brae. Tel: Brae 209. (BB295) PERFECT FOR HAVERGATE, close to Minsmere. Log fire and warm bed- rooms. 1 6th century Inn by the River Ore. B&B, food. “The Jolly Sailor”, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Tel: Orford 243 (BB96) NEAR PRESTEIGNE, POWYS : two self contained cottages and a flat, each sleeping four in modern comfort but in isolation and the seclusion of a private estate. Available all the year. Low winter rates. Mrs Bromage, The Estate Office, Barland House, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: Presteigne 296. (BB49) SOUTHWOLD: seaside cottage near Minsmere, sleeps eight. SAE for details to Paige, Brick Kiln Cottages, Westleton, Suffolk. (BB259) NORTH NORFOLK : delightful country house hotel standing in two acres of sheltered walled gardens. Four miles from coast and ideal centre for bird sanctuaries. Abbey House, Binham. Tel: Binham 467. (BB294) immediately adjacent Europe’s largest wildlife park. On beach site. Non-season from £30 per week. P. Kunzler, Arnold House, 36-41, Holywell Lane, Great Eastern Street, London, EC2 (01-247 6500). (BB257) BLAKENEY, NORFOLK. Comfortable, newly renovated, traditional flint and tiled cottages, sleep four, night storage heating, fully equipped, near bird sanc- tuary. S.A.E. for details: Mrs. Reeve, 100 Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex. Tel: Chelmsford 55210. (BB100) WINDMILL five miles Blakeney and adj. cottage. S.A.E. 195 East End Road, London N2 Tel: 01-883 8137. (BB299) GALLOWAY. Excellent accommoda- tion (Threave two miles). Dinner, B&B £6-75 Per flight. Mrs A. Gibson, Craignair, 32 Abercromby Road, Castle Douglas, DG7 1 BA. Tel: (0556) 2112. (BB304) PEACEFUL ROYAL FOREST of Dean. Wye Valley area. Georgian Coun- try House “Adult” Hotel. Resident props who care. AA*, full CH. Excellent food and wines. Lambsquay Hotel, Cole- ford. Tel : 05943 3 1 27 for brochure please. (BB190) BLAKENEY five miles. Farm cottage, available all year. Full CH. Winter week- ends at daily rate. Send stamp: MrsJ. Carter, Hall Farm, Bale, Fakenham, Norfolk. Thursford 254. (BB285) OPEN ALL YEAR round, O miles north of Loch Ken. Mrs B. Forrest, Ken Bridge Hotel, New Galloway, Kirkcud- brightshire, DG7 3PR. Tel: New Galloway 21 1. (BB235) ORKNEYS. — Residentially licensed Guest House in quiet and secluded position beside sea and Hobbister Reserve. Rose Birds, found locally. Good central position for touring Orkney. ‘Waulkmill Lodge’, Waulkmill Bay, Orphir, Orkney. Tel: Kirkwall 2427. (BB258) KING’S ARMS HOTEL CASTLE DOUGLAS Tel: 2097 AA** RSAC** RAC** Egon Ronay Recommended Fully licensed. Open all Year Castle Douglas is the perfect centre for birdwatching in roman- tic Galloway. Birdwatchers will receive a 10% reduction to the room charge from November until April. Proprietors : Iain and Betty MacDonald For Brochures write to: B. MacDonald (BB211) ENGLISH LAKES. Wateredge, Country House Hotel, convenient for Leighton Moss, Morecambe Bay and the Solway. Open all year except November. Tel: Ambleside 2332. (BB237) FOUR-BERTH CARAVAN on secluded farm site. Hollingdale, Lower Laity, Wendron, Helston, Cornwall Tel: Constantine 615. (BB307) LLEYN/SNOWDONIA — 8 country cot- tages, sleep 5-9. 13 acre Llyn, Wood- lands. S.A.E. Glasfryn Estate, Pwllheli. (XBB86) PETT LEVEL SUSSEX B & B (evening meal optional) in Coastguard Cottage. Close Rye, Dungeness 80 -f- Spp. Pett 2249. (BB280) SNOWDONIA National Park, Nr Dolgellau, Gwynedd. Cottage, coach- house and bungalow all modernised, sleep 4-6. Peaceful, not isolated, in beautiful surroundings. Open all year. S.A.E. to Mrs P. Richards, Caerynwch, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2RF (XBB225) WORTHING. St. George’s Lodge Hotel, Chesswood Road; extensively remod- ernised, central heating, singles/doublcs, all colour television, some private bath- rooms, vegetarian menus available. Re- duced rates residential. Tel: 0903 32621. (BB320) RURAL NORFOLK. Close to Broads and sea. B. & B. or D.B. & B. Five adult guests only. Randall, Old Rectory, Catfield, Gt. Yarmouth. Tel. Stalham 80453. (BB332) ARGYLL. South shore, Loch Sunart. Four self-catering cottages. Isolated area. Great variety of bird and wildlife. For further details and a list of birds seen in 1978 write to Geoff and Liz Abbott, Merlin Cottage, Laudale Estate, Ard- gour, by Fort William, or phone during the evenings, Strontian (0967) 2128. (BB311) CAIRNGORMS. Nethybridge, modern comfortable holiday houses and con- verted smithy. Close Abernethy Forest, ospreys, etc. S.A.E. please to Mrs. Patrick (BB2178), Chapelton Place, Forres, Moray. Tel. 03092 2505. (BB314) BRECON BEACONS area, remote modernised period cottage, all comforts, log fire etc. Available all 1979. From £30 pw. S.A.E., Heavers House, Ryarsh, Kent or 0732 842074 any time. BB316) SELF-CATERING HOUSE AT SILVERDALE. Beautifully situated, quiet and secluded. Ideal walks, reserve birdwatching. With all modern con- veniences, for up to six. ^35-^55 per week. Wilkinson, 4 The Row, Silverdale, Carnforth, North Lancashire. Tel: 701338. (BB319) NEAR RYE, SUSSEX. Country House Hotel, Flacklcy Ash, Peas Marsh. Tel. 079721381. (BB327) WYE VALLEY, TINTERN. Detached attractive 4-bedroomed cottage. Log fires, c.h. — -Jennings, Oakwood, St. Briavels Common, Lydney, Glos. Tel. St. Briavels 479. (BB328) COUNTRY LOVERS’ RETREAT. Absolute peace amid beautiful Welsh hills. Brochure s.a.e. “Starlings Castle”, Bronygarth, Oswestry. Tel. 0691 72464. (BB326) PELYNT, CORNWALL. Exquisite cottages set in peaceful hamlet in heart of countryside, 3 miles sea. Superbly equipped. Colour TV, ample heating. Luxury combined with old world charm. Also cosy onc-bcdroomed cottage, ideal for winter or summer holidays. Lovingly restored and cared for by John and Nancy Jolliff, Pendower Farm, Pelynt, Looe, Cornwall. Tel. Lanreath 333. ‘(BB334) vi GATEHOUSE - OF - FLEET, S.W. SCOTLAND. Detached modern house in i acre. Beautiful view. 3 double bed- rooms, bathroom plus separate W.C. and handbasin. Lounge/dining room. All electric fitted kitchen — fridge/ freezer, dishwasher, etc. Garage and kennel. Tastefully decorated — under- floor heating with open fire. Secluded sun patio. S.A.E. to G. McKerrow, Glencaird, Bargrennan, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. 067 184 282. (BB335) NORTH WALES, Snowdonia. Secluded holiday cottages/farmhouses available all year. Ideal honeymoons. i8p stamp: Russell, ‘Pengelly’, Deganwy, Conwy, Gwynedd LL31 9DG. (BB337) ARDNAM WRCHAN, N.W. SCOT- LAND. Well equipped Log House, sleeps eight. Tombs, 23a Lennox St, Edinburgh. Tel: 031-343 2124. (BB342) NEW FOREST. AA/RAC. Two-star licensed Hotel. Two acres. Direct access forest. TV in bedrooms. Special two-day tariff. Woodlands Lodge Hotel, Wood- lands, Hampshire SO4 2GN. Tel: Ashurst 2257. (BB343) CLEY, NORFOLK Cottage, four bed- rooms. Sleeps eight. Elegantly furnished and modernised. Weekly or weekend lets available. SAE for details, Mr D. J. Crook, Cordon Lodge, Norwich Road, Sco Ruston, Norwich NR 12 8EY. Tel: Norwich 738556. (BB323) CORNWALL. Comfortable country cottage by the sea for winter breaks and summer holidays. Marvellous cliff walks etc. Greenwood, Talland Bay, Looe. Tel: Polperro 72263. (BB338) BARNACLE GEESE. Why not take a break and rent a comfortable modern cottage with storage heating, sleeps six on Isle of Islay. The cottage overlooks main roost of Barnacle Geese. For further par- ticulars apply: G. Archibald, Graigens, Gruinart, Islay, Argyll. Tel. Port Charlotte 256. ' (BB345) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS BIRDWATCHING IN ISRAEL and Historical Sites. Easter 1979. For details phone Bourne End 23559. (BB279) ORNITHOLOGICAL TOURS 1979 with COX & KINGS We have pleasure in announcing our programme of proposed tours to: PORTUGAL S.W. SPAIN MOROCCO AUSTRIA INDIA NORTHERN GREECE GILAT NORTHERN SCANDINAVI. TURKEY SPANISH PYRENEES MAJORCA ROMANIA CYPRUS HOLLAND \ In addition we operate Botanical, Practi- cal and Natural History Photography, Painting and Riding holidays to a variety of destinations in Europe and Russia (Botanical). All groups are accompanied by specialist leaders. Full details from: Mr Kenneth Lister, COX & KINGS LTD., 46 Marshall Street, London wiv 2pa Telephone: 01-734 8291 A member of the Grindlays Bank Group (BB341) HOLIDAYS FOR BIRDWATCHERS with Dr Bruce Campbell based at the Talland Bay Hotel on the South Cornish Coast. Parties have identified over 100 species. New Holiday Series Dates: 26 February — 2 March 1979, 26-30 March 1979. Brochure from Talland Bay Hotel, Nr Looe, Cornwall. Tel: Polperro (05038) 228 or 667. (BB315) HIGHLAND SAFARIS Would you like to see the exciting birds and glorious scenery of N.W. Scotland? Join Derek Hulme and Allister Brebner in their 16th season of wildlife holidays. * Comfortable hotels — single rooms no problem * Roomy minicoaches — all forward facing seats * No extras — full insurance, boat trips (Handa, Cape Wrath, Summer Isles), VAT, transport from and to Inverness Brochure from KYLE & GLEN, MUIR OF ORD, ROSS-SHIRE (BB290) CAMBRIAN BIRD HOLIDAYS offer guided bird-watching holidays in South- west Wales, based at the Castle Malgwyn Hotel, Llechryd. Specialities include the Pembroke coast for sea-birds and the uplands of Mid-Wales with their exciting birds of prey. Beginners are welcome. For brochure send large S.A.E. to: Cambrian Bird Holidays (BB), Henllan, Llandvssul, Dyfed. Tel. Velindre 370240. (BB313) WELNEY (Wildfowl Trust). Spacious observatory plus series of hides over- looking the famous Ouse Washes pro- vide superb summer and winter view- ing. In winter the lagoon (floodlit at night) attracts hundreds of wild Bewick’s Swans — a spectacular sight. Within easy reach of RSPB and Cambient Nature Reserves. Charges for bed or bunk and breakfast at Wigeon House includes free access to Trust observatory. Scott, Pintail House, Hundred Foot Bank, Welney, Cambridgeshire. Tel: Ely 860711. (BB276) BOOKS BOOKS ON BIRDS New and Second- hand, Catalogue 2op, surplus bird books urgently sought open Thursday to Saturday, Bird Books of Sevenoaks, House of Seal, Church Street, Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: Sevenoaks 62155. (BB194) BEDFORDSHIRE BIRD ATLAS by B. D. Harding. To be published on 31st March 1979 and recording on a tetrad basis the distribution of the 113 species of birds known to have bred in the county between 1968 and 1977. Complete species list also included. Illustrations by Ray Turley, Foreword by Dr. J. T. R. Sharrock, 140 pp. 240 mm X 175 mm. £4.20 (postage and packing 50p) or £2.95 (postage and packing 50p) for orders received before 31st January 1979- Orders, or send for brochure with speci- men page, to Bedfordshire Natural History Society (to which cheques should be made payable), c/o Luton Museum and Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton LU2JHA. (BB274) BOOKS by Richard Jefferies. Always in stock, send S.A.E. for list, your wants found. G. M. & R. C. Davis, Antiquarian Booksellers, 6 Chapel Rise, Atworth, near Melksham, Wiltshire. Tel. Melk- sham 702518. (BB331) HOLIDAY BIRDWATCHING guides: Mallorca, by Eddie Watkinson (RSPB hon. rep.); The Isles of Scilly, by David Hunt (RSPB local rep.) ; Denmark, Sweden. Each book £1.90 incl P&P. Mallorca check list 25p. from J Tidy, 9 Freewaters Close, Ickleford, Hitchin, Herts. (BB301) ANTIQUARIAN AND SECONDHAND Natural History, Gardening and Country Life Books bought and sold. Free cata- logue available. Collections or single items purchased. Immediate payment. Jay Books, 1 Roull Grove, Edinburgh, EH 1 2 7JP (BB296) ORNITHOLIDAYS’ GUIDES in the “Let’s Look at ... . ’’series. Majorca, S.W. Spain, The Camargue, Montenegro, Eastern Austria, Southern Morocco, Vancouver and the Rockies, and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). £1.50 per copy. Orni- tholidays, 1/3 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex. (BB218) WE CAN SUPPLY any book in print; over 500 new bird and wildlife titles in stock; worldwide service; low postage rates; free 30-page booklist from the Bird Bookshop, Dept 1, Scottish Orni- thologists’ Club, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5BT (phone 031-566 6042). (BB292) BIRDS AND NATURAL HISTORY books — new and secondhand bought and sold — mail order only. Dernam Books, Addlestead, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. (XBB46) SITUATIONS VACANT ASSISTANT WARDEN, CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVATORY, re- quired for 1979 season (mid-March to mid-November). Ringing permit and some experience