RD & v: 1 995 British Birds , ,JHE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 10 OtC 1993 PURCHASED ZOOLOGY LIBRARY i Editorial Board R- J. Chandler R. A. Hume M. A. Ogilvie R. J. Prytherch J. A . R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Don Smith and Roger Tidman Art Consultants Robert Gillmor and Alan Harris Volume 86 1993 British Birds Ltd Editorial Staff Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (Managing Editor), David A. Christie (Assistant Editor), Mrs Sheila D. Cobban (Personal Assistant to Dr Sharrock) & Mrs Bonny Shirley Circulation Staff Mrs Erika Sharrock (Circulation Manager) & Mrs Alison Gathercole Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman to 31st October), R. A. Hume (Chairman from 1st November), Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Catley, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, J. H. Marchant (to 31st March), Andy Stoddart (from 1st April) & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Behaviour Notes Panel Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr 1. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. E. Simmons Identification Notes Panel Dr Colin Bradshaw (from 1st March), Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean (to 31st October), R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. I-ansdown, S. C. Madge, 1. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe British Birds jlume 86 (1993) Main contents JANUARY Editorial: ‘The “British Birds” List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds' Field identification of Long-billed Pipit in the West Palearctic William Laird and Adi Gencz 6 European news FEBRUARY 9 A communal roost of Peregrine Falcons and other raptors G. M. Kelly and Dr J. P. Thorpe 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler: new to the Western Palearctic Michael Peacock 2 Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1990 Robert Spencer and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel MARCH 93 History of Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire and neighbouring counties S. J. Aspinall, J. H. Taverner and E. J. Wiseman 15 Oriental Pratincole: new to the Western Palearctic David W. Bums l 1 The Hoopoe’s spreadeagle posture: predator reaction or sunning? Professor C. H. Fiy, Mrs PI. Eriksen andj. Eriksen APRIL >1 Histoiy of the Northern Pintail breeding in Britain and Ireland Dr A. D. Fox and E. R. Meek >3 The ‘British Birds’ Best Annual Bird Report Award Ian Dawson, Robert Gillmor and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock >6 Do Mediterranean Shags occur in southwest England? D. S. Flumm MAY )1 The Great Black-headed Gull in Britain Keith Vmicombe and Peter J. Hopkin, on behalf of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee 0 Common, Arctic and Roseate Terns: an identification review R. A. Hume I d Waders in Hong Kong Ray Tipper JUNE I 5 Bird Photograph of the Year Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Di R. J. Chandler, Don Smith and Roger Tidman I 3 Migrant Ring Ouzels at a stopover site on the South Downs Roy Leverton I 8 European news JULY I 5 The Red Kite in Wales: setting the record straight Peter Davis I 1 Guidelines for rarities committees Peter H. Barthe.l, Pieter Bison & Claudia Wilds I 3 Separating juvenile Little and Baillon’s Crakes in the field Dr Colin Bradshaw I 3 Seasonal reports Autumn 1 992 Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp AUGUST I 7 Bird Illustrator of the Year and The Richard Richardson Award Dr J. 7. R. Sharrock, Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris and Keith Shackle ton I 2 Colonisation by Bearded Tits of Leighton Moss, Lancashire John Wilson I 9 Daurian Redstart in Scotland: captive origin and the British list Dr Alan G. Knox, on behalf of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee I 3 Identification of female Pine Buntings Dr Colin Bradshaw and Martin Gray SEPTEMBER I 7 Spring passage of Little Gulls across Northern England Doug Messenger ■ 7 Egypt as a major wintering area of Little Gulls Peter L. Meininger and Ujfe Gjol Sorensen I 7 Rare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown I 5 The BOU Records Committee — through a newcomer’s eyes B. A. E. Man I ) Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs Dr R. J. Chandler, Don Smith, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and Roger Tidman OCTOBER I 1 Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Michael J. Rogers and the Raiities Committee NOVEMBER I I The Armenian Gull in Armenia A. V. Filchagov I Feral Rose-ringed Parakeets in Britain David H. W. Morgan I ' Seasonal reports Winter 1992/93 Keith Allsopp and Barry Nightingale DECEMBER Introduced and escaped geese in Britain in summer 1991 Simon De/any I ' Brown Shrike in Shetland: new to Britain and Ireland R. A. Hume, on behalf of the British Birds Rarities Committee I Review of status and categorisation of feral birds on the British List Keith Vmicombe, John Marchant and Dr Alan Knox, on behalf of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee Obituary: Francis Raymond Smith (1906-1992) Robin Khan Obituary: Bruce Campbell OBE PhD (1912-1993) Professor C. M. Perrins Studies of West Palearctic birds 192 Bullfinch Dr Ian Newton INNKR, BIRD ILLUSTRATOR ()!■ ll IK YKAR 1993 (see pages 347-351): female Woodchal Shrike (with Montagu’; Harrier) in winter r|uarters, West Africa (Richard Allen) Editorial: List of English Names Identification of Long-billed Pipit European news Rarities Committee files • Notes • Letter • Reviews Monthly marathon • News and comment Mvsterv photographs • Recent renortg_ British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editw David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Pytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Don Smith & Roger Tidman Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. \1. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, J. H. Marchant & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1993 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager , Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manage) Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supplySAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for News and comment’, drawings & photographs Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Fax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085. Fax: (0621) 819130 Bird news for ‘Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings); Luton (0582) 490049 (office hours) Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 11.N. Phone: Mold (0352) 770581. Fax: (0352) 771590 ' Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £45.80, IR£53.50 or 886.50. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £37.20, IR£43.60 or 870.00; personal airmail, outside Europe £62.50, IR£72.95 or SI 18.00. Single back copies £4.75, IR£5.50 or 89.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearctic. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should lx* typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequence of birds follow The British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds (1993); or, lor non-West-Palearctic species, Sibley & Monroe ( 1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds oj the World ); names of plants follow Dony ft al. (1980. English Names of Wild Flowers:; names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1977. The Handbook of British Mammalsi. I opographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology' should follow editorial recommendations {Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). figures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non- absorbent Ixiard or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should be inserted lightly in pencil; captions should Im* typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnortb Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford STREET, f TTCHWELL, NORFOLK PE31 8BB >pen 7 days • am - 6 pm 'hone 0485 210101 OW TO FIND US (Norfolk) /e are 500 yards east of the SPB reserve at Titchwell on the 149 between Hunstanton and ancaster and have our own ivate car parking. in focus THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTS. EN5 5SZ Open 7 days 9 am - 6 pm Phone 08 1 449 1 445 or 081 441 7748 Fax 081 440 9999 HOW TO FIND US (Barnet) We are 10 mins from M25 and AIM motorways and 15 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. ANGLIAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE EGLETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICS. Open every day 9am to 4pm except Thursdays. Phone 0572 770656 HOW TO FIND US (Egieton)l We are situated in the Birdwatching Centre Building on the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water. Follow signposts to Egleton Village from A6003 to Oakham For customers with the assistance WINTER EVENTS PROGRAMME preferring to select and purchase optical equipment under field conditions we offer the following programme of the RSPB, WWI and County Trusts. All events are held from 1 Oam to 4pm • write or phone for further details. IC1P WORLD ENVIRONMENT T PARTNER 1992 aCKFORD WILDFOWL RESERVE JURY ST.EDMONDS, SUFFOLK Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd January FISHERS GREEN LEE VALLEY, ESSEX Sun 10th Jonuory WWT SLIMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTER From Sol 9tfi to Fri 22nd January also Sot 13th & Sun 1 4th February Open doily Tel: 0836 31 1398 for detoils SWILLINGTON INGr OULTON, YORKSHIRE Sat 16th i Sun 17th January ABBERTON COLCHESTER, ESSEX Sun 1 7th January Sun 21st February V WWT MARTIN MERE •sMSKIRK, LANCASHIRE it 23rd & Sun 24th Januav, WWT LLANELLI DYFED, SOUTH WALES Sat 30th & Sun 31st Januan NEWRIStRVt RSP8 PULBOROUGH WEST SUSSEX I Our first event at this new reserve 1 Oam 4 pm I Sat 6th & Sun 7th Februar BROOMHIU FLASK BARNSLEY, YORKSHIRE | Sat 20th & Sun 2 1 st FebnjaryJ CHEW VALLEY LAKE AVON Sat 27th & Sun 28th February PORTANT! IN FOCUS PLEDGES TO MAINTAIN THEIR PRICE-MATCHING POLICY. MANY OF THE PRICES SHOWN OW REFLECT RECENT INCREASES FROM MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTERS. PLEASE CHECK BEFORE ORDERING AS DO HAVE SOME ITEMS AVAILABLE AT PRE-INCREASE PRICES. (Prices correct at time of going to press. E&OE). (Opening 1st February 1993 New In Focus Showroom at eenby Dale in Yorkshire. W SHOP AT RUTLAND WATER d in (he recently opened birdwatching centre on the eton Reserve, the latest binoculars and telescopes can ested under field conditions in comfort with excellent vs over Rutland Water. New and second hand optical ipment is available together with accessories and oort systems as well as a full stock of bird watching and ralist books. Full ground-level viewing facilities for itsabled are available in addition to an upstairs view- oalcony. W NIKON 30 x WF EYEPIECE NOW IN STOCK e now carry this long-awaited eyepiece which fits the Hdscope II and EDII models, but not the original Mk.l dies. Usual high quality Nikon standards offering a de-field of view with an unusually bright image tor a mm scope. Now priced at £160.00 TRIPOD WITH Al t NEW IECOND HAND SCOPES sSK FOR DETAIL S PART EX< H A!M<;K Top prices paid for gixxl condition telescopes and binoculars. SWAROVSKI £ SLC II 8x30WBGA 412 00 SIC II 7x42 BGA 578 00 SLC II 10x42 BGA 629.00 CARL ZEISS DIALYT £ 8X30 BGAT'P 529 00 7X42 BGAT'P .639 00 1 0x40 BGAT'P 639 00 NIKON £ 8X30E 269 00 10x35E 299 00 30xWF (new) 169 00 S/Scope 20x60 PHONE S/Scope 15-45x60 PHONE :ieldscope II Body PHONE Fieldscope ED II Body PHONE angled version) PHONE Eyepieces from 79 00 KOWA £ TS 601/602 Bodies 21900 TSN 1 /2 Bodies 475.00 TSN 3/4 Bodies 738 00 Eyepieces from 80 00 OPTOLYTH £ TBG/TBS Bodies 475 00 TBG/TBS HD Bodies Eyepieces 725 00 from ..... 87.00 BAUSCH & LOMB ELITE £ 7x36 BGAP 635 00 8x42/10X42 BGAP 699 00 LEICA TRINOVID £ 8x32BA 649 00 7X42/8X42/1 0x42BA 698 00 INTEREST EREE CREDIT Three months interest-free ereihi us.nl.ihle on all orders for ness equipment of t'4(K) and abose. BLUE RIBAND CARE PLAN For a single payment of £15 the new In Focus Blue Riband Careplan offers :- ♦ Accidental damage cover for three years from date of purchase on all new binoculars and tel- escopes. ♦ Guaranteed part-exchange trade-in value on any further purchases with In Focus - rising to I009F of original purchase price after five years. MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Please remember to add £2.00 towards the cost of insured Trakbak postage and packing - sshether paying by cheque. Visa. Access or Mastercard - and goods will be despatched with full 14 days approval the same day on receipt of your remit- tance. BIRD ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS Write or phone for details of our intensive one-day bird illustration and photography workshops at Lemsford Springs led by, John Cox and Dave Cottridge respectively. Further photo workshops with Dave Cottridge are being held at Slimbridge. Martin Mereand the l.ee Valley in Janu- ary, February and March. Bookings now being taken. CHWE1.L SHOP- 500 YARDS EAST OF RSPB RESERV E Norfolk shop at Titchwell now carries a wide range of birding books in association the Birds and Wildlife Bookshop in addition to being linked to the Rare Bird Alert ig system all sightings now being logged on the board outside the shop door. trdCampey now manages the Titchwell shop on a permanent basis and being a keen t in his own right brings a particular level tit practical expertise to our Norfolk liters. (Over 90 species seen from the shop including Montagu's Harrier. Spoonbill upland Bunting. Regular sightings ol Marsh Harrier and Bam Owl.) SECOND H AND ITEMS Instruments always available. On receipt of a stamped, addressed envelope we can supply current price lists of binoculars and telescopes. FREE NORFOLK TWO DAY BREAK at ihe Briarfields Hotel at Titchwell in Norfolk on all purchases of £4(XI or more al the current In Focus list prices. (D241 THE BEST OF SIBERIAN ARCTIC 17 JUNE-9 JULY £2990 Russian Nature Tours will take you to the Magadan area of the shores of the sea of . Okhotsk; the most easterly area of Russia in Chukotka Peninsula and the richestTundra in Siberia — the Kolyma Delta. A superb variety of species await you — Harlequin Duck, Siberian White Crane, Steller's Sea Eagle, Great Grey Owl, Mongolian Plover, Great Knot, Red-Necked Stint, Baird's, Western and Spoon-Billed Sandpipers, Ross's Gull, Pechora Pipit, Yellow Browed Warbler and many, many more. Send for the Specialists Brochure for Russia. Prices from £890. • 30 Exciting Itineraries from 1 to 3 Weeks • A Great Team of Leaders • Unbeatable Value for Money, Prices from £570. A few places left on the Superb Trip to Sabbah, North Borneo, 21 February. MAX GROUP SIZE 11 PLUS 2 LEADERS ONE OF BIRDWA TCHINGS ULTIMATE TRIPS! CYGNUS WILDLIFE — 14th Successful Year STOP PRESS CYGNUS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS and RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS 57 FORE STREET KINGSBRIDGE DEVON TQ7 IPG Tel 0548 856437 Fax 0548 857537 ABTA 62948 (D240) >< z < -:s y z TT o tfll iU~~ 3p 3h3 W« sss 11 U«« T JW Og *c Om US Zu OH «- a . I ) K M £ § o 2 1 w o rH IS 111 FIELD DAYS Alternative venues to Morden. at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below Kay Optical will be at the Visitor/Information Centre in each case Any entrance or parking tees refunded with purchase Repairs can also be handed in. * 10.00 am to 4.00 pm * * PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey. West Sussex, on Sundays 31st January, 28th February and 28th March. * SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sundays 3rd January, 7th February and 7th March. * BOUGH BEACH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 junction (with access from the B2042 or B2027 the information Centre is to the north ot the reservoir) on Sundays 10th January. 14th February and 11th May ★ BEWL WATER on the A21. just south of Lamberhurst in the Education Centre on Sundays 24th January and 28th March. * ALTON WATER Suffolk, near Ipswich, on the B1080 between Holbrook and Stutton, In Ihe Visitor/Information Centre on Sunday 21st February. * COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE near Trmg. Herts , on the B488 (off the A41 ) close to Bulbourne In the overlook hide on Saturdays 23rd January, 27th February and 27th March. * SLIMBRIDGE, GLOS (ott M5) Village Hall (on the left, halfway along village road Into the W&WT) Saturdays 6th February and 3rd April. * DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK near Reading (M4, A329(M) Woodley turnoff) and then A329 to Wmnersh and Winnersh Station (B3030) on Sundays 24th January and 14th March in the Loddon Room. ★ THE SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Woods Mill. Henfield, W-Sussex (A2037) on Sundays 17th January and 21st March. * DURLSTON COUNTRY PARK off the A351 near Swanage, Dorset. In the visitor centre on Sundays 10th January and 14th March. * THE KENT TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION in the Tyland Barn, near Sandling, Maidstone (oft A229, 'Bluebell Hill, going south), on Sunday 28th February * N T. WICKEN FEN off the A1123. north east ot Cambridge In the visitor centre on Sunday 21st March. UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Est.1962 Kay Optical SALES & REPAIRS BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc ► Viewing facilities PRICES: General price increases, partly due to floating currencies, are expected but an accurate price list cannot be prepared at the time of advertisement preparation However, as always we do our utmost to avoid price increases — particularly while present stocks last In any event , we will endeavour to offer you the best possible deals Some examples of our stocks ZEISS £ 10 X 25 B Dialyt 269 10 x 25 B TP (New DS) 319 8 x 20 B/TP (New DS) 295 8 x 30 BGA/T (P) 529 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) 639 10 x 40 BGA/T (P) 639 15 x 60 BGA/T 1.190 8 x 56 BGA T 699 (without easel • We can modify your earlier model Nikon Field- scopes to take the zoom eyepiece and the new 30x (WA) eyepiece • Free stay-on case with straight Fieldscopes Bracket prices while stocks last Stay-on-case TBG/S 45 22-60x zoom eyepiece 1 79 TB nylon case 49 BAUSCH & LOMB 7 x 36 BA (PC3) Elite (599) 635 8 x 42 BA (PC3) Elite (659) 699 10 x 42 BA (PC3) Eiite (659) 699 Custom 10 x 40 BGA 249 l5-45x BGA Elite Scope 360 77mm Elite body 337 77mm Elite (ED) body 659 20x (WA) eyepiece 134 30x (LER) eyepiece 122 20-60x zoom eyepiece 179 800mm camera adaptor 159 800mm RA mirror lens kit 299 Quality filter 13 Rubber hood 8 Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA 232 Spotting scope 20-45x GA 292 KOWA TSN-1 (45°) body (316)360 TSN-2 body (316) 360 TSN-3 (F) Prominar (45°) body (636) 725 TSN-4 (F) Prominar body (636) 725 25x or 40x eyepiece (69) 79 20x (WA) eyepiece (109) 124 30x (WA) eyepiece (139) 159 20x-60x zoom e pee (169) 193 SWAROVSKI 7 x 42 SLC (new) 8 x 30 SLC (WB) 10x42 SLC (NEW) (119) 136 (109) 124 629 412 629 (129) 147 LEICA 8 x 20 BC Trinovd 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 10 x 25 BCA Trinovid 8 x 32 BA Trinovid 7 x 42 BA Trinovid 8 x 42 BA Trinovid 10 x 42 BA Trinovid 219 269 269 298 649 698 698 60x eyepiece 77x eyepiece Camera adaptor, 800mm Camera adaptor, l.200mm Kowa case Skua case Spare OG cover 27x (WA) screw-in eyepiece TS 601 scope body (45° ) 219 TS 602 scope body (45° ) 1 99 27x (WA) eyepiece (94) 107 (199) 227 (25) 28 40 (5) 8 OPTICRON 8 x 32 (HR1I) 8 x 42 (HRII) 10x42 (HRII) 10x50 (HRII) 7 x 42 (HRII) 8 x 32 Dioptron 8 x 42 Dioptron 10 x 42 Dioptron 10 x 50 Dioptron 7 x 35 Elite 9 x 35 Elite 7 x 40 Minerva 9 x 35 Minerva 8 x 40 Minerva 10 x 40 Minerva 7 x 24 MCF HR 60mm scopes Std w/22x & case Std w/zoom & case GA w/22x & case GA w zoom & case 45 w/22x & case 45 w/zoom & case HR Photokit Filter Rubber hood 152 157 162 178 155 117 122 125 135 150 190 172 172 175 179 80 180 220 (190) 275 (230) 299 220 250 64 8 5 (64) 73 BUSHNELL Spacemaster body 20-60x zoom EP 22x (WA) EP 25x or 40x EP Photokit Nylon padded case 148 72 32 30 62 15 SWIFT 8V2 x 44 HR Audubon 10 x 50 Audubon NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof 10 x 25 waterproof 8 x 20 F roof prism 10 x 25 F roof prism 8 x 30 ECF porro WF 10 x 35 ECF porro WF Fieldscope II body 45° EDIIA body 15x. 20x. 30x or 40x EP 30x (WA) eyepiece 60x eyepiece Camera adaptor Mod for other cameras 698 20x (WA) eyepiece (64) 73 REDFIELD (waterproof) 25x (WA) eyepiece (54) 62 7 x 30 RA roof prism 249 20-60x zoom 10 x 50 RA roof prism 299 239 eyepiece (109) 124 249 Case (22) 26 GREENKAT 8 x 30 ZWCF 69 VIEWMASTER SGN-III 60mm scope body 165 189 45 scope body 149 20x. 30x 40x 50x or 60x EF ' 25 199 25x eyepiece 30 Close-up lens 24 150 27x (WAi eyepiece 64 Photo lube 23 165 Padded nylon case 15 269 OPTOLYTH TRIPODS etc 299 8 x 30 Alpin (227) 258 Slik D3 85 Phone 8 x 40 Alpin (246) 279 Manfrolto 144B 200 105 Phone 10 x 40 Alpin (2491 283 Manfrotto 290B 200 95 ’ Phone 10 x 50 Alpin (268) 315 Universal clamp 26 Phone 12 x 50 Alpin (273) 320 Car window mount 26 80 7 x 42 Alpin (257) 295 Shoulder pad 35 169 TBG80 telescope body 475 Cullmann hide clamp 60 99 TBS 80 (45°) body 475 Tripod case 13 169 TBG/TBS 80 Fluorite 725 Tripod straps from 7 199 30x (WW) new eyepiece 157 T mounts, from 10 i 18 40x (WA) new eyepiece 87 Lens cleaning kit 4 KAY OPTICAL (1962), 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5HP (ist Floor) • Hours Mon-Sat 9am to 5pm (Lunch 1 to 2pm). • Location Southern edge of Greater London. 15 minutes' drive from M2 5 (via the A3, then the Merton turn-off) or 2 minutes' walk from Morden Underground. • Parking 50 yards past our premises -1st left. • Long- established workshop Optical instrument experience unrivalled • Mail Order • Personal Exports including VAT claw-back • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments). • P/x arranged. • Used items • Package deals Special pnees are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought E.&O.E. Phone: 081-648 8822 Fax: 081-687 2021 (D23«f I British Birds VOLUME 86 NUMBER 1 JANUARY 1993 yfflhsv \ i t'l Cy A * i 1 1 » '\ t HE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM A 1 V ' Me 2 2 JAN 1993 Editorial PURCHASED ■7om r\n\/ i iDDAnw ‘The “British Birds” List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds’ A list of the English names which have been adopted for use by British Birds is provided free for all subscribers as a pull-out supplement in the centre of this issue. We recommend the use of these English names in formal lists of Western Palearctic birds, and consider that they are appropriate for national lists, county bird reports and so on (though the use of scientific names is even more important). Many of the names are simpler than those proposed for international use. For instance, there are many species of wren in the world, but only one in the Western Palearctic; whereas the obvious international English name for Troglodytes troglodytes is the North American name ‘Winter Wren’, for our re- gion ‘Wren’ provides no chance of confusion. On the other hand, there are many species of wheatear in the Western Palearctic, so the English name for Oenanthe oenanthe requires a modifier, and the name Northern Wheatear has been adopted. Our major criterion, therefore, has been whether there is possi- bility of confusion in a Western Palearctic context. We have followed the principle of minimum necessary change. A name is changed from current usage only if: (1) The current name creates a real chance of confusion within the Western Palearctic, either with one other species or with a group of species. ’ (2) There has been a taxonomic change necessitating a new1 name. (3) The present name gives a misleading suggestion of an incorrect taxonomic relationship. (4) A significant improvement upon the current name is provided by a widely used alternative. (5) A helpful indication of relationships is provided by restoration of the group name. (6) An alternative name is already being used far more widely, or is being adopted internationally for a species peripheral to the Western Palearctic. Unless confusion is possible between a species and a group name (as, for example, with the ringed plovers Charadnus and the golden plovers Pluvialis ), we consider that there is no need for there to be a descriptive modifier for both members of a pair of species if there are already at least two elements to both names. For example, in the case of Black-headed Gull and Great Black- headed Gull, the former does not need to be called Common Black-headed Gull. Where such modifiers are already in use, however, a name change is not 1 2 Editorial justified in order to remove one name. For example, in the case of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Lesser Spotted Wood- pecker, there is no need to omit the word ‘Great’ (which, incidentally, really ought to be ‘Greater’ to contrast with ‘Lesser’). We appreciate that vernacular usage inevitably results in shortening of names — Pinkfoot, Peregrine, See-see, Sora, Woodchat, Ortolan, and so on but are convinced that formal bird names in print should, whenever possible, provide a clue to the birds’ affinities for the benefit both of readers outside the species’ range, who may be unfamiliar with its vernacular name, and of non- birdwatchers. Some of the names included in the pull-out list will inevitably be changed in due course, when the IOC publishes its recommendations, but our inten- tion is to leave this subject now, use these names, and concentrate on more important matters. Our previous list of West Palearctic birds was compiled in 1978 and revised in 1984. Since then, opinions on the racial or specific status of certain forms have evolved (e.g. the well-publicised separation of Pacific Golden Plover Plu- vialis Juba and American Golden Plover P. dominica , formerly regarded as races of a single species, Brit. Birds 80: 482-487). Assessing the merits of such in- stances, we have now adopted the following taxonomic changes: f I ) Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis split to form three species: Madeira Petrel P. madeira , Cape Verde Petrel P. feae and Soft-plumaged Petrel P. mollis. (2) Manx Shearwater I hi/ firm puffinus split to form two species: Manx Shearwater P. pujfinus and Mediterranean Shearwater P. yelkouan. (3) Green-backed Heron Butoricles striatus split to form two species: Striated Heron B. striatus and Green Heron B. virescens. (4) 1 awny/Steppe Eagle Aquila rapax split to form two species: Tawny Eagle A. rapax and Steppe Eagle A. nipalmsis. (5) Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica split to form two species: Pacific Golden Plover P. fitlrn and American Golden Plover P. dominica. (6) Herring Gull Larus argenlatus split to form three species: Yellow-legged Gull L cachinnans , Ar- menian Gull L. armenicus and Herring Gull /.. argenlatus. (7) Litde Tern Sterna albifrons split to form two species: I Jtde Tern S. albijrons and Least Tern S. antillarum. (8) Rock Pipit Arabics spinoletta split to form three species: Rock Pipit A. petrosus , Water Pipit A. spinoletta and Buff-bellied Pipit A. rubescens. (9) Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka split to form two species: Pied Wheatear 0. pleschanka and Cyprus Pied Wheatear 0. cypriaca. (10) Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus anmdinaceus split to fonn three species: Great Reed Warbler A. anmdinaceus, Oriental Reed Warbler A. onentalis and Basra Reed Warbler A. griseldis. (11) Specific status given to Tenerife Kinglet Regulus leneriffae , which has been regarded arbitrarily as a race of Goldcrest R. regulus or as a race of Firecrest R. ignicapillus. Although marginal decisions, we considered that it would be premature to give specific status now to Aquda heliaca ailalberti , Saxicola torquata maura. Phylloscopus inomatus humei and Pyrrhula pyrrhula murimr, or to deny specific status to Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma (teucorhoa) monorhis and Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker Picus (viridis) millantii. In these decisions, we have been guided by the current trends in the litera- ture, and by the principle that recognition of such likely specific differences highlights the debate and attracts attention to areas of constructive study (see Voous, Brit. Birds 72: 573-578). We hope that fieldworkers as well as museum taxonomists will pay special attention to such pairs and groups of closely re- lated species. From the Rarities Committee’s files This new, regular feature will include the up-to-date identifica- tion information revealed by the Committee’s investigations of submitted records; new identification criteria for separating closely similar species; and examples of the best documentation of rarities submitted to the Committee. This feature will, there- fore, not only give the latest information on identification mat- ters, and give guidance to today’s observers on how rarities can be thoroughly documented, but will also provide an archive record of present-day standards. Eds Isabelline Wheatear in Scilly The following description was submitted to the Rarities Committee on 27th October 1991. The record was accepted, and published in October 1992 (Brit. Birds 85: 537, plates 235 & 238). SPECIES Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina LOCALITY St Agnes and Gugh, Isles of Scilly DATES First date: 15th October 1991. Last date: still present when I left the islands on 26th Octo- ber 1991. OBSERVER A. R. Dean OTHER OBSERVERS Paul Dukes, John Ridley, Ken Shaw, John Sirrett, and Roger Andrew were among the early observers and eventually everyone on the islands saw it (including Colin Brad- shaw, Peter Clement, Steve Gandett, Peter Lansdown and Keith Vinicombe). PHOTOGRAPHS Photographs were taken at close range by many observers. One of Dave Cot- tridge’s photos [was] enclosed. OPTICAL EQUIPMENT 10 X Zeiss binoculars & 30 X Kowa telescope. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF SPECIES Greece, Turkey, Israel, India, Soviet Central Asia. Also the 1990 St Mary’s individual. CIRCUMSTANCES At around 09.45 on 15th October 1991 I was birdwatching on Wingletang, St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. As I reached Beady Pool I immediately saw a wheatear Oenanthe standing on a boulder. Its generally pale appearance and upright stance at once suggested somediing interest- ing and luckily the wheatear proved approachable and co-operative. Close inspection revealed both plumage and structural characters matching only Isabelline Wheatear and I was able to con- firm these features in direct comparison with a nearby Northern Wheatear 0. oenanthe. Mindful of the reputation of Isabelline Wheatear as a difficult species (and rumours about problems with the 1990 bird — though I know nothing about this!) I was keen to get other observers to view and identify the bird as objectively as possible. I rounded upJohn Ridley, Ken Shaw, Paul Dukes and others (several other potentially useful observers such as Peter Clement and Peter Lansdown had by this time gone over to St Mary’s for the day) and told them of my view that the wheatear was an Isabelline but that they should identify it to their own satisfaction. Having studied the wheatear at equally close range, all were agreed on the identification. The news was then put out to St Mary’s but, just as the first boat-load of people appeared over the brow of Wingletang, the bird promptly flew off Fortunately, it was relocated on Gugh, where it remained (with only one brief return to Beady Pool) until at least 26th October (when I left the islands). [Brit. Birds 86: 3-5, January 1993] 3 4 Rarities Committee's files Although this record must be dated from 1 5th October, it, is possible that the bird had been present since 12th October. On that date, when walking across Gugh to see the Siberian Stonechat Saxicola lorqiuita maura/ stejmgeri, 1 glimpsed a pale wheatear, but, before I could get to grips with it, it was flushed by observers intent on the Stonechat. 1 hat was the end of the matter for me until the 15th. However, I mentioned the pale wheatear to several St Agnes observers and on 13th John Ridley and John Sirrctt had equally brief and tantalising views of a pale wheatear on YVingletang (at this time the weather was extremely cold and blustery and birds did not stay in the open or in one place for longer than a few seconds!). DESCRIPTION GENERAL APPEARANCE A decidedly pale, bulky-bodied, relatively short-tailed wheatear with a strong-looking bill and a comparatively short wing-point. Paleness of upperparts was such that they contrasted relatively little with underparts but, in rear view, presented a very stark contrast with black tip of tail. Other plumage characters of particular note included bland face; supercil- ium tapering away behind eye; relatively thick black terminal band and short black ‘stub’ on tail; limited expanse of white on ‘rump’; and pale silvery underwing. SI/E & structure Total length similar to a larger Northern Wheatear, but proportions different: body relatively bulbous with lower centre of gravity and a resultant somewhat pear-shaped outline, latter emphasised by shorter tail in comparison with Northern Wheatear and tendency to adopt upright stance. Generally five primary tips discernible beyond tertials: three closely spaced im- mediately beyond tertials, then a relatively wide gap before two more closely spaced tips at wing-point. Total length of exposed primaries equalled two- thirds to three-quarters length of tertials. (Northern Wheatear nearby dis- played six primary tips, five of generally increasing separation, then a closely spaced longest primary (it thus lacked the obvious gap in the middle); the rela- tively long wing-point equalled or slightly exceeded the length of the tertials.) The tips of the primaries on Isabelline appeared rather more rounded than on Northern. T he bill was robust and deep-based and was about equal in length to or slighdy exceeded the loral distance. The legs looked sturdy but did not appear especially long in relation to body dimensions. PLUMAGE Crown, nape, sides of neck, mantle, scapulars and greater coverts all pale sandy-grey with only slight brownish tinge (‘isabelline’), greater coverts with paler tips forming a diffuse pale bar across folded wing. Just occasionally greater coverts revealed darker centres but almost invariably massive buff fringes overlapped darker areas and coalesced, combining with mantle and scapulars to produce continuous pale sandy expanse above tertials. I’ertials with dark blackish-brown centres and well-defined pale buff fringes. Alula black and median coverts centred with blackish-brown, these feather tracts thus contrasting markedly with pale surroundings; this especially true of very dark alula, but this not always displayed, being not infrequently hidden by overlapping coverts. Secondaries and primary coverts dark but with promi- nent pale fringes, the overall tone being pale-dominated (a more even balance on Northern). Primaries blackish-brown with paler tips. Pale buffish-white supercilium running from forehead over eye, then taper- ing to a point above rear car-coverts. Rear supercilium constant in emphasis, Rarities Committee’s files but fore-supercilium varying from obvious in still, dry conditions to invisible in cool, damp weather. Loral bar blackish-brown flecked with buff, looking dif- iuse but nevertheless the darkest aspect of face. Ear-eoverts sandy-buff, only \ ery marginally darker than hindneck and sides of neck, and frequently diffi- cult to differentiate therefrom except when slightly darker rear nm of ear- coverts caught the eye. A plain, bland expression resulted, with dark eye emphasised. Throat off-white, below which upper breast suffused with pale but slightly peach-infused buff, forming a delicately warmer breastband; this colour ex- tended narrowly along flanks before broadening again above legs. Remainder of underparts palest buff, with undertail-coverts whitish. Folded tail appeared all black above and below, with extreme tip narrowly brownish-white, in flight, tail revealed a very broad black terminal band and a relatively short black .central ‘stub’. The resultant pattern was somewhat inter- mediate between Northern Wheatear and Desert Wheatear (even suggesting the latter s pattern momentarily in a brief flight view). Uppertail-coverts and lower rump white; sides of tail base white. In flight, area of white more re- stricted and far less eye-catching than on Northern Wheatear. In rear view, when wings drooped, the upper border of white generally fell in line with tip of second longest tertial or between tips of two longest tertials. When flying high after insects, underwing revealed as silvery or very pale huffish-white. BARE PARTS Iris, bill and legs all black. BEHAVIOUR Generally more approachable than Northern Wheatear, and showing less awareness/concem at human presence (never seen to bob and scold like Northern). Often adopted rather upright posture, with head held up and tail pointing almost straight down, but this seemed more an inspection rather than alarm posture. Flew in long high loops after insects early in stay, but later fed almost exclusively on haiiy caterpillars, which it carried to bare rocks and spent some minutes thrashing (presumably to remove hairs) before swallowing. Alan R. Dean 2 Charingivorth Road, Solihull West Midlands B92 8HT Peter Lansdown (Chairman, British Birds Rarities Committee) has commented as follows: ‘Alan Dean’s report on the Isabelline Wheatear in the Isles of Scilly in October 1991 has been selected as the first contribution in this series, to serve as an example of a high-quality rarity record sub- mission to die BBRC. It appears virtually as it was received by the Committee, with only very minor editorial amendments. 'Records of such “difficult” species require particularly full and detailed documentation for ac- ceptance and this was certainly supplied in this case. The report includes all of the items of infor- mation which are relevant to a long-staying bird that was not trapped and which are requested on the front of the BBRC Record Form. The description is comprehensive and covers general appearance, size and structure, plumage, bare parts and behaviour, and there is a paragraph on circumstances. Even though Alan Dean did not photograph the bird, he obtained a photograph and included it with his report. The report was submitted promptly, on the day following Alan’s departure from the Isles of Scilly, and a copy was sent to the recorder for the islands. ‘A discussion on age and/or sex would be relevant for many species, but not Isabelline Wheatear; records of short-stay birds should include notes on times and duration of observation, distance of observation and weather; and reports of dead birds and trapped individuals and sea- watching records each require further information from the observer. For Alan Dean’s Isabelline Wheatear report, however, these do not apply, and the Rarities Committee considers that this is an ideal rarity record submission.’ Eds Field identification of Long- billed Pipit in the West Palearctic William Laird and Adi Gencz The Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis has an extensive, if somewhat discontin- uous breeding distribution, through Africa, the Middle East, and from Iran to the Himalayas including India and Burma (Cramp 1988). Within this range, 17-20 subspecies have been described (e.g. Vaurie 1959). In the West Palearctic it is represented by the resident race captus, which breeds in Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon; vagrants reported from Iraq and Kuwait possibly refer to the Iranian race decaptus, which is larger, a richer buff, and has a more streaked breast (S. C. Madge in litt). This paper is restricted to the race captus as it occurs in Israel, and comparisons are between that population and the West Palearctic forms of Tawny Pipit A. campestris and Richard’s Pipit A. novae- seelandiae. Walsh & Wassink (1980, with appended editorial comment) briefly summarised the field identification of Long-billed Pipit of the race captus , drawing attention to its grey appearance and comparatively indistinct plumage markings; the following adds considerably more detail to that summary. In Israel, the Long-billed Pipit inhabits stony slopes or hillsides with rocky outcrops and grass vegetation thinly interspersed with bushes and low trees. It is clearly a large, heavy-bodied pipit strongly resembling l awny, and often creating a deep-chested and a rather long, full-tailed impression. It is impor- tant to note that some Tawny Pipits occurring in Israel belong to larger and greyer populations than those typically encountered in Western Europe. Nev- ertheless, the plumage of Long-billed, especially the subdued head pattern, combined with voice and behaviour, facilitate its separation from both Tawny and Richard’s Pipits. Basic plumage description In fresh adult plumage following the post-breeding moult (usually completed by the end of September), Long-billed Pipit has a dark grey-brown forehead and crown with creamy or sandy feather edges, appearing neatly and nar- rowly streaked; nape and hindneck arc very slightly paler, with less prominent 6 [Brit, Birds 86: 6-15, January 1993] Identification of Long-billed Pipit 7 dark leather centres. A long, narrow, cream-coloured supercilium fades onto the nape (where, on some individuals, pale flecking may be present). Fore part of supercilium may be more warmly washed buff when fresh. Upper ‘cheeks’ and ear-coverts are grey-buff or pale buff, streaked with dark brown. Dark brown loral line. Typically, the moustachial stripe is poorly defined or even absent (some individuals have a dull grey-brown lower border to the ear- coverts), the dull buff or dull cream submoustachial area is poorly marked; and the dull grey-brown malar stripe is typically diffuse and poorly defined (but can be more pronounced). Upperparts, from mantle to uppertail-coverts, are brown-grey, with slate- brown shaft-streaks and with diffuse creamy or sandy fringes; the lower scapu- lars are dull brown-grey, usually with the shafts poorly marked. The tail is quite long and often appears dark, but with paler sides. I he flight feathers are dull black with pale sandy outer edges, and the ter- tials dark brown diffusely fringed brown-sand, dull buff or tawny-buff. The lessei coverts are dull buff or buff-brown with dark centres; the median coveits are fringed dull buff, grey-buff or tawny-buff, their dark brown centres merging with these pale fringes (especially on inner webs) but typically extend- ing in a long thin tooth virtually to the tip; and the dark brown greater coverts are diffusely fringed dull buff, sandy-buff or tawny-buff. The alula and primary coverts are dull black with pale sandy fringes. The underparts appear uniformly dull. The upper breast and breast-sides are diffusely streaked, the prominence of the streaking being variable (can ap- pear very weak). The underwing-coverts are washed buff. Seasonal and age-related differences Breeding plumage is very similar to that of adult winter. With increasing wear, however, the upperparts become duller grey-brown and the underparts washed-out, and the breast streaking becomes slightly sharper (on many indi- viduals often creating light brown ‘tick-marks’). In spring, the greater coverts and often the tertials look moderately worn, and by late summer (July /August) adults are heavily worn, with most fringes lost and the underparts greyish-buff or brown-buff. Juveniles are similar to fresh-plumaged adults, but with more contrasted plumage. They often have a strong buff wash on breast and flanks, with the belly off-white, and the streaking is heavier, darker and more clearly defined than on adults. First-winter individuals resemble adults, but many retain some juvenile feathers above and (rarely) below. Some juvenile greater coverts may be re- tained (showing greater contrast between their centres and fringes), and in au- tumn many individuals have some retained juvenile tertials (fresh adult feathers have broader, more diffuse, buff or tawny-buff edges). First-summer plumage is much as that of adult, but becomes duller and more heavily worn, and greater and median coverts and tertials become heav- ily abraded. Field separation from Tawny Pipit Long-billed Pipit appears much bulkier than Tawny, with stouter chest and 8 Identification of Long-billed Pipit belly, slightly shorter legs, relatively smaller head with slightly longer and stouter bill, and a fuller, broader tail; it lacks the slim appearance of Tawny, which resembles a wagtail Motacilla. The main distinctions between the two species are summarised in table 1 . Compared with Tawny Pipit, the general plumage pattern of Long-billed is rather uniform, subdued and lacking con- trast. Its head pattern is poorly marked and rather bland, with a more open- faced or gentle expression in which the dark eye is fairly obvious; the dark, heavier bill can be prominent. The curving supercilium is narrow- and usually quite long. The moustachial stripe is typically poorly defined or even absent (although some individuals have a dark lower border to ear-coverts), the sub- moustachial area is inconspicuous and lacks contrast, and the malar stripe is normally reduced, poorly defined and diffuse. By contrast, Tawny has a much better-marked and distinct head pattern, especially at close range: a thick, square supercilium bordered above by dark crown-sides; blackish lores and a dark eye-stripe; a thin but distinct moustachial stripe extending from base of bill to below eye (or sometimes running along lower border of ear-coverts), with a contrasting clean sandy or off-white submoustachial stripe; and usually a well-marked malar stripe (often prominent on juveniles). Long-billed’s uppcrparts are a flat grey-brown, lacking Tawny’s sandy or buffy tones (especially on rump). On juveniles, the uppcrparts show more con- trast, being dark grey-brown with paler cream or greyish-sandy fringes, though not approaching the scaly pattern on head and upperparts typical of juvenile Tawny. It is important to remember that some Tawny Pipits migrating through Israel are from greyer populations than those in Western Europe, gnseus from west-central Asia being distinctly olive-grey above. The underparts of Long-billed Pipit arc more uniform and less clean than on Tawny. When fresh, they have a buff, grey-buff or tawny-buff ground colour (including on undcrtail-coverts), duller, deeper bull' and less sandy than on Tawny; when worn, they become dull grey or buff-grey, with the breast a darker brown-grey. The ground colour of Tawny’s underparts is a cleaner sandy or buff-sandy, with off-white belly and undertail-coverts (rarely, washed bufl-sandy). On Long-billed, the chest and breast-side streaking is diffuse and dull grey-brown (recalling Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia), the streaks sometimes becoming slightly longer and better defined as the broad feather edges wear ofr to create thin, soft brown ‘tick-marks’; the streaking is variable, and can be quite indistinct. Adult Tawny Pipit normally lacks streaking on its sandy breast, although it is not uncommon for individuals (especially females) to have sharp blackish spots or streaks which, when present, are bolder, darker and larger than on Long-billed and (importantly) are crisply defined; the sides of the upper breast may also show some, less distinct, streaking. Juve- nile and many first-year fawny Pipits are heavily marked below. I he wing-covert pattern of Long-billed is characteristically duller than that of I awny. I he median coverts look dark with buffy fringes, but exceptionally close views reveal a distinctive coloration and pattern: the dark brown centres are drawn into a long ‘tooth’ which virtually meets the feather tip, but they arc not well demarcated, especially on the inner webs (where they gradually fade to the edges); and the fringes arc bullish, grey-buff or brown-buff (when fresh, some washed warm orange-buff or tawny-buff, especially at sides), but i Identification of Long-billed Pipit 9 Table 1. Distinguishing features between Long-billed An thus similis and Tawny Pipits A. campestris Feature See also figs. 1 & 2 Long-billed Tawny Shape Heavy,, with full breast and belly. Head relatively small for body size. Tail long and broad, appears rather ‘full’ when flushed. Wings distinctly broad in flight. Bill long and stout; legs relatively short for a large pipit Sleek and often wagtail Motaalla-Wke, with long, narrow' tail (held tightly closed when flushed). Wings not markedly broad. Bill slim and in- significant; legs long Behaviour Usually solitary or in pairs. Rises heavily when flushed, and often (not always) hovers briefly before alight- ing. Walks with horizontal carriage, although more upright when perched on boulders. Less energetic than Tawny, occasionally flicks and par- tially opens tail rather than typical wagging action of Tawny. Inhabits rocky and grassy hill and mountain slopes in well-vegetated country Often solitary, but migrants often in small flocks of up to about 20. Rises suddenly and flies with strong undu- lations, dropping on to ground di- rectly. Runs and walks energetically, wagging tail freely and nervously. Frequents dry, open country Song Given from ground or boulder, or in flight when rises quite high and flies on slow'-flapping wings to another perch, generally without undulations. Perched song typically two far-carry- ing phrases interrupted by a pause, the first rising, the second falling: ‘sweeii-sweeoo’; in full song flight may be expanded to 3-4 notes with varying pauses between notes, but two-note rising and falling song most typical Monotonously repeated, ringing ‘cherlee’ given in undulating, direct or semicircular song flight, ending with short parachute glide Head pattern Rather plain, with weak supercilium diflusing onto nape. Loral line dark, but less obvious than on Tawny. Moustachial stripe weak or absent; malar stripe usually weak or absent, but sometimes clear Quite well marked, with distinct su- percilium; notably dark loral line, malar and moustachial stripes Upperparts Grey-brown; darker on juveniles, w'hich show' weak pale scaling Sandy or buffish grey-brown, on race griseus often almost olive-grey; juve- niles with bold blackish feather cen- tres Underparts Contrast little with upperparts, with buff ground colour extending to un- dertail-coverts, becoming distinctly greyish below when abraded. Breast streaking diffuse, becoming slightly mottled when worn Contrast quite strongly with darker upperparts. Typically w'ashed sandy below, becoming whiter on lower belly and undertail-coverts. Breast streaking, if present, clear and spot- ted, not diffuse. Juveniles heavily streaked below Tail Broad and full; very dark on under- side when seen from below Slim and narrow'; not obviously dark on underside when seen from below 10 Identification oj Lung-billed Pipit Fig. I. Wing shapes of Ixing-billed Ant/m similis (left) and Tawny Pipits A. campestris. Note more rounded wing shape of Long-billed (wing point formed by 6th, 7th and 8th primaries) compared with Tawny (wing point formed by 8th and 9th primaries). In the hand, emargination difference apparent (5th emarginated on Long-billed, in addition to 6th-8th) can become quite bleached when worn. On Tawny Pipit, the median coverts have clean-cut blackish centres with contrasting creamy or sandy (sometimes quite huffish) fringes; rarely, the centres can be slightly drawn out towards the tip, but again arc more crisply defined; juvenile median coverts have the cen- tres extending down into a blunt point towards the tip, while adults possess broader rounded fringes. The greater coverts on Long-billed are pale bull, grey-buff or brown-buff with dark brown centres, duller than on Tawny and creating less of a light covert panel. Fresh-plumaged adult Long-billed has ter- tials with diff use brown-buff or grey-buff edges; the juvenile tertials are exten- sively dark brown with thin buff' or pale olive-cream fringes, lacking the pattern of juvenile Tawny (which recalls that of juvenile Yellow Wagtail M. Jlava). Long-billed Pipit’s tail is quite long and full and can appear slightly darker (in flight, often strikingly so: S. C. Madge in litt.) and less contrasted than Tawny’s. At all ages, the central feathers, when fresh, are dark brown with narrow pale olive or grey-sandy edges (broader sandy fringes on Tawny, espe- cially juvenile). The two outer pairs of rectrices have pale areas washed dull buff or brown-buff, often fading to off-white or cream-buff when worn (washed paler buff on Tawny, but colour can occasionally approach that of Long-billed). On perched individuals, tail pattern is normally, however, of little or no value in the field. 1 he bill of Long-billed Pipit is long, thick and typically extensively dark. It is longer than that of Tawny, with a drooped appearance created by the curved culmen. The bill creates the impression of thickness or heaviness dis- tally, this being accentuated by the dark colour of the upper mandible extend- ing almost to the basal cutting edges and by a blackish tip to the lower 11 Identification ofi Long-billed Pipit mandible; the base of the lower mandible is flesh or orange-flesh, but on many dull flesh, grey-flesh or sometimes light grey. Tawny Pipit’s bill is less prominent, generally appearing shorter, less heavy and not so dark. Voice and behaviour he song of Long-billed Pipit is rather simple, but distinctive. In its simplest onn it consists of two notes (three syllables) suggesting a wolf-whistle. It is var- iously transcribed, but generally a ‘sweeii-sweeoo’ or ‘tir-ee...tiu’. The first note consists of two rising syllables suggesting the call of Common Rosefmch Carpo- dacus erythnnus , but louder, longer and slighdy more disyllabic, and in tone not 1-3. Long-billed Pipits Anthus similis, Jerusalem, February 1986 (Adi Gencz). Above left, and left, classic individual, showing typi- cal head pattern, long, deep bill, face pat- tern, degree of breast streaking; above right, adult with very plain face, no marked mous- tachial or malar stripes, relatively pale lores, long supercilium fading into nape, also note fresh tail feathers 12 Identification of Long-billed Pipit dissimilar to some of the gentle calls of Crested I>ark Galerida cnstata\ the sec- ond note starts off high, but drops in pitch to create a descending whistle (sec- ond half of wolf-whistle). Some individuals insert a further note in between which is similar to the second note (or occasionally to the first), but often more clearly disyllabic. There is some variation in the song and in the pauses be- tween the notes. Tawny Pipit’s song consists of a repetition of two or three notes, with the last syllable stressed and rising in pitch: ‘cherlee’, ‘chee-ree’, ‘chi-vee’ or ‘tsie- ru-flie’. During the breeding season, Long-billed Pipit will monotonously deliver its song from dominant songposts or in flight. In song flight it shows a slightly unusual silhouette, created by the broadly rounded wings, the deep body, and the long, full tail, the latter almost blackish from below and contrasting with the otherwise pale plumage; die broad wing shape can suggest Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus, but the long full tail (and also the habitat) makes such confusion highly unlikely. Outside the breeding season, Long-billed gives a reasonably soft, flat and plaindve Ldjeep’, ‘djup’ or ‘tyup’ call. This call is remarkably constant: it is used as the flight call, and also on the ground when anxious or alarmed. The flight call of Tawny Pipit is the well-known disyllabic ‘tsilip’, ‘tchcleep’, ‘chivlee’ or ‘teeuk’; sometimes it utters a ‘tchcep’ like a House Sparrow Passer domesticus (and almost recalling that of Richard’s Pipit), and occasionally, when flushed or in large parties (10-20 individuals), it can give a very' hard chirpy ‘tchilp’. Long-billed Pipit can sometimes be elusive outside the breeding season as it feeds quiedy, walking with horizontal carriage, alone or in loose pairs. It is less energetic t-han l awny, somedmes flicking and partially opening its tail rather than using the typical wagging action of Tawny. When alarmed, it does not perform the excited runs and nervous freezing behaviour associated with Tawny Pipit. When anxious, Long-billed assumes a slightly more horizontal stance than the upright posture of Tawny Pipit. See also table 1. Field separation from Richard’s Pipit Richard’s Pipit is a more elegant bird, with more erect carriage, longer legs, and a narrower and less blackish tail. It can be distinguished from Long-billed at all ages by its plumage pattern, loud explosive call and behaviour. Richard’s shows pale lores (occasionally lighdy marked with grey), pale ear- coverts, a broad pale area around the eye, a well-marked moustachial stripe, a clear submoustachial stripe, and a strong well-defined malar stripe. It also dis- plays bold, heavy and well-defined streaks on chest and breast-sides, and its brownish ‘cap’ and upperparts are streaked dark. The outer tail feathers arc extensively white. Acknowledgments We should like to express our gratitude to all those who have helped us in the preparation of this paper. Particular thanks are due to Merav Gellcrt for all her help and kindness. We should also like to thank Rami Mi/raehi for his assistance and dedication, Yaron Bazar for his constructive and knowledgeable comments on our first draft, Xila Shariv of Tel Aviv University Museum, and & 5. Long-billed Pipits Anthus similis: above, Jerusalem, November 1986 (Adi Gencz ); below Golan eights September 1988 (Noah Salat). Note characteristic pose; long, narrow, curving supercilium; diffuse oustachial stripe and malar stnpe; huffish underparts; deep-chested appearance; long tail; long, stout bill; short legs compared with other large pipits 14 Identification of Long-billed Pipit 1. U*i Fig. 2. Comparisons between Long-billed Antivus similis and Tawny Pipits A. campestris THREE LEFT-HAND BIRDS Long-billed Pipits A. sim- iles Top, fresh adult after completing post-breeding moult (autumn/carly winter). Note characteristic wing-covert pattern, subdued head pattern and diffuse breast streaking Centre, worn plumage (spring/early summer), looking faded and washed-out Bottom, first-winter (autumn: September/Octo- ber), with more-contrasting wing-coverts and ter- tials retained IAVO RICH 1-HAND BIRDS Tawny Pipits A. campestris Above, fresh adult after completing post-breeding moult (autumn/early winter), with more-contrast- ing head pattern and wing-coverts, and also some well-defined breast streaking Below, first-winter (autumn), showing juvenile wing-coverts and some retained lower scapulars, well-marked ‘face’ pattern and heavy breast streak- ing I he inclusion ol plates 4 & 5 and fig. 2 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl . ftss Germany. Experience bird- watching in a whole new light. Witness the best that nature has to offer through the eyes of the new EDII A angled body type Fieldscope. 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Sheffield Photographic Centre Sheffield CHANNEL ISLANDS GUERNSEY Gruts Ltd JERSEY Johnson & Johnson NORTHERN IRELAND CO DOWN Churchfield Optics SCOTLAND ABERDEEN J Lizars Ltd Countrywear Ballater EDINBURGH J lizars Ltd Charles Franl GLASGOW J LllftTS Ltd GRANTOWN ON SPEY Ritchies Countrywear Moray INVERNESS Sport in Scotland Ltd ROSS SHIRE Macleod & Son Tam PERTH Perthshire Field Sports Plus all branches of LONDON CAMERA : EXCHANGE LTD throughout the countri If you require further information aboul Carl Zeiss Binoculars please write to I Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd Binocular Division Dept BB P 0 Bo* 7 \ Woodfield Road Welwyn Garden City j Hertfordshire A17 1LU ZEISS Germany Carl Z <( 15 Identification of Long-billed Pipit Graham Cowles and Peter Colston of the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, who allowed us access to their collections. Thanks to David Yekutiel of the International Birdwatching Center hilat and to Dalna Lavee ol the Nature Reserves Authority of Israel. We also thank H. Kisbye and David Cottndge for the use of their photographs. Finally, our thanks to Dave Allen for his assistance, and to Steve Madge for his extensive comments on the linal draft. 1 he Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis breeds in the West Palearctic, in Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, as the race captus. This race is similar to Tawny Pipit A. campestris , but can be distin- guished by its duller, more uniform plumage with less marked head pattern, its voice, and differ- ences in habitat choice and behaviour; its distinctive wing-covert pattern is also visible in very close views. Separation from Richard’s Pipit A. novaeseelandiae is straightforward. References Cramp, S. (ed.) 1988. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 5. Oxford. Grant, P.J. 1985. Mystery photo, graphs 103. Brit. Birds 78: 347-350. Hollom, P. A. D„ Porter, R. F., Christensen, S., & Willis, I. 1988. Birds oj the Middle East and North Africa. Calton. Vaurie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Passeriformes. London. WausH, I. A., & Wassink, A. 1980. Field identification of adult Long-billed Pipit Brit Birds 73- 313-314. William Laird , 39 Knocksallagh Park , Greenisland, Belfast BT38 ass, Co. Antrim , Northern Ireland Adi Gencz, 24 Gelber Street, Jerusalem , Israel Twenty-five years ago... ‘From May to August 1967 an adult Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris stayed on the Bass Rock, East Lothian, where it consorted with the Gannets Su/a bassana in this well-known colony in the Firth of Forth. It was first identified by Professor W. H. Thorpe on 18th May. He had just photographed a group of nesting Gannets and, on looking up from his camera, was as- tonished to find a Black-browed Albatross standing only ten yards away. Realising he had taken its photograph with the Gannets, he quickly took another before it flew off and disappeared. When the colour photographs were developed, he was relieved to find that he had not been suf- fering from hallucinations.’ {Brit. Birds 61: 22, January 1968) Also in January 1968, the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, which had moved west from Colchester (Essex) in October 1967 through Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset and Cornwall in November and December, finally arrived in the Isles of Scilly. At the other end of the country, the only British American Wigeons Anas americana of the year (a male and female) were found at Norwick, Unst, Shedand, on 20th January. Behaviour notes Northern Gannet and Common Guillemot nesting on Rockall On 19th June 1992, together with members of the crew from the yacht Anitra, I climbed to the summit of the 21-m-high rock, where there was the nest of a Northern Gannet Moms bassanus with one egg, and an unbridled Common Guillemot Una aalge closely attending its single egg. I also noted approximately 2,600 birds on or around Rockall. Immature Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla were the most common, with 2,000 individuals pre- sent. The next most frequent species was Common Guillemot, of which there were about 500 (but only the one nest). The ratio of bridled to unbridled indi- viduals was 1:1. There were also 50, mainly immature, Northern Gannets on the islet, and 20 Fulmars Fulmams glacialis with a raft of Kittiwakes on the sea close by. These are the first records of confirmed breeding on Rockall, though breed- ing by Common Guillemots has been suspected in the past. S V K N J A B E LAOUS S C) F F 7 Elmvale Crescent, Toronto , Ontario , Canada M9Y2B8 l)r W. R. P. Bourne has kindly provided die following summary of previous information. Eds Birds breeding on Rockall Previous information was summarised, in his book Rockall, by James Fisher (1956), who concluded that ‘Gannets sit on Rockall in most (but perhaps not all) summers, without making serious at- tempts to nest on it’, but that ‘the evidence that the Guillemot breeds on Rockall is as positive as indirect evidence can be’. Otherwise, despite a num- ber of past claims, of which the most spectacular — reporting that most British seabirds, including the I dttle Auk Alle alle, were breeding appeared anony- mously in Chambers' Journal (n.s. 9: 161-163) in 1892, and was revealed in 'The Times for 5th March 1977 to have been concocted by A. T. Hay of Stockton- on- I ecs for three guineas, most recent surveys have ignored Rockall, and there appears to be no previous proof that birds actually breed there. I here have subsequently been a number of other visits, notably by HMS Hecla on 25th March 1969 and RFA Engadine in June 1971, and one visitor camped there for a number of weeks. Most do not appear to have recorded much about the birds, except that Corporal Bill Grant of RAF Kinloss re- ported that there were 27 Northern Gannets on the rock and 322 Fulmars, two Great Lams marinus and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls L. Jiiscus, 452 Kittiwakes, I 16 Common Guillemots, at least three Razorbills A lea tarda and a Puffin Crater cub arctica in the area when he visited Rockall with a BBC Nation- wide television team in 1977 (Aberdeen Press and Journal, 24th June). During 16 Behaviour notes j -j 3rd-8th July 1977, Brian Cunningham and three friends from Portrush also saw storm-petrels (Hydrobatidae) all the way out to Rockall and four Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus there, but, although when they swam ashore there were plenty of droppings on top, there was no evidence that any birds were actually breeding (B. Cunningham in litt.). Probably they are usually swept away by storms, and succeeded in 1992 only owing to the exceptionally fine spring. ^ W. R. P. Bourne \Oolog)> Department, Aberdeen University, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2T.N Use by birds of roads as navigational cues The note on Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis apparendy using roads as navigational cues (Brit. Birds 82. 117) reminded me of similar behaviour by Catde Egrets Bubulcus ibis in Morocco. Very often indeed, since 1982, I have seen flocks of Cattle Egrets, as they move to their roosts at dusk, flying just above main or secondary roads. Sometimes I have followed them by car for distances of about 10 km; in a few cases, they have flown so low that, when a vehicle arrived just in liont ol them, they had rapidly to avoid it, before beginning again to fly above the road. Jacques Franc himont 9 rue Abdelouahad El Marrakchi, Meknes (VJV.), Morocco Grey Heron repeatedly catching fish-like object On 28th July 1989, at Seaforth, Merseyside, I watched a Grey Heron Ardea cinerea wading in 15 cm of water. The heron caught, in the usual stabbing manner, what appeared to be a fish, but, after examining it, realised that it was not a fish and dropped it back in the water. The ‘fish’ was in fact a sliver of wood. The heron instantly re-caught the object, repeated the examination procedure, dropped it back in the water, and again instantly re-caught it. It repeated these movements in an identical fashion 12-15 times. After this, it was noticeable that the period between dropping and re-catching was getting slightly longer. When it reached about five seconds, the ‘prey’ had drifted about 1.5 m away, but still the heron darted after and re- caught it. It seems either that the Grey Heron has instant ‘lapses of memory’ or that its intelligence cannot handle the reflex actions. After 15 minutes, the heron eventually allowed the wood to escape. Doug Messenger 103 Hampstead Road, Liverpool L6 8NQ_ Dr K. E. L. Simmons has commented that ‘The young of many, probably all, fish-eating birds will play with “fish-substitute” objects in this manner — I have seen it, for example, in juvenile Brown Boobies Sula leucogaster on Ascension (one using, I well remember, the dried- out remains of a neighbouring nestling).’ Eds Oystercatchers rearing Northern Lapwing chick Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus regularly nest on the wader scrapes at Hickling NNR, Norfolk. In 1989, the first Oystercatcher returned on 18th April and was seen the following day with a mate. The same island as that used in 1988 18 Behaviour notes 6 & 7. Above, Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus chick with its Oystercatcher Haeiriatopus nstrakgus ‘parent’; and, below, Northern Lapwing chick (right) with ‘sibling’ Oystercatcher chick, Norfolk, June 1989 [Mary Arbori) was chosen for (he nest site, and egg-laying commenced around 5th May. On 13th May, FJR found one Oystercatcher egg lying about 10 cm away from the nest, which contained two more Oystercatcher eggs and a single egg of a Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus ; fearing that the displaced egg would attract predators, FJR removed it from the area and left, to allow the birds to return. On 31st May, 18 days after the mixed clutch was first discovered, the eggs hatched and two Oystercatcher chicks were seen. Next day, a lapwing chick was seen close to one parent Oystercatcher that was brooding its two chicks; later that day there was a rain shower, and the lapwing chick was seen being brooded under one of the adult Oystercatchcrs. The lapwing quickly developed an independence, and regularly left its two ‘siblings’ near the parent and ventured down to the water’s edge, where it probed the soft mud. On many occasions, the foraging parent returned from nearby arable fields with small worms and fed the two Oystercatcher chicks. The lapwing usually continued feeding alone, apparently not interested in accepting food from a parent. On 12th June, however, it was feeding in its normal way when one of the adult Oystercatchcrs approached with a worm in its bill and offered this to the lapwing chick, which took and ate the worm; this was observed only this one time, and the lapwing chick was never seen to approach a worm- carrying adult Oystercatcher. I he family was seen again on several later occasions, but by 2 1st June the Northern Lapwing chick was no longer with the Oystercatchcrs. It had Behaviour notes 19 either succumbed to predation, or become independent and impossible to distinguish from the other similar-sized lapwing chicks present. John S. Hampshire and Francis J. Russell Rose Cottage, Beach Road, Lessingham, Norfolk MR 12 OSU Derek Goodwin has commented: ‘It is most interesting that the lapwing chick apparently did not (or not for some time) learn to recognise its foster parents as a source of food. Mallard Anas plalyrhynchos and Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata ducklings are not fed or called to food by their natural mother, but when hatched and reared by a domestic hen Gallus gallus they learn, within a few hours of beginning to feed, to respond to the hen’s food call and take the food she picks up and drops in front of them.’ Eds Grey Phalarope feeding in association with ducks On 1st October 1989, at Minsmere, Suffolk, we observed a Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicanus feeding very closely around a Mallard Anas plalyrhynchos which was standing in very shallow water and also feeding. The phalarope was obviously picking up from the water surface food items which had been disturbed by the Mallard’s feet as it turned or by its bill action. During 30 minutes’ observation, it fed within 5-30 cm of the Mallard, usually within 10-20 cm, spending more time around the flanks and rear; it occasionally flew to the margin of a neighbouring island, but always returned to the same Mallard. On one occasion, it performed the same feeding strategy around a Common Teal A. crecca. We saw it feeding in the same manner three hours later. Although commensalism has been noted for the Red- necked Phalarope P. lobatus (BIVP, vol. 3, pp. 633-634), we can find no mention in the current literature of the Grey Phalarope using this feeding method. David Kramer and Jonathan C. Palmer 7 Little Headlands , Putnoe, Bedford MK41 8JT Prey and prey-capture techniques of Herring Gull In 1984, at the Jersey Zoo, Jersey, Channel Islands, an immature Herring Gull Lams argentatus was observed preying on rabbits Oyctolagus cuniculus [Brit. Birds 80: 730). In the summer of 1985, research was conducted on a captive flock of Emperor Geese Anser canagicus in an area where this same (ringed) gull and a mate formed a territory and began to build a nest. During the period of this study, the gull was seen on several occasions to take mammal prey: a large female brown rat Rattus nowegicus and two moles Talpa europaea , probably already dead, were carried to areas of rocks and battered repeatedly for up to 30 min- utes, before being swallowed whole. Flocks of adult and young Common Starlings Stumus vulgaris were attracted to grain put out for the captive geese: the gull would join the starlings and stand motionless, before lunging forward and catching a young starling, and swiftly hitting it on the ground before swallowing it (this often happened so quickly that the birds nearby were not disturbed). Juvenile House Sparrows Passer domesticus were twice seen being plucked from within a small bush by the gull, which swallowed them immediately. Numerous duckling Mallards Anas plalyrhynchos were taken by the Herring 20 Behaviour notes Gull: the gull flew quickly over the Mallard family, -swooped down to pick up a duckling in its bill, and swallowed it in mid-air; the gull would return and, even if faced with an aggressive mother duck, it eventually took the whole brood (no Mallards succeeded in rearing young in the area that year'. A totally different technique was used in attempts to catch the Emperor goslings. The Herring Gull followed these on foot for periods ol up to 1 5 min- utes and would often run at them. The parent geese were easily capable of defending their offspring, but the pursuer was persistent and spent a total of several hours a day following different goose families. By seven days of age the goslings had grown significantly, and the gull lost interest. The Herring Gull was never successful in catching any Emperor goslings, which it always hunted on foot, never attempting an aerial attack. This patient and persistent pursuit on foot of Emperor goslings is very different from the spontaneous theft of other gulls’ chicks in a Herring Gull colony or the opportunistic taking of other bird prey described above. H. G. YOUNG Vie Jersey Wildlife Preservation 7 rust, Les Augres Manor, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BF, Channel Islands Wryneck on passage roosting in reeds BWP (vol. 4) gives no details of roost sites used by the Wryneck Jynx torquilla on passage. In the evening of 8th September 1987, on Jersey, Channel Islands, we saw a Wryneck clinging to the top of a single reed in a thick reedbed. It was alert and watched intently as numerous Pied Motacilla alba and Yellow Wagtails M. Jlava began to occupy the stems around it; even larger numbers of Barn Swallows Hirundo ruslica flew in and, chattering, joined the roost. The birds around the Wryneck bickered and changed position, without the Wryneck being disturbed, before they all settled and darkness fell. The following day, the Wryneck and all other birds had left the roost. H. G. Young, S. J. Tonge and D. Wilson The Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust , Les Augres Manor , 7 unity, Jersey ji-3 5BF, Channel Islands Grasshopper Warbler reeling in response to electric drill On 21st September 1989, at South Walney Nature Reserve, Cumbria, an electric drill was being used on masonry at the Walney lighthouse. Almost immediately after the drill had completed the first hole, a Grasshopper Warbler Ijocustella naevia began reeling, and continued in typical fashion for about one minute. The drill was used again, and, when it stopped, the warbler ‘replied’. This se- quence of events continued for 90 minutes, during which time the Grasshop- per Warbler was located in a bramble bush Rubus some 40 m away from the activity. TlM DEAN Coastguard Cottages , South Walney Nature Reserve , Walney Island, Barrow-in- Furness, Cumbria HI 4 3YQ Nest-site fidelity of Eurasian Treecreeper In the spring of 1958, at West Chiltington, West Sussex, 1 found a pair of Eurasian Treecreepers Certhia familiaris nesting behind a sheet of corrugated iron loosely attached to the side of a garden shed. While artificial nest sites of this kind arc not unusual for this Behaviour notes 21 species, it is interesting that this particular site has also been used annually for the subsequent 33 years. F. W. DoUGHARTY Cattlestone Farm , West Chiltington, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 2LG Eurasian Jay carrying live toad On 10th June 1989, in mixed woodland at Sutton Heath, Suffolk, we saw a Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandanus with a large object in its bill fly across the path in front of us. Its flight was laboured, as though carrying a heavy weight. The Jay landed on the branch of a Scots pine Pirns sylvestris 10 m from us. On checking with binoculars, we were sur- prised to discover that it was carrying a large, Hve common toad Bufo bufo ; we estimated the toad to be about 1 5 cm long, slightly less than half the length of the Jay, indicating that it was probably a female. The Jay readjusted the posi- tion of the toad in its bill, and flew off We were unable to ascertain whether it ate the toad. We can find no record of toads in the diet of the Eurasian Jay. Judith Entwisle- Baker and Stuart Entwisle-Baker 6 Hamer Way, Beckton, London E6 4XG Prolonged fighting between Common Starlings On 1st March 1989, at Leuchars, Fife, I watched two Common Starlings Stumus vulgaris, which I thought to be young males, fighting on short grass. The encounter continued for at least 30 minutes, with only brief rests during which the birds remained locked together. The fighting included long periods of tumbling over, and nei- ther individual appeared to be dominant. The aggression was fierce, with claws locked onto neck and bill, and with frequent bill-stabbing. The starlings seemed equally adept at avoiding damaging blows. At one stage, they rolled under barbed wire, and for a few seconds one was astride a wire strand while attacking the other beneath. On several occasions, the fighting on the ground was interspersed with ‘fly-ups’ (see Feare, 1984, The Starling), during which the combatants rose vertically into the air while continuing to fight. Eventually, they separated and flew away rapidly in different directions. During the long encounter, another male approached several times, but each time it flew off without further action. No other starlings were seen in the vicinity. As the observation was made through double-glazed windows, no vocalisations were heard. The initiation of the fight was not observed, but it was assumed that the dispute was territorial, the weather at the time being mild with no short- age of food. 1 have not previously seen such a prolonged aggressive encounter, and Feare (1984) gave no indication of the duration of such fights. Norman Eekins 18 Scotstarvit View, Cupar, Fife KYI 5 4DX Woodchat Shrikes flocking in Portugal On 3 1 st August 1 986, at Santa Cita, Portugal, I witnessed a flock of some 50 Woodchat Shrikes Lanius senator, including both adults and juveniles, as they wheeled from one cork oak Quercus suber to the next, chattering noisily. NICHOLAS Moore 1 60 Demesne Road, Wallington, Surry SM6 8EN This species is not normally gregarious, even on migration. Assuming that some predator was not being mobbed, this ‘excited’, noisy behaviour may have been in response to an unusual concentration of some invertebrate prey within or above the cork oaks. We welcome details of any comparable observations. Eds Letter An unacceptable Norfolk record of Baird’s Sandpiper Preliminary work on a new Birds of Nofolk volume has attracted attention to the consider- able suspicion over the first county specimen of a Baird’s Sandpiper Calidns bairdii , supposedly obtained at Hunstanton on 16th September 1903. Details are contained in Dr B. B. Riviere’s History of the Birds of No folk (1903). The bird was ‘received by Mr G. Bristowe [sic], the taxidermist at St. Ixonards, on 19th September, where it was examined in the flesh by M. J. Nicoll, and afterwards passed into the collection of Sir Vauncy Crewe. The sex of this bird was not determined and its occurrence remained unrecorded until 1909 (Gurney, geologist , 1909, p. 124. Witherby, British Birds , vol. iii. p. 29).’ The fascinating articles exposing the ‘Hastings Rarities’, which had completely misled the leaders of British ornithology for a considerable period, occupied the whole of a much-enlarged August 1962 issue of British Birds (55: 281-384). Following a highly detailed investigation over several years, ‘it ap- pears plain that the records cannot properly stand.’ It was to Bristow that the Hastings Rarities were brought and by him that they were usually first shown to various local ornithologists. So far as Sir Vauncy Harpur Crewe is concerned, the Catalogue of Cases of Birds in the Dyke Road Museum , Brighton (1927) notes that ‘he spared no expense in acquiring varieties and rare species for his collection, but unfortunately took much less care in testing the genuineness as British of the rarities offered to him; and the high prices he was prepared to pay without close investigation offered a great temptation to dealers, so that many of the birds he obtained as British-killed are of very doubtful authenticity.’ In these circumstances, the Hunstanton Baird’s Sandpiper has been deleted from the Norfolk archives. MICHAEL J . S E A G O 33 Acacia Road , Thorpe St Andrew , Nonvich \R7 off I he authors of the main ‘Hastings Rarities’ paper, E. M. Nicholson and I. J. Ferguson-Lees, have been consulted concerning the deletion of this record from the national archive, and they concur with the decision taken by Michael J. Seago, which is also endorsed by us. It is probable that there are still a few (or perhaps many) other similar dubious rarity records included on county lists and therefore remaining its accepted British records. We should like to encourage the investigation and reporting to us of any such cases, so that the the pre-Rarities- Committee totals and record patterns can be corrected. Ens 22 Reviews KIQ'f and Men; Herbert The Book Guild, Lewes, Sussex, 1992. 284 pages; 45 black-and-white plates. £14.95. 1 knew that 1 would enjoy reading this book before 1 had even opened the first page. 1 was one of coundess young birdwatchers in the 1950s who came under the spell and teaching of Ben (I never d.d call him Herbert!). Here is a veritable orgy of personal reminiscences, including name- droppmg on a great and glorious scale. Everybody who is anybody gets a men tion-alt hough in 7 n’ 7 7 3 T1^0 thc CXtent that there ar<- nearly five pages of index for the Men and only just over four lor the ‘Birds’. As I keenly devoured page after page, I was left with the feeling that this could well be the las. autobiography of such style - the end of an era)> If you have an interest in Dungeness, Malta the RSPB migration, travelling through the world, Minsmere, rarities, land management or virtually any other birdy subject, there is something here for you. Cnucism? \ es, of course. One cannot help wishing that this book had been published a few years earlier; and the quality of the photographic reproduction is ven poor. My advice- read it you 11 enjoy it. ; „ J ! Boh Scon Birds of Europe: with North Africa and the Middle East. By Lars Jonsson. Translated by David Christie. Christopher Helm (Publishers), London, 1992. 559 pages; over 400 colour illustrations; 498 distribution maps £25.00. It was in J978 that the British birding public first became aware of Lars Jonsson. In that year enguin Books published bis Birds of Wood , Park and Garden , Birds of Sea and Coast and Birds of Ijike. Kwers, Marsh and Field , and his Birds of Mountain Regions followed in 1979. The fifth and final book in the senes, Birds of the Mediterranean and Alps, was published in 1982 by Groom Helm. The reviews in British Birds (71: 595-596; 72: 496; 73: 600; 76: 154) discussed briefly the merits and dements of the texts and distribution maps and criticised the grouping of species into habitats and regions rather than their placing in systematic sequence. Quite correctly, however, the re- views concentrated on describing with great enthusiasm the quality of the abundant paintings, the like of which had not been seen before. Now, a decade after the appearance in Britain of the last of these books, the set has been combined and published as a single volume. Rearrangement of the species into systematic order has removed the earlier major criticism, and the texts, distribution maps and colour illustrations have been greatly revised. I he texts have retained their original freedom from a rigid format, so, as the paintings convey the general appearance of each species and subspecies, the texts can concentrate on whatever the author considers is important for each, to the exclusion of the obvious and the irrelevant. For in- stance, the familiar Moorhen Gallmula chloropus has 1 1 lines of text with information on, in de- scending order of quantity, voice, jizz, habitat, status in Britain, behaviour, diet, identification and size, whilst the problematic Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis has 16 lines of text, all but one cov- ering its appearance and its separation from Common Gull L. canus. Bird identification has ad- vanced considerably during the last decade or so and reference to a number of recent papers in British Birds and other European journals confirms that Lars Jonsson has reflected in his updated texts, as well as in his paintings, those new characters which have been established in this period. 1 he distribution maps, which cover the region, are very detailed and up-to-date, as they are based upon the recent census and atlas projects carried out in many countries. The paintings, as a near-complete Western Palearctic set, are splendid, and few potential pur- chasers will look beyond these before deciding to buy the book. Even those who possess the five 23 24 Reviews earlier volumes, perhaps especially those fortunate ones, will wish to purchase it. Nearly a third of the full-page colour plates are new, and others have been revised for both content and detail. Also, numerous additional portraits have been included on the pages which otherwise contain the texts and the distribution maps. To most birders, the name of Larsjonsson conjures up visions of superb bird paintings, in which each species is portrayed in lifelike, distinctive stance with its char- acter instantly recognisable and with the shape and plumage reflecting great attention to detail by the artist. Those of us with such high expectations will not be disappointed; indeed, more than a few of the colour illustrations arc quite outstanding. Where else, in a single volume, can one drool over paintings of such geographically peripheral species as American Redstart Setophaga rutkiUa from the west, White’s Thrush ^oolhera daiuna from the east and White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga from the south, as well as immerse oneself in in-depth treatment of divers (Gavi- idae), stints and peeps (Calidridinae) and skuas (Stercorariidae)? The book has so much to offer the reader and the browser that it would be churlish to dwell on the one or two places where it could have been improved. If you are at all interested in identi- fication, or if you enjoy bird illustrations at their best, you simply must treat yourself to a copy. Bird Migration. By Robert Burton. (Aurum, Guidon, 1992. 1 BO pages. £16.95) There are many books on bird migration, catering for all levels of knowledge and inter- est. This new, lavishly illustrated book is not one of die academic treaUses. It is, however, as a non-technical introduction to this complex subject, undoubtedly better than most. 1’he text is highly readable, comprehensive in scope and, most importantly, authoritative. The case studies used are, on the author’s own admis- sion, totally biased towards the European and North American perspective. The illustrations comprise many stunning colour photographs, not all perhaps directly relevant to the subject, but nevertheless a joy to look at. A few maps and diagrams are also included where appro- priate, and these are clear and visually pleas- ing. It would be hard to find a better introduction to this fascinating subject and many birders (or indeed anyone who has ever marvelled at the spectacular migrations of birds) would enjoy this book. Nigel Redman Lommar. By Lars Jonsson & Toralf Tysse. Illustrated by Larsjonsson. ( lar Fagelvarld , supplement no. 15, Sveriges Omitol- ogiska Forening, Stockholm, 1992. 80 pages. Paperback SJvr 100) The first fully illustrated in-depth treatment of the four West Palearctic divers Gama. Covers distribution, behaviour, and so on, but concentrates on field identifica- tion and ageing. The text, perfectly comple- mented by over 40 superb colour paintings and plates, goes into exceptional detail on all plumages from juvenile to adult, adding much new information (e.g. description of second- summer plumage of White-billed Diver G. adamsii: entirely sooty-grey head and neck). Sections on moult and plumage development of the two largest species, and on flight identifi- cation of all four, extend far beyond previously Peter Lansdown published w'ork. An extremely useful quick ref- erence key and guide lists 22 features to look for on winter-plumaged and non-adult divers. An amazing publication, but all the text and captions are in Swedish, so the information is unavailable to most potential readers. DAC Mallards. By Scott Nielsen. (Swan Hill Press, Shrewsbury, 1992. 144 pages. £19.95) Phis is a pictorial celebration of the w'orld’s most numerous and most successful duck. I doubt if this most familiar of birds has ever been photographed in such detail or as well. Pictures of Mallards Anas platyrhynchos in close up, in flight, in every plumage, and in every attitude abound on every page. The book was originally published in Canada and, although no concessions of spelling or text content have been made for a British readership, this be- comes of little consequence in comparison with the photographs, which need no translation to cross the Atlantic. For once, the blurb does not exaggerate in describing this as ‘a beautiful pictorial essay’. MAO The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook and Diary 1993. Edited by John Pemberton. Buck- ingham Press, Maids Moreton, 1992. 320 pages. Paperback £1 1.00) This is the thir- teenth learbook , as invaluable as a source of ref- erence as were the earlier volumes. As w'ell as the regular features, there are also eight arti- cles, including ‘Saving the World’s birds: the work of the International Council for Bird Preservation’ by Georgina Green and ‘The rarity and scarce migrant database of Britain and Ireland’ by the BBRC’s Statistician, Pete Fraser. These Yearbooks are not only worth buying for use during the coming year, but are also worth keeping on one’s library shelves as an historical record. JTRS British BirdShop Listed books arc POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers The books included in British BirdShop are recommended by ~h Birds chalile, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher^ library. It is the as iZ°luH^tBirdS.^ Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd to provide British Birds subscribers with the best, most reliable and friendliest sendee possible" subscriber! h S t!°Ugh ,BTritish,BirdSh°P are despatched for Bn, uh Birds ■ ubsenbers by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd. 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OPENING TIMES , , Monday to Teiephone:0676-40501&42476 Fax:0676-40930 Saturday aamopm D234 IX THE NIIBS CHRISTMAS HOTLINE Same Day Despatch Service * Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East Lars Jonsson 560 pages 140 colour plates £25 published Birds, Discovery and Conservation Edited by David Snow, the BOC Centenary Volume. 208 pages £19.95 published Handbook of Birds of the World, Volume 1 Ostrich to Ducks Edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal 660 pages 67 colour plates, 350 colour photos, 566 distribution maps £95 published Shorelands Winter Diary Charles Tunnicliffe The recently discovered sequel to Shorelands Summer Diary 144 pages illus in colour and b/w £16.95 published Vultures of Africa Peter Mundy et al 450 pages colour & b/w photos £55 published •(Subject to availability of stock, in UK only, for phone & fax orders received before 3 p.m.) (Postage & packing extra) FORTHCOMING MAJOR TITLES Birds of North America 700 separate species accounts to be published over the next ten years! Ask for our BN A Prospectus Birds of the Western Palearctic, Volume 6 - Warblers Due for release in the first week of December £75 Birdwatcher's Guide to Southern Spain Due for release in early December £9.75 Identification Guide to European Passerines Lars Svensson New Edition The ringer's bible. Due for release in December 05 Order by phone, fax or letter, to: NHBS Ltd, 2-3 Wills Road. Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN, UK. Tel: 0803 865913 (4 lines) Fax: 0803 865280 NATURAL HISTORY BOOK SERVICE The Professional Service for Ornithologists D209 x The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds £1.00 FREE to all ‘British Birds’ subscribers © British Birds Ltd 1993 ‘British Birds’, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds Scientific name Formal English name STRUTHIONIDAE Struthio camelus Ostrich GAVIIDAE Gavia stellata Red-throated Diver Gavia arclica Black-throated Diver Gama immer Great Northern Diver Gaiiia adamsii White-billed Diver PODICIPEDIDAE Podilymbus podiceps Pied-billed Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollu Little Grebe Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe Podiceps auritus Slavonian Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe DIOMEDEIDAE Diomedea melanophris Black-browed Albatross Diomedea chlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross Diomedea cauta Shy Albatross Diomedea exulans Wandering Albatross PROCELLARIIDAE Fulmarus glacialis Fulmar Daption caperue Cape Petrel Pterodroma madeira Madeira Petrel Pterodroma feae Cape Verde Petrel Pterodroma mollis Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma hasitata Capped Petrel Pterodroma incerta Atlantic Petrel Bulweria buluierii Bulwer’s Petrel Bulwena fallax Jouanin’s Petrel : Calonectris diomedea Cory’s Shearwater Calonectns leucomelas Streaked Shearwater Puffinus cameipes Pale-footed Shearwater Puffinus gravis Great Shearwater Puffinus pacijicus Wedge-tailed Shearwater ' Puffinus griseus Sooty Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Manx Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus Iherminieri Audubon’s Shearwater Puffinus assimilis Little Shearwater hydrobatidae Oceanites oceanicus Wilson’s Storm-petrel Pelagodroma marina White-faced Storm-petrel Fregetta grallaria White-bellied Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus European Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro Madeiran Storm-petrel PHAETHONTIDAE Phaethon aethereus Red-billed Tropicbird SULIDAE Sula sula Red-footed Booby Sula dactylatra Masked Booby Sula leucogaster Brown Booby Morns bassanus Northern Gannet Morns capensis Cape Gannet Scientific name Formal English name PHALACROCORACIDAE Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax aristotelis Shag Phalacrocorax nigrogularis Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax ajricanus Long-tailed Cormorant ANHINGIDAE Anhinga melanogaster Darter PELECANIDAE Pelecanus onocrolalus White Pelican Pelecanus crispus Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus mfescens Pink-backed Pelican KREGATIDAE Fregata magnificens Magnificent Frigatebird ARDEIDAE Botaurus stellaris Great Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus American Bittern Ixobrychus exilis Least Bittern Ixobychus minutus Litdc Bittern Ixobrychus eurhythmus Schrcnck’s Little Bittern Ardeirallus sturmii Dwarf Bittern Nycticorax nycticorax Night Fleron Butorides striatus Striated Heron Butorides virescens Green Heron Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron Ardeola grayii Indian Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus Chinese Pond Heron Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Hydranassa caerulea Little Blue Heron Hydranassa tricolor Tricolored Heron Hydranassa ardesiaca Black Heron Egretta thula Snowy Egret Egretta gularis Western Reef Egret Egretta garzetta Little Egret Egretta intermedia Intermediate Egret Egretta alba Great White Egret Ardea cinerea Grey Heron Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron Ardea purpurea Purple Heron Ardea goliath Goliath Heron CICONIIDAE Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed Stork Ciconia nigra Black Stork Ciconia ciconia White Stork Leptoptilos emmeniferus Marabou Stork THRESKIORNITHIDAE Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis Geronticus eremita Bald Ibis Threskwmis aethiopicus Sacred Ibis Platalea leucorodia Eurasian Spoonbill Pktalea alba African Spoonbill PHOENICOPTERIDAE Phoenicopterus ruber Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor Lesser Flamingo This list has been compiled for reference concerning English and scientific names; inclusion of a species Joes not necessarily imply formal acceptance on the Western Palearctic list. 1 2 Scientific name Formal English name AN ATI DAE Dendrocygna bicolor Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata White-faced Whistling Duck Cygnus olor Mute Swan Cygnus atralus Black Swan Cygnus columbianus Tundra Swan Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan Anser fabalis Bean Goose Anser brachyrhynchus Pink-footed Goose Anser albifrons White-fronted Goose Anser eythropus Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser anser Greylag Goose Anser indkus Bar-headed Goose Anser caerulescens Snow Goose Anser rossii Ross’s Goose Branta canadensis Canada Goose Branla leucopsis Barnacle Goose Branta bemicla Brent Goose Branta ruficollis Red-breasted Goose Alopochen aegyptmcus Egyptian Goose Tadoma ferrugmea Ruddy Shelduck Tadoma tadoma Common Shelduck Plectropterus gambensis Spur-winged Goose Nettapus coromandelianus Cotton Pygmy-goose Aix sponsa Wood Duck Aix galericulata Mandarin Duck Anas penelope Eurasian Wigeon Anas americana American Wigeon Anas falcata Falcated Duck Anas strepera Gadwall Anas Jormosa Baikal Teal Anas crecca Common Teal Anas capensis Cape Teal Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Anas mbripes American Black Duck Anas acuta Northern Pintail Anas erythrorhyncha Red-billed Duck Anas querquedula Gargancy Anas discors Blue-winged Teal Anas smithii Cape Shoveler Anas clypeata Northern Shoveler Marmaronetta angustirostris Marbled Duck Netta rufina Red-crested Pochard Ay thy a ferina Common Pochard Aythya valisineria Canvasback Aythya collaris Ring-necked Duck Aythya nyroca Ferruginous Duck Aythya Juligula Tufted Duck Aythya mania Greater Scaup Aythya qffinis Lesser Scaup Somaterm mollissima Common Eider Somateria spectabilis King Eider Somateria fischeri Spectacled Eider Polysticta slellen Stcllcr’s Eider Histrionicus histriomcus Harlequin Duck Clangula hyemalis Long-niiled Duck Melanitta nigra Common Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Surf Scoter Melanitta jusca Velvet Scoter Bucephala albeola Bufllehcad Bucephala islandica Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye Mergus cucullatus Hooded Merganser Mergus albellus Smew Merges senator Red-breasted Merganser Mergus merganser Goosander English names of Western Palearctic birds Scientific name Formal English name Oxyura jamaicensis * Ruddy Duck Oxyura leucocephala White-headed Duck ACCIPITRIDAE Pemis apivorus Honey-buzzard Elanus caemleus Black-shouldered Kite Milvus migrans Black Kite Milvus milvus Red Kite Haliaeetus vocifer African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle Gypaetus barbatus Lammergeier Neophron perenopterus Egyptian Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus Hooded Vulture Gyps julvus Griffon Vulture Gyps rueppelln Riippell’s Griffon Vulture Torgos tracheliotus Lappet-faced Vulture Aegypius monachus Monk Vulture Circaetus gallicus Short-toed Eagle Terathopius ecaudatus Bateleur Circus aeruginosus Marsh Harrier Circus cyaneus Hen Harrier Circus macrourus Pallid Harrier Circus pygargus Montagu’s Harrier Melierax metabales Dark Chanting-goshawk Micronisus gabar Gabar Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Northern Goshawk Accipiter nisus Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter badius Shikra Accipiter brevipes Levant Sparrowhawk Buteo swainsoni Swainson’s Buzzard Buteo buteo Common Buzzard Buteo rufinus Long-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Rough-legged Buzzard Aquila pomanna Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga Spotted Eagle Aquila rapax Tawny Eagle Aquila nipalensis Steppe Eagle Aquila heliaca Imperial Eagle Aquila chiysaetos Golden Eagle Aquila veneauxii Verreaux’s Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Booted Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus Bonelli’s Eagle PANDIONIDAE Pandion haliaetus Osprey FALCONIDAE Falco naumanni Lesser Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel Falco sparverius American Kestrel Falco vespertinus Red-footed Falcon Falco columbarius Merlin Falco subbuteo Hobby Falco eleanorae Eleonora’s Falcon Falco concolor Sooty Falcon Falco biarmicus Lanner Falcon Falco chenug Sakcr Falcon Falco rusticolus Gyr Falcon Falco peregnnus Peregrine Falcon Falco pelegnnoides Barbary Falcon TETRAONIDAE Bonasa bonasia Hazel Grouse lagopus lagopus Willow Grouse /Red Grouse Lagopus mutus Ptarmigan 3 Western Palearctic birds Formal English name English names of Scientific name Tetrao tetrix Tetrao mlokosiewiczi Tetrao urogallus PHASIANIDAE Callipepla califomica Colinus virginianus Tetraogallus caucasicus Tetraogallus caspius Alectoris chukar Alectoris graeca Alectoris rufa Alectoris barbara Ammoperdix griseogularis Ammoperdix heyi Francolimis Jrancolinus Francolinus bicalcaratus Perdi.x perdix Perdix dauuncae Columix cotumix Syrmaticus reevesii Phasianus colchicus Chrysolophus pictus Chrysolophus amherstiae ' NUMIDIDAE Numida meleagris MELEAGRIDIDAE Meleagns gallopcwo TURN1CIDAE Tumix sybatica ■ RALIJDAE Rallus aquaticus Porzana porzana Porzana Carolina Porzana parva Porzana pusilla Porzana marginalis ■ Limnocorax Jlavirostra Crex crex ■Gallmula chloropus iPorphymla alleni l Porphymla marlimca I Porphyrio porphyrio Fulica atra Fulica americana Fulica cristata I GRUIDAE Srus grus Srus monacha Srus canadensis Sms leucogeranus • Anthropoides virgo tTIDIDAE T :trax tetrax 'Seotis denhami ' 'feotis nuba Shlamydotis undulala I Irdeotis arabs llis tarda OSTRATUUDAF. f lostratula benghalensis Black Grouse Caucasian Black Grouse Capercaillie California Quail Northern Bobvvhite Caucasian Snowcock Caspian Snowcock Chukar Partridge Rock Partridge Red-legged Partridge Barbary Partridge See-see Partridge Sand Partridge Black Francolin Double-spurred Francolin Grey Partridge Daurian Partridge Common Quail Reeves’s Pheasant Common Pheasant Golden Pheasant Lady Amherst’s Pheasant Helmeted Guineafowl Wild Turkey Small Button-quail Water Rail Spotted Crake Sora Crake Little Crake Baillon’s Crake Striped Crake Black Crake Com Crake Moorhen Allen’s Gallinule American Purple Gallinule Purple Swamp-hen Common Coot American Coot Red-knobbed Coot Common Crane Hooded Crane Sandhill Crane Siberian White Crane Demoiselle Crane Scientific name HAEMATOPODIDAE Haematopus ostralegus Haematopus moquini RECUR VIROSTRIDAE Himantopus himantopus Recurvirostra avosetta DROMADIDAE Thomas ardeola BURHINIDAE Burhinus oedicnemus Burhinus senegalensis GLAREOUDAE Pluvianus aegyptius Cursorius cursor Glareola pralincota Glareola maldivamm Glareola nordmanni CHARADRIIDAE Charadrius dubius Charadrius hiaticula Charadrius semipalmatus Charadrius vocifems Charadrius pecuarius Charadrius alexandrinus Charadrius mongolus Charadrius leschenaultii Charadrius asiaticus Charadrius morinellus Pluvialis Juba Pluvialis dominica Pluvialis apricaria Pluvialis squalarola Hoplopterus spinosus Hoplopterus tectus Hoplopterus indicus Chellusia gregaria Chettusia leucura Vanellus vanellus SCOLOPACIDAE Calidris tenuirostris Calidris canutus Calidris alba Calidris pusilla Calidris maun Calidris mficollis Calidris minuta Calidris temminckii Calidris subminula Calidris minutilla Calidris fuscicollis Calidris bairdii Calidris melanotos Calidris acuminata Calidris ferruginea Calidris marihma Calidris alpitia Euynorhynchus pygmeus Limicola Jakinellus Micropalama himantopus Tiyngites subruficollk Phibmachus pugnax Lymnocryptes minimus Little Bustard Denham’s Bustard Nubian Bustard Houbara Bustard Arabian Bustard Great Bustard Painted-snipe Formal English name Oystercatcher African Black Oystercatcher Black-winged Stilt Avocet Crab-plover Stone-curlew Senegal Thick-knee Egyptian Courser Cream-coloured Courser Collared Pratincole Oriental Pratincole Black-winged Pratincole Little Ringed Plover Great Ringed Plover Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Plover Kitditz’s Plover Kentish Plover Lesser Sand Plover Greater Sand Plover Caspian Plover Dotterel Pacific Golden Plover American Golden Plover European Golden Plover Grey Plover Spur-winged Lapwing Black-headed Lapwing Red-wattled Lapwing Sociable Lapwing White-tailed Lapwing Northern Lapwing Great Knot Red Knot Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Red-necked Stint Little Stint Temminck’s Stint Long-toed Stint Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Baird’s Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Dunlin Spoonbill Sandpiper Broad-billed Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper RufT Jack Snipe 4 Scientific name Formal English name Gallinago gallinago Common Snipe Gallinago media Great Snipe Gallinago stermra Pintail Snipe Gallinago megala Swinhoe’s Snipe Limnodromus griseus Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Long-billed Dowitcher Scolopax rusticola Woodcock Limosa lirnosa Black-tailed Godwit Limosa haemastica Hudsonian Godwit Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit .X'umemus minutus Litde Curlew' .Numenius borealis Eskimo Curlew .Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel .Numenius tenuirostris Slender-billed Curlew .Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew Bartramia longicauda Upland Sandpiper Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank Lringa lolanus Common Redshank Tringa slagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper ; Tringa nebulana Common Grecnshank Tringa melanoleuca Greater Yellowlegs ’ Tringa Jlavipes Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa solitaria Solitary Sandpiper . Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Terek Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper Actilis rnaatlarui Spotted Sandpiper Heteroscelus brevipes Grey-tailed Tattler Gatoptrophorus semipahnatus Willct Armaria interpres Turnstone Phalaropus tricolor Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus fidicarius Grey Phalarope STERCORARIIDAE Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarinc Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic Skua Stercorarius longicaudus Long-tailed Skua 1 Stercorarius skua Great Skua | Stercorarius maccormicki South Polar Skua LARIDAE : Larus hemprichii Sooty Gull Incus leucophthalmus White-eyed Gull Larus ichthyaetus Great Black-headed Gull Ixirus melanocephahcs Mediterranean Gull larus atricilla Laughing Gull Ixirus pipixcan Franklin’s Gull larus minutus Little Gull larus sabini Sabine’s Gull larus Philadelphia Bonaparte’s Gull lams ridibundus Black-headed Gull Lams bmnnicephalus Brown-headed Gull lams cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull lams genei Slender-billed Gull lams audouinii Audouin’s Gull larus delawarensis Ring-billed Chill Lams canus Common Gull Lamsjuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull lams argentatus Herring Gull lams cachinnans Yellow-legged Gull lams armmicus Armenian Gull lams glaucoides Iceland Gull lams hyperboreus Glaucous Gull lams marinas Great Black-backed Gull English names oj Western Palearctic birds Scientific name Formal English name Rhodostethia rosea ■* Ross’s Gull Rissa tndactyla Kittiwakc Pagophila ebumea Ivory Gull STERNI DAK Gelochelidon nilotica Gull-billed Tern Sterna caspia Caspian Tern Sterna maxima Royal Tern Sterna berga Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis Lesser Crested Tent Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich Tern Sterna elegans Elegant Tern Sterna dougallii Roseate Tem Sterna himndo Common Tern Sterna paradisaea Arctic Tem Sterna aleutica Aleutian Tem Sterna forsteri Forster’s Tern Sterna repressa White-cheeked Tem Sterna anaethetus Bridled Tem Sterna fuscata Sooty Tern Sterna albifrons Little Tem Sterna antillamm Least Tem Sterna saundersi Saunders’s Tem Chlidonias hybridus Whiskered Tem Chlidonias niger Black Tem Chlidonias leucoptems White-winged Black Tem Anous stolidus Brown Noddy RYNCHOPIDAE Rytichops Jlavirostris African Skimmer ALCIDAE Una aalge Common Guillemot Uria lomvia Briinnich’s Guillemot A lea tarda Razorbill Pinguinus imperials Great Auk Cepphus grylle Black Guillemot Synthliboramphus antujuus Ancient Murrelet A lie alle Little Auk Aethia cristalella Crested Auklct Cyclorrhynchus psillacula Parakeet Auklct Fratercula arctica Puffin PTEROCIJDIDAE Pterocles lichtensteinii Lichtenstein’s Sandgrousc Pterocles coronalus Crowned Sandgrousc Pterocles senegallus Spotted Sandgrousc Pterocles exustus Chestnut-bellied Sandgrousc Pterocles orientalis Black-bellied Sandgrousc Pterocles alchala Pin-tailed Sandgrousc Syrrhaptes paradoxus Pallas’s Sandgrousc COLUMBIDAE Columba livia Rock Dove Golumba oenas Stock Dove Columba eversmanni Yellow-eyed Stock Dove Golumba palumbus Wood Pigeon Columba trocaz Trocaz Pigeon Columba bollii Bolle’s Pigeon Columba junoniae Laurel Pigeon Streptopelia mseogrisea African Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Collared Dove Streptopelia turtur Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Laughing Dove Oena capensis Namaqua Dove genaida macroura Mourning Dove English names of Western Palearctic birds Scientific name Formal English name PSITTACIDAE Myiopsitta monachus Monk Parakeet Psittacula kramen Rose-ringed Parakeet CUCUUDAE Clamator jacobinus Clamalor glandarius Chysococtyx caprius Cuculus canorus Cuculus saturates Coccyzus eythrophthalmus Coccyzus americanus Cenlropus senegalensis tytonidae Tyto alba - STR1GIDAE Otus brucei Otus scops Bubo bubo ■ Ketupa zeylonensis 'Nyctea scandiaca ' Sumia ulula Glaucidium passerinum I Athene noctua • Stnx aluco ' Stnx butleri ■ Stnx uralensis ■Strix nebulosa Asia otus Asio Jlammeus Asia capensis Aegolius Junereus ::aprimulgidae Caprimulgus nubicus ' Caprimulgus europaeus I Caprimulgus rujuollis I Capnmulgus aegyptius Chordeiles minor Jacobin Cuckoo Great Spotted Cuckoo Didric Cuckoo Common Cuckoo Oriental Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo \ cllow-billed Cuckoo Senegal Coucal Barn Owl Striated Scops Owl Eurasian Scops Owl Eagle Owl Brown Fish Owl Snowy Owl Hawk Owl Pygmy Owl Little Owl Tawny Owl Hume’s Owl Ural Owl Great Grey Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Marsh Owl Tengmalm’s Owl Nubian Nightjar European Nightjar Red-necked Nightjar Egyptian Nightjar Common Nighthawk ' \POIMDAE hrundapus caudacutus Chaetura pelagica I pus alexandri 1 I pus unicolor I I pus apus id pus pallidus 1 'pus pacificus I pus nielba i pus coffer I pus affinis ypsiurus parvus White-throated Needletail Swift Chimney Swift Cape Verde Swift Plain Swift Common Swift Pallid Swift Pacific Swift Alpine Swift Whitc-rumped Swift Little Swift African Palm Swift J LCEDINIDAE i 1 alcyon smymensis i'akyon leucocephala '■cedo atthis •eryle rudis < eryle akyon Smyrna Kingfisher Grey-headed Kingfisher Common Kingfisher Pied Kingfisher Belted Kingfisher EROPIDAE < 'crops orientalis 1 crops superciliosus ' crops apiaster Litde Green Bce-eatcr Blue-cheeked Bee-eater European Bee-eater 51 Scientific name Formal English name CORACIIDAE Coracias garrulus European Roller Coracias abyssinicus Abyssinian Roller Coracias benghalensis Indian Roller Euystomus glaucurus Broad-billed Roller UPUPIDAE Upupa epops Hoopoe PICIDAE Jynx lorquilla Wryneck Colaples auratus Northern Flicker Picus conus Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus viridis Green Woodpecker Picus vaillantii Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker Dyocopus martius Black Woodpecker Sphyrapicus varius Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Dendrocopos major Great Spotted Woodpecker Derulrocopos syriacus Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius Middle Spotted Woodpecker Derulrocopos leucotos White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus Three-tocd Woodpecker TYRANNIDAE Empidonax virescens Acadian Flycatcher ALAUDIDAE Eremopterix signata Chestnut-headed Sparrow-lark Eremopterix nigriceps Black-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremalauda dunni Dunn’s Lark Ammomanes cine turns Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti Desert Lark Alaemon alaudipes Hoopoe Lark Chersophilus duponti Dupont’s Lark Ramphocoris clotbey Thick-billed Lark Melanocorypha calandra Calandra Lark Melanocoypha bimaculata Bimaculatcd Lark Melanocorypha leucoptera White-winged Lark Melanocoypha yeltoniensu Black Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Short-toed Lark Calandrella acutirostris Hume’s Lark Calandrella rufescens Lesser Short-toed Lark Galerida cristata Crested Lark Gakrida theklae Thekla Lark Lullula arborea Wood Lark Alauda gulgula Oriental Lark Alauda arvensis Sky Lark Alauda razor Raso I ,ark Eremophila alpestris Homed Lark Eremophila bilopha Temminck’s Homed Lark HtRUNDINIDAE Riparia paludicola Plain Martin Riparia riparia Sand Martin Riparia cincta Banded Martin Tachycineta bicolor Tree Swallow' Ptyonoprogrne Juligula Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Crag Martin Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow Hmmdo aethiopica Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo daurica Red-rumpcd Swallow' Hirundo pyrrhonota Cliff Swallow Detichon urbica House Martin MOTACILLIDAE Anthus novaeseelandiae Richard’s Pipit 6 English names oj Western Palearctic birds Scientific name Formal English name Anthus godlewskii Blyth’s Pipit Anthus campestris l awny Pipit Anthus berthelotu Berthelot’s Pipit Anthus similis Long-billed Pipit Anthus hodgsom Olive-backed Pipit Anthus trivialis Tree Pipit Anthus gustavi Pechora Pipit Anthus prateusis Meadow Pipit Anthus cervinus Red-throated Pipit Anthus petrosus Rock Pipit Anthus spinoletta Water Pipit Anthus rubescens Buff-bellied Pipit Motacilla Jlava Yellow Wagtail Motacilla citreola Citrine Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail Motacilla alba Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguitnp African Pied Wagtail PYCNONOTIDAE Pycnonotus leucogenys White-checked Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus Garden Bulbul BOMBYCILUDAE Bombycilla cedrorum Cedar Waxwing . Bombycilla garrulus Bohemian Waxwing . Hypocolius ampelinus Grey Hypocolius CINCUDAE , Cirulus cinclus Dipper J TROGLODYTIDAE Troglodytes troglodytes Wren • MIMIDAE Mimus polyglottos Northern Mockingbird Toxostoma rufum Brown Thrasher Dumetella carolinensis Grey Catbird * PRUNELUDAE * Prunella modularis Hedge Accentor • Prunella montanella Siberian Accentor Prunella ocularis Radde’s Accentor 1 Prunella atrogularis Black-throated Accentor ‘ Prunella collaris Alpine Accentor i TURDIDAK ‘ Cercotrichas galactotes Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin ‘ Cercotrichas podobe Black Scrub-robin ‘ Erithacus rubecula Robin ‘ Luscinia luscinia Thrush Nightingale 1 Luscinia megarhynchos Rufous Nightingale • Luscinia calliope Siberian Rubythroat ‘ Luscinia svecica Blucthroat ‘ Luscinia cyane Siberian Blue Robin ' Tarsiger cyanurus Red-flanked Bluetail ‘ Irania gutturalis White-throated Robin ‘ Phoenicurus erythronotus Eversmann’s Redstart 1 Phoenicurus ochruros Black Redstart ‘ Phoenicurus phoenicurus Common Redstart ‘ Phoenicurus moussieri Moussicr’s Redstart ‘ Ldioenicurus erythrogaster Giildenstadt’s Redstart ' Cercomela melanura Blackstart ‘ Saxicola rubetra Whinchat ' Saxicola dacotiae Fucrtcvcntura Chat ‘ Saxicola torquata Common Stonechat Saxicola caprata Pied Stonechat Scientific name Formal English name Myrmecocichla aetMops Northern Anteater-chat Oenanthe isabellina Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Northern Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Desert Wheatear Oenanthe Jinschii Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe moesta Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe xanthopryrnna Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe picata Variable Wheatear Oenanthe lugens Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe monacha Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe alboniger Hume’s Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura Black Wheatear Monticola saxatilis Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Blue Rock Thrush goothera dauma White’s Thrush goothera sibirica Siberian Thrush goothera naevia Varied Thrush Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush Catharus gultatus Hermit Thrush Catharus ustulatus Swainson’s Thrush Catharus minimus Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus Juscescens Vecry Turdus unicolor Tickell’s Thrush Turdus torquatus Ring Ouzel Turdus merula Blackbird Turdus obscurus Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus naumemni Dusky Thrush Turdus ruficollis Dark-throated Thrush Turdus pilaris Fieldfare Turdus philomelos Song Thrush Turdus iliacus Redwing Turdus viscivorus Mistle Thrush Turdus migratorius American Robin SYLVIIDAE Cettia cetti Cetti’s Warbler Cisticola juncidis Zitting Cisticola Prinia gracilis Graceful Prinia Scotocerca inquiela Streaked Scrub Warbler Locustella certhiola Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella lanceolata Lanceolated Warbler Locustella naevia Grasshopper Warbler Locustella Jluviatilis River Warbler Ijocustella luscinioides Savi’s Warbler Locustella Jasciolata Gray’s Grasshopper Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon Moustached Warbler Acrocephalws paludicola Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus agricola Paddy-field Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus brempennis Cape Verde Warbler Acrocephalus palustris Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus onentahs Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus aedon Thick-billed Warbler llippolais pallida Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais caligata Booted Warbler Llippolais latigutda Upcher’s Warbler 71 English names of Western Palearctic birds Scientific name Formal English name Scientific name Formal English name Hippolais olivetorum Olive-tree Warbler Parus caeruleus Blue Tit Hippolais ictenna Icterine Warbler Parus cyanus Azure Tit Hippolais polyglotta Melodious Warbler Pams major Great Tit Sylvia sarda Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia undata Dartford Warbler SITTIDAE Sylvia deserticola Tristram’s Warbler Sitta krueperi Kriiper’s Nuthatch Sylvia conspicillala Spectacled Warbler Sitta whiteheadi Corsican Nuthatch Sylvia cantillans Subalpine Warbler Sitta ledanli Algerian Nuthatch Sylvia mystacea Menetries’s Warbler Sitta canadensis Red-breasted Nuthatch Sylvia melanocephala Sardinian Warbler Sitta europaea Wood Nuthatch Sylvia melanothorax Cyprus Warbler Sitta tephronota Eastern Rock Nuthatch ' Sylvia rueppellii Riippell’s Warbler Sitta neumayer Western Rock Nuthatch Sylvia nana Desert Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena Arabian Warbler TICHODROMADIDAE Wallcreeper ■ Sylvia hortensis Orphean Warbler Tuhodroma muraria Sylvia nisoria Barred Warbler CERTHIIDAE ■ Sylvia curruca Lesser Whitethroat Certhia familiaris Eurasian Treecreeper ■ Sylvia communis Common Whitethroat Certhia brachydactyla Short-toed Treecreeper ■ Sylvia borin Garden Warbler Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap REMIZIDAE Phylloscopus nitidus Green Warbler Remiz pendulinus Penduline Tit Phylloscopus trochiloides Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus Two-barred Warbler NECTARINIIDAE Pygmy Sunbird Phylloscopus borealis Arctic Warbler Anthreptes platurus Phylloscopus proregulus Phylloscopus inomatus Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Yellow-browed Warbler Anthreptes metallicus Nectarinia osea Nile Valley Sunbird Palestine Sunbird Phylloscopus schwurzi Radde’s Warbler ORIOLIDAE Phylloscopus juscatus Dusky Warbler Oriolus oriolus Golden Oriole : Phylloscopus bonelli Bonelli’s Warbler 'Phylloscopus sibilatrix Wood Warbler LANIIDAE 'Phylloscopus neglectus Plain Leaf Warbler Tchagra senegala Black-crowned Tchagra ‘.'Phylloscopus sindianus Mountain ChifTchafT Lanius cristatus Brown Shrike 'Phylloscopus colly bita Chiffchaff Lanius isabellinus Isabelline Shrike Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler Lanius collurio Red-backed Shrike Regulus calendula Ruby-crowned Kinglet Lanius schach Long-tailed Shrike - Regulus regulus Goldcrest Lanius minor Lesser Grey Shrike ■ Regulus teneriffae Tenerife Kinglet Lanius excubitor Great Grey Shrike 1 Regulus ignicapillus Firecrest Lanius senator Woodchat Shrike Lanius nubicus Masked Shrike V MUSCICAPIDAE ' Muscicapa dauunca Muscicapa striata Asian Brown Flycatcher CORVIDAE Spotted Flycatcher Garmlus glandarius Eurasian Jay F Ficedula parva Red-breasted Flycatcher Perisoreus infaustus Siberian Jay Ficedula mugimaki Mugimaki Flycatcher Cyanopica cyana Azure-winged Magpie Ficedula narcissina Narcissus Flycatcher Pica pica Magpie ' Ficedula semitorquata Semi-collared Flycatcher Nucifraga caryocatactes Nutcracker L Ficedula albicollis Collared Flycatcher Pyrrhocorax graculus Yellow-billed Chough 1 Ficedula hypoleuca Pied Flycatcher Pyvrhocorax pyrrhocorax Red-billed Chough Corvus monedula Eurasian Jackdaw' timauidae Corvus dauuricus Daurian Jackdaw Parturus biarmicus Bearded Tit Corvus splendens House Crow Turdoides altirostris Iraq Babbler Corvus Jrugilegus Rook Turdoides caudatus Common Babbler Corvus corone Carrion Crow Turdoides squamiceps Arabian Babbler Corvus albus Pied Crow Turdoides Juhus Fulvous Babbler Corvus ruficollis Brown-necked Raven Corvus corax Common Raven JJGITHALIDAE 1 1 egithalos caudatus Long-tailed Tit Corvus rhipidurus Fan-tailed Raven STURNIDAE ARIDAE Onychognathus tristramii Tristram’s Starling 'arus palustris Marsh Tit Stumus stuminus Daurian Starling ‘ arus lugubris Sombre Tit Stumus vulgaris Common Starling 1 arus montanus Willow Tit Stumus unicolor Spotless Starling 'arus cinclus Siberian Tit Stumus roseus Rosy Starling 'arus cristatus Crested Tit Stumus cineraceus White-cheeked Starling ‘arus aler Coal Tit Acridotheres tristis Common Myna 8 English names of Western Palearctic birds Scientific name Formal English name Scientific name Formal English name PASSER I DAE Dendroica petechia * Yellow Warbler Passer domesticus House Sparrow Dendroica pensylvamca Chestnut-sided Warbler Passer hispaniolensis Spanish Sparrow Dendroica caerulescens Black-throated Blue Warbler Passer moabiticus Dead Sea Sparrow Dendroica virens Black-throated Green Warbler Passer iagoensis Cape Verde Sparrow Dendroica Jusca Blackburnian Warbler Passer simplex Desert Sparrow Dendroica tigrina Cape May Warbler Passer montanus Tree Sparrow Dendroica magnolia Magnolia Warbler Passer luleus Golden Sparrow Dendroica coronata Yellow-rumped Warbler Petrama brachdactyla Pale Rock Sparrow Dendroica palmarum Palm Warbler Petronui xanthocollis Yellow -throated Sparrow Dendroica striata Blackpoll Warbler Petronia petrania Rock Sparrow Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart MontifnngUla nivalis Snowfinch Seiurus aurocapillus Ovenbird PLOCEIDAE Seiurus noveboracensis Northern Watcrthrush Ploceus manyar Streaked Weaver Geothlypis trichas Common Yellowthroat Wilsonia citrina Hooded Warbler ESTRILDIDAE Wilsonia pusilla Wilson’s Warbler Lagonosticta senegala Senegal Fircfinch Wilsonia canadensis Canada Warbler Estrilda aslnld Common Waxbill Amandava amandava Avadavat THRAUPIDAE Summer Tan age r Euodice malabanca Indian Silverbill Piranga rubra Euodice cantons African Silverbill Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager VIREONIDAE Vireo Jlavifrons EMBERIZIDAE Yellow-throated Vireo Pipilo eythrophthalmus Rufous-sided Towhcc Vireo Philadelphia n Vireo olivaceus Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Chondestes grammacus Ammodramus sandwichensis Lark Spar row Savannah Sparrow gpnotrichia iliaca fox Sparrow FRINGILLIDAE gonotrichia rnelodia Song Sparrow' Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch gonolrichia leucophrys White-crowned Sparrow Fringilla teydea Blue Chaffinch gonotrichia albicollis While-throated Sparrow Fringilla montifringilla Brambling Junco hyemalis Dark-eyed Junco Serinus pusillus Red-fronted Serin Cakarius lapponicus Lapland Longspur Serious serinus European Serin Plectrophenax nivalis Snow' Bunting Serinus svriacus Syrian Serin Emberiza spodocephala Black-faced Bunting Serinus canana Canary Emberiza leucocephalos Pine Bunting Serinus citrinella Gitril Finch Emberiza citrinella Yellowhaminer Carduelis chloris Greenfinch Emberiza cirlus Cirl Bunting Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch Emberiza cia Rock Bunting Carduelis spinus Siskin Emberiza cioides Meadow Bunting Carduelis cannabina Linnet Emberiza striolata House Bunting Carduelis Jlavirostris Twite Emberiza tahapisi Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Carduelis Jlammea Common Redpoll Emberiza cineracea Cinereous Bunting Carduelis homemanm Arctic Redpoll Emberiza hortulana Ortolan Bunting Loxia leucoptera Two-barred Crossbill Emberiza buchanani Grey-necked Bunting Loxia curvirostra Common Crossbill Emberiza caesia Cretzschmar’s Bunting Loxia scotica Scottish Crossbill Emberiza chrysophrys Yellow-browed Bunting Loxia pytyopsittacus Parrot Crossbill Emberiza rustica Rustic Bunting Rhodopechys sanguinea Crimson-winged Finch Emberiza pusilla I tittle Bunting Rhodospiza obsoleta Desert Finch Emberiza rutila Chestnut Bunting Bucanetes mongolicus Mongolian Finch Emberiza aureola Yellow-breasted Bunting Bucanetes githagineus Trumpeter Finch Emberiza schoeniclus Reed Bunting Carpodacus erythrinus Common Rosefinch Emberiza pallasi Pallas’s Reed Bunting C'.arpodacus synoicus Sinai Rosefinch Emberiza bruniceps Rcd-hcadcd Bunting Carpodacus roseus Pallas’s Rosefinch Emberiza melanocephala Black-headed Bunting Carpodacus rubicilla Great Rosefinch Miliaria calandra Com Bunting Pinicola enucleator Pine Grosbeak Spiza americana Dickcisscl Uragus sibiricus Long-tailed Rosefinch Pheucticus ludovicianus Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pyrrhula pyrrhula Bullfinch Guiraca caerulea Blue Grosbeak Eophona personata Japanese Grosbeak Passerina tyanea Indigo Bunting Coccothraustes coccothraustes Hawfinch Passerina ciris Painted Bunting Hespenphona vespertina Evening Grosbeak 1CTERIDAE PARULIDAE Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink Mniotilta varia Black-and-white Warbler Molothrus aler Brown-headed Cowbird Vermivora chysoptera Golden-winged Warbler Quiscalus quiscula Common Gracklc Vermivora peregrina Tennessee Warbler Xanthocephabis xanthocephalus Yellow-headed Blackbird Parula americana Northern Parula Icterus galbula Northern Oriole 9 English names of Western Palearctic birds Appendix. English names recommended for use in World lists 1 hese fuller iornial names are needed on a World scale, but the shorter versions given in die main list are those recommended for use in a Western Palearctic context Scientific name Formal English name Scientific name Formal English name Fulmams glacialis Northern Fulmar Alaemon alaudipes Greater Hoopoe Lark Phalacrocorax aristotelis European Shag Ptyonoprogne rupestris Eurasian Crag Martin JSyctuorax nyctuorax Black-crowned Night Heron Cinclus cinclus White-throated Dipper Geronticus eremila Northern Bald Ibis Troglodytes troghdytes Winter Wren Perms apivorus European Honey-buzzard Enthacus rubecula European Robin Gyps Jubms Eurasian Griffon Vulture Monticola saxatilis Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Circus aeruginosus Eurasian Marsh Hairier Turdus merula Common Blackbird Falco subbuteo Eurasian Hobby Locustella naevia Common Grasshopper Lagopus mutus Rock Ptarmigan Warbler Tetrao urogallus Western Capercaillie Acrocephalus scirpaceus Eurasian Reed Warbler GaUinula chlnropus Common Moorhen Phylloscopus collyhita Common Chiffchaff' Rostratula benghalensis Greater Painted-snipe Remiz pendulum Eurasian Penduline Tit Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher Oriolus oriolus Eurasian Golden Oriole Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet Pica pica Black-billed Magpie Charadrius morinellus Mountain Dotterel .Nuajraga caryocatactes Spotted Nutcracker Scolopax ruslicola Eurasian Woodcock Passer montanus Eurasian Tree Sparrow Armaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone Passer luteus Sudan Golden Sparrow' Rissa Iridactyla Black-legged Kittiwake Montifringilla nivalis White-winged SnowTtnch Fralercula arctica Atlantic Puffin Amandava amandava Red Avadavat Columba pakimbus Common Wood Pigeon F'ringilla coelebs Common Chaffinch Streptopelia decaocto Eurasian Collared Dove Serinus canaria Island Canary Streptopelia turtur European Turtle Dove Carduelis chloris European Greenfinch Bubo bubo Eurasian Eagle Owl Carduelis carduelis European Goldfinch Sumrn ulula Northern Hawk Owl Carduelis spinus Eurasian Siskin Glaucidium passerinum Eurasian Pygmy Owl Carduelis cannabina Common Linnet Jfynx lorquilla Eurasian Wryneck Pyrrhula pyrrhula Common Bullfinch Bird topography charts cxtwtai nog Reprinted from British Birds 74 239-242. June 1981 Additional copies of this list may be purchased from: British BirdShop, c/o Suhbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN NATURETREK PIONEERING BIRD TOURS YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS! Our 1993 Programme includes ROMANIA 2nd - 9th January £790 A winter tour of the Danube Delta, in search of Europe's greatest concentration of wildfowl waders and raptors, VIETNAM 9th - 31st January £2,500 A tour of the national parks and bird sanctuaries of southern Vietnam MANAS... & THE JUNGLES OF BHUTAN 13th January - 5th February £2,990 One of the most exciting and pioneering of all bird tours. Black-necked Cranes, Ibisbills, and a selection of some of the rarest Babblers are amongst the highlights. 20 new species were added to the Bhutan list in 1992! SOUTHERN INDIA 23rd January - 10th February £2,290 A tour of national parks and sanctuaries in search of southern India’s endemic birds and mammals. BHUTAN’S NORTHERN FRONTIER 7th - 30th April £2,990 The most challenging of all bird tours! Trekking the high terrain along Bhutan's northern border with Tibet, we will be the first ever naturalists to visit this area, and will be making a serious attempt to log its birdlife New records for Bhutan are guaranteed; the enigmatic Takm is a possibility! NEPAL’S LANGTANG TREK 30th April - 23rd May £1,890 A classic trek for those wishing to see the best of Nepal's upland breeding birds. Naturetrek leaders have trekked this route over 20 times, giving us an unrivalled knowledge of the region and where best to find such rarities as Gould's Shortwing and Satyr Tragopan. FORBIDDEN FORESTS OF PAKISTAN 6th 24th May £1,700 A quest for the Western Tragopan, perhaps the world's rarest pheasant NEPAL’S KANCHENJUNGA TREK 21st May - 20th June £1,990 Long and hard, but undoubtedly Nepal's best birding trek. NORTHERN ETHIOPIA 12th - 28th November £1,890 A search for the endemic birds of the forests, lakes and spectacular gorges of northern Ethiopia. NEW ZEALAND’S SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS 28th December - 14th January 1994 from £2,000 The most comprehensive cruise of the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand & Australia ever organised. To include the Chathams, Bounties, Antipodes, Campbell, Macquarrie, Auckland, Snares and Stewart Islands. A must for any seabird fanatic! PLUS GALAPAGOS ■ TANZANIA • KENYA • NAMIBIA • MALAWI • BOTSWANA ■ ZAMBIA MOROCCO • NORTHERN INDIA ■ LADAKH CHINA ■ TURKEY • AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND • THAILAND • NORTH BORNEO ■ NEWFOUNDLAND • CYPRUS CRETE • CZECHOSLOVAKIA ■ CORSICA • GREECE • SPANISH & FRENCH PYRENEES PRIVATE TOURS & FLIGHTS ARRANGED ON REQUEST For our brochure please contact: NATURETREK, CHAUTARA, BIGHTON, ALRESFORD, HANTS SQ24 9RB. TEL: (0962) 733051 D20 xi PAY LESS FOR RARE BIRD NEWS 0881 888 111 FAST RELIABLE 24 HOUR NEWS UP TO 30% CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER BIRDLINE HOTLINE TO REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS 0426 923 923 CALLS COST 25p/MIN CHEAP RATE 39p/MIN ALL OTHER TIMES BIRDING SOUTH WEST 0891 884 500 RARITY MIGRANT AND SEA-WATCHING NEWS. HOTLINE 0426 923 923 ALL 0891 CALLS COST 36p/MIN CHEAP RATE 48p/MIN PEAK/STD (D181) # O/BIRDS J and MEN Herbert Axel I Reviewed on page 23 of this magazine and available P&P FREE At last, from the author of "Minsmere" — Herbert Axell — comes his groundbreaking new book detailing the development of the birding industry, from egg collecting to twitching. Packed with lively anecdote, it's as much about men and women, as it is about birds. ISBN 086332 747 8 — Hardback — 284 Pages — 45 Photos Cheque/credit card details for £14.95 per copy to: The Book Guild, 25 High Street, Lewes BN7 2LU (D239) LOOK INTO A RARE BIRD ALERT PAGER MAKE THE MOST OF WINTER DAYLIGHT SEE WHY IT'S THE BEST SERVICE ... PROVEN RELIABLE COMPREHENSIVE in every way H RARE BIRD ALERT | BIRD PAGERS IT’S ABOUT TIME YOU DISCOVERED THE BENEFITS FOR YOURSELF: The BEST news There’s no longer any need to wonde/ $ews is; WHEN you’re going to find out spend findi Simply read all the news, as it ha\ message pager, including updates, It’s reliable, comprehensive and extremely cost effective, with no nasty surprise For an info pack with a sample print-out of a days messages and an ord§^ call Dick Filby on 0603 767799 or call Inter-City, Free, and ask for Rare Bird Alert Inter-City Paging Ltd. Marsh House, 500 Montagu Road, Edmonton, London N9 OUR. Tel: 0800 246 246 (D21 1) I INTER-CITY PAGING fiws. in. INTER-CITY PAGING h THE AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION invites readers of British Birds into our membership. If you join the only North American association of and for birders, you will receive Birding, our bi-monthly magazine which gives active field birders the expertise they seek, and Winging It, a lively monthly newsletter with the latest happenings and rarities. Many ABA birdwatchers are available to advise or guide visitors to their local areas. These members are listed in our Membership Directory. Annual Dues: US$ 37.00 or £20.00. Sterling checks acceptable. For sample copies, send US$3.50 or £2.00 to: American Birding Association PO Box 6599 Colorado Springs, CO 80934 USA (D963 )J xiii V ILLUSTRATION: KAY SMITH XIV 906 Monthly marathon T Sponsored by he rear view of the tatty passerine on a rusty railing (plate 256 in the October 1992 issue) was named as follows: I ree Sparrow Passer montanus (35%) House Sparrow P. domeslicus (30%) White-throated Sparrow ^onotrichia albicollis (12%) Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis (3%) Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheudicus ludomcianus (3%) Song Thrush Turdus philomelos (3%) Robin Erithacus rubecula (3%) Siberian Thrush ^oothera sibirica (2%) with a few votes each for Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio , Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis, Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus , Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator and White-crowned Sparrow ^onotnchia leucopbys. As is nearly always the case, the most-frequendy named species was the cor- rect answer. This Tree Sparrow was photographed in April 1989 by Richard C. Hart in Hong Kong, where the species does, of course, take over the urban niche occupied by House Sparrows in most of Europe. Perhaps this was part of the identification problem, for this photograph eliminated half of the leading contenders in this competition (after they had achieved sequences of 17 correct answers in a row), including one former ‘Monthly marathon’ winner and two current members of the Rarities Committee. We are very sad to see them drop to the back of the field after such a splendid run. Still in contention at the front of the field are Roy Hargreaves, Hannu Jannes and Dave Numey (all on 18-in-a-row sequences) and Dr S. K. Armstrong (with a 17-in-a-row sequence). One of them will surely soon win the prize: a SUN- BIRD holiday of his/her choice in Africa, Asia or North America. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or tele- phone Sandy (0767) 682969. RUI.ES 1. Only current individual subscribers to British Birds are eligible to take part. Entrants should give their name, address and BB reference number oil their entry. Only one entry is permitted per person each month. 2. Entries must be sent by post, each one a separate postcard, and be received at the British Birds Editorial Office (Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3Nj) by 15th of succeeding month. Every care will be taken, but, even if negligence is involved, no responsibility can be accepted for non-deliv- ery, non-receipt or accidental loss of entries. 3. All ‘BB’ subscribers are eligible, except members of the Editorial Board and staff of British Birds, Directors and members of staff of SUNBIRD/WINGS Holidays, and Directors and members of staff of our printers, Newnorth Print Ltd. (Members of ‘BB’ Notes Panels, the Rarities Committee, and other voluntary contribu- tors— including bird-photographers, even if one of their photographs is used in the competition — are eligible unless proscribed above.) 4. To win, a British Birds subscriber must correcdy identify the species shown in ten consecutive photographs in- cluded in this competition. The ‘Monthly marathon’ will continue until the prize has been won. 5. In the event of two or more ‘BB’ subscribers achieving the ten-in-a-row simultaneously, the competition will 25 26 Monthly marathon continue each month until one of them (or someone else!) achieves a longer run of correct entries than any other contestant. 6. In the event of any dispute, including controversy over the identity of any of the birds in the photographs, the decision of the Managing Editor of British Birds is final and binding on all parties. 7. No correspondence can be entered into concerning this competition. 8. The name and address of the winner will be announced in British Birds. 8. ‘Monthly marathon’ (thirtieth stage in fifth contest or first or second in sixth contest: photo- graph number 79). Identify the species. Read the rules (below), then send in your answer an a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 28th February 1993 Announcements Two new British birds The BOU Records Committee has recendy accepted the following two records which had previously been accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee. Double- crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus (Charlton’s Pond, Billingham, Cleveland, 11th January to 2 1 st April 1 989) and Mourning Dove < 'enaida macroura (Calf of Man, Isle of Man, 3 1 st October and 1 st November 1 989) will both be added to Category A of the British list upon publication of the 18th Report of the BOU Records Committee in Ibis (volume 135, April 1993). Send in your 1992 records now If you have not already done so, now is the time to submit all your relevant 1992 records. The names and addresses of the County/ Regional Recorders were listed last year on pages 28-30. Free subscriptions for County/Regional Recorders We are pleased, once again, to be able to offer free subscriptions to the County/ Regional Recorders, as our way of saying ‘Thank you’ to them for the hard work which they contribute to British ornithology in their ‘free time’. Help ‘BB’ please We plan to establish an investment fund to help to support British Birds in the coming years. As a non-profit-making journal, BB relies on subscription income, donations and sponsorship. All income is devoted to publishing BB, for the benefit of ornithology. We aim to create an invested fund with the interest used to assist British Birds. May we suggest to any long-standing, loyal subscribers the possibility of remembering British Birds in your wills? We want to see BB continuing to thrive into the twenty-first century. Announcements 27 The Carl Zeiss Award’ This award (see But. Birds H3. 666) aims to encourage the submission of potentially useful photographs to the Rarities Committee, to assist the process of individual record assessment, to increase the available reference material, and for possible publica- tion. The sponsors, Carl £eiss — Germany, are offering an annual prize of Carl Zeiss 10X40 B/GAT Dialyt or ^ ^ B/GA I binoculars, and runners-up will receive high-quality sew-on woven badges featuring the Carl Zeiss Award logo. RARITIES COMMITTEE iry Germany AWARD Bird Photograph of the Year This annual competition is once again sponsored by two long- standing tnends of British Birds, the publishing firms Christopher Helm (Publishers) and Harper- Collins. r Entrants should read the rules carefully (see Bnl Birds 84: 36, or write for a copy). The judging panel will consist of Dr R. j. Chandler, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Don Smith and Roger Tidman. Past winners of this competition have been Michael C. Wilkes (1977), Peter Lowes (1978), Dr Edmund C. Fellowes (1979), Don Smith (1980), Richard T. Mills (1981), Dennis Courts (1982), David M. Gottridge (1983), John Lawton Roberts (1984), C. R. Knights (1985), Alan Moffett (1986), Dr Kevin Carlson (1987), Bob Glover (1988 & 1992), Hanne Eriksen (1989 & 1990) and Philip Perry (1991). ' I he 1993 awards (cheque for £ 1 00 and engraved salver for the winner, cheques for £40 and £25 for the second and third, and £25-worth of HarperCollins books and £25-worth of Christo- pher Helm books for each of the top three photographers) will be presented at a Press Reception in London in May or June. The runners-up will be welcome to attend the award presentation. I here is an additional award of £100 for the top-rated photograph taken in Britain, the ‘Windrush Photos Award’. [he closing date for entries is 31st January 1993. Transparencies should be clearly marked Bird Photograph of the \ ear and sent to Fountains, Park lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Bird Illustrator of the Year This annual competition will again be sponsored by Kowa telescopes. Amateur and professional artists are invited to submit four line- drawings for this competition. Entrants should read the rules very carefully (see Brit. Birds 84: 36-37, or write for a copy), especially in relation to the exact sizes required. The judging panel will consist of Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris, Keith Shackleton and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock. The winner will receive £100, a Kowa TSN-3 20-60 X zoom telescope and an inscribed salver; the second-placed artist £40 and a TSN-1 20 X W Kowa telescope; and the third-placed artist £25 and a TS-601 20 X W Kowa telescope (all three telescopes with cases). All three artists wall also be invited to attend the award presentation at a Press Reception at The Mall Galleries in London, where a selection of the drawings will be on display. All artists whose work is displayed will also be welcome to attend the reception, which in previous years has provided a very happy occasion for meeting many of our top bird artists. The winners’ entries will also be displayed in the annual exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists at The Mall Galleries. Previous winners have been Crispin Fisher (1979), Norman Arlott (1980 & 1981), Alan Harris (1982), Martin Woodcock (1983), Bruce Pearson (1984), Ian Lewington (1985), Chris Rose (1986), David Quinn (1987), Martin Hallam (1988), John Cox (1989), Gordon Trunkfield (1990), John Davis (1991) and John Gale (1992). The closing date will be 15th March 1993; entries should be sent to ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. telescopes The PJC Award A handsome trophy, the PJC Award, is presented annually, in memory of the late Pauline Jean Cook, to the artist whose single drawing submitted for the ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ competition is selected by the judges for its individual merit. The holder of the PJC Award also receives an inscribed book as a permanent symbol of the achievement. The current holder is Richard Fowling (Brit. Buds 80: 250-251; 83: 255-261; 84: 298-307; 85: 417). 28 Announcements The Richard Richardson Award I o encourage young, up-and-coming bird artists, a special award (a cheque and a book to the total value of £60) will be presented for the best work submitted for the 'Bird Illustrator of the Year’ com- petition (see above) by an artist aged under 21 years on 15th March 1993 The winner’s entries will be displayed in the annual exhibition of the Soci- > ety of Wildlife Artists at The Mall Galleries. Previous winners have been Alan F. Johnston (1979), Andrew Stock (1980), Darren Rees (1981), ' Keith Colcombe 1982 & 1984), Gary Wright (1983), Ian Lewington (1985), Timothy Hinley (1986), Andrew Birch (1987), John Cox (1988), Stephen Message (1989), Antony Dislev (1990 & 1992) and Andrew Birch & Peter Leonard 1991). This award is in memory of the famous Norfolk ornithologist and bird-artist, the late R. A. Richardson. The rules for entry are exactly the same as for 'Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and entries by persons under 21 will automatically be considered for both awards. Front-cover designs for sale The original unframed drawings of the pictures on the front cover of BB are for sale each month in a postal auction. The pictures are usually I '/■ or two times the published size. These sales help not only the artists, but also BB, since the artists donate 20% to the journal. It is ;dso a way for BB readers to acquire for themselves or as a present for a friend top-class art at very reasonable prices. During the past year, successful postal bids have ranged from £30 to £185; the average has been £103. Why not send in your bid each month? If you are successful if your bid is the highest, and it exceeds the artist’s reserve price) you will be asked to pay the sum you bid, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Send your name, address and telephone number and your bid (no money at this stage), to arrive before the last day of the month, to Cover Bid, Fountains, Park I -me, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Photographs and drawings may be for sale Many of the photographers and artists w hose pictures appear in British Birds welcome the opportunity to sell their work. Anyone who wishes to obtain either photographic prints or original drawings is welcome to write (making an enquiry about availability, making an appropriate offer, or seeking the price) to the photographer or artist concerned, c/o Fountains, Park I -trie, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. We shall forward all such let- ters, as a service to our readers and contributors. Payments to photographers and artists I here is a long tradition of photographers and artists providing their work free of charge to British Birds (as do many other ornithologists, in many other ways). As a non-profit-making organisation, equivalent in many ways to the BTO or the American Birding Association, we have greatly welcomed this generosity. With the advent, however, of several new, commercial magazines such as Bird Watching , Bird- ing World , Birdwatch and Birds Illustrated all of which pay fees to contributors, we have reconsid- ered our position. Since it is always our aim to include within the pages of British Birds the very best photographs that are available, we have decided to introduce modest fees for published photographs and artwork, starting with those in this issue. We shall be despatching fee statements at six-monthly intervals, stating the fees due, and giv- ing contributors the opportunity to accept the fees or to ask for all or part of their payments to be given to an ornithological charity of their choice, or to w'aive all or part of them in favour of ‘BB’. (We are aware that many photographers and artists have been and still are delighted to help ‘BB’ by providing their work free of charge, and we shall of course continue to be most grateful for this assistance.) No claims need be made. Statements will be issued in due course. Books in British BirdShop I "he following books have been added this month: Ali Field (.nude to the Birds of the Eastern Himalayas (OUP) Axcll Of Birds and Men (Book Guild) Burton Bird Migration (Aurum) ( foliar el al. Threatened Birds o/ the Americas: the H.BP/ IUCJsf Red Data Book (IGBP/IUCN) Took the Birds of Moray and Naim (Mcrcat Press) Neilsen Mallards (Swan Hill Press) Porter et al. Flight Identification of European Raptors (Poyser) Svcnsson Identification (nude to European Passerines 4lh edn 1 lease use the form on pages vii & viii for all your book orders. News and comment compiled by Robin Rrytherch and Mike Everett Less lead shot A FIVE-YEAR PLAN to phase out the use of lead shot over wetlands has been agreed, and commenced last September. An initial three years is allowed for the development of suitable lead- free shot, followed by a two-year voluntary ban on the use of lead shot in 12-bore guns in wedands. The plan was agreed among members from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Department of the Environment, wild- fowlers and the shooting-equipment industry. If, as hoped, the plan leads to a complete ban, the wasteful death of birds by poisoning in our wetlands will be over. Congratulations, Chris! It is a great pleasure to offer our congratula- tions to Professor Christopher Perrins, Director of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Or- nithology at Oxford University, who has been awarded the RSPB medal in recognition of the major contribution he has made to ornithology and bird conservation. His principal research interest has been population studies of com- mon birds, including tits Parus, swifts Apus, seabirds and Mute Swans Cygnus olor. It was during one of his research projects on the Mute Swan that he discovered that lead poi- soning was a significant cause of swan deaths, and this led to the legislation which banned the use of lead weights for fishing. New Recorder Tim Dean, Coastguard Cottages, South Wal- ney Nature Reserve, Walney, Barrow-in-Fur- ness, Cumbria LA14 3YQ, has taken over from Robert Spencer as Recorder for Cumbria. To ensure that news coverage in this feature extends over the whole of Britain and Ireland, we have estab- lished a Regional News Team, whose members have agreed to act as our local correspondents. Eds Safe refuge for Bean Geese The RSPB has recently acquired the 230-ha Buckenham and Cantley Marshes in die Yare Valley, Norfolk, one of only two sites in the UK which regularly attract wintering flocks of the Bean Goose Anser fabalis. Nearly 500 Bean Geese visit the area, along with important win- tering numbers of White-fronted Geese A. alb- ijrons and Eurasian Wigeons Anas penelope. The RSPB hopes to manage the land as a nature reserve to increase its value for wildlife. It has the potential to become an important site for breeding waders such as Ruff Philomachus pug - nax, Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago , Black- tailed Godwit Limosa limosa and Common Redshank Tringa tntanus. Good news! REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Britton — Northeast Dave Holman — East Anglia Anthony McGeehan — Northern Ireland Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Dr Kenny Taylor — Scotland David Tomlinson — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales Keith Vinicombe — South-west John Wilson — Northwest 29 30 News and comment Drainage of internationally important wetland Rahasane Turlough on the Dunkellin Riv'er, near Craughwell, Co. Galway, holds interna- tionally important wintering populations of Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope, Northern Shoveler Anas dypeala and European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria , as well as nationally important numbers of an- other 12 species of wintering waterfowl. Addi- tionally, Rahasane is the best remaining example in Europe of a ‘turlough’ (i.e. a lake on limestone which floods and drains via sink- holes). In August 1992, a group of local farmers carried out drainage work by excavating a 3- km-long channel. The Irish Wildbird Conser- vancy is calling for all such developments to be subject to planning permission and for realistic implementation of the EC’s Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme by the Irish De- partment of Agriculture. In the meantime, the IYVC will be monitoring the area this winter to assess the impact on birds. Bucks Bird Club/BTO Conference A full house of 120 enjoyed the one-day meet- ing at VVendover, Buckinghamshire, on 3rd October 1992. lectures were given by Philip Burton, Peter Cranswick, David Glue, Ken Smith and Jeremy Wilson on topics ranging from why we birdwatch to Green Sandpipers, wildfowl-counting, the benefit to birds of low- input farming, and raptors in the local area. The BB mystery photos competition was very popular, although the back end of a Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope taking off not surprisingly baffled everyone. Bucks Bird Club Chairman, Dr Sandy Macfarlane, won the bottle of champagne and found himself in the embarrassing position of having to announce himself as the winner. ( Contributed by Graeme Taylor ) ‘BB’-Sunbird trip The August/September trip to the Volga Delta and the Tien Shan Mountains, led for BB by Dr Algirdas Knystautas (Russian Na- ture Tours) and Paul Holt (Sunbird), met with great success. Birding highlights around the Volga Delta included, for instance, over 400 Red-footed Falcons Fako vespertinus and 40 White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla in one day. In Kazakhstan, visits to the deserts, lakes and the mountains themselves produced such birds as Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo, Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius, Blue- cheeked Merops superciliosus and European Bee- eaters M. apiaster, White-winged Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucopterus, Isabelline Oenanthe isabel- lina , Pied 0. pkschanka and Desert Wheatears 0. deserti , Paddyfield Acrocephalus agrkola and Bly th’s Reed Warblers A. durnetorum , Yellow- breasted Parus fkwipectus and Turkestan Tits P boldiarensis, and Isabelline Innius isabellinus, Red- backed L. collurio, Long-tailed L. schach , Lesser Grey L. minor and pallidirostris Great Grey Shrikes L excubitm. The highlight of the trip for some w'as a visit to the Ornithological Re- search Station at Chokpak Pass, where our group the first Westerners to visit the ringing operation in its 28-year history had excellent opportunities to study Pallid Circus macrourus and Montagu’s Harriers C. pygargus, meena Ori- ental Turtle Doves Streptopelia orientalis , and Grey-necked Emberiza buchanani , Ortolan E. hor- tulami and Red-headed Buntings E. bmnkeps, as well as a single Yellow'-eyed Stock Dove Columba eversmanni. Over 2 million birds have been ringed there, with as many as 10,000 in a single day. Worries before the tour about food, accom- modation and travel in the now defunct Soviet Union proved to be largely unfounded; indeed, die only travel delay the group experienced was when returning from Moscow with British Airways. (Contributed by Paul Holt] A lean, mean, ticking machine Irish Wildbird Conservancy Council member Kieran Fahy has broken the Irish year-list record in some style. Despite a miserable Oct- ober for all, he equalled the old record of 237 on 1st November, with Red-crested Pochard .Netta rujina. He promptly added Canada Goose Branta canadensis, Lapland Longspur Cakarius lapponicus and Smew Merges albellus to reach 240 by 3rd November. His final total was 243, achieved with a Laughing Gull Lams atricilla on 27th November. (Contributed by Oran O’Sulli- van) Any advance on 58? 1 uither to our note in July (85: 386), R. B. Warren of Felixstowe has written to tell us that his BB subscription dates back to vol. 29 no. 1 1935. This beats Stephen Marchant by one whole year. News and comment 31 New Youth Hostel and Field Centre on Islay Magnus Magnusson, the Chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage, opened a new Youth Hostel and Field Centre in Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, on 19th October 1992. The project is a joint one between the Scottish Youth Hostels Association and the Islay Natural History Trust, whose Director is Malcolm Ogilvie. The 42-bed hostel, finished to a very high standard, occupies the upper floor of a former distillery warehouse, while the ground floor has become the new Field Centre, replacing former very cramped quarters in the same village. It con- tains a large public display-area housing an ex- hibition of Islay’s wildlife, together with a library and 50-seat lecture room. Further ex- pansion is planned, including a laboratory for up to 25 students. The joint development offers excellent ac- commodation for birdwatchers, especially groups visiting from clubs and societies, who will be able to use the library and lecture room in the evenings. When the laboratory is com- pleted, hopefully next year, school and univer- sity groups will be encouraged to come and study the natural history of one of the coun- try’s finest wildlife islands. For further informa- tion, write to Malcolm Ogilvie, Islav Field Centre, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay PA48 7TX. ‘Esso’ tokens needed The South Devon Bird Group is running an Esso Token Appeal and aims to exchange the tokens for binoculars which will then be passed to the RSPB as a contribution to their long- running appeal for secondhand or damaged optics. After repairs (if necessary), these are passed to staff in national parks and conserva- tion groups overseas, who often lack the most basic of field research tools. The RSPB has so far distributed several thousand pairs and is keen to continue the appeal. A total of 220 Esso tokens will purchase a new pair of Tosco or Hanimex 8 X 30 binoculars in a soft case, ready for instant despatch. If you would like to contribute to this ap- peal, please send your Esso tokens to Peter J. Hopkin (ETA), 4a Powderham Crescent, Ex- eter EX4 6DA. Peter will keep a proper record of your contribution, but regrets that no ac- knowledgments can be made and thanks you in advance for your contribution to ornithol- ogy and conservation in the Developing World. If you wish to contribute your second- hand binoculars, send them direct to Dorothy Bashford, International Department, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 2DL. Birdwatchers recovering after motor accident in Ireland Three of Scotland’s keenest birders, John Sweeney, Angus Murray and Chris Mclner- ney, are recovering after a head-on car crash involving another keen birder, Stephen Fos- ter, and his girlfriend, both from Northern Ireland. The lads from Scotland were return- ing from Co. Wexford on 5th September 1991 after successfully twitching a Western Sandpiper Calidris maun. A fourth Scottish birder, Stephen Addinall, was travelling be- hind in a taxi when the accident happened, just 5 km from the ferry terminal at Larne. Stephen, his girlfriend, Chris and Angus have made a good recovery. John, who suffered by far the worst injuries, after undergoing a se- ries of operations lasting 13 hours and three weeks of intensive care at the Northern Hos- pital, was transferred to a Glasgow hospital in mid October. We would like to thank Chris Murphy for passing this news to us. All at BB hope that everyone involved has a speedy and complete recovery. New ‘Russian Journal of Ornithology’ Announced as ‘the first ornithological periodi- cal in Russia since the 1930s and . . . the first non-governmental one for 70 years’, Russian Journal of Ornithology is launched in 1992 with two issues; in future, it will appear quarterly. The Editor-in-chief is Dr Alexander Bardin. Papers will be in Russian with an English summary', or in English. The 1992 subscription is £19 (UK), £ 22 (Europe), or £21 (rest of the world). All enquiries should be sent to E. Potapov, c/o EGI, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OXl 3PS, UK. Proceedings of XX IOC The five-volume, 3,120-page Proceedings of the International Ornithological Congress held in Christchurch, New Zealand, during 2nd-9th December 1990 are now available, price US$300 or NZ$500 (surface mail), from ACTA XX, NZ Ornithological Congress Trust Board, PO Box 12397, Wellington, New Zealand. 32 News and comment Young Ornithologists of the Year The winners and runners-up this year were as follows: JUNIOR (under 10 years) 1st Jenny Blair (9), Amp thill, Bedford- shire 2nd Clare Burton (8), Great Yarmouth, Nor- folk 3rd Tom Fieldsend (9), Hindolveston, Norfolk Runner-up: Helen Wood (8), Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire INTERMEDIATE (10-12 years) 1st Alexander Lees (12), Grantham, Lin- colnshire 2nd 3rd Runners-up: Jenny Home (1 1), Braunton, Devon, and John McAuley (1 1), Linlithgow, West Lothian SENIOR 1st Jane Reid (17), Yarm, Cleveland 2nd Steven Turner (16), Newcastle-under- Lyme, Staffordshire 3rd David Anning (17), Deal, Kent Special mention: Monn William Mancha ( 1 7), Nigeria The competition, which was once again based upon an assessment of the entrants’ ac- tual field notebooks, was jointly sponsored by British Birds and, for the second year, Young Telegraph. The three judges, Kate Graham (Green Page Editor of Young Telegraph), Peter Holden (Young Ornithologists’ Club) and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (BB), were impressed by all three winning entries and also by die high standard among die leading entries in both the junior and senior sections. Unusually, however, the quality of all but one of the entries in die intermediate section (which are often up to the senior standard) was such that the judges felt unable to award second or third prizes. The rules of the next competition, which is open to all YOC members and to readers under 18 years of age of Young Telegraph and British Birds, wall be published in Bird Life. For information, or YOC membership details, write to YOC, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedford- shire SGI 9 2DL. ‘The Magpie’ Issue no. 4 of this ‘journal of ornithology for the Sheffield region’ was published in late 1992, just seven years after no. 3. Although of primary' interest within its own region, this well-produced, 50-page volume contains seven papers and three notes. The papers include a comparison by Jeff Lunn of arrival dates of summer migrants in the Barnsley area during 1875-84 and 1975-84. A total of 18 species showed no significant change between these two periods one hundred years apart, but five species now arrive significantly earlier: Com- mon Sandpiper Actitis hypoteucos (mean arrival date was 2nd May, but is now 10th April), Common Swift Apus apus (9di May and 27 th April), Sand Martin Riparia ripana (9th April and 26th March), Blackcap Sylvia atncapilla (25th April and 12th April) and Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybila (1st April and 19th March). Only one species now arrives significantly later: Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus (10th April and 21st April). The Magpie, edited by D. Herringshaw and J. Hombuclde, is available, price £2.00 (includ- ing postage), from A. J. Morris, 4a Raven Road, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 isb. (JTRS) A new Phyllosc A new species of leaf warbler Phylloscopus has been described by Per Alstrom, Urban Olsson and Peter Colston {Ibis 134: 329-334). Found in the mountains of Sichuan Province in Cen- tral China, and named Phyllnscopus sichuanensis (with the English name Chinese Leaf Warbler), it is morphologically similar to and partly sym- patric with Lemon-rumped Warbler P chlorono- tus (which is sometimes treated as a race of Pallas’s I -eaf Warbler P. proregtdus), but has quite different song and call, as well as differ- ences in habitat and nest location. The discov- ery of this new species was made during trips to China in April-June 1989 and June 1990. Modernisation of ‘BB’ Regular readers will be noticing various inno- vations this month and in the rest of the issues in 1 993, such as the introduction of the feature ‘From the Rarities Committee files’ and the appointment of our Regional News Team for ‘News and comment’. Do not fail to note, however, the most dra- matic evidence of the Editor’s modem, up- dated, innovative thinking, which is revealed by the 50-year leap forward in time for our spacefiller which has, in a flash, become ‘Twenty-five years ago . . .’. Rather more of us may now be able to recall the events described from first-hand experience. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ IWC news Corn Crakes in 1992 An estimated total of 52 singing Corn Crakes Crex crex was recorded in noith Donegal this year, down by 10% on the 1991 estimate. Survey work in Com Crake areas included the further monitoring of mowing regimes: data were compiled for a total of 593 ha of cut meadow and showed that the mean mowing date was earlier than last year. Early cover avail- ability was surveyed again, and grazing levels were recorded for the first time since the start of the fieldwork programme. The results of the survey indicate that the intensification of pastoral farm- ing has mounted, with the further degeneration of secure and ecologically favourable habitat. Ob- servations, and evidence in the form of two destroyed nests, have added to the scientific opinion that the timing and methods of the grass-fodder harvest pose a serious threat to the Corn Crake’s breeding success and survival. The introduction of a Corncrake Grant Scheme enabled the use of alternative methods by 35 farmers on about 20% of the eligible habitat. The scheme was, how- ever, judged to have been largely unsuccessful at modifying the harvest regimes of intensively managed meadow. 1 his was due mainly to the levels of payment offering inadequate compensa- tion for the measures sought. 1 he IWC, also carried out fieldwork in the Shannon Callows for the second successive year in 1JJ2. A total of 94 singing Corn C. rakes was located in the area, with one further individual recorded on the callows of the River Suck. This represents a decline of 9% since last year and a decline of 25% since 1988. An area of 480 ha was monitored weekly for cutting and it was found that the cutting season began early this year owing to good weather in May and June. The season was, however, protracted owing to poor weather in July and August. Totals of ten nests and 59 chicks were observed during mowing operations. Eight chicks and one adult female were known to have been killed as a result of mowing. A grazing survey was carried out to establish the extent to which the callows are grazed by sheep, cattle and horses. Publicity work was also carried out at local shows and schools in the area and almost 200 fanners were contacted and advised on ‘Corn Crake-friendly mowing techniques. The principal conclusion is that the decline of Corn Crakes will continue unless a grant scheme to delay mowing is introduced. ORAN O’SULLIVAN Irish Wildbird Conservancy, Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Place, Monkstown , Co. Dublin, Ireland ICBP news Italian aid to extinction A road development project in Morocco, funded by aid from the Italian government, threatens Merja Zerga, the last known wintering grounds of the critically threatened Slender-billed Curlew Nunienius tenuirostris. An extensive road-building programme is badly needed in Morocco, and the newly announced plans for a highway which will ultimately connect Rabat, the capital, with Tangier, on the coast of the Straits of Gibraltar, will enhance the country’s communications. Although the new main road itself will skirt the southeast side of the wetlands of Merja Zerga, a slip-road from the junc- tion to the coastal resort of Moulay Bousselham will cross the very area on which the last four known Slender-billed Curlews overwinter. The lagoon of Meija Zerga on the Atlantic coast of north Morocco, 1 20 km north of Rabat, was declared a Ramsar site by the Government of Morocco because of its internationally impor- tant numbers of seven species of wader. Two other threatened species, Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostns and Audouin’s Gull Lams audouinii, also use the wetland, as do thousands of Greater flamingos Phoemcopterus mber. What can you do? Please write to the Italian Minister of Foreign .Affairs (On. Emilio Colombo, Ministro degli Affari Esteri, Farnesina, Foro Italico, Roma, Italy) expressing your concern over the plight of the Slender-billed Curlew, and asking that the junction lay-out be reconsidered and the slip road re-routed so that the saltmarsh and the Slender-billed Curlews are left undisturbed. A monograph on the Slender-billed Curlew is available from ICBP, price £8.00. Gary Allport International Council for Bird Preservation, 32 Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge CBS OF) 33 Mystery photographs Last month's swimming bird, with its elongated body, short tail, medium-long and stout neck, and elongated head with long bill (plate 301, repeated here), is obviously a diver Gavia. The problem with identi- fying divers is that they tend to be rather distant, on choppy seas, and, owing to their lengthy dives, give broken views. This bird, however, at close range on calm water, should present few difficulties to an observer familiar with at least three of the four West Palearctic species. 1 he steep forehead with two bumps on the crown is not consistent with the shallow sloping forehead and smoothly rounded crown of Red-throated Diver G. stellata. I he bill is also far too heavy and deep-based for Red-throated, whose bill has much more of a stiletto-like profile, with a rounded, less-angled lower mandible, and that species often holds its bill and head angled upwards. Adult-winter Red-throateds have dark on the neck confined to a narrow strip down the hindneck, and reaching down to the level of the eye on the crown, and there is usually a white area in front of or right around the eye, often isolating it (though in certain lights they can look quite dark around the eye). Juveniles have dark streaking on the sides of the neck, but not the solid dark of the mystery' bird, and many also show a dark (chestnut) patch on the upper foreneck; they also show a pale eye-ring, not the diffuse pale area of this bird. Red-throated’s upperparts would also have a much more speckled appear- ance, rather than the scalloped effect seen here. Black-throated Diver G. arctica is heavier in build than Red-throated, but again the bill is long and dagger-like and only rarely resembles that of the mystery bird; the crown is also usually smoothly rounded, but in some pos- tures can approach that of the mystery bird. A characteristic feature of Black- throated in non-breeding plumage is the distribution of dark and light on the neck and head: in profile, the dividing line between the black and the white °n the neck runs midway between throat and hindneck and is regular and sharply defined, producing a smart, clean appearance, again unlike our bird. In addition, the crown and hindneck tend to be paler than the rest of the ALAUDA Journal of the Societe d'Etudes Orniihologique • 4 issues a year, 320 pages • scientific articles on field studies of wild birds, ethology, breeding biology, ecology, population dynamics, vocal behaviour... • coverage is world-wide but mainly western palearctic and particularly French. • papers have an English summary • illustrated with photographs, both black and white and colour Annual subscription of 260 FF Also available : sound recordings of some of the more difficult West African birds (set : 1 1LP records : 850 FF New book : Birds of French Guyana : 280 Frs S.E.O. -ALAUDA MNHN - 4, av. du petit chkteau 91800 Brunoy- FRANCE (D149 □ Excellent papers on identification, distribution, or currence, movement* and behaviour of Palearclic bird* □ Regular contribution* on Asian-Pacific bird* □ Latest news on rare and interesting bird* in the Netherlands and the Western Palearctic □ Well produced with numerous high quality colour photographs G Yearly report on rare bird* in the Netherlands □ In English or with extensive English summaries For information or a free sample issue, write to; Dutch Birdmg, Pustbus 7561 1, 1070 Al' Amsterdam, Netherlands Sul)scril)cr> lo Dutch birdin^ can claim 25 % all j btilisli bitd s sulnuiption (D147) Birds Join the 1993 Birds of Alaska Tour with NatureAlaska Tours In 1992, 15 birdwatchers from the U.K. traveled with me across 5,000 km of Alaska’s best birding areas, parks and wild- life refuges. Wefound 167 species of breed- ing birds, Asiatic vagrants, migrants and 26 species of mammals. Of June 1993 will be the 14th year for this special birdwatching and natural history journey from the Bering Sea to Kenai Fjords, Denali , Yukon River, tundra of arctic Alaska and Prudhoe Bay. Share the adventure & discovery of Alaska. Write Dan Wetzel, NatureAlaska Tours, P.O. Box 10224, Fairbanks, Alaska 99710 USA or call 1 (907) 488-3746; fax 1 (907) 452-3805. Alaska (D242 British Birds is most grateful to those companies which support the magazine by their sponsorship: ZEISS Germany Sponsors of ‘Monthly marathon ’ HarperCollinstt Sponsors of ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year' Sponsors of the Rarities Committee Sponsors of 'Bird Photograph of the Year' telescopes Christopher Helm ^ and XV SLC BINOCULAR MODEL ILLUSTRATED 8 x 30 SIX MODELS IN THE RANGE The compact SL model has a new roof prism system to provide a neat and lightweight binocular you can take anywhere. Like its big brother the prisms are first laser aligned then secured so they are shock resistant. This process also eliminates those slight mis-alignments which you can't usually see, but can cause eye-strain and sometimes headaches. 8 x 20 B COMPACT BINOCULARS The pocket sized Habicht 8 x 20 B binoculars represent the latest in state-on-the-art technology. Featuring a wide field of view with high-resolution image, they are the latest in a superb range of binoculars from Swarovski Optik, noted for its excellence in high quality optical performance. All Swarovski Optik products are manufactured in Austria and carry a lull warranty For further information and a full colour brochure please write to SWAROVSKI UK LIMITED Fleming Way, Crawley. West Sussex RH10 2NL. Telephone: 0293 525801. Fax: 0293 510018. Telex: 877643 SWARO G. The iiiitunil choice. FULLY WATERPROOF AT80 TELESCOPE With a large 80mm diameter objective lens, the latest AT80 observation scope gives optimal performance even in poor light. Exchangeable oculars with bayonet catch and replaceable turn-back eyecups make for comfortable viewing, whilst ultra-fast focusing down to 6m provides a good all-round range. An integrated optik adapter enables the connection of a reflex camera for a new dimension in close- up photography. FULLY WATERPROOF (D 1 91 ) xvi Mystery photographs 35 upperparts on Black-throated, which also, when swimming, shows a white patch on the rear flanks; neither of these features is apparent here. So, as most readers will have realised immediately, we are looking at a non- breeding-plumaged individual of one of the two largest diver species, White- billed G. adamsii and Great Northern G. immer. Both species, like the mystery bird, have a big, ‘lumpy’ head, with a heavy bill, and a broad, dark, broken half-collar on the lower foreneck. White-billed shows paler sides of neck, with a diffuse border between light and dark, and (especially juveniles) a dark ear- coverts patch, and at long range appears to have a narrow darker area on the crown and hindneck. It usually holds its bill pointing upwards, like Red- throated, and rarely (if ever) as horizontally as on the mystery bird. It has a straight (adults) or very slightly decurved (juveniles) oilmen, and, although it shows a darker area at the base of the oilmen, often extending to just beyond the nostril, there is never any dark on the distal half of the bill, which is there- fore mostly a pale ivory colour. Some Great Northern Divers (first-winters?), however, can also have a very pale bill, though the oilmen is always dark. The bird in the photograph shows a fairly obvious demarcation between light and dark on the sides of the neck, with an indentation of white into dark about halfway up the neck and, below this, thick, dark projections into the paler lower foreneck; its head is large, with a ‘bump’ at the top of the fore- head and another at the rear crown/nape; and its bill is long, deep and pow- erful, with slightly decurved upper mandible and fairly well-marked gonydeal angle, greyish in colour, but with the full length of the culmen and the cutting edges dark. All these features combined are diagnostic of Great Northern Diver. The strongly scalloped upperparts of this bird identify it as a juvenile. It was photographed by J. D. Bakcwell at Wet Dock, Ipswich, Suffolk, in December 1977. Simon Colenutt Green Edge , Chale Green, Ventnor, Isle of Wight P038 2JR 10. Mystery photograph 185. Identify the species. Answer next month — —I The inclusion of plates 1 0 & in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl geiss — Germany. European news This regular six-monthly feature summarises information for the whole of Europe and adjacent parts ol the Western Palearctic to complement the records published in the annual reports of the British Birds Rarities Commit- tee and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel and the periodic reports on scarce migrants in Britain and Ireland (e.g. Brit. Birds 85: 507-554; 84: 349-392- 85* 631-635). Details of all recent records have been supplied by the official national cor- respondents (see list at end of this report), and relevant published records have also been extracted for earlier years from the major national journals. I hese summaries aim to include all records of: (1) significant breeding-range expansions or contractions; (2) major irruptions of erupting species; (3) Asiatic vagrants; (4) Nearctic species; (5) other extralimital vagrants; and (6) major national rarities, even if common elsewhere in Europe. 1 his report includes records from 31 countries. Unless otherwise stated, all records refer to single individuals Records still awaiting formal ratification by national rarities committees are indi- cated by White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii ITALY Third record: 7th May 1989 [Rw. ital. Om. 59: 270). Pied-billed Grebe Poddymbus podueps CANARY islands First record: I enerife in January 1991. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigrico/lis MOROCCO Largcst-ever spring concentrations: 150 at Afenourir, Middle Atlas, on 26th April 1992, and 200 at Douyiet on 2 1 st June 1992. asterisks (*) Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris Dl'.NMARk First record: 19th July 1990 (Dansk Om. Foreu. Tidsskr. 86: 109-110; record in September 1991, Brit. Birds 85: 443, becomes second). Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea Spain Census: 10,972 (± 2,653) breeding pairs in Balearic Islands in 1991, most of them on Menorca (10,075 ± 2,453). Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucometas 36 \Hnl. Hints Mr. %-47, January l Heron repeatedly catching fish-like object I hug Messenger 1 7 Oystercatchers rearing Northern 1 -apwing chick John S. Hampshire and Francis J. Russell 19 Grey Phalarope feeding in association with ducks Dai id Framer and Jonathan C. Palmer 19 Prey and prey-capture techniques of Herring Gull H G. Young 20 Wryneck on passage roosting in reeds H. G. Young , S. J. Tonge and D I Vilson 20 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in response to electric drill Tim Dean 20 Nest-site fidelity of Eurasian Treecreeper F. W. Dougharty 21 Eurasian Jay carrying live toad Judith Entwisle- Baker and Stuart Entwisk- Baker 21 Prolonged fighting between Common Starlings Norman Elkins 21 Woodchat Shrikes flocking in Portugal Nicholas Moore Letter 22 An unacceptable Norfolk record of Baird's Sandpiper MuhaelJ. Seago Reviews ‘Of Birds ;uid Men’ by Herbert Axel! Boh .Scott 23 Birds of Europe: with North Africa and the Middle East’ by I -ars jonsson. translated by David Christie Peter Iemsdoim 24 Short reviews 25 Monthly marathon Announcements 26 Two new British birds 26 Send in your 1992 records now 26 Free subscriptions for County /Regional Recorders 26 Help ‘BB' please 27 ‘ The Carl Zeiss Award’ 27 Bird Photograph of the Year 27 Bird Illustrator of the Year 27 The PJC Award 28 I’he Richard Richardson Award 28 Front-cover designs for sale 28 Photographs and drawings may be for sale 28 Payments to photographers and artists 28 Books in British BirdShop 29 News and comment Rohm Pytherch and Mike Everett 33 IWC news Oran O'Sullivan 33 ICBP news Dr Gary Allport 34 Mystery photographs 184 Great Northern Diver Simon Colenutt 36 European news Requests 48 Rare breeding birds Robert Spencer 48 Photographs needed please hi Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 6 long-billed Pipit [Rob Hume i Front cover: Brent Geese feeding on green algae, North Hayling Island, Hampshire, December 1991 {John M. Walters): the original drawing of this month s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 28 for procedure Volume 86 Number 2 February 1993 Communal roost of Peregrine Falcons stnut-sided Warbler: new to the Western Palearctic Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 lystery photographs • ICBP news • IWC news • Reviews Letters • Monthly marathon • Notes News and comment • Recent reports THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM -5 FEB 1993 PURCHASED 7001 OGY LIBRARY British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Pytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Don Smith & Roger Tidman Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gantlett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, J. H. Marchant & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Eld 1993 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAP, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for ‘News and comment’, drawings & photographs Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Eax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mkh 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK+4 3NJ. Phone: Tiplree (0621) 815085. Fat: (0621) 819130 Bird news for ‘ Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK.17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings); Luton (0582) 490049 (office hours) Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AX Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4EN. Phone: Mold (0352) 770581. 