of mist-netting desirable. Wage £21 per week, gross (less national insurance contributions), and accom- modation. Further details from the Manx Museum and National Trust, Douglas, Isle ol Man. (BB310) SKOKHOLM ISLAND The West Wales Naturalists’ Trust require a warden and cook for their hostel on Skokholm, March to October 1979. Would suit married couple. Modest salaiy plus accommodation and food. Further details from WWNT, 20a High Street, Haverfordwest, Dyfed. (BB346) SER VICES WEST MIDLAND BIRD REPORT 1 97 7> £1.20 post paid from Hon. Mem. Sec. (P. M. Hawkes), 19 Wycome Road, Birmingham B28 9EN. 1975 and 1976 copies available at 7op each. (BB333) BRITISH BIRDS FOR SALE. 25 volumes 1948-72. First 18 bound. Shannon, 70 Granville Drive, Newcastle- upon-Tyne NE12 9LD. (BB325) AUTHORS typing service for man- uscripts, etc. High class work. References researched and other services also available. All enquiries Dernam, Addle- stead, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. (BB303) BIRD BOOKS. Out of print, rare. Bought and sold. Search service. Cata- logues issued. Patricia Ledlie, bookseller, Box 46B. Buckfield, ME 04220, U.S.A. (BB339) TRING RESERVOIRS. Illustrated SPONSORED BIRD COUNT BARDSEY ISLAND. The Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory are running a New Year’s Day bird count in aid of the appeal (aimed at raising £ 200,000 ). Everyone welcome to take part. Please send a stamp for forms to Dr Richard Arnold, Hon. Sec., BBFO, Department of Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd. (BB324) REST HOMES CHASTON HOUSE, W.3. Residential Home for the Elderly. A vacancy avail- able. Homely atmosphere. G. Roberts, Tel: 01-992 3208. (BB344) FOR SALE SPECIALIST REPAIR Services and sales to all binoculars, telescopes, rifle sights, compasses, etc. — Contact: J. T. Quigg (Optical), 94 Stockwell Street, Glasgow Gi. Telephone 041-552 6823. (BB250) booklet on birds of Tring Reservoirs. Full analysis of records and status, history, advice on visiting. £1.00 (inch postage), from Herts. NHS, 6 Castle Hill, Berkhamsted. (BB318) TRADITIONAL LEATHER BELTS Hand-made from English Oak Bark Tanned Leather with brass buckle. Light or Dark Tan. £4.25 inc. post & VAT Overseas add |i" £6.00 inc. post & VAT £1 per belt. PLEASE STATE COLOUR AND WAIST SIZE 7 days' despatch from : DODDS DANIELL, 10 Chancery Lane, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3PX Tel 22831 (BB24I) PETER BOEX WOODCARVER: Carvings of Birds from £30.00: For quote send S.A.E. with photo or drawing to: The Woodcarvers’ Work- shop, Goongumpas, St Day, Nr Redruth, Cornwall. (BB297) CAP GRIS NEZ REPORT 1977 now available £1.25 post paid from Redman, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. (BB263) Christmas Gifts Puzzle books by Tim Sharrock THE BIRDWATCHERS’ QUIZ AND PUZZLE BOOK THE BIRDWATCHERS’ SECOND QUIZ AND PUZZLE BOOK 50p each post free from Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ (BB266) IX BINOCULARS ZEISS (WEST) • LEITZ • ZEISS (JENA) SWIFT • NIKON • HARTMANN • RUSSIAN TELESCOPES NICKELSUPRA • HERTEL TE LEVARI SWIFT • KOWA • OPTOLYTH • MIRADOR Brochures Available • Callers Welcome PRICE CONCESSIONS 20% - 40% We are located on high ground with uninterrupted views over miles of open countryside including the GT. LINFORD GRAVEL PITS. We like you to call and spend an hour testing glasses and ’scopes before coming to a decision. Time spent testing under field conditions in a leisurely way is far better than a snap decision in a busy store. If you are too far away to call you can order by post in complete confidence — our packing is 100% efficient and all goods over £5 are sent by insured post. (Open Tuesday to Sunday inclusive. Closed Monday) METWOOD ACCESSORIES (F. N. HUMPHRIES, C.ENG. M.I.MECH.E.) DEPT. BB BROADACRE, LITTLE LINFORD ROAD, HAVERSHAM, Nr. WOLVERTON, BUCKS Milton Keynes 312789 (STD 0908) calls can be made at cheap rate time (BB330) SUIVIBIRD HOLIDAYS AT EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SPECIALISED BIRD-WATCHING HOLIDAYS SPRING 1979 — WINTER 1980 TURKEY May (16 days): Marmara lakes, Central Plateau, Eastern Anatolia (Lake Van) Aug. /Sept, (io days) : Bosphorus (birds of prey, storks), Marmara lakes Sept, (io days) : Bosphorus (birds of prey) Marmara lakes Nov./Dec. (io days): Goksu delta, Taurus Central Plateau ISRAEL March/April (15 days): Elat, Sinai, Dead Sea, Jerusalem MOROCCO April (15 days): Agadir, Sahara, Atlas. Jan. 1980 (10 days): Agadir, Sahara INDIA, NEPAL AND BHUTAN FRONTIER On ./Nov. (22 days): Bharatpur, Kathmandu, Annapurna, Chitwan (Tiger Tops) Feb. 1980 (18 days): Bharatpur, Kath- mandu, Assam, Bhutan frontier (includes Kaziranga, Manas, etc.) All tours accompanied by an experienced ornithologist For brochure write to: Sunbird Holidays, Executive Travel (Holidays) Limited 1 4 1 Sloane Street, London SWiX 9BJ Tel: 01-730 66oq I.A.T.A., A.B.T.A., A.T.O.L.291B. ' ' (BB322) Charles Frank Used by leading ornithologists world- wide: Frank Nipole binoculars These top-quality 8 x 30 Frank-Nipole ^ Binoculars have a 7° field of view and represent outstanding value at £33 95* (including case and V. A. T.). Ex. Govt. 6x 30 Wray Crystar Binoculars light in weight(1 8oz) individual eye focussing gives excellent weather proofing qualities. Robustly made and ideal for birdwatching. Brand new condition with leather case. PRicT*, £29,95 Frank Nipole Models Field of view Weight Price* (including V. A T.) 10x50 5.5° 36 oz £42.95 7x 35 'K' series 10° 24 oz £52.25 9x 35 'K' series 8.2° 24V2 oz £52.25 8x 40 'K' series 8.9° 24Vz oz £53.85 1 0x 40 'K' series 0.5° 25V4 0Z £53.85 9x63 5.5° 48 oz £68.50 12x65 4° 48 oz £69.50 20x70 2.5° 56 oz £82.50 12x50 micro 6° 213/4 0z £57.15 8x22 miniature 6.5° 1 2 oz £65.00 OTHER TOP QUALITY BINOCULARS AT discountprices 1 0x 50 Zeiss Jenoptem £66.95 10x40bLeitzTrinovid £302.42 8.5x44 Swift Audubon £99.75 9x35 RossStepruva £55.95 *Post Packing & Insurancef 1 ,20extra TO CHARLES FRANK LTD. 1 44 Ingram Street. Glasgow G 1 1 EH. Phone 041 -221 6666 (BB.340) British Birds Volume 71 Number 12 December 1978 555 Special feature: XVII International Ornithological Congress E. M. Nicholson 558 Identification of Long-toed Stint, Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher Alan R. Kitson c6 5 ^P^e 193; European news, 585 Siberian, European news, 256 Accipiter gentilis, see Goshawk nisus, see Sparrowhawk Acklam, Geoffrey, European news, 254-8, 582-7 Acrocephalus agricola, see Warbler, Paddyfield arundinaceus, see Warbler, Great Reed bistrigiceps, see Warbler, Schrenk’s Reed concinens, see Warbler, Swinhoe’s Reed dumetorum, see Warbler, Blyth’s Reed — melanopogon, see Warbler, Mous- tached paludicola, see Warbler, Aquatic palustris, see Warbler, Marsh schoenobaenus, see Warbler, Sedge scirpaceus, see Warbler, Reed Actitis macularia, see Sandpiper, Spotted Adams, Jeremy, note on female Sparrowhawk with male plumage characters, 269-70 Aegithalos caudatus, see Tit, Long-tailed Aegolius finer eus, see Owl, Tengmalm’s Alaemon alaudipes, see Lark, Hoopoe Alauda arvensis, see Skylark Albatross, Black-browed, accepted record 1977, 488 Alcedo atthis, see Kingfisher Alder, L. P., note on Snipe apparently using foot to control food, 309 Alectoris graeca, see Partridge, Rock rufa, see Partridge, Red-legged Allavena, Stephano, European news, 254-8 Allsopp, K., and Madge, S. C., recent reports, see Recent reports Amytornis goyderi, see Grasswren. Eyrian Anas acuta, see Pintail americana, see Wigeon, American crecca, see Teal discors, see Teal, Blue-winged 609 6io Anas plalyrhynchos, see Mallard rubripes, see Duck, Black Anderson, K. R., and Minton, C. D. T., origins and movements of Oyster- catchers on the Wash, 439-47 Announcements: Young Ornitholo- gists of the Year, 47: YOC cover design competition, 1977 rarities, best recent work by British bird-photo- graphers, 139; The ‘British Birds ’List of Birds of the Western Palearctic, 189, 229, 320; Rarities Committee: new secretary, 229; ‘British Birds’ Binocu- lars and Telescopes Survey, 280-1 ; ex- peditions, reduced subscription rates, 320; YOC cover design competition result, 367; The Ornithological Society of the Middle East, 424; Bird Illustrator of The Year, 469; Bird Photograph of theYear, 470, 602; The Frontiers of Bird Identification : a ‘ British Birds' guide to some difficult species, new ‘British Birds’ check-list, 547 Anser atiser, see Goose, Greylag erythropus, see Goose, Lesser White- fronted Anthus campestris, see Pipit, Tawny cervinus, see Pipit, Red-throated gustavi, see Pipit, Pechora hodgsoni, see Pipit, Olive-backed novaeseelandiae, see Pipit, Richard’s pratensis, see Pipit, Meadow spinoletta, see Pipit, Rock trivialis, see Pipit, Tree Apus affinis, see Swift, Little apus, see Swift melba, see Swift, Alpine Aquila chrysaetos, see Eagle, Golden heliaca, see Eagle, Imperial A rag ii 6s, Adolfo and Brock, Jeremy, letter on Gallocanta Lagoon, Spain: an appeal, 365-6 Archdale, Auriole, note on behaviour and water-carrying of Goldcrests at nest in drought, 314 Ardea cinerea, see Heron, Grey herodias, see Heron, Great Blue purpurea, see Heron, Purple Ardeola ralloides, sec Heron, Squacco Arenaria inter pres, see Turnstone Armitage, J. S., note on feeding methods and prey of Cuckoo, 590 Armstrong, I. IT, et al., further mass seabird deaths from paralytic shell- fish poisoning, 58-68 Index to volume 7/ Ash, J. S. & J. W., personalities 17: Dr Stephanie Tyler, 412-4 Asio flammeus, see Owl, Short-eared otus, see Owl, Long-eared Athene noctua, see Owl, Little Atkin, Keith, photograph of Red- necked Grebe, 123, plate 44; of Thrush Nightingale, 515, plate 194; of Little Gull 566-71, plates 209, 21 1-2 Auger, Harold, photograph of Bittern, 294, plate 1 19 Avocet, with pink feet, 78; population dynamics in England, 102-21, plates 35-43; chasing Ringed Plover, 113, plate 40; threatened by Shelduck, 1 13, plate 41; European news, 255, 584 Aythya collaris, see Duck, Ring-necked ferina, see Pochard fuligula, see Duck, Tufted marila, see Scaup nyroca, see Duck, Ferruginous Ball, A. R., note on Nuthatch caching insect larvae, 539-40 Ball, M. E., see Love, J. A. Banks, D., photograph of Ivory Gull, 508, plate 190 Bartramia longicauda, see Sandpiper, Upland Bayldon, J. M., letter on daylight hunt- ing by Long-eared Owls, 88 Beaman, Mark, and Woodcock, Martin, letter on head-pattern of Hippolais warblers, 546 Bee-eater, accepted record 1977, 510; European news, 584-5 Beer, T., and Morgan, R. A., note on close nesting by two pairs of Sparrowhawks, 77-8 Bell, D. G., photograph of Bonaparte’s Gull, 507, plate 189 Bibby, Colin J., note on passerines eating ladybirds, 310-1 Bird Photograph of the Year 1977, 195, plate 85 , sec also Announcements Bishop, David, photograph of Black- shouldered Kite’s nest, 403. plate 147 Bittern, breeding status in Britain 1900-76, 285-300, plates 115-20; night feeding by artificial light, 416; suitable habitat at Wickcn Fen, 466 , Little, accepted records 1977, 489 Index to volume yi Blackbird, feeding by artificial light, 88 ; eating slow- worm’s tail, 1 3 1 ; mobbing Collared Dove, 221; num- bers breeding at sewage works, 239; migrants at Cap Gris Nez, 312; prey of Merlin, 39 1 ; entering railway station, 591 ; nest and young attacked by Starling, 594 Blackburn, F. V., photograph of Blue Tit, 450, plate 159; of Goldcrests, 457, plate 169 Blackcap, numbers killed by striking window panes, 132-3; mimicry, 189; increase of migrants at bird observa- tories, 345-54; autumn passage 1977, 548-9; call-notes, 591-2 Bluetail, Red-flanked, accepted record 1975, 5j6 Bluethroat, spring passage 1977, 140; European news, 585 Bobolink, European news, 257 Boddy, M., note on Woodpigcons feeding on oak galls, 309-10 Bomby cilia garrulus, see Waxwing Bond, T. E., note on wing-bar of Baird’s Sandpiper, 417 Bonham, P. F., note on continuing immigration of Collared Doves, 221 Booth, C. J., letter on breeding success of Red-throated Divers, 44 Botaurus stellaris, see Bittern Bottomley, J. B. & S., photographs of Lapwing bathing, 69, plate 17; of Bonaparte’s Gull, 168, plates 66-7; of wintering Chiffchaffs at sewage- works, 184, plates 81-3; of Meadow Pipit, 248, plate 96 ; of Red-throated Pipit, 252, plate 97; of Little Ringed Plover, 267, plate 112; of Ringed Plover, 304, plate 121; of Laughing Gull, 507, plate 188; of Little Gull, 565-6, plates 207, 210 , Sheila, note on Robin-like feed- ing by Stonechat, 84 Bourne, W. R. P., personal account of, 123-5, Plate 45 Boyd, A., see Coffey, P. Boyd, Gillian, letter on House Spar- rows feeding at suspended feeders, 3 1 8 Braae, Lasse, European news, 582-7 Brady, Alan, photograph of Bona- parte’s Gull, 166, plate 65 Brambling, European news, 257 ; mi- grants at Cap Gris Nez, 3 12 Branla bernicla, see Goose, Brent 6l I Branta leucopsis, see Goose, Barnacle ruficollis, see Goose, Red-breasted Breeding: Black-shouldered Kite, 398- 412, plates 141-51; Merlin, 376-98, plates 136-40; Nests: House Martin, 274-5; Robin, I3Ii Willow Warbler, 3i4 Britton, David, note on melanistic Grey Heron, 416 Broad, R. A., photographs of Pechora Pipit, 514, plates 19 1-2; of Lanceo- lated Warbler, 518, plates 199-200; of Booted Warbler, 520, plate 201 Brock, Jeremy, letter on spread of the Fan-tailed Warbler, 229 see Aragiies, Adolfo Bubulcus ibis, see Egret, Cattle seychellarum , see Egret, Cattle Bucanetes githagineus, see Finch, Trum- peter Bucephala clatigula, see Goldeneye Budgerigar, free-winged colony in Isles of Scilly, 82-3 Bullfinch, feeding young Greenfinches, 135; numbers breeding at sewage works, 239; prey of Merlin, 391 Bundy, Graham, note on possible poly- gamy by Red-throatecl Divers, 179- 81, plate 80; breeding Red-throated Divers in Shetland, 199-208 Bunting, Black-headed, accepted records 1977, 52^ , Cirl, photograph, 265, plate no y Corn, prey of Black-shouldered Kite, 405 , Lapland, summering in Britain 1974, 29; European news, 257 , Little, in Shetland, 313; accepted records 1976-7, 527 , Painted, accepted record 1972, 528 , Pine, in Dorset, 314-5; in High- land, 363-4 ; Reed, numbers breeding and feeding at sewage works, 239, 241; migrant over Strait of Dover, 3 ^ 2 > prey of Merlin, 391; photograph, 451, plate 160 , Rustic, accepted records 1976-7, 527; European news, 587 , Snow, British breeding records 1975, 33; prey of Merlin, 391 y ' Yellow-breasted, accepted records 1 97^-7> 527"^ 6l2 Burhinus oedicnemus, see Stone-curlew Burrows, Ian, note on Yellow-rumped Warbler in Co. Cork, 224 Bustard, Great, photograph, 265, plate 1 10; accepted record 1977, 498; in Kent: disturbance by birdwatchers, 596-8 , Little, European news, 584 Buteo buteo, see Buzzard — — lagopus, see Buzzard, Rough- legged Butler, A., photograph of Tree Pipit, 248, plate 95 Butlin, Sybil M., note on Robins nest- ing in disused Blackbirds’ nests, 131 Buzzard, avian prey on Canna, 46; effects of poisoning in Scotland, 227-8; European news, 255, 584 , Honey, British breeding records 1976, 15; British breeding records 1 975, 30; living transfixed by arrow, 88 , Rough-legged, summering in Britain 1975, 30; European news, 255. 584; in Britain 1973/4 and 1 974/5’ 325-36, plates 125-8 Cadbury, C. J., and Olney, P. J. S., Avocet population dynamics in Eng- land, 102-21, plates 35-43 — , , and St Joseph, Andrew K. M., note on Brent Geese on the Wash in late spring, 268-9 Calandrella brachydactyla, see Lark, Short- toed Calcarius lapponica, see Bunting, Lapland Calidris acuminata, see Sandpiper, Sharp- tailed alpina, see Dunlin bairdii, see Sandpiper, Baird’s canutus, see Knot ferruginea, see Sandpiper, Curlew fuscicollis, see Sandpiper, White- rumped melanotos, see Sandpiper, Pectoral — minutilla, sec Sandpiper, Least pusilla, see Sandpiper, Semi- palmated — subminuta, see Stint, Long-toed — temminckii, see Stint, Temminck’s Calonectris diomedea , sec Shearwater, Cory’s Carduelis cannabina , see Linnet — carduelis , see Goldfinch chloris, see Greenfinch Index to volume 7/ Carduelis flammea , see Redpoll flavirostris, see Twite hornemartni, see Redpoll, Arctic spinus, see Siskin Carlson, K. J., photograph of Turtle Doves, 454, plate 165 Carlson, Kevin & Christine, note on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers appar- ently dismembering dead nestling to remove it from nest, 360, plate 132 Carpodacus erythrinus, see Rosefinch, Scarlet Carr, Douglas, note on Robins nesting in disused Blackbirds’ nests, 1 3 1 ; on Green Woodpecker with bill wedged in tree, 182 Catchpole, C. K., note on Swallow caught by sheep’s wool, 182 Catharus minimus , see Thrush, Grey- cheeked Catley, G. P., note on partially albino Swift, 222 Cawkell, Harry, personalities, 14: Nick Riddiford, 216-8 Cepphus columba, see Guillemot, Pigeon Cerlhia familiaris, see Treecreeper Cettia cetti, see Warbler, Cetti’s Chaffinch, mobbing Collared Dove, 221; numbers feeding at sewage works, 237, 242-3 ; prey of Merlin, 391 Chandler, R. J., photograph of Curlew Sandpiper, 219, plate 91 Charadrius asiaticus, see Plover, Caspian dubius, see Plover, Little Ringed — hialicula, see Plover, Ringed morinellus, see Dotterel vociferus, see Killdeer wilsonia , see Plover, Wilson’s Chatfield, David G. P., letter on pigeons swimming, 138 Chersophilus duponti, see Lark, Dupont's Cheltusia gregaria, see Plover, Sociable — leucura, see Plover, White-tailed Chiffchaff, spring passage 1977, 140: numbers wintering at Cornish sewage-works, 183-6, plates 81-3; prey of Merlin, 391 Chlidonias hybridus , see Tern, Whiskered leucopterus, see Tern, White- winged Black niger , see Tern, Black Chordeiles minor, see Nighthawk, Com- mon Chough, Alpine, retrieving and re- hiding food, 134 Index to volume 71 Ciconia abdimii, see Stork, Abdim’s ciconia, see Stork, White nigra, see Stork, Black Cinclus cinclus, see Dipper Ciochia, Victor, European news, 582-7 Circaetus gallicus, see Eagle, Short-toed Circus aeruginosus, see Harrier, Marsh pygargus, see Harrier, Montagu’s Cisticola juncidis, see Warbler, Fan- tailed Clamator glandarius, see Cuckoo, Great Spotted Clark, Frank, see McNeil, D. A. C. Clarke, Peter R., letter on photo- graphy of birds in the hand, 90 ; note on Fan-tailed Warbler in Norfolk, 276-7; photograph of Thrush Night- ingale, 515, plate 195 Clay, F. N., obituary of Dr Canning Suffern, 232 Coccothraustes coccothraustes, see Hawfinch Coffey, P., and Boyd, A., note on Robin killing nestling Song Thrushes, 463 Coles, R. K., photograph of Spotted Sandpiper, 504, plate 185 Collar, N. J., nesting of Black-shoul- dered Kites in Portugal, 398-412, plates 1 41 -5 1 ; letter on association of nesting Woodpigeons and Hobbies, 545-6 Collins, R. E. C., and Harvey, W. G., letter on disturbance by bird- watchers, 596-8 Columba livia, see Dove, Rock oenas, see Dove, Stock Conder, Peter and Everett, Mike, news and comment, see News and Com- ment Coomber, Richard, note on Oyster- catcher driving lamb from nest, 538 Coot, behaviour with fish, 38; following wild boar, 73, plate 24; photograph, 263, plate 106 Coracias garrulus, see Roller Cormorant, deaths from shellfish poisoning, 59, 64; European news, 583 5 Pygmy, European news, 583 Coturnix coturnix, see Quail Corvus corax, see Raven corone, see Crow, Carrion frugilegus, see Rook monedula, see Jackdaw Coulson, J. C., see Armstrong, I. H., et at. 613 Courser, Cream-coloured, sitting on tarsi, 228 Cox, Simon, and Inskipp, Tim, male Citrine Wagtail feeding young wag- tails in Essex, 209-13 Craig, Mike, photograph of Dr W. R. P. Bourne, 124, plate 45 Crake, Baillon’s, accepted record 1976, 497 , Spotted, probable breeding record 1976, 19 Cramp, Stanley, review of Goodwin: Crows of the World, 43; review of Stonehouse & Perrins: Evolutionary Ecology, 278-9; review of Coombs: The Crows, 594-5 , , see Sharrock, J. T. R. Crane, European news, 255; accepted records 1975-7, 497'8 Crossbill, classification, 4-10, plates 1, 5; prey of Merlin, 391 ; ‘feeding’ on soil, 540-1, plate 206 — , Parrot, classification, 4-10, plates 2, 6; accepted record 1975, 525 , Scottish, classification, 1-10, plates 3-4 , Two-barred, feeding habits, 4; accepted record 1977, 524-5, plate 202 Crossbills, evolution of, 318-9 Crow, Carrion, feeding on suspended food, 40-1; attempting to catch flying Dunlin with foot, 134-5; num- bers feeding at sewage works, 237-9 Cuckoo, early migrants spring 1977, 140; feeding methods, 590 , Great Spotted, accepted record 1977, 510 Cuculus canorus, see Cuckoo Cudworth, John, and Spence, B. R., Spectacled Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland, 53-8, plates 10-15 Curlew, yawning, 69, plate 16; photo- graph, 454, plate 166; following pigeon flocks, 462 , Stone, see Stone-curlew Cursorius cursor, see Courser, Cream- coloured Cygnus columbianus, see Swan, Bewick’s cygnus, see Swan, Whooper olor, see Swan, Mute Dady, W. H., photograph of Black- throated Diver, 34, plate 8; of Tem- minck’s Stint, 355, plate 129 614 Dalton, D. N., photograph of Water Rails, 452, plate 163 da Prato, S. R. D., photograph of Ring- necked Duck, 494, plate 182 Date, G. F., photograph of Reed Warblers, 455, plate 167 Davenport, L. J., note on late Swallow associating with House Sparrows, 130; on Kestrels ‘playing’ with air- borne cardboard sheet, 220; letter on insect swarms deterring predation by birds, 366 Davenport, D. L., see Redman, P. S., Davies, Martin, note on identification of hybrid or leucistic gull, 80-2 Davis, A. H., and Vinicombc, K. E., letter on field identification of Gull- billed Terns, 466-8 Dawson, John P., note on mutual cart- wheeling by Sparrowhawks, 219-20 Dawson, Rodney, photograph of Mal- lard and Coot following wild boar, 73, plate 24 Day, J. C. U., and Wilson, J., breeding Bitterns in Britain, 285-300, plates 115-20 Dean, A. R., note on Cattle Egrets feeding on refuse tip, 268 de Fontanges, Rene- Francois, photo- graph of Nick Riddiford, 2 1 7, plate 90 Delichon urbica, see Martin, House de Liedcrkerke, Rene, European news, 254-8, 582-7 Dendrocopos leucolos, see Woodpecker, White-backed minor, see Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted syriacus, see Woodpecker, Syrian Dendroica coronata, see Warbler, Yellow- rumped striata, see Warbler, Blackpoll Dennis, R. H., personalities, 13: R. J. Tulloch, 176-8; letter on field identi- fication of Black-throated Diver in winter, 225-6 Dhondt, Andre A., and Eyckerman, Roman, letter on tits sitting on empty nests, 600 Diary dates, 48; 279-80; 602-3 Diomedea melanophris, see Albatross, Black-browed Dolichonyx oryzivorus, sec Bobolink Dipper, European news, 256; persis- tently attacked by Pied Wagtails, 539 Index to volume 7/ Display: Sparrowhawk, 219-20; Mag- pie, 133-4 Diver, Black-throated, mystery photo- graph, 34, plate 8; field identifica- tion in winter, 225-6; diving method, 3W -, Great Northern, diving times on sea, 126-7; bill colour, 127-8, plates 46-7; European news, 254; diving method, 317 , Red-throated, breeding failure due to disturbance, 44; possible poly- gamy, 179-81, plate 80; breeding survey in Shetland, 199-208; dis- turbance by ornithologists, 279 , White-billed, European news, 254; accepted records 1972-77, 487 Doherty, Paul A., note on Marsh Harrier apparently hunting over the sea, 307-8 Dontchev, Stefan, European news, 582-7 Dotterel, British breeding records 1976, 20; female tending chick, 38; photo- graph, 457, plate 1 70 Dougharty, F. W., see Hughes, S. W. M. Dove, Collared, continued immigra- tion, 22 1 ; mobbed by other species, 221 , Rock, swimming, 138; prey of Merlin, 391 , Stock, photograph, 456, plate 168 , Turtle, photograph, 454, plate 165 Dowitcher, accepted records 1977, 503 , Asiatic, field-characters, 561-2 , Long-billed, accepted records 1975-7, 502-3, plate 184 Duck, Black, accepted record 1977, 493 , Ferruginous, mystery photo- graph, 537, 587-9, plate 205; Euro- pean news, 583 , Ring-necked, accepted records 1977, 494, plate 182 — , Tufted, European news, 583 Dummigan, Kenneth A., note on head pattern of Sabine’s Gull, 129 Dummigan, Neil, Young Ornithologist of the Year, 233, plate 93 Dunlin, nearly taken in (light by Carrion Crow, 135; prey of Merlin, 391 ; winter passage through Wash, 445 Dunnet, George, see Jenkins, David Index to volume yi Dunnock, feeding gregariously, 182; numbers feeding and breeding at sewage works, 236, 239; apparently finding food on dead House Sparrow, 313; prey of Merlin, 391 Dymond, J. N., note on Fan-tailed Warbler in Norfolk, 275-6 Eagle, Booted, European news, 255; photograph, 264, plate 108; attacked by Peregrines on migration, 460-1 , Golden, attacking red deer calf, 36-7, 189; avian prey on Canna, 46; effects of poisoning in Scotland, 227-8 , Imperial, European news, 255 , Short-toed, attacked by Pere- grines on migration, 460-1 , White-tailed, European news, 255; status in Britain and Norway, 475-81, plates 173-80; accepted record 1976, 496 East, J. R., photograph of Pied-billed Grebe, 488, plate 181 Editorials, 1-3; 375-6 Egret, Cattle, feeding on refuse tips, 268; European news, 583 , Great White, accepted records 1977, 490 , Little, accepted records 1976-77, 489-90; European news, 583 Egretta alba , see Egret, Great White garzetta, see Egret, Little Eider, deaths from shellfish poisoning, 59, 64; European news, 583 ; King, living transfixed by arrow, 88; accepted records 1974-6, 494"5; European news, 583 , Steller’s, European news, 255, 584 Elanus caeruleus, see Kite, Black- shouldered Elkins, N., note on calls of Blackcap, 59 1 Elliott, Hugh, special review of Cramp : Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, 300-4 Elvy, R. J., see Redman, P. S., et al. Emberiza aureola, see Bunting, Yellow- breasted cirlus, see Bunting, Cirl citrinella, see Yellowhammer leucocephalos, see Bunting, Pine melanocephala, see Bunting, Black- headed pusilla, see Bunting, Little 615 Emberiza rustica, see Bunting, Rustic schoeniclus, see Bunting, Reed England, M. D., photographs of Spec- tacled Warbler, 56, plates 1 1-3 ; letter on birds feeding by artificial light, 88; British bird-photographers, 20: A. N. H. Peach, 258-66 Eremophila alpestris, see Lark, Shore Erithacus rubecula, see Robin European news, 254-8, 582-7 Everett, Mike, news and comment, see News and Comment Eyckerman, Roman, see Dhondt, Andre A. Fairbank, Richard J., note on White- tailed Plover resting on its tarsi, 128 Falco cherrug, see Saker columbarius, see Merlin peregrinus, see Peregrine rusticolus, see Gyrfalcon sparverius, see Kestrel, American subbuteo, see Hobby tinnunculus, see Kestrel vespertinus, see Falcon, Red- footed Falcon, Red-footed, accepted records i976-775 496-7 Ferguson-Lees, I. J., the European Atlas: pipits, 245-54 ,f , see Richards, M. W. Ficedula albicollis, see Flycatcher, Col- lared hypoleuca, see Flycatcher, Pied parva, see Flycatcher, Red- breasted Field-characters: Black-throated Diver, 225-6; Sparrowhawk, 269-70; Long- toecl Stint, 558-60; Baird’s Sand- piper, 4171 Pintail Snipe, 560-1, Asiatic Dowitcher, 561-2; Black- headed Gull, 150-9. Plates 5°-8. 