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English and scientific names and sequence of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ list of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds (1993); or, for non-West-Palearctic species, Sibley & Monroe (1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World, names of plants follow l)ony et al. 1980, English Names of Wild Flowers, names of mammals follow Corbel & Southern (1977. The Handbook of British Mammals Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Bints 74: 239-242; 78: 119-427; 80: 502). Figures should lx* in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should lx* inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnodb Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford -IN STREET, HWELL, RRFOLK PE31 8BB in 7 days 9 am - 6 pm ne 0485 210101 in focus THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS ' TO FIND US (Norfolk) re 500 yards east of the reserve at Titchwell on the - between Hunstanton and -aster and have our own e car parking 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTS. EN5 5SZ Open 7 days 9 am - 6 pm Phone 081 449 1445 / 081 441 7748 Fax 081 440 9999 HOW TO FIND US (Barnet) We are 10 mins From M25 and AIM motorways and 15 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. ANGLIAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE EGLETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICS. Open every day 9 am to 4 pm except Thursdays. Phone 0572 770656 HOW TO FIND US (Egleton) We are situated in the Birdwatching Centre Building on the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water. Follow signposts to Egleton Village from A6003 to Oakhom. WINTER EVENTS PROGRAMME For customers preferring to select and purchase optical equipment under field conditions we offer the following programme with the assistance of the RSPB, WWT and County Trusts. All events are held from 1 0 am - 4 pm - write or phone for further details. ic BP WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1992 V L%C WWT MARTIN MERE •(MSKIRK, LANCASHIRE 1 23rd & Sun 24th January 27th & Sun 28th February^ WWT LLANELLI DYFED, SOUTH WALES Sal 30th & Sun 31st January RSPB PULBOROUGH BROOKS WEST SUSSEX Our First event at this new reserve Sat 6th & Sun 7th February WWT SLIMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTER Sat 13th & Sun 14th February Sat 13th & Sun 14th March ^ FISHERS GREEN LEE VALLEY, ESSEX Sun 14th February Sun 14th March BR00MHILL FLASH . RNSLEY, YORKSHIRE 20th & Sun 21st February ABBERT0N COLCHESTER, ESSEX Sun 21st February Sun 21st March CHEW VALLEY LAKE AVON 1 Sat 27th & Sun 28th Februaryl RSPB DUNGENESS KENT Sat 6th & Sun 7th March DRURIDGE BAY COUNTRY PARK NORTHUMBERLAND Sat 6th & Sun 7th March New showroom opening 1st February at: ilTLEIGH HALL, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, NR. HUDDERSFIELD, YORKS. HD8 9JL Open 7 Days 9 am-6 pm Phone 0484 864729 HOW TO FIND US (Yorkshire). H & LOMB £ fccBGAP 579 00 > BGAP 599 00 '2BGAP 599.00 i36B .219.00 • )x40BGA 239.00 24 89 95 5x60BGAP .349.00 xly. 365 00 • Body 659.00 139.00 135.00 * om 149 00 .37 00 - ipter . 149 00 £ x20BC 219 00 Dx25BC 259.00 j x20BCA 259.00 Dx25BCA 289 00 I 1 Aini 1800 ) x42BA 649.00 <32BA 629 00 1 <42BA 649.00 ! i t 1 5x/20x/30x/40x 79.00 30xWF (new) 149 00 20x-45x Zoom 149.00 60x 99.00 Hoya MC Filter 20 00 Rubber Lens Hood 10 00 Photo Kit 1 59 00 Stay-on Case 45.00 Spotting Scope 20x60GA 1 79.00 1 5x-45x60GA 229.00 20x 35.00 15-45x Zoom 99.00 TSN- l/TSN-2 Body ...279.00 TSN-3/TSN-4 Body .... 569 00 20x-60x Zoom 159.00 20xWA ... 105 00 25x & 40x 69.00 30xWA 129.00 60x 119.00 77% 109.00 SWIFT £ Trilyte 8x42BGA 148 00 Trylite 10x42BGA Audubon HR5 8.5x44 Audubon HR5 1 0x50 Viewmaster 60 Body 15x-45x Zoom 20x 31 00 Case .16.00 150.00 239 00 249.00 149 00 49 00 Skua Stay-OnCase 36 00 27xWA (Screwfit) 69.00 Screw Bay Adaptor 20.00 Photo Adapt 800mm 1 29.00 Photo Adapt 1 200mm 199.00 £ 49.95 .... 54 95 ...11900 122.00 12500 135 00 152.00 OPTICRON Vega II 8x30 Vega II 8x40 Dioptron 8x32 Dioptron 8x42 Dioptron 10x42 Dioptron 1 Qx50 HR 8x32 MC Dx42BA 649 00 EISS -20BT*P x25BT*P 20BP x25BP DBGAP OBGAT'P 2BGAT-P £ . 295.00 299.00 21900 . 239.00 289 00 459 00 549.00 QUESTAR £ Field Model 3 V?” Brood Band Coating. Supplied with 50x-80x Hood, Cose 2200.00 30x-50x 130 00 HR 8x42 MC 155 00 HR 1 0x42 MC 162 00 HR 10x50MC 178.00 HR 80 Body 269.00 30xWA 33.00 27x-80x Zoom ..... 85.00 HR 60 22x & Case 179 95 80x- 1 30x Erector Prism 130.00 289.00 40BT-P 5BGAT-P ro GAT 639 00 .649 00 .1090.00 2500.00 8 00 1600 500 ard 15.00 £ 69 00 8900 1 109.00 349.00 359.00 21900 H 239.00 249 00 ty 259 00 OPTOLYTH Alpin 8x30BGA Alpin 8x40BGA Alpin 1 0x40BGA £ 227.00 246 00 249.00 Alpin 1 0X50BGA 268.00 Touring 8x32BGA Touring 7x42BGA . Touring 1 0x40BGA TBG80/TBS80 Body TBG HD/TBS HD Body 20xWW 30xWA 30xWW 40xWA - 70xWW(new) 22x-60xZoom Stay on Case for TBS/TBG 395 00 445.00 445.00 390 00 645 00 122 00 77 00 135.00 77 00 189 00 159 00 HR GA, 22x & Case HR 45°, 22x & Case HRGAED 22x & Case HR 60 20x-60x & Cose . . HR GA20x-60x & Case HR 45c 20x-60x & Case HRGAED 20x-60x &Case 22xWA 25x, 40x Classic IF60 Classic IF75 1 8xWA or 22xWA . 25x or 30x 24 00 18x 45x or 22-47x zoom 61.00 Piccolo MKII Body 1 28 00 Eye Pieces from 29 00 Piccolo ED 20x60 355.00 Piccolo ED 20x-60x60 399.00 Photo Kits from Coses for scopes Macro Monocular 275.00 21995 595.00 219 95 299 00 249 95 665.00 33 00 110 00 140 00 2400 30 00 1500 50.00 45 00 Jody 449 00 469 00 KOWA TS-61 1 Body (new) TS-61 2 Body (new) TS-61 3 ED Body (new) TS-61 4 ED Body (new) All accept TSN eyepieces price includes case OBSERVATION BINOCULARS Opticron 20x80 349.00 Opticron 30x80 .... 359.00 ROSS £ Cavendish 8x42B .139.95 Hanover 10x42B 149.95 Regent 8x428 169.95 Kensington 10x42B SWAROVSKI 1 0x40 Diana 7x30SLC II 8x30SLC II 7x42 SIC (new) 1 0x42 SLC (new) Case 8x20B 10X25B AT80 Body 22xWA 20x-60x Zoom BUSHNELL Spacemaster Body S/Master Body ED S/ Master GA Body 1 5x-45x Zoom 22xWA . Case Photo Kit VELBON DH-10ML Mini CX-580 D-600 D-700 Q/R System CULLMANN Hide Clamp Shoulder Pod Q/R System Q/R Plate SLIK Master D-3 MANFROTTO 290/128 290B/128 144/128 1 44B/ 1 28 Tripod Strap Q/R Plate . Monopod 079B or 1 34B ACCESSORIES Car Window Mount ...... Universal Mount Hide Clamp Rainguards from Lens Cleaning Cloth Tripod Strop Lanyards from Double eyepiece Case Tamrac Scope Case t Guide £ 37200 353.00 365.00 528.00 571.00 29.00 220 00 230 00 547.00 ...72.00 164.00 £ .145.00 299 00 PHONE PHONE 32.00 20 00 25 00 £ . 2300 34.00 54.00 69.00 .10.00 £ 49.00 29.00 10.95 5 95 £ 87.00 £ 9500 99 00 .105.00 109 00 1495 5 95 29.95 BLUE RIBAND CARE PLAN For a single payment of £ 1 5 the new In Focus Blue Riband Careplan offers ♦ Accidental damage cover For three years from date of purchase on all new binoculars and telescopes. ♦ Guaranteed part-exchange trade- in value on any further purchases with In Focus - rising to 100% of original purchase price after five years. MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Please remember to add £2.00 to- wards the cost of insured Trakbak postage and packing - whether pay- ing by cheque, Visa, Access or Mastercard - and goods will be des- patched with full 1 4 days approval the same day on receipt of your remittance. BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY WITH DAVE COTTRIDGE Book nowfor one-day workshops at Lemsford Springs, Slimbridge, Martin Mere and Lee Valley Country Park. Write or phone for details 1 79.95 Equipment 26.00 26 00 38 00 ... 3.50 3.00 6 95 4 00 9 95 26 50 395 PART EXCHANGE Top prices paid lor good condition telescopes and binoajlars. R SALES PROMOTION PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. E&OE SECOND HAND ITEMS Instruments always available. On receipt of a stamped, addressed envelope we can supply current price lists of binoculars and telescopes. (D246 NATURETREK PIONEERING BIRD TOURS YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS! Our 1993 Programme includes ROMANIA 2nd - 9th January £790 A winter tour of the Danube Delta, in search of Europe's greatest concentration of wildfowl, waders and raptors VIETNAM 9th -3 1st January £2.500 A tour of the national parks and bird sanctuaries of southern Vietnam MANAS... & THE JUNGLES OF BHUTAN 13th January - 5th February £2.990 One of the most exciting and pioneering of all bird tours Black-necked Cranes, Ibisbills, and a selection of some of the rarest Babblers are amongst the highlights. 20 new species were added to the Bhutan list in 1992! SOUTHERN INDIA 23rd January - 10th February £2.290 A tour of national parks and sanctuaries in search of southern India's endemic birds and mammals. BHUTAN’S NORTHERN FRONTIER 7th - 30th April £2.990 The most challenging of all bird tours! Trekking the high terrain along Bhutan's northern border with Tibet, we will be the first ever naturalists to visit this area, and will be making a serious attempt to log its birdlife New records for Bhutan are guaranteed; the enigmatic Takm is a possibility! NEPAL’S LANGTANG TREK 30th April - 23rd May £1.890 A classic trek for those wishing to see the best of Nepal's upland breeding birds. Naturetrek leaders have trekked this route over 20 times, giving us an unrivalled knowledge of the region and where best to find such rarities as Gould's Shortwmg and Satyr Tragopan. FORBIDDEN FORESTS OF PAKISTAN 6th 24th May £1.700 A quest for the Western Tragopan, perhaps the world's rarest pheasant. NEPAL’S KANCHENJUNG A TREK 21st May - 20th June £1.990 Long and hard, but undoubtedly Nepal's best birdmg trek. NORTHERN ETHIOPIA 12th - 28th November £1.890 A search for the endemic birds of the forests, lakes and spectacular gorges of northern Ethiopia. NEW ZEALAND’S SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS 28th December - 1 4th January 1994 from £2.000 The most comprehensive cruise of the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand & Australia ever organised. To include the Chathams, Bounties, Antipodes, Campbell, Macquarrie, Auckland, Snares and Stewart Islands. A must for any seabird fanatic! PLUS GALAPAGOS • TANZANIA • KENYA ■ NAMIBIA MALAWI BOTSWANA • ZAMBIA MOROCCO ■ NORTHERN INDIA • LADAKH ■ CHINA TURKEY • AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND ■ THAILAND • NORTH BORNEO • NEWFOUNDLAND • CYPRUS CRETE • CZECHOSLOVAKIA • CORSICA • GREECE ■ SPANISH & FRENCH PYRENEES PRIVATE TOURS 8c FLIGHTS ARRANGED ON REQUEST T R U S 7* For our brochure please contact: NATURETREK, CHAUTARA, BIGHTON, ALRESFORD, HANTS SQ24 9RB. TEL: (0962) 733051 II i Illustrator of the Year competition, sponsored by Kowa Telescopes reasted Mergansers displaying. Nik Borrow's award winning 1990 BIY Competition entry. “First, and most important, this telescope is optically magnificent, with phenomenal clarity and a superbly large field of view. If you are a birder who is seeking the best possible telescope . . . the optical gain is significant, especially in the worst viewing conditions. It is an elite instrument, to be treasured by those fortunate enough to own one.” Dr J T R Sharrock, testing the Kowa TSN-3 with x20W eyepiece, British Birds June 1990. Kowa TSN Fluorite lens scope, available angled or straight A superb image | ially appointed distributor for Kowa Telescopes ■-SGI Ltd., Fircroft Way, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 6HA (D915 3« tt! g u *~ iJ£s Os w u MS o O* £3 mm uu «o «o oS JH w2s « US . 2u >Jgs HJh pa «£ n Wg w h ■ § For the Very Best in Bird Books BIRDS OF EUROPE - Lars Jonsson £25.00 HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD: Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks £95.00 SHORELANDS WINTER DIARY £16.95 STORKS, IBISES & SPOONBILLS of the World £65.00 THE VULTURES OF AFRICA £55.00 BIRD CENSUS TECHNIQUES £19.50 BIRDS OF SOUTHWESTERN BRAZIL £27.95 New Books THREATENED BIRDS OF THE AMERICAS: The ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book - available .... £29.50 FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF BORNEO, SUMATRA, JAVA & BALI (pbk) £25.00 - due July 1993, 820 species covered (hbk)£50.00 BIRDS OF THE WESTERN PALEARCTIC VOLUME 6: Warblers - now published £75.00 VOLUME 7: Old World Flycatchers to Shrikes - to be published April 1993 £75.00 BIRDWATCHER S GUIDE TO SOUTHERN SPAIN . . . £9.75 LES OISEAUX RARES EN FRANCE (Rare Birds in France) - available £25.00 LOMMAR - excellent monograph on the divers, written & illustrated by Lars Jonsson £18.95 EUROPEAN BIRD NAMES in Fifteen Languages £13.95 BIRDS OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA - field guide . . . £19.25 (Post & packing extra. Prices subject to alteration) Order from: Natural History Book Service Ltd 2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN, UK. Tel: 0803 865913 (4 lines) Fax: 0803 865280 NATURAL HISTORY BOOK SERVICE The Professional Service for Ornithologists Alternative venues to Morden. at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below. Kay Optical will be at the Visitor/Information Centre in each case Any entrance or parking fees refunded with purchase. Repairs can also be handed in. ★ 10.00 am to 4.00 pm * ★ PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sundays 31st January, 28th February and 28th March. 4 SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sundays 7th February, 7th March and 4th April. * BOUGH BEACH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 junction (with access from the B2042 or B2027; the information Centre is to the north of the reservoir) on Sundays 14th February and 11th April. * BEWL WATER on the A21. just south of Lamberhurst in the Education Centre on Sundays 24th January and 28th March. ★ ALTON WATER Suffolk, near Ipswich, on the B1080 between Holbrook and Stutton. In the Visitor/Information Centre on Sunday 21st February. ★ COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE near Tring, Herts., on the 8488 (off the A41) close to Bulbourne. In the overlook hide on Saturdays 27th February and 27th March. * SLIMBRIDGE. GLOS (off M5) Village Hall (on the left, halfway along village road into the W&WT) Saturdays 6th February and 3rd April. ★ DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK near Reading (M4, A329(M) Woodley turnoff) and then A329 to Winnersh and Winnersh Station (B3030) on Sundays 24th January, 21st February and 14th March in the Loddon Room * THE SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Woods Mill, Henfield, W-Sussex (A2037) on Sunday 21st March. * DURLSTON COUNTRY PARK off the A351 near Swanage, Dorset. In the visitor centre on Sunday 14th March. ★ THE KENT TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION in the Tyland Barn, near Sandling, Maidstone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, going south), on Sunday 28th February UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Est.1962 Kay Optical SALES & REPAIRS BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc NEW HOURS: 9am to 5.00pm (Lunch 1-2pm) MONDAY to SATURDAY and — (from 7th March) every FIRST SUNDAY of the month Some examples of our stocks Bracket prices while stocks last ZEISS 10 x 25 B Dialyt 10x25 B/TP (New DS) 8 x 20 B/TP (New DS) 8 x 30 BGA/T (P) 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) 10x40 BGA/T (P) 15x60 BGA/T 8 x 56 BGA/T (without case) £ 269 319 295 529 639 639 1.190 699 BAUSCH & LOMB 7 x 36 BA (PC3) Elite 8 x 42 BA (PC3) Elite 10 x 42 BA (PC3) Elite Custom 10 x 40 BGA 15-45x BGA Elite Scope 635 699 699 249 349 ON OFFER 77mm Elite body 337 77mm Elite (ED) body 659 20x (WA) eyepiece 134 30x (LER) eyepiece 122 20-60x zoom eyepiece 179 800mm camera adaptor 1 59 800mm RA mirror lens kit 299 SWAROVSKI 7 x 42 SLC 8 x 30 SLC 10x42 SLC Case 629 412 629 20 LEICA 8 x 20 BC Trinovid 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 10 x 25 BCA Trinovid 8 x 32 BA Trinovid 7 x 42 BA Trinovid 8 x 42 BA Trinovid 10 x 42 BA Trinovid 219 269 269 298 649 698 698 698 SWIFT 8’/2 x 44 HR Audubon 10 x 50 Audubon 239 249 189 199 150 165 269 299 Phone ★ N.T. WICKEN FEN off the A1123. north east of Cambridge. In the visitor centre on Sunday 21st March. NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof 10 x 25 waterproof 8 x 20 F roof prism 10 x 25 F roof prism 8 x 30 ECF porro WF 10x35 ECF porro WF Fieldscope II body Fieldscope ED II body Phone 45° Fieldscope 1 1 A body Phone 45° EDI I A body Phone 15x, 20x. 30x or 40x EP 80 30x (WA) eyepiece 169 60x eyepiece 20-45x Zoom eyepiece Camera adaptor • We can modify your earlier model Nikon Field- scopes to take the zoom eyepiece and the new 30x (WA) eyepiece • Free stay-on case with straight Fieldscopes. 30x (WW) new eyepiece 40x (WA) new eyepiece Stay-on-case TBG/S 22-60x zoom eyepiece TB nylon case OPTICRON 8x32 (HRII) 8x42 (HRII) 73 eyepiece NEW 60mm scopes TS-611 Body (45°) 316 TS-612 Body 296 TS-613 ED Prominar Body (45°) 656 TS-614 ED Prominar Body 596 27x (WA) eyepiece 109 20x (WA) eyepiece 74 40x or 25x eyepiece 63 20-60x zoom eyepiece 127 Case Provisionally — free BUSHNELL Spacemaster body 20-60x zoom EP 22x (WA) EP 25x or 40x EP Photokit Nylon padded case Photo adaptors as TSN GREENKAT 8 x 30 ZWCF VIEWMASTER 45° scope body 25x eyepiece 27x (WA) eyepiece 149 32 73 ALDERBLICK 8 x 42 RA 10x42 RA OPTOLYTH 8 x 30 Alpm 8 x 40 Alpin 10 x 40 Alpin 10 x 50 Alpin 12 x 50 Alpin 7 x 42 Alpin 99 TBG80 telescope body TBS 80 (45°) body 258 (246) 279 69 199 TBG/TBS 80 Fluorite 283 315 320 295 475 475 725 TRIPODS etc Slik D3 Manfrotto 144B 200 Manfrotto 290B 200 Universal clamp Car window mount Shoulder pad Cullmann hide clamp Tripod case Tripod straps, from T-mounts. from Lens cleaning kit 157 87 45 179 49 174 179 Mod. for other cameras 18 Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA 232 Spotting scope 20-45x GA 292 10x42 (HRII) 10x50 (HRII) 7x42 (HRII) 8 x 32 Dioptron 186 199 146 145 KOWA 8 x 42 Dioptron 148 TSN-1 (45°) body (316) 360 10 x 42 Dioptron 153 TSN-2 body (316) 360 10 x 50 Dioptron 162 TSN-3 (F) Prominar (45°) 7 x 35 Elite 185 body (636) 725 9 x 35 Elite 220 TSN-4 (F) Prominar 7 x 40 Minerva 200 body (636) 725 9 x 35 Minerva 200 25x or 40x eyepiece (69) 79 8 x 40 Minerva 206 20x (WA) eyepiece (109) 124 10 x 40 Minerva 215 30x (WA) eyepiece (139) 159 7 x 24 MCF 95 20x-60x zoom e pee (169) 193 HR 60mm scopes: 60x eyepiece (119) 136 Std w 22x & case 180 77x eyepiece (109) 124 Std w zoom & case 220 Camera adaptor. GA w 22x & case 275 800mm (129) 147 GA w zoom & case 299 Camera adaptor. 45° w 22x & case 220 1,200mm (199) 227 45° w zoom & case 250 Kowa case 28 HR Photokit 64 Skua case 40 Filter 8 Spare OG cover 27x (WA) screw-in 8 Rubber hood 5 185 86 34 32 72 20 REDFIELD (waterproof) 7 x 30 RA roof prism 10 x 50 RA roof prism 249 299 69 164 169 Viewing facilities • Location Southern edge of Greater London. 15 minutes' drive from M25 (via the A3, then the Merton turn-off) or 2 minutes' walk from Morden Underground. • Parking 50 yards past our premises - 1st left. (York Close.) • Long- established workshop Optical instrument experience unrivalled » Mail Order • Personal Exports including VAT claw-back • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments). • P/x arranged. • Used items • Package deals Special pnces are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought E.&O.E. Phone: 081-648 8822 99 105 95 26 26 35 60 13 7 10 4 Fax: 081-687 2021 (U245! KAY OPTICAL (1962), 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5HP (1st Floor) VI British Birds VOLUME 86 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 1993 A communal roost of Peregrine Falcons and other raptors G. M. Kelly and J. P. Thorpe Communal roosting is not common among most diurnal raptor species in Britain, although the winter roosting aggregations of Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus are well known (e.g. Watson 1977; Clarke 1990; Clarke & Watson 1990). Since there appear to be no published reports of communal roosting by Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus (Ratcliffe 1980), this paper documents our observations of a communal roost on the Isle of Man. for obvious reasons, we do not wish to give information on the location beyond that it is on the Isle of Man; nor, for the same reasons, do we intend to give much description of the physical features of the roost or details of the geography of the roost area, other than stating that the site is more or less surrounded on most sides by open country and that dozens of alternative roost sites exist in the general area. The roost was first observed in 1989, and was studied in more detail in 1990. For Peregrines in Britain it is highly unusual, because the birds settle in [Bril. Birds 86: 49-52, February 1993] 49 50 Communal roost of Peregrine Falcons a stand of large (about 20-m-high), mature conifers and also because numbers of other raptor species and Common Ravens Corvus corax roost with the Pere- grines. The site is used mainly from late August until about the beginning of December, although occasional individuals can be seen going to roost there at various times throughout the winter. Through the autumn, daily numbers ap- pear relatively constant: with, typically, about five Peregrines (maximum ob- served nine), up to about live Common Kestrels F. tinnunculus , about four (but up to six) Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus and a maximum ol 1 7 Com- mon Ravens, all roosting in the same group of trees; on some nights, up to two Merlins F. columbarius also joined the roost. 1 hese numbers should not be taken to be strictly accurate, however, since the impossibility of observing the roost area from all angles makes it probable that some individuals, particularly of the smaller raptors, entered without being seen; totals may therefore be un- derestimated. The smaller species generally approach the wood fast and low and shoot up into the branches as they reach the trees. The Peregrines, in contrast, fre- quently circle high above the site before going in to roost, and often give com- munal aerobatic displays high over the trees; individuals sometimes remain in the air for up to about 20 minutes, five being the greatest number seen over the roost at any one lime. Interactions consist mainly ol mutual circling and feinting attacks on each other, while individuals occasionally make apparently non-serious stoops at or set oil in pursuit ol Wood Pigeons Colombo palumbus or other species entering the area. Once a Carrion Crow Corvus corone (of' the ‘hooded’ race comix) was killed by one of the Peregrines, but was discarded without any attempt to eat it. On one occasion, an adult female Peregrine was observed repeatedly and aggressively driving away a juvenile which persisted in trying to roost with it; the juvenile finally went in to roost on the other side of the site. The Common Ravens mostly fly in in typically ponderous fashion a little above treetop height and ignore, and are ignored by, the Peregrines. This communal roosting behaviour is apparently previously unknown for Peregrines, and, indeed, the species is described by Cramp & Simmons (1980) as being ‘Markedly non gregarious at all times.’ Communal roosting by Mer- lins appears to be widespread in some wintering areas (Dickson 1973; Cramp & Simmons 1980; Clarke 1992a). Witherby el al. (1943) mentioned several adult Common Kestrels roosting together, and similar behaviour by Eurasian Sparrowhawks, although unknown until recently (sec Cramp & Simmons 1980; Newton 1986), has now been observed at a few sites (Clarke 1992b). The sharing of sites by Merlins and Hen Harriers is common, and has also been reported for Merlins and Eurasian Sparrowhawks (Clarke 1992a, b). Common Ravens, like most crow species, are frequently gregarious. Because of the viewing distances and the generally poor light by the time the birds enter the roost area, we have been unable to ascertain on all occa- sions the precise age/sex composition of the group of Peregrines at the roost. The maximum numbers observed preclude those concerned being a single family party, but the apparent loose associations of pairs of adults with certain younger birds indicate that two or more family parties may be involved. The roosting, and particularly the nesting, of Peregrines in trees is almost unknown in Britain, although both have occurred in Scotland (authors’ observations) 51 Communal roost of Peregrine Falcons and arc not uncommon elsewhere in Europe. It may be of significance that the stand of trees in which the Peregrines roost on the Isle of Man conforms very closely with a description of the sites preferred by the species for tree nesting in Germany (Fischer 1967; Ratclilfe 1980). It is possible that communal roosting by Peregrines is not aberrant but would occur outside the breeding season elsewhere if population densities were high. On the Isle of Man, disturbance of breeding Peregrines is possibly lower than elsewhere in Britain and, in the absence of large-scale game-shooting, there is almost no persecution. As a result, the population density is high. Over the total area of habitat that could reasonably be occupied by Pere- grines, the breeding density is perhaps of the order of one pair per 7 km'2. This is vasdy higher than the average local density of one pair per 51 km2 quoted for suitable areas over much of Britain (Ratclilfe 1962; Cramp & Sim- mons 1980), one pair per 160 km2 in eastern France (Formon 1969), or one pair per 220 km2 in the western Highlands (Cramp & Simmons 1980). Avail- able evidence suggests that fledging success can be quite high on the Isle of Man, and, allowing for a small number of immatures and non-breeding adults, the resident population in late summer could even theoretically ap- proach one Peregrine per 1 km2 of suitable habitat. Hence, it is possible that communal roosting could be a consequence of high population density rather than any abnormal behaviour. For the Peregrines concerned, the specific advantages of communal roosting are not immediately obvious (to us). Bird colonies are generally considered to convey advantages of predator detection (Fack 1968; Brown et al. 1990), and for the Hen Harrier, probably the most studied communal-roosting raptor in Britain, this has been suggested as the main reason for winter roosts (Picozzi & Cuthbert 1982). Communal roosts have also, however, been suggested to serve as a means for exchanging information on feeding areas (Ward & Za- havi 1973), and harrier roosts for pair-formation (Gurr 1968) or other social purposes (Watson 1977). For Manx Peregrines, predator avoidance does not provide a credible explanation for communal roosting behaviour, and our ob- servations of extensive social interaction indicate that the latter may be the main advantage. It is also possible that the habitat chosen could enable the Peregrines to avoid exposure to continuous mobbing by crows and gulls Lams , which would be able to find them in more open areas. The presence of other raptor species at the roost is more difficult to explain, although, for them, roosting in the same group of trees as several Peregrines is probably not so hazardous as it may appear, since the density of the trees would probably prevent the Peregrines hunting within the roost itself. It may- be that some mutual advantage causes the various species to roost together, or that the presence of the Peregrines may provide some protection for the other raptors, although against what it is not clear. I he locally abundant Carrion Crows (of the ‘hooded’ race) apparently — and perhaps wisely — tend to avoid the roost area, and their absence may be advantageous to the smaller species. Alternatively, the various species may be independently attracted to the same group of trees, none being there as a result of the presence of any of the oth- ers. This is perhaps particularly likely in the case of the Common Ravens, which do not appear to need protection since they have no obvious local 52 Communal roost of Peregrine Falcons predators and do not generally suffer from mobbing. There is a clear need for more observations to aid understanding of the reasons underlying communal roosting by Peregritle Falcons. Since this article was largely completed, we have found another site where Peregrines appear to be roosting communally in trees, although in this case there are fewer Pere- grines, possibly a single family group, and the only other raptors coming in to the roost are Eurasian Sparrowhawks. This demonstrates that the site de- scribed above is not unique and suggests that similar roosts may occur in other areas. Acknowledgments We are most grateful to Roger Clarke for helpful discussion, for reading and commenting on the manuscript, and for providing us with copies of his papers before they were published. Summary In 1989 and 1990, a communal roost of Peregrine Falcons Falco peregnnus in trees was studied on the Isle of Man. Up to nine individuals, perhaps involving two family parties, roosted together, mainly during late August to early December, and these were accompanied by lesser numbers of three smaller raptor species and up to 1 7 Common Ravens Conus corax. Communal roosting is apparently previously unknown for Peregrines. It is suggested that the Isle of Man roost may be a consequence of the high local population density (one pair per 7 km'), that social interaction may be the main advantage of it, that the tree habitat may possibly enable the birds to avoid mobbing, and that similar communal roosts may exist elsewhere. References Brown, C. R.. StutchbuRY, B. J., & WALSH, P. D. 1990. Choice of colony size in birds. Trends in Ecology' and Evolution 5: 398-403. CLARKE, R. 1990. Hamers of the British Isles. Princes Risborough. 1992a. Merlin Ealco columbarius winter roosts and diet in Britain and Northern fiance. In Clarke, R., & NICHOLES, M. (eds.), Biolog ■ and Conservation of Small Falcons. Hawk and Owl Trust, London. 1992b. Sparrowhawk roost. Brit. Birds 85: 130-133. & WATSON, D. 1990. The Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus winter roost survey in Britain and Ire- land. Bird Study 37: 84-100. CRAMP, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1980. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 2. Oxford. Dickson, R. C. 1973. A Merlin roost in Wigtownshire. Scot. Birds 7: 288-292. Fischer, A. B. 1967. Der Wandefalke. Wittenberg Lutherstadt. FORMON, A. 1969. Contribution a l’etude d’une population de Faucons pelerins dans l’est de la France. Nos Oiseaux 30: 1 09- 1 39. GURR, L. 1968. Communal roosting behaviour in the Australasian Harrier Circus approximates in New Zealand. Ibis 1 10: 332-337. Lack, D. 1968. Ecological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds. London. Newton, I. 1986. The Sparrowhawk. Berkhamsted. PlCOZZI, N., & Cuthbert, M. F. 1982. Observations and food of Hen Harriers at a winter roost on Orkney. Scot. Birds 12: 73-80. R.ATGI.IEEE, D. A. 1962. Breeding density in the Peregrine Falco peregnnus and Raven Conus corax. Ibis 104: 13-39. 1980. The Peregrine Falcon. Berkhamsted. WARD, P., & ZahavI, A. 1973. The importance of certain assemblages of birds as information centres for food finding. Ibis 1 15: 517-534. Waison, I). 1977. The Hen Harrier. Berkhamsted. Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 1943. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. 3. London. G. M. Kelly and Dr J. P Thorpe, Department oj Environmental and Evolutionary Bio fogy, University of Liverpool, Port Erin Marine Laboratory, Port Erin , Isle of Man Mystery photographs 'i O ^ By comparison with the surrounding vegetation, we can tell that last A Ov month’s mystery bird (plate 10, repeated here in black-and-white) is a small to medium-sized passerine, and it has an obvious seed-eating bill. In the Western Palearctic, this broad group includes the Old World sparrows (Passe ridae), the buntings and New World sparrows (Emberizidae), the finches (Fringillidae) and some larks (Alaudidae). Can we narrow the field somewhat? The bird is generally drab, heavily streaked above and below, has a relatively unmarked, rounded head, a forked tail with no apparent white outer feathers, and a rump that appears to be pinkish-red and different in colour from the rest of the upperparts. The combination of heavy streaking, pink rump, lack of white outer tail feathers and bland facial markings immediately rules out all of the buntings and larks. The degree of streaking also excludes the Old World sparrows, which look heavier-headed than this bird, anyway. What of the New World sparrows? Not many have occurred in the Western Palearctic, and most can be excluded by the mystery bird’s lack of any discernible head pattern. Both Fox Sparrow ^onotrichia iliaca and Song Sparrow yf melodia , however, can sometimes have fairly subdued supercilia, although Song Sparrow always shows a strong malar stripe, lacking on this bird, and the underparts streaking | Bril. Birds 86: 53-56, February I993| 53 54 Mystery photographs tends to be heavier and more in the form oi spots; box Sparrow has a similar undeiparts pattern to Song Sparrow, but the spots are a rust colour and pro- duce a much less streaky appearance than on the rftystery bird. We seem finally to have arrived at the finches, but not many ol them lit our bird. The rounded head and fairly obvious neck are not what we associ- ate with the small and more compact Sennas or Carduelis species, even though the streaking and wingbars are reminiscent of juvenile Siskin C. spmus and Common Redpoll C. Jlammea; in addition, the rump colour rules out both, and also the rather streaky European Serin S. sennas, as well as Linnet C. cannabina. Adult male Twite C. flavirostris shows a pink rump in summer, but also has an unstreaked huffy-orange throat and less streaked, plainer belly and flanks; ju- veniles are more heavily streaked below, but have a creamy-yellow bill and lack the pink rump. The only species that really fit the look of this bird are the roscfinches Car- podacus, a large group of species many of which live at high altitudes in eastern Asia. Adult males are generally pinkish below and about the head, and most have a pink rump; females and immatures, however, are all streaked brown and present many identification problems. So far, only four are known to have occurred in the wild in the West Palearctic: Sinai Rosefmch C. synoicus , which has a restricted range in the Middle East; Great Rosefinch C. rubicilla, which in our area has a very restricted range in the Caucasus; Common Rosefinch C. erythrinus, a fairly common breeder in much of northern and east- ern Europe and across Asia, and a scarce migrant (and recent colonist) in Britain; and Pallas’s Rosefinch C. roseus , a rare vagrant from Siberia. We can immediately exclude Sinai Rosefinch, which is only very lightly streaked above and not at all below (Brit. Birds 82: 52-55). The other three are rather harder to separate, so we have to be more critical in our appraisal. The mystery bird does not look unusually big or long-tailed, it is as heavily streaked above as below, and the streaking covers most of the underparts apart from the under- tail-coverts. It appears to have some reddish feathers in the forecrown, broad pale tertial edgings which are fairly uniform in both width and colour, and broad huffy tips to the greater and median coverts. The remiges and rectrices are black, edged brown, while the rump is a pinkish-red colour and paler than the rest of the bird. The legs are not noticeably dark or light, while the bill is longer than it is deep. From this, it should be possible to deduce the identifica- tion of the bird. Very little of detail is written about Great Rosefinch. I saw several in Geor- gia a few years ago, in late May. They looked noticeably long-tailed, with a general appearance somewhat recalling a Com Bunting Miliaria calandra , though less stocky and slightly longer. They seemed to have a steep forehead, unlike the rounded head of our bird, and a very deep-based bill. The females appeared less heavily streaked above than below, and both sexes appeared to have black legs at that time of the year. Thus, it seems safe to exclude Great Rosefinch. Common Rosefinch is much less heavily streaked than the mystery bird, es- pecially around the head, where the black eye stands out like a bead in the plain face, giving the species a very distinctive look; in addition, the tertial markings are different, being both wider and paler at the tip than along the- 55 Mystery photographs edges, in contrast to the uniform width displayed by this bird. Common Rosefinch also tends, at least in worn plumage, to have narrower but much paler wingbars than this (fresh-plumaged) bird, and does not have the differ- ent-coloured rump. So, the mystery bird would appear to be a Pallas’s Rosefinch. But what about the New World Carpodacus species? Although none has yet been recorded as a genuine vagrant in the West Palearctic, House Finch C. mexi- canus has turned up in the Netherlands as a probable escape (though possibly a ship-assisted vagrant?); females and immatures of this species arc very similar to Pallas’s Rosefinch, but they lack the pink rump and are less heavily streaked above, with a shorter primary projection (only half the length of the exposed tertdals). Purple Finch C. purpureus could conceivably reach Britain: again, females and immatures are confusable with those of West Palearctic rosefinches, but they have a bolder head pattern than the mystery bird, with noticeable pale supercilium, a contrastingly darker car-coverts patch and more marked submoustachial and malar stripes. We can thus confidently identify the bird as a female or young male Pallas’s Rosefinch. Some females which I have seen in captivity, however, have shown no visible red anywhere except on the rump, and this can persist until they are at least two years old; there is no reason to suppose that this is not the 13. Mystery photograph 186. Identify the species. Answer next month 56 Mystery photographs case in the wild. Pallas’s Rosefmchcs have been imported into western Europe in small numbers for the last four or live years and have recently been suc- cessfully reared in captivity in both Britain and Ireland. 1 he two records of this species, an adult male in Denmark in October 1987 and a female or im- mature male on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, in June 1988 (and still under con- sideration bv the BOU Records Committee), must therefore be questionable. 1 photographed this captive adult female Pallas’s Roselinch in Britain in November 1991. Coi.in Bradsha w 9 Tynemouth Mace, Norik Shields, Tyne & Wear XE30 4EQ FURTHER R FADING Al.l, S.. & Ripi.ky, S. D. 1983. Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Compact edition. Oxford. DK.MK.MtKV, G. P., & GlADKOV. N. A. teds.) 1970. Birds of the Soviet ( iiion. vol. 5. Israel Program for Scientific Translation, Jerusalem. I » K ScHAtKNSKK. R. M. 1984. The Birds of China. Oxford. Inskipp, C., & Inskipp, 1 . 1991. A Guide to the Birds if. Sepal. 2nd edn. I/indon. Twenty-five years ago ‘A pair of f ieldfares Turdus pilaris reared three young on the Mainland of Orkney in the summer of 1967, the first record of this species nesting in the British Isles.’ (Brit. Birds 61: 84, February 1968) ‘We have received details of the successful nesting of a pair of Serins Sennas serinus in southern England in May 1967. Full descriptions and sketches have been considered and accepted by the Rarities Committee. The colonisation of Britain by this species has been expected for some years and a summary of the observations is published below to draw attention to the fact that it has now nested, so that other people may be encouraged to keep a watch for further breeding else- where. In case these particular birds return in 1968, however, we are suppressing the locality, the county and the names of the observers (at their own request).’ (Brit. Birds 61: 87, February 1968) Also in February 1968, a male Two-barred Crossbill Iaxia leucoptera was found in the Forest of Ac, Dumfrics-shirc on 17th, and seen again on 19th and 23rd with a female. Chestnut- Warbler: to the Western Palearctic Michael Peacock At about 13.30 GMT on 20th September 1985, having seen a Pied Fly- catcher Ficedula hypoleuca at the end of the Bum of Feal on fetlar, Shet- land, I decided to walk up the burn, a walk I often did to look for migrants. The burn runs at the bottom of a valley which is distinctly steep-sided, giving a lot of shelter from the wind and, at the Wick of Houbie end, a fair amount of cover: docks Rumex , thistles Cirsium, yellow iris Iris pseudacorus , meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, and so on. The valley there is marshy and approximately 40 m wide, the sides being some 2 m high. About 200 m further up the burn, it narrows to about 20 m across, with 6-m sides. At this point there is a fence across the valley which in effect marks a change in vegetation, to short, well- grazed pasture. I found the Pied Flycatcher again at the end of the burn and then walked into a patch of irises and flushed a Garden Warbler Sylvia borin, which flew farther up the bum to a large patch of thistles. As I approached the point where I had last seen the Garden Warbler, I saw another warbler moving through the thistles. It then flew from the thistles to the fence. It was unlike any warbler I had ever seen, having double yellow-white wing-bars, a bright green-yellow head, back and mmp, and white-grey underparts. It perched on the fence with its tail erect and wings slightly drooped. When the bird had worked its way to the end of the thistles where the fence crosses the burn, it flew back to the iris patch some 200 m away. Throughout the period of watching, the warbler would work its way up the burn to the point where the vegetation changed and then fly back to the Hou- bie end, sometimes in one continuous flight, or in stages. When the bird flew the longer distances, it had a slightly undulating flight, the wing-bars were very distinct and some white was visible on the outer tail feathers. The warbler seemed to prefer to perch on vantage points, such as the fence, tops of docks, and thistles. It would then fly down into the vegetation to find insects before returning to a vantage point. When on the fence, the war- bler would hop short distances with its tail erect and wings drooping slightly, flicking its wings intermittently. When its tail was held in this position, white on the undertail-coverts was very distinct. The warbler would also fly up into the air, flycatching, and then return to near the original take-off point, very like a flycatcher. [lint. Birds 86: 57-61, February 1993] 57 58 Chestnut-sided. Warbler: new to the Western Palearctic After viewing the bird for about 30 minutes, I returned to the house a few hundred metres away to get my telescope, with which I was able to observe a lot more detail, including a very distinct white eye-ring and the fact that the grey-white of the ‘cheek’ extended slightly above the eye. After further observations, I returned again to the house, at about 15.00 hours, to ask my wife, Val, to come and look at the bird, as she was the only other birdwatcher on the island at the time. We both got excellent views of the bird in good sunlight. At 16.30 hours, we returned to the house and I telephoned, among others, Mike Walker, the RSPB warden for Fetlar, who was on holiday — on Fair Isle! He managed to get off and return to Fedar that evening, but arrived after dark. We went out at first light (05.30 hours) on 21st, to be joined later by other birders from the Shedand Mainland, but, despite thorough searching, the bird was not seen again. My last sighting had been at about 1 7.30 hours the previous evening. The weather during the period of observation had been bright and sunny, with approximately 2 oktas cloud cover, with a force 4 northwesterly wind. Although 1 was reasonably certain that the bird was an American warbler of some kind, I lacked a North American field guide, and it was not until my telephone conversation with Fair Isle that the species, Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica , was determined, the first to be recorded in Britain and the Western Palearctic. Description The following description is based on my field notes taken at the time, supple- mented by my wife’s notes. SIZE Slightly smaller than Pied Flycatcher that it perched next to. HEAD AND NECK Forehead, crown and upper part of nape bright green-yellow (moss-green). Ear-coverts and ‘cheek’ grey-white, extending to just above eye and also to side of neck and onto lower nape. Fairly distinct white eye-ring, no eye-stripe. UPPERPARTS Mantle, back and rump all bright green/yellow, slightly duller than head and nape, and unstreaked. WINGS Primaries and primary' coverts dark grey with possible greenish tinge. Secondaries grey-green, edged dull yellow. Tertials greener than secondaries and with more yellow edging. Lesser coverts green, greater and median coverts green with two yellow-white wing-bars, the lower bar being slightly larger than the upper (both very distinct on open and closed l All. Dark grey, possibly with some green. Some white on outer tail feathers, thought at the time to be probably on outer webs, but ac- tually occurs only on inner webs (Dr A. G. Knox in litt.). UNDERPARTS Chin white, throat and upper breast grey/ white, becoming white on lower breast and belly, but greyer towards flanks. Undertail-coverts white and very conspicuous when tail held erect. BARE PARIS Legs grey. Bill brown and typical warbler shape, upper mandible appeared lighter than lower, but this probably effect of light. Eye large-looking and dark. BEHAVIOUR Perched frequently on fence or other vantage point, flying down into sur- rounding vegetation to catch insects, also up in air like flycatcher. Often hopped short dis- tances with tail erect and wings drooped, sometimes flicking wings. Appearance recalling Wren Troglodytes troglodytes when tail held erect. wing). The plumage was very fresh-looking, with little wear. After consulting North American bird guides, the age was confirmed as first-year. Apart from the conspicuous chestnut flanks which give the bird its name, both adult male and female also have a boldly streaked mantle. l he inclusion of plates 14-17 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl geiss Germany. 14-17. Chestnut-sided Warblers Dendroica pensylvanica, Canada. Above, male. May 1986 (. Martin S. '•Gamer)] right and below, juveniles, VAugust 1991 and August 1988 'Colin Bradshaw ); bottom, September 1974 (A. D. Brewer) 60 Chestnut-sided. Warbler: new to the Western Palearctic Distribution The Chestnut-sided Warbler breeds from central-eastern Alberta east to Nova Scotia and south to eastern Nebraska, southern Wisconsin, northern Ohio, central New Jersey and in the Appalachians south to northern Georgia and northwestern South Carolina. It winters from southern Nicaragua to Panama. Weather and other transatlantic vagrants The weather pattern dining the preceding weeks had seen an increase in pres- sure to the south, moving the track of the Atlantic depressions farther north after 7th September. Alter 18th, the centre of pressure moved to the cast over Europe and southerly or southeasterly winds became more frequent towards the end of the month. No other North American vagrants had appeared in Britain in autumn 1985 before the sighting of the Chestnut-sided Warbler, but both Northern Parula Panda americana and Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata were found on 30th September, to be followed by an October that was confidcndy described as: ‘the best-cvcr single month for American landbirds in Britain and Ireland, both in quantity and quality’ (Dawson & Allsopp 1986). For two observers on Fetlar, the action started ten days earlier. Acknowledgment I am most grateful to Dr M. A. Ogilvie for assistance in preparing this paper for publication. References Ami. rican Ornithologists’ Union. 1983. The AOU Check-list of North American Birds. 6th edn. I-awrence. Bystrak, D., & Gi.issi.kr, P. H. 1986. The breeding bird survey: its first fifteen years, 1965- 1979. US Fish & Wildl. Sew. Res. Publ. 157. Dawson, 1., & Allsopp, K. 1986. Recent reports. Brit. Birds 79: 1-17. McLARKN, I. A. 1981. The Birds of Sable Island, Nova Scotia, ISoc. Nova Scotia Inst. Sci. 31: 1-84. NlSBKT, I. C. T. 1970. Autumn migration of the Blackpoll Warbler: evidence for long (light pro- vided by regional survey. Bird-Banding 41: 238-240. RoBBINS, C. S. 1980. Predictions of fulure Nearctic landbird vagrants to Europe. Brit. Birds 73: 448-457. WlNGA'I'E, D. B. 1973. A Checklist and Guide to the Birds of Bermuda. Hamilton. Michael Peacock, Grainel, Gruinart, Bridgend, Isle oj Islay Peter Lansdown (Chairman, British Birds Rarities Committee) and Dr Alan Knox (Chairman, British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee) have commented as follows: ‘A single circula- tion of the record to each committee was sufficient for the identification of this distinctive species to be accepted unanimously. ‘Within the eastern deciduous forests of North America, this is an abundant species, the third most abundant of 29 warbler species in the breeding bird survey in the eastern United States (Robbins et at. 1986), comprising about 25% of all Dendroica species. It was the fourth most abun- dant of 37 warbler species in T V tower kills in the 1960s (Nisbet 1970), comprising about 8% of all warblers. Despite this abundance, however, it has a somewhat western migration, and is quite scarce as a coastal migrant on the eastern seaboard. For example, at Manomet Bird Observatory, it was only 23rd of 39 warbler species netted in 1966-85, comprising only 0.4% of all catches (AI BO Newsletter, May 1986). On Sable Island, it was recorded in only five of 13 autumns, with a total of eight birds (McDiren 1981). In Bermuda, it is ‘regular but uncommon’ in late September, but is outnumbered by at least 19 other warbler species (Wingate 1973). For these reasons, it was not considered a very likely candidate for reaching F.urope by Robbins (1980), who calculated a Experience bird- watching in a whole new light. Witness the best that nature has to offer through the eyes of the new EDII A angled body type Fieldscope. 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II WJ|>| overd I Sons! | Carl Z< ii Chestnut- sided Warbler: new to the Western Palearctic 61 predicted likelihood for transatlantic vagrancy for 104 species. It was placed in the bottom group of 35 species with low predicted values. Others from this group, however, including Red-breasted Nuthatch Siita canadensis, Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica Jusca , Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea and, most recendy, free Swallow Tachycineta bicolor, have since reached Europe. Chestnut-sided War- bler has been recorded in Greenland (AOU 1983). ‘The Fedar Chestnut-sided Warbler tilted the familiar pattern of dates and localities for Nearc- tic landbirds in Britain and Ireland. This made the BOURC.’s task of assessing the Fedar individ- ual’s likely origin a straightforward one. The Committee voted unanimously for natural occurrence (Brit. Birds 8 1 : 590; Ibis 1 33: 220), which resulted in Chestnut-sided Warbler being placed in Category A of the British and Irish list.’ Eds ICBP news Transmitter plans revived The government of Israel has revived plans to build a huge Voice of America radio transmitter in the Arava Valley, Israel, even though the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ordered by the Israeli court in 1990 is incomplete. The EIA w'as ordered after environmentalists voiced considerable opposition. The transmitter, which would be one of the largest and most powerful in the world, would cover an 8-knr site in the central Arava Valley. The site is on the main migration route of millions of birds, and large numbers would be likely to collide with the structures. There are also concerns about the disori- enting effect of the radiation from such a huge transmitter. ICBP has once again written to the Prime Minister of Israel urging him seriously to consider the environmental consequences of the scheme. GEORGINA Green International Council for Bird Preservation, 32 Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge CB3 OPJ IWC news Chough census The Irish breeding population of Red-billed Choughs Pynhocorax pyrrhocorax w'as estimated at 220-906 pairs in 1992. The wide range is due to the high proportion (52.6%) of pairs that were recorded as ‘possibly breeding’. The total number of breeding pairs has probably been overestimated, since non-breeding pairs in suitable nesting habitat and pairs prospecting future nesting sites will have been recorded as, respectively, ‘possibly breeding’ and ‘probably breeding . The number of flock birds is thought to be a minimum, as flocks away from the coast arc likely often to have been unrecorded. Compared with the 1982 survey (Irish Birds 2: 257-271), the number of pairs has increased by 34% and the number of flock birds by 32%. There were increases in counties Leitrim, Sligo, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Wexford; decreases in Clare and Antrim; and little change in Done- gal, Mayo and Galway. Analysis of sub-county regions showed increases in northwestern areas south to north Mayo. Western regions between south Mayo and w'est Clare (inclusive) mostly showed decreases. All the southern regions, with the exception of southwest Cork, showed in- creases. There was a severe decrease in north Antrim. At inland sites, choughs have increased in counties Sligo and Leitrim, but decreased in Kerry and Galway. On islands, chough populations are mostly stable, but have decreased on a few', especially Rathlin, where they have disappeared, and increased on one. ORAN O SlJEEINAN Irish Wildbird Conservancy , Rutlledge House, 8 Ijmgford Place, Monkstoum, Co. Dublin, Ireland Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1990 Robert Spencer and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel This is the eighteenth annual Report published by the Panel, setting out the annual stock-talcing of most of our rarer breeding species. The seven- teenth report was published in 1 99 1 (Brit. Birds 84: 349-392). 1 lie history of the Panel, its purposes and methods of operation were re- cently described in detail (Brit. Birds 85: 1 17-122). As part of a general review of its work, the Panel has reassessed the purposes and usefulness of this annual published report. Several changes have been introduced now and there will be others in the future, aimed mainly at increasing background information and comments on and interpretation of the data. Automatic repetition of the an- nual totals each year is being discontinued, and tables will be included only when especially relevant. For the commonest species, the detailed county-by- county breakdown of regional totals which has recently appeared as an ap- pendix will, in future, be compiled in the same way as hitherto, but distributed individually to each county or regional bird recorder for checking purposes, rather than published in the Panel’s annual report. Forty years ago there was a very modest programme of counting birds in Britain: a monthly wildfowl count, an annual count of nests of Grey Herons Ardea cinerea and, inspired by the late James Fisher, an occasional count of Northern Gannets Morns bassanus. Today, counting and recording is more widespread. Article 2 of the European Community Directive on the conserva- tion of wild birds requires Member States ‘to take requisite measures to main- tain the population of the species referred to in Article 1 at a level which corresponds in particular to ecological, scientific and cultural requirements, while taking account of economic and recreational requirements, or to adapt the population oi these species to that level.’ Counting birds, it seems, has de- veloped from being an enjoyable outlet for scientific curiosity to a manage- 62 [Brit. Birds 86: 62-90, February 1993] 63 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 ment tool for use in European Community countries. The large number of voluntary observers, submitting records via the county recording network to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, play a vital part in the census programme. The Panel confines its attention to about 90 species, the breeding popula- tions ol which are normally fewer than 300 pairs. With such small numbers, it might be thought a relatively easy task to count the entire populations with some accuracy. Alas, that is not the case, and it is worthwhile to examine why some rare breeding species pose problems. There are about 150 territory-holding pairs of Black-throated Divers Gavin arctica in Britain. In any one year, only a small proportion of them is found by casual birdwatching. Furthermore, non-breeding pairs and individuals often move from water to water. Thus, the Panel’s data-collecting methods, based on reports from casual observers, received via county recorders, and on Schedule 1 licence returns, are simply not geared to obtaining reliable popula- tion estimates: this species needs to be censused by special, co-ordinated sur- veys of potentially suitable waters, and so is not included on the Panel’s list. Some of the species for which the Panel does attempt to monitor total breeding populations also present difficulties. For example, local and holiday- ing birdwatchers are likely to find most of the Slavonian Grebes Podiceps auritus at well-known, readily accessible sites, and this, combined with systematic checking of other suitable, but often remote, lochs produces a reliable national total. The quest for accurate totals of Common Scoters Melanitta nigra , how- ever, calls for co-ordinated searching. There are often problems in determining whether or not breeding took place. For example, most Spotted Crakes Porzana porzana are located by sound. According to BIVP, however, successful pairs of Spotted Crakes are almost silent when nesting; it is the lone males which may seek to attract a female in June and July. How many pairs remain undetected? Corn Crakes Crex crex are almost silent for about two weeks after arrival, very vociferous for two to four weeks, and then sing only irregularly in July and August. Of Common Quail Cotumix cotumix , BWP notes that the male calls only occasionally once mated. Yet many observers interpret a Quail calling over two or three months as an indication of probable breeding. Great Bitterns Botaurus stellans are at least seen during the breeding season, but males may boom at some distance from their regular spot, so that counting booming males may lead to an overesti- mate. Most bird populations are conventionally counted in pairs, and this is ap- propriate for the majority of Panel species, but not all. Marsh Harrier males Circus aeruginosas are often bigamous or even polygamous, so that the most meaningful figure — if it can be obtained — is the number of breeding females. Male Cetti’s Warblers Cettia cetti can also be polygamous, but locating the retiring females is so much a matter of chance that the only practicable course is to count the singing males. The numbers of pairs of European Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus and Leach’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa are so difficult to count that the size of colonies usually has to be expressed within wide limits. On a smaller scale, observers supplying data to the Panel may sometimes be faced with similar problems, such as determining the numbers of Cetti’s Warblers in an exten- 64 Rare breeding birds in the l A in 1 990 sive rcedbed or Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata within large areas of heath- land. Many Panel species are protected by the confidentiality which observers themselves attach to their records. An exchange of information between observers would often clarify apparently confusing situations, such as those presented by Northern Goshawks Accipiter gentilis. In some localities, both splitting and lumping of sites occur. 1 hus a linear distribution of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta nesting in twos and threes is by one observer lumped as a single colony, whilst another may judge it to consist of separate, small colonies. Many such problems are avoided by the provision of map references, which fortunately is an increasingly common practice. Yet it may not always be practicable. For example, the New Forest is a great reser- voir of wildlife, including the Dartford Warbler. Which is more useful, a list of those pairs which were located, with map references, or an estimate of the total population, made by an experienced observer scaling up the figures from that part of the area which was covered thoroughly? Using this sampling tech- nique, the Dartford Warbler total in 1990 was 91 1 pairs, compared with 522 pairs in 1989 and only 116 pairs in 1979. But, given the above choice, the Panel would greatly prefer the detailed, precisely located count information (since this is factual rather than conjectural). If recording were left to chance, the totals of secretive, inconspicuous species, such as Northern Goshawk and Golden Oriole Onolus oriolas, would be grossly underestimated. Fortunately, informal study groups devote many long hours each spring and summer tracking down and counting their target species and ensuring, so far as possible, their well-being. 1 hus, our knowledge of each targeted species is often relatively good. More such specialist groups would be welcomed. One great asset of the Panel is the vast network of co-operating observers, who pick up the local and the occasional: records such as nest-building by a Penduline 'fit Remiz pendulums , and the successful breeding in Scotland of Red- backed Shrike Lomus collurio (a species whose demise as a breeder was mourned in the report for 1 989) and breeding by the elusive and secretive Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus. At a less exotic level, one cannot devise a survey to discover, for example, all breeding Fieldfares lurdus pilaiis. Only a large, voluntary network can gather in data when the species habitat is extensive and breeding could occur ‘almost anywhere’. The problems of providing an accurate summary of the UK's rare breeding birds, discussed above, may be summarised as: (1) under-reporting, either because of a dearth of observers within the species range (e.g. Red- wing 7 urdus iiiacus) or because information is deliberately withheld (e.g. some raptors in some areas) (2) reconciling differing reports to determine the degree of overlap, or to detect gaps, if map refer- ences are not included (e.g. Stone-curlew Burhimts oedimemus , Avocet) (3) censusing difficulties, often caused by habitats that are extensive or difficult of access ic.g. Common Scoter, Dartford Warbler, Great Bittern) (4) biological, such as cessation of singing by breeders but not by non-breeders (e.g. Spotted Crake, Common Quail, Wryneck Jynx lorquilla ), wandering by singing males even if they are breeding (e.g. Great Bittern) and polygamy (e.g. Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler). Thus, establishing the numbers of rare breeding birds is, at present, often an imprecise science. The totals of each may be fewer than 300 pairs, but for Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1 990 65 most species the challenge to provide reliable figures is probably greater than when counting thousands of commoner ones. In general, 1990 was a year in which successes outnumbered failures. Wild Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus bred, and increased numbers summered. The total of Honey-buzzards Perms apivorus (a species notoriously under-reported) was the highest for 15 years, but is still known to be too low. The Hobby’s Falco subbuteo remarkable increase in numbers and range expansion continued undiminished. Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus, for decades confined to East Anglia, continued their move to wetlands elsewhere. The Mediterranean Gull Imius melanocephalus appeared to be more securely established than ever before. It was possible to believe that Marsh Warblers Acrocephalus palustris were start- ing to make a come-back. On the negative side, the Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena, although coming so near, once again failed to fledge any young. Common Scoters and Great Bitterns were both reduced to dangerously small populations. Numbers of Montagu’s Harriers Circus pygargus dropped back after several encouraging years, but a pair did nest in a new county. Black Redstarts Phoenicurus ochruros, despite their presence over many decades, still show no signs of widespread major colonisation. The population of Firccrcsts Regulus ignicapillus remained as volatile as ever, and it may be that the numbers present in any one spring are deter- mined largely by the weather they experience on their northbound passage. The Panel The members of the Panel are Dr L. A. Batten, Dr C. J. Bibby, DrJ. J. D. Greenwood, DrJ. T. R. Sharrock, Dr K. W. Smith, Robert Spencer (Secre- tary), D. A. Stroud and Dr R. W. Summers. Although they reflect the interests and needs of the Panel’s sponsoring bodies — the JNGC, the RSPB, the BTO and British Birds — the individual members each serve on the Panel in a personal capacity. The Panel’s work was commissioned by the NCC (now the JNGC) as part of its programme for nature conservation, but the Panel’s other sponsoring bodies the RSPB, the BTO and British Birds — have also supported the work financially. The Panel collects records for the whole of the United Kingdom (both Great Britain and Northern Ireland), but not for the Republic of Ireland. Acknowledgments The Panel acknowledges with gratitude the co-operation of the following: KNGIAND Avon Harvey Rose, Bedfordshire Paul Trodd, Berkshire Peter Standley, Buckinghamshire Andy Harding, Cambridgeshire Colin Kirtland, Cheshire Tony Broome, Cornwall Stanley Christophers, Cum- bria John G allion and Mike Carrier, Derbyshire Roy Frost, Devon Peter Ellicott, Dorset Martin Cade, Durham Tony Armstrong, Essex Mike Dennis, Hampshire E.J. Wiseman, Hertfordshire Peter Walton, Huntingdon & Peterborough John S. Clark, Isles of Sally Will Wagstafl', Pent Ian Hodgson, Lancashire Maurice Jones, Leicestershire Roger E. Davis, Lincolnshire/ South Humberside Graham Gatlcy, London, Greater Mark Hardwick, Manchester , Greater J. P. Day, Norfolk Michael J. Seago, Northamptonshire R. W. Bullock, .Northumberland Mike S. Hodgson, Nottinghamshire John A. Hopper, Shropshire Jack Sankey, Somerset Brian Rabbitts, Staffordshire Mrs Gilly Jones, Suffolk Philip W. Murphy, Surrey Jef- fery Wheatley, Sussex Paul James, Warwickshire Steve Haynes, West Midlands Tim Hexteli, Wiltshire Rob Turner, Worcestershire Steve Whitehouse, Yorkshire William F. Curtis. SCOTIAND Borders Ray Murray, Central Dr C. J. Henty, Dumfries & Galloway Ken Bruce, Life Douglas Dickson, Grampian 66 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1 990 Ken Shaw, Grampian: Moray Martin J. H. Cook, Highland: Caithness Eric Maughan, Highland: ,\ aim Martin J. H. Cook, Highland: Sutherland Tony Main wood, Lithium* East Peter Gordon, Lothian , Mid & I Vest Ian Andrews, Orkney Chris J. Booth, Shetland David Suddaby, Strathclyde: Argyll Mike Mad- ders, Strathclyde: Ayr Angus Hogg, Tayside: Perth & Kinross Mrs Wendy Mattingly, Western Isles Peter Cunningham, T. J. l)ix. WALES Ipjed: Cardigan Peter E. Davis, Dyjed: Carmarthenshire 1). H. V. Roberts, Glamorgan, South Phil Bristow, Glamorgan, West Dr 1). K. Thomas, Gwent Brian ). Gregory, Gwynedd Tom Graven, Powys: Breconshire M. Peers, Powys: Montgomeryshire Brayton Holt, Powys: Rad- nor Pete Jennings. lsi.H OF MAN Dr Pat Cullen. NORTHERN I R El AND Dave Allen. specialise CONTRIBUTORS Jake Allsop, Colin Grooke, Peter E. Davis, Dr Andy Evans, Dr Rhys Green, R. A. Image, John Mitchell, S. J. Petty and Glen lyler. We apologise if any names have by mischance been omitted: the spirit was willing. Key to geographical regions used in this report Northern Ireland Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone England, SW Avon. Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Isle ol Wight, Isles of Scilly, Somerset, Wiltshire England, SE Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Greater Guidon, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex (East and West) England, E Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire and South Humberside, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk England, Central Derbyshire, Herefordshire, I Leicestershire (with Rutland), Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire (West Midlands, in the new county structure), Worcester- shire England, N Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Greater Manchester, Isle of Man, Lan- cashire, Merseyside, Northumberland, North Humberside, Fyne & Wear, Yorkshire (North, South and West) Wales All present-day counties (i.e. includes the former Monmouth) Scotland, S The former counties of Ayrshire, Berwickshire, Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, I Lanarkshire, Lothian (Last, Mid and West), Peeblesshire, Renfrewshire, Roxburghshire, Selkirk- shire, Wigtownshire Scotland, Mid Aberdeenshire, Angus, Banffshire, Clackmannanshire, Dunbartonshire, Fife, Kincardineshire, Kinross, Moray, Nairn, Perthshire, Stirlingshire Scotland, N & W Argyllshire, Bute, Caithness, Inverness-shire, Orkney, Ross & Cromarty, Shetland, Sutherland, Western Isles (Outer Hebrides) Systematic list Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Five localities in six counties: two pairs built nests. England, E One locality: male from 29th March to 21st August, joined by female on 10th May; they nested, but she died on 28th May. England, Central One locality: one in breeding plumage on 1st April. Wales One locality: one on 20th July. Scotland, S Tu'o localities: (1) pair made three nesting attempts, but failed; (2) adult on 11th April. Over the last 15 years, this beautiful grebe has increasingly summered in Western Europe and has bred in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Its attempts to nest in Britain have so far failed to result in any fledged young, and seem to have levelled off. For a full account of this species attempting to breed in England, see Parslow-Otsu & Elliott (1991, Brit. Birds 84: 188-191). LAB Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus 86 localities: 74-86 pairs breeding. Scotland, Mid Three localities: (1) adult in May and September; (2) adult from 4th May to 1 1th June; (3) adult in April and May. Scotland, N & W 33 localities: (l)-(33) 77 pairs and six singles summered; 74 pairs bred, rearing 46 young. 67 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 The RSPB Highland Office co-ordinated the fieldwork on which these results are based. The population has been increasing very slowly from initial colonisation in 1908 to 43 pairs in 1971, when the first full count was carried out, and now to 74 pairs confirmed breeding in 1990. Productivity, however, continues to be low. RS & RWS Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 19 localities in 11 counties: 21-37 pairs breeding. England, E One locality: two from April to July, but no evidence of breeding. England, SW T wo localities: (1) pair in March; (2) pair fledged three young. England, Central Nine localities: (1) five adults reared at least three young; (2) four adults; (3)- (9) one or two present in summer, but no evidence of breeding. England, N Three localities: (1) 12 pairs reared 1 1 young; (2) pair in May; (3) one on 29th April. Scotland Four localities: (1) four pairs reared four young; (2) two pairs bred, raising two young; (3) tw o pairs present from April, but no young seen; (4) one in May and three in June. The long-tenn trend for this grebe is encouraging, but more-detailed moni- toring is required to determine productivity. RWS Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris Twelve localities: 20 booming males. England, E 1 1 localities: (l)-(6) single booming males; (7) two booming males, and young being fed at one nest; (8) booming male, and nest with young; (9)( 1 0) two booming males at each; (11) three booming males. England, N One site: four booming males, one nest located. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 19 16 15 18 18 15 12 17 14 14 8 Confirmed (pairs) 41 105 0 01233 Booming males 48 47 35 44 36 28 23 22 30 30 20 The Panel is indebted to Glen Tyler of the RSPB for supplying some of the data used in this report. The Great Bittern is a difficult species to count, but the long run of data from 1977, when the RBBP first covered the species, indicates a marked decline in the number of both individuals and occupied sites. The 1990 total of 20 booming males was the lowest ever recorded by the Panel. Although some of this decline can be explained by a re-appraisal of counting techniques, the plight of the Great Bittern is causing considerable concern. Research by the RSPB suggests that habitat degradation may be one of the most important causes of the decline, so there is hope that the situation can be improved by appropriate management of the key sites. KWS Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus 15 localities: 5-32 pairs breeding, at least three of them feral. England, SE One locality: four adults on 27th May, pair with one cygnet on 31st May. Scodand, S One locality: one, described by observer as ‘tame’. Scodand, Mid Two localities: (1) two feral pairs, each hatching three young; (2) pair with four large cygnets. Scodand, N & W 1 1 localities: (1) four adults and a first-year, no date given; (2) single; (3) single, injured; (4) four all summer; (5) one on nest, later deserted; (6) pair, one injured; (7)(8) single adults summered; (9) two adults summered; (10) pair present until at least 12th May; (11) two pairs, one laid five eggs, none of which hatched, 13 other singles all summered. 68 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 1989 Scotland, N & W CORRECTION: die entry under the heading SHKTlAND in the report for 1989 should have been headed ORKNEY. A remarkable year for the number summering and for breeding by pairs which appeared to be genuinely wild, in contrast to many records ol recent years that have clearly related to ‘pricked’ birds unable to migrate back to their Icelandic breeding grounds. It will be intriguing to record the fortunes ol cygnets in areas where breeding has been successful. Elsewhere, extra-territo- rial populations of Arctic-breeding species such as Barnacle Geese Branta t£u- copsis have developed in temperate regions from just a few successful pairs. Perhaps Whooper Swan could yet become a more regular breeder here. DAS Pink-footed Goose A riser brachyrhynchus May have bred. Scotland, S Two localities: (1)(2) at least one individual summered, being seen on 16th June and 14th and 27th July. A party of six was seen on 7th August five weeks earlier than the earliest migrant arrivals from Iceland but the individuals were not aged. Since Greylag Goose Ansa ansa ■ is an increasingly common reintroduced species, few observers bother to examine them closely. Perhaps we should do so since Pinkfeet could perhaps be overlooked amongst them. RS Northern Pintail Anas acuta 20 localiucs: 9-36 pairs breeding. England, SE Four localities: (1) pair on 26th-27th May, but no evidence of breeding; (2) two throughout June; (3) two males in May, one in June; (4) two males and a female on 8th June, pair on 23rd June, male in July. England, E Six localities: (1) two pairs most of April, but no evidence of breeding; (2) three pairs in late spring, but only one injured male in summer; (3) pair seen nest-prospecting, but did not stay; (4) pair on 29th April, one on 26th May; (5) female on 3rd May; (6) female throughout May. England, N Three localities: (1) four pairs from early April to early May, one pair remained through summer, but no proof of breeding; (2) three pairs on 17th April, one pair during 21st- 24th April, male on 16th and 24th June, female on 22nd July; (3) prospecting pair stayed from April into the summer. Wales One locality: two females, one with nine eggs, but no young reared. Scodand Two localities: (1) pair from 19th March to 20th April; (2) male from 8th May to 27th June. Scodand, N & W Four localities: (1) three pairs on 7th April, one pair on 17th May; (2) proba- bly seven pairs bred, two broods of four; (3) pair on several dates during April to June; (4) at least six pairs bred. The population is relatively stable, but with a bias in numbers towards the north. As with other rare breeding ducks, this species is probably under- recorded, with a high proportion of records coming from nature reserves and other areas with resident wardens or stafl. DAS Garganey Anas querquedula 87 localities: 14-111 pairs breeding. England, SW Flight localities in four counties: 2- 1 0 pairs breeding. England, SE 20 localities in eight counties: 1- 28 pairs breeding. England, E 29 localities in three counties: 7- 39 pairs breeding. 69 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 England, Central Seven localities in four counties: 1-7 pairs breeding. England, N 14 localities in seven counties: 2-18 pairs breeding. Scotland, S Four localities: 0-4 pairs breeding. Scotland, Mid, N & W live localities: 1-5 pairs breeding. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 34 48 66 59 46 32 42 36 37 81 87 Confirmed (pairs) 4 8 10 15 4 4 8 8 11 18 14 Possible (pairs) 50 50 84 55 53 36 47 37 40 80 97 Max. total (pairs) 54 58 94 70 57 40 55 45 51 98 111 A second good year for this species, with the highest number of sites for over ten years, although only 14 pairs were confirmed to have bred. Since 1980, numbers have been very variable, with a peak in 1982-83, followed by low numbers until the last two years. The Garganey is well known as a sporadic breeder: numbers in the UK are said to be related to spring weather and flooding conditions, although the exact factors have never been demon- strated. A detailed study of the RBBP records may help us to understand this variability. KWS Common Pochard Aythya ferina 133 localities: 207-293 pairs breeding. England, SW Eight localities: 14-18 pairs breeding. England, SE 46 localities: 78-127 pairs breeding. England, E 3 1 localities: 46-54 pairs breeding. England, Central Eight localities: 9-12 pairs breeding. England, N 28 localities: 58-68 pairs breeding. Wales F our localities: 0-4 pairs breeding. Scotland, S Four localities: 1-6 pairs breeding. Scotland, Mid One locality: one pair breeding. Scotland, N & W Three localities: 0-3 pairs breeding. The numbers reported to the Panel almost certainly underestimate the true size of the population, and it is likely that numbers changed little in the three years 1988-1990, though those reported varied from 184-336 pairs breeding in 1988 to the 207-293 in 1990. A full account of the history of the Common Pochard breeding in Britain, by Dr A. D. Fox, was published in 1991 (Biit. Birds 84: 83-98). RS & JTRS Greater Scaup Aythya mania One locality: 0- 1 pair breeding. Scodand, N One locality: pair on 4th June. This is the poorest showing for several years, serving to emphasise how atypical were the records in Anglesey in 1988 and Lincolnshire in 1989. CJB Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis One locality: one individual. Scodand, Mid One locality: female summered, not departing until 19th November. This is presumed to be the same individual that summered at the same locality in 1 989, which was the first to be reported to the Panel. Whilst breed- ing occurred in Orkney in 1911, and perhaps on five other occasions there and in Shetland in the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth century, there have been no reports since 1926 apart from in 1969, when breeding was suspected in the Western Isles. LAB 70 Rare breeding birds in the l A in 1 990 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Nine localities: 6-29 pairs breeding. Northern Ireland One locality. FERMANAGH One locality: at least six pairs present hut no young seen. Scodand, Mid Two localities: (1) two males and one female on 10th May; (2) two pairs on 10th May, tw o females and three juveniles on 3rd July, a female and one juvenile on 18th July. Scodand, N & W Six localities. ARGYLL One locality: three nests, clutches of 6. 6 and 12, but no young fledged, seven other possi- ble pairs. CAITHNESS One locality: three or four pairs on 12th May. SHETLAND One locality: two pairs, one of which reared a duckling. SU THERLAND Three localities: (1) male on 29th May; (2) female on 1 1th May; (3) at least one pair, and breeding thought probable. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 10 6 17 6 9 25 35 15 36 7 9 Confirmed (pairs) 7 5 14 10 17 2 8 29 14 8 6 Possible (pairs) 106 77 98 75 52 72 92 33 76 32 23 Max. total (pairs) 113 82 112 85 69 74 100 62 90 40 29 A new low point for a species known to be declining in numbers. The Northern Ireland population, on Lower Lough Erne, has declined from around 150 pairs in the late 1960s to a remnant of six pairs now. Elsewhere, the losses may not be so severe as the table suggests, for only a systematic sur- vey of remote hill lochans is likely to produce reasonably complete figures. RS & KWS Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Breeding mainly confined to one extensive nestbox scheme. England, SE Three localities. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE One locality: female summered. ESSEX One locality: male summered. KENT One locality: female from May to July. England, Central Three localities. LEICESTERSHIRE Three localities: (1) male on 7th May; (2) male to 12th May, two females on 23rd July, female from 1st August; (3) five in mid May, male, female and juvenile in June, female and five in eclipse in July. England, N Four localities. CHESHIRE One locality: two birds of the year from early August. LANCASHIRE One locality: two feral broods, totalling 15 young, on 25th May. NOR THUMBERLAND One locality: female and seven flying juveniles on 28th July. YORKSHIRE One locality: male from 29th May to 1 0th September. Scotland, S Three localities. BORDERS 'Two localities: (1) male on 9th June; (2) male on 27th June. LOTH IANS, M & vv One locality: male from 22nd April to 13th May, two males on 18th May, three males and a female on 27th June. Scotland, Mid Three localities. Morayshire One locality: pair plus one male on 23rd April, female with duckling from 2nd to 9 th June. COUNTY CONFIDENTIAL Two localities: (1) pair from 28th May to 28th July; (2) first-year on 2nd June. Scotland, N & W Three localities. Caithness One locality: 13 on 9th june, four males and seven females on 21st June. SHE TLAND Two localities: (1) female on 8th July, possibly summering; (2) female summered. HIGHLAND Nestbox area: 92 boxes and 8 natural sites occupied, 53 clutches laid, at least 529 young produced. 71 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Confirmed (pairs) 26 29 27 47 53 67 77 80 90 88 100 Young hatched (min.) 165 286 220 209 311 336 390 332 427 455 529 It is pleasing to note the continuing increase in both the confirmed number of pairs and the number of' young reared from the nestbox population. This began in 1970, when a female produced four young in the Spey Valley; by 1978 there were 12 nests. In recent years, some pairs have started to nest in natural holes, so there may now be additional pairs nesting in unknown, natu- ral sites. There has been a growing tendency for individuals to summer well to the south. In 1990, there was successful breeding in two localities in addition to the known feral population in Lancashire. These are the first documented suc- cessful breeding attempts in England since the report of nesting in Cheshire in 1931-32. ' ' LiB Honey-buzzard Bertas apworus 19 localities, in 13 counties: 3-19 pairs breeding. Great Britain 19 localities: (1) pair laid two eggs, but young died when about three weeks old, apparently owing to drought; (2) pair believed to have attempted breeding; (3)-(5) a minimum of seven individuals during 26th May to September; (6) single on 20th May, two on 25th August, pair displaying in August; (7) pair on several occasions; (8) first-summer on 6th June; (9) singly on 9th August and 2nd September; (10) male from 31st May, pair on July 3rd, at least one young fledged; (11) displaying male on 26th May; (12) one or two on several dates; (13) one in June; (14) pair, and family party of two adults and two juveniles in September; (15) ‘reported to have bred’; (16) one, on one occasion; ( 1 7)( 1 8) singles, thought to be on passage; (19) one displaying. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Confirmed (pairs) 3 2 2 3 2 111 12 3 Max, total (pairs) 5 9 3 5 2 4 6 7 10 20 19 A secretive species which probably often goes unrecorded. The records received by the Panel indicate that the species is increasing slightly in num- bers, but this may in part be due to greater skills on the part of observers, and the realisation that Honey-buzzards are not, as was popularly supposed, con- fined to a restricted area of southern England. KWS Red Kite Milxms milvus 84 pairs, and at least 58 other individuals. Wales 84 localities: breeding successful at 65 localities. Welsh kites had a remarkable season in 1 990, the most successful by far since records began. A total of 65 pairs was proved to breed, 1 1 more than in 1989. No fewer than 47 of them reared young, and 73 young birds flew, 25 more than the previous highest number, in 1989. No doubt a second very' mild winter, followed by an- other warm, dry' spring, provided a good prey-base and good conditions for obtaining food. It was the first lime since 1 954 that the number of young reared exceeded the number of breeding pairs. It may be no coincidence that rabbits Oiyctolagus cuniculus reached plague proportions in much of central Wales in 1990, for the first time since they were greatly reduced by myxomatosis in the summer of 1954. The great affliction of 1990 turned out to be egg-collecting, and probably eight (possibly ten) clutches were stolen. (As in previous years, the Panel is much indebted to Peter Davis, the NCC contract worker on Red Kites, for much detailed information.) The welcome increase of the Welsh population comes at a time of growing international measures to conserve Red Kites in Europe — listed as ‘globally endangered’. Some progress has been made with the Government-initiated 72 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 programme to stamp out the scourge oi illegal poisoning. Red Kites will always be vulnerable to the use ot poison on baited carrion. In paiallel with these initiatives is a joint JNCC/RSPB programme to reintroduce Red Kites to England and Scotland. This work is being undertaken with the close co-op- eration of Swedish and Spanish conservation authorities. All these steps sug- gest that the fortunes of Red Kites in Britain are unlikely to be as insecure as they have been in recent decades. KjAS White-tailed Eagle Halmeetus albicilla Reintroduction. Scotland Nine pairs made breeding attempts and two young were raised, one each from two nests. This is the largest number of breeding attempts so far. The seemingly low productivity may be because the breeding birds are still inexperienced. S Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 82- 1 1 5 ‘pairs’ breeding. Great Britain Some of the information submitted is too sketchy to permit consistent, detailed analysis, but a best estimate is that there were 73 males, some ol them bigamous, one poly- gamous. and as many as 110 females. A minimum number of 154 young is almost certainly an underestimate, since the bald statement ‘bred’ has been interpreted as one young. The totals above include four pairs in Scotland, two of them breeding successfully. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Breeding males 16 17 19 21 27 29 26 40 42 58 Breeding females 20 20 24 28 32 31 32 46 56 66 110 Young* 44 48 59 71 66 86 82 126 145 172 154 *Il is not possible to report how many ol these young fledged. Given much careful protection by conservation bodies, and sympathetic consideration by fanners and landowners, the species is clearly thriving. There are many marshy habitats in Britain to which Marsh Harriers might spread. If they do turn up in a new locality, it is essential to remember that they are intolerant of disturbance. The Panel is very grateful to R. A. Image for much detailed information about the breeding performance of this and the next species. RS 73 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus Nine localities: 5-9 pairs breeding. England, SW lwo localities: (1) clutch ol five eggs laid, but young taken by fox Vulpes vulpes\ (2) nest, hom which two young fledged during 28th-30th June. England, SE 1 wo localities: (1) two young hatched from clutch of two and fledged on 31st July; (2) male during 15th- 16th June. England, E l ive localities: (1) four young hatched and ringed, and at least three fledged; (2) first- summer male from 4th June to 23rd August; (3) pair present during late April and early May, the female being seen nearby in June, and a juvenile in August near to a site occupied in 1989; (4) brood of four, all ringed; (5) pair in mid June. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 8 8 7 8 2 9 10 10 14 15 9 Confirmed (pairs) 223 613 76675 Possible (pairs) 675 416 34884 Max, total (pairs) 8 9 8 10 2 9 10 10 14 15 9 A somewhat disappointing year, especially when compared with the contin- uing success of the Marsh Harrier C. aeruginosus, but the table does suggest that there are occasional disaster years. It was encouraging that the localities in SE England were in a county which has not featured before in the Panel’s Hies for Montagu’s Harrier. RS Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 155 localities: 93-172 pairs breeding. England & Wales 101 localities involving 27 counties: (1)-(101) total of 56 pairs known to have attempted breeding, hatching at least 59 young, with a further 30 pairs probably attempting breeding and 32 pairs possibly doing so. Scotland 54 localities in three regions: (l)-(54) total of 37 pairs bred, rearing 103 young, 14 more pairs may have bred, and three possibly did so. A total of 30 counties (including Scottish regions) was involved, a number exceeded only by the 31 in 1986-88; numbers of pairs confirmed breeding were exceeded only in 1988 and 1989 (108 and 112 respectively); and calcu- lated maximum number of pairs only in 1988 (when there were 176). With most of the Goshawk pairs nesting in extensive, thick conifer forest, proving breeding calls for determination, experience and stamina on the part of observers, and the above record would be nothing like so full without the efforts of a number of Goshawk enthusiasts, particularly those inspired and guided by the efforts of S. J. Petty of the Forestry Commission Wildlife and Conservation Research Branch. Even so, many pairs of Goshawks must go undetected, or unreported, and informed opinion puts the probable popula- tion at 200-300 pairs. The trend, despite vicissitudes, is one of an increasing and expanding population. Recent papers have decribed the breeding habitat and breeding biology of a population of Northern Goshawks in lowland Britain {Brit. Birds 82: 56-67; 83:527-540). RS & JTRS Osprey Pandion haliaetus 62 pairs: 48 pairs fledged 88 young. England, SE One locality: two adults from 10th to 12th May, one to 13th May, and one during 23rd-25th May. England, E One locality: at least one, probably two, summered. 