61, 67; Slender-billed Gull, 150-1; 160-4, plates 59-64 ; Gull-billed Tern, 466-9 ; Sandwich Tern, 468-9; Paddyfield Warbler, 95-101, plates 31-4; Hippo- lais warblers, 546; Booted Warbler, 546; Icterine Warbler, 132; Melodi- ous Warbler, 132; Garden Warbler, 132 Fieldfare, British breeding records 1976, 25; additional record 1975, 32; European news, 256, 585! migrants over Strait of Dover, 312; prey of 6 1 6 Merlin, 391; photograph, 452, plate 162; reaching shore after landing on sea, 539 Finch, Trumpeter, European news, 257 Firecrest, British breeding records 1976, 27-8; additional records 1975, 32; call-note, 318 Fisher, D. J., note on song flight of Pied Wagtail, 223; , , on Pere- grine retrieving prey from sea, 461 Fisher, J. T., photograph of Rock Pipit, 252, plate 98 Fisher, R. FT., photograph of Dotterel, 457, plate 170 Fitter, R. S. R., letter on Wryneck-call of Blackcaps, 189 Fitzpatrick, J., note on Alpine Chough retrieving and re-hiding piece of orange, 134; letter on field identi- fication of Black-throated Diver in winter, 226 Flamingo, Greater, European news, 255 Flegg, Jim, review of Roche & Merne: Sal tees, 188 Fletcher, Mark, see Riddiford, Nick Flumm, D. S., and Lord, N. A. G., identification of a Paddyfield Warb- ler, 95-im, plates 31-4 Flux, J. E. C., photograph of Starling, 459, plate 1 71 Flycatcher, Collared, European news, 586 — , Pied, hammering snail on road, 133; eating ants, 311; autumn pas- sage 1977, 548 , Red-breasted, autumn passage 1 977, 549; European news, 586 Food: Grey Fleron, 270, 317; Buzzard, 46; Golden Eagle, 46; Kestrel, 270; Merlin, 390-2; Little Gull, 79-80; Black-headed Gull, 80; Common Gull, 80; Woodpigeon, 309-10; Cuckoo, 590; Swallow, 360-2; Meadow Pipit, 310; Robin, 133; Blackbird, 131; Dartford Warbler, 310-1; Whitethroat, 31 1; Pied Fly- catcher, 133, 31 1 ; Willow Tit, 465; Blue Tit, 133; Great Grey Shrike, 362-3; Jay, 40-1; Magpie, 40-1; Carrion Crow, 40-1 Foote, R. J., note on Blackbird eating slow-worm’s tail, 131 Index to volume 71 Fratercula arctica, see Puffin Fringilla coelebs, see Chaffinch montifringilla, see Brambling Frost, R. A., note on high diving by Kingfisher, 130; on Willow Warblers nesting close together, 314 Fulica alra, see Coot Fuller, R. J., and Glue, D. E., seasonal activity of birds at a sewage-works, 235-44 Fulmar, deaths from shellfish poison- ing, 59, 64; nesting on roofs, 598 Fulmarus glacialis, see Fulmar Gallinago gallinago, see Snipe media, see Snipe, Great slenura, see Snipe, Pintail Gallinule, Allen’s, European news, 584 Galton, Jeremy, note on Woodpigeon fledging in February, 309-10 Gannet, deaths from shellfish poison- ing, 64 Gantlett, S. J. M., note on Marsh Sandpiper with orange legs, 418 Gantzel, D. H., letter on Great Crested Grebes breeding on rivers, 226-7 Garcia, E. F. J., note on persecution of migrating raptors by Peregrines at Gibraltar, 460-1 Garrulus glandarius, see Jay Gauci, Charles, European news, 254-8, 582-7 Gavia adamsii, see Diver, White-billed — arctica, see Diver, Black-throated — immer, see Diver, Great Northern — stellata, see Diver, Red-throated Gear, Andy, photograph of Bobby Tulloch, 177, plate 78 Gcister, Iztok, European news, 582-7 Gelochelidon mlotica, see Tern, Gull- billed Gibson, Betsy, photograph of presenta- tion to Peter Lowes, 322, plate 124 Gilbert, D. C., note on reactions of Goldfinches and Linnets to newly hatched frogs, 187 Gillmor, Robert, personalities, 1 1 : Dr K. E. L. Simmons, 34-6, plate 9 Glareola nordmanni, see Pratincole, Black-winged — pratincola, see Pratincole, Collared Glue, D. E., see Fuller, R. J. Godwit, Bar-tailed, following pigeon flock, 462 Index to volume 7/ 617 Godwit, Black-tailed, British breeding records 1976, 21-2; additional records 1975, 31 ; European news, 255 Goldcrest, killed by edible frogs, 85; carrying water to young in drought, 314; call-note, 318; prey of Merlin, 391; photograph, 457, plate 169 Goldeneye, British breeding records 1976, 15 Goldfinch, reactions to newly hatched frogs, 187; numbers feeding and breeding at sewage works, 237, 239, 242-3; Prey of Merlin, 391 Gomes Oliviera, Nuno, European news, 254-8, 582-7 Goosander, breeding status in Wales, 214-6; European news, 584 Goose, Barnacle, European news, 583 , Brent, past status in North- umberland, 44-6; numbers on Wash in late spring, 268-9; accepted record of B. b. nigricans, 1977, 492 , Greylag, European news, 583 , Lesser White-fronted, accepted records 1977, 492 , Red-breasted, European news, 583 Gordon, W. M., photograph ol para- sitic worms in Mute Swan’s intestine, 359, plate 13 1 Goshawk, British breeding records 1976, 17; British breeding records I975’ 30 \ * c Grafton, C. R., note on Arctic Skua forcing Swift into sea, 539 Grant, P. J., note on head pattern of Icterine and Melodious Warblers, 132; field identification of west Palearctic gulls, 145-76, plates 50- 77 ; mystery photograph 23 : Starling, 459, 536, plate 171; note on Black- and-white Warbler in the Isles ot Scilly, 541-2; review of Prater et at.: Guide to the Identification and Ageing of Holarctic Waders, 420 ; , and Harrison, Guy, note on bill colour of Great Northern Diver, 127-8, plates 46-7 Grasswren, Eyrian, photograph, 192, plate 84 Greaves, P., note on Great Grey Shrikes feeding young on peanuts and bread, 362-3 Greaves, R. H., photograph of Oliva- ceous Warbler, 305, plate I22 Grebe, Black-necked, British breeding records 1976, 14; European news, 583 , Great Crested, photograph, 263, plate 107; breeding on rivers, 226-7; European news, 255, 583 , Little, European news, 254-5 , Pied-billed, accepted records 1977, 488, plate 181 , Red-necked, summering in Brit- ain 1976, 13; mystery photograph, 123, plate 44; European news, 583 , Slavonian, British breeding records 1976, 14 Green, Dennis, photograph of Com- mon Tern on sheep’s back, 72, plate 22; note on Robins feeding young at night, 83-4, plate 30; photograph of Curlews, 454, plate 166; of Stock Doves, 456, plate 168; of Grey Part- ridge posturing on nest, 196, plate 87 Greenfinch, young fed by Bullfinch, 135; mobbing Collared Dove, 221; prey of Merlin, 391 Greenshank, unusual plumage, 79 Gregory, M. J. P., review of Everett: The Golden Eagle, 224-5 Gribble, F. C., photograph of Spec- tacled Warbler, 54, plate 10 Grouse, Red, prey of Merlin, 391 Grus grus, see Crane Guillemot, synchronous diving, 598-9 , Brlinnich’s, accepted records i976-7» 5°9-10 , Pigeon, nesting on roofs, 598 Gull, Black-headed, photograph, 71, plate 20; feeding on road corpses, 80, 228-9; field identification, 150-9, plates 50-8, 61, 67; feeding numbers at sewage works, 237-9; avoiding insect swarms, 366 Bonaparte’s, field identification, 1 50- 1, 165-9, plates 65-8; accepted record 1977, 5o6'7. plate i89 , Common, deaths from shellfish poisoning, 64; feeding on road corpses, 80, 228-9; increase in Shet- land, 207; European news, 256 3 Franklin’s, accepted records 1976-7, 506, plates 186-7 , Glaucous, British breeding record 1976, 23; apparent hybrids X Herring Gull, 80-2, 272-4, 279, plates 28-9, 1 13-4 } Great Black-backed, increase in Shetland, 207-8 6 1 8 Gull, Grey-headed, field identification, 169-76, plates 69-77 , Herring, deaths from shellfish poisoning, 64; trying to catch snow- flakes, 80; apparent hybrids X Glaucous Gull, 80-2, 272-4, 279, plates 28-9, 1 13-4; living transfixed by arrow, 88; unusual feeding methods, 129-30; increase in Shet- land, 207; European news, 256; plumage variations, 338-45 , Ivory, settling on water, 39; accepted records 1976, 508, plate 190 , Laughing, accepted records 1977, 506-7, plate 188 , Lesser Black-backed, deaths from shellfish poisoning, 64; increase in Shetland, 207; European news, 256 , Little, possible breeding record 1976, 23; feeding on human food scraps, 79-80; European news, 255; status in Britain and Ireland, 563-82, plates 207-12 , Mediterranean, British breeding record 1976, 22; dropping bivalves, 128-9; wing patterns of immatures, 149; European news, 584 , Ring-billed, accepted records 1977, 507 , Ross’s, accepted records 1975-7, 5°7 , Sabine’s, head pattern, 129; European news, 255 , Slender-billed, field identifica- tion, 1 50- 1, 160-4, plates 59-64; European news, 256 Gush, Geoffrey H., note on possible newly acquired feeding technique by crows, 40-1 Gyps bengalensis, see Vulture, White- backed fulvus, see Vulture, Griffon rueppellii, see Vulture, Ruppell’s Gyrfalcon, accepted records 1976-7, 497 Haemalopus ostralegus, see Oystercatcher Hale, W. G., review of Fjelds&: Guide to the Young of European Precocial Birds, 87 Haliaeetus albicilla, see Eagle, White- tailed Hamilton, G. A., see Macdonald, J. W. Hampton, Michael, note on behaviour of adult and young Coots with fish, 38 Index to volume 7/ Harding, B. D., letter on Hobbies hovering, 189 Hardy, Eric, note on Jackdaws reacting to Tawny Owl calls, 223-4; letter on Grey Herons taking Water Rails and young grey squirrels, 317 Harrier, Marsh, British breeding records 1976, 16; European news, 255; apparently hunting over water, 307-8, 589-90 , Montagu’s, British breeding records 1976, 16-7; summering in Britain 1975, 30; hovering, 77; Euro- pean news, 584 Harrison, Guy, see Grant, P. J. Harrison, Pamela, photograph of Purple Heron, 33; of Black-headed Gulls, 154-6, 163, plates 51-2, 54-5, 61; of ' Slender-billed Gulls, 163, plates 60- 1 ; of first-summer Grey- headed Gull, 173, plate 71 ; of Ferru- ginous Duck, 537, plate 205 Harvey, H. J., letter on Bitterns at Wicken Fen, 466 Harvey, W. G., see Collins, R. E. C. Hastings, S. L., photograph of Ptarmi- gan, 198, plate 89 Haverschmidt, F., note on one Little Owl preening another, 359-60 Hawfinch, European news, 257 Hawkey, P., see Armstrong, I. H et at. Heathcote, Peter C., note on Carrion Crow attempting to catch flying Dunlin with foot, 134-5 Heron, Great Blue, possibility of Euro- pean records, 420-1 — , Grey, photograph, 33, plate 7; feeding behind plough, 270; breed- ing numbers on Broads 1954-76, 297-8; food, 317; identification problems with melanistic birds, 416, 420-1; photograph, 453, plate 164; European news, 583 , Night, accepted records 1976-77, 489 ; European news, 583 — , Purple, mystery photograph, 33; accepted records 1977, 490 — , Squacco, accepted records 1977, 489 Hieraeetus pennatus , see Eagle, Booted Hill, Alistair, European news, 254-8 Hippolais caligata , see Warbler, Booted iclerina , see Warbler, Ictcrine olivetorum, see Warbler, Olive-tree pallida, see Warbler, Olivaceous Index to volume 7/ Hippolais polyglotta, see Warbler, Melodious Hirundo daurica, see Swallow, Red-rumped ruslica, see Swallow Hjort, Christian, letter on Personalities, 136-7 Hobby, British breeding records 1976, 18-9; British breeding record 1974, 29; British breeding records 1975, 30-1; hatching four eggs, 181-2; hovering, 189; young killed in nest, 271; apparently brooding chick on ground, 271; Woodpigeons nesting close to, 545-6 Hodgson, Chris J., letter on birds living transfixed by arrows and twigs, 88; note on Stonechat taking food from water, 313-4 Holden, Peter, review of Dobinson: Bird Count, 42-3 Hollis, G. StJ., photograph of juvenile Avocet, 1 18, plate 43 Hollyer, J. N., letter on tail-cocking by Moustached Warblers, 422 Holmes, Alan S., note on feeding association between Redshank and injured Oystercatcher, 38-9 ; letter on Swallow hawking insects at 04.00 hours, 47 Homes, Deidre, photograph ot R. C. Homes, 533, plate 203 Homes, R. C., obituary of, 532-4, plate 203 Hoopoe, summering in Britain 1976, 23; spring passage 1977, 141 > photo- graph, 262, plate 105 Hoplopterus spinosus, see Plover, Spur- winged Hornbuckle, J., note on song flight of Pied Wagtail, 590-1 Hornsby, I. R-. photograph of Black Kite, 415, plate 153 Hosking, Eric, photograph of Grey Heron, 33, plate 7; of Avocet, 109, 1 15, plates 38, 42; of Marsh Sand- piper, 179, plate 79; of Bittern, 286- 92, plates 115-8 Houlston, R., note on Kestrel and Grey Heron associating with plough, 27° Houtkamp, Frits, photograph of Bit- tern, 298, plate 120 Hudson, M. J., see Armstrong, I. H., el al. 619 Huggins, H., note on feeding action of Baird’s Sandpiper, 418 Hughes, S. W. M., and Dougharty, F. W., note on vegetable food of Willow Tit, 465 Hume, R. A., note on Great Grey Shrike feeding on refuse tip, 40; on posture of Jack Snipe while feeding, 79 ; letter on identification of hybrid gulls, 279; variations in Herring Gulls at a Midland roost, 338-45; letter on the use of flash in bird- photography, 422 Hunt, D. B., photographs of Paddyfield Warbler, 96-9, plates 31-4; photo- graph of Alpine Accentor, 515, plate 193 Hunt, Richard, photograph of Avocet chasing Ringed Plover, 113, plate 40 Hutchinson, C. D., personal account of 305-7, plate 123 , , and Neath, Brian, Little Gulls in Britain and Ireland, 563-82, plates 207-12 Hydrobales pelagicus, see Petrel, Storm Hyytia, Kalevi, European news, 254-8, 582-7 Ibis, Glossy, accepted records 1977, 492 Ibises, sitting on tarsi, 228 Ingram, Collingwood, letter on pigeons swimming, 138 Inskipp, Tim, see Cox, Simon Ixobrychus minutus, see Bittern, Little Jackdaw, reacting to Tawny Owl call, 223-4 Jackson, Stephen, letter on field identification of Black-throated Diver in winter, 226, plate 92; on diving methods of Great Northern and Black-throated Divers, 317 Janes, E. A., photograph of House Sparrows copulating, 74, plate 26 Jay, feeding on suspended food, 40-1; with nut, 74, plate 25; European news, 257, 586 Jenkins, David, and Dunnet, George, personalities, 12: Dr W. R. P- Bourne, 123-5, plate 45 Jobson, G. J., note on Spectacled Warbler in Cornwall, 84-5; on Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Isles 620 of Scilly, 186; on Blackpoll Warbler in Isles of Scilly, 186-7; on Olive- backed Pipit in Shetland, 312-3 Junco hy emails, see Junco, Slate-coloured Junco, Slate-coloured, accepted record 1 977» 527 Jynx torquilla, see Wryneck Kallqvist, T., photographs of Grey- headed Gulls, 174-6, plates 73, 77 Kerr, Ian, note on exhausted Fieldfare reaching shore after landing on sea, 539 Kestrel, ‘playing’ with airborne card- board sheet, 220; feeding behind plough, 270; fledgling prey of Merlin, 39i — — , American, accepted records 1976, 496 Killdeer, accepted records 1975, 499; nesting on roofs, 598 King, Bernard, note on free-winged Budgerigars in the Isles of Scilly, 82-3; on Herring Gulls obtaining mussels by flight-plunging and sub- merging, 129-30; on passerines feed- ing on tideline, 31 1-2; on Shag’s defence against Alsatian dog, 358; letter on Great Blue and aberrant Grey Herons, 420-1; note on chats’ method of eating caterpillars, 463; letter on waders nesting on buildings, 598 King, Frank, note on Marsh Harriers hunting over water, 589-90 Kingfisher, diving through ice to catch fish, 130; high diving by, 130 Kinnear, P. K., note on Common and Black-headed Gulls feeding on road corpses, 80; note on diving times of Great Northern Divers on the sea, 126-7 Kite, Black, living transfixed by arrow, 88; mystery photograph, 415, 458-9, plate 153; attacked by Peregrines on migration, 460-1; accepted records 1 976-7, 496; Woodpigeons nesting close to, 546 — , Black-shouldcred, European news, 255; breeding in Portugal, 398-412, plates 1 4 1 -5 1 — , Red, British breeding records 1976, 16; British breeding records 1975; amendment, 30; European news, 255, 584 Index to volume 71 Kitson, Alan R., photograph of Bona- parte’s Gull, 169, plate 68; identifi- cation of Long-toed Stint, Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher, 558-62 Kittiwake, deaths from shellfish poison- ing, 64 Kittle, T., note on Blue Tit sitting on empty nest, 593 Knot, winter passage through Wash, 445 Knox, A., photographs of Pied Wheat- ear, 517, plates 196-8 Kumerloeve, H., letter on tail-cocking by Moustached Warblers, 89-90 Ladbrook, David, note on Red-legged Partridge apparently listening to music, 461 Lagopus lagopus, see Grouse, Red mutus, see Ptarmigan Langslow, Derek R., recent increases of Blackcaps at bird observatories, 345- 54 Lanins collurio, see Shrike, Red-backed — excubitor, see Shrike, Great Grey — minor, see Shrike, Lesser Grey — senator, see Shrike, Woodchat Lapwing, bathing, 69, plate 17; prey of Merlin, 391 Lark, Bimaculated, in Shetland, 462-3 — , Calandra, European news, 256 — , Dupont’s, European news, 256 — , Hoopoe, European news, 256, 585 , Shore, possible breeding record 1976, 23-4 , Short-toed, accepted records 1977, 5ii Laras argentatus, see Gull, Herring atricilla, see Gull, Laughing canus, see Gull, Common cirrocephalus, see Gull, Grey-headed delawarensis, see Gull, Ring-billed - fuscus, see Gull, Lesser Black- backed — genei, see Gull, Slender-billed hyperboreus , see Gull, Glaucous marinas, see Gull, Great Black- backed melanocephalus, see Gull, Mediter- ranean — minutus , see Gull. Little Philadelphia , see Gull, Bonaparte's — pipixcan, see Gull, Franklin’s ridtbundus, see Gull. Black-headed 621 Index to volume yi Larus sabini, see Gull, Sabine’s Lawn, M. R., note on bigamous Willow Warbler, 592-3 Lawton, J. H., note on Starling inter- fering with Blackbird’s nest, 594 Laybourne, S., note on Ivory Gull bathing and settling on water, 39 Lea, D., see Macdonald, J. W. Lilleleht, V., European news, 254-8 Limicola falcinellus, see Sandpiper, Broad-billed Limnodromus , see Dowitcher scolopaceus, see Dowitcher, Long- billed semipalmatus, see Dowitcher, Asiatic Limosa lapponica, see Godwit, Bar-tailed limosa, see Godwit, Black-tailed Linnet, reactions to newly hatched frogs, 187; numbers feeding and breeding at sewage works, 237, 239, 242-3; prey of Merlin, 391 Little, B., photograph of Two-barred Crossbill, 525, plate 202 , , see Meek, E. R. , , see Newton, I. Locustella lanceolata, see Warbler, Lan- ceolated luscinioides, see Warbler, Savi s naevia, see Warbler, Grasshopper Lord, N. A. G., see Flumm, D. S. Love, J. A., Ball, M. E., and Newton, I., White-tailed Eagles in Britain and Norway, 475-81, plates 173-80 Lovegrove, Roger, breeding status ot Goosanders in Wales, 214-6 Lowes, Peter, Bird Photograph of the Year 1977; Sparrowhawk, 195, plate 85; presentation of award, 322, plate 124 Loxia curvirostra, see Crossbill leucoptera, see Crossbill, Two- barred pytyopsittacus, see Crossbill, Parrot scotica, see Crossbill, Scottish Luscinia calliope, see Rubythroat, Siberian luscinia, see Nightingale, Thrush megarhynchos, see Nightingale svecica, see Bluethroat Lymnocryptes minimus, see Snipe, Jack Macdonald, D„ note on Blackcaps killed by striking window panes, i32-3 Macdonald, J. W., Lea, D., and Hamil- ton, G. A., note on parasitic worms causing deaths of Mute Swans, 358-9, plate 131 Macmillan, Andrew T., review of Hardy : A Guide to the Birds of Scotland, 419-20 McNeil, D. A. C., and Clark, Frank, note on unusual House Martin nest- sites, 274-5 Madge, S. C., mystery photograph 16: Red-necked Grebe, 123, 176-91 plate 44; photograph of first-winter Slender-billed Gull, 162, plate 59; mystery photograph, 18: Curlew Sandpiper, 267; note on apparent Glaucous X Herring Gull hybrids, 272-4, plates 1 1 3-4; personal account of, 356-7, plate 130; recent reports, see Recent reports Magnusson, Arno, letter on divers and ornithologists, 279 Magpie, feeding on suspended food, 40-1; drying themselves on grass, 133; display, 133-41 feeding at sewage works, 239; killing Swift, 363 Makatsch, Ilse, photograph of Black- headed Gull, 159, plate 58 Mallard, following wild boar, 73> plate 24 Markey, Danny, Young Ornithologist of the Year, 233, plate 93 Martin, House, taking over Swallows’ nest, 39-40; roosting behaviour, 89; unusual nest-sites, 274-51 avoiding insect swarms, 366 ; prey of Merlin, 39 1 , Sand, spring passage 1977, 14° Mather, John R., personalities 16: S. C. Madge, 356-7 Meek, E. R-, note on unusual Yellow- browed Warbler in Northumber- land, 464-5 ; , and Little, B., letter on past status of the Brent Goose in North- umberland, 44-6 , see Newton, I. Melanitta nigra, see Scoter, Common perspicillata, see Scoter, Surf Melanocorypha bimaculata, see Lark. Bimaculated calandra, see Lark, Calandra Melopsittacus undulatus, see Budgerigar Merganser, Red-breasted, European news, 584 622 Mergus merganser, see Goosander senator, see Merganser, Red- breasted Merlin, two hunting together, 37; breeding ecology in Northumber- land, 376-98, plates 136-40 Merops apiaster, see Bee-eater Miliaria calandra, see Bunting, Corn Milvus migrans, see Kite, Black milvus, see Kite, Red Mniotilta varia, see Warbler, Black-and- white Moedt, Oene, photograph of Snipe and Starling, 196, plate 86 Motacilla alba, see Wagtail, Pied cinerea, see Wagtail, Grey citreola, see Wagtail, Citrine flava, see Wagtail, Yellow Migration : Oystercatcher, 439-47 ! Blackcap, 345-54 Milbled, Thierry, letter on unusual song of Grasshopper Warbler, 1 39 Mills, P. R., note on Oystercatchers nesting on roofs, 308 Mills, Richard T., photograph of Curlew yawning, 69, plate 16; of C. D. Hutchinson, 306, plate 123; award-winning photograph of Barn Owl, 426, plate 155; photograph of north harbour of Cape Clear Island, 471, plate 172 Minton, C. D. T., see Anderson, K. R. Moore, R. D., photograph of Lesser Golden Plover, 499, plate 183 Morgan, R. A., see Beer, T. Munsterman, P., photograph of Black- headed Gull, 71, plate 20 Murray, R. D., letter on crossbill evolution, 318-9 Murton, R. K., obituary of, 534-6, plate 204 Mystery photographs: 14, plate 8; 15, plate 27; 1 6, plate 44; 17, plate 79; 18, plate 91 ; 19, plate 1 12; 20, plate 122; 21, plate 129; 22, plate 153; 23, plate 1 71 ; 24, plate 205; 25, plate 213 — , answers to: 13, 33; 14, 75-6; 15, 122; 16, 178-9; 17, 218-9; 18, 267; '9> 304-5; 20- 355; 21, 414-5; 22, 458-9; 23, 536-7; 24. 