74 Rare breeding birds in the i A in 1 990 Scotland, S Three localities: (1) pair plus another adult in May and June, and a nest built; (2) one or two from 3rd May to 14th June, frequenting six or seven sites; (3) ‘pair reported to have bred’. Elsewhere in Scotland Total of 62 eyries known to be occupied, an increase of four on 1989; 56 pairs laid eggs; 48 clutches hatched, but there were only 44 successful broods, from which a total of 88 young Hedged. Very cold weather after hatching is thought to have caused the deaths of some young, and six (possibly seven) nests were robbed. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Pairs 25 25 30 30 31 34 42 50 53 Successful pairs 19 20 21 20 21 22 24 30 38 Young reared 4 1 42 45 45 47 53 48 56 81 The formula ‘Elsewhere in Scotland’ permits the recording of the ever- growing population, without giving any indication ol ihe spread oi the species. Extension of range has been occurring all the time, and the entries under the heading ‘Scotland, S indicate that the spread is, or will shortly be, to areas beyond the bounds of Highland Scotland. AS Hobby Falco subbuteo 390 localities: 1 54-434 pairs breeding. England, SW 55-120 pairs breeding, 60 young reported. England, SE 34-167 pairs breeding, 63 young reported. England, E 36-88 pairs breeding, 50 young reported. England, Central 23-38 pairs breeding, 57 young reported. England, N 1-16 pairs breeding, two young reported. Wales 5-10 pairs breeding, seven young reported. Scotland 0-2 pairs breeding, no young reported. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Confirmed (pairs) 64 51 97 80 93 98 91 108 103 140 l.vl Possible (pairs) 91 10 105 182 116 148 202 164 226 250 287 Max. total (pairs) 155 160 202 262 209 246 293 272 329 390 441 Young reared (min.) 86 89 63 104 91 117 126 160 133 205 239 The increase in numbers and the expansion oi range both continue, witli the species pushing westwards into Wales, eastwards through East Anglia and northwards as far as Yorkshire. It is breeding successfully, and the figures given for the number oi young reared really are minima, because the state- ment ‘bred’ not uncommon in some reports is arbitrarily counted as one. In 1985, Fuller et at. {Ibis 127: 510-516) proposed an average of two pairs per occupied 10-km Atlas square, which, il correct, would have given a figure 75 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 of about 500 pairs in the early 1970s. I. J. Ferguson-Lees has used the same figure of two pairs per occupied 10-km square to project a possible present maximum of 850 pairs [New Breeding Atlas , in press). RS & LAB Common Quail Cotumix cotumix 255 localities: 13-377 pairs breeding. England, SW 63 localities: 2-127 pairs breeding. England, SE 23 localities: 0-45 pairs breeding. England, E 21 localities: 1-39 pairs breeding. England, Central 37 localities: 3-42 pairs breeding. England, N 37 localities: 3-41 pairs breeding. Wales 21 localities: 0-22 pairs breeding. Scodand, S 13 localities: 1-19 pairs breeding. Scodand, Mid 3 1 localities: 0-3 1 pairs breeding. Scodand, N & W 9 localities: 3-1 1 pairs breeding. The Panel has been collecting Quail data only since 1986, so it is difficult to put the 1989 invasion (27-1,655 pairs) into perspective using the Panel’s data alone. An analysis of local bird report records during 1973-89 showed a range from 20 singing males in 1973 to 236 in 1983. The previous peak years were 1947 (over 100), 1953 (over 300) and 1964 (over 600) (Brit. Birds 49: 161- 166; 57: 340; 60: 101-102), but there were far fewer observers then, so it is difficult to compare these totals with those in recent years. Nevertheless, the 1989 invasion was the largest for many years, and almost certainly the largest this century. The 1990 totals are also much higher than those reported during 1986-88, so it may be legitimate to assume that some of the 1989 birds returned in 1990. The previous year’s invasion will, however, have alerted observers to the possible presence of Quails, so perhaps led to a wider-than- usual search of likely localities, and perhaps also to an increase in reporting to the Panel of any found. The vast majority of records are of males singing, and evidence suggests that this is principally to attract a female, since the frequency of singing de- clines or even ceases after mating. Interpretation of singing is further compli- cated because unmated males have been proved to move considerable distances, up to 40 km or more. LAB &JTRS Spotted Crake Porgana porgana 1 0 localities: 1-17 pairs breeding. England, SE I wo localities. BERKSHIRE One locality: one singing on 6th May. ESSEX One locality: one singing from 1 3th April to mid May. England, E Two localities. CAMBRIDGESHIRE Two localities: (1) one singing from 14th April to 12th May; (2) seven singing sporadically in May. Scodand, S, Mid and N & W Six sites: (1) one singing, young probably heard; (2)(3) singles singing at each; (4) call indicative of parental anxiety; (5) single, no further data supplied; (6) two males each singing for one day in May. Although there were fewer in 1990 than in 1989 (when there was a total of 2 1 singing, at 1 4 localities), there is a very clear upward trend in recent years, mean annual numbers singing being 4.6 during 1975-79, 7.6 during 1980-84 and 9.2 during 1985-89, compared with the 17 in 1990. The ‘whiplash’ song of this species is so distinctive that it is unlikely to be 76 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 ignored or overlooked by any ornithologist. It is likely, therefore, that the increase in the frequency with which Spotted Crakes arc being reported dots reflect a genuine increase in numbers occurring here during the summer, and probably in the numbers breeding, though that is always very difficult to prove because of the need to avoid disturbance ol the birds and their habitat. Numbers in Sweden, which holds the bulk of the West European popula- tion, have remained comparatively static, apart from annual fluctuations, aver- aging: about 225 singing males during 1972-79 and 205 during 1986-90 (Var Fagek. 39: 237-245; 50: 27-61). JTRS Com Crake Crex crex 1 3 localities: 2-26 pairs breeding. England, SW One locality. AVON One locality: one seen to fly into a barley field on 28th June (cf. Avon in 1989,'. England, N Four localities. CUMBRIA Three localities: (1) one singing on 3rd May, but not subsequently, (2) one singing din- ing 1 st- 1 6th June; (3) adult with three small chicks on 12th July. yorkshirk One locality: adult and two juveniles, seen frequently. Northern Ireland Data not yet available. Scodand, S Three localities. AYRSHIRE Two localities: (1)(2) singles singing. BORDERS One locality: one singing on 2 1st July. Scodand, Mid 1 hree localities. GRAMPIAN Two localities: (1)(2) singles singing for several days at each. PERTHSHIRE One locality: pair throughout May in the same location as in 1989. Scodand, N & W Two localities. ARGYIJ. One locality: 14 singing during 1 2th- 14th June. CAITHNESS One locality: one singing from mid June to 19th July. The Panel collects only those records away from the Western and Northern Isles. Those frequenting the same locality in consecutive years (see Avon and Perthshire) perhaps indicate that there is the potential for recovery, but the considerable and long-term decline, associated with intensification of agricul- ture, seems likely to continue unless conservation measures are instituted quickly. An innovative scheme in Northern Ireland has encouraged fanners with singing Com Crakes to delay cutting grass until chicks arc sufficiently mobile to reduce the risk of mortality from grass-cutters. The uptake of the scheme, funded by Government and administered by the RSPB, was good, but its long-term effect on the population remains to be demonstrated. The 77 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 purchase of part of the island of Coll by the RSPB and the management of this and other reserves in a ‘Com Crake -friendly’ manner are useful steps, but radical changes to wider agriculture frameworks are needed if Com Crakes are to regain their former abundance throughout the United Kingdom. DAS Common Crane Grus grus One extensive locality. United Kingdom One locality: eight present at New Year 1990, but disturbance by birdwatch- ers of the cranes’ favourite feeding area, together with a hard spell of weather in January, pushed them all away. Only six returned in spring. One pair made two breeding attempts and one young hatched but was believed to have been taken by Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosiis when ten days old. Cranes are intolerant of disturbance. It is most unfortunate that the site, carefully protected by its sympathetic landowner, has been given unnecessary publicity. We appeal to all birdwatchers to avoid disturbing these birds in any way at any time of the year, so that this tiny population, in such a precarious position, is given every chance to become established. LAB Avocet Recurvirostra avoselta 2 1 localities: 355-36 1 pairs reared at least 200 young. England, SE & E 21 localities: (1) pair bred; (2) 18 pairs bred, with poor success; (3) 12 pairs bred, with very poor success; (4) 2 1 pairs reared 43 young; (5) two nests in May, eight chicks in June; (6) 13 adults plus three juveniles in June; (7) six pairs bred; (8) 23 pairs bred; (9) pair, reared no young; (10) 35 pairs bred; (11) four pairs fledged two young; (12) 49 pairs, 60 young reared (minimum of 112 free-flying young in the county concerned); (13) 11 pairs, four young reared; (14) two pairs, outcome not known; (15) Minsmere, 47 pairs, 23 young reared; (16) five pairs, out- come not known; ( 1 7)( 1 8) single pairs, outcome not known; (19) 11 nests, outcome not known; (20) seven pairs, no further details; (21) Havergate, 98 pairs, 14 young reared. A statement from one county that ‘75 pairs reared 23 juveniles at seven coastal sites’ has not been included since it is likely that some of those seven sites have also been reported individually. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 5 5 9 9 1 1 14 15 18 27 24 21 Confirmed (pairs) 168 201 190 238 237 269 255 341 389 521 355 Young reared (minima ) 101 155 150 192 118 245 227 315 136 150 200 When there is a ‘ribbon development’ of nests, it is difficult to decide what constitutes a separate locality. Thus, it seems possible that there was little change in the population, and that breeding success was the highest since 1987. RS Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Nine counties: 139-149 pairs. England, SW Three counties: 42-48 pairs fledged a minimum of 31 young. England, SE Two counties: six pairs fledged a total of five young. England, E Four counties: 91-95 pairs and one unmated female fledged a minimum of 76 young. Stone-curlews are difficult to locate and to confirm as breeding. Hence even the maxima recorded probably slightly underestimate the total number of pairs. Such errors were probably much greater in the past, before systematic surveying of Stone-curlew populations began in the late 1 980s. Mark-resight- ing estimates of the total breeding population in Breckland (Norfolk/Sulfolk), which use records of individually marked breeding birds, indicate that theic 78 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 were 95 pairs in 1990 rather than the 86 located by the RSPB field team. There is now evidence that the Stone-curlew population of Breckland is stable or gradually increasing, the mark-resighting estimate for 1986 being 80 pairs. The sub-populations in north Norfolk, south Cambridgeshirc/Essex, east Cambridgeshire, east Suffolk and Berkshire, however, give cause for concern, all now holding fewer than five pairs. Breeding success in Breckland and SW England was good in 1990, partly because of wardening by RSPB staff to pro- tect nests and chicks on arable farmland from accidental destruction by farm- ing operations. It is estimated that about 32 of the 112 young which fledged would not have done so had there been no protection measures. In Breckland, 63% of pairs made at least one breeding attempt on arable farmland, and in SW England 53% of the breeding attempts recorded were on arable land. Rhys Greek Dotterel Charadrius morinellus Four localities: 2-8 pairs breeding (excluding those in main Scottish breeding area). England, N One locality. CUMBRIA One locality: nest with two eggs on 20th June, outcome not known. Scotland, S Three lcxalitics. BORDI.RS Three localities: (1) pair with clutch of 3 eggs, later taken by predator; (2) seven on 5th May; (3) six on 6th May. Since NGC field teams established that the Scottish population of this species may exceed 800 pairs, the Panel concentrates on collecting data from localities to the south of the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Doubtless, many will be birds bound for Scotland, or even Norway, but eggs are laid on south- ern summits in most years. RS Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii One locality: 0- 1 pair breeding. Scotland, Mid One locality: adull in summer plumage feeding near a summit on 14th July. No report has been received from the regularly occupied site. It would be a cause for concern if no breeding attempts were made there in 1 990. RS Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima One locality: one pair breeding. Scotland, N & W One locality: pair hatched four young, but fledging not established. This species continues to maintain a tenuous hold. There have been con- firmed breeding records in all but two of the years since the first in 1978. It is, however, a difficult species for which to obtain breeding information during fieldwork, so it is probably overlooked and under-recorded. A* [TV Ruff Philomachus pugnax Eight localities: 3-15 females nesting. England, SE Three localities. I'.SSKX Three localities: (1) 1-2 in June; (2) 2-6 in June; (3) one on 16th June. England, E Four localities. uAMHRliXii.sHiRK Three localities: (1) one in May, but no evidence of breeding; (2) nest and 4 eggs on 20th May, and ‘a second male suspicious’ on 25th-26th May; (3) two reeves nested, three juveniles seen in mid July. Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 79 NORFOLK One locality: pair during breeding season. England, N One locality. CHESHIRE One locality: five males lekking dur- ing early March to May, five females present, but were gone by 9th May. The best year for proved breeding since 1980. The species remains a very scarce breeder and, although in some years there may be 20-30 or more present in suitable breeding habitat for a time in spring, there is no evidence to suggest that a breeding population is firmly established in Britain. LAB Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 16 localities: 33-66 pairs breeding. England, SW One locality. SOMERSET One locality: pair from April to early June and non-breeding pair from late April to mid June. England, SE One locality. KENT One locality: three pairs laid clutches, but all were taken by predators. England, E Nine localities. CAMBRIDGESHIRE Two localities: (1) 13 pairs, seven of which bred successfully, fledging at least two young; (2) 23 pairs on territory in May, 14 pairs hatched eggs, and nine young fledged. NORFOLK Four localities: (1) pair laid, but eggs taken by predator; (2)(3) single pairs, but nests de- stroyed by predators; (4) pair, but no young known. ELSEWHERE Three localities: (1) pair attempted to breed, but failed; (2) two pairs possibly bred; (3) pair, possibly one that had failed elsewhere, arrived and displayed. England, N One locality. CHESHIRE One locality: up to 25 from May to late June. Scotland, N&W1 our localities. ORKNEY One locality: pair with at least one nearly full-grown young on 15th June. SHETI AND Three localities: (1) pair with clutch of 4 eggs found on 21st June, probably hatched on 5th July; (2) pair with clutch of 4 eggs, probably failed; (3) pair successfully reared three young. In south and east England, the population is fairly stable, with the majority at two key sites. When nesting in loose groups, Black-tailed Godwits can be very effective in deterring potential avian predators. The low breeding success of isolated pairs suggests, however, that new viable breeding groups may be difficult to establish. ^ ^ Wood Sandpiper 7 ruga glareola Two localities: 1-2 pairs bred. Scodand, N & W Two localities: (1) pair, and ‘alarming’ adults suggest hatching at least; (2) pair, but no evidence of chicks. The lesser number of records compared with 1989 (when there were 2-6 pairs breeding, at six localities) probably represents under-i ecording rathei than a population decline. 77116 80 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1 990 Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropns lobatus Four localities: 14-18 pairs breeding. Scotland, N&WF our localities: (1) two females; (2) females in June, but not in July; (3) two or three pairs, but no evidence of breeding; (4) 12-13 pairs. The situation remains unchanged since 1989, with most occurring in their Shetland stronghold. RWS Mediterranean Gull I jams melanocephalus Ten localities: 11-16 pairs breeding. England, SW i wo localities: (1) two pure pairs, both of which apparendy failed; (2) three pure pairs, all of which failed, plus two other individuals. England, SE Six localities: (1) pair bred, two young found when nearly three-quarters grown; (2) two pairs, one seen with nearly fledged young; (3) pair on cliffs, into July; (4) pair reared one young, which was eaten by a fox Vulpes wipes] (5) pairs on 1 1 th and 29th April, 28th May and 20th June; (6) clutch of 1 on 6th May, and another of 3 on 2nd June, but both flooded. England, N Two localities: (1) pair widi 3 eggs, taken by predator, probably by a Grey Heron Arden rinerea] (2) pair, mating observed, female incubated for 1 1 days, then pair deserted clutch. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 5 4 2 6 4 3 5 3 9 5 10 Confirmed (pairs) 1 3 2 2 4 3 1 1 5 6 11 Possible (pairs) 4 3 1 6 1 5 4 2 10 3 5 Max. total (pairs) 5 6 3 8 5 8 5 3 15 9 16 Many of the pioneer colonisers formed mixed pairings in colonies of Black- headed Gulls L. ridibundus. No mixed pairings were reported in 1 990, however, from which fact one may deduce that it is no longer difficult for Mediter- ranean Gulls to find mates of their own species in southern England. RS Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis One locality: one individual. England, N One locality. Nc JRTHUMBKRI AND One locality: female present from 30th April to 19th August, mated to male Sandwich Tern S. sandvicensis, ; one egg laid on 7th June, but the chick died. This individual was first discovered associating with Sandwich Terns at this site in 1984 and has returned every year since {Brit. Birds 84: 869). RS 81 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii 15 localities: 93-124 pairs breeding. England, SW 1 wo localities. IS1.KS or SCII.I.Y Two localities: (1) pair from 1 1th June to 30th July, when seen with one young; (2) pair during 4th-30th June. England, SE I wo localities: (1) one or two pairs, but young died soon after hatching; (2) single adults on 13th May, 15th and 20th June, pair in colony of Common ferns S. hirundo on 18th May. England, N Three localities: (1) two pairs bred; (2) five pairs bred; (3) 23 pail's, plus four re-lays, 28 young, of which 1 9 fledged. Wales l’hree localities: (1) seven pairs laid, hatching 28 young, of which two fledged; (2) maxi- mum of 34 clutches, but predation by gulls Lams resulted in no young fledging; (3) three pairs on 15th June. Scotland, Mid Two localities: (1) 21 pairs, of which 17 bred, laying 28 eggs and fledging 20 young; (2) two in a tern colony for several days. Northern Ireland Three localities: (1) 19 pairs; (2) three pairs; (3) one pair. A serious drop in numbers at UK colonies in 1990, but this probably reflects a shift of part of the population to one of the major colonics in Ire- land. KWS Least Tern Sterna antillarum One locality: one individual. England, SE One locality: an individual identified as this form summered, for the eighth consec- utive year, in a colony of Little Terns .S', albifrons. This is the first time that this North American fonn, closely related to (and formerly regarded as conspecific with) little Fern, has featured in the Panel’s annual reports. Presumably this individual winters with European little Terns. (The identification of this individual is still under consideration by the Rarities Committee, and will in due course also be assessed by the BOU Records Committee.) RS Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca One locality: two females. Scotland, N & W One locality. SHETLAND One locality: two females, one of which laid an unfertilised egg, which was found crushed at the second visit. Snowy Owls ended their nine-year mn of breeding in Shetland in 1975, since when only females have been present. Unless a male finds them soon, they may grow too old to breed, or too set in their ways. Permanent colonisa- tion of an area this far south must be unlikely, but further sporadic breeding is always a possibility. RS & U)B Hoopoe Upupa epops Two localities: 0-2 pairs breeding. England, SE One locality. SUFFOLK One locality: pair displaying on 10th May, not seen subsequently. England, Central One locality. WORCESTERSHIRE One locality: male singing from at least 24th to 30th May. In 1977, four pairs nested, in Avon, Somerset, Surrey and Sussex [Brit. Buds 72: 375), but since then there has not been a single instance of confirmed breeding. None was reported to the Panel in 1989 or 1987, and 1985 was the last time that even possible breeding was reported from two localities. This 82 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1 990 species is likely to remain a sporadic breeder here, relying for its occasional ‘good’ years on a large spring influx followed by a dry, warm summer. J I'R> S Wryneck Jynx torquilla Six localities: 0-6 pairs breeding. England, SE 1 wo localities. ESSEX Two localities: (1) one on 13th May; (2) one on 16th June. England, E One locality. HUNTINGDONSHIRE One locality: one singing on 6th June only. England, Central Two localities. SHROPSHIRE One locality: one singing on 13th May. Worcestershire One locality: one seen and heard from 1st June to at least 24th August. Scotland, Mid One locality. GRAMPIAN One locality: male singing on several days in a new area. The above reports of ‘males’ have been taken at face value, but it should be noted that, as with other woodpeckers, both sexes sing (or drum). More than one pair confirmed breeding has not been recorded in the UK since the four pairs in 1978, following seven pairs the previous year; none was proved for four years during 1981-84, then single pairs each year until the blank in 1990. Although noisy when newly arrived or when unpaired, singing ceases very soon after nesting starts, so the ‘disappearance’ of a ‘noisy migrant’ deserves careful investigation in case a pair of this well-camouflaged and surreptitious breeder is quietly getting on with the job of procreation. JTRS Woodlark Ijillula arborea 64-336 pairs breeding. England, SW 14-129 pairs breeding. cornwaee One locality: male singing in last week of May. DEVON Five localities: (l)-(5) total of two pairs proved breeding and three pairs probably breeding. DORSET Six localities: 22 pairs (four proved and 18 probably breeding). HAMPSHIRE RSPB survey estimated 60 pairs in the New Forest; 40 pairs at eight localities else- where. W IEI SHIRE One locality: pair feeding young. England, SE 22 -36 pairs breeding. BERKSHIRE F'ive localities: (l)-(5) total of six pairs (three proved, two probably and one possibly breeding). ESSEX One locality: pair raised young. KENT One locality: single ‘around for some time’. SURREY 1 1 localities: (l)-(ll) total of 22 pairs (nine proved, six probably and seven possibly breed- ing). SUSSEX Three localities: (our pairs proved to breed. England, E 27-168 pairs breeding. EINCOENSHIRE Two localities: (1)(2) three pairs proved to breed and four pairs possibly breeding. NORKOEK One locality: 14 pairs proved to breed and 34 probably breeding. suitoek Ten localities: (1)-(10) total often pairs proved to breed and 103 probably breeding. England, Central One to three pairs breeding. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE One locality: pair proved to breed and two pairs possibly breeding. The totals for SW and E England arc both significantly higher than those in 1989, but this probably reflects the increased coverage resulting from two special surveys. KWS 83 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 Black Redstart Phoenicians ochruros 50 localities: 28-74 pairs breeding. England, SE 26 localities. BERKSHIRE Two localities: (1) male singing on 3rd April; (2) male singing on 18th May. ESSEX Four localities: (1) three pairs bred; (2) three males singing several times, almost certainly bred; (3) pair bred; (4) male in June. HERTFORDSHIRE One locality: pair bred. KENT Six localities: (1) male singing in June; (2) male singing in August; (3) pair bred; (4) pair reared four young; (5) one on 12th July, very agitated on 25th July, presumed to have bred; (6) two pairs, three broods reared. LONDON One locality: male singing on one date in June. MIDDLESEX One locality: male singing on 6th May, regarded as ‘probable breeding’ as the species bred there in 1989. SURREY Nine localities: (1) pair in June; (2) pair in late April; (3) pair bred; (4) one on 30th April; (5) pair bred; (6) pair with two juveniles on 22nd May; (7) male singing on 24th April; (8) many sightings, at least one probable breeding pair; (9) two females or juveniles on 25th May. SUSSEX Two localities: (1) male singing on 3rd May; (2) male singing throughout April and May. England, E 12 localities. HUNTINGDONSHIRE One locality: subsong at a former site, on one date only. UNCOLNSHIRE One locality: at least two females and a male, two broods reported to have fledged during 1 7th-22nd June. NORFOLK Four localities: (1) unpaired male in late July and August; (2) pair fledged young; (3) pair fledged young and an additional four singing males; (4) unpaired male in May and June. SUFFOLK Six localities: (1) pair probably bred; (2) two pairs bred; (3) pair probably bred; (4) two pairs bred: (5) pair possibly bred; (6) three pairs bred and an additional three pairs probably bred. England, Central Nine localities. DERBYSHIRE One locality: pair bred, young fledging by end of May. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE One locality: single male, but no females. STAFFORDSHIRE One locality: male seen. WEST MIDLANDS Six localities: (1) male singing from April to June, plus a female on 25th May, two males on 30th May, young seen; (2) pair on 1 1th April, male singing; (3) pair on 11th June, female posturing and soliciting; (4) sub-adult male singing on 10th June; (5) sub-adult male singing on 23rd April; (6) male singing on 21st June, probably having moved from one of the other West Midland sites. England, N One locality. YORKSHIRE One locality: three pairs each reared at least one brood. Wales One locality: female or first-summer male. Scodand, S One locality. LOTH IANS One locality: male on 13th July and unsexed individual on 20th September. Reported numbers of birds, and of localities occupied, have fallen by almost 50% since the species was reinstated as a Panel species in 1986. We believe that this reflects a genuine decline in numbers, but also believe the species to be seriously under-reported. We urge birdwatchers to report to the relevant county recorders all Black Redstarts seen in likely breeding habitats during April to September. 3JDG Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 1 2 localities: 5- 1 2 pairs breeding. England, SE One locality. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE One locality: one on 12th June ‘schaking’ and reluctant to leave the area. England, N Four localities. NORTHUMBERLAND Three localities: (1) one on 9th June; (2) one collecting food, presumably for nestlings or fledglings, on 9th June; (3) one in May and June, followed by four young on 16th July. YORKSHIRE One locality: five eggs laid from which three young reared. 84 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1 990 Wales One locality: one giving alarm calls on one date in early July. Scotland, S Two localities. BORDERS Two localities: (1) one on 14th June; (2) one singing on* 15th May. Scotland, Mid Two localities. GRAMPIAN Two localities: (1) pair in suitable habitat throughout the season; (2) pair with young. Scotland, N & W Fwo localities. CAITHNESS One locality: two displaying on 4th April. SUTHERIAND One locality: brood of five on 29th June, of which four were ringed. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 5 6 7 10 4 3 2 7 7 12 12 Confirmed (pairs) 1 0 2 3 0 0 2 1 2 3 5 Possible (pairs) 4 6 5 9 4 3 0 6 5 10 7 Max. total (pairs) 5 6 7 12 4 3 2 7 7 13 12 With five pairs proved breeding, this was the best year yet for Fieldfares in the UK, the previous highest total being four in 1977. With over 700 pairs of this migrant species breeding as close to southern England as the Netherlands (Brit. Birds 84: 233), increases and range expansion throughout much of Europe over recent decades and almost continuous presence here as a breed- ing bird since the first (in Orkney) as long ago as 1967 (Scot. Birds 5: 31-32), establishment is tantalisingly slow and cannot yet be regarded as firm. JTRS Redwing Tardus iliacus 1 7 localities: 6-2 1 pairs breeding. Scodand, Central Three localities. Moray/ NAIRN One locality: one singing on 19th May. PERTHSHIRE Two localities: (1) one in full song on 1 1th May, not heard on 20th May; (2) one singing on 20th May, possibly a second, silent, individual with it. Scodand, N & W 15 sites. INVERNESS-SHIRE Two localities: (1) two pairs ‘alarming’ in late May, one nest with well-feathered young; (2) male singing, pair not seen, but nest found. she 1 1 AND Ten sites: (1)-(10) singles at each, seven of them singing, but no evidence of breeding. SUTHERLAND Three localities: (1) pair with four eggs; (2) pair, hatched eggshell found on ground, but nest not located; (3) songs from three different woods on 12th May, an egg found on 2nd May. Fewer individuals and localities were reported in 1990 than in any year since 1981. The recent peak was in 1984, when there were 31-79 pairs breed- ing. The Redwing is, however, a seriously under-recorded species, which can be heard singing in many parts of north and west Scotland from which the Panel receives few formal reports. Two ornithologists who searched extensively for this species in the early 1980s produced much higher numbers than were reported before or since. Cetti’s Warbler Cetlia cetti 99 localities: 19-345 pairs breeding. England, SW 62 localities in eight counties: 15-284 pairs breeding. England, SE 12 localities in six counties: 2- 19 pairs breeding. England, E 22 localities in five counties: 1-34 pairs breeding. Wales Three localities in two counties: 1-8 pairs breeding. W Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 85 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. counties 11 16 12 13 13 13 1 1 14 14 15 21 Confirmed (pairs) 19 56 29 90 78 59 4 31 24 12 19 Possible (pairs) 179 106 173 157 238 190 175 156 174 196 326 Max. total (pairs) 198 162 202 247 316 249 179 187 198 208 345 A succession of mild winters has evidently enabled this species to flourish, with the highest-ever maximum population. This has been achieved without the once-thriving Kentish population, although, after a lapse of several years, one pair did establish territory in Kent. There can be little doubt that the milder counties of southwest England and southern Wales provide the most suitable conditions for the species in Britain. RS Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides Five localities: 1-10 pairs breeding. England, E Five localities. NORFOLK One locality: one singing male. SUFFOLK Two localities: (1) at least four singing males; (2) up to three singing males in April. ELSEWHERE Two localities: (1) one singing throughout the season; (2) female ringed on 17th June had a brood patch (a singing male was present there in 1989). 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 14 8 1 1 12 10 12 9 16 10 13 5 Confirmed (pairs) 2 5 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 Possible (pairs) 27 10 18 15 12 14 11 20 13 17 9 Max. total (pairs) 29 15 18 17 12 15 12 20 13 17 10 A poor year, but all the birds were in that part of the country traditionally associated with Savi’s Warblers. To judge by numbers of some of the com- mon species, migrants may have had a very difficult spring passage north. RS Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris 1 2 localities: 1 3-24 pairs breeding. England, SE Eight localities: (1) pair bred; (2) one singing on 20th May; (3) one singing on 5th June; (4) one singing during 21st-28th June; (5) three males singing on 27th May, one singing on 29th May, one carrying nest material; (6) seven males singing on 30th May, live males singing on 4th June, five pairs successful and two pairs probably so; (7) pair bred and a second male on 10th June; (8) singing male from 28th May to at least 31st May. England, E One locality: one singing from 27th May to 6th June. England, Central Three localities. WORCESTERSHIRE Three localities: (1) two pairs, one Hedging five young, nest of the other pair possibly destroyed by predator; (2) pair bred, nest destroyed by predator, probably by wood mouse Apodemus sytualicus; (3) three pairs each fledged three young. 1980 1981* 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 9 3 26 26 28 23 18 11 13 10 12 Confirmed (pairs) 2 0 2 3 4 2 12 10 6 11 13 Possible (pairs) 57 3 72 53 47 40 16 11 14 11 11 Max, total (pairs) 59 3 74 56 51 42 28 21 20 22 24 *The 1981 totals omit Worcestershire, then still the main population centre for this species. An encouraging year, marked by a modest return of the species to its tradi- tional haunts in Worcestershire, where 50-60 pairs persisted through the 1970s, but had decreased to 7-9 pairs by 1986 {Brit. Birds 82: 239-256). Mean- while, the population in SE England continues to hold its own, and even to thrive. The table shows that more pairs were proved to breed in the UK in 1 990 than at any time in the previous decade. RS & CJB 86 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1 990 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Two localities: two individuals. England, SE One locality. BERKSHIRE'. One locality: voluble singing male from 22nd May to 16th June (Brit. Birds 85: 539). England, N One locality. NORTHUMBERLAND One locality: singing male during 12th-20th June (Brit. Birds 84: 492). 1984 HUMBERSIDE One locality: singing male from 19th May to at least 1st June (Brit. Birds 79: 571). Spring vagrant Great Reed Warblers often sing from their reedbed habitat for a day or two, and such records are not noted in these annual reports. Sometimes, however, an individual takes up territory and remains for a longer period, and these records arc included by us. It is probable that they almost always refer to unmated lone males, but such occurrences are likely to be the prelude if breeding does ever take place in the UK. There were one or two such long-staying singing males in six of the seven years 1975-81 (leading to high expectations of eventual colonisation), but then two blank years until the one in 1984 (above), followed by a five-year gap until these two in 1990. Per- haps the sudden silence of a singing male should not necessarily be assumed to indicate his departure; maybe, in one year, a female Great Reed Warbler will have heard his song . . . JTRS Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata 55-928 pairs breeding. England, SW C bounty maxima: CORNWALL 1, DORSET 334, HAMPSHIRE: 441, ISLE OK WIGH T 7, WILTSHIRE 1, ANO THER 16. England, SE County maxima: SURREY 120, SUSSEX 8. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. counties 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 8 6 5 8 Confirmed (pairs) 19 50 8 14 1 1 26 15 8 26 23 55 Possible (pairs) 258 69 304 134 429 368 293 239 616 499 873 Max. total (pairs) 277 1 19 312 148 440 394 308 247 639 522 928 This is by far the highest total ever reported. The term locality' is not ap- propriate for this species, for whereas some reports arc of a single pair others are for broad areas (e.g. ‘New Forest’). Without map references for every pair, there is always a risk that some pairs will be counted twice, once as an indi- vidual pair, and once as part of the population of a wider area. Even allowing for this possibility, there is no reason to doubt that the population reached record levels in 1990. RS Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus 48 localities: 9-97 pairs breeding. England, SW 13 localities. DEVON Two localities: (1) pair proved breeding; (2) pair probably breeding. DORSET One locality: pair bred successfully. GLOUCESTERSHIRE One locality: approximately five pairs. HAMPSHIRE Five localities: (1) New Forest, at least 19 pairs or singing males; (2)-(5) single males singing. SOMERSET Two localities: (1) three singing males; (2) male on 12th and 15th July. WILTSHIRE Two localities: (1) two singing on 6th May, three on 7th May; (2) two singing on 25th June, at least one pair bred later. 87 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 England, SE 21 localities. BEDFORDSHIRE I wo localities: (1) one singing on 25th May and 2nd June; (2) one singing on 28th and 29th May. BERKSHIRE 1 wo localities: (1) one singing, date not supplied; (2) singing male on 14th March, and from 16th April to 24th May, pair on 29th April and 2nd May. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Four localities: (1) one singing on 28th May; (2) one singing on 27th May; (3) one singing from 7th May to end of the month; (4) ten territories, one brood seen and one other young seen. ESSEX four localities: (l)-(4) singles singing on 1st, 10th and 27th May and ‘in May’, respectively. MIDDLESEX Two localities: (1) female on 6th April and male during 9th- 1 2th April; (2) singing male on 26th March. SURREY l ive localities: (1) male holding territory; (2) one seen feeding juvenile Goldcrest R. regulus', (3) one singing on 1 5th May; (4) male held territory in April and one other present; (5) singing male. SUSSEX One locality: one singing on 28th April. England, E Three localities. CAMBRIDGESHIRE One locality: one in conifer plantation on 2 1st July. NORFOLK One locality: pair from 23rd May to 18th July, one well-grown juvenile, probably two, possibly more, on 18th July. SUFFOLK One locality: female and two males present in late May. England, Central One locality. WORCESTERSHIRE One locality: one singing in third week of April. England, N Two localities. LANCASHIRE Two localities: (1) male in breeding condition, ringed on 16th June; (2) one singing on 1st and 2nd May, a second may have been present. Wales Eight localities. GWENT Six localities: (1) song from 29th April to 27th May, two on 28th April and 1st May; (2) 12 singing, fledged young in three areas; (3)-(6) singles singing on 24th March, 13th April, 5th May and 22nd May, respectively. GWYNEDD One locality: two, including singing male, on 15th March. R.ADNORSHIRE One locality: one singing in May, probably feeding young later. This species remains volatile in numbers each year: presumably the size of the population reaching Britain each year is affected by spring weather. The year 1990 experienced a poor spring and this affected a number of common migrants and may have reduced the number of Firecrests arriving here. Although numbers have been generally higher and the distribution more widespread in the 1980s than in the 1970s, when the species was discovered to breed in localities outside the New Forest where it was first discovered in 1961, numbers now appear to have levelled off. The averages were 3-46 pairs breeding in 1973-79 and 8-85 during 1980-89, compared with the 9-97 in 1990. ' LAB Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus One locality: one individual. England, SE One locality. KENT One locality: male from 21st April to 1st May (Brit. Birds 85: 546), during which time he built one nest and three-quarters finished a second. With the species still extending its range in western Europe, and turning up more frequendy in Britain (ten in 1990, compared with only 37 previously), one may hope that it will soon breed here regularly. RS 88 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 38 localities: 1 0-42 pairs breeding. England, SW Three localities: (1) male on 1 7th May; (2) male, seen and heard, on 27th May; (3) pair present, but no young reared. England, SE Seven localities: (1) pair and an additional male in late May; (2) male singing on 29th May; (3) male on 6th May; (4) one singing in May; (5) two males singing, no date reported; (6) three males and a female on 16th May; (7) an immature male during 22nd-31st May. England, E 27 localities: (1) pair bred, three young ringed; (2) pair bred, but nest failed; (3) pair Hedged two young; (4) singing male, but could have been from an adjacent site; (5) one heard on 29th May, seen on 30th June; (6) three pairs bred; (7) first-summer male on 24th June; (8) one singing in late May and early June; (9) pair probably bred; (10) male heard briefly on 7th June; ill) male, not far from a former breeding area; (12) male calling on 3 1st May; (13) at least four pairs bred and six pairs summered; (14) pair probably bred; (15) pair fledged at least one young; 16) male singing on 5th May and 5th June, one pair bred, second pair probably bred; (17) pair fledged at least one young; (18) pair fledged two young; (19) one singing on 28th May, 5th and 16th June; (20)(21) single pairs probably bred; (22) male singing in May; (23) pair bred; (24) pair probably bred and a second male present; (25) female and three males on 20th May, one pair bred; (26) pair fledged at least two young; (27) three calling in suitable habitat on 19th May. England, N One locality: male sang continually on 22nd May, seen on 22nd June, w hen flew to another individual, presumed female. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1 989 1 990 No. localities 17 13 12 14 1 1 12 13 22 35 29 38 Confirmed (pairs) 2 4 3 2 4 4 5 1 1 16 15 10 Possible (pairs) 26 22 18 19 14 11 11 20 25 22 32 Max. total (pairs) 28 26 21 21 18 15 16 31 41 37 42 The diligence of the Golden Oriole Group, to whom the Panel is much in- debted, must be partly responsible lor the increased numbers of individuals and localities reported, but there is also evidence of a genuine increase in numbers. RS&JJDC Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Seven localities: 1-8 pairs breeding. England, SE One locality: female on 28th May. England, E l our localities: (1) male from lbth May to 30th June, a second male and a female 89 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1990 on 23rd May; (2)-(4) single males on 22nd May, 31st May and 16th June, respectively. Scotland, S One locality: male sang throughout 20th May, but did not stay. Scotland, N & W One locality: pair successfully Hedged one young, despite the fact that the male disappeared. The number of confirmed pairs declined relentlessly from 172 pairs known in 1960 (Bird Study 9; 198-216), and 48-64 pairs breeding as recendy as 1977, to zero in 1989, when there were only six instances of possible breeding, in three counties. It would be nice to think that 1 990 marked a turning point in the species’ fortunes, but the decline is widespread in the more maritime parts of western Europe, so there is little room for optimism. Goriup & Batten (1990, Oryx 24 (4): 215-223) remarked that ‘the species appears to be doing well in those parts of Europe which are exposed to a drier or more continen- tal climate’, but this has not been reflected in better performance in Britain during recent, drought-stricken years. JJDG Brambling Fringilla montifringilla One locality: one individual. England, E One locality. NOR THAMPTONSHIRE One locality: pair seen and heard at the end of May. There was a time in the early 1980s when it looked as though this species w'as becoming a regular, established breeder, but not so now. With 50,000-2,000,000 wintering in Britain, it is perhaps surprising that more do not stay on to breed, at least in some years. The huge influx to the Merseyside area in winter 1980/81, with one roost containing up to 20,000 at a time and perhaps being used by 150,000 individuals over the winter ( BTO .Slews 1 1 4: 9), did not, however, lead to an increase in breeding numbers in summer 1981; indeed, that year was one of the worst in the past two decades, with only one pair confirmed breeding, whereas the following year provided the peak, with 2-10 pairs breeding. With its close congener commonly occupying all likely Brambling nesting localities, it is far more likely that an itinerant individual will meet and hy- bridise with a Chaffinch F. coelebs than that it will chance upon a second Brambling of the opposite sex. That may perhaps be the key to the species’ failure to become established here, although it is surprising that its wheezy notes, recalling Greenfinch Carduelis chloris , are not detected more often in our northern forests. Perhaps they too closely resemble Greenfinch, and are over- looked? JTRS European Serin Serinus serinus Two localities: 1-2 pairs. England, SW 1 wo localities. CORNWAIJ. Two localities: (1) pair held territory in a rural garden from 5th to 22nd May; (2) male held territory from 23rd May to 1 5th July. 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 No. localities 1357452461 Confirmed (pairs) 02 1 22 10 0 00 Possible (pairs) 14 6 5 3 5 3 5 9 12 Max, total (pairs) 1 6 7 7 5 6 3 5 9 1 2 90 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1 990 Over the years, most of the records of summering Serins have come from the southwest of England (especially Devon, whence^ we have received no re- port for 1990), so the two Cornish records conform to a pattern. RS Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinns Three localities: 1-3 pairs breeding. Scotland, N & W Three localities. ARGYLL One locality: pair, including a first-summer male. CAITHNESS One locality: singing male on 29th May. SHETLAND One locality: pair hatched four eggs and fledged three or four. The only known nesting since the first, in 1982 (Brit. Birds 77: 133-135). Be- fore the well-known events of summer 1992 (Brit. Birds 85: 646), Robert Spencer wrote: ‘At present the prospects for colonising Scarlet Rosefinches look better than those for— say — Serin Serinus serinus.' It has, however, taken a long time, the English Channel and the North Sea apparently acting as unex- pectedly efficient barriers. The range expansion on the Continent is well known, with extension right to the shores nearest to Biitain in 1987, first breeding occurring then on Heligoland, Germany, and in the Netherlands; the Duteh population had increased to 15 pairs by 1989 (Brit. Birds 84: 1 1). Breed- ing pairs can be surprisingly inconspicuous, are easily overlooked and are so catholic in their choice of nesting site that suitable habitat must be widespread. Next year’s report will reveal what may be the first real surge to- wards establishment. A paper by D. I. M. Wallace, outlining the species' Eu- ropean expansion and initial stages of colonisation of Britain, is in preparation for British Birds. JTRS Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis 17 pairs breeding. Scotland, Mid and N & W 1 7 pairs arc known to have bred successfully, producing well- grown broods at least. This total does not represent a complete census for this species. RWS Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus 94 localities: 48-133 pairs breeding. England, SW CORNWALL Two localities: (1) pair in March, male in song; (2) pair in June and August. DEVON 91 localities: ( 1 )-(9 1 ) totals of 48 pairs proved, 52 probably and 30 possibly breeding. SOMERSET One locality: male from 30th June undl 3rd July. The Cirl Bunting is the subject of a detailed research and monitoring pro- gramme by the RSPB, in collaboration with the Devon Birdwatching and Preservation Society, and the Panel is indebted to Dr Andy Evans for furnish- ing precise details of the Devon population. The welcome increase in numbers in 1990 may, to some extent, be the result of more-complete coverage and better knowledge of the whereabouts of the birds. The range is now almost entirely restricted to a small area of Devon. KWS Rare Breeding Birds Panel , c/o Fountains , Park lane. Blunham , Bedford MK'44 3.NJ Reviews Grouse in Space and Time: the population biology of a managed gamebird. By Peter J. Hudson. Game Conservancy, Fordingbridge, 1992. 63 colour plates; 61 line-drawings. £25.00. Over nine million acres of upland Britain are maintained in a highly artificial state through heather burning, predator control and restrictions on public access so that a small number of peo- ple can shoot approximately 450,000 Red Grouse Lagopus lagupus each year. An equally impor- tant statistic is that the annual income generated by encouraging this indigenous bird to live at unnaturally high densities solely so that the surplus production can be shot is some £31.5 million, an amount which benefits not just the owners of the land, but also the communities of the mostly remote areas involved. The long-term decline in grouse numbers this century, with a major ac- celeration in the 1970s, prompted this detailed study which, it is hoped, would come up with some explanations and, preferably, some remedies. The Game Conservancy’s Red Grouse Research Team, ably led by Peter Hudson, has pro- duced this extremely detailed examination of the Red Grouse, its economics, management, popu- lation biology, behaviour, diseases, predators and food supply. Some grouse-moor owners have confessed that it is all a bit too scientific for them, but the numerous graphs, histograms and tables are set amidst a very readable text, while the colour photographs illustrate almost every aspect of Red Grouse and moorland. Grouse-moor owners and keepers have long accused the Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus of being a major predator of Red Grouse, especially their chicks, making this the excuse for massive persecu- tion, which still goes on in several areas despite decades of supposedly total protection. The sec- tion in this book dealing with this shows that moors with harriers produce an average 1 7% few'er young grouse than moors without, the effect being inversely linked with grouse density, so that on high-density moors the number of chicks taken by harriers is relatively unimportant. The conclusion of the study is that predation by foxes Vulpes vulpes and crows (Corvidae) is much more significant than that by Hen Harriers. There is also a need for better management of the heather, with more careful burning and a better balance of grazing by sheep and red deer Cervus elaphus. The former additionally carry ticks, which pass the very serious disease louping ill to the grouse, causing substantial mortality in some years, while the latter, the Scottish population of which is over 350,000, are in urgent need of severe reduction if not just grouse moors but also other areas of upland Britain are not to be further degraded. A fascinating and important book, deserving to be read by a far wider audience than just grouse-moor owners and keepers. Malcolm Ogilvik Here I Am — Where Are You?: the behaviour of the Greylag Goose. By Konrad Lorenz. HarpcrCollins, London, 1992. 238 pages. 40 colour plates; 96 black-and-white plates. £16.99. This is Konrad Lorenz’s last book a summing-up of his lifetime’s study of the behaviour of the Greylag Goose Anser anser, incorporating the findings of the long line of collaborators whom he in- spired to follow his pioneering work in developing the concept of ethology, studying the behaviour of animals in their natural environment. Although the text is a mixture of anecdote and detailed scientific account, it is by no means easy reading in some places, and a few purchasers may be disappointed that it is not as accessible as some of his earlier and highly popular books. That said, the book provides a fascinating in- sight into the way in which Lorenz developed his ideas, about both the behaviour of the Greylags themselves and the ways in which it can be compared with parallel behaviour by human beings. The illustrations are apposite and informative, and my only quibble is with the daft price. It is worth aU of £17.00. Malcolm Ogilvik 91 The Cape Clear ‘Griffons’ The difficulty which Griffon Vultures Gyps ful- vus have in maintaining flapping flight for substantial periods over the sea makes it highly improbable that the five unidentified eagle-like birds observed flying past Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, on 1st September 1965 (Brit. Birds 85: 186) could have been of that species. I have, however, recendy had occasion to look again at the evidence (Cape Clear Bird Observatory Report 7: 16-17) and Dr C. J. Henty’s comments (Cape Clear Bird Observatory Bull. 37: 3-5). It must be admitted that the Griffon identi- fication is by far the most likely, given the sociable nature of vultures and the implausibility of five White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla turning up together. Griffon Vultures seem to be increasing in Spain, so, if the Henty theory is correct, we may not have to wait too long before circumstances repeat them- selves. E . F . J . Garcia 2 Busdens Close, Milford, Godaiming, Surry GU8 5js Taxonomic status of the Red Grouse There are good reasons for the differing taxonomic treatments of the Scottish Crossbill Loxia scotica and the Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus, contrary to the impression given by John Parker (Brit. Birds 85: 680). The sympatric breeding of L. scotica and L. curviros- tra (Ibis 132: 454-466) prevent their treatment as conspecific. On the other hand, recent research into variegatus has shown that at least three isolated pop- ulations of Ijagopus lagopus living in relatively mild climates on islands off the coast of Norway have independently acquired partly or heavily pigmented winter plumage, increased pigmentation of the otherwise year-round white feathers and retardation of the winter moult (Fauna now. Ser. C, Cinclus 12: 79- 99). This suggests that populations of Ijagopus lagopus readily show local differ- entiation and supports the argument that the Red Grouse is best treated as a race of that species. No change of status is anticipated at present by the BOURC. This, however, in no way detracts from the biological interest of the distinctive, isolated grouse populations of Britain and Ireland. Bearing in mind the logo of the magazine, we can understand that the edi- tors of British Birds might wish to sec the Red Grouse elevated once more to full species. We wonder if substantial sponsorship of the BOURC Taxonomic Sub-committee by The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky might influence any future decision? Ai.an Knox and David Parkin Buckinghamshire County Museum, Tring Road, Holton , Buckinghamshire HP22 5FJ Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Queens Medical Centre, .Nottingham .NG7 21 ll 92 British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers The books included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. It is the aim of British Birds and Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd to provide British Birds subscribers with the best, most reliable and friendliest sendee possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd. All correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN, Books All listed books are POST FREE. 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Birds 85: named as follows: plate 265) was Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis (39%) linnet Carduelis cannabina (35%) Twite Carduelis Jlavirostris (17%) Red-fronted Serin Sennus pusillus (6%) Snowfinch Alontifnngilla nivalis (2%) Siskin Carduelis spinus (1%) Sponsored by All three leading contenders (Roy Hargreaves, Hannu Jannes and Dave Numey) identified this juvenile Snow Bunting, photographed in Iceland by Wendy Dickson in June 1988. Soon, surely, one of them will be the outright winner of the SUNBIRD holiday of his choice in Africa, Asia or North Amer- ica. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI9 IDF; or tele- phone Sandy (0767) 682969. 18. ‘Monthly marathon’ (thirty-first stage in fifth contest or first or second in sixth contest: photo- graph number 80). Identify the species. Read the rules on pages 25-26 in the January issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th March 1993 93 Black-headed Gulls foraging behind motor vehicle On 18th October 1989, while returning from Hilbre Island across the sands to West Kirby, on the Wirral, Cheshire, I noticed a Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus following our Land Rover. Keeping between the tyre tracks and about 60 cm above the sand, its flight alternated between glides of up to ten seconds’ duration and in- termittent bouts of hurried wing- flapping. Its head was at all times held notice- ably downwards, and, on the few occasions when it alighted and pecked at the sand, small food items might have been eaten. It remained with us for about three minutes, and at one point was joined by a second Black-headed Gull which adopted an identical flight action for half a minute, the two wheel- ing away as we gained the foreshore. Presumably, the vibrations caused by the Land Rover simulated the turn of the tide, or perhaps rain, bringing to the sur- face food items which the gulls had learnt to exploit. P. I. Morris Caughall Farmhouse Cottage, Caughall Road, Up ton- by- Chester, Cheshire CH2 4BW Dr J. J. M. Flegg has commented that ‘The gulls appear to have been using the Land Rover wheels as automated foot-pattering, which is quite different from the “old routine” of investigating overturned soil (as, for example, when following the plough).’ We are not aware of any compar- able records. Eds Common and Black-headed Gulls plunge-diving after leaves On 2nd November 1989, while walking alongside the River Dee at low tide at Chester, Cheshire, I noticed two Common Gulls Larus canus and five Black- headed Gulls L. ridibundus plunge-diving into the river. First, one of the Com- mon Gulls dived into the shallows, and soon the others joined in, all of them bringing individual yellow leaves of willow Salix and poplar Populus to the sur- face in their bills. After vigorous head-shaking, tossing the leaves and retriev- ing them, or diving after others, they eventually moved into deeper water. During these dives, the gulls submerged totally apart from their wing-tips, and brought bcakfuls of muddy, black and decaying leaf litter to the surface. At this point, they appeared quite frenzied, diving time and again, spinning on the water and chasing other gulls with leaves, in a playful piratical fashion, until the leaves were discarded. At one stage, a Black-headed Gull chased a Common Gull which had retrieved a matchbox from the river bottom. I watched the activity for ten minutes, before leaving. P. 1. Morris Caughall Farmhouse Cottage, Caughall Road, Upton -by-Chester, Cheshire CH2 4RW It seems likely that the gulls, since they kept up this behaviour, were also obtaining food with the leaves, while at the same time indulging in an clement of ‘play’. EDS 94 Notes 95 Whiskered Terns feeding behind plough On 17th March 1989, near Donana National Park, Spain, I watched about 50 Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybridus , all but one in full summer plumage, feeding behind a plough. Rain had moistened the soil, and there was a gentle breeze and overcast sky. At 15.43 GMT, 23 terns that had been on the ground while the tractor was idle flew to it when it moved; by 15.48 hours, at least 43 were following the plough, joined by four more at 15.52. They called frequently, hovered mostly just behind the plough, and often dived near to one another in quick succes- sion. When the tractor was idle, the terns dispersed, and called less; some, fly- ing higher (3.5 m), patrolled along the furrows, diving less frequently to feed. All feeding was done while flying; during brief periods on the ground, the terns appeared to be resting. Three Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus with the terns were not seen to feed; also on the ploughed area, there were two Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and 28 feeding Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis. On a later visit, near dusk, when ploughing had ceased, all terns, egrets and gulls had gone. Three days later, up to five Whiskered Terns present at 17.04 hours associated little with the plough and fed rarely: it was dry, windy, clear and sunny, and presumably fewer invertebrate prey were uncovered by the plough. BWP (vol. 4) does not mention Whiskered Terns following the plough. I acknowledge the support provided to me by CSIC-CICYT. A . M . J O N E S Fiodhag, Dell Road, Nethybridge, Inverness-shire PH25 3DL Barn Swallows roosting in maize From early August 1989, on the east- ern edge of the built-up area of Sandbach, Cheshire, AAF noted the develop- ment of a hirundine roost in a field of maize /pea mays. Initially, only 200-300 individuals (perhaps those which had nested in the immediate area) were using this roost, but by mid September several thousands were roosting each night in the field. On 18th September, DE checked a regular roost site in bulrushes Typha on the western outskirts of the built-up area. No hirundines were visible in the immediate vicinity, although the ‘twittering’ of a pre-roost gathering could be heard some way off: about 10,000 Barn Swallows Himndo mstica were soon located, performing their pre-roost aerobatics over a large maize field about 400 m away, and were seen to drop into the maize to roost. This sug- gests a preference for the maize over the bulrush used in previous years. On the same night, AAF observed a similar number of hirundines entering the roost on the eastern outskirts, giving a total of some 20,000 or more at the two sites. On 19th September, numbers at the eastern roost had fallen dra- matically to only 2,000-3,000, and the decline was rapidly completed, reflect- ing the reduced numbers in the general area. Other regular Barn Swallow roosts in Cheshire, notably at Woolston (War- rington), Acre Nook SQ (Chelford), Frodsham marshes and Stanlow oil-refin- ery, all in bulrush-beds, had either already dispersed earlier in the autumn or had not been used at all in 1989. BWP (vol. 5) refers to the use of maize by Barn Swallows and Sand Martins Riparia riparia for roosting, both on autumn passage and in winter quarters, but the only British reference relates to an observation made in Wiltshire in 1975 {Brit. Birds 70: 393). R. E. Youngman {Brit. Birds 70: 393) described similar 96 Notes events in the Dordogne, France, and added that, with the increasing planting of maize in Britain, ‘there must be a strong possibility of this habit spreading’. \V e would suggest that this is now the case in Cheshire, and it would be inter- esting to know of any similar observations elsewhere in Britain and whether they are increasing in frequency. Anthony A. Ford and Dennis Elphick 48 Brookland Drive, Sandbach, Crewe, Cheshire CW11 OLX Blackbird catching mayflies in air from perch On 13th May 1990, at Mottisfont, Flampshire, I saw a female Blackbird Turdus merula perched on the bare branches of a dead tree overhanging the River Test. There was a large emergence of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) at the time, and the Blackbird was seen to fly out in the manner of a flycatcher (Muscicapidae) and gather these insects. When it had collected several in its beak, it Hew off to a nearby nest to feed its young; a few minutes later, it reappeared and performed in the same way. I watched it for 20-25 minutes, during which time it caught many mayflies. Although BWP (vol. 5) includes mayflies in the diet of Blackbirds, it does not mention this method being used to catch them, nor can I find any reference to this behaviour in the literature available to me. A. M. Snook / 6 Emmett Road, Rownhams, Southampton, Hampshire SOI 8JB Dr C. J. Bibby lias observed Blackbirds catching craneflies (Tipulidae) in this way; and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock notes that Blackbirds occasionally fly upwards from the ground to catch large fly- ing insects, but that he has not observed them flycatching from a perch. Eds Curious behaviour of Goldcrest At about 07.45 GMT on 18th March 1990, from the kitchen of my former house in Nutficld, Surrey, I saw a male Goldcrest Regulus regulus moving about on the windowbox immediately outside the window. After watching it for about half a minute, I realised that, al- though it was continuously moving over a very restricted area of the box, it was not feeding; its restless movements, mainly up and over and down one particular geranium Pelargonium , were all within a compass of about 20 cm, but close examination confirmed that it was not caught on anything. After a few minutes, I called my wife to come and see this ceaseless performance. She was as puzzled as I was, and, leaving her watching, I fetched my camera. During the next ten minutes, I obtained 20 photographs from reasonably close range (plate 19). Twice the Goldcrest dropped down below the level of the window to the soil in the windowbox, and once it dropped down and clung to the sill, facing the window, but on each occasion it flew up within two or three seconds and resumed its movements around the geranium head; at no time did it feed. I wondered whether it was attracted by its own reflec- tion in the window; its crest appeared to be slightly raised at times, but it did not peck at the window or touch the glass. After a further ten minutes (at 08.10 hours), it dropped down to the soil in the box and then flew into a hydrangea Hydrangea about 2 m away, where it started alternately feeding and opening its bill wide, two or three times a second (we suspected that it was calling, but could not hear through the double-glazed window); after about ten seconds, it was joined by a female Goldcrest, both of which fed in the hydrangea for half a minute before flying off. Notes 97 19. Male Goldcrest Regulus regutus apparently displaying to duck ornament, Surrey, March 1990 (E. W. Flaxman) Later, I decided to test whether there was a strong reflection in the kitchen window. The window faces west, and on the morning of 18th the light had not been strong (the sun was certainly not shining). On the morning of ‘20th March, the conditions looked similar to those on 18th, and I went outside to test the strength of reflections in the glass; they proved to be rather weak. I took some photographs from outside, as the view might have appeared to the Goldcrest, and in doing this 1 realised that the white-outlined eye of a small wooden model duck on the window-sill was very obvious from outside. The duck was roughly in the centre behind the area over which the Goldcrest had moved. I found this whole occurrence difficult to interpret or explain. The fact that the Goldcrest did not feed at all for 25 minutes (or longer, there being no way of knowing how long it had been present before I first saw it) suggests that it was seriously agitated. It was certainly not attached to the spot physically, and it did not attack the glass of the window. At no time did it move to any other part of the windowbox, which is more than 1.5 m long and contains similar half-dead geraniums throughout its length. Although it may seem odd, the least improbable explanation appears to be that the bird was mesmerised by the quaint eye of the model duck. E. W. FLAXMAN The Old School, Cottisford, Brackley, Northamptonshire KN13 5SW Dr K. E. L. Simmons has commented that the photographs ‘clearly suggest to me that the Goldcrest was reacting to the eye pattern on the duck ornament within; this in effect, if not exact detail, could be said to mimic the Goldcrest’s own display markings on its crown.’ Eds 98 Notes Coal Tits feeding on yew fruits At about 10.30 GM'I on L?0th Octobei 1989, in the churchyard at South Littleton, Worcestershire, I saw four Coal Tits Pams aler moving among the foliage and investigating the fruits of a yew tree Taxus baccata. Three of the tits were seen to pull away portions ol the fleshy part of the yew fruit (or aril), and at least two ol them swallowed some of the pieces they had torn off This feeding behaviour, which looked rather clumsy, continued for two or three minutes, before the tits flew off. Snow & Snow (1988. Birds and Bernes) did not list Coal Tits among birds which feed on yew fruits. They did, however, mention that Great I its P. major eat yew seeds after discarding the pulp, the plucked fruits being held with the feet and ham- mered; apparently, Blue P. caeruleus and Marsh 1 its P. palustris also take yew seeds occasionally. The Coal l its which I observed certainly made no attempt to feed on yew seeds; fruit pulp alone was swallowed, and the tits did not use their feet to steady the fruits. A. P. Radford Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton , Somerset TA4 3 EG Coal Tit hiding yew berries Further to Dr Radford s note (above), we both remember quite clearly that some years ago, in the grounds ol Malvern Priory, Worcestershire, we watched for several minutes a male Coal 1 it Parus ater repeatedly collect single fruits of yew Taxus baccata which had fallen under the parent tree, then fly a short distance and hide them in the edge of the grass verge surrounding one of the tombs. No notes were made, then or after- wards, but a check of KELS’s work diary reveals that this could have been only on 23rd or 24th October 1980. We also recall examining the spot the next year, and in further years, to see if any yew seedlings had sprouted, but they had not. R. E. L. SlMMONS and M. SIMMONS 66 Romway Road , Leicester LE5 5SB Extended fledging period of Bullfinch On 26th June 1988, at Wood- mansterne, Surrey, I found the nest of a Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula containing four eggs near the top of a 2-m-taU privet hedge Ugustmm. By 06.40 GMT on 6th July, three of the eggs had hatched and the virtually naked and blind nestlings were estimated to be two days old; the fourth egg failed to hatch. The young flew while the nest was being inspected at 06.55 hours on 26th July, giving a minimum fledging period of 20, and possibly 22, days. British Trust for Ornithology nest record cards for 1939-88 (D. E. Glue in lift.) and other sources (c.g. Newton, 1972, Finches) cite 17 days as the maximum fledg- ing period for the Bullfinch. At Woodmansternc, rain fell on all but four days during 6th-25th July 1988, total rainfall being 49 mm; the extended fledging period (at least three days beyond previous records) was probably due to this wet spell, resulting in insufficient food being collected for the young to grow and to leave the nest within the normal period. P. J. STRANGKM AN 22 Andrew Crescent . Waterboville, Hampshire P07 6BE News and comment compiled by Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch Tanzanian scandal A YEAR-LONG INVESTIGATION by the RSPB, the Neder- landse Vereniging tot Bescherming van Vogels (NVBVj and Tanzanian conservationists has revealed a thriving trade in pro- tected species in Tanzania. Forged paperwork is almost the norm, many species banned from trade are widely available from dealers, and birds which can be traded legally are caught and held captive in numbers far in excess of permitted quotas. It seems very7 likely that intensive trapping has been responsible for local extinctions of one Tanzanian endemic, Fischer’s Love- bird Agapomis fischen. An almost complete lack of control over what is going on is amply demonstrated by the fact that a species of bishop Euplectes found in captivity is a form that has never been seen in the wold and is probably a species new to science. The detailed report on the investigators’ findings has been pre- sented to the Tanzanian High Commission in London and also to the Tanzanian ambassadors in the Netherlands and Italy— countries known to import protected birds from Tanzania. Meanwhile, a report recently published by the Ministry of Agri- culture, Fisheries and Food has shown that 13,300 birds were imported into the UK from Tanzania in 1991, of which 2,467 (18.6%) died either in transit or in quarantine. Despite an EC ban dating from January 1991, 620 Fischer’s Lovebirds were im- ported into this country in the same year. A halt could be called to this shameful traffic (and to the equally appalling situations resulting from birds coming from other countries) if the EC acted firmly and totally banned the importation of wild-caught birds into the Community, which is a major aim of the joint campaign mounted by the RSPB, the RSPCA and the Environmental Investigation Agency in 1991. Our political masters might take a leaf out of the book of fonner 99 Request and Announcement Blue Tits and flowering currants II has been known since 1917 that Blue I its Barns catmints feed on the nectar of the flowering currant Ribes sanguineum, w hich flowers from February to April. The tit pecks a l-mm to 2-mm oval hole in the base of the flower tube, sometimes tearing off part of the corolla, and drinks the nectar, spending only a few seconds at each flower before moving on. Such feeding continues for only '/--2 minutes, so it is easily overlooked, or misinterpreted as foraging for insects. To determine the frequency of the habit, readers who have both Blue 1 its and flowering cur- rants in their gardens are requested to check for nectar-feeding and to inspect the flowers for damage bv tits. Positive and negative reports are needed from as many places as possible. Informa- tion on tits taking nectar from other flowers would also be of interest. Please send details to Dr Susan Fitzpatrick, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster atjor- danstown, Xewtownabbey, Co. Antrim BT37 OQB, Northern Ireland. Books in British BirdShop The following books have been added this month: Hudson Grouse in Space and Time: the population biology of a managed gamebird (Game Conservancy) Ijorenz Here I Am Where Are You.1: the behaviour of the Greylag Goose (HarperCollins) Thomas An Atlas oj the Breeding Birds in W est Glamorgan (G.OS) Please use the form on pages ix & x for all your book orders. Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony AlcGeehan This summary covers the period 4th- 17th January 1993 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records Cory’s Shearwater Calomclris diomedea Filey Brigg (North Yorkshire), 13th January. Night Heron .Xydicorax nydicorax Near Horn- castle (Lincolnshire), 5th January. Red-breasted Goose Branla ruficollis Old Hall Marshes (Essex), 10th to at least 1 7th Jan- uary. Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus Roe Estuary, I/jugh Foyle (Co. Londonderry), 17th January. Bonaparte’s Gull Hints Philadelphia Plymouth ( 1 )evon), 1 7 th January. Iceland Gull L. glaucoides Good numbers, particularly in Ireland with up to 60 there; dead individual of North American race kumlieni, Scat Ness (Shetland), 15th January. Ross’s Gull Rhodestethia rosea Kinnaird Head, near Fraserburgh (Grampian), 17th January. Ivory Gull Ragophila eburnea Dead, Jersev (Channel Islands), 8th January. Homed Lark Eremophila alpestris Good num- bers along east coast of England, including 27 at I itchwcll (Norfolk) in mid januarv. 102 For the latest, up-to-date news, phone ‘Rare Bird News’ on 0881-888 111 (25p/min cheap rate; 39p/min other times; incl. V A I ) M e are grateful to Rare Bird News for supplying information for this news feature MIDLANDS LEADING OPTICS SPECIALISTS The friendly experts professionals recommend! CONSERVATION nr Set in twenty acres of private grounds, offering a range of quality Bird and Conservation products - WE STOCK ONLY THE BEST! 'ROHAN"CRAGHOPPERS' and 'SNOWGOOSE' Full range of quality outdoor clothing for Birdwatchers, Ramblers and Naturalists. 'BRASHER'and 'MEPHISTO' quality boots and shoes •BILUNGHAM’ Camera and Equipment Bags BOOKS, AUDIO and VIDEO CASSETTES Book Tokens available and exchanged BIRO TABLES-NEST BOXES BIRD FOODandFEEDERS GREETINGS CAROS and PRINTS BAROMETERS etc. BINOCULARS and TELESCOPES WIDE RANGE TOP QUALITY You can select and test the worlds best optical instruments from our centrally located showroom. ZEISS-LEICA-HABICHT-NIKON BAUSCH& LOMB-ADLERBLICK OPTOLYTH-BUSHNELL-KOWA QUESTAR-OPTICRON-OPTIMA BRESSER-MIRADOR-FUMOTO PENTAX •FUJINON • PRAKTICA SWIFT -RED FIELD - ROSS Tripods include: SLIK-MANFROTTO -CULLMAN We also offer a wide range of accessories Send NOW for our latest Price Lists or visit our showrooms. { - Useyour ACCESSor VISA m card to order by telephone. r \ ^ focus optics Church Lane, Corley, Coventry, CV7 8BA. OPENING TIMES Monday to Telephone:0676-40501 &42476 Fax:0676-40930 Sa,urday 9am-5pm D234 Birds Join the 1993 Birds of Alaska Tour with NatureAiaska Tours In 1992, 15 birdwatchers from the U.K. traveled with me across 5,000 km of Alaska’s best birding areas, parks and wild- life refuges. Wefound 167 species of breed- ing birds, Asiatic vagrants, migrants and 26 species of mammals. Of June 1993 will be the 14th year for this special birdwatching and natural history journey from the Bering Sea to Kenai Fjords, Denali, Yukon River, tundra of arctic Alaska and Prudhoe Bay. Share the adventure & discovery of Alaska. Write Dan Wetzel, NatureAiaska Tours, P.O. Box 10224, Fairbanks, Alaska 99710 USA or call 1 (907) 488-3746; fax 1 (907) 452-3805. Alaska (D242 The Best in Ornithology for 1993 from T&AD POYSER GREAT AUK ISLANDS Tim Birkhead ISBN: 0-85661 -060-7 Tentative Price: £24.00 Summer 1993 THE NEW ATLAS OF BREEDING BIRDS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (2/e) Spencer et al ISBN: 0-85661-075-5 Tentative Price: £35.00 Autumn 1993 THE PEREGRINE FALCON (2/e) Derek Ratcliffe ISBN: 0-85661 -060-7 Tentative Price: £25.00 Winter 1993 MOULT AND AGEING OF EUROPEAN PASSERINES: A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE Jenni & Winkler (further details to follow). These books will be available from all good booksellers or from: T&AD POYSER 24-28 Oval Road London NW1 7DX (Tel: 071 -267-4466) (D251 ) XI LOOK INTO A RARE BIRD ALERT PAGER MAKE THE MOST OF WINTER DAYLIGHT - SEE WHY IT'S THE BEST SERVICE ... I INTER-CITY PAGING PROVEN RELIABLE COMPREHENSIVE in every way H RARE BIRD ALERT | BIRD PAGERS IT’S ABOUT TIME YOU DISCOVERED THE BENEFITS FOR YOURSELF: The BEST news se. There’s no longer any need to wonde/ Xy- — News is; WHEN you’re going to find out / r^T / spend findil ( n n £££s iws. Simply read all the news, as it hay ^ message pager, including updates, o' It’s reliable, comprehensive and extremely cost effective, with no nasty surprised ^ Spw\& For an info pack with a sample print-out of a days messages and an ordSf~?^ call Dick Filby on 0603 767799 or call Inter-City, Free, and ask for Rare Bird Alert Inter-City Paging Ltd. Marsh House, 500 Montagu Road, Edmonton, London N9 OUR. Tel: 0800 246 246 INTER-CITY PAGING V (D211) WORLDWIDE BIRDS ON STAMPS If you collect Birds on Stamps contact us today for a free copy of our latest list detailing over 500 items from our extensive stock. ALSO JUST OUT THE STANLEY GIBBONS COLLECT BIRDS ON STAMPS CATALOGUE 3rd. Edition over 10.000 stamps listed and priced. Superb value at £15.95 + £2.00 P & P Both stamps and catalogues are available by mail order. Your enquiries invited. MAIL ORDER DEPT. STANLEY GIBBONS LTD. 399 STRAND LONDON WC2R OLX Tel: 071 836 8444 Fax: 071 836 7342 British Birds is most grateful to those companies which support the magazine by their sponsorship: Germany Sponsors of ‘ Monthly marathon ’ HarperCollinsS! Sponsors of ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year' Sponsors of the Rarities Committee Sponsors of 'Bird Photograph of the Year' telescopes Christopher Helm r T ' and (D250) THE BOREAL FOREST OF RUSSIA Grouse, Owls and Woodpeckers Special 04-11 MAY or 11-18 MAY — £890 We invite you to join us on one of our Spring tours to the Boreal Forest Based in our hotel on the shores of Lake Ladoga, near St Petersburg, we will search for Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Black, Grey-headed, White-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Wryneck, as well as Ural, Great Grey, Eagle, Pygmy, Tengmals and Hawk Owls. Don’t miss this exciting introduction to European Russia. Other departures include: Boreal Forest, Great Caucasus, Ussuriland, Amur Delta, Taimyr, Central Siberia, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Mongolia, Tuva, Central Asia, Lake Baikal, Siberian Arctic & Tien Shan Mountains. Prices from £890. CYGNUS WILDLIFE — 1 4th Successful Year ★ 30 Exciting Itineraries from 1 -3 weeks ★ A Great Team of Leaders ★ Unbeatable Value for Money. Prices from £570. Places still available for: Majorca, Camargue, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia. w ABTA 62948 CYGNUS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS and RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS 57 FORE STREET, KINGSBRIDGE, DEVON IQ7 IPG Tel: 0548 856437/856178 Fax: 0548 857537 (D249) PAY LESS FOR RARE BIRD NEWS 0881 888 111 FAST RELIABLE 24 HOUR NEWS UP TO 30% CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER BIRDLINE HOTLINE TO REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS 0426 923 923 CALLS COST 25p/MIN CHEAP RATE 39p/MIN ALL OTHER TIMES BIRDING SOUTH WEST 0891 884 500 RARITY, MIGRANT AND SEA-WATCHING NEWS. HOTLINE 0426 923 923 ALL 0891 CALLS COST 36p/MIN CHEAP RATE 48p/MIN PEAK/STD (D181) xiii TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 H OLID A Y A CCOMMODATION SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT B.T.O. INSERTS Due to an error by our mailing house the B.T.O. insert appearing in this issue should have appeared in the January issue. Therefore the closing date for this special offer to British Birds readers has been extended to 28th FEBRUARY 1993. Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be PREPAID and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Telephone 0621 815085 Fax 0621 819130 Rates (These prices do not include VAT) £2.50 a line — average of 6 words £8.50 a centimetre — min. 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words is £1 .00 extra per insertion Replies should be sent to the above address Series Discounts 3 insertions less 10% 6 insertions less 15% 12 insertions less 20% Copy Date March issue February 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment ENGLAND CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bedrooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Detailsfrom Mrs E. Album. 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071-431 2942. (BB266) CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2). Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB237) DERBYSHIRE. Peaceful rural B&B in exceptional accom- modation. Private facilities. Close Carsington Water, Lathkill/Bradford Dales, Chatsworth, High Peak Trail. ETB 2 crowns. (0629) 650820. (BB333) EXMOOR for country and animal lovers. Farmhouse accommodation, bed and breakfast and evening meal, or self- catering cottage. Detailsfrom: French, Brendon Barton, Lynton, Devon. Tel: 059 87 201. (BB2I3) FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Reserve and The Fames. Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mrs J. Sutherland. Ross Farm, Belford, Northumberland NE70 7EN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB312) FULLY EQUIPPED holiday Oat in private house, suitable for married couple. Borders, Bournemouth and Christchurch, convenient for shops and buses. 7 minutes by car to sea, 15 minutes to centre of Bournemouth. £80 weekly. (BB353) GARA MILL.Slapton, Devon. Self-catering for 2-7 in secluded four acres overlooking river and woods. Eight detached cedar lodges, plus 2 CH Hats in 16c. cornmill. Near Slapton Ley. TVs. Dogs welcome. Free brochure: (0803) 770295. (BB236) ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St Mary's. Superbly situated in own grounds overlooking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB343) WEST SUSSEX, Pagham Harbour/Selsey, Beautiful Georgian Farmhouse, with purpose built B&B accommodation. All facilities provided. Warm, friendly atmosphere, children welcome. Open all year. Tel: 0243 602790. (BBI70) WEYMOUTH. ‘Birchfields Hotel’. Close to Radipole/ Lodmoor/Portland&The Fleet. Ideal Winter/Spring breaks, local info'. Parties welcome. Details phone 0305 773255. (BB235) CLEY NATURE RESERVE 1 mile Small guest house offers you warm welcome B&B and optional evening meal. Colour TV, tea-making facilities, all private facilities and central heating in all rooms. Parking facilities and sorry, no smoking IDEAL FOR BIRDWATCHERS THE FUNTSTONES, W1VETON, HOLT. NORFOLK 0263 740337 (BB243) SCOTLAND ABERNETHY & CAIRNGORM — up to Deluxe 5 crowns, 1993 brochure from Strathspey Self Catering, Grant Road. Grantown on Spey, PH26 3LA. Tel: 0479 2939. (BB232) ELLARY ESTATE — MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of self- catering cottages and chalets situated on the shores of Loch Caolisport. While you arc at Ellary you are free to go wherever you please. There are hill walks, many lochs and burns where you can fish, numerous wildlife, birds, flowers, etc. The perfect location for the true country lover. For full colour brochure please write to: The Booking Office, Ellary 7, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA3I SPA. Tel: 08803 232/209 or 0546 85223. (BB340) HEATHFRLEA BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS. Caper- caillie. Ptarmigan, Scottish Crossbill, King Eider, Surf Scoter, Crested Fit and many, many more. We see the lot in Spring. Ring 0479 83674 for details. ( BB327) XIV TO ADVERTISE FAX 0621 819130 SPEY VALLEY. Beautiful secluded informal hotel, 2 miles from village of Carrbridge. Home cooking, full central heating. All rooms en-suite. Perfect base for birdwatchers and walkers. Discount available for parties. Terms from £185.00 per week DB&B. Brochure from Mrs Y. Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel: 0479 84278. (BB348) SUMBURGH HEAD LIGHTHOUSE, SHETLAND. Spec- tacular clifftop location. Seabird colonies, seawatching, passage migrants, all around. Selfcatering cottage sleeps 5, central heating, newly furnished, fully equipped except linen. Road to door. Virkie Pool, Grutness, white-sand beaches, Restaurant/Bar, Airport, all within 2'/2 miles. Also unfurnished Lighthouse Keeper’s cottage for long let. Details from Torquil Johnson-Ferguson, Solwaybank, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, DG14 OXS. 03873 72240. (BB087) THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi- pension (Private bath) from £50.00. Details, brochures, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB311) WALES ANGLESEY. Superb waterside position with magnificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanist in area of outstanding natural beauty. Eleganten suite rooms available for bed and breakfast. Highground, Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY. Tel: (0407) 860078. (BB355) RED KITE COUNTRY. Tregaron — Guest house standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Ynys-hir RSPB reserves. Parties welcome. WTB — 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 298965 or 298905. (BB248) OVERSEAS IBERIAN WILDLIFE All-inclusive wildlife trips, bird- watching tours and rambling holidays on the Spanish Penin- sula. Algarve (Apr), Pyrenees (May), Gredos (Oct) and Picos de Europa (May-Oct). Self-catering &B/B also available in the Picos. All interests catered for in small, friendly groups. Full colour brochure available: SPANTREK LTD. (0457) 836250 (24hrs) 79 Egmont Street, MOSSLEY, Lancs OL5 9NF AUSTRALIA, CAIRNS, JULATTEN. At Kingfisher Park we provide accommodation and camping facilities in a rainforest sanctuary for native birds and animals. We are central to a variety of habitats and cater for the interests and enthusiasms of birdwatchers and naturalists. Write now for a free birdlist to Kingfisher Park, P.O. Box 3, Julatten, Queensland, Australia 4871. (BB337) CAMARGUE, PROVENCE. Well equipped s/c cottage, also B&B. Rogers, Mas d’Auphan, Le Sambuc, 13200 ARLES, France. Tel: (01033) 90972041, Fax: 90972087. (BB362) CAMARGUE — TOWN HOUSE. Sleeps 10. £150-£250pw. (0624)676151. Fax: 662787. (BB122) FRENCH PYRENEES. Fairytale cottage set in magnificent, unspoilt, wooded valley. Excellent walking, wildlife, birds, butterflies, flowers. Tel: 010 33 61665127/61667619. Rose Gunning, Rour, Moulis, 09200, St. Girons, France. (BB336) SEA WA TCHING H OLID A YS SHEARWATER JOURNEYS: seabirdingand whale watching trips year-round from Monterey, California. Albatross, Shearwaters, Storm-petrels, Alcids and Jaegers. Humpback and Blue whales; Aug to Nov. Gray whales: Jan. Schedule available from: Debra L. Shearwater, PO Box 1445, Dept BB, Soquel, CA 95073, USA. Tel: 408-688-1990. (BB335) BIRDWATCHING H OLID A YS HONG KONG. Superb birding September to May — variety of accommodation — trips into China. Richard Lewthwaite, 2 Villa Paloma, Shuen Wan, Tai Po NT, Hong Kong. Phone/Fax: (HK) 665 8190. (BB228) COSTA RICA More birds than the whole of North America! Tailor-made birding trips for individuals and small groups. Brochures: BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA APARTADO 7911 - 100B SAN JOSE COSTA RICA FAX: +506-281573 (BB108) BIRD WATCHING IN THE CARIBBEAN Combine a relaxing holiday aboard our 37ft Prout luxury catamaran with bird watching and natural history; skippered charters tailored for individuals and small groups, 1 3-27 March 1 993. Full details from David Rickard, Yacht Freestyle’ c/o Spice Island Marine, P.O Box 449. Grenada, West Indies. Fax 809 444 2816. Other dates may be available. Prices approx £300 per week per person including meals, based on 4 people. (BB332) 'HIGH ISLAND' UPPER TEXAS COAST U S A. Just opened Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8 Birder’s Haven, P.O. 309, High Island, Texas 77623 Tel 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390 (B3242) XV TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 DIVISION OF NICK S TRAVEL 97237 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ EXPERTS IN LOW COST AIRFARES - WORLDWIDE DISCOUNT CAR HIRE/INSURANCE SPECIALIST ADVISER - ANDY HOWES 0533 881318 (EVENINGS ONLY PLEASE) ALWAYS RING US LAST (BB342) NEW FOR 1993 A New Concept in Budget Birding Holidays FULLY-ESCORTED WEEKS FOR UNDER FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS! We are now able to offer self catering options to a new' and exciting area of Southeastern Spain at bargain prices * Wetlands, Mountains, Coasts — excellent, varied lists. * Experienced English leader ★ Quality accommodation, with choice of self-catering or very reasonable meals ★ Small, relaxed groups ★ Varied and flexible birding arrangements * Several departures Write for details: Calandra Holiday, P.O. Box 89, Ashlord, Kent TN24 9TE, or call 0233 628547. Also fully-inclusive tours — options available — details on request. (BB300) 0272-613000 DICK FILBY 0603-767-757 um’ssxsszsxi aita/lata (BB346) Please mention BRITISH BIRDS when replying to advertisements NEW ZEALAND For the best of NZ birding, write Nature Quest New Zealand, Box 6314, Dunedin, New Zealand for custom departures or details of self drive consultancy. Tel & Fax: (03) 489 8444 (BB322) BIRDWATCHING TOURS AUSTRALIA — Send for our Birding brochure. Tours throughout Australia from individuals to groups. We welcome enquiries from both private customers and tour agents. Falcon Tours, 1 Simmons Drive, Roleystone, Perth, Western Australia. PH/FAX (09) 397 5125. Lie. Tour Operator. (BB33I) BIRD INFORMATION The BEST service save £ £ £ s and get all the news, more efficiently I and make the most of winter daylight ^ Rare Bird Alert Bird Pagers The proven . comprehensive service For full info, call 0800 246 246 of call Dick Filby on 0603 767799 (BB341) SPAIN Mancha & Central Sierras Pyrenees & Ebro Delta May and June 1993 Tom Gullick lives in Spain. He will show you the rarest birds in the most beautiful and remote areas. Expect to see 5 different eagles, 3 vultures, 2 bustards, 2 sandgrouse. White-headed Duck, Gallinule, Eagle Owl, Black Stork, with many ducks, waders and passerines on migration. Also Lamergeier, Wall- creeper, Dupont’s Lark, Alpine Accentor, Black Woodpecker, Snow- finch, Citril, Capercaillie on Pyrenees & Ebro Delta tour. 8 day tours 3-4 persons only, by Range Rover. 20 years and over 1,600 days of field experience in Spain. Tom Gullick, c/o Mrs M. Parker, 5 Tile Barn Close, Farnborough, Hants. GUM 8LS. Tel: 0252 547213. (BB272) XVI TO ADVERTISE FAX 0621 81 91 30 BIRD REPORT BIRDS OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 1991, £3.00 inc p&p from MrG. Ellis, 2Tracey Close, Beeston, Nottingham. (BB275) BIRDS OF OXON, 1991. £2.75 inc p&p from R. Overall, 30 Hunsdon Road, Iffley, Oxford OX4 4JE. (BB325) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BIRD REPORT £3.80 inc. p&p from A.F. Brown, Riders Way, Poyle Lane, Burnham, Bucks SL1 8LB. (BB354) ESSEX BIRD REPORT 1991 — 166 pages, 18 coloured photos. Send £5.60 cheque payable ‘EBS’ to: J. Howard, 6 St. Bride Court, Colchester C04 4PQ. (BB352) HERTS BIRD REPORT 1991, £5.00 inc p&p from B. Taggart. 2 Yew Tree Cottages, Colliers End, Herts SG11 1EQ. (BB339) HONG KONG BIRD REPORT, 1991. 204pp ++ 45 colour photos. Paper on small Acrocephalus warblers in eastern China; Russet Bush Warbler. Also regular features & 13 first sightings inc. Pallas’s Reed Bunting. £10.75 inc p&p from S. Anstruther, Barlavington Estate 1, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 OLG. (BB330) ISLES OF SCILLY BIRD REPORT 1991 enlarged in colour £4.00 post paid. Peter Robinson, Riviera House, Parade, St Mary’s, IOS, TR21 0LP. (BB314) PERSONAL BIRDWATCHING IN CANADA, NORTH AMERICA, COSTA RICO, ARGENTINA? Site guides and information. Dunnock, 2409 Speyside Dr Mississuaga, Ontario, Canada L5K 1X5. (BB328) □ Excellent papers on identification, distribution, occurrence, movements and behaviour of Palearclic birds □ Regular contributions on Asian-Pacific birds □ Latest news on rare and interesting birds in the Netherlands and the Western Palearclic □ Well produced with numerous high quality colour photographs □ Yearly report on rare birds in the Netherlands □ In English or with extensive English summaries For information or a free sample issue, write to; Dutch Hireling, Pustbus 75611, 1070 AP Amsterdam, Ncllterlands Subscrilrcrs to Dutch Btrdin, g can claim 25% oil a British Birds subscription (D147) BIRD BOOKS. New/secondhand catalogue available. Free Book Search. Books bought. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherways, Freshfields, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel: 07048 71115. (BB338) BIRDWATCHING IN CRETE 2nd Ed. £3.75 inc. p&p. Stephanie Coghlan, 25 Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield, West Yorks HD5 8TA. (BB270) BIRD BOOKS: Out-of-print, uncommon and rare. Quarterly catalogue. Peacock Books, Box 2024, Littleton, Mass. 01460, USA. (BB318) 'BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Tarporiey, Cheshire CW6 ONJ. Tel: 0829 51804. (BB281) The original BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 1 59 diary pages. Send £6.45 inclusive p/p to: Coxton Publications, ~ Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, S Beverley, N. Humberside HU17 8RP £ THE BIRD & WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP Britain ’s leading ornithological booksellers where you can find our comprehensive range of new and secondhand books and reports on birds and natural history, including all new tides as they are published. Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 1 0 am to 4 pm Mail order catalogue available on request THE BIRD & WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP 2-4 Princes Arcade, Piccadilly, London SW1Y6DS Tel: 071-287 1407 (BB345) FOR SALE BOOKS BIRD BOOKS BOUGHT AND SOLD. Send SAE to Dr J. Tierney, ‘Hawkridge’, Nether Padley, Grindleford, Sheffield S30 1HQ. Tel: 0433 630137. (BB247) BIRD JOURNAL BACK NUMBERS SUPPLIED. (BB Bird study, County Reports, etc.), David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon. (BB349) BIRDWATCHING IN LESBOS. Find out the sites to visit, the birds to see. Full description of sites with maps plus bird list. 45 pages, £4.50. M. Williams, 87 Learn Terrace, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV3 1 IDE (BB359) XVII TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 WALKERS Are the largest optical dealer on the Yorks coast. Binoculars - telescopes - video cameras - lenses - tripods - SLRs - compacts * ZEISS * KOWA * BUSHNELL * LEITZ * SWIFT * RUSSIAN * PENTAX * BAUSCH & LOMB * MINOLTA * OPTOLYTH * ADLERBLICK PRACTIKA “DISCOVERER” 15x - 60x zoom telescope incl. photo adapter SRP £199.00 OUR PRICE £150.00 RUSSIAN 7 x 35 £27 8 x 30 £27 8 x 40 £30 10x50 £30 12x40 £33 20 x 60 £59 JANUARY SPECIALS Zeiss 7x42 Zeiss 10x40 Lelca 8x42G Lelca 7x42 Pentax 10x42 Penlax 9x63 £599 £599 £625 £625 £175 £250 Belmont 10x50 £69 Triton 10x50 £89 B&Lomb 8x42 f599 Audubon 10x50 £220 Habicht 7x42 £528 Hablcht 10x42 £571 WAI LI I4J LI O LTD 70 ST THOMAS ST ( ) hCAW\\ SCARBOROUGH YOU 1DU y/ 0723 365024 FAX 0723 363334 ..Zeiss Kowa Opticron Bausch & Lomb Adlerbl Ick Swift Optolyth etc. The Stockport Binocular and Telescope Centre Suppliers of quality binoculars and spotting scopes. Mail order, or callers welcome. Open 6 days 9-6. Repair service on the premises. T&L Optical Instruments | 26 Middle Hillgate, Stockport SKI 3AY Tel. 061-429 8002 (BB356) BRITISH BIRDS volumes 70-83, 1977-1990, unbound, with indexes. Offers. Tel: 0296 682036. (BB351) CLARKE Studies in Bird Mig.(1912)£55.Clarkc& Roebuck Vert. Fauna of Y orks (1881) £50. Tel: (0272) 615768 evenings. (BB360) DONALD WATSON limited edition prints for sale, The Hen Harrier Roost, The Dotterel & Chicks. Phone: 0245 267771 for full colour leaflet. (BB358) FOR SALE VOLUMES l-V B.W.P. immaculate and mint condition. Tel: 0484 604968 after 7.00pm. (BB350) JOHN BUSBY original drawings for sale, from Birds in Mallorca, Birds in Ireland etc. Phone: 0245 267771. (BB357) BRITISH BIRDS Binders 22 in mint cond ition, complete with wires £65. John Barclay 0423 323354. (BB364) SYNOPSIS OF AVIFAUNA OF CHINA — £25. M.T. Rank, tel: 071-254 8168. (BB363) TAMRON 500mm F8 LENS mint, cased. £100. Nikon mount available. Tel: 049 685 584. A BIRDWATCHING GUIDE TO THE COSTA BLANCA. 46 pages. Maps, check list, £3.95 inc. p&p. Mr R. A. Palmer, 6 Church Road, Hauxton, Cambridge CB2 5HS. (BB365) BIRDING CB SPECIALISTS. SAE for details/price list to Omega, Burnsyde.Saltburn Bank, Saltburn, Cleveland TS 12 I HH. 0287 625825. (BB366) FOCALPOINT THE BINOCULAR & TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS OPEN 9.30-5.30 MON-FRI SAT 9.30-4.00 From Sat/ Sun 9th/ 1 0th J anuary 1993, every weekend in Jan/Feb FOCALPOINT will be at BRANDRETH BARN Guest Farm/Restaurant (extensive menu1) — just 300 metres trom MARTIN MERE W.&W T Reserve, Burscough, Lancs (M6, Jet 27) 54p stamps please tor the BB (Brandreth Barn!) information pack — event special otters! | BEST ADVICE BEST CHOICE BEST PRICES | • Complete KOWA scope outfits trom under £200 * AU LEADING INSTRUMENTS FROM STOCK * ART ♦ BIRO BOOKS (new & s/hind) ♦ MERLIN VENTILE JACKETS BB341 FOCALPOINT Unit 8. Marbury House Farm. Bentleys Farm Lane. Higher Whitley. Near Warrington. Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 0925 730399 Fax: 0606 892207 Wildlife Computing Computer Packages For Birdwatchers Bird Recorder for Windows exciting new program for Microsoft Windows 3.1 has all the facilities required to keep your Bird Records from around the World. Records birding trips and sightings, automatically keeps up to 255 lists and includes facilities to print your own checklists. Price complete with documentation and World Species Database £85. Now available. B/rd Recorder userfriendly system for IBM compatibles running DOS. With World Species Database £58, with Western Palearctic species database £45. European butterfly database £10 Prices Include UK postage, add E3 postage to Europe. £7 rest of world. Telephone payment by ACCESS, Mastercard, VISA and Eurocard Postal payment by credit card or cheques payable to WCPS. State disk size (5.25 or 3.5 inch). Wildlife Computing Services, 6 Fiddlers Lane, East Bergholt, COLCHESTER C07 GSJ . Tel 0206- 298345 or 0850-658966 Please allow up to 14 days for delivery Send SAE for complete information xviii (1)243) X H 2 cn >- < C£ Z o H < oc H C D D -J -1 Overhead cables underground _ T/ieme park Quarry plan prevented defeated Green belt test case won against urban sprawl scheme Broad leaf woodlands protected Legal hedgerow protection brought closer Straw and stubble burning banned Water conservation case, to remedy drying rivers, officially accepted New grants for environmentally sensitive farming Proposed motorway Advertising hoardings diverted along stopped less harmful route Can you see what CPRE has achieved? The countryside protectors' monument is often what is not there. Please join us to protect the countryside. Reg. Charity No. 233179 -X YES , I would like to join CPRE. I ENCLOSE I I £15 (individual) d £20 (joint) d £440 (life) And/or d £ (donation) I am paying the total of £ by d Cheque/PO (payable to CPRE) □ Access/Visa No. Expiry date / Cardholder's signature PLEASE PRINT Name(s) Address Postcode PLEASE POST TO COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND (CPRE) /ninat ^ FREEPOST, GOLDTHORPE, ROTHERHAM S63 9BR 'D 1 69) British Birds Volume 86 Number 2 February 1993 •* 49 A communal roost of Peregrine Falcons and other raptors G. M. Kelly and Dr J. P Thorpe 53 Mystery photographs 185 Pallas’s Rosefinch Dr Colin Bradshaw 56 Twenty-five years ago . . . 57 Chestnut-sided Warbler: nevT to the Western Palearctic Michael Peacock 61 ICBP news Dr Georgina Green 61 IWC news Oran O'Sullivan 62 Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1990 Robert Spencer and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel Reviews 91 ‘Grouse in Space and Time: the population biology of a managed gamebird’ by Peter J. Hudson Dr Malcolm Ogihie 91 ‘Here I Am - W here Are You?: the behaviour of the Greylag Goose' by Konrad larrenz Dr Malcolm Ogdvie Letters 92 The Cape Clear ‘Griffons’ Dr E. E. J. Duma 92 Taxonomic status of the Red Grouse Dr Alan Knox and Dr David Parkin 93 Monthly marathon Notes 94 Black-headed C Gills foraging behind motor vehicle P I. Morris 94 Common and Black-headed Gulls plunge-diving after leaves P. I. Morris 95 W hisk red l erns feeding behind plough Dr A. M. Jones 95 Barn Swallows roosting in mai/e Anthony A. Eord and Dennis Etphick 96 Bla< kbird catching mayflies in air from perch A. M. Snook 96 Curious behaviour of Goldcrest E. I V. Ftrxman 98 Coal fits feeding on yew fruits Dr A. P. Radford 98 Coal l it hiding yew berries Dr A. E. L. Simmons and Mrs M. Simmons 98 Extended Hedging period of Bullfinch P. J. Strangeman 99 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch Request and Announcement 102 Blue I its and flowering currants Dr Susan Fitzpatrick 102 Books in British BirdShop 102 Recent repo is Barry .Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 49 Peregrine Falcon E.J. Steele : 57 Chestnut-sided Warbler Dave .Xumey ; 62 Avocet Mike Pollard ): 68 Garganey. 70 Common Goldeneyes Ihn Powell)', 72 Marsh Harrier Alan Harrw, 74 Osprey Phi! Jones': 76 Corn Crake Richard Fowling): 79 Ruff s John 1 1 right ; 80 Red-nec ked Phalarope, 84 Cetti’s Warbler Alan Harris): 88 Golden Oriole Dame Murray) Front cover: Black Grouse lek (Dan Powell): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 28 in January issue for procedure) — I ritish Birds Volume 86 Number 3 March 1993 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 12 MAR 1993 PURCHASED ZOOLOGY LIBRARY Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire ental Pratincole: new to the Western Palearctic Hoopoe’s spreadeagle posture ICBP news • Reviews • Notes • Letters Rarities Committee’s files • Mystery photographs and comment • Monthly marathon • Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Pytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Don Smith & Roger Tidman Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, J. H. Marchant & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston {Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1993 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager , Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAL, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for ‘News and comment ’, drawings & photographs Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Dine, Blunham, Bedford MK4t 3NJ. Phone & Eax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK+4 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085. Fax: (0621) 819130 Bird news for ‘Seasonal reports' Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall [R2t> :t.\/ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4EN. Phone: Mold (0352) 770581. Fax: (0352) 771590 Annual subscriptions 12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £45.80. I R £5 3. 50 or S86.50. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £37.20, IR£43.60 or $70.00; personal airmail, outside Europe £62.50, IR£72.95 or SI 18.00. Single back copies £4.75, IR£5.50 or $9.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearetie. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should lx- npewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for stvlc of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequence of birds Ibllnw The 'British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearetie Birds 1 1993); or. for non-Wcsi-Palrarclic species, Sibley & Monroe (1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World, names of plants follow Horn el at. 1911(1, English Names of Wild Flowers, names of mammals follow Corbel & Southern 1977, The Handbook of British Mammals topographical plumage and structure and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations [tint, thr/ts 74; 239-242; 7H: 119-127: 111): n()2l. figures should lx- in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should lx- inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers but not notes or letters receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford IN STREET, -HWELL, *FOLK PE31 8BB in focus «n 7 days 9 am - 6 pm THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS ne 0485 210101 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTS. EN5 5SZ TO FIND US (Norfolk) e 500 yards east of the •eserve at Titchwell on the Open 7 days 9 am - 6 pm Phone 081 449 1445 / 081 441 7748 between Hunstanton and Fax 08 1 440 9999 ister and have our own HOW TO FIND US (Barnet) We are 10 mins from M25 and AIM 1 • car parking. motorways and 15 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station ANGLIAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE EGLETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICS. Open every day 9 am to A pm except Thursdays. Phone 0572 770656 HOW TO FIND US (Egleton) We are situated in the Birdwatching Centre Building on the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water. Follow signposts to Egleton Village from A6003 to Oakham SPRING EVENTS PROGRAMME For customers preferring to select and purchase optical equipment under field conditions we offer the following programme with ewi«onm(nt the assistance of the RSPB, WWT and County Trusts. All events ore held from 1 0 am - 4 pm • write or phone for further details. — ' N" '”2 V tic U'URIDGE BAY UNTRY PARK -THUMBERLAND i & Sun 7th March BBERTON vIESTER, ESSEX it 21 st March Trspb DUNGENESS l KENT Sot 6th & Sun 7th March RSPB L0DM00R WEYMOUTH, DORSET Sat 27th & Sun 28th March I WWT SLIMBRIDGE GLOUCESTER Sat 13th & Sun 14th March Fri 9th to Mon 1 2th April WWT MARTIN MERE ORMSKIRK, LANCS Sat 27th & Sun 28th March f DAWLISH WARREN EXETER, DEVON Sat 13th & Sun 14th March WWT LLANELLI DYFED,S. WALES L Sat 3rd & Sun 4th April , FISHERS GREEN LEE VALLEY, ESSEX Sun 14th March Sun 11th April RSPB BLACKTOFT SANDS SOUTH HUMBERSIDE Sat 20th & Sun 21st March rADUR WATER ACTIVITY^ CENTRE, SHOREHAM, WEST SUSSEX Sal 3rd & Sun 4th April SPURN PENINSULA NORTH HUMBERSIDE | Sol 10th , Sun llth Mon 12th April New showroom now open at ILEIGH HALL, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, NR. HUDDERSFIELD, YORKS. HD8 8QJ Open 7 Days 9 am-6 pm Phone 0484 864729 HOW TO FIND US (Yorkshire). & * El Eli Eli S.BGAP 6B 4 .40BGA 4 -<60BGAP Ca Pht , LE Trii Trii Trif Trie Cos a Trill Trin CA Dm Dm Cl® Cl® Dial Dial Ditj Dio Dial Did 15* 2 Ox. Rain Eye Lan Wj, Nll> t<2< 5x2, 10x1 Jr 3; IOXi S<3C QxC Jody A A etdi ody DIIA i & LOMB -GAP GAP £dy t'OBC 25BC -0BCA 25BCA -2BA , '2BA •2BA 42BA SrSS BT*P 5BT*P | BP 5BP GAP GAT*P •GAT*P BGAT*P wrp GAT*P GAT 15x/20x/30x/40x 79 00 Aoo rn 30xWF (new) 149 00 629 00 20x'45xZoom 14900 229 00 TSN- 1 /TSN-2 Body T5N-3/TSN-4 Body 20x-60x Zoom . 31600 . 569.00 . 159.00 .337.00 659.00 . 134 00 122.00 179 00 37 00 159 00 Hoya MC Filter 20 00 10 00 25x & 40x 30xWA .... 69.00 . ...129.00 169 00 60x . .109 00 45 00 77x .. 109.00 Spotting Scope 20x60GA 199 00 Skua Stay-OnCase 27xWA (Screwfit) . 36.00 .69 00 15x-45x60GA 259.00 Screw Bay Adaptor 20.00 20x .35 00 Photo Adapt 800mm 129 00 1 5-45x Zoom 99 00 Photo Adapt 1 200mm 199 00 SWIFT Trilvte 8x42BGA Trylife 10x42BGA Audubon HR5 8 5x44 Audubon HR5 10x50 c 21900 269 00 298 00 Viewmasfer 60 Body 1 5x-45x Zoom 20x Case 18.00 649 00 629 00 649.00 649 00 £ 29500 QUESTAR Field Model 3 '/2n Broad Coaling. Supplied with 50x-80x Hood, Case 299.00 30x-50x 225 00 80x-l 30x 245.00 Erector Prism 475M °PT°L3^gHa 575 00 Alpin 8x30BGA 575 00 Alpin 8x40BGA ........ 639 00 Alpin 1 0x40BGA 625 00 Alpin 10X50BGA 1 090.00 Touring 8x32BGA 2850 00 Touring 7x42BGA 8.00 Touring 10x40BGA 16 00 TBG80/TBS80 Body 5 00 TBG HD/TBS HD Body 15.00 20xWW 30xWA 30xWW 40xWA £ 79 00 . 89.00 109 00 70*W/(new> 349 00 22x-60xZoom 359 00 ^,T°"Casefor 269.00 ,b5/IBO 279 00 £ .148 00 150 00 229 00 249.00 149 00 . 59.00 . 20.00 1600 £ Band 2200 00 130 00 . 130.00 289 00 £ 227 00 246.00 249 00 268 00 449 00 495.00 495 00 47500 725.00 138 00 87 00 157 00 87.00 183.00 179 00 OPTICRON Vega II 8x30 Vega II 8x40 Dioptron 8x32 Dtopfron 8x42 . Dioptron 1 0x42 Dioptron 1 0x50 HR 8x32 MC HR 8x42 MC. HR 1 0x42 MC HR 10x50MC HR 80 Body 30xWA 27x-80x Zoom HR 60 22x & Case HR GA, 22x & Case HR 45' , 22x & Case HRGAED 22x & Case HR 60 20x-60x & Case . HR GA20x-60x & Case HR 45 20x-60x & Case HRGAED 20x-60x&Case 22xWA 25x, 40x, Classic IF60 Classic IF75 . 1 8xWA or 22xWA 25x or 30x 18x 45x or 22 -47x zoom Piccolo MKII Body Eye Pieces from Piccolo ED 20x60 Piccolo ED 20x-60x60 Photo Kits from Cases for scopes Macro Monocular £ 49 95 54 95 .119.00 .122.00 .125 00 11 9.95 .152.00 . 155 00 16200 178.00 269.00 33.00 . 85 00 179.95 27500 219 95 595.00 21995 299 00 249 95 665 00 . 33.00 110.00 140.00 24 00 24 00 . 61 00 128.00 29 00 35500 399 00 . 30 00 15.00 . 50 00 SWAROVSKI £ 1 0x40 Diana 372.00 7x30SLC II 353.00 8x30SLC II 365.00 7x42 SLC (new) ... 528.00 1 0x42 SLC (new) 571.00 Case 29.00 8x20B 220 00 10X25B . 230.00 AT80 Body 547.00 22xWA 72.00 20x-60x Zoom 164.00 BUSHNELL £ Spacemaster Body 145.00 S/Masfer Body ED . . 299 00 S/ Master GA Body . PHONE 1 5x-45x Zoom PHONE 22xWA 32.00 Case 2000 Photo Kit 25 00 VELBON £ DH-10ML Mini 23.00 45 00 OBSERVATION BINOCULARS Opticron 20x80 Opticron 30x80 . ROSS Cavendish 8x42B Hpnover 10x42B Regent 8x42B Kensington 10x42B KOWA £ TS-61 1 Body (new) P 249 00 TS-61 2 Body (new) .......... H 259 00 TS-61 3 ED Body (new) O TS-61 4 ED Body (new) N 449 00 All accept TSN eyepieces E ' 469.00 price includes case W >AL£S PROMOTION PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. E&OE 32400 345 00 £ 139 95 149.95 169 95 179 95 CX-580 D-600 D-700 G/R System CULLMANN Hide Clamp Shoulder Pod Q/R System Q/R Plate SLIK Master D-3 MANFROTTO 290/128 290B/128 144/128 144B/I28 Tripod Strap Q/R Plate Monopod 079B or 1 34B ACCESSORIES Car Window Mount Universal Mount Hide Clamp Roinguords from Lens Cleaning Cloth Tripod Strap Lanyards from Double eyepiece Case Tamrac Scope Case . Equipment Guide 39 00 .59.00 79.00 1000 £ 49 00 29 00 .10 95 5.95 £ 99 00 £ 95.00 99 00 105 00 109 00 15.00 600 30.00 26.00 26 00 38 00 3 50 300 7 00 400 9 95 26.50 395 BLUE RIBAND CARE PLAN For a single payment of £ 1 5 the.new In Focus Blue Riband Careplan offers ♦ Accidental damage cover for three years from date of purchase on all new binoculars and telescopes. ♦ Guaranteed part-exchange trade- in value on any further purchases with In Focus - rising to 100% of original purchase price after five years. MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Please remember to add £2.00 to- wards the cost of insured Trakbak postage and packing - whether pay- ing by cheque, Visa, Access or Mastercard - and goods will be des- patched with full 1 4 days approval the same day on receipt of your remittance. BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY WITH DAVE COTTRIDGE Book now for one-day workshops at Lee Valley Country Park, Fame Islands and North Norfolk Coast. Write or phone for details. PART EXCHANGE Top prices paid for good oondkion telescopes and binoculars. SECOND HAND ITEMS Instruments always available. On receipt of a stamped, addressed envelope we can supply current price lists of binoculars and telescopes D255 PAY LESS FOR RARE BIRD NEWS 0881 888111 FAST RELIABLE 24 HOUR NEWS UP TO 30% CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER BIRDLINE HOTLINE TO REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS 0426 923 923 CALLS COST 25p/MIN CHEAP RATE 39p/MIN ALL OTHER TIMES BIRDING SOUTH WEST 0891 884 500 RARITY, MIGRANT AND SEA-WATCHING NEWS. HOTLINE 0426 923 923 ALL 0891 CALLS COST 36p/MIN CHEAP RATE 48p/MIN PEAK/STD (D181) HONG KONGrtl 150 Leaders: David Fisher and Richard Lewthwaite BEIDAIHE Trv £1250 Leaders: Paul Holt and Martin Williams EILAT 3,oc™r £475 Leaders: Killian Mullamey and Steve Rooke BEIDAIHE £1250 Leaders: Paul Holt and Martin Williams Details from Sunbird, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SC, 19 IDF. Tel: 0767-682969. (Please specify which event you are interested in). Birds Join the 1993 Birds of Alaska Tour with NatureAlaska Tours In 1992, 15 birdwatchers from the U.K. traveled with me across 5,000 km of Alaska’s best birding areas, parks and wild- life refuges. We found 167 species of breed- ing birds, Asiatic vagrants, migrants and 26 species of mammals. of June 1993 will be the 14th year for this special birdwatching and natural history journey from the Bering Sea to Kenai Fjords, Denal i , Y ukon River, tundra of arctic Alaska and Prudhoe Bay. Share the adventure & discovery of Alaska. Write Dan Wetzel, NatureAlaska Tours, P.O. Box 10224, Fairbanks, Alaska 99710 USA or call 1 (907) 488-3746; fax 1 (907) 452-3805. Alaska (D24: D257 11 ernative venues to Morden, at ich you can try and buy our jipment IN THE FIELD are given ow. Kay Optical will be at the itor/lnformation Centre in each e Any entrance or parking fees 'inded with purchase Repairs can 0 be handed in. 0.00 am to 4.00 pm * AGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL IATURE RESERVE :he B2145 into Selsey, West sex. on Sundays 28th February 28th March. EVENOAKS WILDFOWL ESERVE ■he A25 between Riverhead and anoaks Bat and Ball station on days 7th March and 4th April. OUGH BEACH NATURE ESERVE/RESERVOIR ut 4 miles south of the A25/A21 lion (with access from the B2042 2027; the information Centre is to north of the reservoir) on Sundays t April and 9th May. EEWL WATER ie A21 , just south of Lamberhurst e Education Centre on Sunday •■ March. .TON WATER oik, near Ipswich, on the B1080 -■een Holbrook and Stutton. In the or/lnformation Centre on Sunday i a April. DLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE EKNTRE Tring, Herts., on the B488 (off the close to Bulbourne. In the ook hide on Saturdays 27th uary and 27th March. |. 'IMBRIDGE, GLOS ->15) Village Hall (on the left, vay along village road into the FT) Saturday 3rd April. VTON PASTURES l IUNTRY PARK | Reading (M4, A329(M) Woodley ■ ff) and then A329 to Winnersh Vinnersh Station (B3030) on ays 21st February and 14th ■ It in the Loddon Room. E SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Is Mill, Henfield, W-Sussex 17) on Sunday 21st March. RLSTON COUNTRY PARK off 351 near Swanage, Dorset. In the r centre on Sundays 14th March f'ith May. E KENT TRUST FOR NATURE f 5ERVATION in the Tyland Barn, Sandling, Maidstone (off A229, ell Hill, going south), on lys 28th February and 25th April. . WICKEN FEN off the All 23. east of Cambridge. In the visitor i on Sunday 21st March. 3DMARSH NNR (TR 220610) in lation hut in car park. Take road to Grove and Stodmarsh i A28 Canterbury/Margate road. lay 24th April. UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical SALES & REPAIRS BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc SPECIAL SHORT-TERM DISCOUNT PRICES (Up to 25% off!) 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E.&O.E. Phone: 081-648 8822 Fax: 081-687 2021 (D256) 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 a)a>r-cooo-»rc7)'«t W W .2.2 W U D Q N N 3 s s «uu u; ro CO - 00 - S www w Ail .2 .2.2 21! (D 0) 0; 4» 05 M N N C* G <3 <3 ^ $ S j U U 0052 c a> co CD CO CD 05 05 <75 qj 05 <75 <75 C cotOf. O r ««wx “ Oh ” o s o O r M S > 2 £ Q) C/3 c/a M u N J o <75 CO ^ 05 CO CO Ui <-*i 05 <75 CO 05 CD CO CW O* CO CO CO CD Ui <4* co co 05 05 CO CO <4i C4 05 05 05 <75 05 05 CO CO CD r-4 CO M *» 'iifSratf? *-.v •- w •■*»/'.'/ ; ^••;;;- *v -; -v a&Kv '-?■ ® P'j'fj&f1 field guides Leaden la The Field h f'xX'.X' 'VSWsW - A- > • ‘ For our 1993 catalog of over 70 hireling tours worldwide, please call (512) 327-4953 P.O. Box 160723C, Austin, Texas 78716, FAX (512) 327-9231 (0260),. British Birds VOLUME 86 NUMBER 3 MARCH 1993 UJHE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 12 MAR )993 PURCHASED ^OOLOGY I IRRAPy History of Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire and neighbouring counties S. J. Aspinall, J. H. Taverner and E. J. Wiseman T'WXT’ith the exception of a pre-1650 colony in Portsmouth Harbour, Hamp- T T shire, Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus first bred in the area of Hampshire and adjacent coastal counties at Rempstone Heath, Poole Har- bour, Dorset, in 1884, in Newtown Harbour, Isle of Wight, in 1884 (possibly earlier) and at East Parley Common, Hum, Dorset, in 1891. Today, only the ''Newtown Harbour colony still survives, while wet-heathland sites no longer hold any breeding pairs. Development of saltmarsh colonies on the Hampshire mainland had started by 1909 at Beaulieu estuary and between 1905 and 1913 at Keyhaven; these had increased to three or four sites by 1938, when the first national gull sur- vey was undertaken. From the late 1950s to the late 1960s, three Hampshire [Bril. Birds 86: 103-1 14, March 1993] 103 104 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire gullcries developed, with that in Poole Harbour largely disappearing. The sub- sequent disappearance of a colony in Southampton Water, Hampshire, and the halving of the Needs Ore gullcry from the early 1970s onwards, prompted a review of all the Black-headed Gull colonies from West Sussex to East Dorset (see fig. 1). This area holds over 90% of the breeding Black-headed Gulls along the English Channel coast, these also representing around 15% of the British breeding population and over 1% of the world population. In 1904, Kclsall published a request for dates and locations of Black-headed (fulls in Hampshire (with the comment ‘I need not say that we shall not pub- lish any information likely to injure a rare species’). The species was then even rare inland, and the annual bird reports for Hampshire saw fit to publish an inland sighting as recently as 1939. HAMPSHIRE i I I Methods Recent and historical literature was searched for references to breeding Black- headed Gulls in Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset and the Isle of Wight; this in- cluded county avifaunas and annual bird reports, as well as unpublished Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust records. Various past and present wardens, licensed and former egg-collectors of the gulleries and local ornitho- logists were asked to scour their records or to recall any information on breed- ing numbers and/or dates of colony formation or disappearance. The original ‘Operation Seafarer’ record cards from the Seabird Group Survey of Britain and Ireland (1969-70) were examined, and the Seabird Colony Register (SGR) database of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee Seabirds Team was checked for post- 1 985 records and for any additional records. Where a colony size was estimated and given as a range, the midpoint has been used in subsequent analyses. Fig. 2 shows counts from four major colonies for which data are most complete. The grand totals are given only for those years when all extant colonies were counted. History of each colony The known gulleries are here examined in chronological order of their estab- lishment. 105 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire Portsmouth Harbour , Hampshire I 'he presence of a colony here was mentioned during the reign of Charles I (1626-49). It was situ- ated on Pewit Island (‘Pewit’ being a local name for Black-headed Gull), and sale of gulls brought the owner the not inconsiderable sum of £40 annually (Kelsall & Munn 1905). There are no fur- ther breeding records, and we can safely assume that none has bred for 100 years or more. Poole Harbour , Dorset Rempstone Heath, on the south shore of Poole Harbour, is still undeveloped, although it has been afforested since 1894 and 1900, when 1,000 pairs of Black-headed Gulls nested in a Sphag- m/772-filled mere and bog. A reference to the colony starting in 1877 may well relate to this site or one nearby, although the species also nested at Little Sea, Studland, around that date. The Little Sea colony was deserted by 1888 and until about 1913, numbers then rising to some 60 pairs in 1919 and falling to zero by 1938. Otherwise, by 1919 the gullery was mostly on Arne, following a major heath (ire at Rempstone in 1916, and by 1921 had spread to Morden Heath, which held about 800 pairs. Numbers then dwindled at Arne, but moved to cord-grass Spartina sites in the western part of Poole Harbour, where there were 1,320 pairs in 1938 (Prendergast & Boys 1983). In the 1940s, 1,000-2,000 pairs were estimated in Spartina on Wood Bar I x>oc and the Holton Heath foreshore. In 1948, over 1,000 pairs bred on Brownsea Island, which had taken over from the above sites, but they had gone by the mid 1950s; in 1961-62, Brownsea held about 250 pairs and may then have declined once more, but it was reoccupied by 1970 and until at least 1973 by a similar number. The record is suqjrisingly incomplete thereafter until 1985, perhaps because the population changed little, although nesting was suspected in Spartina on Round Island and else- where. Prendergast & Boys (1983) would surely have documented any markedly different situa- tion, assuming the information to have been available. During 1985-87 (the period of the SCR), a Fig. 2. Sizes of main colonies of Black-headed Gulls Icarus ridibundus in Dorset, Hampshire and West Sussex in 1930-91. Combined totals are given only for those years in which all extant colonies were counted 106 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire total of 2,000-4,000 pairs was recorded for Poole Harbour, with estimated minima of 3,000 in 1989, 4,000 in 1990 and 5,150-5,550 in 1991. Certainly, from 1980 until the present, virtually the entire population has bred on the Spartina islands in Wareham Channel and in the same habitat on Round Island, though the date of the original move to these two sites is not know n. The Spartina islands formed betw een 1900 and 1924 to the south of Wood Bar (also Spartina), although sea-purslane Halimione portulacoides is now co-dominant. Why the gulls did not relocate here when they stopped using Wood Bar Looe, and subsequently left Brownsea, is not clear. Colonisation of other South Coast Spartina marshes away from Poole Harbour did not really get underway until the mid 1950s. The fall in numbers in Poole Harbour in the mid 1950s may be explained by gulls moving to the growing Spartina colonies in Hampshire, at Needs Ore and Keyhaven-Pylewell (see below'). JVewtown Harbour, Isle of Wight This gullery has been in existence since at least 1884, but perhaps not continuously. In the early part of the twentieth century it held ‘large numbers’, but in 1911 and 1912 there were only three pairs; it was still active in 1913, and increased to about 15 pairs in 1915 and to 28 pairs in 1928. In 1938, the first national survey found 40-50 pairs. The colony remained small until around 1948, and may then have been abandoned. The 52 pairs in 1958 were stated by Cohen (1963), incorrectly, to have been the first for 20 years, though there are no actual counts for the interven- ing years. A marked increase to about 300 pairs in 1959 was followed by estimates of 500 and 450 pairs in 1965 and 1966, respectively. Up to 1980, 250-400 pairs bred, increasing to 500 in 1987 and to 800 in 1988, the highest-ever level. In 1990 and 1991, the population had dropped to just over 300 pairs. The colony formed in a non -Spartina estuarine marsh, and was in ‘dry meadowland’ at the mouth of the harbour in the 1920s. Latterly, the gulls used a Spartina- Halim- ione island in midstream of a channel (Cheverton 1989), and within an artificially banked area of salting. Hum area, Dorset ‘A bog near Hum Station’ (Dudmoor) provided, in 1891, the first mainland report from Hamp- shire (though the site is now in Dorset). East Parley Common, part of this same bog, held 500 pairs in 1906-07, but the colony was destroyed in the following year (by eggers?); it recovered to 80-100 pairs by 1910, but, although still active in 1938 and with 60-70 pairs in May 1942, there have certainly been no gulls from 1949 (possibly earlier) to the present. The Week Common gullery, 3 km away, was also active in 1910 (just possibly before that) and held about 15 pairs in 1942, probably from Parley. Uddens Heath, near Wimbome, also held 20 pairs in the 1930s, but the area was burnt in 1938. Key haven to Pylewell/ Pitts Deep , Hampshire This colony appears to have formed at much the same time as the neighbouring one at Needs Ore (see below), and by 1913 was noted as being active, though numbering only a handful of pairs. The colony has been present continuously since then, but early records are sparse. It was ‘still active' in 1928, held 50 or more pairs in 1938, and had become a ‘large colony' by 1951. The initial increase in the 1950s coincided with the decrease in Poole Harbour. The colony ex- tends from Hurst Spit in the west to Pitts Deep in the east, and comprises several sub-colonies, some of which have shifted position several times or have alternately increased and decreased. The whole colony held about 4,000 pairs in 1958, fluctuated between 3,500 and 5,000 pairs until 1966, and rose to 7,000 pairs in 1968 and 6,000-8,000 from 1969 to 1972. Until that time, the main part of the colony was split between the two sides of the Lymington river, but the next full survey (1975) found 5,000-6,000 pairs, of which about 80% were east of the river at Pylewell (the dominance of the eastern side having been noted three years earlier); the population west of the river, at Keyhaven-Pennington, has remained at around 1,000 pairs since that switch. Pylewell- Tanners Lane has held around 5,000 pairs for the three seasons 1989-91, and total numbers for the entire colony have possibly changed little since the mid 1970s. Needs Ore and the Beaulieu estuary , Hampshire This colony was founded in 1909 and had 16 pairs in 1910 (Gribble 1976). The national survey of 1938 found 75 pairs. There were no more counts for a further ten years, when a relatively 107 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire modest rise to 200 or more pairs in 1948 and to 274 pairs in 1952 gave no indication of the mas- sit c increase that was to come in the next 20 years, lotals ol 1,130 pairs were counted in 1957 and 961 pairs in the national census of 1958. Ihe colony remained at around 1,200 pairs until 1962, but increased abruptly to 4,700-5,000 pairs in 1963 (the first year for some time that eggs were not collected). I he story from then on is well documented (all numbers refer to pairs): 1964, 4,000; 1965, 6,516-7,146; 1966, 6,206-6,706; 1967, 8,672-9,676; 1968, 10,500-12,000; 1969, 14,000-16,000; 1970-72, 17,000-21,000; 1973, 17,000-20,000; 1974, 16,500-19,000; 1975, 16,000; 1976, 15,000; 1977, 15,000-16,000; 1978, 15,000 (Taverner, pers. obs.). There is then a break in the record until the SCR of 1985-87, when the decline which apparently started around 1974 had continued, with only 10,000 pairs estimated in 1986, followed by a further decline since: 1987, 7,250-7,500; 1988, 7,000-7,500; 1989, 6,150; 1990, 7,000-8,000; 1991, 8,762. Most have nested on Gull Island (Spartina- dominated), which has held up to 12,000 pairs, but the eastern (Exbury) side of the river has supported up to 8,000 and the western shore (Warren Shore) up to 4,000, all of these in Spartina. The core of the colony is undoubtedly Gull Island, al- though severe erosion has reduced its size considerably, 50% having been lost between 1953 and 1992. I hese losses to erosion may have been partly responsible for the large-scale decline in breeding numbers at this colony. Southampton Water, Hampshire 4 he history of this colony, located on saltmarsh on the western shore between Ashlett and Dib- den Bay, is not well known. It was in existence before the Second World War and was occupied continuously until at least the 1960s, but very few counts are available: ‘tens’ in the early 1950s; 700 pairs in 1957; 500 pairs in 1964; 800-1,000 pairs in the mid 1960s; but only 58 pairs (at f aw lev Power Station) in 1969. The gullery may have survived into the early 1970s, but by then it was reduced to a few tens at best; no precise dates are available for its final demise, but no gulls have bred for some 20 years. Egg-collecting and industrial reclamation and development may all have been contributory factors in this. 4 'he growing colony at Needs Ore may have assimilated these gulls; it is the nearest gullery and was experiencing a dramatic growth at the time when the Southampton Water colony was disappearing. Chichester Harbour , West Sussex I he history and development of the Chichester Harbour gullery is the most completely docu- mented ol all the South Coast colonies, this being due pardy to its recent establishment. Breeding was first attempted, by a single pair, in 1964, but there were no further records until 1971, when four pairs bred. 4’he colony grew to over 400 pairs by 1976, with 1,000 in the following year, ris- ing to 1,536 in 1981, but numbers then fluctuated from a low of 891 (1985) to 1,731 (1990), all counts here being of acUve nests. On the main site of South Stakes Island, it is adjudged that there is little or no room for further expansion; future growth would be most likely on North Stakes Island, where a recent increase has in fact been noted. Langstone Harbour , Hampshire Black-headed Gulls first bred here in 1978 (five pairs). After a two-year absence, five to ten pairs again attempted to nest, followed by 83 in 1983 and 130 in 1984. This collapsed to only two pairs in 1986, peaked at 184 pairs in 1988, with fewer every year since (only 41 pairs in 1991). This rather fitful start to colonisation in what would seem to be a very suitable setting differs from that of neighbouring Chichester Harbour. Rye Harbour , East Sussex Breeding was first recorded in 1986 and 1987, when 1,000 pairs nested, this figure dropping to about 400 pairs in 1988 and 1989. Although odd pairs have made intermittent attempts to nest in west Dorset, at Abbotsbury, no Black-headed Gulls breed along the Channel coast of Devon and Cornwall. In Kent, however, the Dungeness colony may have connections with the area reviewed in this paper, so its liistory is summarised below. Dungeness, Kent 44ie story is very chequered. There were ‘thousands’ in 1847, only 150 by 1896, 60 in 1903 and 108 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire 300 in 1905. Around 300 pairs were in the area again in the 1930s and 1940s, but die gulls then deserted. Up to five pairs were on Dungcness Reserve during 1952-56, but none bred again until 15 pairs in 1964, followed bv B0 in 1965; by 1976, there were over 1,000 pairs. There has been some gull-control at this site. -♦ The total population for the whole of Kent increased from 360 pairs in 1938, to about 2,500 in 1958, 3,778 in 1969-70, 6,160-6,358 in 1973 and 7,253 in 1985-87. Discussion Despite the lack of systematic counts, sufficient information exists to put to- gether a reasonably complete picture of the colonisation of Hampshire and neighbouring counties by Black-headed Gulls. There is a remarkable gap of nearly 250 years between the first mention of breeding in Portsmouth Har- bour in the seventeenth century and those nesting around Poole Harbour in the late nineteenth century. W as there really no breeding during this period? No evidence has been traced to point one way or the other, and the true situ- ation will probably remain unknown. hollowing that 250-year gap, the next accounts of breeding on the main- land refer to wet-heathland sites, although those heaths may have been coastal, as in the case of Arne, for example. All heathland sites were aban- doned by the late 1940s or earlier. Colonisation of Spartina saltmarshes began in the early years of the twentieth century (the Newtown colony that formed around 1884 predated the appearance of Townsend’s cord-grass .S'. X townsendii), but it was not until the 1940s that gulleries really started to grow in such habi- tat. Poole Harbour dominated the scene until about 1950, when the Solent colonies at Keyhaven and Needs Ore took over. The late 1950s and the 1960s saw an explosive increase in breeding numbers, which reached a peak around 1972, after which they declined a little and then remained fairly sta- ble. Needs Ore had grown to be the dominant colony, but between 1972 and the present the gullcry has halved in size, while those in Poole and Chichester Harbours have increased. This summarised history raises five basic questions: 1 . Why did the species colonise this area in the late nineteenth century? 2. Why did the gulls abandon wet-heathland sites and move to Sparlina flats? 3. Why did they leave Poole Harbour around 1950 and apparently move to The Solent? 4. Why was there a population explosion in the late 1950s and 1960s, and how did this popula- tion support itself? 5. Why did the main colony at Needs Ore decline, with gulls apparently moving to Chichester Harbour and also back to Poole? Original influx in the late nineteenth century If there really was a gap of 250 years between the colony in Portsmouth Har- bour and commencement of breeding in Poole Harbour, this latc-ninetccnth- century influx must have been a result of immigration, since there was no local population to form colonies. These immigrants could have been from elsewhere in Britain or from the Continent. Documentation of that period, however, is so poor that we shall never know. Desertion of heathland for Spartina flats I he vigorous hybrid Spartina X townsendii originated near Hythc in Southampton Water in 1870, and by 1900 had spread, either naturally or through deliberate 109 Black-headed. Gull colonies in Hampshire planting, to all South Coast intertidal areas. This resulted in a rapid, large-scale accretion of sediment, which was progressively elevated and partially drained over the course of the next 30 and more years to form extensive saltings that were firm underfoot in many places. These platforms remain above high water, except during the highest spring tides (particularly when such tides coincide with lov\' atmospheric pressure and/or strong onshore winds), for the first 30 years of this century, therefore, an ideal nesting habitat was forming. The Black-headed Gull colonists of the late nineteenth century, however, would not have had extensive, firm saltings at their disposal; they would have had little choice for breeding grounds other than the wet heathlands. 1 hese heathlands were vulnerable to fire, and their nesting gulls to predation by foxes Vulpes vulpes and to human pressures such as egg-harvesting, especially as the towns of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole were expanding rapidly at that time. It has been suggested that Black-headed Gull colonies became es- tablished in these heathland sites perhaps only as a result of ‘vermin’-control on the large estates and commons. Foxes can cause havoc in some colonies, yet in northern England and Scotland inland breeding is still commonplace, with or without pest-control, and colonies there shift sites frequently. It is possible that increased human pressure and heath fires made conditions on the heathland sites intolerable for an expanding gull population, and that this coincided with considerable areas of Spartina marshes becoming available nearby. It is only a short flight from the heathland to the coastal Spartina. The shift from Poole Harbour to The Solent Colonisation of saltmarsh sites began in the early years of the twentieth cen- tury, but on a very small scale at that time. The population in Poole Harbour was clearly dominant until about 1950: the record is fragmentary, but 1,000- 2,000 pairs may possibly have been present continuously from 1900 until around 1950; the colony subsequently declined to a few' hundred pairs (on Brownsea Island) and the gulls may have moved east to the northwest Solent and Needs Ore colonies, which were then increasing. At Newtown, a similar decline mirrored that at Poole. Was this due to egg-collecting picssures? At that time, the populations at Needs Ore and Keyhaven-Pennington were too small to attract many eggers. It is strange that the Newtown colony did not grow at this time, but instead declined: it faces the Solent colonies that w'ere expanding, and was already in existence as a nucleus for growth. The apparent move from Poole Harbour to The Solent must remain some- thing of a mystery. The population explosion oj the late 1950s and the 1960s The population explosion was undoubtedly due largely to immigration, as the local population, even if it were increasing at that time, could not have pro- duced sufficient young for such a rapid expansion. Ringing returns show that some Black-headed Gulls move considerable distances, which would allow im- migration. . . The creation of extensive, suitable Spartina flats could have attracted visiting gulls from the Continent or other parts of Britain outside the breeding season which then stayed on when the breeding season arrived. Large-scale declines 1 1 0 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire have in fact been noted in some Continental colonies, such as a fall from 250.000 to 140,000 in Denmark between the 1940s and 1970: perhaps those which disappeared were able to re-establish elsewhere, and, if so, then this could be what was witnessed in southern England. Although the timing of the Danish decline is just right, it may not necessarily have been Danish gulls that were involved. An adult found dead at Needs Ore in May 1965 had been ringed as a chick on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, in June 1961, and one of the Mediterranean Gulls L. melanocephalus that nested at Needs Ore in 1968 had been tinged as a chick on the Baltic coast of Germany (Taverner 1970). If Mediterranean Gulls moved from that area, why not Black-headed Gulls, too? Most Black-headed Gulls ringed as nestlings at Needs Ore and in Poole Harbour have been recovered within a few kilometres of those colonies, but others were found in Avon, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Shropshire, Lan- cashire, Essex, South Wales and France. Some Black-headed Gulls (especially first-winters) do, therefore, stray far from their natal colonies, making immi- gration a distinct possibility or even probability. It has also been shown that part of the wintering population in Sussex consists of substantial numbers of individuals from the Low Countries, the Baltic Republics and Fennoscandia (Newnham 1986), and the same is almost certainly likely to apply to the win- tering populations in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. 1 his is not to say that natural growth did not contribute to the population explosion. Some breeding seasons at Needs Ore were considerably successful in terms of young reaching the living stage, and it is possible that the growth of such a "super-colony increased chances of survival by deterring predation by the larger gulls that so often frequent Black-headed Gull colonies. 1 he British population of Black-headed Gulls increased from 35,000-40,000 pairs in 1928, to 47,000-53,000 in 1958, 100,000-110,000 in 1973 and 167.000 in 1985-87 (Reid-Henry & Harrison 1988; Lloyd el al. 1991). Reid- Henry & Harrison (1988) suggested climatic wanning as a possible agent, but various other factors can be invoked to explain the increase and range expan- sion: (a) hgal protection from persecution (shooting) may be important. (b Wardening of nature reserves is probably a major factor. The Needs Ore gallery had been sta- ble for .it least six years before wardening started in 1962, and it was from that point onwards that numbers rocketed so dramatically, from 1,200 pairs to 17,000-21,000 in just eight years. Prior to wardening, the colony had been subjected to constant harassment from yachtsmen and il- legal egg-collectors. Wardening also started around the same time at Keyhaven-Pennington, and Chichester Harbour has such protection. (c) Changes in feeding ecology may have resulted in increased survival rates and are perhaps respons- ible for the range expansion in Europe. As stated previously, inland feeding was considered a noteworthy occurrence in southern England until 1940, although coastal numbers then were also low. 1 oday, it would be remarkable not to sec large numbers inland in coastal counties, even in summer (and including breeders): the gulls regularly feed behind the plough, tlicv frequent down- find, golfcourses and playing-fields, sewage-farms and a host of other sites, while feeding on aerial insect swarms over New forest lawns is a classic foraging technique in summer. 1’hese factors, to- gether with opportunistic scavenging at refuse-tips and sewage outfalls, could have contributed to a lower mortality and thus helped the population to increase. Sand and gravel extraction has also created suitable feeding and roosting sites inland. However, did the species increase because of these changes in feeding habits, or were the changes forced upon the birds because of an increase in their numbers, or did both of these possibilities play a part? (d) The state of the vegetation may be important. At its peak growth, Spartma X toumsendii is a tall plant Ill Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire that obscures the view of gulls nesting in its midst. Gulls seem to avoid the tallest areas, and per- haps some die-back is necessary for optimum conditions (such a die-back had started when the massive colonisation of Spartina flats took place). At this point, it is helpful to summarise the population explosion (fig. 2). Around 1950, the only counts of consequence were of over 1,000 pairs in Poole Harbour and reports of a ‘large colony’ around Keyhaven. It is difficult to produce a total for the late 1950s/early 1960s as not all gulleries were counted in the same years, but in 1957-59 there were approximately 6,000 pairs, with a few more in 1961-62; Keyhaven-Pennington dominated that pe- riod, with around 4,000 pairs. Six years later, in 1968, the population had at least trebled, with 17,500-19,500 at Keyhaven-Pennington and Needs Ore alone (Needs Ore had by now become dominant, with 10,500-12,000 pairs). These two colonies had increased to a peak total of 25,000-28,000 pairs in 1972, the population having at least quadrupled in ten years; the other colonies in the area probably totalled fewer than 1 ,000 pairs at that time, thus demonstrating the importance of the Solent mainland between Calshot and Hurst Spit (which then held about 25% of the British breeding population). Numbers have declined from that peak to a total for Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight of 21,000-22,000 pairs. The Needs Ore colony has fallen to 8,762 pairs (1991), but Poole Harbour has come back into the picture with over 5,000 pairs (1991), while Chichester Harbour had grown to 1,731 pairs by 1990. The area as a whole has therefore lost up to 6,500 pairs since 1972; either these moved to other areas, or the population experienced a natural decrease (see below). The Kent population seems to have increased contemporaneously with the above. From 2,500 pairs in 1958, numbers almost trebled to reach 7,253 in 1985-87. The only difference is that growth continued after 1972. To put all of this into a national context, the total British population ap- proximately doubled between 1958 and 1973, but this doubling included a four-fold increase on The Solent. On the other hand, the national population continued to increase when the population around Hampshire was undergo- ing a slight decline. The lack of truly comprehensive counts does not allow any finer analysis. Furthermore, the degree of accuracy of the figures from different colonies must be considered. Are counts from different colonies, or from the same colonies in different years, strictly comparable? At Needs Ore, counts in the early years were of ‘nests with eggs’, obtained by the same team working through the gullery; when the colony grew too large, totals were calculated from sample counts (again by the same observers) taken over the whole area, finding the average increase and applying that figure to the colony as a whole, this method being backed up by constant observations to assess nest density in different parts. At other colonies, apart from Chichester Harbour, most counts are estimates of breeding pairs rather than active-nest counts. Needs Ore was counted at the same stage of the breeding cycle from 1962 until 1978 (when the regular team stopped working there), but were all colonies counted at the gjjp-jg stage each year? There was no liaison between counters, and it is piob- able that counts were made at different stages in different colonies, all of which would affect the accuracy of a total-population estimate. 1 1 2 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire During the course of a breeding season, several thousand pairs may relocate within a colony following flooding by spring tides (as witnessed on a number of occasions in the Beaulieu estuary); there is also some evidence of inter- colony movements after flooding, especially between Needs Ore and Key- haven-Pylewell. Such movements have a bearing on the analysis, since counts were not conducted in a co-ordinated manner and may have been carried out over a period of a month or more. Consequently, both under-counting and over-counting are possibilities. An error of ±12.5% in a total population of 20,000 pairs would give a range of 1 7,500-22,500 pairs, which is very close to that actually observed. If this is a reasonably achievable level of accuracy, then it seems that the total breeding population for Hampshire, Dorset, West Sus- sex and the Isle of Wight may have been relatively stable after dropping slightly from the 1972 peak. A simple redistribution of gulls from the Beaulieu estuary to Poole Harbour (after a net movement in the opposite direction in the 1950s) and to Chichester Harbour is almost sufficient to maintain the sta- bility of the whole population, and this may indeed be what has actually hap- pened (see ringing recoveries below). If this is so, why should these recent shifts have taken place? The decline at Needs Ore, and the increase at Poole and Chichester ' At Needs Ore, Gull Island at the mouth of the Beaulieu river was always the core of the colony, and the decline may well be due to its size being reduced by erosion coupled with the fact that Spartxna die-back has led to some of the previously firm surface becoming very soft. More than 50% of the island has been lost over the past 40 years, and this was the part of the estuary that was best able to withstand spring tides. The Chichester Harbour colony increased as that at Needs Ore decreased, although the rise in numbers at the former does not come near to equalling the losses at the latter. The incomplete record from Poole prevents accurate dating of the increase there, but, if it did coincide with the Needs Ore decline, then it could have taken most of those gulls. We have as yet no explanation for the return to Poole Harbour or the recent colonisation of Chichester Har- bour, but a nestling Black-headed Gull ringed at Needs Ore w'as recovered as an adult in Chichester Harbour and another chick ringed at Pylew'cll was re- covered as an adult in the Poole Harbour colony. Both of these recoveries show that the return to Poole and the growth at Chichester have been fuelled, at least in part, by gulls from Solent colonics. Concluding remarks The possible causes of the local population changes, extinctions and new colonisations arc many and varied. Those mentioned include immigration, land reclamation and industrial development (important in Southampton Water), uncontrolled egg-harvesting, disturbance, habitat change, heath fires, predation, and erosion. Spartina die-back was noted at many sites before gulls began to colonise, but it certainly softened the surface when it reached an ad- vanced stage and the absence of its root systems allowed marine erosion to be more effective. 113 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire Present-day licensed egg-collecting is not considered to be deleterious to Black-headed Gull colonies, although it may prevent further growth (Aspinall & Venner 1991). Clearly, controlled collecting and colony expansion can go hand-in-hand: eggs from the Needs Ore gullery were collected regularly throughout most of its rapid growth, collecting being stopped each year in the first week of May (when breeding terns Sterna arrived); after being stable at around 1,200 pairs for at least six years, however, there was no collection at the colony in 1963, for the first time for a number of years, and the gull pop- ulation trebled to 3,900 pairs, this being the start of the colony’s explosive in- crease (Taverner 1966). Furthermore, egg-collecting puts back the appearance of hatched young by at least three weeks, and this change in the breeding timetable may influence breeding success. If eggs arc washed out by an early spring tide, the gulls lay again; if the timetable is put back by collecting and young chicks are washed out in late May, it is too late for the gulls to re-lay. Had there been no collecting, those young chicks would have been three weeks older and able to withstand such a flood. Eggs are currendy harvested legitimately at Needs Ore, Lymington and Keyhaven, with some illegal collecting still occurring at these and other colonies. Controlled collecting must finish before the females’ egg-laying pow- ers are exhausted. Black-headcd Gulls are considered to be mostly loyal to an individual colony, with young birds usually being recruited into their natal site or to one close by, but ringing shows that this is not an absolute rule. Consequently, monitoring of breeding pairs at individual colonics cannot be carried out in isolation. The present review shows how Hampshire colonies, with those in neighbouring counties, have developed, declined or become extinct. Why numbers increased so dramatically in the 1960s is a matter for conjecture, though immigration must have been involved, but the population seems to have peaked around 1972 and then levelled off following a small decline. Breeding numbers may be increasing slowly once more. This review also demonstrates why all future surveys and monitoring should be on a co-ordi- nated basis, looking at all active colonies on or around the same days, and using a standardised method where ‘active nests’ is the count unit. Only in this way can future trends be detected with any degree of certainty. Some measurement of breeding success is also vital. Clearly, there is still much to learn about the breeding biology of Black- headcd Gull colonics, about the process of colonisation, the dynamics and functioning of gulleries, and even about general ecology, movements and de- mography of populations. It is notable that not one of the colonies examined has achieved any sort of long-term stability, and the factors controlling the species’ breeding requirements arc clearly very complex. The authors would be grateful for any useful information on this subject. Acknowledgments John Boys, Philip Fawkes, John Jones, Andrew Nicholson, Bryan Pickcss, Joe Spedding, David Thelwelf Colin Tubbs and Paul Walsh all provided useful information and discussion on the sub- ject and are thanked accordingly. David 1 helwell also drew figs. 1 and 2. 114 Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire Summary 1 he earliest records of Black-headed Gulls Lams ridibundus breeding in the four coastal counties of central-southern England (excluding those in Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire, in the seventeenth century) are of colonies around Poole Harbour, Dorset, in 18?7, at Newtown Harbour, Isle of Wight, in 1884, and on East Parley Common, Dorset, in 1891. In the second half of the twenti- eth century, total breeding numbers increased dramatically. All colonies are now exclusively in saltmarsh or island sites. \ annus forces and pressures are discussed which may have been respon- sible for: (a) the move from wet-heathland sites to saltmarsh; and (b) the rapid increase in breed- ing numbers. A history of colonisation and development is given for each colony between Poole Harbour and Chichester Harbour, West Sussex, including that at Newtown Harbour. The total breeding population appears to have reached a peak of at least 25,000 pairs in 1972 and to have levelled olf at a slightly lower level in subsequent years, this despite one colony becoming extinct and another losing at least 8,000 pairs. The balance seems to have been achieved by a redistribu- tion of breeding pairs between Needs Ore, at the mouth of the Beaulieu river, Hampshire, and colonies in West Sussex and Dorset. References Aspinai.I., S. J., & VKNNER, J. P. f. 1991. A Survey of Breeding Black-headed Gulls and Egg-col- lecting at Needs Ore Point, Hampshire in 1990. Unpubl. JNCC Report No. 1 1. Lyndhurst. CHEVERTON, J. M. 1989. Breeding Birds of die Isle of Wight. Isle of Wight Natural History & Archae- ological Society, Newport, Isle of Wight. COHEN, E. 1963. Birds of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Edinburgh. & I AVERNER, J. H. 1972. A Revised list of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Birds. Oxford. Gribbee, F. C. 1962. Census of Black-headed Gull colonies in England and Wales 1958. Bird Study 9: 56-7 1 . 1976. Census of Black-headed Gull colonies in England and Wales 1973. Bird Study 23: 139- 149. Hampshire and Isle ok Wight Naturalists’ Trust. Proceedvigs. Hampshire Ornithological Society. Hampshire Bird Reports 1960-1990. Hollom, P. A. D. 1939. Report on the 1938 survey of Black-headed Cull colonies. Brit. Birds 33: 202-221, 230-244. Isle of Wight Natural History & Archaeological Society. Isle of Wight Birds 1982-1989. Isle of Wight Orni thological Croup. Bird Reports 1986-1990. K.ELSALL, J. E. 1904. A briefly annotated list of the birds of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Re- port for 1899. Papers and Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society : 90-122. & Munn, P. W. 1905. The Birds oj Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. London. LLOYD, C., 1 ASKER, M. L., & Partridge, K. 1991. The Status of Seabirds in Britain and Ireland. Lon- don. Munn, P. W. 1920. Notes on the birds of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Report for 1919. Pa- pers and Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society: 23-26. Newnham, J. A. 1986. The origins and movements of Black-headed Gulls which have wintered in Sussex. Sussex Bird Report, No. 38. Prendergast, E. D. V., & Boys, J. V. 1983. Birds of Dorset. Newton Abbot. Reid-Henry, D., & Harrison, C. 1988. The History of the Birds of Britain. London. Sharrock, J. 1 . R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. Sussex Orni thological Society. Sussex Bird Reports 1960-1990. 1’AVERNER, J. H. 1966. The Needs Ore gullery and temery. Hampshire Bird Report for 1965: 32-45. — 1970. Mediterranean Gulls nesting in Hampshire. Brit. Birds 63: 67-79. Taylor, D. W., Davenport, D. L, & Flecg,J.J. M. (eds.) 1984. Birds of Kent. Kent Ornitholog- ical Society. S. J. Aspirmll, Scottish Natural Heritage, 2 Anderson Terrace, Edinburgh EH 6 5PM J. H. T avemer, 1 3 Stockers Avenue., Weeke, Winchester , Hampshire S022 5111 E. J. 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(The Republic of Ireland) TEL: (01 ) 7731 73 1 0- YEAR WARRANTY Oriental Pratincole: new to the Western Palearctic ,\N- , "X . " t ' - W.h.'Mt>! jy>.ssK cm Cross-generic hybrids are much less common than intrageneric ones, although they do occur. K. E. Vinicombe has commented as follows: 1 have seen three presumed Red-crested Pochard X Mallard hybrids over the years. Like the Rutland Water individual, these superficially resem- bled female Red-crested Pochard, but one (which 1 saw well) had a dark crown, pale face, similar head shape and relatively plain body plumage, though the bill, while similar in shape to Rcd- 130 Notes 131 crested Pochard’s, was intermediate in colour between the latter and female Mallard’s, with an orangey band behind the tip extending back to the base along the bill sides; the upperparts feathers were edged paler and the flanks were slightly barred; the tail was whitish and, like Mr Harrop’s bird, longer than Red-crested Pochard’s. Of the other two (seen less well), one differed from female Red-crested Pochard in having a rather long neck, more sloping forehead, longer and all-dark bill, paler flanks, and longer tail; the other was similarly longer-tailed and “rangier” than accom- panying Red-crested Pochards. Any unusual duck needs to be examined closely for e\idence of hybridity: any divergences from the normal, no matter how small, may well suggest that the bird is a hybrid. .Also, when identifying hybrids, it must Ire remembered that a lot of them are probably escapes, so it is ciitical not to take too narrow a \iew of the bird’s parentage.’ Eds Dotterels evading Peregrine Falcon by settling near human being D. G. P. Chatfield’s note (Brit. Birds 85: 670) and others in earlier volumes show that various birds occasionally fly towards people when pursued by predators. On 20th August 1978, I was in the Cairngorms when 13 adult and two juvenile Dotterels Charadrius morinellus flew quickly downhill to disappear behind a ridge. I had walked 50 m towards the ridge when they reappeared in flight, closely pursued by a female Peregrine Falcon Valeo peregrinus. They flew straight towards me, alighted only 15 m away, and at once crouched mo- tionless and so low that they were almost out of sight but for their heads. Meanwhile, the Peregrine had flown to about 100 m range before turning away and disappearing, not to return within the next hour at least. A minute later the Dotterels rose, and started feeding when I walked away. Adam Watson c/o Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Banchory, Kincardineshire absi -ten Marsh Owls roosting in trees Although both Cramp (1985) and Fry et at. (1988) stated that the Marsh Owl Asio capensis roosts on the ground, often in depressions in grass, the former adding that it is among the least arboreal of owls, in winter 1987/88 van den Berg (1989) recorded up to 20 individuals of this species roosting in trees in a small area of parkland at Moulay Bousel- ham, Meija Zerga, Morocco. On 7th January 1989, I saw seven Marsh Owls leaving this same roost in Morocco; the following morning, one was located roosting about 5 m up in a tamarisk Tamarix , and eight left the roost that evening. Tree-roosting appears, therefore, to be a regular habit of this species. N. CLEERE 25 Bedford Close, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6SU REFERENCES CRAMP, S. (ed.) 1985. The Birds of the Western Palearclk. vol. 4. Oxford. Fry, C. H., Kkith, S., & Urban, E. K. The Birds of Africa, vol. 3. London. Van DKN Bi-.RG, A. B. 1989. Bird records in Morocco in December 1987 and January 1988. Dutch Birding 11:31 -34. Female plumage of Desert Sparrow The largely sedentary Desert Spar- row Passer simplex occurs in two widely separated regions, in the Sahara and in ‘Russian Turkestan’. The African population, sometimes treated as two separate but similar races, simplex and saharae , is comparatively well known 132 Notes (Summers-Smith 1988), but the Asian fonn zarudnyi is almost unknown, at least to Western ornithologists. During recent visits to Morocco and Central Asia, I was able to observe individuals of both populations. In 1 988 (accompanied by M. Densley and others) and again in 1989, 1 visited the small breeding colony of Desert Sparrows near Merzouga, Morocco. This colony was de- scribed by Densley (1990), together with a useful series of photographs; the latter included a typical female of the North African form (Brit. Birds 83: plate 1 19), which agreed with various field-guide illustrations depicting a non- descript, sandy sparrow virtually lacking any distinctive features (although an indistinct but complex wing pattern can be seen at close range). I was, therefore, surprised to discover, when I visited the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan, in 1990, that the female plumage of Desert Sparrow of the race zarudnyi was completely different. We found a single pair of this localised subspecies build- ing a nest, and it was only when the two were seen together that it became apparent that the female was merely a duller version of the male: the black mask and throat were only slightly less distinct than on the male and ap- peared to be brownish-black rather than jet-black, while the wing pattern was almost as striking as the male’s. Subsequent search of the literature revealed a notable discrepancy regard- ing the female plumage of the Central Asian race. Heinzel et al. (1972) made no mention of this race, but, although it is included in their range map, it is really outside the scope of their book. Hollom et al. (1988) did cover zarudnyi (an isolated population of which formerly occurred in eastern Iran, but, with no records this century, is presumed to be extinct there), briefly mentioning that this race is greyer, but gave no information about the female. Hue & Etchecopar (1970) similarly described, in brief, differences between the Asian and African forms (quoted word for word from Vauric 1959), but again only for males; worse still, the female illustrated on their plate 30, and labelled zarudnyi , clearly shows the sandy, nondescript plumage of the nominate African race. Summers-Smith (1988) covered the entire Passer genus in a com- prehensive manner, but also gave only a very brief descriptive comparison be- tween the African and Asian forms. It is perhaps relevant that there are no specimens of zarudnyi at the Natural History' Museum, Tring. Not surprisingly, Russian ornithologists are familiar with the eastern race of Desert Sparrow. Flint et al. (1984) described the female and juvenile as similar to the male, with black replaced by brownish. Dementiev & Gladkov (1970) also Stated that the female resembles the male, but with lores, circumorbital ring, post-orbital band and gular patch smaller and brownish-black (not black); other minor differences are also given. Summers-Smith (1988) quoted Demen- tiev & Gladkov’s work, yet omitted to mention the female plumage of zarudnyi. It is interesting that the African form of Desert Sparrow should show strong sexual dimorphism, while the sexes of the Asian form are almost alike. Hall & Moreau (1970) suggested that the two populations may have evolved indepen- dently (from House Sparrow P. domesticus), but Summers-Smith (1988) consid- ered that this would have resulted in different species, convergent through their adoption of the same habitat. The strong difference in sexual dimor- phism between the two allopatric. populations (not recognised by Summers- Smith) is hardly sufficient grounds on its own for ‘splitting’ the species, and Notes 133 indeed there are many similarities in other respects. Further comparative stud- ies may, however, reveal other differences. Although the female plumage of the Central Asian Desert Sparrows has been correctly described in some of the literature, I hope that it will now be more widely recognised in future publications. Nigel Redman 74 Chatbum Road , Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 2 AT REFERENCES Dementiev, G. P., & Gl ADKOV, N. A. (eds.) 1970. Birds of the Soviet Union. Israel Program for Sci- entific Translations, Jerusalem. Denslky, M. 1990. Desert Sparrows in Morocco. Brit. Birds 83: 195-201. Flint, V. E„ Boehme, R. L., Kostin, Y. V„ & Kuznetsov, A. A. 1984. A Field Guide to the Birds of the USSR. Princeton. Hall, B. P., & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An Atlas of Speciation in African Passerine Birds. 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„ Porter, R. F., Christensen, S., & Willis, I. 1988. Birds of The Middle East and North Africa. Cal ton. Hue, F., & EtcheGOPAR, R. D. 1970. Les Oiseaux du Proche et du Moyen Orient. Paris. SUMMERS-S.MTTH, J. D. 1988. The Sparrows. Calton. Vaurie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Paleardic Fauna. Passeriformes. London. Hawfinches feeding like crossbills on Scots pine During 1985-90, while stationed in Germany, I endeavoured to find out exactly what Hawfinches Coccothraustes coccothraustes fed on in the winter months in areas without hornbeams Carpinus betulus. In Germany, most Hawfinches visit garden birdtables in winter, where they take mainly sunflower seeds, but also peanuts, hemp and sometimes wheat; parties of 30 are not uncommon in several gar- dens in a single street, and, since Common Starlings Stumus vulgaris are absent, this species quickly becomes dominant at any feeding station. In the local Stadt park of Harsewinkel, the Hawfinches fed on ash keys Fraxinus excelsior and the nuts of a few hornbeams in a private garden. It was not until 23rd January 1987 that I got my answer: as I walked through the Boomberge woods on the western outskirts of the town, I came across a large party of Coal fits Pams ater feeding busily in the tall grass on seeds of Scots pine Pinus sylvestns] above, in the canopy, over 100 Hawfinches were ripping open the scales of cones and dislodging the seeds, which fell to the ground. The finches’ feeding method was to climb down on to a cone and, beginning at the tip, to tear off each scale, working up the cone; the tear- ing was that of a violent ripping action, with most pressure being exerted at the point where the scale joined the cone. After five to ten minutes, they would then land on the ground and begin to eat the seeds. One Hawfinch was seen to snap off a whole cone, only to fall briefly downwards with the cone before releasing it and flying on to a branch. Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra, which prise out the seed with their specially adapted bills, have no need for such violent action; the Hawfinches had to be so aggressive in order to dislodge the seed from behind the scale. This feeding activity and method were noted throughout February and March, the coldest months of the win- ter, in different parts of Germany. L. Batt 1 Legg Road, Wittering, Peterborough PE8 6BB Letters Song Thrushes and Redwings feeding on periwinkles I was surprised to see the note on Song Thrush Turdus philomelos feeding on common periwin- kles Littorina littorina in Kent (Brit. Birds 85: 618). Song Thrushes always fed on the old periwinkle-bed at Liverpool’s ‘Cast Iron’ (Dingle) shore before Ottcrs- pool Promenade was built there. In my 1941 book Birds of the Liverpool Area, under ‘British Song Thrush’, 1 wrote: ‘In hard frost of early 1940 many were feeding on winkles on Dingle shore and in the following winter I noticed Thrushes from nearby allotments (gardens) earning winkles back from the shore to break against stones.’ I used to show my pre-war WEA students and local naturalists’ societies how to locate Song Thrushes and Redwings T. iliacus feeding on winkles on Dingle shore by the noise they made breaking them against pebbles. 1 have also seen Redwings doing this in hard weather on Hilbre Island. Shelled snails are rarely found on Liverpool’s acid city soil; where snails arc commoner, in nearby Wirral, the habit is seldom seen on Wirral shores. Eric: Hardy 47 I Loads one! Road . Liverpool i.i.i at B Flycatcher identification Nick Riddiford (Brit. Birds 84: 19-23) stated that the shape of the primary-base patch may help in separating Collared Ficedu/a albicollis from Pied Flycatcher F. hypoleuca in female and non-breeding plumages. The difference in this character between the two species was de- scribed and illustrated by Lars Jonsson in a Swedish regional bird magazine Blacku 7: 21-24) in 1981 and has therefore been well known in Sweden for at least ten years; the paper had a short English summary, but the magazine is probably not read by many non-Swedes. T his highlights a major problem: much important information is presented locally and is therefore not available to the wider audience. One can only hope that a growing international con- tact network will lend wings to our knowledge of birds. Lars G. R. Nilsson Kampagranden 21 B. S-223 76 Lund. Sweden Lars Nilsson has drawn attention to what is, indeed, a problem. To minimise the risk of similar ‘repetition’ of published material in the future, wc should be most appreciative if the authors of identification notes and papers in regional journals would, in the spirit of Mr Nilsson’s final sentence, send a copy or reprint of their work to British Birds , to be held on file for reference, bus 134 From the Rarities Committee’s files Sponsored by ZEISS Germany Arctic Redpolls in Kent The following description was submitted to the Kent Ornithological Society on 24th March 1991, and passed to the Rarities Committee on 20th July 1991. The record was accepted, and published in October 1992 {Brit. Birds 85: 549). Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni - Church Wood, Canterbury. 24th Febru- ary, 3rd and 9th March 1991. CONDITIONS Bright and sunny on 24/2 & 3/3; overcast on 9/3. The initial view and most subse- quent ones were obtained with the light from behind the observers. TIMK 2.20 p.m. on 24/2; 8.20 a.m. to 1 1.00 a.m. on 3/3; 10.00 to 1 1.00 on 9/3. RANCH Down to 8 m on 24/2, 6 m on 3/3 and 10 m on 9/3. OFI'ICS 10X40 binoculars, 20/30X77 ’scope. OBSERVERS Chris Abrams & myself on 24/2 & 3/3 (with Stan Kirk from 10.00 a.m. on 3/3) and myself with others on 9/3. GRNERAI. SITUATION On the evening of 21st February. I heard from the warden of Church Wood RSPB Reserve that a flock of 300+ [Common] Redpolls C.Jlammea had been present in the area since December. I at once informed Chris Abrams and, in the light of reports of Arctic Redpoll in Norfolk, we both felt that it would be worth checking the flock for Arctic Redpoll at the first op- portunity. On Sunday 24th at 2.20 p.m., we found a flock of 50-60 redpolls at the reserve and CA quickly called my attention to a very pale bird. As I approached, the flock moved slightly and we both spotted a still-paler example. This bird, which we watched for about a minute in good light at c. 10 m, we identified as an Arctic Redpoll. (Unfortunately we were unable to examine the first bird carefully in the time allowed, but subsequent experience suggests that it too was an Arctic Redpoll.) The flock suddenly flew, allowed a brief view whilst perched, but then joined a loose flock of c. 250 birds which would not allow close observation thereafter. On 3rd March, shortly after 8.00 a.m., CA and I found the whole flock, numbering c. 300 birds, quietly feeding in scrub and leaf litter beneath birches. These we were able to follow and watch at ranges down to c. 6 m for most of the next two hours, after which the flock split up and became elusive. On 3rd, the Arc- tic Redpolls were seen on eight occasions for periods of up to ten minutes at a stretch. Due to the density of the cover, the whole flock could be seen only when the birds flew and perched in trees at greater range. Generally, when feeding on the ground, only about 10-20 birds were visible, and not all those easy to see, at any one time. This and the fact that the birds shifted their ground sev- eral times, make it difficult to be absolutely certain about the number of Arctics present. No more than two were seen together at any one time, but plumage details indicate that a minimum of three birds were seen on 3rd March. During this time, I formed the opinion that, of the c. 100 birds that I was able to examine critically, about a quarter to a third showed the characteristics of the nominate race and the rest, save the birds desciibed below, the characteristics of cabaret. Subse- quent to our discovery of the birds on 3rd March, the Arctic Redpolls were reported by many ob- - servers. On 9th March I relocated two Arctic Redpolls with c. 60 Common Redpolls at c. 10.00 'which I watched periodically for the next 45 minutes for up to five minutes at a stretch. These birds were w atched by a half-dozen or so other observers unknown to me. The bird observed on 24th February was extremely pale and would seem to be identical to one watched on 3rd March (in the description that follows I refer to this as bird ‘A’). Two other birds iwatched well on 3rd March were similar, but distinguished largely by slightly more heavily streaked flanks (these I have referred to as ‘B’ & ‘C’). Had 1 not had both birds together I would 135 138 Rarities Committee 's files lil Fig. 1. Arctic Carduelh homemanni and Common Redpolls C. flammed flammea. Church Wood, Canterbury, Kent, February and March 1991 (J. Cantelo) 1 & 9 = Arctic 'A' 3 & 4 = Arctic ‘B/C’ 5 = Arctic ‘O' 6 = Arctic 7 & 8 - Common C. f. flammea Colour separations kindly supplied by Kent Ornithological Society Top bmoculjte for the future Most popular biqoeulars Most popular make ol binocular RocftHimeiulerl by British fftftlv. THE DEFINITIVE BINOCULAR ENGLAND BEDFORDSHIRE Countryside Optics. Marston Moretame BERKSHIRE Link Cameras & Video. Reading; Vic Odden. Maidenhead CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Campkins Cambridge Camera Exchange. Cambridge CHESHIRE Focalpoint. Higher Whitley. Wildings Photographic. Wilmslow, Crewe Camera Exchange Ltd. Crewe Stockport Warrington Chester CO DURHAM Risbeys. Darlington CORNWALL Springfield. St Austell CUMBRIA: J N Murray, Keswick; The Camera Centre. Kendal DEVON Devon Camera Centre. Exeter; The Sportsman. Paignton ' DORSET Weymouth Camera Corner. Weymouth ESSEX: E J Markham & Son Ltd. Colchester GLOUCESTERSHIRE Owen Barke Opticians. Tewkesbury GTR MANCHESTER Beavers of Bolton Ltd. 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VT British Trust for Ornithology Benefits of membership include: £ 1 5 of book and recording vouchers on joining Special pre-publication discounts on BTO books, including the new Breeding Atlas Our magazine BTO News every two months Free use of our library The chance to take part in any of our field projects on birds Your own local contact in our Regional Network Your chance to get directly involved with today’s major conservation issues £15 off vouchers towards Poyser books, WildSounds recordings and books ffrom the Bird & Wildlife Bookshop when you join from only £14 Join us, support us, and together we’ll find the answers. Just send us <£1 7, or for a <£3.00 discount ask for a Direct Debit form. Write to: Sue Starling, BTO (BB93 ), The National Centre for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford Norfolk IP24 2PU or call Sue on 0842 750050. The BTO is a registered charity Call 0842 750050 to join - today! Mystery photographs O/^On a sunny October morning, while searching for migrants on a lOU scrub-covered coastal headland, a movement in a patch of bracken and bramble catches the eye. After skulkingTor a few minutes, the bird even- tually hops on to an exposed perch, ruffles its plumage, droops its wings and begins to sun itself. By a combination of its pointed, insectivorous bill, plain plumage, structure and jizz, most readers will have realised that last month’s mystery bird (plate 13, repeated in colour on page 140) was a warbler. Most warblers are basically plain, so, to narrow it down to a genus, one has to concentrate initially on structure. This bird has a proportionately long, thick bill (although it should be noted that the bill is foreshortened as its head is slightly turned towards the camera), the head is peaked, with a distincdy sloping forehead, and the body appears rather bulky and the legs sturdy. In combination, this narrows it down to an Acrocephalus or a Hippolais. The habitat — gorse, bracken and bramble — would perhaps suggest the for- mer as most Hippolais prefer larger bushes, whereas Reed A. scirpaceus and Marsh Warblers A. palustris are quite frequently to be found grovelling in low vegetation. So how do we eliminate the two commoner Acrocephalus ? Bill struc- ture is similar, but the bill on this bird is, perhaps, slighdy blunter than on Reed or Marsh and it perhaps appears slightly more angled upwards from the face. Also, there is extensive pale coloration on the lower mandible and cut- ting edges from the base to the tip. In the field, this would be pale orange and would appear more extensive and more obvious than the paler, usually yel- lower or pinker coloration found on the lower mandible of Reed or, particu- larly, Marsh Warbler. The facial pattern is also important when separating the two genera. Reed and Marsh Warblers have a more noticeable dark eye-stripe and a fairly clear- cut supercilium before the eye, whereas Hippolais , with the exception of Booted Warbler H. caligata, have bland, open faces, with plain lores and, usually, only a relatively faint supercilium. This bird fits the latter. In addition, Acrocephalus show, in good light, a distinctly brown eye; this bird has a black eye. Two other structural differences are important. Reed and Marsh have a rounded tail tip and noticeably long undertail-coverts, extending to about half way between the primary tips and the tail tip. On this bird, the exact shape of the tail is unfortunately difficult to determine, although it does in fact look slightly rounded. The undertail-coverts are almost hidden by the drooped wings, but, had it been a Reed or M^arsh Warbler, the long undertail-coverts may well have been obvious beyond the wingtips. So far, everything is pointing towards a Hippolais , but is there anything more concrete to go on? Photographs like this can be extremely useful in [Brit. Birds 86: 139-142, March 1993] 139 141 Mystery photographs illustrating subtle features that are difficult or impossible to see in the field. On this bird, the wing formula is readily visible and reference to the excellent Identification Guide to European Passerines (4th edition) by Lars Svensson (1992) is essential. Although aimed primarily at ringers, this guide is a ‘must’ for serious students of bird identification and is particularly useful for difficult species and for moult and ageing. Its usefulness has increased in recent years with the ad- vancements in optical equipment, often allowing close study of individual feathers actually in the field. Note in particular the long first primary, extend- ing well beyond the tips of the primary coverts, and the relatively short second primary, falling short of the third and fourth primaries (which form the wingtip). Reed and Marsh Warblers have a short first primary (protruding, at most, only a couple of millimetres beyond the primary coverts) and a second primary' which is almost as long as the third. So, this bird is a Hippolais , but which one? Concentrate on the primary pro- jection. The exposed primaries beyond the tertial and secondary tips are about half the length of the overlying feathers. This rules out Olive-tree H. olivetorum and Icterine Warblers H. ictmna, both of which are long- winged and have the primary projection approximately equal in length to the tertials/sec- ondaries. Icterine has a wing formula more similar to Reed and Marsh, with a shorter first primary and a second primary close in length to the third, which is the wing point (there is, however, slight overlap in the length of the first pri- mary between Icterine and Melodious H. polyglottd). In addition, both Olive- tree Warbler and Icterine Warbler show a prominent pale secondary panel in fresh plumage. This bird does show a reasonable pale panel on its secondaries, but the colour original shows that this is not as white or as striking as that shown by most Icterines. Upcher’s Warbler H. languida has a longer, darker, tail, with noticeable whitish outer webs to the outer-tail feathers, a more dis- tinct supercilium and a rather longer and slighdy heavier bill. Booted has a stronger facial pattern, with a better-defined eye-stripe and supercilium (usu- ally bordered by a slight dark coronal line), and a weaker, more Phylloscopus- like bill. Also, it is a smaller, less bulky bird, in many ways reminiscent of a Phylloscopus. So, this leaves us with Melodious and Olivaceous Warblers H. pallida. In a black-and-white photograph, their separation is far from easy. They are very similar structurally, with very similar wang formulae which fit the bird in the photograph. Differences in head shape are at best subde and inconsistent (le- member that crown feathers can be raised and lowered at will). Confusion be- tween Melodious and Olivaceous is less likely in real life as they can be separated by their plumage colour. Although some Melodious may, superfi- cially, appear rather drab, good views should always reveal a greenish tint to the upperparts, and yellowish underparts, sometimes strongest on the tin oat and upper breast. The colour reproduction of this photograph (plate 28) does indeed show the bird to be pale green above and pale primrose below. Oliva- ceous, on the other hand, is a pallid, grey-brown and whitish looking bird, with more noticeable whitish outer webs to the outer-tail feathers. In real life, 28. Mystery photograph 186 29. Icterine Warbler Hippolais ictmna , Southwold, Suffolk, September 1988 {R. J. Melhs ) 30. Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida , Israel, March/ April 1985 ( Richard G. Smith ) ^ A The inclusion of plates 28-30 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl Germany. 142 Mystery photographs two behavioural traits are also worth remembering. Olivaceous has a habit ol downward tail-dipping (recalling ChifTchafT Phylloscopus collybita ) and it is far more vocal, frequently giving a hard ‘chack’, perhaps recalling a weak Black- cap Sylvia atricapilla. Acrocephalus warblers are also more vocal, giving the dis- tinctive ‘tchurr’ (Reed) or ‘churr’ or ‘stit’ (Marsh). Melodious is quieter, but has a sparrow-like chatter. This Melodious Warbler was photographed by Jack Levene on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, in October 1990. Melodious Warblers have a body moult in late summer, but adults do not moult their remiges and rectrices until they reach their winter quarters. Consequendy, these feathers are very worn in au- tumn. Our bird has clear-cut, fresh edgings to the terrials, secondaries and pri- maries, so it is, like virtually all autumn Melodious Warblers in Britain and Ireland, a first-winter. SlMON COLENUTT and Keith VlNICOMBE Green Edge , Chair Green, Ventnor, Isle of Wight P038 2JR 31. Mystery photograph 187. Identify the species. Answer next month Twenty-five years ago... ‘The nesting of a pair of Snowy Owls Nyctea scandiaca on Fedar, Shetland, in 1967 wits the first substantiated record in the wild in the British Isles. Publicity was inevitable and so the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds organised a round-the-clock watch until the young had flown.’ (. Brit. Birds 61: 119, March 1968) On 28th March 1968, a Savi’s Warbler Locuslella luscininides at Stodmarsh, Kent, was the first of a spring influx which inspired the comment that ‘Not for over 100 years have six counties recorded this species in one year.’ (Brit. Birds 62: 478) News and comment compiled by Robin Ptytherch and Mike Everett Rats out! Puffins in? LAST CENTURY, Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde supported a quarter of a million pairs of Puffins Fratercula arctica, then com- mon rats Rattus nowegicus got ashore. Slowly but surely, Puffins and other seabirds as well as vegetation — were devastated by the rats. Puffins have been absent for over one hundred years, but now they stand a real chance of re-establishing themselves at their old haunt. Bernard Zonfrillo of Glasgow University and George Houston of Rentokil, with additional financial assistance from Scottish Nat- ural Heritage, have successfully mounted a two-year campaign to rid the island of rats, which had reached a peak of about 10,000 individuals. Following the second baiting operation last April, Bernard Zonfrillo could find no evidence of rats, and Puffins, probably from the small colony at Sanda Island off the Mull of Kintyre, were again showing an interest in Ailsa Craig. There has also been a marked improvement in the survival rates of other breeding birds, and plants, including some very rare species, are thriving and recolonising areas of the island where rats had exterminated them. Congratulations to the team and to the island’s owner, the Marquess of Ailsa, who financed the study. Let us hope that the Puffins start breeding again, soon. Fr P. G. Kennedy honoured On 16th November 1992, Major R. F. Rutt- ledge wrote to us: ‘I have recently achieved what I have fought for for about 25 years. Ever since Fr Kennedy died, I have wanted a plaque put up on the North Bull in memory of him and his having been the person who got the place saved and made it a sanctuary. It was erected yesterday!’ North Bull Island makes Dublin a near- unique capital city, for it provides some of the most exciting and accessible birding in Ireland. 143 144 News and comment Venezuelan Llanos under threat l'he Llanos of Venezuela is crossed by numer- ous rivers which drain two-thirds of Venezuela and flow from the Andes in the west and the coastal ranges to the north into the Orinoco river. During the rainy season this flat savanna plain, which is less than 100 m above sea level, is subject to flooding. Vast post-breeding con- centrations of birds occur at the water holes that remain after the waters recede. The diverse and rich flora and fauna which have adapted to these condidons are now under threat from a project which has already been rejected by the World Bank on economic and environmental grounds. The Venezuelan Government, with money from a Japanese banking consortium, is planning to build sev- eral dams, and kilometres of dykes, to produce a navigable river from the west of Venezuela to the Atlantic, which they hope will allow transportation of coal to industrialised centres on the lower Orinoco, encourage intensive agriculture in the area (which the soil cannot support) and allow an increase in the human population. Venezuelan NGOs (including the Venezuelan Audubon Society) are planning to oppose the project, primarily because it will destroy the Llatios and secondly because it will lead to increased development pressure in the Venezuelan and Colombian Andes, and threaten the forest south of the Orinoco as population increases. Past experience in Venezuela has shown that international concern is more effective in changing Government plans than protests aris- ing solely from within the country. To support the campaign, please write to the following ad- dresses, expressing your concern as a bird- watcher and a past or potential ecotouiist: Dra Beatrix Rangel Mantilla, Ministro de la Secre- taiia de la Presidencia, Palacio de Miraflores, Caracas, D.F., Venezuela, with a copy to: Ing. Victor Gamboa, Presidente, Corpoturismo, Torre Oeste, Parque Central, Caracas, Venezuela. The mail system is poor in Venezuela, so your letters can be sent via Llanos, c/o K. Swallow, 32 Templegate Close, Leeds US15 OPJ. ( Contributed by John Swallow) Free condors After the brave decision to remove all die Cal- ifornia Condors (rymnogyps califomianus from the wild, because of concerns for their safety and the condition of their vast foraging area, the authorities started a release programme last January. A pair was released, along with two Andean Condors Vultur gyphws which were to act as ‘helpers’. If all goes to plan, six of the 1 2 California Condors that were hatched in captivity last spring (at the Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park) will be transported to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in the D>s Padres National Forest for release into the wild. The two adults will have refamiliarised themselves with the terrain and will act as a focus of attention for the new' arrivals, so the Andean Condors, their job done, will be re- captured and returned to captivity. (Perhaps, however, having done such a good job, they could be returned to the Andes and ‘put out to carrion’.) SWLA Bursary In conjunction with Lloyds Private Banking, the Society of Wildlife Artists is setting up a Bursary scheme for young wildlife artists aged 15-25. The aim is to provide young artists with opportunities that might not otherwise be pos- sible. The amount of the award will be up to £500 per application and may assist with such things as education, travel expenses and mate- rial costs, or in other ways. Applications for the current year must be submitted by 2nd April 1993. For an application form, please send a SAE to Wildlife Bursary, 3 Dene Drive, Orp- European merger The European Ornithological Atlas Commit- tee and the International Bird Census Com- mittee have now merged, bringing the co-ordination of all European bird surveys and censuses within the aegis of a single body, the European Bird Census Council. Binding your ‘BB’ Binding costs £17.95 per volume. The correct address is: I>ondon Journal Bindery, Roslin Road, London W3 8DH. News and comment 145 Irish research conference 1 lie Second National Ornithological Research Conference, held at the University College, Cork, on '28th November 1992, was another landmark in Irish ornithology. In 1985, over 100 bird researchers attended a one-day meeting addressed by the then Di- rector of the BTO, Dr Raymond O'Connor. Though Raymond has since moved to the United States, he returned to his native Ireland to give the key-note address (on biodiversity with respect to bird conservation) at the second research meeting. I he 1 20 bird-research projects currendy underway in Ireland range from the studies of Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii at Rockabill, which were described by John Goveney, die rwc c Conservation Officer, to research on Dippers Cindus cinctus, described by Dr John O’Halloran, the Conference organiser. Though it was only a one-day meeting, there were over a dozen short presentadons, including an account of bird-research pro- grammes underway at the Wildlife Service, de- scribed by John Wilson, and publication records of Irish ornithologists by well-known Irish ornithologist, Clive Hutchinson. It was truly an all-Ireland meeting, with Jim Wells giving an account of Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus in Northern Ireland and Clive Mellon of the RSPB on breeding-wader sites in North- ern Ireland. Irish ornithology is thriving! ( Con- tributed by Dr Jolm O’Halloran ) Conference correction The RSPB Members’ Weekend on 2nd-4th April will be held at the University of Sheffield (not Lancaster University, Brit. Birds 85: 668). Raptor conference The Raptor Research Foundadon, which has held regular meetings in the autumn in the USA, now plans a series of meedngs in Eu- rope. The first of these will be held jointly with The Hawk and Owl Trust on 1 1th- 15th September 1993, at the University of Kent, Canterbury'. The Conference will include gen- eral sessions on raptors and owls, and sym- posia on harriers, natural cavities versus nest-boxes, and solving human/raptor con- flicts. Offers of papers, posters or workshops should be sent to Dr Mike Nicholls, Christ Church College, North Holmes Road, Canter- bury, Kent CT1 IQU; booking forms can be ob- tained from Mrs Sue Dewar, 6 Glendevon Road, Woodley, Reading, Berkshire RG5 4PH. Twinned wetlands At a conference organised by Centre Naturopa in September 1992, Romania and France signed a twinning agreement between the Danube Delta and the Rhone Delta (the Ca- margue). It is hoped that this link will help to improve the protection of both areas and the rational use of their resources. Solway SPA Good news! The Upper Solway Flats and Marshes has been declared a Special Protec- tion Area for Birds and a Wetland of Interna- tional Importance under the Ramsar Convention. T his 30,000-ha site, which strad- dles die border between England and Scotland, abuts the Rockcliffe Marshes, which were des- ignated an SPA in 1986. This area holds the entire Svalbard popula- tion of Barnacle Geese Branla leucopsis during the winter (at least half of the year), as well as significant numbers of Whooper Swans Cymis cygnus and Oystercatchers Haemaiopus ostralegus in all, during winter, 43,000 wildfowl and 79,000 waders. Borneo’s birds A Checklist of the Birds of Borneo is in an ad- vanced state of preparation for the well-known BOU series. Any distributional or breeding data, either unpublished or published in less- obvious journals, will be most welcome, and. if used, will be fully acknowledged. Please con- tact the author, Dr Clive F. Mann, 123 Hartswood Road, London W12 9NG. Boost the BTO The BTO is a vital element in British ornithol- ogy. Its workforce of mostly amateur fieldwork- ers, willing and competent to carry out large-scale surveys and censuses (not merely for the scientific interest of the results, but essential for conservation planning), is the envy of the world. It is good news, therefore, that BTO mem- bership reached 9,300 in December 1992 (BTO News 184: 3). This year, 1993, sees the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the BTO. It would be a great birthday present for our Trust if its membership reached the mile- stone of 10,000 members. If you are not already a BTO member, why not join now? It costs only £17 (or £14 if you pay by Direct Debit). Write to BTO, The Na- tional Centre for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. 146 News and comment The Lark’s Descent ‘Birds and farming’, the subject of the BTO’s Annual Birdwatchers’ Conference held at Swanwick, Derbyshire, on 4th-6th December 1992, was most topical, with so much recent national and international news relating to agriculture. Chris Knights set the tone: not only does he farm about 3,600 ha in Breckland, but he is also a superb photographer. A shot of 30 or more Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnemus in flight over his crops was testament to his attitude to the business of farming and to the birds that he encourages. On the Saturday, Tony Hardy highlighted the recent changes to farming practices and how these have affected breeding species; Rob Fuller expanded on the same topic by showing how research can help to explain why farming practices can affect bird populations; Dr Dick Potts, in his Witherby Memorial Lecture, went on to ask about the future, concentrating on the Grey Partridge Perdix perdix and its relation- ship with arable farmland: insecticides arc re- ducing the food available for the chicks except on farms which have not adopted modern practices, and future success will depend on changes to the CAP and appropriate manage- ment of rotational set-aside, conservation head- lands and other measures. On Sunday, Juliet Vickery gave a brilliant account of the history of the dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bemicla hernuia, relating this to the present conflict between its conservation and farming; Jeremy Wilson gave preliminary results from the BIO birds and organic farm- ing project, which showed that birds do seem to benefit where there is a diversity' of stock and crops and an absence of synthetic fertilis- ers and pesticides; then three single-species sto- ries were presented, on the Corn Crake Crex crex and its relationship with a crofting commu- nity, by Tim Stowe, and two on the Com Bunting Miliaria calandra, a local study by Nicholas Watts and a wider look by Paul Don- ald at what has been happening in Britain (both species have shown dramatic declines in recent decades, attributed to changes in agri- cultural practices); and finally Graham Tucker showed how agricultural change throughout Europe has put over one-third of breeding species at risk. The Sky Lark Alauda arvmsis is a good indicator species around w'hich a strategy for conservation could be created. The rela- tionship between farming and birds is com- plex, but Dr Luc Schifferli summed it all up with his comment: ‘Farming should be done in such a way that there is no need for conserva- tion.’ The BTO’s Jubilee Medal w'as presented to Harry Green, and l ucker Medals to Chris Du Feu and Peter Catchpole. A new' event, devised by Lys Hall, was a wine-tasting with an ornithological flavour. Among several quizzes, our own BB Mystery Bird Photograph Competition produced two all-correct entries, from Ann Scott and Tim Gleeves, and Ann won the draw for the bottle of champagne. [RP Help needed in Israel Experienced birdwatchers are required for the annual Raptor, Stork and Pelican Migration Survey in the Northern Valleys of Israel dur- ing 10th August to 20th October 1993. In 45 days during autumn 1991, some 806.000 migrating birds were counted, includ- ing 580,000 raptors of 30 different species, 190.000 White Storks Ciconia ciconia and 36,000 White Pelicans Pelecanus onocro talus. Participants must be experienced, capable and willing to watch migration for a minimum of eight hours a day, for a minimum of three weeks, and will have to cover the cost of travel to and from Israel. Food and lodging in Israel will be supplied. Write, enclosing details of your previous experience, to Ron Beer, Au- tumn Survey, Israel Raptor Information Cen- ter (I RIG), Har-Gilo, Doar Na Zfon Yehuda, 90907 Israel; tel. 972-2-932383/4, 972-3- 826802; fax. 972-2-932385. Help needed in Turkey The momentum is growing to establish na- tional lists of Important Bird Areas (I BAs) fol- lowing the publication of the all-Europe list by the 1CBP in 1989. The UK list was published last year. Turkey has done remarkably well to publish its own inventory so quickly (1989), but inevitably it is far from complete and lacking in a lot of up-to-date information. BB readers visiting Turkey could provide valuable help with sutvey work in a number of good birding areas: full details from Murat Yarar, IBA Pro- ject Officer, PK 18, 80810 Bebek-lstanbul, Turkey; fax (90-1) 279 55 44. New BBRC member As the longest-serving member, .John Man haul leaves the Rarities Committee in April. Joining the Committee after an uncon- tested election is Andy Stoddart from Norwich, Norfolk. News and comment 147 Hong Kong Bird Report There are so many monthly, bi-monthly or an- nual publications that, obviously, we cannot review all of them every year. YVe must pick those which contain items which are likely to be of especial interest to BB readers. The Hong Kong Bird Report 1991 qualifies, with 204 pages, many useful colour pho- tographs of difficult-to-identify species, and pa- pers on 13 species new to Hong Kong (Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca , Upland Buz- zard Buteo hemilasius, White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea, Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis, Singing Lark (Singing Bushlark) Mirqfra (jcwanica) cantillans. Sky Lark (Northern Skylark) Alauda arvensis, Japanese Waxwing BombyciUa japonica, Golden-headed (Bright-capped) Cisticola Cisticola exilis, Blunt-winged Warbler Acrocephalus concinens, Paddyfield Warbler A. agncola, Pale Blue Flycatcher Cyomis unicolor , Pallas’s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi, Japanese Reed Bunting E. yessoensis) and a major paper on ‘Identification, status and distribution of small Acrocephalus warblers in Eastern China’ by Peter R. Kennerley and Paul J. Leader, with paintings by Alan Harris and many colour photographs. All this is in addition to other pa- pers, short notes and the universal systematic list. Copies can be obtained (price £10.75 in- cluding p&p, or £ 1 1 .45 to the rest of Europe) from S. Anstruther, Barlavington Estate 1, Pet- worth, West Sussex GU28 olg. (JTRS) The Eric Hosking Charitable Trust Throughout his long and distinguished career, which spanned over 60 years, Eric Hosking OBE, Hon FRPS, FRIPP, was widely ac- knowledged as one of the world's most emi- nent natural history photographers. His work was admired, published and exhibited through- out the world. For many years, he travelled the length and breadth of the United King- dom, presenting lectures, illustrated with slides of his most impressive pictures. The superb quality of his images, his meticulous care for his subjects and his boundless enthusiasm in- spired three generations of young naturalists and photographers to follow’ in his footsteps. There can be no doubt that his photographs have made a significant contribution to our wider understanding of and concern for the living world. Eric’s interests, however, were not confined simply to natural history photography; they ranged across a wide spectrum of matters or- nithological. He was a perceptive and sensitive observer of birdlife, and the thousands of hours spent patiendy waiting in his hides pro- duced many interesting and valuable observa- tions, which were meticulously recorded in his notebooks. He was always keenly interested in painters and bird art. Some of his most trea- sured possessions were paintings which he had gathered together and enjoyed for many years. He was an avid collector of books, and his shelves were a treasure trove of ornithological volumes, many items of considerable historical interest in their own right. It has been decided to commemorate the life and work of this remarkable and much- loved ornithologist by establishing a trust in his memory. The aim of the Eric Hosking Trust will be to sponsor ornithological research through the media of writing, photography, painting or illustration. It is anticipated that bursaries will be awarded to suitable candi- dates once a year. The Trust has been awarded charitable status and a Board of Trustees, consisting of Professor Richard Chandler, Dr Jim Flegg, Robert Gillmor, David Hosking, Derek Moore, Dr Tim Shar- rock and Martin Withers, has been established. The Trust will be launched at a major retro- spective exhibition of Eric Hosking’s vintage prints to be opened at The Wildlife Art Gallery in Lavenham, Suffolk, on 24th April 1993. In addition, a volume of Eric’s black- and-w’hite photographs, with a text specially w ritten by Dr Jim flegg, is to be published by HarperCollins in autumn 1993. A limited edi- tion of 1,000 specially bound and cased copies of this book has been very generously donated to the Trust by HarperCollins. These will be available for sale at the opening of the exhibi- tion. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the Trust, subscribe to the limited edition or requiring further details should contact David Hosking, Pages Green House, Wetheringsett, Stowmarket, Suffolk 1P14 5QA; telephone 0728 861 113; fax 0728 860 222. 148 Mews and comment Irish Birds Rial value for money, at £6.00 plus £1.00 postage, the latest issue of Irish Birds (vol. 4, no. 4 runs to a massive 180 pages. The ‘Irish Bird Report' for 1991, compiled by Oran O’Sulli- van and Patrick Smiddy, occupies 40 pages, with reports on common birds as well as raritv records. The year’s highlights were influxes of Little Gulls hints minutus , Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus, little Auks A lie alle and Bohemian Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus, breed- ing by Lesser VVhitethroats Sylvia curruca in Co. \\ icklow, and the possibility of breeding by Hawfinches Coccothrausles coccothrausles two adults and a juvenile seen in Co. Clare in early September). I here are also main papers on the breeding waders of .Northern Ireland (by J. K. Partridge and K. W. Smith), on quarry-nesting by Pere- grine Falcons Faint peregrinus fby Niall Moore, Paul Kelly and Fiona I-angj, on the birds of Ballymacoda, Co. Cork fby Patrick Smiddy), on the diet of wintering Short-eared Owls Asia jlainmeus fby D. J. Andrews) and on the diet of coastal-breeding Common Ravens Conus corax (by S. 1). Berrow). Fhere is a thorough 32-page compilation of abstracts of current ornithological research in Ireland, compiled by John O’Halloran, Clive Hutchinson, Thomas C. Kelly and H. John Nilson; and the 24-page report for 1991 on ringing in Ireland. I he address of the Irish Wildbird Conser- vancy is: Ruttlcdgc House, 8 I/>ngfbrd Place, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Thanks from a friend The latest issue of the American Birding Asso- ciation’s bi-monthly Birding (vol. 24, no. 5, Oc- tober 1992) launches a new feature, ‘Photo Note’, and courteously acknowledges that in- spiration for the idea came from BB. The first species covered in this series is the enigmatic Di Sagra’s Flycatcher Myiarchus sagrae. Other features in this issue include updates on the ABA checklist, features on Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii and Short-billed Dowitcher IJmnodromus griseus , hireling in the Aleutians, and the usual ‘Photo Quiz’ (i.e. ‘Mystery Pho- tographs’ US-style). Good value. ABA mem- bership is US$30 (US$37 or £20 for Europe); write to American Birding Association, PO Box 6399, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80934, USA. Silly comer A few odds and ends have found their way to us recently. We liked a Nobby, mentioned in the photo credits of the 1991 .Norfolk Bird Report (evidence of Smokies infiltrating the county?), and, from the pages of this august journal (85: 629), the courses advertised on Stockholm Is- land off the Pembrokeshire coast. Our favourite, though, was a postcard bought at Dublin airport and sent to us by Estlin Waters: it is apparently one of a series featuring Irish wildlife and shows a rather nicely pho- tographed Crested lit I ‘atm crislalus. Dennis ( foil its has sent us news of two rare buntings seen on the same day in Shetland. Nothing strange about that, surely? Especially not for the Aberdeen Press and Journal and The Shetland Times, which reported the said buntings as ‘yellow-brown bunting’ and ‘Pallas’s grasshopper bunting’. Oran O’Sullivan has sent us the Typo of the Year. He reports that ‘The Irish Wildbird Conservancy, Home of Lifers and Solitary, received a communication from Natur- schutzbund Deutschlands addressed to “Irish JAILBIRD Conservancy”. As they say in Ire- land, “ Stimmt Hire Adres.se?"' New RBBP Secretary Dr Malcolm Ogilvic has taken over from Robert Spencer as Secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. All correspondence should now' be addressed to the RBBP at Glencaim, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay, Argyll PA4«t 7UN. Change of address of county recorder John Dunnett, County Recorder for Cleve- land, has moved to Burnsyde, Saltburn Bank, Saltbum-by-the-Sea, Cleveland rs 1 2 IHH. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Britton — Northeast Dave Holman — East Anglia Anthony McGeehan — Northern Ireland Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Dr Kenny Taylor — Scotland David Tomlinson — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales Keith Vinicombe — Southwest John Wilson — Northwest Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Monthly marathon The grey-and-black-and-white bird in December’s puzzle picture {Brit. Birds 85: plate 322) was named by entrants as: Caspian Tent Sterna caspia Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Laughing Gull Larus atncilla Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus Sabine’s Gull L. sabini Forster’s I'ern S.forsteii Royal Tern S. maxima Sandwich Tern S. sandvicensis The three leading contestants - Roy Hargreaves, Hannu Jannes and Dave Numey - all got it right, each achieving sequences of 20 correct answers in a row, so this long-running Marathon continues (but see below for a forthcom- ing change in format). One of them must, surely, soon be the outright winner of the SUNBIRD holiday in Africa, Asia or North America. Unusually, the most-named species was not the right answer. The bird was a Gull-billed Tern, photographed in Texas, USA, in August 1992 by Dr Richard Chandler. (42%) (40%) (6%) (4%) (4%) (2%) (1%) (1%) Sponsored by New racing rules As soon as the current ‘Marathon’ is won, new rules will come into operation. No longer will it be necessary to identify a string of photographs without a single mistake. Each hurdle will provide a score, and competitors will accumu- late these scores. The more difficult the hurdle, the higher the score. Each stage will carry the score of the percentage of entrants who got it wrong. Thus, a bird identified by 58% of competitors will score 42 points; one named correctly by 86% of entrants will score only 14; but one identified by just 4% of entrants will score a massive 96. The first person to achieve a score of 500 or more, or the person with the highest score after 15 photographs, will win the SUNBIRD holiday. (If two or more leading entrants have identical scores, the Marathon will continue until there is an outright winner.) These new rules, formulated during a discussion with Bob Scott, will not eliminate entrants just because they make one slip. As in a real race, someone who stumbles and drops behind can still catch up and overtake the leaders. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or tele- phone Sandy (0767) 682969. 149 150 Monthly marathon 32. ‘Monthly marathon’ (thirty-second stage in fifth contest: photograph number 81). Identify the species. Read the rules on pages 25-26 in the January issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th April 1993 Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 18th January to 14th February 1993 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records American Wigeon Anas americana Male, Whitegate (Co. Cork), January to at least 8th February. American Black Duck A. rupripes Initially at Ballycotton, now at Midleton (both Co. Cork), 2nd to at least 1 4th February. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Male moved from Oxford Island, Lough Neagh (Co. Armagh), to Hillsborough Lake (Co. Down), from 2nd to at least 14th February. Bonaparte’s Gull Lancs Philadelphia Marazion (Cornwall), 3 1st January; presumed same Drift Reservoir (Cornwall), to 6th February. Iceland Gull L. glaucoides Influx from mid January, including at least 170 scattered throughout Britain and Ireland. Ross’s Gull Rhodestethia rosea Porthgwarra (Cornwall), 18th January; Kinnaird Head, Fraserburgh (Grampian), 17th January, an- other 23rd-25th January', possibly a third on 26th and one staying until 30th; North Shields (Tyne & Wear), 30th January; Inverness (High- land), 30th January to 14th February; Stornoway Harbour (Western Isles) and Flam- borough Head (Humberside), 31st January; Isle of Ijewis (Western Isles), 3rd February. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca Near Wick. Caithness (Highland), 27th-3 1st January. Hoopoe Upupa epops Boscombe (Dorset), 25th January to at least 14th February. Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inoma- tus Single of race humei, Bridlington (Humber- side), 1 1 th February. For the latest, up-to-date news, phone ‘Rare Bird News’ on 0881-888 111 (25p/min cheap rate; 39p/min other times; inch VAT) We are grateful to Rare Bird News for supplying information for this news feature British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers \ The books included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. It is the aim of British Birds and Subbutco Natural History Books Ltd to provide British Birds subscribers with the best, most reliable and friendliest service possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd. All correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN. Books All listed books are POST FREE. special offers Please tick / British Birds/IBCE International Bird Identification (usually £10.50) Paperback £9.50 □ Goodwin Crows of the World (BMNH) (usually £30) -£14.00 O Ogilvic & Winter Best Days with British Birds (British Birds) Exclusive REDUCED PRICE (usually £14.95) £12-95 □ Sick Birds in Brazil (Princeton) PREPUBUCATIOX PRICE (will be £90.00) £70.00 □ Snow 7 he Cotingas (BMNH/Cornell UP) (usually £40.00) £20.00 D NEW THIS MONTH Dalton & Smith The Secret Life of a Garden (Ebury) £ 1 8.99 □ Duties & Quinn Dunnock Behaviour (OUP) Paperback £13.50 O Hardback £35.00 Q drench -4 Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (Helm) Paperback £25.00 □ Slater, Slater & Slater The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds ('Weldon) Paperback £ 19.00 □ COMING SOON - ORDER NOW Birkhead Great Auk Islands (Poyser) DUE APRIL £44.00 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 7 (flycatchers to shrikes) (OUP) DUE MID march approx. £75.00 U MacKinnon & Phillipps A Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo. 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J5 LJ Harrison Seabirds: an identification guide Revised edn. 1991 (Helm) Best Bird Book op 1983 £24.99 U Hayman.-Marchant & Prater Shorebirds: an identification glide to the waders of the World (Helm) f c Bi.si Bird Book op 1986 /•, rrlrl R Hollom Porter, Christensen & Willis Birds of the Middle East and Mirth AJnca (Poyser) £19-99 U Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 2nd edn. (Academic) £2^9 LJ Hume & Boyer Owls of the World (Dragon’s World) /'•>- on n Jonsson Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East (Helm) -- y: Lr~S-' .... n Keith. Urban & Fry The Birds of Africa (Academic) ... vol. 1 £81.00 □ vol. 2 £81.00 □ vol. 3 £81.00 □ vol. 4 £8o.00 □ Knox Checklist of Birds of Britain and Ireland Sixth edition (BOL Paperback £*•*> U Lack Vie Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) Bus t Bird Book op 148/ £ LJ Langrand Guide to the Birds of Madagascar (Yale UP) T J- Please use the British BirdShop form overleaf to complete your order. XI TO ADVERTISE FAX 0621 81 91 30 HEATHERLEA BIRD WATCHING HOLIDAYS. Caper- caillie, Ptarmigan, Scottish Crossbill, King Eider, Surf Scoter, Crested Tit and many, many more. We see the lot in Spring. Ring 0479 83674 for details. (BB327) THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi- pension (Private bath) from £50.00. Details, brochures, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB31 1 ) ABF.RNETHY & CAIRNGORM — up to Deluxe 5 crowns, 1993 brochure from Strathspey Self Catering, Grant Road, Grantown on Spey, PH26 3LA. Tel: 0479 2939. (BB378) WALES ANGLESEY. Superb waterside position with magnificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanist in area of outstanding natural beauty. Elegant en suite rooms available for bed and breakfast. Highground, Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY. Tel: (0407) 860078. (BB355) CLEDDAU ESTUARY, Pembrokeshire. Superb birding opportunities amidst enormous variety of habitats. Comfortable self-catering cottage, sleeping 2-4, available for 4 Day Breaks or longer. Reasonable, all inclusive ratess. "Free Wildlife Membership Offer”. Tel: 03376 672. RED KITE COUNTRY Tregaron — Guest house standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Yns-hir RSPB reserves. Parties welcome. WTB — 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 98965 or 298905. OVERSEAS IBERIAN WILDLIFE All-inclusive wildlife trips, bird- watching tours and rambling holidays on the Spanish Penin- sula. Algarve (Apr), Pyrenees (May), Gredos (Oct) and Picos de Europa (May-Oct). Self-catering & B/B also available in the Picos. All interests catered for in small, friendly groups. Full colour brochure available: SPANTREK LTD. (0457) 836250 (24hrs) 79 Egmont Street, MOSSLEY, Lancs OL5 9NF (D227) FRENCH PYRENEES. Fairytale cottage set in magnificent, unspoilt, wooded valley. Excellent walking, wildlife, birds, butterflies. Dowers. Tel: 010 33 61665127/61667619. Rose Gunning. Rour, Moulis, 09200, St. Girons, France. (BB336) AUSTRALIA, CAIRNS, JULATTEN. At Kingfisher Park we provide accommodation and camping facilities in a rainforest sanctuary for native birds and animals. We are central to a variety of habitats and cater for the interests and enthusiasms of birdwatchers and naturalists. Write now for a free birdlist t.g Kingfisher Park, P.O. Box 3, Julatten, Queensland, Australia 4871. (BB337) CAM ARGUE, PROVENCE. Well equipped s/c cottage, also B&B. Rogers, Mas d'Auphan, Le Sambuc, 13200 ARLES, France. Tel: (01033) 90972041, Fax: 90972087. (BB362) FALSTERBO, Sweden. Cottage, 6 beds, log fire, guest house, 3 beds Modern conveniences, car and bike to borrow. Tel: evenings Sweden 40 452740 or 461 18206. (BB376) SEA WA TCH1NG HO LID A YS SHEARWATER JOURNEYS: seabirdingand whale watching trips year-round from Monterey, California. Albatross, Shearwaters, Storm-petrels, Alcids and Jaegers. Humpback and Blue whales; Aug to Nov. Gray whales: Jan. Schedule available from: Debra L. Shearwater, PO Box 1445, Dept BB, Soquel, CA 95073, USA. Tel: 408-688-1990. (BB335) BIRD WA TCHING H OLID A YS COSTA RICA More birds than the whole of North America! Tailor-made birding trips for Individuals and small groups. Brochures: Tfc, Jf' BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA ~’]4' APARTADO 7911 - 100B SAN JOSE COSTARICA FAX +506-281573 (BB371) HONG KONG. Superb birding September to May — variety of accommodation — trips into China. Richard Lewthwaite. 2 Villa Paloma, Shuen Wan, Tai Po NT, Hong Kong. Phone/Fax: (HK) 665 8190. (BB228) 'HIGH ISLAND' UPPER TEXAS COAST USA Just opened Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8 Birder s Haven, P O. 309, High Island, Texas 77623 Tel 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390 (BB242) DIVISION OF NICK'S TRAVEL ABTAl 97237 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 0QS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ EXPERTS IN LOW COST AIRFARES - WORLDWIDE. DISCOUNT CAR HIRE/INSURANCE SPECIALIST ADVISER - ANDY HOWES 0533 881318 (EVENINGS ONLY PLEASE) ALWAYS RING US LAST (BB342) XIV TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 0272-613000 DICK FILBY 0603-767-757 MTERNATOMAl. HOUSE, BANK HOAD, WV9TOL- MIS 2LX LUC AIT A /LA T A (BB368) NEW ZEALAND For the best of NZ birding, write Nature Quest New Zealand, Box 6314, Dunedin, New Zealand for custom departures or details of self drive consultancy. Tel & Fax: (03) 489 8444 (BB322) BIRD WA TCHING TO URS AUSTRALIA — Send for our Birding brochure. Tours throughout Australia from individuals to groups. We welcome enquiries from both private customers and tour agents. Falcon Tours, 1 Simmons Drive, Roleystone, Perth, Western Australia. PH/FAX (09) 397 5125. Lie. Tour Operator. (BB33I) BIRD INFORMATION r The BEST service The latest 4-line pager from VODAPAGE One more reason why it’s the BEST BIRD NEWS SERVICE 1 Rare Bird Alert Bird Pagers The proven, comprehensive service For full info, call 0399 1111 or call Dick Filby on 0603 767799 (BB369) BIRD REPORT BIRDS OF OXON, 1991. £2.75 inc p&p from R. Overall, 30 Hunsdon Road, Iffley, Oxford OX4 4JE. (BB325) HONG KONG BIRD REPORT, 1991. 204pp ++ 45 colour photos. Paper on small Acrocephatus warblers in eastern China; Russet Bush Warbler. Also regular features & 1 3 first sightings inc. Pallas’s Reed Bunting. £ 10.75 inc p&p from S. Anstruther, Barlavington Estate 1, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0LG. (BB330) WILTSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1991, £5.00 inc p&p from N Pleass, 22 Ferrers Drive, Swindon, Wilts SN5 6HJ. (BB373) PERSONAL BIRDWATCHING IN CANADA, NORTH AMERICA, COSTA RICO, ARGENTINA? Site guides and information. Dunnock, 2409 Speyside Dr Mississuaga, Ontario, Canada L5K 1X5. (BB3281 CB RADIOS BIRDING CB SPECIALISTS. SAE for details/price list to Omega, Burnsyde, Saltburn Bank, Saltburn, Cleveland TS 12 1HH. 0287 625825. BOOKS THE BIRD 8c WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP Britain s leading ornithological booksellers where you can find our comprehensive range of new and secondhand books and reports on birds and natural history, including all new tides as they are published. Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 1 0 am to 4 pm Mail order catalogue available on request THE BIRD & WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP 2 A Princes Arcade, Piccadilly, London SW1Y6DS Tel: 071-287 1407 (BB367) ‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804. (BB281) XV TO ADVERTISE FAX 0621 81 91 30 The original BIRDWATCHER'S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 159 diary pages. Send £6.45 inclusive p/p to: Coxton Publications, sr Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, & Beverley, N. Humberside HU1 7 8RP £ BIRD BOOKS. New/secondhand catalogue available. Free Book Search. Books bought. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherways, Freshfields, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel: 07048 71115. (BB338) BIRDWATCHING IN CRETE 2nd Ed. £3.75 inc. p&p. Stephanie Coghlan, 25 Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield, West Yorks HD5 8TA. (BB270) BIRD BOOKS: Out-of-print, uncommon and rare. Quarterly catalogue. Peacock Books, Box 2024, Littleton, Mass. 01460, USA. (BB318) FOCALPOINT THE BINOCULAR & TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS OPEN 9.30-5.30 MON FRI SAT 9.30-4.00 From Sat/Sun 9th/10th January 1993, every weekend in Jan/Feb FOCALPOINT will be at BRANDRETH BARN Guest Farm/Restaurant (extensive menu!) — just 300 metres Irom MARTIN MERE WSWT Reserve. Burscough, Lancs (M6, Jet 27). 54p stamps please lor the BB' (Brandreth Bam!) information pack — event special otters! 1 BEST ADVICE BEST CHOICE BEST PRICES | • Complete K0WA scope outfits from under £200 ’ AU LEADING INSTRUMENTS FROM STOCK * ART ♦ BIRO BOOKS (mw & s/hind) * MERLIN VENTILE JACKETS BB380 FOCALPOINT Unit 8. Marbury House Farm. Bentleys Firm Lane, Higher Whitley. Near Warrington Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 0925 730399 Fax: 0606 892207 BIRDWATCHING IN LESBOS. Find out the sites to visit, the birds to see. Full description of sites with maps plus bird list. 45 pages, £4.50. M. Williams, 87 Learn Terrace, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV31 IDE (BB359) BIRDING CB SPECIALISTS. SAE for details/price list to Omega, Burnsyde,Saltburn Bank, Saltburn, Cleveland TS12 IHH. 0287 625825. (BB366) SITUATIONS VACANT KILCOLMAN WILDFOWL REFUGE Warden required for approximately 8 months from mid-August 1993 Accommodation provided and small remuneration. Apply in writing with current c.v. and references to Mrs Margaret Ridgway, Kilcolman Wildfowl Refuge, Buttevanl, Co. Cork, Ireland. ..Zeiss Kowa Opticron Bausch & Lomb Adlerblick Swift Optolyth etc. The Stockport Binocular and Telescope Centre Suppliers of quality binoculars and spotting scopes. Mail order, or callers welcome. Open 6 days 9-6. Repair service on the premises. T&L Optical Instruments 26 Middle Hillgate, Stockport SKI 3AY Tel. 061-429 8002 (BB356) FOR SALE A BIRDWATC HING GUIDE TO THE COSTA BLANCA. 46 pages. Maps, check list, £3.95 inc. p&p Mr R. A. Palmer, 6 Church Road, Hauxton, Cambridge CB2 5HS. (BB365) BIRD JOURNAL BACK NUMBERS. Huge sale catalogue out now. Stamp appreciated. D. Morgan, Whitmore, Umbcrleigh, Devon (BB374) CARRY your tripod securely and in comfort with a Podstrap — £8.50 inc p&p from Vital Equipment, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd LL29 8AT. (BB372) TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 OR FAX 0621 819130 WALKERS Are the largest optical dealer on the Yorks coast. Binoculars — telescopes — video cameras — lenses — tripods — SLRs — compacts * ZEISS * KOWA * BUSHNELL * LEITZ * SWIFT * RUSSIAN * PENTAX * BAUSCH & LOMB * MINOLTA * OPTOLYTH * ADLERBLICK KOWA TS 602 OUR PRICE Body 20x WA SRP£263-£199 Body 27x WA SRP£293 -£219 Body 20x 40x SR P £307 - £229 RUSSIAN 7 x 35 £27 8 x 30 £27 8 x 40 £30 10x50 £30 1 2 x 40 £33 20 x 60 £59 Leica 7x42 £599 Zeiss 10x40 £549 Leica 8x42 £625 B&Lomb 8x42 ...£550 Pentax 10x42 ..,,£175 B&Lomb 8x42P.£575 Zeiss 7x42 £549 B&Lomb 10x42P . £575 Habicht 7x42 £475 Habicht 10x42 £499 KOWA & OPTOLYTH TELESCOPES. WE WILL BEAT ANY SILLY PRICE LTD 70 ST THOMAS ST (D261 SCARBOROUGH YOU 1DU 0723 365024 FAX 0723 363334 xvi X H s tn > < DC Z 0 p < DC f— tn X -j J Overhead cables underground ^ Theme park Quarry plan prevented defeated Green belt test case iv on against urban sprawl scheme Broadleaf woodlands protected Legal hedgerow protection brought closer Straw and stubble burning banned Water conservation case, to remedy drying rivers, officially accepted Neiv grants for environmentally sensitive farming Proposed motorway Advertising hoardings diverted along stopped less harmful route Can you see what CPRE has achieved? The countryside protectors' monument is often what is not there. Please join us to protect the countryside. Reg. Charity No. 233179 -3< YES, I would like to join CPRE. 1 ENCLOSE d £ 1 5 (individual) Id £20 (joint) d £440 (life) And/or d £ (donation) I am paying the total of £ by d Cheque/PO (payable to CPRE) □ Access/Visa No. Expiry date Cardholder's signature PLEASE PRINT Name(s) Address Postcode PLEASE POST TO COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND (CPRE) § FREEPOST, GOLDTHORPE, ROTHERHAM S63 9BR (D169) British Birds Volume 86 Number 3 March 1993 103 History of Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire and neighbouring counties S. J. Aspinall , J. // / avemer and E. J. Wiseman 1 15 Oriental Pratincole: new to the Western Palearctic David II. Bums 120 ICBP news Dr Georgina Green 121 The Hoopoe’s spreadeagle posture: predator reaction or sunning? Professor C. H. Fry >, Airs //. Eriksen and J. Enksen 125 Product reports Leica 7 X 42 BA binocular Dr A. E. L. Simmons Announcements 126 ‘I he Famous Grouse' Scotch whisky Christmas puzzle 126 Books in British BirdShop Reviews 127 ‘Handbook of the Bi ds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. 1 he Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. VI: warblers’ by S. Cramp el at. Dr Colin Bradshcuv 128 ‘Dunnock Behaviour and Social Evolution’ by N. B. Davies, illustrated by David Quinn Dr h. E. L. Simmons 128 ‘The Birds of Africa, vol. 1\” edited by Stuart Keith, Emil K. Urban & C. Hilary Fry David Tomlinson 129 ‘Identification Guide to European Passerines. 4th edn’ by Ears Svensson Dr J. J R. Shamrock 129 Short reviews Notes 130 Presumed Red-crested Pochard X Northern Pintail hybrid A. H. J. Harrop 131 Dotterels evading Peregrine Falcon by settling near human being Dr Adam Watson 131 Marsh Owls roosting in trees N Cleere 1 3 1 Female plumage of Desert Sparrow Nigel Redman 1 33 Hawfinches feeding like crossbills on Scots pine L. Ball Letters 1 34 Song Thrushes and Redwings feeding on periwinkles Eric Hardy 1 34 Flycatcher identification I ms G. R. Nilsson From the Rarities Committee’s files 135 Arctic Redpolls in Kent John Canlelo 139 Mystery photographs 186 Melodious Warbler Simon Colenutt and Keith Vinicombe 142 Twenty-five years ago . . . 143 News and comment Robin Prytherch and Alike Everett 149 Monthly marathon 150 Recent reports Barry .Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 103 Black-headed Gulls (Nicholas Pike)-, 115 Oriental Pratincole Alan Hams); 121 Hoopoe wing-stretching (C. H. Fry) Front cover: Common Snipe ( Jim Lyes): the original drawing of this month's cover design, measuring 24.8 X 27.7 etn, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 28 in January issue for procedure) istory of Northern Pintail in Britain and Ireland Best Annual Bird Report Award Mediterranean Shags occur in Southwest England. photographs • Rarities Committee’s files . Product reports Monthly marathon • Notes • Letters • Reviews and comment • BirdLife International news • Recent reports Number 4 April 1993 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM APR 1993 PURCHASED OLOGY LIBRARY ritish Birds British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Pytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Don Smith & Roger Tidman . Irt Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, Andy Stoddart & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); MichaelJ. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology C1 British Birds Lid 1993 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, I ‘induction & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manage r Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAL, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for ‘News and comment', drawings & photogiaphs Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Fax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085. Fax: (0621) 819130 Bird news for ‘Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Ghurchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 -1I.N. Phone: Mold (0352) 770581. Fax: (0352) 771590 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £45.80, IR£53.50 or $86.50. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £37.20, IR£43.60 or $70.00; personal airmail, outside Europe £62.50, IR£72.95 or $118.00. Single back copies £4.75, IR£5.50 or $9.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the W est Palearetie. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should Ire typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequence of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearetie Birds 1993 : or, for non-U rsi-Palcarctic species, Sibley & Monroe (1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World names of plants follow Dotty ft at (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers, names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1977, The Handbook of British Mammals Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Hint* 71: 239-242: 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should lx- in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should In- inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (live each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM - 2 APR 1993 PURCHASED focus fc INOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS 04 HIGH STREET, BARNET, ERTFORDSHIRE, EN5 5SZ (pen 7 days 9am - 6pm :T. 081-449 1445, 081-441 7748 ix: 1 -440 9999 0W TO FIND US (Barnet); We are 1 0 mins >m M25 and AIM motorways and 1 5 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. MAIN STREET, TITCHWELL, NR. KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK, PE31 8BB Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 0485 210101 HOW TO FIND US (Norfolk); We are 5oo yards east of the RSPB reserve at Titchwell on the A1 49 between Hunstanton and Brancaster. WESTLEIGH HALL, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, NR. HUDDERSFIELD, YORKSHIRE, HD8 8QJ Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 0484 864729 HOW TO FIND US (Huddersfield); We are next to the railway station at Denby Dale on the A636 near June. 38 & 39 on tne Ml . ANGLIAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE, EGLETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICS. LAI 5 8BT Open daily 9am - 4pm except Thursdays. Tel: 0572 770656 HOW TO FIND US (Egleton); We are situated on the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water. Follow signposts to Egleton Village from A6003 to Oakham. SPRING EVENTS PROGRAMME T CUSTOMERS PREFERRING TO SELECT AND PURCHASE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMME WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE RSPB, WWT AND COUNTY TRUSTS. MOSTl EVENTS ARE HELD FROM 10 AM - 4 PM - WRITE OR PHONE FOR FURTHER DETAILS. WWT LLANELLI ■ ED, SOUTH WALES 3rd i Sun 4th April ADUR WATER ACTIVITY CENTRE SHOREHANL W.SUSSEX Sot 3rd & Sun 4th April WWT SLIMBRIDGE GLOUCESTERSHIRE From Fii 9th to Mon 12th April SPURN PENINSULA NORTH HUMBERSIDE Sot 10th to Mon 12th Apiil FISHERS GREEN LEE VALLEY, ESSEX Sun llltiApril, Sun9thAAay 1 1 WASHINGTON (IE & WEAR ;• nil 8, Sun 1 8th April , PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY, DORSET Sot 1 7th April, Sun 9th Moy ABBERT0N, COLCHESTER, ESSEX Sun 18th April P0TTERIC CARR, DONCASTER, YORKSHIRE Sot 24th & Sun 25 th April WWT MARTIN MERE 0RMSKIRK, LANCS Sat 24th 8 Sun 25th April RSPB SANDWELL VALLEY, BIRMINGHAM Sot 1st & Sun 2nd Moy WITH ALL NEW BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES PURCHASED fflE NEW IN FOCUS BLUE RIBAND CARE PLAN PROVIDES THREE YEARS CCIDENT DAMAGE REPAIR COVER AND GUARANTEES PART-EXCHANGE 'I I0ES UP TO 100% OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE AFTER FIVE YEARS i & LOMB £ GAP 599.00 GAP 629 00 GGAP 629.00 £5B 229 00 dOBGA 259.00 oam l 99 00 :lil . - 60BGAP 395 00 412.00 -ody 799.00 164.00 149.00 218.00 37.95 'ho sr . 175 00 lit In ;«4 -U$ !0 i ’0 ill L .L •: o K >//i 5; 12k -as ss *4 - BT*P >e Body dyED \ Body lc c5BT*P3 BP r5BP C GAP GAT*P GAT*P BGAT'P H BT’P GAT'P ... GAT. )i< 5i '04 ■Ol lya "9 Vi| -Eld rir >if1 nnc i nrn asil )BC ?5BC )BCA !5BCA !BA !BA !BA nnj! 12BA tin* tin< £ 145 00 299 00 PHONE . PHONE .. .32.00 20.00 ...30.00 £ . 295.00 319.00 249.00 .269.00 .315.00 .529.00 . 639.00 .639.00 689 00 .769.00 1 190.00 2850.00 8.00 .... 16.00 5.00 .... 15.00 £ .21900 .269.00 269.00 .298.00 18 00 649.00 .629.00 .649.00 649.00 ?o ’cr4 £ 42B .139.95 12B 149.95 169 95 )x42B .179.95 NIKON £ 7x20CF III 79 00 9x25CF III 99 00 10x25CF III 119,00 8x32DCF 419 00 10X40DCF 429 00 8x30E 269.00 10x35E 279.00 Fieldscope II Body 299.00 IIA 45 Body 329.00 Fieldscope EDII Body 499.00 EDI1A 45 Body 529.00 1 5x/20x/30x/40x 79.00 30xWF (new) 149 00 20-45x Zoom 1 49 00 60x 99 00 Photo Kit 169 00 Rubber Lens Hood 10 00 Stay-on Case 45.00 Hoya HMC Filter 20.00 Spotting Scope 20x60GA 199.00 15x-45x60GA 259.00 20x 35.00 1 5-45x Zoom 99.00 KOWA £ TS-61 1 Body (new) 316.00 TS-61 2 Body (new) TS-61 3 ED Body (new) TS 61 4 ED Body (new) Accepts TSN eyepieces 296 00 656.00 596 00 jrice includes case. SN-1/TSN-2Body TSN-3/TSN-4 Body price ii TSN-1 316.00 569 00 20x-60x Zoom 159 00 20xWA 109.00 25x 69,00 30xWA 129 00 40x 69 00 60x 109 00 77x 109 00 Skua Stay-OnCase 39.95 27xWA (Screwfit) 69.00 Screw Bay Adaptor 20.00 Photo Adapt 800mm 1 29.00 Photo Adapt 1 200mm 199.00 SWIFT £ Trilyte 8x42BGA 1 48.00 Trylite 10x42BGA 150.00 Audubon HR5 8.5x44 239.00 Audubon HR5 10x50 249.00 Viewmaster 60 Body ....... 1 49.00 1 5x-45x Zoom 59 00 20x 20.00 Case 15 00 Alpm 8x30BGA 258.00 Alpin 8x40BGA 279.00 Alpin 10x40BGA 283.00 Alpin 1 0X50BGA 315.00 Touring 8x32BGA 449.00 Touring 7x42BGA 495.00 Touring 10x40BGA 495.00 TBG80/TBS80 Body 475.00 TBG HD/TBS HD Body 725.00 20xWW 1 38.00 30xWA 87.00 30xWW 157.00 40xWA 87.00 70xWW (new) 1 89 00 22x-60xZoom 179.00 Stay on Case for TBS/TBG 45.00 Vega II 8x30 60.00 Vega II 8x40 65.00 Dioptron 8x32 1 45.00 Dioptron 8x42 1 48.00 Dioptron 10x42 153.00 Dioptron 1 0x50 1 62.00 HR 8x32 MC 174.00 HR 8x42 MC 179.00 HR 10x42 MC 186 00 HR 10x50MC 199.00 HR 80 Body 269.00 30xWA 27x-80x Zoom HR 60 22x & Case HR GA, 22x & Case HR 45 , 22x & Case HRGAED 22x & Case HR 60 20x-60x & Case HR GA20x-60x & Case HR 45 20x-60x & Case HRGAED 20x-60x &Case 665.00 22xWA 25x, 40x 34.00 Classic IF60 1 26.00 Classic IF75 159.00 1 8xWA or 22xWA 24.00 25x or 30x .... 24.00 18x-45x or 22 47x zoom 79.00 Piccolo MKII Body 1 28.00 Eye Pieces from 29 00 Piccolo ED 20x60 355.00 Piccolo ED 20x- 60x60 399.00 Photo Kits from 30.00 Cases for scopes 1 5.00 Macro Monocular 50.00 OBSERVATION BINOCULARS Opticron 20x80 349.00 Opticron 30x80 359.00 SWAROVSKI £ 8x20B 242.00 1 0x25B 264.00 SLC 1 1 7x30SLC II 399.00 SLC 11 8x30SLC II 412.00 SLC 7x42 SLC (new) 578 00 SLC 10x42 SLC (new) 629.00 Case 29 95 Diana 10x40 410.00 AT80 Body 547.00 22xWA 72.00 20x-60x Zoom 1 64.00 QUESTAR £ Field Model 3 '/2n Broad Band Coating. Supplied with P 50x-80x Hood, Case H 30x-50x O 80x- 1 30x N Erector Prism E VELBON £ DH-10ML Mini 23.00 CX-580 44.00 D-680 59 00 D-700 79 00 Q/R System 1 0.00 Q/R Plates from .34.00 95.00 235.00 275.00 220.00 595.00 259.00 299 00 250.00 CULLMANN Hide Clamp Shoulder Pod Q/R System Q/R Plate SLIK 5.00 £ 54.95 29.95 10.95 . 5.95 £ Master D-3 99.00 MANFROTTO £ 290/128 105.00 290B/128 109.00 144/128 115.00 1 44B/1 28 119.00 Tripod Strap 1 4 95 Q/R Plate 5 95 Monopod 079B or 134B .29.95 ACCESSORIES £ Car Window Mount 26.00 Universal Mount 26.00 Hide Clamp 38 00 Rainguards from 3.50 Lanyards from Double eyepiece Case Tamrac Scope Case Equipment Guide ALL PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS E&OE WWT SLIMBRIDGE GLOUCESTERSHIRE From Sot 1st Moy to Sun 9th Moy OXFORD ISLAND LOUGH NEAGH, N. IRELAND Fri 1 4th & Sat 1 5th AAay WWT CASTLE ESPIE N. IRELAND Sunl6lhMoy KENFIG NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, SOUTH GLAMORGAN Sot 1 Sth & Sun 16th Moy FINGRINGH0E COLCHESTER, ESSEX Sun 1 6th Moy MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Please remember to add £2.00 towards the cost of insured Trakbak postage and packing - whether paying by cheque, Visa, Access or Mastercard - and goods will be despatched with full 1 4 days approval the same day on receipt of your remittance. PART EXCHANGE Top prices paid for good condition telescopes and binoculars. SECOND HAND ITEMS Instruments always available. On receipt of a stamped, addressed envelope we can supply current price lists of binoculars and telescopes. .3.00 .6.95 4.00 WORLD 9.95 ENVIRONMENT 2695 PARTNER 1993”> 3.95 (D 266) PAY LESS FOR RARE BIRD NEWS 0881 888 111 FAST RELIABLE 24 HOUR NEWS UP TO 30% CHEAPER THAN ANY . OTHER BIRDLINE HOTLINE TO REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS 0426 923 923 CALLS COST 25p/MIN CHEAP RATE 39p/MIN ALL OTHER TIMES BIRDING SOUTH WEST 0891 884 500 RARITY, MIGRANT AND SEA-WATCHING NEWS. HOTLINE 0426 923 923 ALL 0891 CALLS COST 36p/MIN CHEAP RATE 48p/MIN PEAK/STD ■ l : LL • BiRDCALL • BiRDCALL • BiRDCA GET CONNECTED The new comprehensive paging service at affordable prices. New rental deals now available. • Number pagers: from £13.00 / month +vat • Message pagers: from £ 19.00 / month +vat (D 271 ) BiRDCALL is a registered trademark © Auk Information 1993 WITH A BiRDCALL' PAGER 5 Oisiey ex, on Sunday 18th April and ■ h May (near fishing lodge) Some examples of our stocks: ZEISS £ Quality filter 13 OPTICRON 10 x 25 B Dialyt 245 Rubber hood 8 8x32 (HR) 152 10 x 25 B/TP (New DS) ... 299 Stay-on-case 8 x 20 B/TP (New DS) 295 * FREE WITH STRAIGHT SCOPE * 8x30 BGA/T (P) .475 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) ...575 10x40 BGA/T (P) ...575 15 x 60 BGS/T (P) (new model) 1,340 BAUSCH & LOMB 7x36 BA (PC3) Elite... ...559 8x42 BA (PC3) Elite... ...629 10x42 BA (PC3) Elite. .629 Custom 10 x 40 BGA ... ...239 We can modify your ear- lier model Nikon tele- scopes to take the zoom eyepiece and the new 30x (WA) eyepiece. Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA..199 Spotting scope 20-45x GA..259 KOWA 15-45x BGA Elite Scope. . 359 TSN-1 (45°) body 269 77mm Elite body 337 jSN-2 body. 269 77mm Elite (ED) body 659 jSN-3 (F) Prominar body 20x (WA) Eyepiece 134 549 8 x 42 (HRI) 157 10x42 (HRII) 162 10 x 50 (HRII) 178 7x42 (HRII) 155 8 x 32 Dioptron 117 8x42 Dioptron 122 10 x 42 Dioptron 125 10 x 50 Dioptron 135 7x35 Elite .• 185 9 x 35 Elite 220 7 x 40 Minerva 200 9 x 35 Minerva 200 8 x 40 Minerva 206 10x4 Minerva 215 7 x 24 MCE 80 HR 60mm scopes: Std w/22x & case 180 30x (LER) Eyepiece 122 TSN-4 (F) Prominar body Std w/zoom & case 220 GA w/22x & case 275 GA w/zoom & case 299 45° w/22x & case 220 45° w/zoom & case 250 HR Photokit 64 Filter 8 Rubber Hood 5 8x42 RA 164 10x42 RA 169 20 60x Zoom eyepiece 179 549 800mm Camera Adaptor 159 25x or 40x eyepiece 69 800mm HA mirror lens kit 299 20x (WA) eyepiece 105 30x (WA) eyepiece 129 SWAROVSKI 20-60x zoom eyepiece 159 7 x 30 SLC (BM) 353 60x eyepiece 109 8 x 30 SLC (WB) 365 //x eyepiece 119 10x42 SLC 571 Cam. adaptor 800mm 129 7x42SK 528 Cam, adaptor 1200mm 199 Kowa case 29 LEICA Skua case 36 8 x 20 BC Trinovid 219 Spare OG cover 8 8 x42 RA 164 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 269 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 10x42RA 169 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 269 74 10 X 25 BCA Trinovid 298 NEW 60mm Scopes: 8 x 32 BA Trinovid 629 TS-61 1 body (45° ) 7 X 42 BA Trinovid 649 TS-61 2 body 8 X 42 BA Trinovid 649 TS-613 ED Prominar 10x42 BA Trinovid 649 Body (45°) TS-614 ED Prominar Body gyyiPj Eyepieces 95 pe r TSN and TS- Nylon padded case 15 8% x 44 HR5 Audubon 239 601/2 senes. Cases free 10 x 50 HRS Audubon 249 45" scope body 149 25x Eyepiece 30 27x (WA) Eyepiece 74 ADLERBLICK BUSHNELL Spacemaster body 185 20-60x EP 86 22x (WA) EP 32 25x or 40x EP 30 Photokit 62 REDFIELD (Waterproof) 7 x 30 RA roof prism 10 x 50 RA roof prism GREENKAT 8 x 30 ZWCF 69 NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof 189 10 x 25 waterproof 199 8 x 20 F roof prism 150 OPTOLYTH 9 x 30 roof prism 165 8x30 Alpin 227 8 x 30 ECF porro WF 269 8x40 Alpin 246 TRIPODS 10 X 35 ECF porro WF 279 10x40 Alpin 249 Slik D3 88 Fieldscope II body 249 10x50 Alpin 268 Slik 444 Sport 79 Fieldscope ED II body 449 12x50 Alpin 273 Manfrotto 144B 200 105 Angled Fieldscope IIA 7x42 Alpin 257 Manfrotto 290B 200 95 body 259 TBG 80 telescope body ...475 Universal clamp 23 Angled EDIIA body 469 TBS 80 (45°) body 475 Car window mount 26 15x, 20x, 30x or 40x EP 79 TBG/TBS 80 Fluorite 725 Shoulder pad 35 30x (WA) eyepiece 149 30x (WW) new eyepiece... 157 Cullmann hide clamp 60 60x eyepiece 99 40x (WA) new eyepiece 87 Tripod case 15 20-45x Zoom eyepiece 149 Stay-on-case TBG/S 45 Tripod straps, from 7 Camera adaptor 159 22 60x zoom eyepiece 179 T-mounts, from 10 Mod for other cameras 18 TB nylon case 45 Lens cleaning kit 4 • HOURS: Monday-Saturday and every First Sunday of the month 9 am to 5pm (Lunch I -2pm) • VIEWING FACILITIES • Location Southern edge of Greater London. 15 minutes' drive from M25 (via the A3, then the Mer- ton turn-off) or 2 minutes' walk from Morden Underground. • Parking 50 yards past our premises — 1st left. (York Close.) • Long-established workshop Optical instru- ment experience unrivalled • Mail Order • Personal Exports including VAT claw-back • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments). • P/x arranged • Used items • Package deals Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought. E.&O.E. Phone: 081-648 8822 Fax: 081-687 2021 ESI (D265) KAY OPTICAL (1962), 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5HP (1st Floor) hi GREAT AUK ISLANDS T.K.BIRRHKAD U ni versily of Sheffield The Arctic is one of the world's last great wildernesses, a place of outstanding beauty, exciting history and extraordinary wildlife. Like many other remote regions, it is under threat from human activities. In his new book, Tim Birkhead draws on seven summers' experience in the Arctic describing the sheer beauty of the Arctic environment and the intriguing biology of its wildlife. 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(0352) 771590 Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd C.H7 4I.N 171 Do Mediterranean Shags occur in southwest England ? Nevertheless, a juvenile Shag with very pale (even white) upperwing-covert patches could still be an individual of the nominate race in worn and bleached plumage; in flight, such individuals look quite different from ‘normal’ birds (the one that flew west at St Ives on 8th December 1987, fig. 2, was not identified even as a Shag by some of the observers present). BUI Cramp & Simmons (1977) stated, for juvenile to second-summer Shags of the nominate race, ‘Bill pale pink-brown, culmen black’ and, for the race desmarestii (no age distinctions given) ‘bill usually yellow except black culmen and tip’; while others, for example Alstrom (1985), have described young nominate aiistotelis with bills ‘dingy yellowish on the lower mandible and along the cutting-eclge of the upper mandible, contrasting with blackish culmen’. The Fal Estuary individual’s largely yellow bill with black culmen and tip is, therefore, not inconsistent with the bills of some nominate amtotelis. It may be that the intensity of yellow on the bill, at least along the lower mandible, is a feature of juvenile desmarestii. With the exception of the Fal Estuary individual, I have yet to see a juvenile of the nominate race with a bill as bright yellow as those of Mallorcan individuals (fig. 3). My observations in Cornwall have shown young Shags to have grey or pink lower mandibles, with any yellow, if present at all, usually restricted to the base of the mandible. Legs and feet According to Cramp & Simmons (1977), typical juvenile nominate Shags have ‘Foot like adult, but webs and innerside of tarsus pale flesh-brown to yellow- brown.’ These darken with age, and the feet of second-summer individuals are described as ‘dark brown’. Alstrom (1985) described the legs and feet of adult nominate Shags as ‘blackish’, while juveniles ‘have blackish tarsi with paler, pinkish to brownish-yellowish, innersides; the webs and usually, in part, the toes too have the same coloration’. As Cramp & Simmons (1977) described adult desmarestii as having the feet ‘brown with yellow webs’ and Geroudet (1965) commented that ‘their yellow- ish feet are often quite conspicuous at every age’, it would seem that a Shag in at least its third calendar-year with bright yellow feet is likely to be of this race. One of the most striking features of the Fal Estuary individual was its bright pink-orange legs and feet in comparison with ten other juvenile Shags alongside, all of which had dark brown legs and feet. It is, however, evident that there is much greater variation in the leg and foot coloration of nominate amtotelis , particularly juveniles, than is generally realised. On 7th December 1952, at St Ives, N. R. Phillips observed a young Shag with ‘pinky-orange legs and feet’ [Birds in Cornwall Ann. Rep. 1952), and in the following year’s report the same observer recorded: ‘On further check- ing the leg colour of this species I have found that, in the autumn particularly, considerable numbers of them show a definite tendency to a yellowish hue, tins being most noticeable on the webs of the feet . . . juveniles seem to show this more than adults.’ Three years later, N. R. Phillips wrote that on 10th September ‘a pale bird 1 72 Do Mediterranean Shags occur in southwest England 2 at St. Ives had bright, mustard-yellow legs’, and, on 28th September, at St. Ives, two birds with yellow legs: live with flesh-pink legs, one of which was an adult’ ( Birds in Cornwall Ann. Rep. 1 956). Structure On averaare, the race desmarestii is smaller than nominate aristotelis, but, as size differences exist between the sexes, there is sufficient overlap between the races to make this feature of dubious value in the field: for example, an average-sized male desmarestii has the same wing length as an average-sized female of the nominate race (table 1). Table 1. Wing and bill measurements (in mm) of Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis of the races aristotelis and desmarestii Data from Cramp & Simmons (1977) aristotelis SW England N Scotland desmarestii Wing length 8 271 (261-278) 258 (243-271) 9 258 (251-269) 249 (240-265) Bill length 8 55.7 (53-58) 58.9 (56-61) 60.9 (58-65) 9 56.2 (55-58) 59.3 (57-63) 63.2 (61-65) Bill depth 8 10.5 (10.2-11) 1 1.6 (10.4-12.1) 10.0 (9.7-10.6) 9 9.2 ( 8.3-10.4) 9.9 ( 9.1-12.1) 8.7 (8.2- 9.3) The bill of desmarestii is longer and slimmer than that ol the nominate race (Cramp & Simmons 1977) (table 1), and this should be discernible in the field if the two races are observed side by side. Only one ol the British sightings listed above mentioned a difference in bill structure, with the individual in question having a bill that appeared longer than that of other Shags. Table 2. Summary of main differences between juvenile Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis of the races aristotelis and desmarestii aristotelis desmarestii Underparts Upperwing- coverts Bill I ,egs feet Wing length Typically, uniform brown, paler on belly and vent, but some are much paler and have contrasting dark thigh patches Pale brown to cream panel, fading with wear and bleaching, variable Shorter and deeper in SW England populations. Lower mandible pale pink-brown, dingy yellowish, pink or grey Usually blackish on outer sides with paler pink, brown or yellowish inner sides; some are much paler, from mustard-yellow to pinky-orange Blackish, or with webs pale flesh- brown to yellow-brown, darkening with age Averages longer Typically, white with contrasting dark thigh patches Whitish, sometimes white, panel, distinct on most individuals, but variable Longer and, on average, more slender. Lower mandible often bright yellow Dark brown on outer sides, pinkish to brownish-yellow on inner sides; some arc uniformly pale, or with dull yellow on front and darker on rear tarsi Brown, with paler yellow webs Averages shorter 173 Do Mediterranean Shags occur in southwest England? Conclusions 1 he main differences between juvenile Shags of the nominate race and juve- niles ol the race desmarestii are summarised in table 2. Given that those of the nominate race can exhibit extreme plumage variation in terms of paleness and pattern ot the underparts and paleness of the upperwing-coverts, however, it would be unwise to claim a record of juvenile desmarestii in Britain and Ireland on plumage alone. Nevertheless, a combination of dark thighs contrasting with very white underparts (from throat to vent) and strikingly pale panels on the upperwing-coverts would suggest desmarestii and encourage observers to take a second look. Bare-parts coloration is extremely variable on nominate juveniles, and indi- viduals with pale (yellow, orange or flesh-coloured) legs and feet do occur. The single most reliable character for separating juveniles of the two races is the bill. This is longer and, on average, slimmer on desmarestii , which also has a brighter yellow lower mandible. This feature, however, should not be used alone, but in combination with underpart, upperwing-covert and leg- and-foot characters. Acknowledgments I wish to acknowledge the help and advice given by P. G. Lansdown throughout the preparation of this paper, and particularly for his comments and improvements on the first draft and for providing information on the British reports of suspected individuals of the race desmarestii. Summary There have been several reports of unusually pale juvenile Shags Phalaaocorax aristotelis resembling the Mediterranean race desmarestii in Cornwall and Devon, and the similarities and differences between juveniles of this race and those of the nominate race are discussed. Juvenile Shags of the nominate race are more variable in plumage and bare-part colours than is generally realised, and there are currently no grounds for believing that desmarestii has occurred in Britain and Ireland. References Alstro.M, P. 1985. Artbestamning av storskarv Phalaaocorax carbo och toppskarv Ph. aristotelis. Var Fagebdrld 44: 325-350. Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1977. The Birds of the Western Pakarctic. vol. 1. Oxford. FLUMM, D. S. 1986. Shag in Cornwall showing characters of the Mediterranean race P. a. desmarestii. Birds in Cornwall Ann. Rep. 1 986. Cornwall Birdwatching & Preservation Society. GerOUDKT, P. 1965. Water Birds with Webbed Feet. London. I Harrison, P. 1983. Seabirds: an identification guide. Beckenham. I). S. Flumm, Lyonesse Guest House, Land’s End, Sennen, Cornwall TRI9 7 AD Mystery photographs When I first saw this photograph (plate 31, re- peated here), it was at a distance, so all I could see was what looked like a silhouette of a raptor, which could be an Accipiter. It has pretty good wing shape for a large female Eurasian Sparrowhawk A. nisus , but the fanned tail is odd. Sparrowhawks usually circle-soar, which is what this bird appears to be doing, with a more- or-lcss closed tail (except when displaying, when both tail and undertail-coverts are fanned). Is the size right? Could it be a Northern Goshawk A. gentilis ? A closer look at the photograph reveals bold barring on the underwing and tail, which rules out an Accipiter , as all species have much finer barring there. It is very difficult to judge the size of this bird from the photograph, but it is clearly a relatively broad-winged, long-tailed hawk of some kind (other than an Accipiter). The proportions and bold patterning below quickly lead one in the direction of a harrier Circus , since other hawks, except perhaps Honey-buzzard Cent is apivorus , have pro- portionately shorter tails relative to wing width. Even for that species, the wings would look longer, and the pattern- ing on the underparts is quite wrong, for, regardless of colour phase, the carpal patch would be dark. Although it is not obvious in the photograph, this bird’s wings appear to be held slightly up above the back, in a shallow V - a characteristic of till harriers in gliding or soaring flight. Fortunately, 1 can forget Marsh Harrier C. aeruginosas: this is the most solid-looking of the harriers, more like a Com- mon Buzzard Buteo buteo , with distinctive dark, unbarred underparts on the female, and bold, grey-and-black pri- maries pattern on the male. It must, therefore, be a ’ring- tail’ H en C. cyaneus , Montagu’s C. pygargus or, perhaps, Pallid C. macrourus, since males of these three are also boldly patterned grey and black, and immature males would show a more confusing mixture of juvenile and adult plumage. Juveniles look superficially like females. So, how am I going to narrow down to one species? A closer look at the proportions and structure should help. Both of the smaller species, Montagu’s and Pallid, would appear thinner-winged and longer-tailed, with a longer, more pointed appearance to the primaries, or ‘hand’, than this bird. File final 174 175 Mystery photographs clincher is to count the fingered primaries: it has four (excluding the short outer primary), which makes it a Hen, whereas the other two species usually reveal only three. (But beware: moulting birds will be difficult to assess on this point.) It is easy, of course, to count the primaries in a still photograph; less easy, but not impossible, to do so on the moving bird. But the effect of the extra fingered primary is to give a more rounded, blunter ‘hand’, an almost Accipiter-hke appearance when Hewed from below: the point which misled me at the start. Lastly, I can be pretty sure that this is an adult female, rather than a juvenile, because of a lack of contrast between the pale areas of the primaries and secondaries. The latter are usually ‘greyer’, making them look darker than the primaries. Ian Carter photographed this female Hen Harrier on Texel, in the Netherlands, in May 1992. Robin PRYTHERCH 23 Caledonia Place, Clijion, Biistol BS8 4DL 36 & 37. Mystery photographs 188. Identify the species. Answer next month Sponsored by From the Rarities Committee’s files Separation of South Polar Skua from Great Skua Some of the claims of South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki that have been submitted to the British Birds Rarities Committee contain certain misconceptions. These relate to both South Polar Skua and Great Skua -S', skua and concern size, bill struc- ture, pale nape and prominence of white wing-flashes. One widely held belief is that South Polar Skua is smaller than Great Skua, but this is a gross over-simplification. Devillers (1977) gave wing-lengths as 373-412 mm (average 394) for South Polar Skua and 376-425 (average 402) for Great Skua. Clearly, therefore, some South Polar Skuas would appear larger than some Great Skuas. Both species vary in size among ages and be- tween sexes. BUT (vol. 3) gives wing-lengths for Great Skua as 382-414 mm for adult males, 398-428 for adult females, 367-400 for juvenile males, and 381-423 for juvenile females. Some skuas seen during seawatches in Britain and thought to have been dark-morph South Polar Skuas were picked out initially by their smaller size in comparison with an accompanying Great Skua. Bearing in mind the infrequency with which mixed groups of skuas arc seen and the size variation among Great Skuas, particularly between adult females and juvenile males, the parent-offspring association should be given more consideration. It is alleged that the bill of South Polar Skua is slightly shorter and more slender than that of Great Skua. Devillers (1977) gave the length of the culmen as 42.6-49.6 mm (average 46.6) for South Polar Skua and 45.4-50.8 (average 47.9) for Great Skua. Even considering average measurements, this is a very marginal character. Furthermore, with the bill of juvenile Great Skua in its first few months being up to 3 mm shorter than its adult length, a juvenile Great Skua can have a bill as short as that of the shortest-billed non-juvenile South Polar Skua. The ratio of culmen length to the height of the bill at the posterior end of the nostril (bill ratio) was given by Devillers (1977) as 2.38- 3.10 (average 2.75) for South Polar Skua and 2.52-3.00 (average 2.74) for Great Skua. Bill shape is thus virtually identical in the two species. At one time, it was considered that a pale nape was strongly indicative of South Polar Skua. This is not so. On individuals of both species, the paleness of the nape should be taken in the context of the general plumage tone, and not as an isolated feature. The nape of Great Skua, particularly that of an adult, often contains a concentration of fine, golden streaks of variable inten- sity which can give it a generally pale, usually yellow-buff, appearance at a distance. Usually, the paler an adult Great Skua is on the nape, the paler- marked it will be elsewhere, and such a pale individual should not be mistaken for a South Polar Skua. Quite often, the lightest areas of a juvenile ZEISS Germany 176 Rarities Committee’s files 177 Great Skua are the nape and upper mantle. The contrast afforded by the very dark head results in a subtle collar effect, and thus creates a South Polar Skua pitfall. On some juvenile Great Skuas, the nape may even be tinged ochre or mustard-coloured. On such individuals, rufous-toned underparts, fresh, pale scalloping on the scapulars and wing-coverts, and a wholly dark head would allow identification as Great Skua. It has been stated that juvenile South Polar Skua has a smaller area of white on the bases of the primaries, both above and below, than does juvenile Great Skua. Whilst this may be true on average, it is not supported by any comparative measurements. On a single bird, the feature has no value whatso- ever, as some juvenile Great Skuas show barely any white on the upperwing and very limited white on the bases of the primaries on the underwing. In summary, size, bill structure and prominence of white wing-flashes are of absolutely no assistance in the identification process, and a pale nape is of use only in the case of a critically examined and otherwise basically uniform, cold- toned individual. Acknowledgment I wish to thank Dave Humm for his thorough commenting upon both published material and my own research on large skuas, and for his detailed and enthusiastic correspon- dence on the subject over many months. PETER LaNSDOWN 197 Springwood, Llanedeym, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF2 6UG REFERENCES CRAMP, S., Simmons, K. E. L., et at. 1983. The Birds of the Western Patearctic. vol. 3. Oxford. DEVILLERS, P. 1977. The skuas of the North American Pacific Coast. Auk 94: 417-429. I Twenty-five years ago... ‘A Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti was trapped at a locality in southern England on 22nd July 1967 and then retrapped on 9th September; at the request of those concerned, locality and names of ob- servers are being suppressed for the time being. All these records are further indication of a north- ward extension of this species in Europe and it may be only a matter of time before a pair nests here.’ {Bril. Birds 61: 175, April 1968) On 18th April 1968, a Red-runtped Swallow Hirundo daurica at Mundesley, Norfolk, was the first of an unprecedented influx of five in 1 7 days. Product reports Items included in this feature have been submitted by the manufacturers or their agents. The re- views are the personal opinions of the reviewers; they are not the result of technical tests, but are assessments made after use in appropriate conditions (e.g. in the field). Neither British Birds nor the individual reviewers can accept responsibility for any adverse consequences of opinions stated, and items are accepted for review on this understanding. We aim, however, to be helpful both to our readers and to manufacturers of goods used by birdwatchers. Eds Rare Bird Alert Pager In November 1966, a Brown Thrasher Tox- ostoma ntfiim, the first and so far the only Western Palearctic record this century', turned up in Dorset. It stayed for over two months, but I still managed to arrive too late to see it. As the interest in rare birds grew, the in- formation links to satisfy this demand also developed, starting with the informal grapevines that sprouted in the 1970s, to the telephone dial-in services that started in the mid 1980s. Now we have the latest artificial aid with the advent of the paging systems. I tested a pager from the ‘Rare Bird Alert Bird Pagers’, run by Dick Filbv, for six months from January to June 1992. First, the pager itself: smaller than a packet of 20 cigarettes, it fits easily into a pocket or clips onto a belt. Easy-to-use control buttons display messages, delete unwanted or save important messages, those with site directions for example. The pager can store 40 messages, and, once the memory is full, it automatically deletes the oldest, unsaved message to make room for the new one. A warning message tells you that this is happening. A flashing light and a ‘bleep’ tells you each time a new message is received, or the ‘bleep’ can be muted, in which case the pager vibrates when a new message arrives. But enough of the hardware. What is important is the service behind all the gadgetry. This particular operation started in October 1991, and it was obvious at the start of the test period that it was still on a steep learning curve. For example, there was a tendency to report only ‘rare’ species, so, when the Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos was at Dagenham, no mention was made of the nearby Bohemian Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus. This situation rapidly improved during the trial period. For major rarities, several updates, both positive and negative, were given during the day, closely following the ambition of getting a news broadcast out at least every two hours. What about the coverage? During a visit to Scilly during the spring, the 178 | llril. Hints 86: 1 78-179, April 1993] Experience bird- watching in a whole new light. Witness the best that nature has to offer through the eyes of hhe new EDII A angled body type Fieldscope. Its one-piece advanced prism design reflects 100% light for ' 'lighter viewing from dawn to dusk. And a new 30x wide - yepiece offers a wider view field at higher magnification. 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Open 6 days 9-6. Repair service on the premises mh T&L Optical Instruments 24 Middle Hillgate, Stockport SKI 3AY Tel: 061-429 8002 (BB356) Are the largest optical dealer on the Yorks coast. Binoculars — telescopes — video cameras m ^ ^ m _ __ _ _ lenses — tripods — SLRs — compacts "zVsS * KOWA * BUSHNELL * LEITZ * SWIFT ♦ RUSSIAN * PENTAX * BAUSCH & LOMB * MINOLTA * OPTOLYTH * ADLERBLICK PWALKERS Kowa TSN 1 & 2 Kowa TSN 3 & 4 20x-60 x zoom 20xwa £99 30xwa £129 Body 20x WA Body 27x WA Body 20x 40x £259 £550 £150 25x & 40x £60 77x £95 OUR PRICE SRP £263 - £199 SRP £293 - £219 SRP £307 - £229 KOWA TS 602 RUSSIAN 7 x 35 8 x 30 8 x 40 10 x 50 12 x 40 20 x 60 £27 £27 N A £30 C S £30 £33 £59 I c L E Leica 7x42 £599 Leica 8x42 £625 Pentax 10x42 ....£175 Zeiss 7x42 £549 Habicht 7x42 £475 Zeiss 10x40 £549 B&Lomb 8x42 ...£550 B&Lomb 8x42P.£575 B&Lomb 10x42P. £575 Habicht 10x42 £499 SWIFT SPECIALS Trilyte 8x42 £130 Trilyte 10x42 £135 Grand Prix 8x40 £80 Triton 10x50 :....£85 Audubon 8.5x44 ...£189 Audubon 10x50 ....£199 (D267) LTD 70 ST THOMAS ST SCARBOROUGH YOU 1DU 0723 365024 FAX 0723 363334 British Birds Volume 86 Number 4 April 1993 151 History of the Northern Pintail breeding in Britain and Ireland Dr A. D. Fox and E. R. Meek 163 The ‘British Birds’ Best Annual Bird Report Award lan Dawson , Robert Gillmor and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 166 Do Mediterranean Shags occur in southwest England? D. S. Flumm 174 Mystery photographs 187 Hen Harrier Robin Prytherch From the Rarities Committee’s files 176 Separation of South Polar Skua from Great Skua Peter Dmsdoun 177 Twenty-five years ago . . . 178 Product reports Rare Bird Alert Pager Barry . Yightingale 180 Monthly marathon Notes 181 Merlin stalking Dunlins on foot Dax'id M. Fleet 181 Young Moorhen repeatedly carrying food from adult to younger chicks Peter J. AUser 181 Moorhen feeding from, and in association with, a hedgehog Andrew Bloomfield 182 Apparent egg-dumping by Common Gulls M. (I. Pennington 182 Predatory behaviour of Kittiwakes Houmd Vaughan 183 feral Rock Doves attempting to land on sea (.live A. Maxwell 183 Aggressive display by I/»ng-eared Owl towards Common Buzzard Felipe Siverio and Pedro F. Acosta 184 Sand Martin catching fish Roy Bottomin' 184 House Martins taking over Barn Swallows’ nest Dougal (1. Andrew 185 Identification of Black Wheatear in (light Magnus Ulhnan 185 Feeding habits of Dart ford Warbler John Cantelo and Mike Rose) 186 Eye-colour of birds in lint light Jeremy Roberts and Roy Atkins 186 Wintering Chilli haff Iceding on peanuts Gavin J. Forrest 187 Canopy display by Hawfinch Steve Roberts and Jerry Inns Letters 188 Tree Swallow records in Britain /. P. Williams 188 Hartford W arblers associating with Common Stonechat Roger Thomett 189 Divine or obscene? Derek Goodwin Reviews 190 ‘Handbcxik of the Birds of the World, vol I. Ostrich to ducks' edited byjosep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliot & Jordi Sargatal Alan Brown 191 ‘Endangered Birds' by James Ferguson- lees. Illustrated by Emma Faull Ih Colin J. Bihbr 191 ‘Where to Watch Birds in France' by l*i Eigue Franyaise pour la Protection des Oiscaux, translated by Tony Williams liar id Tomlinson 192 ' 1 he Birds of Pakistan, vol. 2. Passeriformes: pittas to buntings’ by T.J. Rolx-rts Yigel Redman 192 Birds. Discovery and Conservation: 100 years of the “Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club"' edited by David Snow Dr h F. F Simmons 1 93 Short reviews 195 News and comment Mike Everett and Rotnn Prytherch 199 BirdLife International news Dr Georgina Green Announcements 199 Carl Zeiss Award 199 An unacceptable Norfolk record of Baird’s Sandpiper 200 Books m British Bird Shop 200 Recent reports Barry .\ighlingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 151 Northern Pintails Don Pnwelt]\ 166 Shags D. S. Flumm Front cover: Hooded Crow on ncsi, Treslmish Point, Isle of Mull Arulmv J. Mortley)-. the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 < m, is lor sale in a postal auction (set' page 28 in January issue lot procedure Volume 86 Number 5 May 1993 4 y i n»_ • ’«* mrnP'f ?n 'VI PUnCri/^otD 'OOLOGY LlC F*nY The Great Black-headed Gull in Britain lentification of Common, Arctic and Roseate Terns Waders in Hong Kong BirdLife International news • Rarities Committee’s files Mystery photographs • Notes • Monthly marathon News and comment • Reviews • Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock * Photographic Consultants Don Smith & Roger Tidman Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gantlett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, Andy Stoddart & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1993 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for ‘News and comment', drawings & photographs Dr J. I’. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Eax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085. Fax: (0621) 819130 Bird news for ‘Seasonal reports' Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Glwyd CH7 4UM. Phone: Mold (0352) 770581. Fax: (0352) 771590 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies ,645.80, IR£53.50 or $86.50. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £37.20, IR£43.60 or $70.00; personal airmail, outside Europe £62.50, IR£72.95 or $118.00. Single back copies £4.75, IR£5.50 or $9.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearctie. Exeept for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches arc welcomed. Papers should lx- typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequence of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctie Birds (1993); or, for non-VVesl-Palearctic species, Sibley & Monroe (1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World.; names of plants follow Dotty ft til. (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers ; names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1977, The Handbook of British Mammals Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: .302). Figures should lx' in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should lx- inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnocth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford Itl focus in focus INOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTFORDSHIRE, EN5 5SZ Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 081-449 1445, 081-441 7748 Fax:081-440 9999 HOW TO FIND US (Barnet), We are 10 mins from M25 and AIM motorways and 1 5 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station MAIN STREET, TITCHWELL, NR. KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK, PE31 8BB Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 0485 210101 HOW TO FIND US (Norfolk); We are 500 yards east of the RSPB reserve at Titchwell on the A1 49 between Hunstanton and Brancaster. WESTLEIGH HALL, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, NR. HUDDERSFIELD, YORKSHIRE, HD8 8QJ Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 0484 864729 HOW TO FIND US (Huddersfield); We are next to the railway station at Denbv Dale on the A636 near June 38 & 39 on me Ml ANGUAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE, EGLETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICS. LAI 5 8BT Open 7 days 9am - 5pm Tel: 0572 770656 HOW TO FIND US (Egleton); We are situated on the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water. Follow signposts to Egleton Village from A6003 to Oakham. 1TTERIC CARR, ■DONCASTER, YORKSHIRE lift X Sun 25th April 'P8SANDWEU Y, BIRMINGHAM st X Sun 2nd Moy - IFIG NATIONAL : TURE RESERVE FH GLAMORGAN .th X Sun 1 6th May SPRING EVENTS PROGRAMME FOR CUSTOMERS PREFERRING TO SELECT AND PURCHASE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMME WI1H THE ASSISTANCE OF THE RSPB, WWT AND COUNTY TRUSTS. MOST EVENTS ARE HELD FROM 10 AM - 4 PM - WRITE OR PHONE FOR FURTHER DETAILS. WWT MARTIN MERE 0RMSKIRK, LANCS Sat 24th X Sun 25th April ^ Sat 22nd X Sun 23rd May WWT SUMBRIDGE GLOUCESTERSHIRE From Sot 1st to Sun 9th May FISHERS GREEN LEE VALLEY, ESSEX San9lhMoy PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY, DORSET Sun 9th May OXFORD ISLAND LOUGH NEAGH N. IRELAND . Fri 1 4lh X Sal 1 5th May WWT CASTLE ESPIE N. IRELAND Sun 16th Moy \WITH ALL NEW BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES PURCHASED HE NEW IN FOCUS BLUE RIBAND CARE PLAN PROVIDES THREE YEARS CCIDENT DAMAGE REPAIR COVER AND GUARANTEES PART-EXCHANGE JES UP TO 100% OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE AFTER FIVE YEARS H & LOMB £ NIKON - 8GAP 636.00 7x20CF III - 8GAP 699.00 9x25CF III l I2BGAP 699.00 10x23CF III .366 258.00 8x32DCF )x40BGA 279 00 1 0X40DCF oody Body 164 00 IIA 45' Body ope EDI TBG80/TBS80 Body 475.00 p.. m./to 410 00 329.00 TBG HD/TBS HD Body 725 00 °'an ‘° 547 M 329.00 20xWW 138.00 5„” 149 00 Fieldscope EDII • 30xWA 87 00 " , 1 / . 00 ^ 218 00 Body 589.00 30xWW 157 00 20x-60x Zoom 164.00 37 00 EDI I A 45° Body 589.00 40xWA 87 00 QUESTAR £ 1 5x/20x/30x/40x 89.00 70xWW (new) 1 89 00 field Model 3 '/2n Broad Band ^ E1ELL £ 30xWF (new) 169.00 22x-60xZoom ... 179 00 Coating. Supplied with P . L (new) 20-45x Zoom 1 69,00 Stay on Case for 50x-80x Hood, Case H : 12BGA 109.00 60x 109 00 TBS/TBG 45 00 30x-50x O ■ter Body 185.00 Photo Kit 99 OPTICRON £ 80x- 1 30x N &°dyEP ??? 99 ^bber Lens Hood ^0.00 VegQ (| gx30 60 00 Erector Prism ^FflNGRINGHOf^ ^MHORNDON forest! r RSPB BLACKT0FT SANDS 1 W GWYL ADAR 1 i C0LCHES1TR 1 1 BRENTWOOD W CLEY NATURE RESERVE ■ SOUTH HUMBERSIDE 3 6 WELSH BIRDFAIR R ESSEX ■ ESSEX NORTH NORFOLK 4 I Sot 29th, Sun 30lh | 1 YNYSHIR, DYFED, WALES Sun 1 6th May A ^L Sun 23rd May 1 R Sun 23rd Moy L & Mon 3 1 st May J R^ Sun 30th X Mon 31st Moy J COMING EVENTS 24 99 00 8x30E 269.00 Touring 7x42BGA 5x60BGAP 395.00 1 0x35E 289.00 Touring^ 0x40BGA 412 00 Fieldscope II 850.00 Body ... ^ £ OPTOLYTH £ SWAROVSKI £ ,79.00 Alpin 8x30BGA 258.00 8x206 242.00 99 00 Alpin 8x40BGA 279 00 IOx25B 264 00 1 1 9.00 Alpin 1 0x40BGA 283 00 SIC 1 1 7x30SLC II 399,00 419 00 Alpin 10X50BGA 315.00 SLC 1 1 8x30SLC It 412.00 429 00 Touring 8x32BGA 449 00 SLC 7x42 SLC (new) . 