587-9 Neath, Brian, see Hutchinson, C. 1). Netla rufina, see Pochard, Red-crested Index to volume ji News and comment, NCC grants, Vermont breeding birds atlas pro- ject, better news of Bald Eagles, decline of Ospreys in Mediterranean, The Shetland Way of Oil, bad be- haviour of birdwatchers in Shetland, new NNRs in Scotland, guide for disabled birdwatchers, World Wild- life Fund Conservation Programme 1 977-78, new species of owl found in Peru, Birds of Galway and Mayo, Ducks, Ponds and People, republication of The Pheasants of the World, 49-5 1 ; Bardsey Island Trust appeal, BTO honours Robert Gillmor, SOC hon- ours Irene Waterston, the Richard Richardson appeal, Convention on the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats, welcome Irish Birds, census of America’s wetlands, pur- chase of Fowlmere by YOG, requests for information on Darwin and Cherry Kearton, 91-3; Cyril Eyre awarded OBE, YOC summer mig- rants ‘phone-in’, Nature Conserv- ancy’s third annual report, the USA/ USSR Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their En- vironment, captive breeding of Bald Ibises, Bird's Eye View, study of Oystercatchers and shellfish, Burn- ley’s birds, Birdwatching in the Cotswold Water Park, field notes on Californian seabirds, Romanian atlas, ‘Seabird Group Report 1976-77’, bird-call whistling contest, 141-3; SOC con- ference, wheelchair record, London’s scarce migrants, Portuguese atlas, Estonian atlas progress, conservation measures for Coto Donana, well done Jo., Swiss Red List, twitchers beware, Siberian Crane news, information sought on Ring-necked Parakeets in London area, more overseas news, new NNR at Tokavaig Wood, cage- bird exhibition, 190-3, plate 84; pro- gress of Australian bird atlas. Atlas Ornithologique Rhone- Alpes, declining storks. World Conservation Strategy, demise of Birds International , The Severn Estuary — A Heritage of Wildlife, Birds and Farmland 1978, three new RSPB reserves, Dutch Herons rule, OK?, obituary of Dr Canning Suffern, Sandwich Bay Bird Ob- Index to volume 7/ servatory, Cape Clear Bird Observa- tory revival, mystery photograph competition winners, Young Orni- thologists of the Year, 230-3, plate 93; Westray mink farm enquiry, RSPB 6th Annual Conference, York, Wyre Forest: a new NNR in the Midlands, bird observatory estab- lished at Eyre, Western Australia, Birdwatching in the Cotswold Water Park, research on tuberculosis in badgers and other wildlife, new director for the BTO, 281-3; Fair Isle news, nuthatches and guans, the Richard Richardson Appeal, PhD for Gareth Thomas, heavy penalties for US raptor offences, The Identification of Remains in Owl Pellets, new Sheffield journal. Bird Photograph of the Year presentation, BTO feathers collec- tion, transfer of Black Robin popula- tion, 321-3, plate 124; honours, obituary of Captain H. R. H. Vaughan (RN), OBE, DL, JP, Amberley Enquiry, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Naturalists’ Trust Appeal, YOC nylon fishing-line pro- ject, the ‘Cain and Abel’ mystery in eagles, fines for Golden Eagle kill- ings, The Birds of Rostherne Mere NNR, The English Sparrow in the American Landscape, environmental directory, recording death on the roads, results of 1977 Common Birds Census, death of L. J. Yeatman, 369-72; Surrey’s first NNR, Polish bustards, WWF aids terns, Dyfed wildlife appeal, increased breeding success for Os- preys in US, and praise for BTO at Cornell, threat to North Staffs moor- lands, Tom Keogh Memorial Trophy, Peregrine conference in Sweden, ornithological group in Algeria, information wanted on White-fronted Geese in Greenland, 425-7, plate 155; efforts to save Californian Condor, new Cape Cleai Bird Observatory, penalties for il- legal possession of Peregrines, prison for shooting at Whooping Cranes, Manx Shearwaters nesting off New- foundland, progress of Bardsey Appeal, 470'2' plate 172; The Philippines Eagle, more Archaeop- teryx finds, new journals, projected 623 French wintering atlas, Magenta Petrel rediscovered, Dick Homes Memorial, Natwest cheques, no Westray mink, 551-2; World Wildlife Fund Yearbook 1976-7, Living with Cruelty, RSPB urges w'ildlife police force, first breeding of Egyptian Vultures in captivity, Egypt ratifies Washington Convention, The Irish Hare, sizes of bird reports, European wetlands campaign, Rostherne Mere, 604-6 Newton, H. C. F., see Smith, K. G. V. Newton, I., review of Curio: The Ethology of Predation, 1 36 , , Meek, E. R., and Little, B., breeding ecology of the Merlin in Northumberland, 376-98, plates 136- 40 , , see Love, J. A. Nicholls, Gerry, photographs of Grey- headed Gulls, 172-5, plates 69, 74-5 Nicholson, E. M., XVII International Ornithological Congress, 555-7 Nighthawk, Common, nesting on roofs, 598 Nightingale, spring passage 1977, 140; European news, 585 , Thrush, European news, 256; accepted records 1976-7, 5 1 5'6- plates 194-5 Nightjar, Egyptian, European news, 584 Norman, D. M., note on Blackpoll Warbler in Devon, 41-2; on aberrant Wheatear in the Isles ol Scilly, 463-4; on aggression of Lesser Yellowlegs to Redshanks, 538 Norman, David, note on waders following pigeon flocks, 461-2 Northeast, C. J., note on Golden Eagle persistently attacking red deer calf. 36-7 Nucifraga caryocalactes, see Nutcracker Numenius arquata, see Curlew phaeopus, see Whimbrel Nutcracker, European new's, 257, 586 Nuthatch, caching insect larvae, 539- 4° Nyctea scandiaca, see Owl, Snowy Nycticorax nycticorax, see Heron, Night Obituaries: Dr Canning Suffcrn. 232; Captain H. R. H. Vaughan, 369-70, L. J. Yeatman, 372; Richard Con- 624 stantine Homes (1913-1978), 532-4, plate 203; Ronald Keir Murton BSc, PhD (1932-1978), 534-6, plate 204 Oenanlhs deserti, see Wheatear, Desert hispanica, see Wheatear, Black- eared — leucura, see Wheatear, Black oenanthe, see Wheatear — pleschanka, see Wheatear, Pied Ogilvie, M. A., review of Goodfellow: Birds as Builders, 87; mystery photo- graph 24: Ferruginous Duck, 587-9 — , , and Sharrock, J. T. R.. ‘British Birds’ Binoculars and Tele- scopes Survey, 429-39 Oliver, P. J., see Redman, P. S., et al. Olney, P. J. S., see Cadbury, C. J. Olsthoorn, Hans, letter on holiday exchanges between British and Dutch or Belgian birdwatchers, 47 Oreel, G. J., letter on a symbol for individuals not adult males, 544-5 Oriole, Golden, British breeding records 1976, 28; additional records 1975, 32 Oriolus oriolus, see Oriole, Golden Osprey, British breeding records 1976, 17-8; spring passage 1977, 141 ; nesting on roofs, 598 Otis tarda, see Bustard, Great Otus scops, see Owl, Scops Ouzel, Ring, spring passage 1977, 140; prey of Merlin, 391 Owl, Barn, award-winning photo- graph, 426, plate 155; photograph, 449, plate 157 Owl, Little, photograph, 261, plate 102; one preening another, 359-60; photograph, 449, plate 158 — , Long-eared, hunting in daylight, 88 — , Scops, accepted record 1977, 510 — , Short-eared, European news, 584 — , Snowy, no British breeding records 1976, 23; accepted records '977> 5I0> European news, 584 — , Tawny, Jackdaws reacting to call, 223-4 — , Tengmalm’s, photograph, 260, plate 100 Oystercatcher, Redshank feeding in association with injured bird, 38-9; photographed in flight, 260, plate 101; nesting on roofs, 308, 598; Index to volume 71 origins of Wash wintering popula- tion, 439-47; following pigeon flocks, 462; driving lamb from nest, 538 Oystercatcher, American, nesting on roofs, 598 Page, Douglas, note on female Dotterel tending chick, 38; on distinctive feeding action of Baird’s Sandpiper, 78-9; on Pied Flycatcher hammering snail on road, 133; on Dusky Warbler feeding in open canopy, 183 Pagophila eburnea, see Gull, Ivory Pandion haliaetus, see Osprey Panurus biarmicus, see Tit, Bearded Parker, Alan, note on Merlins hunting together outside breeding season, 37; on Peregrine quartering ground like harrier, 37 Parker, M., photographs of Franklin’s Gull, 506, plates 186-7 Partridge, Grey, colour photograph, 196, plate 87; photograph, 451, plate 161 — , Red-legged, apparently listening to music, 461 — , Rock, European news, 584 Paras ater, see Tit, Coal — caeruleus, see Tit, Blue — major, see Tit, Great — montanus, see Tit, Willow — palustris, see Tit, Marsh Passer domesticus, see Sparrow, House — hispaniolensis, see Sparrow, Spanish — montanus, see Sparrow, Tree Passerina ciris, see Bunting, Painted Pauli, David E., note on further hard- weather concentration of Snipe, 221 Peach, A. N. H., study of photographic work, 258-66, plates 99-1 11 Pellow, Keith, photograph of Cory’s Shearwater, 198, plate 88 Penhallurick, R. D., note on Chiff- chaffs wintering at sewage-works in west Cornwall, 183-6, plates 81-3 Pennie, Ian 1)., letter on Golden Eagle killing red deer calf, 189 Perdix perdix, see Partridge, Grey Peregrine, hunting like harrier, 37: taking prey in upward strike from front, 37-8; attacking migrating raptors at Gibraltar, 460-1; retriev- ing prey from sea, 461 Pernis apivorus, see Buzzard, Honey Perray, D. )., note on Pied Wagtails persistently attacking Dipper, 539 Index to volume 7/ Personalities: 11 K. E. L. Simmons, 34-6, plate 9; 12 Dr W. R. P. Bourne, 123-5, Plate 45; 13 R- J- Tulloch, 176-8, plate 78; 14 Nick Riddiford, 216-8, plate 90; 15 C. D. Hutchinson, 305-7, plate 123; 16 S. C. Madge, 356-7, plate 130; 17 Dr Stephanie Tyler, 412-4, plate 152 Petrel, Storm, chasing albino, 357 Phalacrocorax aristotelis, see Shag carbo, see Cormorant pygmeus , see Cormorant, Pygmy Phalarope, Red-necked, British breed- ing records 1976, 22; additional records 1975, 31 , Wilson’s, accepted records 1976- 7, 504; European news, 584 Phalaropus lobatus, see Phalarope, Red- necked tricolor, see Phalarope, Wilson’s Philomachus pngnax, see Ruff Phoenicopterus ruber, see Flamingo, Greater Phoenicurus ochruros, see Redstart, Black phoenicurus, see Redstart Photographic requests, 601-2 Phylloscopus bonelli, see Warbler, Bonelli s collybita, see Chiffchaff fuscatus, see Warbler, Dusky inornatus, see Warbler, Yellow- browed proregulus, see Warbler, Pallas s schwarzi, see Warbler, Radde s sibilatrix, see Warbler, Wood trochiloides, see Warbler, Greenish trochilus, see Warbler, Willow Pica pica, see Magpie Pints viridis, see Woodpecker, Green Pihl, Stephan, photographs of Spec- tacled Warbler, 57, plates 14-5 Pinfield, T. J. S., note on Herring Gull attempting to catch snowflakes, 80 Pintail, British breeding records 1976, 14; British breeding records i974> 1975, 29 Pipilo erythrophthalmus, see Towhee, Rufous-sided Pipit, Meadow, numbers feeding at sewage works, 237-41 ; European Atlas map, 248-50, plate 96; eating ladybirds, 310; prey of Merlin, 391 ; European news, 585 ; Olive-backed, European news, 256; in Shetland, 312-3; accepted record 1977, 5'3 625 Pipit, Pechora, accepted record 1977, 514, plates 191-2 , Red-throated, European Atlas map, 251-2, plate 97; accepted records 1976-7, 514 , Richard’s, European news, 256; accepted records 1976-7, 51 1-3; autumn passage 1977, 549 , Rock, European Atlas map, 252- 4, plate 98 , Tawny, European Atlas map, 245-7, plate 94; accepted records •976-7, 50 , Tree, European Atlas map, 247- 9, plate 95; prey of Merlin, 391 Plant, Colin W., note on differing reactions of adult Mute Swans to intruding juvenile, 181 Plectrophenax nivalis, see Bunting, Snow Plegadis falcinellus, see Ibis, Glossy Plover, Caspian, sitting on tarsi, 228 , Golden, aberrant plumage, 271- 2; prey of Merlin, 391 , Lesser Golden, accepted records 1976-7, plate 183 , Little Ringed, mystery photo- graph 267, 304-5, plate 1 12 , Ringed, chased by Avocet, 113, plate 40; photograph, 304, plate 121 , Sociable, European news, 255; accepted records 1977, 499 , Spur-winged, sitting on tarsi, 228 , White-tailed, resting on tarsi, 128; European news, 584 , Wilson’s, nesting on roofs, 598 Plovers, sitting on tarsi, 128, 228 Pluvialis apricaria, see Plover, Golden dominica, see Plover, Lesser Golden Pochard, European news, 583 , Red-crested, European news, 583 Podiceps auritus, see Grebe, Slavonian cristatus, see Grebe, Great Crested grisegena, see Grebe, Red-necked nigricollis, see Grebe, Black-necked Podilymbus podiceps, see Grebe, Pied-billed Polking, Fritz, photograph of Starling on pig’s back, 73, plate 23 Polysticta stelleri, see Eider, Steller s Porphvrula alleni, see Gallinule, Allen s Porter, R. F., mystery photograph 22, 458-9 Porzana porzana, see Crake, Spotted pusilla, see Crake, Baillon s Poyscr, Trevor, review of Dalton: The Miracle of Flight, 187-8 626 Pratincole, accepted records 1971-7, 498-9 — , Black-winged, accepted record 1976, 498 , Collared, accepted records 1974- 7, 498 Prins, J. G., photograph of Slender- billed Gull, 164, plate 63 Prokop, Peter, European news, 582-7 Prunella collaris, see Accentor, Alpine — modularis, see Dunnock — montanella, see Accentor, Siberian Prytherch, Robin, photograph of K. E. L. Simmons, 35, plate 9 Ptarmigan, photograph, 198, plate 89 Puffin, European news, 584; synchron- ous diving, 598-9 Puffinus assimilis, see Shearwater, Little — gravis, see Shearwater, Great — griseus, see Shearwater, Sooty Pulman, T. B., note on Magpie killing Swift, 363 Purroy, Francisco, European news, 254-8 Pyrrhocorax graculus, see Chough, Alpine Pyrrhula pyrrhula, see Bullfinch Quail, European news, 255 Rabol, Jorgen, note on Goldcrests killed by edible frogs, 85 Radford, A. P., note on Blue Tits and Robin eating snowberries, 133; on Starling breaking off leaves to feed on aphids, 363 Rail, Water, photograph, 452, plate 163 Rallus aquaticus, see Rail, Water Ramsay, A. D. K., see Swann, R. L. Rare Breeding Birds Panel, rare breed- ing birds in the United Kingdom in 1976, n-33 Rarities Committee, news and an- nouncements, 423-4; report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1977, 481- 532, plates 181-202 Raven, effects of poisoning in Scotland, 227-8; feeding on tideline, 312; nesting on roofs, 598 Recent reports, 51-2; 93-4; 143-4; ■93-4; 233-4; 283-4; 323-4; 372-4; 427-8; 472-4; 553-4; 606-8; Spring and breeding season summary, 140- 1; Migration review: autumn 1977. 