578.00 ‘‘J’f °° SLC 1 0x42 SLC (new| 629.00 ■4W.00 CaM, 29.95 GA Body 1 98.00 Stay-on Case ; {oom 79.00 Hoya HMC Filter 20.00 8x40 65.00 VELBON 55 00 Spotting Scope 8*2*C?mpa<:' j&22 Dh'u 0ML Mmi 24.95 20 00 20x60GA 229 00 MCF 10x24 Compact .99 00 cx 580 49 95 'EEISS £ '20BT*P 349 00 Ux25BrP 359.00 20BP 299 00 KOWA 15x-45x60GA 289 00 D.optron 8x32 14500 2QX 39 00 Dioptron 8x42 1 48 00 15-45X Zoom 119.00 Dioptron 10x42 153 00 Dioptron 10x50 162.00 . p( . r can £ HR 8x32 MC 174.00 Q/R "ates trom . 5.00 )x25BP 33900 TS-611 Body |new| 316 00 HR 8x42 MC 17900 CULLMANN : tOBGAP 339.00 TS-612 Body (new) 296.00 HR 1 0x42 MC 1 86.00 Hide Clamp I0BGAT-P 699.00 TS-61 3 ED Body (new) . 656.00 HR 10x50MC 199 00 Shoulder Pod .... 12BGAT-P . 769.00 TS 614 ED Body |new) 596.00 HR 80 Body 269 00 Q/R System :r40BGAT'P 769.00 Accepts TSN eyepieces Observation 20x80 349.00 q/r pfa|e 5.95 n40BT*P 849 00 price includes cose Observation 30x80 359.00 .6BGAT-P 979 00 fsN-l/TSN-2Bodv 349 00 HR 60 22x & Case 235 00 SLIK £ rroGAT 1599.00 TSN-3/TSN-4 Body 649,00 HR GA 22x & Case 275 00 Master D-3 99 00 i 70 aa - ' - - - - 220.00 595 00 D-680 59,95 D-700 79 95 Q/R System 10.00 £ 54.95 29.95 10.95 1 3500.00 20x-60x Zoom ] 79.00 HR 45o' 22x & Case 8 99 20xWA 1 1 9.00 HRGAED 22x & Case MANFROTTO -•r-rr ar\rv\ rlKUACU ZZX O. case JTJ.W ooa/1oo 2? 99 ,8999 HR 60 20x-60x & Case 259.00 ^'J?8 yard 6.00 30xWA . 15.00 40x . 149.00 80.00 HR GA20x-60x & Case 299.00 HR 45° 20x-60x & Case 250.00 ?-lx20BC 219.00 Skua Stay -OnCase 0x25BC 269 00 27xWA (Screwht) £ ]|i-gg HRGAED 20x-60x&Case 665 00 ]^128 *■ r- 12500 22xWA25x.40x. 34 00 £ 105.00 290B/128 109 00 144/128 115.00 .119.00 ... 14.95 39.95 69 00 30xWA/41xWA 49 00 Q/R Plote 5.95 • vazjuc — z/xyvm|oucwiii/ M'-w up *7 Fwo Pi#v-A 95 00 Monopod 079B or 1 34B 29.95 • lx20BCA 269.00 Screw Bay Adaptor 20.00 7 126 00 ACCF^SORIES £ 0x25BCA 298.00 Photo Adapt 800mm 150.00 Cbswe F60 26 00 ACCESSORIES Mini 18 00 Photo Adapt 1200mm 230.00 ^1175 . . 159 00 Car Window Mount 26.00 . ,onA AOflm 1 8xWA or 22xWA 74 UU Universal Mount 26 00 x3?BA 649.00 SWIFT £ 25x or 30x 24.00 Hide Clamp 38.00 *4?RA 698.00 Trilyte 8x42BGA 159.00 18x-45x or 22-47x zoom 00 Rajnguords from 3.50 0x42BA 698 00 Trylite 10x42BGA 165.00 Piccolo MKII Body oonn Lens Cleaning Cloth 3.00 Audubon HR5 8.5x44 279.00 Eye Pieces from -29-00 Tnpocj strap 6.95 £ Audubon HR5 1 0x50 299.00 Piccolo ED 20x60 355.00 lan arjs frJ,m 4 00 • iJtt? VSof 33o“ Double ^repiece Case ,,95 '0x 29 00 Cases for scopes 15.00 Tamrac Sco, n 1 0x42B 1 79.95 Case 1 6 00 Macro Monocular 50.00 Equipment C MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Please remember to add £2.00 towards the cost of insured Trakbak postage and packing - whether paying by cheque, Visa, Access or Mastercard - and goods will be despatched with full 1 4 days approval the same day on receipt of your remittance. PART EXCHANGE Top prices paid for good condition telescopes and binoculars. SECOND HAND ITEMS Instruments always available. On receipt of a stamped, addressed envelope we can supply current price lists of binoculars and telescopes. 10x42B 149.95 :42B 15x-45x Zoom 59.UU Photo Kits Ircm Tgmroc Sco'pe Cose 26 95 169.95 20x 29 UU Cases for scopes lo uu , A • , o qc 1 79.95 Case 1 6.00 Macro Monocular 50.00 Equipment Guide 3.95 USTINGS CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. E&OE. PHONE FOR LATEST PRICES. WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1993"? 2* (D 275) wmm fc/H. - - FIELD 1 DAYS UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVIC Est. 1962 Kay Optical SALES & REPAIRS- Alternative venues to Morden. at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below. Kay Optical will be at the Visitor/Information Centre in each case. Any entrance or parking fees refunded with purchase. Repairs can also be handed in. * 10.00 am to 4.00 pm* BINOCULARS — TELESCOPES — TRIPODS et * PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sunday 25th April and 30th May. * SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sunday 2nd May and 6th June. Some examples of our stocks: ZEISS 10 x 25 BP Dialyt 10 x 25 B/TP (New DS) 8 x 20 B./TP (New DS) .. 8 x 30 BGA/T (P) 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) 10x40 BGA/T (P) 15 x 60 BGA/T (new model) P H >0 N E We can modify your ear- lier model Nikon tele- scopes to take the room eyepiece and the new 30x (WA) eyepiece. 340 Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA , 1 99 Spotting scope 20-45x GA..259 * BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 lunction (with access from the B2042 or B2027, the information centre is to the north of the reservoir) on Sundays 9th May and 13th June. * BEWL WATER on the A21, |ust south of Lamberhurst in the Education Centre on Sunday 23rd May. * ALTON WATER Suffolk, near Ipswich, on the B1080 between Holbrook and Stutton, In the Visitor/Information Centre on Sunday 18th April. * COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE near Tnng, Herts, on the B488 (off the A41) close to Bulbourne. In the overlook hide on Saturday 15th May, 6th June and 26th June. * SLIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) Village Hall (on the left, halfway along village road into the W&WT) Saturday 5th June and 31st July. * DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK near Reading (M4, A329(M) Woodley turnoff) and then A329 to Winnersh and Winnersh Station (B3030) on Sunday 23rd May in the Loddon Room OPTICRON Vega II 8 x 30 60 Vega II 8 x 40 65 8x32 Dioptron 145 8 x 42 Dioptron 148 10 X 42 Dioptron 153 10 x 50 Dioptron 162 8 x 32 (HRII) 174 8 x 42 (HRII) 179 10x42 (HRII) 186 10x50 (HRII) 199 HOURS: Monday-Saturdai and every First Sun day o! the month S am lo 5pm (Lunch l-2pm| BAUSCH & LOMB KOWA 7 x 36 BA (PC3) Elite 599 TSN-1 (45°) body 295 7 x 42 (HRII) 178 8 x 42 BA (PC3) Elite 629 TSN-2 body 295 7 x35 Elite 185 10 x 42 BA (PC3) Elite . . 629 TSN-3 (F) Prominar body 9 x 35 Elite 220 15-45x BGA Elite Scope.. .395 549 7x40 Minerva 200 77mm Elite body 412 TSN-4 (F) Prominar body 9 x 35 Minerva 200 77mm Elite (ED) body 659 549 8 x 40 Minerva 206 20x (WA) Eyepiece 164 25x or 40x eyepiece 69 10 x 40 Minerva 215 30x Eyepiece 149 20x (WA) eyepiece 105 7x 24 MCF 95 20 60x Zoom eyepiece 218 30x (WA) eyepiece 129 HR 60mm scopes: 800mm Camera Adaptor 175 20-60x zoom eyepiece 159 Std w/22x & case 235 800mm RA mirror lens kit 299 60x eyepiece 1 09 Std w/zoom & case 259 * THE SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Woods Mill, Henfield. W. Sussex (A2037) on Sunday 20th June. A NEW FACILITY has also been opened here — selling a selection of our binoculars (Phone 0273 492630) . 77x eyepiece 119 GA w/22x S case 275 SWAROVSKI Cam adaptor 800mm 1 29 G A w/zoom & case . 299 7 x 30 SLC (BM) 399 Cam adaptor 1200mm 199 45° w/22x & case 220 8 X 30 SLC (WB) 412 Kowa case 29 45° w/zoom & case 250 10x42 SLC (new) 629 Skua case 40 30x (WA) eyepiece 53 7 X 42 SK (new) 578 Spare OG cover 8 20-60x zoom eyepiece 95 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece HR Photokit 64 74 Filter 8 8 x 20 BC Trinovid 219 NEW 60mm Scopes: Rubberhood 5 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 269 TS-61 1 body (45°) 275 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 269 TS-612 body 275 10 x 25 BCA Trinovid 298 TS-613 ED Prominar 8 X 32 BA Trinovid 629 Body (45°) 656 7x42 BA Trinovid ... .649 TS-614 ED Prominar Body 8 x 42 BA T rinovid 649 ;,gg 10 x 42 BA Trinovid 649 20x (WA) eyepiece 74 sPacemaster (black rubber 27x (WA) eyepiece 109 armoured> c/w z00m eyepiece SWIFT 20-60x zoom eyepiece 127 and case .270 8'/2 x 44 HR Audubon 239 Also, TSN eyepieces fit the 22x (WA> Ep 32 ADLERBLICK 8x42 RAMC.. 10x42 RA MC 164 169 BUSHNELL 10 x 50 Audubon 249 611/614 included. Cases 25x or 40x EP . Photokit * DURLSTON COUNTRY PARK ofl the A351 near Swanage, Dorset In the visitor centre on Sunday 9th May * THE KENT TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION in the Tyland Barn, near Sandling, Maidstone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, going south), on Sunday 25th April and 27th June. * N.T. WICKEN FEN off the A1 123, north east of Cambridge. In the visitor centre on Sunday 16th May. * STODMARSH NNR (TR 220610) in information hut in car park. Take minor road to Grove and Stodmarsh off the A28 Canterbury/Margate road Saturday 24th April and 20th June. * HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR off the A130 north of Basildon, Essex on Sunday 18th April and 16th May (near fishing lodge) NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof .189 10 x 25 waterproof .199 8 x 20 F roof prism ...150 10 x 25 F roof prism ...165 8 x 30 ECF porro WF 269 10 x 35 ECF porro WF. .279 Fieldscope II body 299 Fieldscope ED II body . 499 Angled Fieldscope 1 1 A body Angled EDI IA bcdy 529 15x, 20x, 30x or 40x EP .79 30x (WA) eyepiece (new) 149 60x eyepiece .. . 99 20-45x Zoom eyepiece . 149 Camera adaptor 169 Mod for other cameras .18 Quality filter ...13 Rubber hood 8 Stay-on-case * FREE WITH STRAIGHT SCOPE* 30 VIEWMASTER 45° scope body 25x Eyepiece 27x (WA) Eyepiece 74 OPTOLYTH 8x30 Alpin 258 10x40 Alpin , 10x50 Alpin , 12x50 Alpin . 7x42 Alpin ... GREENKAT 149 "8 * 30 ZWCF (Quick focus) 69 '10 x 42 MC Naturalist 109 'Falcon 7-21 x 40 zoom binos 79 '(Liquidation stock — special bargains) TBG/TBS 80 Fluorite 30x (WW) new eyepiece 20x (WW) eyepiece 30x or 40x eyepiece Nylon case 283 315 TRIPODS etc .320 Slik D3 ,295 Manfrotto 144B/200 475 Manfrotto 290B/200 .475 Universal clamp .725 Car window mount .157 Shoulder pod .138 Cullmann hide clamp ,87 Tripod case 189 Tripod straps, from... ,179 T-mounts, from .30 Lens cleaning kit . Stay-on case for TB5/TB9 45 Leather eyepiece pouch .95 109 100 26 26 ...35 60 15 7 .10 . .4 .. .7 VIEWING FACILITIES • Location Southern edgeo Greater London. 15 minutes' drive from M25 (via the A3, then the Mer- ton turn-off) or 2 minutes' walk from Morden Underground. • Parking 50 yards past our premises — 1st left. • Long-established workshop Optical instru- ment experience unrivalled • Mail Order • Personal Exports including VAT claw-back • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments). • P/x arranged • Used items • Package deals Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought E.&O.E. Phone: 081-648 8822 Fax: 081-687 2021 KAY OPTICAL (1962), 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5HP (D265) (1st Floor) British Birds VOLUME 86 NUMBER 5 MAY 1993 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 14 MAY 1993 - PURCHASED ZOOLOGY LIBRARY The Great Black-headed Gull in Britain Keith Vmicombe and Peter J. Hopkin on behalf of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee Of the large number of rarities on the British and Irish list, a select few have, over the years, achieved near-mythical status: Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata , Eskimo Curlew JVumehius borealis , Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus and White-winged Lark Melanocoypha leucoptem , to name but a few. Despite the huge upsurge in birdwatching in recent years, they have remained extremely infrequent and unlikely visitors to these shores. Their mystique is compounded by the fact that they appear to represent relics from a misty, bygone era: the Victorian age, when the rarity-hunter was the upper- class country gentleman, trudging the marshes of Sussex or Kent armed, not with binoculars, but with a gun. Another species which clearly falls among the elite is the Great Black- headed Gull Lams ichthyaetus. The only two modern claims — Calf of Man, Isle of Man, on 21st May 1966, and Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, during 31st March to 14th April 1967— have both been rejected by die British Birds Rarities Committee [Biit. Birds 78: 553; 74: 473). The latter proved to be a [Bril. Birds 86: 201-205. May 1993] 201 202 The Great Black-headed Gull in Britain second-\ ear Gicat Black-backed Gull L. marinus with head staining (see Brit. Birds 61: plate 48). This left only five old records: 1. Oil Exmouth, Devon, end ol May or early June 1859 2. Telscombe Cliffs, East Sussex, 4th January 1910 o. Bournemouth, Dorset (formerly Hampshire), end of November to early December 1924 4. Cromer, Norfolk. 2nd-9th March 1932 5. Hove, West Sussex, 9th August 1932 In the light ol the BBRG decisions, the BOL RC reviewed these records, and the results were both interesting and rewarding. When judging old records, one obviously has to make allowances for the lack ol modern-day precision in the descriptions, but, nevertheless, the records must remain convincing on the basis ol the available evidence. Surprisingly, only the original Devon record proved to be acceptable, and the following account is based on D’Urban & Mathew (1895). The Devon record At the cncl^ of May or the beginning of June 1859, a boatman named William Pine was fishing for bass in the River Exe oil Exmouth when he noticed the gull, a summer-plumaged adult, in company with a flock of ‘ordinary gulls’. Its remarkable size and appearance attracted the attention of the boatman, who, having his gun with him, shot it. (Those were the days!) Pine’s story was independently confirmed by W. Taylor of Bridgwater, who was in the boat uath him. Pine presented the bird to F. W. E. Ross of Topsham, Devon, who had no idea what it was. In October 1859, Ross showed the specimen to W . S. I) G rban and the Rev. M. A. Mathew, subsequent authors of The Birds oj Devon 1 895), and they persuaded him to allow them to take it to the British Museum. There, G. R. Gray at once led them to the only specimen of Great Black-headed Gull, then exhibited in the Museum’s galleries. At Gray’s re- quest, the gull was left with him for exhibition, but, at the death of Ross’s widow in 1865, the Ross collection was bequeathed to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. The Great Black-headed Gull accompanied the collection and was then under the care of D’Urban and Mathew for nearly 20 years. They described it as being in good condition, although it had needed restuffing. In 1969, Robert Moore, in his Birds of Devon, stated that the speci- men was still in the museum. Although the story was convincing, was it still there? What if it had been misidentified? Io lay these fears to rest, PJH visited the museum in June 1992 and was met by Bryan Mcloy, who showed him the gull, now residing in the reserve collection. PJH was able to take several photographs (plates 40 & 41). Despite its age and repeated stuffing, it is still in good condition, although the tail and primary tips are abraded. It stands on a modern chipboard mount and, in plate 41, its size can be gauged by the bail-point pen in the foreground. It may be noted that the bill colour is, in fact, wrong for adult Great Black- headed Gull, but close examination revealed that the base had been painted yellow. In his original description, Ross (1859) described the bare parts as fol- lows: ‘beak at its base vivid yellow, with a crimson ring-like spot near the tip which is fuscous yellow; the feet fulvous red [sic]. When first obtained, the circles round the eyes were red. 1 he legs of the specimen now look as though they have been varnished. The Great Black-headed Gull in Britain 203 The rejected records TELSCOMBE CLIFFS, EAST SUSSEX, 4TFI JANUARY 1910, AND HOVE, WEST SUSSEX, 9TH AUGUST 1932 Both these birds were seen by one of the great characters of British ornithol- ogy, John Walpole-Bond. The records are detailed in his book, A History of Sussex Birds (1938). From his account of the first one, it is clear that his views were brief. He mentions that it was a large gull with the outer primaries ‘barred black and white’, but the bill was not seen clearly, no head detail was noted and the legs ‘seemed to be of a greenish hue’. The unanimous opinion of the BOURC was that the description was inadequate and that continued acceptance could not be justified. His second claim concerned a summei- plumaged adult which flew past Hove Promenade, but there is no description. Consequently, this record was also rejected. Some Committee members won- dered whether Walpole-Bond may have misidcntihed a Mediterranean Cull L. melanocephalus, itself a great rarity in those days. In order to leave no stone un- turned, however, it was decided to try to track down Walpole-Bond s original diaries, and they were eventually located in a bank vault in Hampshire. Un- fortunately, the manuscript accounts were no different from those alicady published in A Histoiy of Sussex Birds. BOURNEMOUTH, DORSET, END OF NOVEMBER TO EARLY DECEMBER 1924 The account of this bird by the finder, W. Parkinson Curtis, can be found m Brit. Birds 19: 28-29. It frequented Poole Bay between Bournemouth Pier and Durley Chine and was fairly tame, but, unfortunately, there is no description. CROMER, NORFOLK, 2ND-9TH MARCH 1932 This gull was seen almost daily by Henry Cole and was reported by B. B. Ririere in the ‘Ornithological Report for Norfolk for 1932 {Brit. Birds 26: 392). He described it as being the size of a Herring Gull L. argentatus with an incomplete black hood. The bill was light orange with a bar and was much thicker at the tip than that of a Black-headed Gull L. ndibundus. A he legs v er e yellow. The mande was darker and the white on the primaries was ‘more pro- nounced’ than on Black-headed Gull. The Committee considered parts of this description were more convincing than those of the other rejected lecoids, but, nevertheless, the possibility ol a mistake could not be eliminated. Conclusion The Great Black-headed Gull has occurred in a number ol northwest Euro- pean countries, but the rejection of the four British records means that on \ two occurrences remain for northwest Europe during the first half of this cen- tury: Belgium (4th- 2 3rd June 1936) and the Netherlands (16th June 1946) There are also later records from Sweden (12th September 1 9.)6 and nc fune 1958) and records in the last ten years from Norway, Denmark, Ger- many and Poland. Two of the Polish records were in May and June and a well-documented Dutch record concerned a bird which initially appeared on 22nd June: an adult photographed in the Ijsselmeer area m three consecutive summers during 1974-76 (van IJzendoorn 1989). Although the exact date ol 40 & 41. Adult Great Black-headed Gull Ijirus uhlhyaetus shot off Exmouth, Devon, end of May or early June 1859, now in Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. Note bail-point pen in lower photograph, showing scale (Peter J. I lopkin ) The Great Black-headed. Gull in Britain 205 the Devon bird is not known, an early-summer occurrence would appear to tie in with the established pattern. At the time of writing, it has been 1 33 years since the Great Black-headed Gull was reliably reported in this country. How much longer must we wait for the second? Maybe we should check those midsummer gull flocks a little more closely. Acknowledgments We are extremely grateful to David Bolton at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, lor allowing PJH access to the specimen and to Bryan Meloy for coming in specially on his day off to show it to him. It may be viewed at the Museum if arrangements are made well in advance (weekdays only). We are also grateful to T. A. Waddell and the Jourdain Society for their help with the Walpole-Bond diaries and to Dr Alan Knox for his useful comments on an earlier diaft. References D’Urban, W. S., & Mathew, M. A. 1895. The Birds of Devon. London. Ross, F. W. L. 1859. Notice of a Black-headed Gull found recently in Devonshire. Ann. Mag. .Nat. Hist. (3) 4: 467. VAN IJZENDOORN, E. J. 1989. Reuzenzwartkopmeeuw in IJsselmeergebied in zomers van 1974-76. Dutch Binding 1 1 : 5-8. Keith Vinicombe, 1 1 Kennington Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9EU Peter J. Hopkin, 4A Powderham Crescent, Exeter EX4 6DA International news Hydrological scheme threatens Ramsar site Lake Utonai on Hokkaido Island Japan, a Ramsar site and host to thousands of wintering and migrating waterfowl, is threatened by a mge flood-relief scheme. . . , on The planned scheme involves the construction of a canal 38.5 km long, which would take years to build, is projected to cost at least £900 million, and would involve moving 120 million ms of soil (180 million m3 were moved for the Panama Canal). In times of potential flooding, the canal would divert water out of the lower reaches of the Chitose River, which has flooded sevei a times in the past few decades. T t • i m The canal would drastically reduce the amount of water flowing into Lake Utonai and would devastate its ecology. The Wild Bird Society of Japan, the BirdLife International partner m Japan, has been campaigning against the scheme, and pushing for an alternative, far- ess-damaging scheme, which has been proposed, to be implemented. E°RG1 " , ,RE BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge t.BJ 0 v From the Rarities Committee’s files Blackpoll Warbler in Shetland The following details were supplied to the Rarities Committee: SPECIES Blackpoll \\ arbler Dendroica striata AGE First-year(?) PLACE Fair Isle, Shetland date 30th September 1991 ll.ME From 13.30 GMT until evening: total 2*/2 hours (in two periods) OBSERVER Mark I. Dowie OTHER OBSERVERS Riddiford Dave Suddaby; also seen well by Paul Harvey (Warden FI BO) and Nick FOUND and identified b\' Mark I. Dowie TRAPPED No. PHOTOGRAPHED by Dennis Coutts (see plate 42) OP I ICAI. AIDS Zeiss Dialvt 10 X 40, Nikon ED Fieldscope 30 X RANGE about 3 m PREV.GUS experience OF THE species UK: Scilly, three separate individuals; North America: . e\\ i ork C.entral Park, September 1990, many individuals (similar plumage). HER Cool, sunny, wind 3-4 northerly becoming still, bright sun, perfect clear conditions. CIRCI aistanoes Whilst searching for a Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydacfyla reported in the Springfield area, MID, DS and Tom Francis flushed a Little Bunting Embenza pusil/a from the cop at Busta; n flew towards a small vegetable patch next to the house at Busta and the three observers spin up m an attempt to relocate the bunting. Suddenly, 1 noticed a small bird (lv up horn the ground to perch momentarily on the side of the front wall of the house. My attention uts immediately drawn to the bright olive-green mantle, and two conspicuous white wing-bars pMmti b'rd dmPP< d t0 dK‘ graSS amon§st a smal1 U'oup of feeding Meadow Pipits Anthm During this time, 1 was nonetheless able to point out the bird— clearly a warbler -to DS and we moved position to seek a better angle to view the pipit flock. My initial thoughts that the bird tght be a Blackpoll Warbler were quickly confirmed as the mystery bird flew onto a nearby post but, knowing that this species was one of a group of three American warblers with rimilar female/first-year ptomages my next priority was to eliminate any possibility of the two remaining confusion species. DS quickly relocated flic warbler himself, and we were able to run through the vanous features that we could remember to confirm its identity. Close scrutiny of the leg/ feet colour was sufficient to dispel thoughts of a rare congener, and I set about taking a full description M , in the meantime, had noticed our actions and quickly hurried to the spot, and we were able to watch the bird at very close range as it continued to feed actively around the croft and outbuildings. 1 he remaining birders on the island were summoned and all were able to enjoy this American vagrant as it performed well throughout the afternoon and into the early evening I firm whTr T r-Tly f°Ur h°UrS later’ at l7'20 ^rs, by MID and Paul Harvev War- den I I BO. We left the bird still feedtng actively on the wall surrounding the croft at Kennebv but, despite appearing settled, it could not be relocated the following day description (taken from field notes of MID) Initial impression American warbler, seemingly 206 larger and bulkier than, say, I It'll. Hints (((,: 206-209, May I <)•>:!] 207 From the Rarities Committee’s files Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita or Willow Warbler P. trochilus, although no birds nearby, other than Meadow Pipits, for comparison. Main features included dull plumage overall but with rich olive-green back and two conspicuous white wing-bars. Typical stance horizontal or slightly down-angled (head down) with hunched back and ‘no neck appearance. 1 ail held slightly cocked and wings dropped down. Head held up when alert. Long rounded head. Bare parts Bill black, appearing heavy and relatively short with wide base. Very dull reddish tone to base of bill. Eyes black. Legs brown ( not black) with bright orange -yellow feet, onto lower legs. In direct sunlight, legs appeared orange. Plumage Crown and nape dull olive-green, with very slight black flecking visible only at close range. Yellowish supercilium from bill to just behind eye, almost meeting above the bill. Open yellow face and ear-coverts. No eyestripe as such, but slightly darker (green) behind the eye and just before the eye, but not joined to the bill, thus appearing rather pale-lored at a distance. Split yel- low/whitish eye-ring. Mantle rich olive-green, brighter than Meadow Pipit, well marked with a number of dark parallel lines, although less well marked on the lower back. Plain-looking rump, although certain uppertail-covert feathers appearing slightly dark-centred. Pale lemon-yellow throat, slightly mottled, continuing down onto the lower breast, becoming a grey-green wash on the shoulders. Greeny spot mid breast. Fine grey streaking on upper breast, but appearing somewhat ‘dirty’ (extensive mottling almost). Two parallel rows of smudged grey feathering along the flanks, although rather indistinct pattern on grey-yellow wash. White undertail-coverts. Tail black, all feathers with thin white edges. White tail ‘spots’ seen on the two outermost pairs of tail feathers were, in fact, dis- covered to be distorted, elongated ‘triangles’, difficult to see except when tail fanned; most obvious when about to land, flying away from the observer. Undertail (closed) appeared mostly white. Scapulars rich olive-green, the lower row(s) being black-centred. Lessei coverts dark-centred with greenish edges. Median coverts black-centred with all-round broad white edging, the lower edge forming a thick, curving white wing-bar. Greater coverts black-centred; outer web green, tinged whitish, be- coming white at lower end to form a second thick white wing-bar across the wing, also curved and running parallel with the first. Wing-bar slightly broader on inner coverts. Secondaries and primaries moss-green edged, forming a slight panel on the closed wing. Tertials black with thick white border to the outer edge. Pri- maries white-tipped, and equally spaced, with projection approximately equal to that of exposed tertials. Voice Soft, weak ‘tsic’, heard on many occasions. Actions Constantly on view in the open. Confiding, approachable down to a few yards Spent most of afternoon working along the stone walls surrounding the crofted areas around Kenneby. Very active, seen ‘flycatchmg on many occasions off the sides of the crofts and outhouses, and from the wire fencing and stone walls nearby. Active feeding, both on the ground and along the stone walls. Nervous tail flicking. Many short flights, during which time tail ‘spots’ apparent. 208 From the Rarities Committee’s files CONFUSION SPECIES IN AUTUMN Blackpoll Warbler is similar (in female-type /immature plumage) in autumn to (i) Pine Warbler D. pinus , and (ii) Bay-breasted Warbler D. castanea. These speeies can be eliminated on the grounds of: (a) leg coloration brown, with orange-yellow feet (compared with black on Pint and Bay-breasted). Note: legs of Blackpoll typically straw-coloured, but autumn birds can show darker legs, but never black. (b) upperparts heavily marked (compared with uniform back on Pine). U ) thioat and breast/flanks lemon and lemon-yellow (compared with whitish throat and bullish-yellow breast/flanks on Bay-breasted, and also buff to bright yellow breast/flanks on Pine). (d) undertail-coverts white (compared with buff on Bay-breasted). DISCUSSION I his bird was the first North American passerine reported in Shetland for the autumn. Previous days had seen a Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficolhs (26th) and Pectoral Sandpiper Catidris melanolos (27th) located on Fair Isle. Strong westerly winds originating from the northeastern seaboard of North America the week before, and the following general winds on Fair Isle- 25th W; 26th NW; 27th NW; 28th NE; 29th E/NE; 30th N. Is it possible that (he Blackpoll drifted south off mainland Shetland on predominantly northerly winds? This constitutes the first record for Fair Isle and only the third for Shetland. Mark I. Dowie /.) Pinner Hill Road , Pinner, Middlesex has 3SD 209 From the Rarities Committee’s files Peter Lansdown (Chairman, British Birds Rarities Committee) has commented as follows: ‘Mark Dowie’s report on the Blackpoll Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, on 30th September 1991 received several compliments from the BBRC members during its circulation. Except for minor editorial amendments, the report appears exactly as it was received by the Committee. ‘Though Blackpoll Warbler is not a difficult species to identify in a British context, Mark Dowie has provided full and detailed documentation. It includes a BBRC Record Form with all of the relevant parts of the front of the form duly completed (additional information not applicable to this record concerns seawatching records, dead birds and trapped birds), a comprehensive descrip- tion covering general appearance, size and structure, plumage and bare parts, voice and be- haviour, and an account of the circumstances of the sighting. The report was submitted in November 1991 to the Fair Isle Bird Observatory warden, who forwarded it to the Rarities Com- mittee. ‘The Committee is always pleased to see a well-researched record submission, and Mark Dowie’s careful consideration of confusion species is a prime example of this. Future rarity-finders would be well advised to follow the general approach, style and content of Mark’s Blackpoll War- bler report.’ Eds Twenty-five years ago... ‘A British Trust for Ornithology scheme to map the distributions of British and Irish breeding birds is outlined in the latest issue of B.T.O. News. The intrinsic interest and long-term values of such an ornithological atlas are obvious; what would we give for an atlas of bird breeding distri- bution for 1870, and how useful a comprehensive 1970 survey will be to our great-grandchildren in 2070.’ ‘The Wildfowl Trust has completed the outright purchase of 400 acres of marshland in the Welney Washes, on the Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border, as well as the shooting rights over an adjacent 100 acres. This promises to be one of the most important wildfowl refuges in western Europe.’ ‘Fair Isle Bird Observatory . . . may well receive a boost. The island’s old airstrip has been cleared, and a new one is to be built; the firm of Loganair, of Kirkwall Airport, Orkney, is avail- able for charter flights to the island ... the flight from Kirkwall to Fair Isle (which takes 30 min- utes) will cost approximately five guineas return.’ {Brit. Birds 61: 237-239, May 1968) Also in May 1968, a Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni at St Ives, Cornwall, on 31st was greeted as the twelfth British record and the first since 1926, while five Purple Herons Ardea purpurea at Mins- mere, Suffolk, on 23rd were regarded as likely to be the prelude to imminent breeding in eastern England. Common, Arctic : and Roseate Terns: an identification review R. A. Hume Turner, in 1544, referred to 'a Larus’ and called it ‘stern’, apparently the Black Tern Chlidonias niger. Willughby, in 1678, referred to the terns as ‘the least sort of gull, having a forked tail’. Gesner (1516-1565) referred to thuc terns in the genus Larus as well as gulls, and in 1662 Sir Thomas Browne wrote ol Lari, seamews and cobs’ in Norfolk, including Lams cinereus , apparently the Common 1 'em Sterna himndo, commonly called sterne, but also ol the Himndo manna or sea-swallowe, a bird much larger than a Swallow Himndo rustica , neat, white and fork-tailed. 1 he confusion with gulls continued for many years; indeed, it still docs. In tin Genet a! Synopsis , 1781, Latham knew the Common Tern well enough to publish an accurate plumage description, but he did not recognise Arctic S. paradisaea, Roseate S. dougallii and Sandwich Terns S. sandvicensis. Brunnich, however, had described the Arctic lern as a separate species in 1764, despite Henry Seebohm’s later assertion that the distinction was not made until 1819. Montagu did not mention Arctic Tern in his 1802 Dictionary of British Birds , although he was good enough to distinguish difficult pairs such as Hen Circus cyaneus and Montagu’s Harriers C. pygargus. Linnaeus, in 1 758, made no men- tion of the Arctic Tern either, although it is likely that the bird he described under the name Sterna himndo himndo was actually a specimen of an Arctic, not a Common Tern. The identification of Common, Arctic and Roseate Terns in the field still presents a challenge. Many people stick too easily to ‘commie tern’ in their notebooks. It is a pity that the names lend themselves so well to such short- hand, but even those who try harder often struggle. Quite rightly, too, on occasion, as the terns arc difficult and sometimes impossible; but given a good enough view they should not be. Publication of this review paper is timed to coincide with the launch later this month bv Hamlyn of a major new series of bird monographs, including The Common Tern by R. A. Hume and The Kestrel by Mike Shrubb. Fig. 1 is published in colour courtesy of Hamlyn. British Birds subscribers have the opportunity to obtain all the books in this new series at kxci.usivk reduced prices. 210 211 Identification of Common , Arctic and Roseate Terns The willingness to avoid identification was largely a fault of poor guide books until the 1970s and early 1980s. The hard work had been done long before, but field guides failed to pass on advances. For years the separation of Common lrom Arctic rested on correct but difficult features such as leg length and bill colour. A flying tern at long range, or against the light, rarely gives a chance to judge such things; if it perched, perhaps the relative length of tail and wingtips would help. As for young ones, and winter adults, nothing helpful was offered by guides, although there were clues in detailed works such as Tie Handbook of British Birds by H. F. Witherby and his team. John Walpole-Bond, in his review of the birds of Sussex, reminded us that these terns were 'damnably difficult’ in the field. T. A. Coward, in Tie Birds of the Bntish Isles and their Eggs, in 1920, mentioned differences in bill colour, but stressed that the pair was tricky in the field although generally easily separated in the hand. The safest feature was the pattern of grey and white on the outer primary. It was Richard Richardson who began to see better ways of telling Com- mon from Arctic when they were flying overhead. 'RAR' lived and bird- watched at Cley from 1940, perfect for a tern-watcher. In 1953, he published a note in Bntish Birds (46: 411-412) in which he credited Mr Gordon Rayner for drawing to his attention a character ‘widely used by observers in Scandi- navia and the Low Countries’ but overlooked in Britain. The dark tips under the outer primaries make a different pattern on Common compared with Arc- tic, and on Arctic Tern the feathers look pale and translucent; on Common, only the innermost four primaries look like that, making a distinctive light patch behind the bend of the wing. An editorial comment said that ‘even in this country, this difference has long been used by some’ but queried whether it was 100% reliable (Richardson knew it was). Collins Pocket Guide to Bntish Birds by Fitter & Richardson, in 1952, gave the usual summary of field marks. Only later editions included a good, complete discussion of identification features, including differences in underwing pattern and translucency noted by Richardson. His paintings in the guide, prepared before 1952, do nothing to show them. A Field Guide to the Birds of Biitain and Europe by Peterson, Mountfort & Hol- lom (1954) did not include Richardson’s points. Birdwatchers without BB had to wait for later editions of this and the Pocket Guide to see them. Later editions of the Field Guide managed a good summary of identification points for adult terns, but again missed the opportunity properly to illustrate the underwings. In 1972, Heinzel, Fitter & Parslow published Tie Birds of Biitain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East, and made a stab at showing the proper pattern. In America, the Peterson guide, A Field Guide to the Birds, did not include the wing patterns until the revised version of 1 980. The importance of the upperwings had been overlooked in attempts to get the underwing right. Actually, all was there to see in Sea Terns or Sea Swallows by George & Anne Marples, published in 1934, complete with good photo- graphs of specimens, and, even in A British Bird Book by Kirkman (1912), illus- trations by A. W. Seaby and G. E. Lodge showed the upperwing differences (and underwing of Roseate) perfectly, but without anyone noticing their value. 212 Identification of Common , Arctic and Roseate Terns Fig. 1. Roseate Sterna dougallii, Arctic S. paradisaea and Common Terns S. hirundo (Norman Arlott) ADULT SUMMER ROSEATE TERN (top): largely black bill (red base later in summer, inset right), pale body, dark outer primaries (black outer web of longest can be striking) with white tips to inner w ebs; very long tail projecting beyond short wings. •* ADULT SUMMER ARCTIC: I'ERN (second from top): all-red bill, all-pale primaries, tail extending beyond wingtips; greyer underbody and short legs. ADULT SUMMER COMMON TERN (middle): black-tipped bill, contrast between inner and outer pri- maries, shorter tail, longer legs than Arctic. Inset head (left) shows black-billed eastern race longipennis. WINTER COMMON TERN (second from bottom): blacker bill with red base, white forehead. JUVENILE COMMON TERN (bottom): scaly upperparts with gingery wash; blackish lesser coverts; gingery wash to white forehead; pinkish bill. In the late 1960s, I noticed differences and wrote a note to BB, naively thinking I was onto something new, to be told by the editor, Pat Bonham, that he and others had been using these marks for years. It was a response like the editors’ comment to Richardson’s 1953 note. 1 he late Peter Grant, already responsible for working out the identification of juveniles, was nevertheless very interested and typically encouraging (and if that’s so, he said, why didn’t they tell anyone?). Between us we drafted a paper, published in Britis/i Birds (67: 133-136) in 1974. Meanwhile, Bonham had been more thorough and found references to the same pattern by J.-P. Vande Wcghe, in Aves of 1966. So much for being first with anything. Overlooked for years, Yande Weghc’s characters provided a new way to pick out Common from Arctic Terns: the infinitely difficult pair suddenly became quite easy at very long range; sometimes. field guides were slow to catch on. Lars Jonsson at last showed the way with fine illustrations in Birds of Sea and Coast in 1977 (English translation 1978). Otherwise, few showed upperwing differences. At the same time, Roseate Tern caused confusion, too often described as exceptionally elegant and graceful. In fact, despite long tail streamers, it has relatively short wings, and bats along at speed almost like a Little Tern S. albi- frons. Its direct flight is less elegant, easy and graceful than that of either Com- mon or Arctic. Of juveniles, nothing much was said. The great Withcrby Handbook had adequate descriptions but little on field marks. Once the underwings were sorted out by Richardson, juveniles became easier. Poor illustrations — the Handbook gives young Roseate orange-yellow legs for example — added to the confusion. Then, in 1969, along came Bob Scott and Peter Grant to write a break- through paper on field identification of young Common, Arctic and Roseate Terns, published in British Birds (62: 297-299). Other aspects of terns helped in identification. Peter Grant pointed out the importance of differing moult eyclcs. An adult Common or Arctic, in August or September, with its inner primaries in moult and gaps in the secondaries, has to be Common. Ragged-winged terns, with straggly tails and even white foreheads in late summer and autumn, became obvious Commons, because Arctics did not begin to moult until they were in winter quarters. Fig. I. is taken from The Common Tern by Rob Hume, and its inclusion in colour in British Birds has been sponsored by the book’s publisher, Hamlyn Common (winter) Common (juvenile) Norman Ayiott 214 Identification of Common, Arctic and Roseate Terns Descriptions Adults HEAD AND BODY Adults have jet-black cap, complete in breeding plumage, but with white fore- head in winter. 1 he white line between cap and gape is broader on Common than on Arctic. Roseate has a more domed head, the cap angled down onto the hindncck, often exaggerated by a more upright stance. Even in flight, Roseate sometimes has an appreciably broader, rounder look to the head. The upperside of Common and Arctic is soft, pale grey; Roseate is paler. The rump ol adult Common is white, faintly suffused with grey in winter; on Arctic it is white. The cheeks are w hite, blending into the greyer underside of the body. On Arctic, the grey is a touch darker , the white cheeks a fraction more contrasting. This white streak effect can be obvious, but a lot depends on the light. 1 he underside ol Common is soft pale grey, sometimes with a pinkish or lilac tinge; on Arctic it is smokier grey, whereas Roseate is nearly white, more or less tinged pink, below. The whiteness is particularly marked (and useful) at rest. 1 ig. 2. Diagram of uppersides of (left to right) Arctic Sterna paradisaea , Common S. turunda and Roseate Terns S. dougallii. Note: arctic short bill, round head, short neck and pale primaries; common longer bill and neck, dark streaks on outer primaries; ROSEATE paler appearance, blacker bill, short dark streaks on wingtip (R. A. Hume) UPPERWING The four or live inner primaries of Common arc pale grey with white tips. 1 he outer five or six have a pale grey bloom, which wears away to reveal blackish barbs beneath. I he shafts are thick, still and white; the outer webs blackish. The outer two feathers arc less black on the inner webs than the next few. As the feathers get older, the pale bloom wears oil' and the overlap- ping parts become progressively blacker. On Arctic the primaries are more uni- form above, often with a [taler effect towards the tip. Common moults its primaries, starting with the innermost in early autumn, as early as late July (more rarely even at the end of May). The inner three or LOOK INTO A RARE BIRD ALERT PAGER and see why it is the best service; Proven, reliable and comprehensive in everyway. ?<- - . - - Our new state-of-the-art 4-line pagers are receiving all the news as soon as it's broadcast. Details of all the birds and directions are easier to read on the bigger screen. They automatically store the last 40 messages in their memory, and even work on the Scillies and Shetland. They are universally acclaimed as providing a consistently excellent service. Can you afford to be without one? 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Some secondaries and coverts are shed, producing a ragged line of white across the upperwing and an uneven trailing edge. The tail is partially moulted, too. The outer primary feathers remain unchanged, to be replaced in winter, for a time, in winter, the whole outer primary area looks pale and silvery. In the following spring, before the migration north, the inner feathers are replaced again. A Common Tern reaching Europe in spring has new inner primaries of pearly grey and older outer ones, which can look contrastingly dark. The oldest feather in the middle contrasts most strongly with the new, pale ones, making a small , grey wedge or notch fifed. By autumn, the outer primary feathers are worn and much blacker , while the inner ones remain pale. On Arctic, the primaries are all ol similar colour, the outer ones lacking most of the underlying black. If anything, Arctic looks paler towards the wingtip, adding to its physical lightness. All the primaries are replaced late in the year, after migration (so autumn birds in western Europe look neat and pale). In spring there is no contrast between inner and outer primaries and they all re- main pale through the summer and autumn. At rest, the pale inner/darker outer primaries contrast is obvious on Common (just beyond the tertials) whereas there is no such contrast on Arctic. Fig. 3. Diagram of undersides of (left to right) Arctic Sterna paradisaea , Common .S’, hirundo and Roseate Terns .S', dougallii. Note: ARCTIC grey body, very pale underside of (translucent) primaries with narrow, tapered dark trailing edge; COMMON broader, dusky trailing edge to opaque outer primaries, cut off square against translucent inner ones; ROSEATE very pale body, pale trailing edge to dark-streaked outer primaries (R. A. Hume) UNDERWING The broad, dark, smudgy trailing edge on the outer five or six primaries ol Common is cut off square. On Arctic, a thinner, crisper line tapers inwards along the outer seven feathers. Roseate has. subterminal dark marks on the outer feathers, but the extreme tips of all the. primaries are white. All the primaries and secondaries on Arctic look semi-transparent against a bright sky. On Common, only the inner four make a paler patch against the 216 Identification of Common , Arctic and Roseate Terns opaque outer secondaries and outer primaries. This is often obvious on a bird flying overhead, but also on a bird flying low against the light. Beware the bird overhead with the underwing lit strongly bv the sun: the primaries look bright white and will be ‘translucent’ only if at feast some light is coming through from behind. On Roseate, the outer primaries make a long opaque wedge , the rest and outer secondaries being semi-translucent. BARE PARTS In spring, adult Common has a bright orange-red bill with a black or brownish tip. Its legs are \i\id red. Arctic has deep red legs and a blood-red or deep scar- let bill, with no black tip. In summer, some Commons have little black (and rarely-seen presumed immatures may have blackish bills), but the difference holds good in 99 cases out of 100. The orange-red is distinctly different from the deep red of Arctic. Roseate has a black bill , dark red at the base in spring; by late summer, half, even two-thirds, becomes rich orange-red , leaving a large black tip reminiscent of Common. The bill of Common is rather stout and long; that of Arctic shorter, deeper-based but sharp-tipped. JUVENILES Juveniles are sometimes easier to tell apart than adults. Commons share their parents’ slightly heavier, broader appearance compared with Arctics, but all young terns have shorter, rounder wings than adults, and arc consequently quicker, more Happy, in flight. Commons look grey, white and black, with more or less of a gingery-brown tinge on top. Young Arctics, although marked heavily with scaly crescents above, look purer grey and white at a dis- tance. Young Roseates have dark foreheads and very scaly uppetparts, with a contrast between dark forewing and outer primaries and paler hindwing triangle. Very young Commons have fleshy-pink (even orange-yellow) bills with dark tips, which darken to black-brown with less pale red at the base (even virtually all-black on a few by September). The legs are dull pinkish-red or yellow- orange. Arctics have effectively black bills , with a little fleshy-red at the base at first, and red or dark brown legs. The bill colour is usually a good feature. Both have white foreheads and black on the crown, nape and down the sides of the head in a neat three-lobcd cap. Common has a brown or gingery tinge over the forehead, making it less clean than Arctic, although this quickly wears off. The rump of' a young Common is pale grey in the centre. On Arctic it is dead white. The underwings are like those of the adults. Above, the Common has the leading edge of the inner wing almost blackish. The rest of the wing-coverts arc paler, the greater coverts (along the midwing or just behind) milky-grey. The secon- daries arc darker grey with white tips, forming a grey band across the hindwing. On Arctic, the upperwing is essentially dark at the front, grey in the middle and white at the back , as the inner primaries and secondaries arc the palest grey with broad white lips. There is no grey band across the hindwing, but instead a long triangle of white. Young Arctics, like adults, are also lighter, smaller, more delicate than young Commons, usually the smallest and daintiest of all. Roseates at this age are more coarsely marked on top, have dark foreheads 217 Identification of Common, Arctic and Roseate Terns with little or no real white, and black legs. Like adults, their primaries seen from underneath have a dusky line towards the tip, but the tips of the feathers themselves are see-through white and there is no black trailing edge. IMMATURES The moult of immature terns is complicated. By the first mid winter the outer wing feathers ol Common are worn and six or eight months old. From about January to July, the flight feathers are slowly replaced, so the outer ones look almost black between February and June while the inner ones look neat and pale in first-summer plumage. Immatures still not in breeding condition in second-summer — in the third calendar year of their life — are variable. Some look much like the first- summers, but without the blacker outer primaries, sometimes with more red on the bill, others are more advanced with adult-like plumage except for whiter underparts and some white on the forehead. A few look just like adults, but are almost white below and may have dark bills. FLIGHT AND BEHAVIOUR Commons look elegant and light yet, by comparison, they are heavy and solid next to an Arctic. Roseates are more stable, relatively fast and direct. Arctics are bright and white-winged, delicate and supremely free in the air. Their long wings are tweaked to a narrow tip, a fine point with a hint of a backward curve. Commons’ wings are more triangular, a touch broader. Common Tern has a bigger, longer head on a longer neck; on Arctic Tern, the bill is a fraction shorter, the head rounder, the neck short and thick and the tail streamers are longer when fresh and undamaged. Consequently, Common has more in front and less behind than Arctic, which is all wings and tail with the body blending direedy into the short head. Common has longer anus, whereas Arc- tic looks shorter in the am but longer in the wingtip, less cruciform in shape. Common Terns are stable and direct in flight; Arctic is more bouncy and at the mercy of the wind. Common has a fast, powerful downstroke but a faintly lumbering look. .Arctic is fluttery, butterfly-like, with a quick, snapped upstroke and a slower downbeaE tit is easier to see the downstroke than the. upbeat on Arctic instead of the other way around. The shorter-winged Roseate has a stiffer action, upstrokes and downstrokes of equal speed and emphasis. Its bill is long, head short and quite domed, wings rather short and straight and tail very long, spike-like, the whole effect almost like a tiny tropiebird Phaethon. The three behave slightly differently when fishing. Typically, Commons fly along, looking down, then swoop gently upwards, turn back slightly and plunge in. Arctic is more hesitant and hovers, moves, hovers, then dips, pauses part-way through the dive, hovers momentarily again, then plunges. Roseate has a more confident method, flying along, seeing a fish and simply turning downhill to ‘fly into the water’. R. A. Hume, 15 Cedar Gardens, Sandy , Bedfordshire SG19 1EY A series of reference photographs by Dr R. J. Chandler of these three species will be featured in a future issue. Eds Mystery photographs 'I QQln each of last month’s mystery photographs (plates 36 & 37, rc- ACJCjpeated here), the bulky bird with the white wing-flashes is the same individual. Like the author, readers will be relieved to learn that this is the mystery bird, and that they were not expected to identify the small, dark shapes, which are storm-petrels (Hydrobatidac). In combination, the robust structure and those conspicuous white bases to the primaries, both above and below, point directly to one of the larger skuas Stercorarius, of which two species have occurred in the Western Palearctic: the familiar Great Skua S. skua and the rare and problematical South Polar Skua S. maccormicki. T he smaller Arctic Skua S. parasiticus and Long-tailed Skua S. longicaudus, with their obviously more rakish and streamlined build, can be dis- counted immediately, whilst both they and the intermediate Pomarine Skua S. pomarinus do not possess such striking wing-flashes as the mystery bird, particu- larly on the upperwings. Even in direct comparison, Great and South Polar Skuas cannot be sepa- rated in the field on size or on any structural character (see Brit. Birds 86: 176- I 77). Furthermore, bare-part coloration is of no assistance in the identification process, and neither is the extremely variable extent of the white on the base of the primaries. Ignoring these features, the mystery skua is most notable for its pale head with a dark area around the eye, its even paler nape, and its 218 \Bril. Birds til,: 218-219, Ma\ 1 9<» 4| Mystery photograph 2 1 9 generally pale underbody which contrasts against very dark axillaries and underwing-coverts. These are good characters for adult South Polar Skua. Unfortunately, even in combination, they do not eliminate adult Great Skua. South Polar Skua has generally unmarked, cold-toned, dark brown upper- parts. A number of paler-morph individuals have pale shaft-streaks and slen- der, pale tips to the scapulars and, more rarely, to the upperwing-coverts. These markings are too fine to be seen in the field other than in exceptionally close views. The feathers of the upper mantle and, very occasionally, the marginal coverts and the lesser coverts have broader, pale tips which, on these smaller feathers, produce a pale-mottled appearance which is visible in the field. Great Skua has generally warm-toned upperparts which are streaked and mottled paler to a variable degree. Some adults are particularly liberally marked on the mantle, back, rump, scapulars, upperwing-coverts and, espe- cially, the nape. There is a direct relationship between Great Skua’s pale upperparts markings and its paleness below: those individuals with the palest underparts also have the most strongly pale-streaked and pale-mottled upper- parts. The most important factor in the separation of South Polar and Great Skuas is, therefore, the observation of both the upper-]) arts and the underparts. Though the mystery skua has very pale underparts, which are suggestive of South Polar Skua, the abundant pale markings on its uppeiparts, particularly on its scapulars, confirm that it is a Great Skua. The photographs were taken in the southerly Western Approaches in early July 1991 by Andy Webb, of the Seabirds Team, who was in no doubt that the bird was a Great Skua. Andy Webb saw two similarly pale individuals in the same area in late August 1991. Pf.ter Lansdown 197 Springwood, Llanedeym , Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF2 6UG 45. Mystery photograph 189. Identify the species. Answer next month Common Gull showing characteristics apparently consistent with North American race 1 he North Norfolk coast is excellent for observing gulls, with strong passages of the commoner species occurring frequently throughout the year. Being gull enthusiasts, we both critically examine tens of thousands of Common Gulls Lams canus of the nominate race annually and consider ourselves to be extremely familiar with all variations in plumage, size and structure of' this subspecies. During one such westerly movement of Common Gulls, at Sheringham on 28th December 1991, our attention was instantly drawn to a most odd-look- ing second-winter bird. It came in from the cast and flew slowly past us at a range of only about 40 m. We were standing on a cliff-top vantage point; at first it was flying just higher than cliff-top level, then just lower, giving excel- lent, close views, in perfect light, of both its underside and its upperside. It was clearly in second-winter plumage, but differed markedly from typical second- winter canus in the following respects: I ) Axillaries, greater, median and lesser underwing-coverts, and median and lesser under-primary coverts, with extensive and obvious brown fringing and tipping. (All these feathers are unmarked white on canus.) (2) like canus, extensive blackish-brown on outer primaries, greater primary coverts, median pri- mary coverts and alula, but, unlike canus, blue-grey lesser coverts, median coverts, secondaries and tcrtials also had extensive brown markings. Thus, the only feather-tracts of clear blue-grey on upperparts were the mande, back, scapulars, greater coverts and inner primaries. v Most tail feathers with obvious, blackish-brown, subterminal markings, forming broken sub- terminal tail-band, widest in centre of tail and becoming narrower towards white outer tail leath- ers. (Only a small percentage of canus exhibit this feature.) (4) Clear blue-grey on upperparts was noticeably darker than on canus and, because of this, the white trailing edge to the upperwing appeared to be more obvious. (5) Differed markedly from canus in size and structure: noticeably smaller and daintier than canus in all respects, but particularly different in wing structure. Unlike the rather paddle-shaped outer wing (beyond the carpal joint) of canus, the outer wing was sharper and more attenuated, giving the whole bird a strikingly different jizz. We noted no dillerence from canus in head and bill size and structure. I o summarise these differences, the bird clearly showed considerable retention of first-year characteristics in second-winter plumage, had darker blue-grey upperparts and was noticeably different in size and structure from canus. We have attempted to illustrate these features in fig. 1. We were aware of the existence of other races of' Common (full and, the bird being so strikingly different from canus , concluded that it must be one of' these. We therefore recorded the notes above and spent the rest of the dav confirming our impressions by critically examining the good number of second-winter canus continuing to pass through. 220 Notes 221 Pig. ] Second-winter Common Gull l situs canus, possibly ol race brachyrhynchus, Sheringham, Norfolk, 28th December 1991 (left two sketches), and typical second-winter Common Gull ol nominate race (.S'. C. Voder) We returned to investigate the literature, consulting Cramp (1983), Demen- tiev & Gladkov (1969), Grant (1986), Harrison (1983) and Johansen (1961). Four races oF Common Gull are recognised ( bvaclyvliytuhits , canus , hcinei and kamtschatschensis) , their breeding and wintering ranges being shown in fig. 2. 222 Notes Fig. 2. World distribution of Common Gull Lints conus , showing approximate breeding range 'solid black and approximate southern limit of winter/non-breeding range (black line). The doited lines indicate the approximate breeding ranges of the subspecies. (A) /,. c. brachyrhynchus', (B) L. c. conus, (C) L. c. heinei ; (D) L. c. kamtschatschensis. Reproduced from Grant 1986, by permission of the publishers, T. & A. D. Poyser) The features of the unusual Sheringham bird accord with these as follows: 1 1 Retention of first-year characteristics in second-winter plumage. The extensive retention of first-year char- acteristics (i.e. the combination of upperwing, underwing and tail features) noted on the Norfolk bird is apparently known only for brachyrhynchus and kamtschatschensis. It has never been recorded for canus and is not documented for hand. 12) Mantle colour. There is some disagreement in the literature on the relative mantle colours of the four races. Grant (1986) and Cramp (1983) suggested that brachyrhynchus has a similar mantle colour to cairns, kamtschatschensis averages darker and heinei is darkest of all. Harrison (1983) and Dementiev & Gladkov (1969), however, both stated that the mantle colour of brachyrhynchus is clearly darker than that of canus. v (ieneral size and bill size. General size and bill size both increase from brachyrhynchus to canus to heinei to kamtschatschensis. On average, brachyrhynchus is slightly smaller (with some individuals having slightly smaller bills) than canus: heinei is large (averaging between canus and kamtschatschensis) and is often large-billed; and kamtschatschensis is the largest of the four, with a consistently large bill, the largest individuals overlapping with small Herring Gulls Lines argentatus. 1 here are other plumage differences shown by second-winter brachyrhynchus in comparison with canus which, if the bird exhibited them, we failed to notice. Head markings are apparently more diffuse, giving a more uniform grey- brown head (canus is more darkly mottled and streaked, thus being less uni- form), and the iris is sometimes [tale (brown in the case of canus). Not knowing what to look for, we failed to note any details of head plumage or iris colour. The literature consulted suggests, therefore, that the bird was an example of the North American race brachyrhynchus. Its plumage features were apparently consistent only with brachyrhynchus and kamtschatschensis and, being noticcablv smaller than canus, could not possibly have been an example of the consis- tently larger and larger-billed kamtschatschensis. We found the disagreement in the literature on the mantle colour frustrating, as the Norfolk bird dearly did have a darker mantle. Io try to clarify this, we examined a series of skins of all four races at the Natural History Museum in Tring. Our examination of these suggested that brachyrhynchus is darker-mantlcd than canus. We directly compared eight adult and two second-winter brachyrhynchus with 38 adult /second-winter canus. I lie darkest canus was indistinguishable from one of the' brachyrhynchus, but the remaining brachyrhynchus were darker, the darkest Notes 223 individual being noticeably darker than the darkest cams. As clearly stated by Harrison (1983) and Dementiev & Gladkov (1969), the mantle colour ol brachyrhynchus certainly can be darker than that of canus. We also took the opportunity to compare skins of second-winter birds ol all four races in the collection. Although there were only a few of these (there were two brachyrhynchus , several canus, four heinei and two kamtschatschensis), they supported the published identification criteria, and the Norfolk bird was clearly akin to the examples of brachyrhynchus. On the available evidence, the Norfolk bird showed a combination of char- acteristics apparently consistent only with brachyrhynchus. Until the full range ol plumage variation of the lesser-known races is more lully understood, it would, however, be foolish to say with 100% certainty that the Norfolk bird was ol North American stock. This note aims to draw attention to the fact that brachyrhynchus may be reaching us in small numbers, especially since some authorities consider it to be a separate species — the Mew Gull L. brachyrhynchus. Features of first-year and adult brachyrhynchus were also described in some detail by Grant (1986). We are extremely grateful to the Natural History Museum in 1 ring, Hert- fordshire, for allowing us to examine its collection of Common Gull skins and in particular to Michael Walters, who supervised our visit with much useful help and discussion. K. B. SHEPHERD and S. C. Vo i IER 30 Abbey Road, Sheringham , Norfolk NR26 SNA REFERENCES Cramp, S. 1983. Handbook of the Birds of Europe , the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the West- ern Palearctic. vol. 3. Oxford. Dementiev, G. P., & Gladkov, N. A. 1969. Birds of the Soviet Union, vol. 3. Israel Program for Sci- entific Translations, Jerusalem. Grant, P. J. 1986. Gulps: a guide to identification. 2nd edn. Gallon. Harrison, P. 1983. Seabirds: an identification guide. London. JOHANSEN, H. 1961. Die Supcrspecies Hints canus. Die Vogelwarte 21: 152-155. Since il was not submitted as a firm claim of the occurrence of L. c. brachyrhynchus , details ol this observation have not circulated to the Ratifies Committee or the BOU Records Committee. Cur- rently, only the nominate race of Common Gull is included on the official British List ( Checklist oj Birds of Britain and Ireland , 1992), but the race heinei may reach Britain in autumn and winter (Bril. Birds 78: 454). Eds Oystercatcher chick probably killed by rival adult On 12th June 1990, at the British Gas Terminal at St Fergus, Rattray Bay, Grampian, I came across two pairs of Oystcrcatchers Haematopus ostralegus involved in what appeared to be a noisy territorial dispute. Closer observation revealed a dead Oystercatcher chick, aged perhaps three days, as the cause of the commotion. One member ol' pair A was attacking the dead chick, and was seen to peck and shake it vigorously; one of pair B responded by in turn attacking this adult, and a prolonged and savage battle followed until one of the Oyster- catchers was forced into submission, though it was impossible to be sure which individual it was (plates 46-50). After the fight, 1 inspected the dead chick: it was still warm and had apparently died from a blow to the back. It seems 224 lik< 1} that ii was killed by one ol the adult Oystercatchers; a surrounding secu- rity fence prevents any mammalian predators from entering the area, and there is little human disturbance. David Tomlinson VVindrush, Coles Lane , Brasted, I Vesterlmm, Kent TA161AA 46-50. Sequence ol battle between two adult Oystercatchers Haematopu.s ostralegus, Grampian .June 1990: the dead chick is visible in the foreground in plate 46 {David Tomlinson) 225 Notes Monthly marathon The winner of the fifth ‘Monthly marathon’ is Hannu Jannes, who was the only contestant to achieve the 2 1 -in-a-row all-correct sequence shown opposite. Congratulations to Hannu, who can now choose as His reward a SUNBIRD birdwatching hol- iday in Asia, Africa or North America. We pass our commiserations, however, to Roy Hargreaves and Dave Nurney, each of whom achieved 20-in-a-row sequences (double the minimum requirement to qual- ify as a winner;, but were pipped at the post by Hannu Jannes. Previous winners have been: First 'Marathon' Pekka NlKANDER Trip to Thailand (Brit. Birds 80: 342-343; 81: 516) Second ‘Marathon' ANTHONY McGEEHAN Trip to Arctic Canada (Brit. Birds 81: 494-496, 605-606) Third ‘Marathon’ Ray Hobbs Trip to Kenya (Brit. Birds 82: 570-571; 84: 240) l-'ourth ‘Marathon' Martin Helen Trip to Hong Kong (Brit. Birds 83: 414-415) 1 he new rules (Brit. Birds 86: 149) now apply. The closing date for entries for the first three hurdles (plates 1 8, 32 and 38) is 1 5th May 1993, so you may still have a day or so to get your entry in if you are quick. The fourth hurdle is represented by plate 5 1 , below. lor a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 II)|" or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. Sponsored by 51. Sixth 'Monthly marathon', using new rules (see page 1 49'. fourth stage: photo no. 83. Identify the species. Send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane. Blunham, Bedford MR it tNJ, to arrive In 15th June 1993 226 Monthly marathon Hannu Jannes’s winning sequence: 227 (1) Short-toed Eagle 66%, (2) Temminck’s Horned Lark 50%, (3) Homed Lark 77%, (4) Cyprus Warbler 25% (5) Yellowhammer 33%, (6) Red-footed Falcon 84%, (7) Red-necked Stint 22%, (8- Sabine’s Gull 88%, (9) Barn Swallow 96%, (10) Twite 86%, (11) Green Woodpecker 92%, (12) Robin 80%, (13) Siberian Jay 59%, (14) Pied Wagtail 63%, (15) Greater Yellowlegs 86%, ,16) Booted Eagle 78%, (17) Ring-billed Gull 76%, (18) Tree Sparrow 35%, (19) Snow Bunting 39%, (20) Gull-billed Tern 40%, and (21) Slavonian Grebe 36%. News and comment compiled by Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett Heading for extinction? VISITORS TO ASIA may have been lucky' enough to see Saunders’s Gull Larus saundersi. Lucky, yes, because the survival of this species is under great threat. Its three known breeding grounds and most of its wintering area lie within China. Saunders’s Gull is adapted to breeding in a very particular habitat: land which has been naturally re- claimed on the coast from silt which has washed downstream from deep inland. Indeed, the gulls choose areas which are in the transition from damp saltmarsh to diy saltmarsh, where the salin- ity of the soil has declined, allowing a low cover of vegetation. The colonies are in areas of silt deposit at the mouths of rivers, areas which are being reclaimed by the human population al- most as fast as the mud is formed. 1 he most northerly breeding area at the Shuangtaizi River Nature Reserve, Liaoning Province, produced almost no chicks last year, fhere, the land is being reclaimed to a depth of around .1 m below high-tide level for reservoirs, shrimp ponds and rice fields, and the saltmarsh destroyed. The newly re- claimed land is left to allow the salt content to decline and so can provide good conditions for the gulls, but, in these unnatural conditions, the mud dries out fast and is quickly invaded by tall, dense vegetation and mammalian predators. Breeding success at all three colonies has been affected by con- siderable human disturbance, including egg-collecting. The WYVF is attempting to arrange a number of stop-gap measures, but there is no certainty about the long-term future for the species. The developments at Shuangtaizi Reserve have been autho- rised at the highest level in government, and will require a major effort to reverse. You can help by writing to the Nature Reserve Management 228 News and comment 229 Office, Ministry of Forestry, Hepingli, Beijing 100714, China, to express politely your concern and that of the international com- munity. Mention the rarity of Saunders’s Gull and request that it be listed as a Category One protected species and ask the Min- istry to ensure proper management of the reserves where it breeds. (We should like to thank Geoff Carey of Hong Kong for sending us this information.) Three new British birds The eighteenth report of the BOU Records Committee ( Ibis 135: in press) notes that the following six records (relating to live species) have been accepted by both the British Birds Rarities Committee and the BOURC. Three species have been added to Category A: Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe Lundy, Devon, 24th-25th April 1987. Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius First-summer male, Skerryvore Light- house, Strathclyde, 4th-7th June 1985, found dead on 8th June; male Moel-y- gest, Gwynedd, 4th June 1987. (Identifi- cation of two earlier individuals, on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, from 29th August to 6th September 1966, Scot. Birds 4: 451-452, and Rye, East Sussex, on 10th August 1977, was also accepted, but the records were not transferred from Category D to Category A because of the higher risk at that time of the origin being escaped cagebirds.) Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammaciis Land- guard Point, Suffolk, from 30th June to 8th July 1981, transferred from Catcgoiy D to Category' A. Two species have been added to Category D (which does not form part of the British List and includes species which might have had a captive origin, but could have been of natural occurrence): Monk Vulture (Black Vulture; Cinereous Vulture) Aegypius monachus Various locali- ties in mid Wales front 29th November 1977 to 20th February 1978 (this record was previously rejected as almost cer- tainly an escape from captivity; it is still considered to be an unlikely vagrant and there is sufficient evidence to suggest that escape from captivity could have been possible, but natural occurrence cannot be excluded, so it is, quite properly, placed in Category D). Cedar Waxwing Bomby cilia cedrorum Proba- ble adult, Noss, Shetland, 25th-26th June 1985. Records not accepted include Mottled Swift Apus aequatorialis at Spurn, Humberside, 23rd-27th October 1988 (identification not proven) and White-cheeked Starling Stumus cineraceus, Flamborough Head, Humberside, 17th- 19th May 1990 (identification accepted, but not a long-distance migrant, natural occur- rence considered very' unlikely, common in captivity, and some feather damage could sug- gest a possible captive origin). The BOURC has separated Butorides virescem from B. striatus and has assigned all British records to the former, recommending the English name Green Heron. The BOURC has accepted the record of Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitar- sus seen on Gugh, Isles of Scilly, on 22nd-27th October 1987, but treats this form as a race of Greenish Warbler, P. trochUoides plumbeilarsus ; similarly, the Green Warbler P. nitidus (on the British List on the strength of the one seen on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, from 26th September to 4lh October 1983) is treated as a race of Greenish Warbler, P. t. nitidus. These changes bring the totals for the British and Irish List, as maintained by the BOU, to: Category A (of natural occurrence since 1.1.58*) 521 Category B (of natural occurrence prior to 1.1.58*) 20 Category G (introduced by man, but now firmly established) 9 TOTAL 550 *Thc significance of this date is that records have, since then, been assessed by the British Birds Rarities Committee. 230 News and comment ACRE A new organisation, the Association of Count)' Recorders and Editors (ACRE), has been formed to provide a forum for exchange of ideas and to co-ordinate the work of the county recording system. The ACRE is the brainchild of Michael J. Rogers, currently Hon. Secretary of the British Birds Rarities Committee, and, more relevantly in this con- text, also former County Bird Recorder for Sussex and for the Isles of Sciliy. The ACRE is totally independent and is self-funding, but will of course be co-operating with other ornithological organisations. It will be producing its own newsletter for internal circulation to ACRE members. We welcome this initiative, which sensibly will combine the work of the long-defunct Re- port Editors’ Committee (formerly under the aegis of the BTO) and the irregular and too- infrequent County Recorders’ Meetings (or- ganised by British Birds). Ballycotton doomed? Partial drainage was bad enough. 1’hen, a cou- ple of years ago, a breach was made in the shingle-bar which separated this magnificent Co. Cork lake and marsh from the sea. Finally, in autumn 1992, high tides have brought huge amounts of sand onto the marshes, converting the rich muddy habitat into sterile sandy beaches useless for waders. I he Irish Wildbird Conservancy has an- nounced (II I ( '. . Veivs 74 (Spring 1993): 4) its plans to promote Ballycotton, under the EC’s Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme, to encourage the numerous farming interests in the area to co-operate in maintain- ing and restoring this important wildlife area. ( JTRS) REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Britton — Northeast Dave Holman — East Anglia Anthony McGeehan — Northern Ireland Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Dr Kenny Taylor — Scotland David Tomlinson — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales Keith Vinicombe — Southwest John Wilson — Northwest Shedand hails The horror of the MY Braer oil spill may well lead some who were planning a trip to Shet- land this summer to think again. Please don’t. The islander? need your support, and, al- though it has been a disaster for birds, other wildlife and people who live in the immediate area of the spill, the majority of the coastline and sites of bird breeding colonies are unaf- fected. Only 3 km of the 1,500-km coastline were affected, and about 8 knr of land were seriously affected by air-carried vapour and dispersant (about 3.5% of the loud land area). We do not yet know of the full impact of the oil on the marine environment; we may never know. Ian Newton FRS We are delighted to report that the ultimate scientific honour has been bestowed upon Dr Ian Newton, who was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 1 1th March. Readers will be aware of Ian’s popular ornithological contribu- tions (e.g. Finches, 1972; Population Ecology of Raptors , 1979; The Sparrowhawk, 1986) and his membership of our Behaviour Notes Panel. He is currently Head of the Vertebrate Ecology Section in the NERC Institute of Terrestrial Ecology at Monks Wood Experimental Station. Tinajolliffe We were very sad to learn of the death of Tina Jolliffe on 8th December 1992. Her work for Children’s Tropical Forests UK (noted in Brit. Birds 83: 340) included obtaining monev to buy more than 1,400 ha of Costa Rican for- est and, more recently, fundraising for the BirdLife International project at Thailand’s Khao Nor Chuchi reserve, where Gurney’s Pitta Ihtta gumeyi was rediscovered. World Bird- watch (15: 22) notes that, in Tina’s memory, the main trail at Khao Nor Chuchi will be named after her. (JTRS) New Recorders Colin Crooke, RSPB, Etive House, Beach- wood Park, Inverness IY2 IBB. has taken over from Roy Dennis as Recorder for Highland (except Caithness and Sutherland). Alan Vittery, Elmay Cottage, 164 West Clyne, Brora, Sutherland KAV9 6NH, has taken over from I ony Mainw ood as Recorder for Highland (Sutherland). Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ THE OSTRICH COMMUNAL NESTING SYSTEM Brian C. R. Bertram As the study of cooperative breeding systems expands, the ostrich is increasingly becoming a textbook species, largely based on Brian Bertram’s studies. Here Bertram presents his latest findings on the ostrich communal nesting system. Monographs in Behavior and Ecology: John R. Krebs and T. H. Clutton-Brock, Editors 52 line illustrations. 34 tables. Cloth: £29.50 ISBN 0-691-08785-7 BIRDS IN BRAZIL A Natural History Helmut Sick Translated by William Belton, Illustrated by Paul Barruel With Color Plates by Paul Barruel and John P. O’Neill Here is a substantially revised and updated English- language version of the only comprehensive, scientific treatment of Brazil’s 1635 bird species. Written by the dean of Brazilian ornithologists, it not only lists every individual Brazilian species and provides detailed accounts for most of them but also gives an extensive treatment of the characteristics of each bird family found in the country. Over 375 illustrations, photos, and maps. 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(0352) 771590 * Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Trcuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN * vi • Waders in Hong Kong Ray Tipper ITT ong Kong lies just within the tropics on the South China coast at longi- JXltude 22°20'N and latitude 114°10'E. Its land area is only a little over 1,000 km2, yet in Mai Po and Deep Bay, in the northwestern New Territories (plates 58 & 59), it boasts a wetland of truly international importance. Wintering 1 waterbirds include such rarities as Black-laced Spoonbill Platcileu minoi and !■ Saunders’s Gull Lams sounder si, but it is the waders that provide the real spec- tacle, especially during the spring passage when numbers me lease diamati- cally. With each high tide, the waders are forced off the Deep Bay mudflats, and many head for the specially managed pools of the Mai Po Nature Reserve to roost. The excellent facilities at the Reserve, which is managed and partially owned by the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, have been developed since 1983 and, by providing improved access and key observation points, they have greatly assisted the study of waders in the area. No fewer than 57 species of wader have been recorded in Hong Kong, but only three have been proved to breed. Habitat destruction has resulted in the loss of the Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus, which last bred in 1973. There is just one breeding record of Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula OVERLEAF, DOUB1.E-PAGE SPREAD 52. Greater Sand Plover Charadnus leschenaultn, Mai Po, Hong Kong, April 1988 {Ray Tipper). ’Moulting into summer plumage, showing the narrow breast-band that helps separate this species from Lesser Sand Plover C. mongolus. This individual appears to have a smaller bill than is usual for Greater Sand Plover 53 Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus , Mai Po, Hong Kong, April 1991 {Ray Tipper). Adult in summer plumage; note that breast-band has black upper bands and extends to upper belly at 1 1 311 KS 54 Juvenile Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis Julva, Tsim Bei Tsui, Hong Kong, October 1987 {Ray Tipper) Note neat, small-feathered, extensively spotted plumage ol juvenile 55 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis jiiba, Mai Po, Hong Kong, April 1991 {Ray Tipper). Moulting into breeding plumage [Bril. Birds 86: 231-242, May 1993| 231 234 Waders in Hong Kong benghalensis, in 1988, when young were observed. Breeding by Little Ringed Ploxers Chcuadrius dubius was first confirmed in 1981, since when there have been several more records. 1 lie more common wintering species include Black-winged Still Himantopus hunantopus , Pied Avocet Recuwirostra avosetta , Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover (.. alexandnnus, Dunlin Calidris alpina, Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago , Eurasian Curlew Numerous arqmta , Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus and Common Greenshank T. nebularia, although small numbers of other species are regularly recorded and recent evidence suggests that an expanding list of species is spending at least part of the winter in the Deep Bay area. This trend is also apparent in summer, when non-breeding birds have taken to loafing on tin Mai Po Nature Reserve. Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola, Common Green- shanks. Terek Sandpipers Xenus cinereus and Grey-tailed Tattlers Heteroscelus bre- vipes are now regularly recorded in summer, and it has recently been discovered that a number of species use the reserve as a moulting ground (D.S. Melville in litt.). Midsummer observations at Mai Po have produced single-day sightings of close to 200 waders of 20 species. 1 he first waders of the autumn passage usually appear at the end of July, and numbers increase gradually to a peak of about 1,300 by the second half ol September. Spring migration, however, is far more dramatic, and is usually \w 11 underway by the end ol March. Numbers swell rapidly until mid April when high counts of up to 12,000 arc recorded. The passage continues strongly, but in declining numbers, throughout May, although in that month the largest numbers of later migrants (c.g. Red Knot Ca/idm canutus, Terek Sandpiper and Grey-tailed I attler) are witnessed. It is not just the numbers of birds involved which makes the spring passage so impressive; it is also the breathtaking variety. To see 35 wader species or even more in a day is far from exceptional. Many of the species are familiar m Western Europe, while others, including Oriental Pratincole Glareola mal- divarum, Pacific Golden Plover P fulva, Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Red- necked Stint (,. nificollis, Long-toed Stint C. subminuta, Little Curlew N. minutus and Grey-tailed Tattler, are vagrants to Europe, and yet others have not vet been recorded in Europe, but could be in the future. This last group includes a trio of little-known species: Spoonbill Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, Asiatic Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus and Nordmann’s Greenshank 1 guttifer. I he accompanying selection of photographs depicts some of the essentially Asiatic species. All the photographs were taken in Hong Kong in the Deep Bay area, most at the Mai Po Nature Reserve. I he Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii is one of the commoner spring migrants in Hong Kong and regularly occurs in mixed flocks with the invariably far less numerous Lesser Sand Plover C. mongolus. Numbers of Greater Sand Plovers build up to a maximum of about 600 by mid April although as many as 2,700 have been recorded. By this time, the vast majority have acquired breeding plumage, which transforms them from their reputed ungainly appearance to strikingly attractive waders (plate 52). The nominate race which occurs in Hong Kong (D. S. Melville in litt.) breeds in the northern Gob. Desert of Mongolia and northwestern China, but its winter range has I Voders in Hong Kong 235 not been fully determined, although it is likely that it extends from southern China through the Philippines, Borneo and New Guinea to northwestern Australia (Lane 1987). It is the nominate race of Lesser Sand Plover which visits Hong Kong, although there are also several records of atrifrons (Chalmers 1986). A feature of mongolus (and stegmanni, which does not occur in Hong Kong) in breeding plumage is a narrow black border separating the white throat from the russet breast (plate 53). Compared with Greater Sand Plover C. 1. leschenaultii, Lesser Sand Plover C. m. mongolus has darker, less sandy upperparts and displays a much broader breast-band which extends to the flanks. Its legs are shorter and .greyer than those of Greater Sand Plover, and it is also shorter-billed. In Hong Kong, where they are seen in summer plumage, there is no real reason for confusion between the two species, as the plates demonstrate. In non- l breeding plumage, however, identification relies more on structure and accordingly requires care. The spring passage of the Lesser Sand Plover through Hong Kong begins in late March, peaking in late April, usually with approximately 50, although 500 were recorded in 1991, and continuing until the end of May or early June in diminishing numbers. The race C. m. mongolus breeds in eastern Siberia and winters in the Philippines, New Guinea and $ south to Australia (Lane 1987). Alternative spring migration routes (depending on race) take this species overland or around the western rim of the Pacific (Cramp & Simmons 1983). Although it may be seen at almost any time of the year, the Pacific Golden Plover is principally a passage migrant in Hong Kong, with somewhat larger numbers in spring, when a maximum of over 580 has been recorded. Plates 54 and 55 show individuals from each passage. The October bird (plate 54) ■ can be aged as a juvenile by the yellow- washed breast, which is mottled brown, and the distinctly barred flanks. In contrast, the April individual (plate 55) is beginning to moult into breeding plumage. Plate 56 is instructive since the Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus is in rarely illustrated, fresh breeding plumage. The blackish feathers of the upperparts have prominent white fringes, which quickly wear off, leaving- rufous fringes (Chandler 1989). The fringes on some of the tertials and scapu- lars of this individual already show the first signs of colour. Those visiting Hong Kong are of the eastern race sibirica, which acquires much brighter, more rufous upperparts than the nominate race, and the upper line of the split supercilium is less distinct (Cramp & Simmons 1983; Hayman, Marchant .& Prater 1986) although this latter feature is still obvious on the individual illustrated. Broad-billed Sandpipers are passage migrants to Hong Kong, with higher numbers normally occurring in spring. A record 320 were present at 'Mai Po in mid April 1988, but counts of 50-100 are more usual. In breeding dress, the Great Knot is very distinctive. Its boldly marked underparts are unique among waders in the genus Cabdns, although it has OVERLEAF >56. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus, Mai Po, Hong Kong, April 1 988 [Ray Tipper). Moulting into breeding plumage 57. Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Mai Po, Hong Kong, April 1988 (Ray Tipper). Moulting into breeding plumage, acquiring rufous scapulars and extensively marked underparts R r 58. Gei Wai and mangroves, Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong, September 1988 ( Ray Tipper) 59. Part of ‘The Scrape’, Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong, April 1992 (Ray Tipper) 238 Waders in Hong Kong striking similarities to the Surfbird Aphriza virgata of the Americas. Dense black spotting on the breast and two rows of bright* chestnut-spotted scapulars produce a showy combination of features. The bird in plate 57 has not yet acquired full breeding plumage, but already shows extensive breast-spotting and a single line of chestnut-centred scapulars. The Great Knot is one of the Asian waders which are truly long-distance migrants. Breeding in northeast- ern Siberia, the majority of the population moves to Australia for the northern winter (Lane 1 987 i. Formerly regarded as a scarce passage migrant in Hong Kong, each spring since 1988 has produced counts in excess of 200, with maxima of 300 at Mai Po in mid April 1990 and early April 1991. 