548-51 Index to volume 7/ Recorders, list of county, regional and bird observatory, 603-4 Recurvirostra avosetta, see Avocet Redman, Philip S., letter on co-ordina- tion of migratory studies, 137-8 , , et al., note on landbirds over the Strait of Dover, 3 1 2 Redpoll, European news, 257; prey of Merlin, 391 , Arctic, accepted records 1972-7, 524; European news, 586 Redshank, feeding association with injured Oystercatcher, 38-9; prey of Merlin, 391 ; following pigeon flocks, 462 Redstart, autumn passage 1977, 549 — , Black, British breeding records 1976, 24-5; additional records 1974, 29; additional records 1975, 31-2; autumn passage 1977, 550 Redwing, British breeding records 1976, 25; additional records 1975, 32 ; migrants over Strait of Dover, 312; prey of Merlin, 391 ; European news, 585 Reed, Barry B., note on Bittern apparently feeding at night by arti- ficial light, 416 Regains ignicapillus , see Firecrest — regulus, see Goldcrest Remiz pendulinus, see Tit, Penduline Requests: sketches of Eurasian birds. Black Redstart breeding survey, 48; Mute Swan breeding census, Corn- crake breeding census, 91; breeding birds of British and Irish islands, 189-90; colour-ringed Purple Sand- pipers and Dotterels, 320-1: marked gulls, Ring-necked Parakeets, win- tering Blackcaps, 368-9, plate 134: partially albino Swifts, 424; more wing-tagged Goosanders, more colour-ringed flamingos, 547; birds of prey in Suffolk, 602 Reviews : Coombs : The Crows , 594-5 Corbet & Southern : The Handbook of British Mammals , 135 Cramp: Handbook of the Birds of Europe , the Middle East and North Africa , vol. 1, 300-4 Cruickshank: Photographs of Birds of America, 365 Curio: The Ethology of Predation, 136 Dalton: The Miracle of Flight, 187-8 Index to volume yi Darlington : Mountains and Moorlands, 596 Dobinson : Bird Count, 42-3 Everett: The Golden Eagle, 224-5 Fisher: Wildlife Sound Recording, 419 Fjeldsa: Guide to the Young of European Precocial Birds, 87 Goodfellow: Birds as Builders, 87 Goodwin: Crows of the World, 43 Hardy : A Guide to the Birds of Scotland, 419-20 Jellis: Bird Sounds and their Meaning, 277-8 Jonsson: Birds of Wood, Park and Garden, 595-6 Jonsson: Birds of Sea and Coast, 595-6 Klafs & Stubs: Die Vogelwelt Mecklen- burgs, 225 Montier: Atlas of Breeding Birds of the London Area, 43-4 Owen: Towns and Gardens, 596 Prater, Marchant & Vuorinen: Guide to the Identification and Ageing of Holarctic Waders, 420 Roche & Merne: Sal tees, 188 Stonehouse & Perrins : Evolutionary Ecology, 278-9 , see also Short reviews Reynolds, J. F., photograph of Wood Sandpiper, 70, plate 19; letter on birds sitting on their tarsi, 228 Rhodostethia rosea, see Gull, Ross’s Richards, Michael W., photograph of Starling on bullock’s head, 72, plate 21; of Avocet, 106-13, plates 36, 39; review of Cruickshank’ s Photographs of Birds of America, 365 -, , Ferguson-Lees, I. J., and Sharrock, J. T. R., best recent black- and-white bird-photographs, 447-58, plates 157-70 , , and Sharrock, J. T. R. birds in action, 68-75, plates 16-26 Riddiford, Nick, personal account of, 216-8, plate 90 } , and Fletcher, Mark, note on Little Gull feeding on human food scraps, 79-80 Ridley-Thomas, Primrose, photograph of Black-shouldered Kite’s nest, 404, plate 148 Riparia riparia, see Martin, Sand Rissa tridactyla, see Kittiwake Roberts, J. Lawton, letter on birds in Bulgaria, 466 627 Roberts, P. J., note on Storm Petrels chasing albino, 357 Robertson, I. S., note on Avocet with pink feet, 78 Robin, feeding young at night, 83-4, plate 30; feeding by artificial light, 88; nesting in disused Blackbirds’ nests, 1 3 1 ; eating snowberries, 133; numbers breeding at sewage works, 239; prey of Merlin, 391; killing nestling Song Thrushes, 463 , American, accepted record 1975, 5l8 Rochford, John, personalities, 15: C. D. Hutchinson, 305-7 Rodgers, L. F., note on calls of Black- cap, 591-2 Rogers, Michael J., note on call-notes of Firecrest and Goldcrest, 318; report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1977, 481-532, plates 181-202 Roller, accepted records 1977, 510; European news, 585 Rook, feeding at sewage works, 239; migrants over Strait of Dover, 312; European news, 586 Roosting: House Martin, 89; Long- tailed Tit, 362, plate 133 Rosefinch, Scarlet, accepted records 1976-7, 525-6; European news, 586 Rubythroat, Siberian, accepted record i975> 5l6 Ruff, British breeding records 1976, 21 ; additional records 1975, 31 Russell, J., photograph of Reed Bunt- ing, 451, plate 160; of Grey Part- ridge, 451, plate 161 Russell, Will, letter on Grey-cheeked Thrushes in Europe, 421-2 Rvnchops nigra, see Skimmer, Black Sainsbury, Malcolm, note on Cross- bills ‘feeding’ on soil, 540-1, plate 206 St Joseph, Andrew K. M., see Cadbury, C. James Saker, European news, 584 Sandpiper, Baird’s, feeding action, 78, 418; presence of wing-bar in flight, 417; accepted records 1977, 500'1 , Broad-billed, accepted records 1975-7, 5DI — Buff-breasted, accepted records 1977, 501-2 , Curlew, mystery photograph, 219, plate 91 628 Sandpiper, Least, accepted record 1977, 5°° — , Marsh, mystery photograph, 1 79, plate 79; individual with orange legs, 418; accepted records 1977, 503; European news, 584 — , Pectoral, autumn passage 1977, 550; European news, 584 , Semipalmated, accepted records 1 968-77, 500 , Sharp-tailed, accepted record 1977, 50i -, Solitary, accepted record 1977, 504 — , Spotted, accepted records 1977, 504, plate 185 — , Terek, accepted record 1977, 504 — , Upland, nesting on roofs, 598 — , White-rumped, European news, 255; accepted records 1977, 500 — , Wood, British breeding records 1976, 22; photograph, 70, plate 19; autumn passage 1977, 550 Saxicola rubelra, see Whinchat torquata, see Stonechat Scaup, European news, 255 Scharringa, C. J. G., European news 254-8 Schouten, Hans, photograph of Wood- cock, 70, plate 18; of Jay with nut, 74, plate 25; of Marsh Warbler, 76, plate 27 Scolopax rusticola, see Woodcock Scoter, Common, British breeding records 1976, 14-5; British breeding records 1975, 29-30 — , Surf, accepted records 1975-7, 495-6 Scott, Derick, photograph of Little Owls, 449, plate 158 Scott, R. E., Rough-legged Buzzards in Britain in 1973/74 and 1974/75, 325’ 38, plates 125-8 Sellar, P. J., review of Fisher: Wildlife Sound Recording, 4 1 9 Serin, summering in Britain 1976, 29; accepted records 1976-7, 524 Serinus serinus, see Serin Shag, mortality from shellfish poison- ing, 58-68: defence against dog, 358 Sharrock, J. T. R., rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1976, 1 1 -33 ; mystery photograph 1 3 : Purple Heron, 33 ; review of Montier : Atlas of Breeding Birds of the London Index to volume ji Area, 43-4; review of Corbet & Southern: The Handbook of British Mammals, 135; mystery photograph 17: Marsh Sandpiper, 218-9; note on birds mobbing Collared Dove, 221 ; on partially albino Swift, 222-3; mystery photograph 19, Little Ringed Plover, 304-5 ; review of J onsson : Birds of Wood, Park and Garden, and Birds of Sea and Coast, 595-6 , , and Cramp, S., short reviews, 315-7, 542-4 — , , see Ogilvie, M. A. , , see Richards, M. W. Shearwater, Cory’s, photograph, 198, plate 88; accepted records 1976-7, 488 — , Great, autumn passage 1977, 550 — , Little, accepted records 1977, 489 — , Sooty, European news, 255; autumn passage 1977, 550 Shelduck, threatening Avocet, 113, plate 41 ; photograph, 261, plate 103 Shooter, Philip, note on Kingfisher diving through ice to catch fish, 130 Short reviews: Andrews, 315 Ardley & Hawkes, 542 Arnold, 542 Bennett, 542 Bondesen, 315 Braithwaite, 543 Bremner, 316 Caras, 316 Chinery, 543 Curry-Lindahl, 543 Dorward, 543 Douglas-Home, 316 Flegg, 316 Frost, 543 Gooders, 316 Harrison, 543 Hal ting, 543 Haverschmidt, 543 Heintzelman, 316 Holden, 316 Leopold, 544 McLachlan & Liversidge, 544 Mountfort, 316 Perry, 544 Pinowski & Kendcigh, 316 Simon, 316 Skutch, 316 Soper, 544 Viney & Phillipps, 316 Index to volume 7/ Wawrzyniak & Sohns, 317 White, 317 Wilmore, 317 Shrike, Great Grey, summering in Britain 1975, 32; feeding on refuse tip, 40; feeding young on peanuts and bread, 362-3 , Lesser Grey, accepted records 1977, 523 , Red-backed, British breeding records 1976, 29; additional records 1975) 32; spring passage 1977, 140; European news, 257; autumn pas- sage 1977, 548-9 , Woodchat, accepted records 1970-7) 523 Simmons, K. E. L., personal account of, 34-6, plate 9 Sinclair, J. C., photograph of Grey- headed Gull, 173, plate 72 Siokhin, V. D., photograph of Slender- billed Gull, 164, plate 64 Siskin, European news, 257 Sitta europaea, see Nuthatch Skimmer, Black, nesting on roofs, 598 Skua, Arctic, forcing Swift into sea, 539; autumn passage 1977, 55°; European news, 584 , Great, increase in Shetland, 201, 207; European news, 584 , Long-tailed, accepted records 1 976-7, 505-6; European news, 584 Skylark, numbers breeding at sewage works, 239; migrants over Strait of Dover, 312; prey of Merlin, 391 Slade, Brian E., note on display of Magpie, 133-4 Slater, Colin, note on Kestrel following plough and feeding mainly on earth- worms, 270 Smart, J. H., note on Twites wintering in woodland, 86, 608 Smith, Donald A., photograph of Barn Owl, 449, plate 157 Smith, Enid, note on Dunnock appar- ently finding food on dead House Sparrow, 313 Smith, K. G. V., and Newton, H. C. F., note on some insect food of nestling Swallows, 360-2 Smith, Robert T., note on roosting of Long-tailed Tits, 362, plate 133; photograph of Merlin, 395, plat;e 14° Snipe, colour photograph, 196, plate 86; hard-weather concentration, 629 221 ; using foot to control food, 309; prey of Merlin, 391 ; following pigeon flocks, 462 Snipe, Great, accepted records 1968-77, 502 , Jack, distinctive feeding action, 79; autumn passage 1977, 550 , Pintail, field-characters, 560-1 Somateria mollissima, see Eider spectabilis, see Eider, King Sparrow, House, copulating, 74, plate 26; Swallow associating with, 130; numbers feeding and breeding at sewage works, 237, 239, 243; feeding at suspended feeders, 318 , Spanish, accepted record 1977, 524 , Tree, numbers feeding at sewage works, 237, 240 , White-throated, European news, 587 Sparrowhawk, close nesting by two pairs, 77-8; colour photograph, 195, plate 85; letter on, 422; mutual cartwheeling by pair, 219-20; female with male plumage characters, 269- 70; attacked by Peregrines on migration, 460-1 Spoonbills, sitting on tarsi, 228 Spence, B. R., see Cudworth, John Spencer, K. G., letter on roosting behaviour of migrant House Martins, 89; note on Magpies drying them- selves on grass, 133 Spencer, Robert, obituary of R. C. Homes, 532-4; note on Blackbird entering railway station, 591 Stainton, J. M., note on Wren dust- bathing, 1 30-1; letter on pigeons swimming, 138 Starling, on bullock’s head, 72, plate 21; on pig’s back, 73, plate 23; imitating Cetti’s Warbler, 85-6; colour photograph, 196, plate 86; numbers feeding and breeding at sewage works, 237-42; European news, 257; feeding on tideline, 31 1; migrants over Strait of Dover, 3^2, unusual feeding method, 363! PieY of Merlin, 391 ; mystery photograph, 459, plate 1 71; interfering with Blackbird’s nest, 594 , Rose-coloured, accepted records 1976-7) 523 Stastny, Karel, European news, 254-8, 582-7 630 Stercorarius longicaudus, see Skua, Long- tailed — parasiticus, see Skua, Arctic skua, see Skua, Great Sterna caspia, see Tern, Caspian fuscata, see Tern, Sooty — hirundo, see Tern, Common — paradisaea, see Tern, Arctic — sandvicensis, see Tern, Sandwich Stewart, A. G., note on swans flying at 8,000 metres, 459-60 Steyn, Peter, photographs of Grey- headed Gulls, 172, 175, plates 70, 76 Stint, Long-toed, first west Palearctic record, 255; field-characters, 558-60 , Temminck’s, British breeding records 1976, 20; spring passage 1977, 141; mystery photograph, 355, 414-5, plate 129 Stonechat, feeding in Robin-like manner, 84; Dartford Warbler as- sociating with, 182-3; European news, 256, 585; catching ladybird, 31 1 ; taking food from water, 313-4; method of eating caterpillars, 463 , Siberian, accepted records 1976- 7, 5*6 Stone-curlew, British breeding records 1976, 19-20; British breeding records I975> 3i Stork, Abdim’s, living transfixed by arrow, 88 — , Black, European news, 255, 583; accepted records 1 977> 49° — , White, living transfixed by arrows, 88; accepted records 1976- 7, 491 ; European news, 583 Storks, sitting on tarsi, 228 Streeter, David, review of Owen : Towns and Gardens, and Darlington: Mountains and Moorlands, 596 Streptopelia decaocto, see Dove, Collared — turtur, see Dove, Turtle Strix aluco, see Owl, Tawny Sturms roseus, see Starling, Rose- coloured — vulgaris, see Starling Suetens, W., and van Groenendael, P., photographs of Black-shouldered Kites, 398-402, plates 141-4, 146 — , , see van Groenendael, P. Suffern, Canning, obituary, 232 Sula bassana, see Gannet Sultana, Joe, European news, 254-8, 582-7 Index to volume 7/ Svensson, Soren, European news, 254- 8, 582-7 Swallow, nest taken over by House Martins, 39-40; feeding before sun- rise, 47; associating with House Sparrows, 130; spring passage 1977, 140; caught by sheep’s wool, 182; food of nestlings, 360-2; autumn passage 1977, 549 , Red-rumped, accepted records 1977, 51 1 ; European news, 585 Swan, Bewick’s, living transfixed by arrow, 88; European news, 255, 583 — , Mute, differing reactions of adults to intruding juvenile, 181; death due to parasitic worms, 358-9, plate 13 1 — , Whooper, European news, 583 Swanberg, P. O., photograph of Tawny Pipit, 246, plate 94 Swann, R. L., and Ramsay, A. D. K., letter on avian prey of large raptors on Canna, 46 Swans, flying at 8,000 metres, 459-60 Swift, delayed nesting 1977, 140; partial albinos, 222-3; killed by Magpie, 363 ; avoiding insect swarms, 366; leucistic individual, 418; forced into sea by Arctic Skua, 539 — , Alpine, accepted records 1974-7, 510 — , Little, European news, 584 Sylvia atricapilla, see Blackcap borin, see Warbler, Garden ■ cantillans, see Warbler, Subalpine communis, see Whitethroat conspicillala, see Warbler, Spectacled hortensis, see Warbler, Orphean melanocephala, see Warbler, Sardinian — undata, see Warbler, Dartford Tachybaptus ruficollis, see Grebe, Little Tadorna tadorna, see Shelduck Tallowin, J., and Youngman, R. E., note on Dartford Warbler associat- ing with Stonechat, 182-3 Tarsiger cyanurus, sec Bluetail, Red- flanked Taylor, Kenneth, letter on syn- chronous diving as feeding strategy, 598*9 Taylor, Michael E., note on Montagu’s Harrier hovering, 77 Index to volume ji Teal, European news, 583 , Blue-winged, accepted records 1977. 493 , Green-winged, accepted records 1977, 493 Tekke, M. J., note on Oystercatchers nesting on roofs, 308 Tern, Arctic, deaths from shellfish poisoning, 64 -, Black, spring passage 1977, 140; autumn passage 1977, 550-1 , Caspian, accepted records 1976-7, 508; European news, 584 , Common, deaths from shellfish poisoning, 64; on sheep’s back, 72, plate 22 , Gull-billed, field-characters, 466-9; accepted records 1977, 508 , Little, European news, 256 Sandwich, deaths from shellfish poisoning, 64; European news, 256; field-characters, 468-9 , Sooty, European news, 584 , Whiskered, accepted records 1977, 508-9; European news, 584 , White-winged Black, accepted records 1976-7 , 509 Tetrax tetrax, see Bustard, Little Thorpe, W. H., review of Jellis: Bird Sounds and their Meaning, 277-8 Thrush, Black-throated, accepted record 1977, 518 , Eye-browed, European news, 585 , Grey-cheeked, European records, 421-2 , Mistle, prey of Merlin, 391 , Siberian, accepted record i977> 5*6 , Song, living transfixed by twig, 88; mobbing Collared Dove, 221; numbers feeding and breeding at sewage works, 238-9; prey of Merlin, 391; nestlings killed by Robin, 463 , White’s, in Shetland, 313 Tichodroma muraria, see Wallcreeper Tit, Bearded, European news, 257 , Blue, eating snowberries, 133; numbers breeding at sewage works, 239; photograph, 45°> pla^e *59> females sitting on empty nests, 593> 600 , Coal, European news, 257 3 Great, numbers breeding at sewage works, 239; migrants ovei 631 Strait of Dover, 312 ; prey of Merlin, 391 ; female sitting on empty nest, 600 Tit, Long-tailed, European news, 257; roost, 362, plate 133; prey of Merlin, 391 , Marsh, prey of Merlin, 391 , Penduline, photograph, 262, plate 104; European news, 586 , Willow, vegetable foods, 465; European news, 586 Tomiatolc, Ludwik, European news, 254-8, 582-7 Towhee, Rufous-sided, accepted records 1975-6, 527 Treecreeper, prey of Merlin, 391 Tringa JIavipes, see Yellowlegs, Lesser glareola, see Sandpiper, Wood nebidaria, see Greenshank solilaria, see Sandpiper, Solitary stagnatilis, see Sandpiper, Marsh totanus, see Redshank Troglodytes troglodytes, sec Wren Tryngites subruficollis, see Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Tucker, N. & L. A., note on Pine Bunting in Highland, 363-4 Tulloch, R. J., personal account of, 176-7, plate 78 T urdus iliacus, see Redwing merula, see Blackbird migratorius , see Robin, American obscurus, see Thrush, Eye-browed philomelos, see Thrush, Song pilaris, see Fieldfare ruficollis, see Thrush, Black- throated torquatus, see Ouzel, Ring viscivorus, see Thrush, Mistle Turner, Daniel M., photograph of Little Gull, 565, plate 208 Turnstone, probable breeding record 1976, 22; feeding on tideline, 31 1 Twite, wintering in woodland, 86, 508 Tyler, Lindsay, photograph of Dr Stephanie Tyler, 4I3> plate l52 Tyler, Stephanie, personal account of, 412-4, plate 152; letter on song flights of wagtails, 599-600 Trio alba, see Owl, Barn Upupa epops, see Hoopoe Uria aalge, see Guillemot lomvia, see Guillemot, Briinnich s 632 Urry, David & Katie, photograph of Black-headed Gull, 158, plate 57 van de Kam, Jan, photographs of Avocets, 106-13, plates 35, 37, 41 Vanellus vanellus, see Lapwing van Groenendael, P. and Suetens, W., photographs of White-tailed Eagles, 476-8, plates 173-7 , , see Suetens, W. van Impe, Jacques, note on Mediter- ranean Gull dropping bivalves, 128-9 Vaughan, Captain H.R.H., obituary of, 369-70 Vaughan, Richard, photographs of Black-headed Gulls, 154-5, plates 50, 53’ 56 Vernon, J. D. R., letter on Common and Black-headed Gulls feeding on road corpses, 228-9 Verrall, K., note on Peregrine taking Meadow Pipit in upward strike from front, 37-8; on aberrant Golden Plover, 271-2 Vinicombe, K. E., note on leucistic Swift, 418 — , , see Davis, A. H. Voice: Pied Wagtail, 223; Goldcrest 318; Firecrest, 318; Grasshopper Warbler, 139; Blackcap, 189, 591-2 Voous, K. H., the Scottish Crossbill: Loxia scotica, 3-10, plates 1-6 Vulture, Griffon, European news, 255 — , Riippell’s, sitting on tarsi, 228 — , White-backed, sitting on tarsi, 228 Waddell, T. A., note on young Hobbies killed in nest, 271; on Hobby apparently brooding chick on ground, 271 Wagtail, Citrine, British breeding record 1976, 24; male feeding young wagtails in Essex, 209-13 — , Grey, numbers feeding at sewage works, 238; European news, 256, 585; song flight, 599-600 — , Pied, song flight, 223, 590-1, 599-600; numbers feeding and breed- ing at sewage works, 237-42: prey of Merlin, 391 ; persistently attacking Dipper, 539; autumn passage 1977, 549 Index to volume 7/ Wagtail, Yellow, early migrant spring 1977, 140; possible hybrids X Citrine in Essex, 209-13; numbers feeding and breeding at sewage works, 237-41 ; feeding on tideline, 31 1 ; autumn passage 1977, 548; European news, 585; song flight, 599-600 Walbridge, G., note on Pine Bunting in Dorset, 314-5 Wallace, D. I. M., mystery photo- graph 14: Black- throated Diver, 75-7j !5: Marsh Warbler, 122; 20: Olivaceous Warbler, 355; 21: Tem- minck’s Stint, 414-5 Wallcreeper, European news, 257; accepted records 1976-7, 522-3 Warbler, Aquatic, accepted records I97°-7> 5!9-20 — , Arctic, accepted records 1976-7, 521-2 — , Black-and-white, accepted record 1 977, 526; in Isles of Scilly, 541-2, 549 — , Blackpoll, in Devon, 41-2; in Isles of Scilly, 186-7; accepted record 1977’ 526 — , Blyth’s Reed, field-characters, too; European news, 586 — , Bonelli’s, European news, 257; accepted records 1974-7, 522 — , Booted, accepted records 1977, 520-1, plate 201; field-characters, 546 — , Cetti’s, British breeding records 1967, 26; accepted records 1976, 518 — , Dartford, British breeding records 1976, 27; associating with Stonechat 182-3; eating ladybird, 310 — , Dusky, feeding in open canopy, 183; European news, 257; accepted record 1976, 522 — , Fan-tailed, spread in Europe, 229; European news, 256, 585; in Norfolk, 275-7; accepted record •977’ 5*6 — , Garden, head pattern, 132: early migrant spring 1977, 140 — , Grasshopper, unusual song, 139; autumn passage 1977, 549 Great Reed, summering in Britain, 27; accepted records 1977, 520; European news, 586 . Greenish, accepted records 1976- 7, 521 ; European news, 586 Index to volume ji Warbler, Icterine, distinctive head pattern, 132; spring passage 1977, 140; autumn passage 1977, 548-9 , Lanceolated, accepted records i976-7> 5i8-9> plates 199-200 — , Marsh, British breeding records 1976, 26-7; mystery photograph, 76, plate 27; European news, 586 , Melodious, distinctive head pattern, 132; autumn passage 1977, 548; European news, 586 , Moustached, tail-cocking, 89-90, 422 — , Olivaceous, mystery photograph, 305, 355, plate 122; accepted record i976> 520 , Olive-tree, European news, 586 , Orphean, European news, 586 , Paddyfield, in Isles of Scilly, 95-101, plates 31-4 , Pallas’s, accepted records 1976-7, 522; autumn passage 1977, 549! European news, 586 , Radde’s, European news, 257; accepted records 1976-7, 522 , Reed, head pattern, 132; European news, 256; photograph, 455, plate 167 , Ruppell’s, European news, 586 , Sardinian, European news, 586 , Savi’s, British breeding records 1976, 26; European news, 256; accepted records 1974-7, 519 , Schrenk’s Reed, classification of, 100 , Sedge, autumn passage 1977* 548 , Spectacled, in Yorkshire 1968, 53-8, plates 10-15; in Cornwall 1969* 84-5 , Subalpine, European news, 257, 586; accepted records 1976-7 52 1 , Swinhoe’s Reed, wing-formula, 100 , Willow, head pattern, 132 ; spring passage 1977* I4°l nesting close together, 314; prey of Merlin, 391; autumn passage 1977, 548'9 , Wood, autumn passage 1977, 548-9 , Yellow-browed, in Shetland, 313; unusual example in Northumber- land, 464-5; autumn passage 1977, 549 633 Warbler, Yellow-rumped, in Isles of Scilly, 186; in Co. Cork, 224; accepted records 1973-7, 526 Warden, D., note on passerines eating ladybirds, 310 Warren, Rachel F., Young Ornitholo- gist of the Year, 233, plate 93 Washington, Derek, note on Starlings imitating Cetti’s Warbler, 85-6 Waxwing, European news, 256 Weir, D. N., letter on effects of poison- ing on Ravens, Buzzards and Golden Eagles in Scotland, 227-8 Westwood, N. J., obituary of R. K. Murton, 534-6, plate 204 Wheatear, spring passage 1977, 14°'- prey of Merlin, 391 ; method of eating caterpillars, 463; aberrant individual in Scilly, 463-4 , Black, European news, 256 , Black-eared, accepted records I97I"7> 5l6 , Desert, field-characters, 464; European news, 585 , Pied, accepted record 1976, 516-7, plates 196-8 Wheeler, C. E., photograph of Slender- billed Gull, 163, plate 62 , , see Redman, P. S., el al. Whimbrel, spring passage 1977, 141 Whinchat, photograph, 259, plate 99; prey of Merlin, 391 ; method of eat- ing caterpillars, 463 ; autumn pas- sage 1977, 548 Whitehouse, S. M., note on Bimacu- lated Lark in Shetland, 462-3 Whitethroat, increased breeding num- bers 1977, 140; eating ladybirds, 31 1 ; autumn passage 1977, 549 Widden, B. J., photograph of Long- billed Dowitcher, 502, plate 184 Wigeon, American, European news, 255; accepted records 1976-7 , 493 Wilkes, M. C., photograph of Field- fare, 452, plate 162 Wilkinson, John P„ note on unusual plumage of Greenshank, 79 Williams, Keri, photograph of Grey Heron, 453, plate 164 Willis, Ian, note on Bullfinch feeding young Greenfinches, 135 Wilson, Michael, review of Klafs & Stubs: Die Vogelwelt Mecklenburgs, 225 Winkler, Raffael, European news, 254-8, 582-7 ^34 Woodcock, photographs, 70, plate 18; 264, plate 109 Woodcock, Martin, see Beaman, Mark Woodpecker, Green, bill wedged in tree, 182 , Lesser Spotted, dismembering dead nestling, 360, plate 132 — - — , Syrian, European news, 585 , White-backed, European news, 256 Woodpigeon, swimming, 138; young fledging in February, 309; feeding on oak galls, 309-10; nesting close to Hobbies, 545-6 Woollard, L. F., note on House Martins taking over Swallows’ nest, 39-40 Wren, dust-bathing, 130-1; numbers breeding at sewage works, 239; prey of Merlin, 391 Wryneck, British breeding records 1976, 23; additional records 1975, 3 1 ; European news, 256 ; autumn passage 1977, 549 Index to volume 7/ Xenus cinereus, see Sandpiper, Terek Yeatman, Laurent, European news, 254-8; obituary of, 372 Yellowhammer, numbers breeding at sewage works, 239 Yellowlegs, Lesser, accepted records 1976-7, 503; aggression to Red- shanks, 538 Young, J. F., photograph of Merlin, 387, plate 139 Youngman, R. E., note on Hobbies hatching four eggs, 181-2; on Dun- nocks feeding gregariously, 182 , , see Tallowin, J. /jonotrichia albicollis, see Sparrow, White- throated Zoolhera dauma, see Thrush, White’s sibirica, see Thrush, Siberian \ * BOOKS — Handle with Care Name Address If undelivered, please return to P. G. Chapman & Go Ltd, Kent House Lane, Beckenham, Kent BR.3 ild To P. G. 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