1 he Oriental Pratincole has been recorded in Hong Kong in every month of the year, but is principally a passage migrant, with higher numbers in spring. Although typically occurring in small parties, (locks of over 200 have been recorded in both spring and autumn. Occasionally, migrating flocks are seen spiralling high on the thermals and drifting on the wind. The winter- plumaged bud m plate 60 was one of a small group found resting and feeding in an abandoned paddy, and is rather poorly marked. Others in the party showed red on the sides of the gape and a buffy-cream throat, bordered by a more sharply defined black line. Recent guides and stint-identification papers (Wallace 1974; Kitson 1978; Jonsson & Grant 1984; Hayman, Marchant & Prater 1986) have drawn atten- tion to the Long-toed Stint s habit of assuming a long-necked, erect posture, and plate 61 portrays this attitude well. This species is a passage migrant and vvintci visitor in relatively small numbers, most often being encountered singly or in groups of up to a dozen. In contrast, the Red-necked Stint (plate 62) is one of the commonest of the spring passage waders, usually reaching a peak of about 1,000, though the maximum count is of 1,500. Ringing recoveries have revealed that at least some of those passing through Hong Kong winter in southeast Australia. I he final two species, Asiatic Dowitcher and Nordmann’s Grecnshank, have not been recorded in the Western Palearctic. Both are little-known birds which are considered to be globally threatened (Collar & Aidrew 1988). Howes & Parish (1989), however, reporting on information gathered by the INTERWADER programme conducted by the Asian Wetland Bureau, indi- cated that this was an unduly pessimistic view of the status of' the Asiatic Dowitcher. They referred to flocks of over 1,000 having been found in recent winters at three locations in Java and Sumatra, with an astonishing 13,000 at one ol these sites in November 1988. Parish (1989) estimated the world pop- ulation to be 15,000-20,000. Other recent sightings listed by Howies & Parish (1989) included migrant flocks of over 500 in spring in Thailand and 470 in autumn in Sarawak. With the northwest coast of Australia providing the only other known sites where Asiatic Dowitchers regularly occur in significant numbers (Lane 1987), Hong Kong is perhaps the most easily accessible place to see them. At Mai Po, they are present from late March until the end of May, with the annual maximum being recorded in the second half of April. I ypically, there arc 50-100, although 339 were seen in late April 1984 and 304 at the end of April 1990. The return passage produces, by comparison, a iikklc in August and September, when juveniles outnumber adults. The 239 Waders in Hong Kong Asiatic Dowitcher is significantly larger than either of the ‘American’ dowitch- ers, being closer in size to the Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lappomca , with which species it shares similar plumages (plate 63). Its all-black bill, slightly swollen at the tip, and distinctive feeding action, however, readily distinguish it from the godwits. Nordmann’s Greenshank is the most endangered of the waders visiting Hong Kong. The world population has been estimated at fewer than 1,000 (Parish 1985; Howes & Lambert 1987), but Howes & Parish (1989) have sug- gested that recent sightings may indicate that the true figure is slightly larger. Until the mid 1980s Nordmann’s Greenshank was considered a vagrant to Hong Kong, but improved access to favoured sites and increased observer competence have combined to establish it as a scarce but regular spring passage migrant. With such a small population and opportunities for field observation of the species severely limited, it is not surprising that, until recently, the identification features were poorly or even incorrectly described. Its separation from Common Greenshank requires great care and provides a notable example of the need to record a combination of characters rather than rely on just one. The emphasis placed in the past on the supposedly dis- tinctive two-toned bill of Nordmann’s Greenshank is confusing given that Common Greenshank regularly displays a bicoloured bill, as is clearly illus- trated in the photographs on the jackets of Shorebirds in Australia (Lane 1987) and North Atlantic Shorebirds (Chandler 1989). Kennerley & Bakewell (1987, 1991) have discussed in detail the species’ field identification. Useful distin- guishing features from Common Greenshank include its shorter, yellower legs; heavier, blunter bill; and stockier body. In winter plumage, it is decidedly pale-headed (plate. 64), while in breeding plumage the uppcrparts appear strik- ingly spangled, an effect created by the dark-centred scapulars and tertials being heavily notched white. Acknowledgments I am grateful to the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong for all the help and encourage- ment they gave me to obtain the photographs taken on the Mai Po Nature Reserve. In sum- marising the status of waders in Hong Kong, extensive use has been made of Chalmers (1986) and the admirable annual bird reports published by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society. I should like to record my special thanks to Geoff Carey, Peter R. Kennerley, Paul J. Leader and David S. Melville, whose comments on an early draft of this article were invaluable. Geoff Carey also provided information (some unpublished) on wader numbers which he has painstakingly gathered in recent years. OVERLEAF, DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD 60. Oriental Pratincole Glareola pralincola , Ha Tsuen, Hong Kong, November 1987 [Ray Tipper). Non-breeding adult 61. Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta, Ha Tsuen, Hong Kong, December 1987 (Ray Tipper). Showing classic, ‘head-up’ alert pose; note double supercilium so characteristic of this species 62. Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis, Mai Po, Hong Kong, May 1988 ( Ray Tipper). Moulting into breeding plumage 63. Asiatic Dowitchers Limnodromus semipalmatus with Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica (right), Mai Po, Hong Kong, April 1 988 (Ray Tipper). The dowitchers are in various stages of moult to summer plumage 64. Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer, Mai Po, Hong Kong, May 1988 (Ray Tipper). The rather plain plumage, lacking the darker upperparts and spotted underparts, suggests that this may be a first-summer or non-breeding individual 242 Waders in Hong Kong References C.HAIAH.RS, M. L. 1986. Annotated Checklist of the Birds oj Hong hong. Hong Kong. Chandler, R. J. 1989. North Atlantic Shorebirds. London & Basingstoke. Collar. N. J., & Andrlw, 1 . 1988. Birds to W atch: the ICBP world checklist of threatened birds. Cam- bridge. Cramp, s., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol 3. Oxford. \YAL\N, P., MaRCHANI , J. H., & Prater, A. J. 1986. Shorebirds: an identification guide to the waders oj the world. London & Sydney. Hours, J. R., & Lambert, F. 1987. Some notes on the status, field identification and foraging characteristics of Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer. Wader Study Group Bulletin 49: 14-17. JoNSSON, L, & Grant P. J. 1984. Identification of stints and peeps. Brit. Birds 77: 293-315. & PARISH, D. 1989. New Information on Asian Shorebirds: a preliminary review of the LNTER- WADER Programme 1 983-1989 and priorities for the future. Kuala Lumpur. Kl.wi.RLLY, P. R., & Baklulll, D. N. 1987. Nordmann’s Greenshank in Hong Kong: a review ol the identification and status. Vie Hong Kong Bird Report (1986): 83-100. & - 1991. Identification and status of Nordmann’s Greenshank. Dutch Birding 13: 1-8. Kiison, A. R. 1978. Identification of Long-toed Stint, Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher Brit Birds 1 1 : 558-562. Lank, B. A. 1987. Shorebirds in Australia. Melbourne. Parish, D. 1985. Overview. Interwader Annual Report (1984): 3-10. Kuala Lumpur. 1989. Population Estimates of Waterbirds Using the East Asian Flyway. IYVRB/Canadian W ildlife Service. Wallace, D. I. M. 1974. Field identification of small species in the genus Calidris. Brit. Birds 67- 1-16. Ray Tipper, The Old Bakehouse, Hanging Birch Lane, Waldron, East Sus : i sex r.\2t or a Copies of the 1991 Hong Kong Bird Report, which includes information on that year’s spring wader passage, are available (price £10.75 including p&p) from S. Anstruther, Barlavingtoii Instate 1, Petworth. West Sussex GU28 0LX;. Request and Announcement Photographs of 1992 rarities needed Colour prints, black-and-white prints and colour transparencies are needed to illustrate the Rarities Committee’s next report. Please send prints or s ides (as soon as possible) to Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane Blunham Bedford MK44 3Nj. We rely on readers’ help, so that we can include the best possible selection’ I hank you. Books in British BirdShop Seven titles have been added this month opposite page 231), but note especially the following EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFERS (see pages ix & x Hume The Common Tern (Hamlyn) save £ 1 .00 Shrubb 'Hie Kestrel (Hamlyn) save £1.00 Sick Birds in Brazil (Princeton) save £20.00 Ordering all your bird books through British BirdShop helps to support BB. at pages ix & x. Please take a look Putting Biodiversity on the Map: priority areas for global conser- vation. By C. J. Bibby, N. J. Collar, M. J. Crosby, M. F. Heath, Ch. Imboden, T. H. Johnson, A. J. Long, A. J. Stattersfield & S. J. Thirgood. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, 1992. 90 pages; 42 colour plates; numerous maps and histograms. Paperback £12.50. This book represents the results of the ICBP’s Biodiversity Project. ‘Biodiversity’, we are told, is the total variety of life on earth. Birds are good indicators of biodiversity, since important areas for birds are generally also important for plants and other animals. Given this, the book details 22 1 Endemic Bird Areas, the survival of which is crucial for global biodiversity conservation. There is a brief chapter explaining the project’s methodology, followed by a global overview of results. This contains some remarkable statistics such as the fact that 26% ol the world s birds are confined to the 221 EBAs, which occupy just 5% of the land surface. This overview is then bro- ken down into more detailed regional accounts. This very readable, well-designed document is a credit to the ICBP. I hanks to clear presenta- tion, the wealth of facts and figures is easy to assimilate. It is essential reading for anyone inter- ested in birds and their conservation. Sieve Rooke Les Oiseaux Rares en France. By Phibppe J. Dubois & Pierre Yesou. Editions Raymond Chabaud, Bayonne, 1992. 364 pages; 201 line- drawings; numerous maps and histograms. ISBN 2-87749-033-5. FF195 This book is an absolute ‘must’ for any West European birder interested in die patterns of occur- rence of rare birds. Each species is illustrated with a decorative line-drawing, making the book attractive, but the essence of it is the lists of records, histograms or maps showing the distribution of rare birds in France. Not only are all the records included of the species considered to have oc- curred naturally, but also over 30 with a more dubious origin. The text is, of course, entirely in French, but that should not discourage any potential purchaser. (This is essentially an updated, hardback version of Irwentaire cles Especes d’ Oiseaux Occasioned en. France by the same authors, pub- lished in 1986; reviewed: Brit. Birds 79: 409.) .]• T. R. SharROCK Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World. By James A. Hancock, James A. Kushlan & M. Philip Kahl. Illustrated by Alan Harris & David Quinn. Academic Press, Fondon, 1992. 385 pages; 89: colour plates; 49 distribution maps. ISBN 012-322730-5. £65.00. This sumptuously produced book, a rare combination of ornithological merit and coffee-table ele- gance, adopts a similar format to Vie Herons of the World. It combines a literary review with the results of the authors’ collective field experience of 41 of the 49 species treated. Some will feel that the Olive Ibis on Sao Tome, Bosliychia (olwacea) bocagei, and the White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibu (pa- pillosa) davisoni should have been treated separately, as additional species. The introductory chapters deal with taxonomy, feeding, breeding behaviour and conservation. All species accounts are complemented by an immaculate painting (including appropriate habitat backgrounds) by Alan Harris or David Quinn. Very useful distribution maps are included, but, at 243 Reviews times, they seem unnecessarily expansive. Biometric data are presented in some detail in an ap- pendix. and the bibliography is enormous. This book will becoffte an essential reference source li.r birders and ornithologists interested in any of the species treated. 1 he authors sought to pay ‘particular attention to documenting the status of threatened and rare specie and evaluating their conservation needs.’ To a large extent this aim seems to have K-en ably fulfilled There are, however, a few cases where it appears that insufficient use has been made of the available material, most strikingly the comprehensive review of the ever-weakening JatUS Bidd. Ibls Germticus ****** in Threatened Birds of Africa and Related Islands (Collar & . tuart I B ) . 1 Ins species might have merited more detailed discussion as a classic illustration of tne insidious decline common to many ibis species. Such minor niggles hardly diminish the fact that this is a simply superb publication. It is an exceptionally good modern example of that ibis of ornithological publications, the lavish mono- graph, which has been driven close to extinction by market forces. It is a rare treat, an unavoid- a >e reference and, by the standards of today, extremely good value fbr money. This is in part a retlecdon of the financial support provided by the Brehm Foundation. Ron Martins Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 15th March to 18th April 1993 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records White-billed Diver (iavia adamsii Filey Bay •North Yorkshire. 21st-26th March; North Mainland Shetland. 1 7th- 1 8th April. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus White Sands Bay, St David s iDyfedi. 1 1th April. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Rutland Water (Leicestershire) area, 3rd to at least 13th April. Great White Egret Egretta alba The Fleet (Dorset). 17th to at least 18th April. White Stork Cicomia ciconia Stodmarsh Kent) 4th April. Black-winged Stilt Umantopus himantopus Lady's Island Lake (Co. Wexford), 10th April; three at Cemlvn Bay (Anglesey), 10th to at least 18th April. Killdeer Plover Charadrim vocifems Individual at Loch of Hillwell, South Mainland (Shetland), moved to Qucndale (Shetland), 17th-20th March. Briinnich’s Guillemot I’ria lomvia Musselburgh Lagoons ilmhian), 27th March. Alpine Swift Apus melba Denabv lugs South 'Yorkshire) and Ditchford I Northamptonshire I. 2 1 si March; near Wadebridgc (Cornwall), 26th March; Durleston Count rv Park Dorset . 1st April; Slapton Ix-v (Devon), 8th April; near Aberystwyth (Dyfed), 9th April. White’s Thrush yoothera dauma Trapped, Copeland Bird Observatory (Co. Down), 16th to at least 18th April. Subalpine Warbler Sylvia canti/lans Portland (Dorset), D t h- 11th April; Hengistburv Head i Dorset), 10th- 13th April; Rattrav Head (Grampian), 17th April. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia metanocephala Males on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork). 10th- lltli April, and at Knockadoon Head (Co. Cork), bom 15th to at least 18th April lirst and second records for Ireland). Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Near Maidstone (Kent), 19th-28th March; Stanpit Marsh Dorset . 20th March; Filey Dam Nature Reserve North Yorkshire), 1 lth-1 2th April. lor the latest, up-to-date news, phone ‘Rare Bird News’ on 0881-888 111 i25p/min cheap rate; 39p/min other times; inch YA I \\e are grateful to Rare Bird News for supplying information for (his news feature TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be PREPAID Rates (These prices do not include VAT) £2.50 a line — average of 8 words £8.50 a centimetre — min. 2 cms. Telephone 0621 815085 Fax: 0621 819130 H OLID A Y A CCOMMODA TION ENGLAND CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bedrooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album. 47 Lvndale Avenue. London NW2. Tel: 071-43 1 2942. 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(BB372) ...Zeiss Kowa Opticron Bausch & Lomb Adlerblick Swift Optolyth etc. The Stockport Binocular and Telescope Centre Suppliers of quality binoculars and spotting scopes. Mail order, or callers welcome. Open 6 days 9-6. Repair service on the premises. nT&L Optical Instruments 24 Middle Hillgate, Stockport SKI 3AY Tel: 061-429 8002 (BB407) WALKERS Are the largest optical dealer on the Yorks coast. Binoculars — telescopes — video cameras — lenses — tripods — SLRs — compacts * ZEISS * KOWA * BUSHNELL * LEITZ * SWIFT * RUSSIAN * PENTAX * BAUSCH & LOMB * MINOLTA * OPTOLYTH * ADLERBLICK Kowa TSN I & 2 Kowa TSN 3 & 4 20x-60 x zoom 20xwa £99 30xwa £129 £259 £550 £150 25x & 40x £60 77x £95 OUR PRICE Body 20x WA SRP £263 - £199 Body 27x WA SRP £293 - £219 Body 20x 40x SRP £307 - £229 KOWA TS 602 BUSHNELL SPACEMASTER 60m body 15x-45x £199 70m body 15x-45x £209 Post free MAY SPECIALS — LIMITED STOCKS Leica 7x42 Leica 8x42 Pentax 10x42 B & Lomb 8x42 B & Lomb 8x42P B & Lomb 10x42P £599 Zeiss 7x42 £629 Zeiss 10x40 £175 Habicht 7x42 £550 Audubon 8.5x44 £575 Audubon 10x50 £575 Trilyte 10x42 £549 £549 £475 £189 £199 £135 LTD 70 ST THOMAS ST { ’ SCARBOROUGH YOU 1DU 0723 365024 FAX 0723 363334 British Birds Volume 86 Number 5 May 1993 201 The Great Black-headed Gull in Britain Keith Vinicombe and Peter J. Hopkin on behalf of the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee 205 Birdlife International news Dr Georgina Green From the Rarities Committee’s files 20b Blackpoll Warbler in Shetland Mark I. Don /e 209 Twenty-five years ago . . . 210 Common, Arctic and Roseate Terns: an identification review R. A. Hume 218 Mystery photographs IHH Great Skua Peter Lansdoum Notes 220 Common Gull showing characteristics apparently consistent with North American race A . B. Shepherd and .S'. C. I 'otter 223 Oystercatcher chick probably killed by rival adult David Tomlinson 226 Monthly marathon 228 News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett 23 1 Waders in Hong Kong Ray Upper Request and Announcement 242 Photographs of 1992 rarities needed 242 Books in British BirdShop Reviews 243 Putting Biodiversity on the Map: priority areas for global conservation' In G. J. Bihbv. V J. Collar. M J. Crosby, M I . Heath, Ch. Imboden. I H. Johnson, A. J. Long. A. J. Stattersfield & S. j. Thirgood Steve Rooke 243 ‘Ds Oiseaux Rares en France’ by Philippe J. Dubois & Pierre Ycsou IS J. I R Shanork 243 'Storks. Ibises and Spoonbills of the World' by James A. Hancock. James A kushlan & M. Philip kahl. illustrated by Alan Harris & David Quinn Rod Martov 244 Recent reports Barry .Vighttngale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 201 Great Black-headed Gull v till other gulls \omum I rlott : 210 Common Fern R. .1. Hume : 231 Hong kong waders Robert (nllmnr Front cover: Ixvant Sparrow haw ks taking oil' in the Kilat Mountains. Israel (James P. Smith i: the original drawing of this month's cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 28 in January issue for procedure) British Birds | Volume 86 Number 6 June 1993 — ^ — r-- 'i.'i — i — 1 1'. 'h • vr.',", ■ : 1 •• • iliiisiiiiiii i m i it iy f THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 14 JUN 1993 PURCHASED 700L0GY LIBRARY i 1 ' \\\\\ i.til VhH** ! Sii li JUV ill u* Bird Photograph of the Year Sponsored by Christopher Helm ^Harper Collins Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs European news Hdy marathon . Rarities Committee’s files . Mystery photographs . Notes • J _ ^ _ D **Anortk British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. 1. Prytherch & DrJ. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Don Smith & Roger Tidman Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Ihintm Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. ume, Andy Stoddart & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) W« Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; II) h\ I "'Ica i'ion Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. ume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. V imeombe ► ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion the benefit of ornithology Dr J. T. R. Sharrock I © British Birds Ltd 1993 Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Copyright of photographs remains with Design photographers. British Birds is Deborah Felts published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire Advertising n ISSN 0007-0335 Sandra Barnes Addresses , »ou. envelope correctly. Please supply SAK, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for 'News and comment’, dramngs & photographs Dr J. T. R. Sharrock F ountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Fax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham Bedford MK44 3NJ. 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British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palcarcti, Except for records of rant, es. papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not bring offered in while OT m Pan ‘° 7 0thcr.J°Un7 Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Pape, should la- npewritten with ^douWe paeng, and wtde margins and on one stde ol the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue f,„ slv|,. Birds’ "List Tf'^ fc ^ "rw ^ nam” and •>( birds li.llou The ‘British \l ^0 ,0 w® 1 ,Names ofW«tem Palearctic Birds 1993); or, for non-West-Palean ti, species SiHU-x & English N ’ T“°nomy of Birds "f World:; names of plants follow Dorn rial 1980 Enghsh Names of Wild Flowers, names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern 1977, The Handbook of Brit.sh Mammals I opograph, cal (plumage anti structure) and ageing terminology should follow rditori ,1 recommendattons (/in, M I: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should Is- in Indian ink on good-ou^' „ ! ' papP1(S °1 di< journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnortb Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford I focus I focus I focus JOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1993 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTFORDSHIRE, EN5 5SZ Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 081-449 1445, 081-441 7748 Fax: 081-440 9999 HOW TO FIND US (Barnet); We are 1 0 mins from M25 and A1 M motorways and 1 5 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. MAIN STREET, TITCHWELL, NR. 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Case 250 00 144/128 oina HRGAED 20x-60x8,Cose 665 00 125 00 22xWA 25x, 40x, 34.00 MANFROTTO 40x 60x 77 x ACCESSORIES t Eye Screw bay Adaptor Classic IF60 126.00 Photo Adapt 800mm ^0 00 C)cmic )F75 159 00 Car Window Mount Photo Adapt 1 200mm 2JU.LAJ ] Q^WA q(. 22xWA 24 00 Universal Mount tWIFT £ 25x or 30x 24.00 Hide Clamp t Ur Py^RGA 15900 18x-45x or 22-47x zoom 79 00 Rajnquards from T^lite 1 0x42BGA 1 65 00 Piccolo MKII Body >28 00 ^Cleaning Cloth Audubon HR5 8.5x44 279 00 Eye Pieces from i 29 UU Tripwj Strop Audubon HR5 10x50 299 00 Picc° ° 20x60 355 00 Lanyards from ...xnRadv 159 00 Piccolo ED 20x-60x60 399 00 8x42B 139 95 Viewmoster 60 Body 159.00 Piccolo , ED 20x-60x60 399 00 Double eyepiece Cose _ __ i in oc 1 59 00 Photo Kits trom Yr t — <^-orw, rnw> BRmSH BIRDWATCHING FAIR Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water 20-22 AUG 93 Co-organisers £ 09 00 £ 105 00 2906/ 128 109.00 115.00 1446/128 H9 00 Tripod Strop 14 95 Q/R Plote 5.95 0x42B 1 5x-45x Zoom 59.00 Photo Kits 9Ay 29.00 Coses for scopes l 4 AA . . .1 i_ £ 26.00 ...2600 25x or 30x 24 00 Hide Clomp 38.00 “ " ' ' .3.50 3 00 6 95 4 00 995 Tomroc Scope Case 26 95 Equipment Guide 3 95 LRTNC Main sponsors and co-organisers , in focus j MAIL AND TILE PHONE ORDERS Please remember to add £2.00 towards the cost of insured Trakbak postage and pocking • whether paying by clique Visa Access or Mastercard and goods will be despatched with Tull 1 4 days approval the same day on receipt of your remittance. 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NNOAKS WILDFOWL M.RVE H25 between Riverhead and i-aks Bat and Ball station on $ 6th June and 4th July. 3H BEECH NATURE t-(RVE/ RESERVOIR miles south of the A25/A21 i, {with access from the B2042 7; the information centre is orth of the reservoir) on s 13th June and 11th July. L WATER AA21. |ust south of hurst in the Education on Sunday 23rd May .LEGE LAKE WILOLIFE TRE ■mg. Herts, on the B488 (off ) close to Bulbourne . 6th June (Birdwatcher s Fair inbove) and Saturday 26th BUCKINGHAMSHIRE’S FIRST BIRDWATCHER’S FAIR: 6th JUNE 10am-5pm COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE Bulborne 2 miles from Trmg, on the B488 Sponsored by KAY OPTICAL (1962) and BIRD & WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP Participants include BTO - RSPB - British Ornithological Union - Bucks Bird Club — Hawk & Owl Trust - Bird Photography — Wildlile Compulmg — Tring Museum — BBONT — conservatien & wildlife groups etc etc (Bracket prices while stocks last): ZEISS £ 10 X 25 BP Dialyt 339 10 x 25 B/TP (New DS) 359 8 x 20 B/TP (New DS). .349 8 x 30 BGA/T (P) 699 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) (629) 769 10 x «0 BGA/T (B*w(629) 769 model) 1499 We can modify your ear- lier model Nikon tele- scopes to lake the zoom eyepiece and the new 30x (WA) eyepiece Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA 229 Spotting scope 20-45x GA 289 BAUSCH & LOMB 7 X 36 BA (PC3) Elite. (599) 636 ABRIDGE. GLOS ) Village Hall (on the left, i along village road into the I Saturday 5th June and 31st 'ON PASTURES ■iNTRY PARK reading (M4. A329(M) •y turnoff) and then A329 to sh and Winnersh Station ) on Sunday 23rd May and unly in the Loddon Room SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST ds Mill. Hentield W Sussex ) on Sunday 20th June. A FACILITY has also been 3 I here — selling a selection of oculars • r 0273 492630) 649 649 395 412 659 8 x 42 BA (PC3) Elite 10 x 42 BA (PC3) Elite 15-45X BGA Elite Scope 77mm Elite body 77mm Elite (ED) body 20x (WA) Eyepiece 30x Eyepiece 149 20 60x Zoom eyepiece .218 800mm Camera Adaptor 1 75 800mm RA mirror lens kit 299 g0x eyepiece 77x eyepiece SWAROVSKI 7x30 SLC(BM) 8 x 30 SLC (WB) 10 x 42 SLC (new) 7 x 42 SK (new) OPTICRON Vega II 8 x 30 Vega II 8 x 40 8 x 32 Dioptron 8 x 42 Dioptron 10 x 42 Dioptron 10 x 50 Dioptron . 8 x 32 (HRII) 8x42 (HRII) 10x42 (HRII).. 10x50 (HRII) .. (295) 349 7 x 42 (HRII) (295) 349 7 „ 35 Ehte 9x35 Elite .. 7 x 40 Minerva 9 x 35 Minerva i LSTON COUNTRY PARK off it near Swanage. Dorset In tor centre on Sunday 11th KENT TRUST FOR NATURE EERVATION in the Tyland rear Sandling, Maidstone (off 8 3luebell Hill, going south) on - / 27th June, 10 30 am to 4 00 pm WICKEN FEN oil the A1123 sast of Cambridge In the centre on Sunday 25th July. ) DMARSH NNR (TR 220610) -mation hut in car park Take road to Grove and Stodmarsh A28 Canterbury/Margate Saturday 20th June, ' ININGFfELD RESERVOIR A 130 north o( Basildon on Sunday 22nd August -ishing lodge) ■LEICA 8 x 20 BC Trinovid 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 10 x 25 BCA Trinovid 8 x 32 BA Trinovid 7 x 42 BA Trinovid 8 x 42 BA Trinovid 10 x 42 BA Trinovid SWIFT S', x 44 HR Audubon 10x50 Audubon 299 NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof 189 10 x 25 waterproof 199 8 x 20 F root prism 150 10 x 25 F roof prism 165 8 x 30 ECF porro WF 10 x 35 ECF porro WF Fieldscope II body Fieldscope ED II body Angled Fieldscope HA body Angled EDI IA body 15x 20x. 30x or 40x EP 30x (WA) eyepiece (new 60x eyepiece 20-45X Zoom eyepiece Camera adaptor Mod for other cameras Quality filter Rubber hood Stay-on-case * FREE WITH STRAIGHT SCOPE * KOWA TSN-1 (45°) body TSN-2 body TSN-3 (F) Prommar body (549)649 TSN-4 (F) Prominar body (549) 649 g x 40 Minerva 25x or 40x eyepiece (69)80 10x 40 Minerva ]®4 20x (WA) eyepiece (105)119 7 x 24 MCF 30x (WA) eyepiece (129)149 HR 60mm scopes 20-60x zoom eyepiece, Std w/22x & case (159)179 stX)38472013 D279 IV THE NATURAL ISTORY MUSEUM r new state-of-the-art 4-line pagers are receiving all the news as soon as it s broadcast Details of the birds and directions are easier to read on the bigger screen They automatically store the last messages in their memory, and even work on the Scillies and Shetland. They are universally claimed as providing a consistently excellent service Can you afford to be without one • the new infcmation pack including a sample print out of a day's messages and an order form call cbk Filby on 0603 767799 RARE BIRD ALERT -From sciiiy — -I BIRDING PAGE RSI — to Shetland— J The best bird news service (U ] PAY LESS FOR RARE BIRD NEWS 0881 888 111 FAST RELIABLE 24 HOUR NEWS UP TO 30% CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER BIRDLINE hotline to report your sightings 0426 923 923 CALLS COST ?5p MIN CHEAP RATE 39p MIN ALL OTHER TIMES BIRDING SOUTH WEST 0891 884 500 RARITY MIGRANT AND SEA-WATCHING NEWS. HOTLINE 0426 923 923 ALL 0891 CALLS COST 36p/MIN CHEAP RATE 48p/MIN PEAK/STD (D 1 81 ) V Bird Illustrator of the Year competition, sponsored by Kowa Telescop Red-breasted Mergansers displaying. Nik Borrow s award winning 1990 BIY Competition er First, and most important, this telescope is optically magnificent, with phenomenal clarity and a superbly large field of view. If you are a birder who is seeking the best possible telescope the optical gain is significant, especially in the worst viewing conditions. It is an elite instrument, to be treasured by those fortunate enough to own one.” Dr J T R Sharrock, testing the Kowa TSN-3 with x20W eyepiece British Birds June 1990. Kowa TSN Fluorite lens scope, available angled or straight A superb image Officially appointed distributor for Kowa Telescopes Pyser-SC.1 Ltd., Fircroft Way, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 6HA VI British Birds VOLUME 86 NUMBER 6 JUNE 1993 Bird Photograph of the Year ■Sponsored by HarperCollins & and Christopher Helm Publishers ± On 3rd February, the four judges faced a total of 120 colour transparencies submitted by 44 top bird-photographers, knowing that by the end oi the day there had to be one winner. A daunting task, but, after six enthra ng hours of study, discussion and comparison, the following placings were agree . 1st Bird Photograph of the Year Hoopoe Upupa epops (plate 65) Alan Williams, Essex 2nd Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops supercihosus (plate 66) Jens Enksen, Sul- tanate of Oman r „ 3rd Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus (plate 67) Chris Knights, Norfolk 4th= Woodcock Scolopax rusticok (plate 68) W. Richardson, Cleveland 4th = Oystercatchers Haematopus ostrakgus (plate 69) Hans Schoutcn, Nether- lands 6th= Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus (plate 70) Tony Bond, Lancashire 6th = Yellow Wagtail Motacilla jlava (plate 71) Teriy Button, Kent 8th Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Bob Glover, Essex 9th Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix Gordon Langsbury, Berkshire 10th Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis R. J. C. Blewitt, West Midlan s 1 lth= Red-throated Divers Gavia stellaUi Tony Hamblin, Warwickshire 1 hh= House Sparrows Passer domesticus E. A. Janes, Hertfordshire 1 3th Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Dr Mark Hamblin, Shefhe 14th Mute Swan Cygnus olor Dr E. C. FeUowes, Dumfriesshire 15th Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Mike Weston, Netherlands 16th Blackstart Cercomek meknura Axel Halley, Germany 1 7th Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilk garrulus Dr Mark Hamblin 18th Common Buzzard Buteo buteo R. J. C. Blewitt [Brit. Birds 86: 245-251, June 1993] 245 246 Bird Photograph of the Year Most entrants had submitted the maximum allowed number of three trans- parencies. The distinction of having all their three transparencies selected in the first short list was achieved by three photographers: Dr E. C. Fcllowes, Gordon Langsbury and Hans Schouten; 12 others had two of their three selected. The judges’ first short list of 42 was difficult enough to obtain, but this was then weeded down to 28. At this stage, Gordon Langsbury and Hans Schouten still had all three transparencies included, and seven other photogra- phers still had two. Before the final vote, however, the judges had, with great reluctance, to eliminate another ten. The final short list of 18 transparencies, on which the judges then voted, still included two by R. J. C. Blewitt and two by Dr Mark Hamblin: with such consistency, they, Gordon Langsbury and Hans Schouten must be future winners of this competition. The character of this competition, however, is determined by the award for the single photo- graph considered by the judges to be the best and most interesting of the year. Alan Williams’s winning photograph (plate 65) came as the result of a chance encounter, when a local gamekeeper at Abberton Reservoir, Essex, told him about a Hoopoe feeding on a roadside verge in a nearby village. The Hoopoe was so engrossed with feeding that it allowed Alan Williams to back his car slowly towards it until lie was only about 6 m away. The bird was feeding on insect larvae, which it picked up and flicked in the air before swal- lowing. Of five shots, this one brilliantly captured the larva in mid-flick, just about to be swallowed. Jens Eriksen's three entries all featured colourful species photographed in Oman. His Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (plate 66) not only provides a marvellous portrait of this very beautiful bird, but also has the added interest of showing well the insect prey — a dragonfly — and is aesthetically very pleasing, with the muted greenish background, against which the back-lit bird nevertheless stands out well, and the cobwebs attached to the perch adding to both the picture’s interest and its beauty. The Stone-curlew attempting to drive a lamb away from its nest (plate 67) was described by Chris Knights as follows: ‘The Stone-curlew is saying “S LOP! This is as far as you go!” A pair of Stone-curlews nested in a field with a flock of sheep, most of which took no notice of them except one or two ewes and lambs which obviously liked to disturb them each time they walked past. As the sheep came close to the nest, both birds stood their ground, and displayed in this manner with wings fanned. As the lambs approached nearer, the bird would peck their noses, but this particular lamb always held his head 65. Bird Photograph of the Year 1993. Hoopoe Upupa epops feeding, Essex, April 1992 (Nikon F4; f.5.6 600 mm Nikon; 1 /250th, f.8; Kodachrome 64) (Alan Williams) 66. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus with dragonfly, Oman, June 1992 (Nikon F4s; 560 mm Leica Telyt; 1 /60th, f.6.8; Fujichrome 50 Vehia) (Jens Eriksen) 67. Stone-curlew Burhinus oedknemus displaying at lamb, Norfolk, May 1992 (FOS 100; Canon 300 mm; 1/ 180th, f.8; Kodachrome 64) (Chris Knights) 68. Woodcock Scolopax rustkola, Co. Durham, May 1992 (Nikon F801; f.5.6 100 Sigma (APO) lens; 1 /250th, f. 1 1; Kodachrome 200) (If . Richardson) 69. Oystercatchers / laematopus ostralegus about to copulate, Texel, Netherlands, May 1 992 (Nikon 801; f.6.8 560 mm D-itz; 1 /500th, f.8; Kodachrome 200) (Hans Schouten ) c Bird Photograph of the Tear 25 1 high to escape the attack. 1 he Stone-curlews were very successful at driving the lambs off. We then decided to erect an electric fence around the area to give the Stone-curlews protection.’ I he pair of Oystercatchers, the male just about to mate (plate 68), was pho- tographed by Hans Schouten on the Dutch island of Texel. W . Richardson was driving through an upland wooded area in Upper Tees- dale, Co. Durham, when he noticed the Woodcock sitting on a stone wall (plate 69). After carefully positioning his car, he was able to spend nearly 30 minutes taking a variety of photographs at different apertures/speeds and lens combinations. The bird was within a very small patch of sunlight on the mostly shady wall (the photographic judges commented that, in their experi- ence, the reverse of this happy situation was more normal whenever they tried to take a bird photograph). The tail-up posture is, perhaps, a means of anti- predator protection, the tail-end being more likely to be attacked than the head; or perhaps this is a mild threat display; or it may merely be that this posture increased the incidence of wann May sunshine on the bird. 1 ony Bond’s family of Great Crested Grebes (plate 70), photographed from the causeway of a reservoir complex near Wigan, Greater Manchester, is not only aesthetically pleasing, but is also full of action, one young grebe climbing onto the back of the adult on the nest, while another is being fed by the swimming parent, the incubating adult looking with parental concern towards its swimming mate and young. The nest, the vegetation and the birds’ posi- tioning within the picture make this at-the-nest photograph difficult to fault. Terry Button obtained the photograph of the male Yellow Wagtail M. f. Jlavissima wing-stretching (plate 71) from a hide beside a dyke on Ham Marsh, Kent. As in the past, the judges greatly enjoyed their task of spending a whole day looking at such a wide range of stunning photographs, most of them far more than mere portraits, showing fascinating aspects of bird behaviour. The con- tinuation of this annual competition is ensured by its sponsorship by the natu- ral history publishers Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd and HarperCollins Ltd. The prize-winning photographers and runners-up will all be invited to attend the award presentation at a Press Reception in London this month. J. T. R. Sharrock, R. J. Chandler, Don Smith and Roger Tidman Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3.NJ A selection of some of the short-listed photographs will be published in the sum- mer 1993 issue of the magazine Birds Illustrated. We, and the two sponsors of Bird Photograph of the Year, HarperCollins and Christopher Helm Publishers, are delighted to be able to announce this co-operation between British Birds and Birds Illustrated. Eds 70. Great Crested Grebe Podueps cristatus family, Greater Manchester, June 1992 (Canon FI; f.4.5L 500 mm Canon; 1 /250th, f.6.3; Kodachrome 64) [Tony Bond) 71. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jlava Jlavissima wing-stretching, Kent, May 1992 (Nikon F801; Nikon 600 mm f.4 + 1.4 converter; 1 /60th, f.5.6; Kodachrome 25) ( Terry Button) Sponsored by Monthly marathon With the new rules (see March issue, page 149), a flood of entries has been received for the first three stages in the sixth ‘Monthly marathon’: S TAGE 1 (plate 18): Wood Sandpiper Tririga glareola (71%), Eurasian Curlew Mummius arquata (10%), Greater Yellowlegs T. rnelanoUuca (4%) and Lesser Yellowlegs T. Jlavipes (3%), with 2% or less each for 1 2 other species. STAGE 2 (plate 32): Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa (46%), European Storm-petrel Hydro- bales pelagian (6%), Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus (6%) and House Martin Delkhon urbica (6%), with 3% or less each for 3 1 other species. STAGE 3 (plate 38): White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis (60%), Blackstart Cercomela melanura (16%), Rock 1 brush Monlicola saxalilis (7%), Dark-throated Thrush Turdns nffcollis (5%) and Blue Rock T hrush M. solitarius (4%), with 3% or less for eight other species. The correct identifications were Wood Sandpiper (SCORE 29; photographed by Ren Hathway in Cornwall in April 1990), Leach’s Stonn-petrel (SCORE 54; photographed by G. Carr in West Yorkshire in September 1990) and White- throated Robin (SCORE 40; photographed by Volker Konrad in Turkey in June 1989). The new rules do not require that the winner identifies every photograph correctly, so the current leaders do not necessarily include the eventual winner of the SUNBIRD holiday to .Africa, Asia or North Anerica. There are, how- ever, 45 contestants who have named all three birds corrccdy, so their scores arc 29 + 54 + 40 = 123. (The more difficult the ID, the higher the score. Each score represents the % of contestants who got the answer wrong.) The fourth stage was plate 51 last month (closing date 15th June), and the fifth stage is featured below (plate 72, closing date 15th July). 72. Sixth ‘Monthly marathon’, using new rules (see page 149, fifth stage: photo no. 84). Identify the species. Send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th July 1993 252 | tint. Birds 86: 252, Juno 1993) British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to 'British Birds’ sub The books included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. It is the aim of British Birds and Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd to provide British Birds subscribers with the best, most reliable and friendliest service possible. 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Nowadays, more are recorded in Sussex than in any other south- ern English county, most being found on the chalk of the eastern South Downs, where they regularly stop over for several days (Leverton 1989). Stopover sites such as wetlands and estuaries are well recognised for wild- fowl (Anaticlae) and waders (Charadrii) — relatively long-lived species which migrate either as family parties or in big flocks containing old and experienced as well as young birds, and where ringing has shown that the same individuals return year after year. Stopover sites are often claimed for passerine migrants too (Ellegren 1990; K.arlsson et al. 1988; Satriel & Lavee 1991), usually without defining the term. Indeed, it was omitted by Campbell & Lack (1985) from their comprehensive ornithological dictionary; although refuelling sites aic mentioned under their entry on migration, these are not necessarily identical. For example, Bairlein (1987) showed that passerines carrying an ample supply of fat may stop over in the Sahara simply to rest in the shade throughout the day, without feeding at all. But how valid is the concept of a ‘traditional’ stopover site for short-lived passerines which migrate singly or in small groups which may be made up entirely of young birds making their first journey? Can they purposely navi- gate towards a staging area they have never seen, or do they merely stop over if the place where they happen to land is fortuitously suitable, and move on as [Bril. Birds 86: 253-266, June 1993| 253 254 Migrant Rug Ouzels on the South Downs soon as they can ii it is not? Does any site regularly receiving falls of migrants qualify as a stopover site (to take an extreme example, a North Sea oil rig in log), or should the term be reserved for areas deliberately selected by migrants because ol habitat as well as geographical location? The distinction between a voluntary and an involuntary stopover site may be hard to make and often blurred, yet the type of site must influence the physiological condition, perhaps the age and sex ratios, and the subsequent behaviour of the individuals which stop there. Between 1976 and 1989, having access to downland near Lewes in East Sussex especially favoured by passage Ring Ouzels, I was able to make the following behavioural study, and to evaluate the arguments for this part of the South Downs being a stopover area, in the stricter sense, for passage Ring Ouzels, as opposed to a chance-found refuge. Site and methods 1 he site covered about 8 km (800 ha) of chalk downland ranging in altitude from 50-200 m and lying between 5 km and 10 km from the coast. More casual observations were made over a wider surrounding area. Most of the site was open farmland, either arable (chiefly barley and wheat) or improved pasture, in large fields often ol 25 ha or more and of limited interest to birds. Some ol the steeper slopes, however, remained as unimproved chalk grass- kind, mostly of SSSI status, often with belts ol gorse ( lex europaeus and being invaded by pioneer scrub such as hawthorn Crataegus , elder Sambucus nigra , bramble Rubus Jruticosus and raspberry Rubus ulaeus. This was tall and very- dense on some hillsides, but far more open and scattered on those regularly grazed by cattle and sheep and with a high population of rabbits Orydolagus cuniculus. Observation and ringing took place on many parts of the site throughout the year, with visits increasing from once or twice weekly in winter to almost daily at the height ol the passage seasons (especially in later years), when the areas holding most migrants received the best coverage. Attempts were made to mist-net any Ring Ouzels found. I heir behaviour was observed, originally as an aid to catching them, but in later years for its own sake. /Ml birds caught were aged and sexed, then weighed and measured, using the techniques given in Svensson (1984), before being released with the minimum of delay. No attempts were made to retrap birds thought to have been caught once already. Netting operations, whether or not successful, had no apparent effect on how long individual Ring Ouzels stayed, but they did become more wary. Because ol the plumage differences between the sexes, and to a lesser extent between first-year and older birds, coupled with considerable individual varia- tion in the size and clarity of the breast crescent and the amount of yellow on the bill, it was generally possible to differentiate in the field single birds or small parties stopping over for several days from new arrivals, even il the pres- ence or absence ol a ring could not lie seen. Such assumptions were occasion- ally confirmed by accidental re trapping. Numbers and timing In the 14-year period, an estimated 49 individual Ring Ouzels were seen in 255 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs 'Spring and 234 in autumn. Because their nearest breeding area, in south Wales (Sharrock 1976), is over 200 km from the Lewes site, and summering or wintering are unknown in Sussex (Shrubb 1979), there was never any doubt that all those seen were on passage. Fig. 1 shows the finding dates, though doubtless some had arrived a day or two earlier. Unsurprisingly, the pattern is very similar to that at Dungeness, Kent, and Portland, Dorset (Riddiford & Findley 1981). Fig. I . Finding dates by five-day periods of Ring Ouzels Tardus torqmtus at a stopover site neai Lewes, East Sussex, 1976-89 In autumn, 69% were found after 8th October, so, according to Durman (1976), these can safely be considered Scandinavian in origin, the British pop- ulation having left the breeding grounds by the end of September. I hose seen before 8th October could belong to either population, but the clear sub-peak in the last ten days of September probably reflects the main passage ol Bi itish birds. Ringing evidence supports these views: a nestling ringed in Gwent in 1980 was controlled at the site on 19th September 1980, while one ol a flock of ten ringed on 23rd October 1987 was found in Norway the following July -the first such confirmation that Scandinavian Ring Ouzels pass through Britain in autumn (Mead & Clark 1989). No separation of origins was possible in spring. Although Ring Ouzels might arrive in almost any wind and weathci, laigei numbers in spring and autumn were usually associated with anticyclones giv - ing light easterly winds and haze or coastal fog: classic conditions for falls of Scandinavian drift migrants. This probably explains why numbers varied greatly from year to year. In spring they ranged from no sightings at all in several years to an exceptional 30 in 1989, and in autumn from a single indi- vidual in 1978 to 80 in 1988. A basic premise of this study is that parts of the South Downs are impor- tant specifically for passage Ring Ouzels, not just for passerine migrants m general. Thus it needs to be shown that Ring Ouzels are more numerous there than at other major passage sites, and that they are disproportionately numerous compared with other species of migrants. Table 1 compares the Lewes site with three coastal observatories and Beachy Head, do lessen the problems of different coverage and methods of counting (bird-days or numbers of individuals) ringing totals are used, comparing Ring Ouzels with two other species of passerine chosen because they are purely migrant at all 256 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs Table 1 . Ringing totals of Ring Ouzels / Urdus torquatus , Common Redstarts Phoenicutus phoenuu.ru> and Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypo leant at Lewes and Beachy Head, East Sussex, compared with those at three major coastal observatories, 1976-89 Site Ring Ouzel Redstart Pied Flycatcher Lewes 133 126 3 Beachy Head 92 270 73 Spurn, Humberside 64 560 527 Dungeness, Kent 54 867 816 Portland, Dorset 14 727 443 the sites, aie readily caught in nets or traps, occur at similar seasons and origi- nate both from Britain and from Scandinavia. A lore Ring Ouzels were caught at Lewes than at the three observatories combined, but less than 6% of their total of Common Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus and under 0.2% of their Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca. Even allowing for some bias through targeting of Ring Ouzels at Lewes, the figures suggest that they are disproportionately numerous there (and Pied Flycatchers oddh scaite). Secondly, the totals for Beachy Head, where no special attempts to catch Ring Ouzels are made, confirm their relative frequency on the east- ern South Downs. General behaviour Normally it was obvious when Ring Ouzels were present. In open habitats, they could sometimes be seen at a distance of 200-300 m. More usually, they sav\ the observer first, and gave the hue . . . tuc’ contact call grading into more urgent tak-tak-tak alarm calls. I hey often perched prominently on top ol a bush, like a Whinchat Saxicola rubetra or Common Stonechat S. torquata , or less conspicuously on a bare side branch, where they had a dear view of the approaching danger. Having assessed this, they might either fly low, with fur- thci contact calls, to take cover in gorse or hawthorn, or to give the flight call while perched: ‘tsierk’, sometimes double: ‘tsierk-sierk’ or even treble; some- times there was an almost bugling quality: ‘tsuurkh These are the calls listed as 2b and 2c by Cramp (1988); all seem to be variants of the same call. They signal the intention to make a longer, higher flight, but this may not be put into effect if the danger subsides or if other individuals in the party are unwill- ing. Otherwise, they take oil, with further (light calls, not simultaneously as w°uld a flock of' Common Starlings Stumus vulgaris, but in ones and twos, domino-fashion, so that the airborne flock is strung out, often with 10 or 20 m separating individual birds. They gain height rapidly, often to 100 m or more, and leave at least the immediate area. The general direction taken by autumn migrants was westerly, but this may have been due to local topography. It seemed that they were visually searching for alternative suitable habitat, veer- ing frequently first one way and then another. About 30% of newly found Ring Ouzels left the site in this way, never to be seen again, either to continue their migration or to find a new stopover site locally. More often, having reached an altitude ol over 200 m and flown almost out of binocular range ( >;>()() m), individuals or flocks would surprisingly turn back and descend to the same or an adjacent coombc, presumably because no other habitat in view equalled that which they had left. Those that did not leave when found 257 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs typically stayed for three days, even if the weather seemed perfect for migra- tion and their weights were high with pre-migratory fat. If bad weather inter- vened, Ring Ouzels might stay a week or more, before leaving on the first suitable night. Habitat chosen Daring the 14 years of die study, Ring Ouzels were never found close to farmsteads or other habitation, near roads or the railway, or in deciduous woodland or shelterbelt. They were rarely seen on arable fields or improved pasture, on hillsides covered with dense scrub, or in small relict areas of natu- ral grassland and scrub surrounded by farmland; those that were, never stayed for long, often moving on within a few minutes. In both spring and autumn, by far the most favoured habitat was extensive, steep slopes and coombes of grazed chalk grassland with only patchy, scattered gorse and scrub (plate 73). The angle of these chosen slopes varied from 10-25°, with an average oi about 20°. They began around the 90-m contour, below which was flatter arable land or improved pasture, and rose steeply before rounding into an undulating plateau of slightly improved grassland just reaching an altitude ol 200 m. On the steepest parts of the slopes, sheep and cattle paths formed nar- row terraces ol bare soil an average of 1 .5 m apart. Especially in the more sheltered coombes, elders and hawthorns of varying ages and sizes (some ol the latter very old) covered not more than 10% oi the hillside, but gorse, bramble and raspberry often clothed a further 1 0-25%. Other plants present included white bryony Bryonia dioica , black bryony Tamus communis , and bitter- sweet Solarium dulcamara. The turf ol the hillsides was totally unimproved and veiy herb-rich, and, except where patches of tor-grass Brachypodium pinnatum 73. View of habitat most preferred by passage Ring Ouzels Turdus torquatus in die study area on tite South Downs near Lewes, East Sussex ( John Holloway) 258 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs were established, was kept short by cattle and sheep grazing and by rabbits, so that in spring and autumn it was mostly 2-5 cm in height. Anthills were numerous. Feeding behaviour in spring In spring, Ring Ouzels fed exclusively on the shortest turf, with a sward height of 8. 5-2.5 cm and up to 30% bare ground exposed by erosion, scarring and grazing pressure. Feeding methods were typically thrush-like: several springy hops, or a short run, followed by a peck. They were obviously taking surface items which could not be identified at long range, but checks of the feeding aieas always rev ealed many spiders, and Diptera. I hey were never seen to take earthworms. Although some regularly fed 50 m or more from the nearest cover, they were usually within 5- 1 0 m ol the edge of gorse or other low scrub, which perhaps acted as a windbreak as well as a refuge in case of danger. Roughly hall the day was spent feeding in sessions of up to one hour, between which they rested in the scrub (hawthorn bushes by preference). Occasionally, low- intensity sunning was seen on the open turf close to cover. Because ol the brownish cast to the downland turf in early spring produced by the persistence ol old dead stems from the previous year, Ring Ouzels (females especially) were quite well camouilaged when feeding out in the open. I he line formed by the pale edges ol the greater coverts and carried on by the distinct pale fringes of the secondaries effectively split the birds lengthways and disguised their shape. Even the white breast-crescent of the males, startlingly obvious in a frontal view of the alert posture (and perhaps a danger signal to other flock members, like the white neck patches of the Wood Pigeon ( ,'olumba palumbus ), could at other times act as disruptive camouflage, breaking up the shape of the bird, for example when perched amongst straggly gorse. In all circumstances, Ring Ouzels were less conspicuous than the Blackbirds Turdus merula and Common Starlings which sometimes fed near them. Feeding behaviour in autumn In autumn, Ring Ouzels occupied exactly the same hillsides as in spring, but fed almost entirely on berries; this was confirmed by examination of faecal remains. They were very seldom seen feeding on the ground, and even then it was suspected on most occasions that they were taking fallen berries, not invertebrates. Elderberries were preferred for as long as they were available (usually until mid October), then haws. White-bryony berries and blackberries were sometimes eaten, but black-bryony berries, though locally abundant, never seemed to be touched. When feeding on elderberries, Ring Ouzels normally selected a tree which had grown up in the protection of a dense hawthorn, as frequently occurred; often the branches ol the two were intertwined. If danger threatened, the Ring Ouzels could slip swiftly into the shelter provided by the hawthorn, its spiky twigs being an effective defence against attacking Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus whereas those of elder are not (pers. oils.). Certain mixed pans ol trees weic favoured year after year. Especially on the morning ol arrival, Ring Ouzels spent periods of an hour or more sleeping in these Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs 259 hawthorns after feeding in the elder, though they were never used for roosting at night. Late in some Octobers, if the haws in the downland coombes were badly depleted (as in 1988), Ring Ouzels ventured out along a tall hawthorn hedge between two of the highest arable fields; otherwise they avoided such areas. Flocking Some species of birds are gregarious on passage, others solitary. The Ring Ouzels in this study showed surprising variation. When more than one were present in the same part of the site, there was always some liaison between them. Sometimes all formed an inseparable tightly knit group. In other instances, they associated much more loosely, in extreme cases acting quite independently apart from occasionally exchanging contact calls. Not infrequently, there would be a discrete flock, plus a singleton only loosely associated with it. On 3rd October 1987, a single male exchanged calls with a flock of four in the same coombe, but never joined them. By 6th October, the flock had left, but the single bird stayed until at least 17th October, by which time it was associating with four new Ring Ouzels which had recently arrived. On the few occasions when larger numbers were present, they sometimes initially formed one big Hock, which later broke down into smaller units, each in its own coombe. This happened in the major fall of mid October 1988, when a Hock of at least 30 on the morning of 12th soon broke up into smaller groups (including later arrivals) often to 12 individuals. This may have repre- sented the optimum Hock size (Caraco 1979) for the habitat and time ot year; if so, there were rarely enough Ring Ouzels present on the site to achieve it, and most parties consisted of two to five individuals. In spring, the situation seemed more complicated. By 23rd April 1988, a [lock of eight had built up from Ring Ouzels arriving in ones and twos over the previous ten days; they fed together on short open turf. A ninth individual, a first-summer female, atypically fed on very small patches of turf between re- generating gorse, and associated with the flock only when it briefly visited her area. Towards the end of the month, the flock broke down as three individu- als left and the remainder split into two groups which fed separately, 150 m apart, on the same hillside: two males in one and a male and two females in the other. During the study period, no obvious signs of sexual activity, such as display, courtship, aggression or territorial behaviour, were ever seen in spring, nor did males appear to associate more closely with females than with other males when both were present. Song was heard on only one possible occasion, on 13th April 1989 — a few brief notes presumed to be from one of a flock of four males (out of sight in dense cover) during the evening chorus of resident Blackbirds and Song Thrushes Tardus philomelos. A tape of Ring Ouzel song never elicited a response in spring or autumn. Ring Ouzels which had associated during the day also roosted together. The favoured site was a low dense hawthorn bush or thick clump of gorse near to the edge of a larger area of scrub but separate from it, perhaps to give all-round visibility. Normally it was well away (up to 1 km) from the feeding and resting areas where the Ring Ouzels had spent the day. They would dis- 260 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs appear almost surreptitiously, so that roosts were hard to tind, well before dusk and up to 45 minutes before the resident Blackbirds went more noisily to roost. I he study provided a rare opportunity to observe birds learning about their environment in the field rather than in the laboratory. Newly arrived Ring Ouzels were visibly unsure and naive as remarked by Gilbert White (1789). II disturbed, their flight was aimless and erratic as they sought new habitat. By the end of the third day, however, those that stayed had learnt the geography of the immediate area up to a radius of 1 km. Besides their preferred feeding ground, they usually had an alternative, up to 700 m away, to serve as a refuge if disturbed. Even when this was completely out of sight owing to the convex downland curves, they were able to slip away, often low and silently, on the correct heading, and return when the danger was past. They also had a regular roost site, and resting areas during the day. Once, on their third day, the leadeV of a party of three took them unerringly to drink and bathe at a small concealed dewpond on the flat plateau 98 m higher and 0.5 km dis- tant from the hawthorns where they had been feeding, and then returned. /Ml Ring Ouzels apparently soon learnt the position of mist-nets, and those not caught early on were increasingly difficult to trap. Interaction with other species 1 he only positive association seen was between Ring Ouzels and Fieldfares h urdiis pilaris. Both contact and flight calls of the two species are not dissimilar, and Ring Ouzels, especially singles, sometimes joined and fed with Fieldfare flocks, or took oil with them when they left. When this happened, the attrac- tion was always short-lived, and the Ring Ouzels broke away as if realising theii mistake. Occasionally, Redwings Turdus iliacus joined up with Ring Ouzels, as they often do with Fieldfares. Surprisingly, no interaction of any kind was observed between Ring Ouzels and Blackbirds, either in spring or in autumn. Even when male Blackbirds were chasing rivals from their territories in early April 1989, they completely ignored the flock of five male Ring Ouzels which was conspicuously present. A breeding pair of Mistle I brushes Turdus viscivorus flew over to investigate this Hock, but did not attempt to drive them away. Both these species are cited as possible competitors with Ring Ouzels for breeding territories (Durman 1978; Williamson 1975). 1 he Ring Ouzels themselves showed no aggression and did not sing; had they done so, the response may have been dilferent. On several occasions in autumn, Ring Ouzels making short low flights through scrub were closely followed and harried by Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella , and once by Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis , perhaps in the same wav as small passerines often chase Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto (Marchant 1982). Once, a solitary male Ring Ouzel taking oil in a coombe where crows Cortrn were soaring was pursued at high speed for over 200 m by a Carrion (-row C. carom carom , apparently with serious intent, until it gained the refuge of a hedge. A first-year male Ring Ouzel killed by a female Eurasian Sparrow- hawk in October 1988 was the only known fatality during the study period. 261 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs Departure Departure, when there was no doubt that the Ring Ouzels were leaving the site naturally to continue their migration, was witnessed only a handful of times, always at dusk. In each instance, there seemed to be a ‘departure cere- mony’. The most extreme involved an adult female and a first-year female which had arrived on different days but formed a close alliance. On the evening ol 12th October 1985, both went to roost in gorse towards sunset After about an hour’s silence, when the light was almost gone, one began to give contact calls and was answered by the other. The duet progressed into an excited medley which included variations on the flight call and other sounds not heard before and not easy to desciibe — perhaps the ‘chuckling note’ of departing migrants mentioned by Baxter & Rintoul (1953). Both birds ascended to the tops of' bushes, then left together. On two other occasions, solitary Ring Ouzels leaving at dusk gave a shorter series of less-intense calls. Once, the presumed ‘invitation to migrate’ was declined. On 18th April 1989, two Ring Ouzels, the remnants of a llock of seven first seen on 7th April, rose into the air at dusk giving urgent flight and chuckling calls, and climbing steeply. Two others which had arrived that day answered them from the gorse where they were roosting with ‘tuc tuc’ contact calls only. Although the two departing birds continued to call as they climbed higher, and circled as if waiting for those on the ground to join them, they eventually left north- wards unaccompanied. The newcomers stayed a further seven days. Birds in the hand Of 49 Ring Ouzels seen in spring, 19 (39%) were caught, as were 1 15 (49%) of the 234 autumn birds. As about 30% at either season left the site almost immediately they were found, the proportion caught of those known to have stopped over rises to 55% in spring and 70% in autumn. .All Ring Ouzels belonged to the nominate race, though the pale leather edgings of the bod)’ plumage, wing-coverts and secondaries varied greatly. They were all but absent on one autumn adult male, while at the other ex- treme one first-year male and one adult female closely resembled Svensson’s (1984) illustration of the subspecies alpestris in the pattern of their undertail- coverts, but less so in that of their belly feathers. In autumn, 25.2% of those caught were adults. This is probably less than their status in the population as a whole, allowing an average of four young per pair with the help of replacement clutches and partial double-broodedness (Flcgg & Glue 1975), but still high for a passerine trapped at a migration site. The excess of males was not significant, even when both age groups were combined (x’ = 2.81, n.s.). Mean dates of trapping for males and females, and for first-years and adults, were very similar (table 2). In spring, the excess of males was significant (x = 5.26, .P<0. 05) among those trapped, suggesting that the similar imbalance of sight records at this season (Sussex Ornithological Society, unpublished files) is not due to ob- servers overlooking the duller females. Males also passed through earlier (table 2), as noted by Durman (1976). Wing-lengths (table 3) exclude those from a few spring individuals with obviously abraded primaries. Being taken from live birds, they average slightly 262 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs I able 2. Age and sex of Ring Ouzels Turdtts tmqualus caught at a stopover site near Lewes, East Sussex, 1976-89, with mean trapping dates in autumn and spring lst-y 3 adult 3 lst-y 9 adult 9 Number in autumn 48 19 38 10 Mean catching date 14th Oct. 9th Oct. 13th Oct. 14th Oct. Number in spring 7 8 4 Mean catching date 17th Apr. 4th Apr. 20th Apr. I able 3. Wing-length (flattened and straightened wing, in mm), and weight (in g) at first capture, of Ring Ouzels 7 Urdus torquatus at a stopover site near Lewes, East Sussex, 1976-89 1 st-\ 3 adult 3 lsi-\» 9 adult 9 Wing-length 144.7 ±2.6 147.1 ±2.2 141.4 ±2.4 144.0 ±1.9 Range (no.) 136-150 (52) 142-151 (27) 136-146 (40) 141-147 (10 Weight in autumn 1 13.0 ±8.6 1 14.1 ±7.5 108.9 ±8.6 1 05.8 ±7.0 Range (no. 89-128 (48) 103-130 (19 92-125 (38) 92-118 (10 Weight in spring 1 14.9 ±6.2 107.9 ±7.0 1 19.0 ±9.6 Range (no.) 106-123 (7) 98-120 (8) 109-131 (4) greater than published ones based on skins (Svensson 1984: Cramp 1988 . There are insullicient published weights of passage Ring Ouzels to enable any detailed comparison to be made, but die average at Lewes in autumn and spring would seem to be high for a bird of diis size (table 3), and most of those examined carried a good store of pre-migratory fat. Only the lightest in- dividual, a lirst-year male weighing 89 g, appeared in any way to be weak, and even this was well above the 51.5 g of an exhausted male in the Nether- lands 'Cramp 1988). There were few retraps (because' of trap-shyness plus a policy of minimising disturbance), but table 4 shows instances of weight gain averaging 1 .66 g per da\ . Table 4. Weight gains (in g) by passage Ring Ouzels l Urdus tmqualus at a stopover site near Lewes, East Sussex Age & sex Ringing date Weight Retrap date Weight Gain g/ day lsl-v 9 25.10.76 117 29.10.76 126 9 2.25 lst-y 9 25.10.76 120 29.10.76 126 6 1.50 lst-y 9 18.10.80 112 24.10.80 125 13 2. 1 7 lst-y 9 19.09.87 96 24.09.87 101 5 1 .00 lst-\ 3 03.10.87 102 17.10.87 123 21 1 .50 lst-y 9 30.10.87 96 01.1 1.87 100 4 2.00 Size is fundamental to any bird s biology and its ecological opportunities and requirements (Caldcr 1984). Gilbert White (1789) corrceth stated that ‘the Ouzel is larger than the Blackbird.’ Inexplicably, later authors, including Witherin' et at. (1938), Simms (1978) and Cramp (1988), together with all the modern field guides (Heinzel, fitter & I’arslow 1979: ferguson-Lees, Willis & Sharroek 1983; Peterson, Mount foil & Hollom 1984) mistakenly imply the opposite. There is some overlap, but the Ring Ouzel averages larger than the Blackbird in .ill dimensions, including total length liable 5., and is heavier. As Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs 263 Table 5. Comparison of total lengths (in mm) of Ring Ouzels Turdus lorquatus and Blackbirds /. meruln trapped near Lewes, East Sussex lst-y <5 adult 8 lst-y 9 adult 9 RING OUZEL Total length 256.4 ±4.2 259.8 ±5.5 249.5 ±4.5 252.2 ±5.8 Range (no.) 250-267 (41) 250-269 (24) 240-259 (27) 244-259 (10) BLACKBIRD Total length 243.3 ±4.8 252.2 ±5.2 239.9 ±4.4 244.5 ±4.6 Range (no.) 231-251 (50) 240-266 (50) 230-249 (50) 233-254 (50) a more northern and a more upland species than its congener, this would be expected (James 1970). Ihc size difference also suggests that Ring Ouzels may have an advantage over Blackbirds, but not over Mistle Thrushes, in anv direct competition lor territory. Discussion The Ring Ouzels’ preference in spring for steep, open, well-grazed downland slopes is easily explained: these were the only parts of the site where large areas of short natural grassland with a high invertebrate population still sur- vived, the lower and gentler slopes long having been converted to arable farmland and improved pasture. It is less obvious, however, why they chose those same hillsides in autumn, when they fed almost entirely on berries. The elders and hawthorns they prefer were widely scattered there, and the berry' crop often reduced by summer drought on the thin chalky soil and by wind damage. The lower, more sheltered, heavily scrubbed slopes elsewhere on the site carried a far more abundant and luscious berry crop, which was much ex- ploited by migrant warblers, and by all other migrant and wintering thrushes, yet any Ring Ouzels which did land there soon moved on. To suggest that Ring Ouzels choose bare upland habitats on autumn pas- sage because these approximate most closely to their breeding habitat would be simplistic. Most species are far more catholic in their choice on passage than on their breeding grounds: Dotterels Charadrius morinellus on East Anglian plough instead of mountain tops, Northern Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe on stubble fields instead of rocky hillsides, Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybiia in low scrub instead of canopy woodland, and Goldcrests Regains regulus from conifer- ous forests using gorsc are just a few' examples. As food supply alone cannot be the reason for the Ring Ouzels’ selectiveness, they must gain other impor- tant advantages. I believe that reduced predation is the main factor. At a season when food is abundant, and there are no extremes of heat or cold, predation would seem to be almost the sole threat to Ring Ouzels at a stopover site, with female Eurasian Sparrowhawks the most dangerous predator. In their detailed study of the relationship between birds and berries, Snow & Snow (1988) recorded 33 instances of raptors attacking or disturbing birds feeding on fruits in 113 hours of observation, and found that the threat of predation strongly influ- enced the way the food source was exploited. On the steep Lewes downland, raptors (especially Eurasian Sparrowhawks) normally hunt along the contours rather than up and down the slope (pers. obs.), and this seems to be the case elsewhere (M. Shrubb in Hit.). Choosing steep hillsides might, therefore, enable 264 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs Ring Ouzels to predict, even on a site unfamiliar to them, the likely direction ol a predator's approach. They could then concentrate their vigilance on an arc to either side rather than need to scan the Tull 360°. The sparseness of cover would also enable them to see a predator at long range: certainly they usually spotted me at a distance of 200 m or more when I, too, approached along the contours. This factor might be especially important if flock sizes are well below the optimum, as the study suggests is normallv the case. A further possibility is that Ring Ouzels choose very specific habitat for stopovers to increase their chances of meeting np with others, and so gaining the benefits ol flocking. At least in Britain, Ring Ouzels are sparsely dis- tributed even on their breeding grounds (Sharrock 1976), and the likelihood of migrants meeting up after flights of several hundred kilometres would be small unless there was some mechanism for concentrating them. Whether or not their choosiness about where to stop has evolved to fulfil this purpose, it cer- tainly has that effect in practice. An analogy would be the habit of ‘hill-top- ping’, well recognised among many species of butterflies (Rhopalocera), which enables those distributed at a very low density over a wide area to meet up for mating at some salient feature of the landscape (Shields 1967). While it would obviously be advantageous for a newly arrived and tired Ring Ouzel to be able to join up at a stopover site with others which had arrived earlier and knew the best and safest feeding areas, it might be disas- trous if its flocking instincts were so strong that it was forced to accompany them it they left before it had time to replenish its own resources. Likewise, breeding birds in spring bound for northern Britain and Scandinavia, or autumn birds bound for different wintering areas of the Mediterranean or Morocco, might only be confused by attempting to travel together. It is tempting to speculate that the more tightly knit flocks seen at Lewes comprised Bing Ouzels which had arrived together or would leave together bound for the same general area, whereas the looser groupings were formed of those with diverse origins and destinations, coming together only to enjoy the mutual benefits of flocking while at the stopover site. For this to work, some form of communication would be essential. Subtle variations or dialects in the flight and contact calls might serve this purpose, while the more striking ‘departure ceremonies’ might convey information about physiological readiness to migrate and even the length and direction of the intended journey. The South Downs contain suitable habitat, arc conveniently located next to a sea crossing, and are almost certainly reachable in a single flight by most British Ring Ouzels and those leaving southwestern Scandinavia in autumn. I he great fluctuation in numbers from year to year, however, suggests that weather conditions, rather than any ingrained distance-and-directional instincts of migrants or knowledge gained from previous migrations, govern the numbers that arrive. This need not mean that the birds find the area purely by chance. Any species which has strict habitat requirements on pas- sage must have evolved effective ways of locating that habitat, otherwise selec- tion would favour greater flexibility. If some species can navigate by the infrasound waves caused by wind passing over mountain ranges, the Ring Ouzel which uses uplands for breeding, passage and wintering would be an obvious candidate to do so. Although the South Downs reach an altitude of 265 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs only 248 m, along their northern edge they rise abruptly Irom the Weald in a steep scarp slope, while to the south they end in sea cliffs up to 150 m high. This could create an infrasound signature audible to a bird for ‘many tens of kilometres’ (Dr D. Harper in litt .). Once over the general area, Ring Ouzels locate suitable habitat by sight, and at night perhaps even by audible clues such as the bleating of sheep, signifying the presence of short-grazed turf. No doubt every migratory species has its own ways of minimising the risk that it will land in unsuitable habitat, and maximising its chances of finding a satis- factory haven; as yet one can only speculate how they might do it. Conclusions A combination of habitat, topography and geo, graphical location enabled the study area to function as a true stopover site, especially in autumn, tor passage Ring Ouzels. Evidence for this was as follows: 1 . Being at least 5 km from the coast, the site was not the first nor the last practical landfall for migrants approaching from any direction. 2. The arrival of birds was not entirely dependent on particular weather conditions. 3. Ring Ouzels were disproportionately numerous at the site compared with other migrants, and with other sites. 4. Arrival weights were generally high (the birds could have continued). 5. Birds generally stayed for several clays, even in ideal weather conditions. 6. Birds which stayed gained weight. 7. There was a reasonable proportion of adults to first-years. For many individuals, refuelling may not have been the only, or even the main, function of stopping over: birds with perfectly adequate fat resources seemed to do so simply to rest, to await better weather, to join up with otheis of their species, or even to mark time because their migration was ahead of schedule. Acknowledgments '['his paper is dedicated to the memory of the late 1'. G. Rea of Ashcombe Farm, on whose land most of the study took place, i am grateful to the wardens of Spurn, Dungeness and Portland Bird Observatories lor supplying ringing totals; and to Ms S. Hitchings for those of Beachv eat Ringing Station: to all who made helpful comments and suggestions; and to John Holloway for the use of his photograph. Summary Ring Ouzels Turdus torquatus on passage were studied at a site on the South Downs in hast Sussex during 1976-89. They were very specific in their choice of habitat. In spring, they irequented steep chalk hillsides with short natural turf. They used the same hillsides in autumn, even though the berries they fed on were far more abundant elsewhere. Feeding, flocking and roosting be- haviour are described; as with habitat selection, these seem designed to minimise the risk ol pre- dation. Biometrics of the 134 birds caught are given, including total length: contrary to all the modern literature, the Ring Ouzel averages slightly larger than the Blackbird ^ Iurdus memla Fvi- dence is given that the study area was a ‘voluntarily chosen stopover site rather than a chance refuge and speculation is made as to how passage Ring Ouzels might locate suitable habitat. References B \lRl kin F. 1987. The migratory strategy of the Garden Warbler. Ring. & Miff . 8. 39-72. Baxtf.r, K. V.. & Rintoui , L.J. 1953. The Birds of Scotland. Edinburgh. 266 Migrant Ring Ouzels on the South Downs ( Al.nilR. \\ A. 1984. Size, Function and luff History. Cambridge, Mass. ( .uii’Bi.i.i., B.. 6c. Lack., E. eds.) 1985. .1 Dictionary oj Birds. Gallon. Caraco. | . 1979. Time budgeiting and group size. Ecology 60: 61 1-627. C.RAMP, S. ed. 1988. 77/e Birds of the W estern Palearctic. vol. 5. Oxford. Dl R.M.W. R. I-. 1976. Ring Ouzel Migration. Bird Study 25: 197-205. 1978. Edinburgh Ringing Group Report 5: 24-27. Lu.kgrkn, L. 1990. Autumn migration speed in Scandinavian Bluethroats. Ring. & \ligr 1 P 171- 1.31. S Fkrgi’son-Lkks, J., Minus, 1.. & Sharrock.J. T. R. 1983. The Shell Guide to die Buds oj Britain and Ireland. I jondon. 1 1 !.( ;( ,. J. J. M., & Cu t:. 1). E. 1975. Hie nesting ol' the Ring (Ouzel. Bird Study 22: 1-8. Hiin/II- 11 liUKR. R., ilt Parsi.ow, J. 1979. The Birds of Britain and Europe. London. Ja.mi.s. h (.. 1970. (Geographic size variation in birds and its relation to climate. Ecology 5L 365- 390. * ‘ Kari.sson. 1... Pkrsson, K.. Pki i i.rson. J., & MAumh.R. G. 1988. Fat-weight relationships and migratory strategies in the Robin Erithacus rubecuta at two stop-over sites in south Sweden. Ring. si? Migr. 9: 160-168. Li.vkrton. R. 1989. Passage Ring Ouzels in Sussex, 1962-1988. The Sussex Bud Report 42: 87-92. Marcham. S. 1982. House Sparrows chasing Collared Doves. Brit. Birds 75: 37. Ml.vi). C.J.. dt Cl.VRk. J. V 1989. Report on Biixl Ringing for Britain and Ireland for 1988. Ring. & Migr. 10: 1 59- 1 5)6. Pi. i i.rson, R.. Mot N-IIORT, G„ & Hoi.i.om. P. A. I). 1984. .1 Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. London. Riddii ORI). \.. & l iNOI.lA , P. 1981. Seasonal Moiements oj Summer Migrants. Bring. Sai RH I., 1 • ' & 1-SSl.K. I). 1991. Relative abundance of migrants at a stopping over site and their abundance in their breeding ranges. Bird Study .38: 71-72 SnvRRot k. J. I. R. 1976. I he Allas oj Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton. Smti.Ds. (). 1967. Hilltopping, j. Res. lefhtl. 6(2*: 69-178. StiRt nit, M. 1979. / he Birds o/ Sussex. Chichester. Simms, L. 1978. British /brushes. London. S.\(>\\, B., & Snow. 1). 1988. Birds and Bernes. Calton. Svt.NssoN. L. 1984. Identification Guide to European Passerines. Stockholm. M nn h. (». 1789. /he .Vatural History oj Set borne, l/tudon. M ii.ua.mso.v K. 1975. Birds and climatic change. Bird Study 22: 1 43-164. WriJIKRBY. H. I ...Jot RDAIN. L. C. R„ I’lCKHt rsi, \. L & lit KI R. B. VV. 1938. The Handbook o/ British Buds. vol. 2. Ixjtidon. Roy IrverUm, 1 1 idle wells, Ordiquhill, ComhiU. Ranffshtre mh.~> 2/ is, Scotland Twenty-five years ago... < >n 13th June 1968, Lite lirst recorded British nest of the Bluethroat Insciniu sveaea was found in 'he Moray Basm finmal are;, of Scotland’ by Dr.J. j. I). Greenwood, now Director of the Bit) Brit. Buds t > 1 . 52 4). Earlier, three Ix-sser Grey Shrikes 1/miu.s minor had been found in one six-day period, during ,'h-'l,h !""<• 1968, at Radciiffe. Lincashire. and at Sheringham and Winterton Dimes. Norfolk. I low mam others remained undiscovered ‘ F rom the Rarities Committee’s files Sponsored by ZEISS Germany A report of a Black Stork On previous occasions, tins series has featured high-quality rare-bird-record submissions. 1 he reader ought not to form the impression that all ol the records received by the BBRC are up to that stan- dard. The description that follows, though fictional, is similar to more than one record considered by the Committee in recent years. ( Drawn by R. A. Hume ) Black Stork Ciconia nigra Oystcrcatcher Haematofm oslralegus BlACk Stork Ciconia nigra 1 watched it through 10 X 40 binoculars as it flew high overhead up the river valley. It was a large bird with a long, thick, red bill and pinky-red legs and feel. The head and neck were black and the rest of the underparts were white. The first thought that would enter the head ol a BBRC member upon read- ing this, even before the realisation that it is a single-observer record of a bird seen once only at long range, is that the notes are very brief. It would then be natural to consider what has not been covered in the description, stiucture, in- cluding neck length, wing shape and leg/foot projection beyond the tail, colour of underwings and undertail, colour of upperparts (understandably absent) and flight, including wing-beats and gliding. The notes undeniably eliminate White Stork C. ciconia , Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Common Crane Gms grus and suchlike, yet doubt remains. Sooner or later, too, a Committee member would mention the possibility of Oystcrcatcher Haematopus oslraiegus, which is not satisfactorily ruled out by the description. The record would not be accepted. Brief views, poor light, bad weather, long viewing distance, a bird s skulking nature or unapproachability, or any combination of these, can detract from a complete description. Nevertheless, it is sensible for an observer to cover m his or her report every visible aspect of a bird's appearance, and it is reasonable lor the Rarities Committee to assume that all available details have been included and that nothing further is to be gained from referring back to the , . Pl.TKR LANSDOWN observ'd. 197 Springuoood , IJanedeyrn. CardiJJ, South Glamorgan <.i ai (• Michael J. Rogers i Honorary Secretary British Birds Rarities Committee) has commented as follows- This example, of what would generally be regarded as a perfectly obvious and easy-to- identifv species, is deliberately chosen to demonstrate not only the intrinsic weaknesses in the description but also how easily an over-liberal approach by the Rarities Committee could lead to an unsound decision. El)S [ Bril. Birds file 267. June 1 903] 267 Mystery photographs I 4? prizes for identifying Iasi month’s photograph plate I ’>. repeated -KJ here as an immature gull. With no other species for comparison, its size is difficult to judge, so we must use plumage and structural characters to (ai -spot, and dark primaries immedialeh' rules out all ages and corresponding plumages ol all except seven species of gull that occur in the W est Palcarctie. I he head shape is not particularly angular, the bill is not espeeialh long or deep, and there is an obvious tonal contrast between the mantle and the wings, these features further reducing the possibilities to just three: Common hints can its. Ring-billed /.. delawarmsis and the ‘Herring Gull complex’ Herring L. argenUihts , fellow-legged L. cachinnans and Armenian Gulls /,. annemats. Age- ing ol the first two very similar species is relatively straightforward. Both nor- mally leach adult plumage m their third winter, so the combination of blackish outer primaries, dark-centred tcrtials, contrasting carpal bar, well- defined dark tail-band, and two-tone bill, all of which are shown b\ the mystery bird, readily identifies first-winter individuals, although, judging by the amount ol wear and abrasion visible on the remiges, it seems likely that the photograph was taken well into the bird’s second calendar-year: it is in this plumage that separation of these two species is most problematical. but what about second-winter Herring Gull (and its close congcnciv. which superficially resembles first-winter Ring-billed? Herring, however, is a large, heavy, angular-headed gull with a fairly heavy bill, and with a much shortci primary projection than Ring-billed (the latter’s is about twice the length ol the longest tertiali. In addition, second-winter Herring has brown barring on the tcrtials and greater coverts and some individuals at this age have a pale iris, whereas neither feature is ever shown by first-winter Ring-billed. If the gull were to fly. Ring-billed would show dark tips to its inner primaries, where Herring would have a pale ‘window ’. 2b8 | Urn. Itirrfs fill ‘JliH-'iWI. Junr 1‘1'U] Mystery photographs 269 Our bird lias a fairly heavy bill, parallel in shape but lapering sharply to a point (this exaggerated by the solid black tip), whereas Common Gull s bill is slender and pointed but more evenly tapering. The head is fairly rounded, with a dark brow over the eye, generating perhaps a less confiding expression than that associated with the even rounder-headed Common Gull. 1 he head is also well spotted, the spots extending over the entire neck, including lower hindneck, and onto the breast, compared with the more mottled appearance exhibited by Common, which rarely shows the breast so well marked. 1 he mantle and scapulars appear to be fairly pale grey, contrasting strongly with the dark-centred tertials: but the pale tertial fringes are prominent and produce a pattern very like that on an abraded first-winter Common Gull though Common would surely appear darker grey above:1 1 he tail-band looks wide and solidly dark, again suggesting Common Gull, but the outermost tail feather, just visible, is mottled/barred, a feature lacking on the vast majority of Commons. Compared with Common Gull, Ring-billed on the water looks characteristically flat-backed, just like the mystery bird, which is, indeed, a first-winter Ring-billed Gull, photographed by A. R. Hamblin at Chew \ alley Reservoir. Avon, m March 198/. Many readers will be aware ol the difference in median-covert and lesser-covert pattern between Common and Ring-billed Gulls: Common show's neat, rounded spade-shaped dark centres, while on the latter the centres are arrow-shaped. 1 his feature, however, is valid only in fresh plumage, as a quick glance at our fairly abraded bird confirms. Hugh R. Harrop Fairview, Scatness, Virkie, Shetland yes 9ju 75. Mvstery photograph 190. Identih the species. Answer next month Notes Turnstones feeding at Kittiwake nests On 27th April 1991, while pho- tograph mg a colon) ol Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyfa on two adjacent dills at Xcwqua) , Cornwall, I was suiprised to sec two I urnstoncs Armaria interpres Hit- ting from ledge to ledge on the vertical cliff some 35 m above sea level and shouldering their wax among the Kittiwakes. I he Turnstones were (ceding on insects?) right in among the nest material of the Kittiwake colony. John S i i.wak i -Smith -4 Came/an ('.lose. Crantock , Newquay, Cornwall TR8 5R) Herring Gull with black bill and legs On 6th Max 1991, at Pads tow. Cornwall, we watched a group of Herring Gulls I jams argentatus feeding on scraps. All were in transition from first winter to first-summer plumage, apart from one second-summer indixidual. The latter was noticeably different also in that it had an all-black bill and, more interestingly, all-black legs. We dis- counted the possibility ol its legs being soiled by mud or oil, as the plumage of the entire underpans was clean. Neither Grant (1986, Gulls: a guide to identifica- tion nor BW ’P vol. 8 mentions immature Herring Gulls having black legs. 1). W . Dm u. v and 8. M. Lmi.i.y Meadowside , I Jigger heads. Market Drayton. Shropshire IJ-V 4 KB Feeding technique of Common Guillemot On 23rd August 1990. a bright, sunin day, I watched a Common Guillemot I ’ria aalge lending on san deels (Ammodytidae) around Bournemouth pier, Dorset. Large shoals of sandccls were swimming back and forth in the clear water, and the guillemot drifted closer to them, peering underwater. When it saxv the fish, it immedi- ate!) dived and swam very last into the shoal, separating a part of it into a close-knit sphere ol 500 or so fish; these it circled like a sheep dog, steering them away from the piling of the pier. It made regular attacks through the tight ball, generally from below , breaking the surface with one or two lish in its bill. Immediately it would round up the remaining lish. It maintained and led from this personal Harder’ for approximate!) a quarter of an hour, when it stopped and preened, the lish dispersing back to the main shoal. This tech- nique showed a marked sophistication compared with that of (ceding mackerel Scomber scombrus, also present, which merely dashed through the shoal at high speed, panicking the sandccls in all directions. ). I). Fi.arxsidi Id U i/cot Avenue. Oxhey. Watford WDt 4M Separation ol Striated Scops Owl from Eurasian Scops Owl See pages 286-287 and plates 77-80. 270 Notes 271 Call patterns of Eurasian Scops Owl The clockwork regularity of call- ing by Eurasian Scops Owls Otus scops could possibly be used to identify differ- ent pairs. In February 1991, at Episcopi, Cyprus, observations were made on three pairs of Eurasian Scops Owls (of the race cyprius). Pair A called at an interval between sets that averaged 4.12 seconds (ten samples varying between 4.0 and 4.2 seconds); pair B had an interval of 3.23 seconds (six samples, range 3. 2-3. 3 seconds); and pair C an interval of 3.8 seconds (two samples only). As the calls were always a double note, it was assumed that they involved pairs of owls ‘duetting’. Both owls of pair .1 were observed entering a possible nest hole under the eaves of a building. On two occasions, calls were heard in the middle of the day. BWP (vol. 4) quotes recorded intervals between calls (presumably of the nominate race scops) of 1.8 to 2.3 seconds and of 2.5 seconds or more. John C. Ee Gassick 17 Acacia Avenue, St Ives, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PEI 7 4'T.\ Mistle Thrush placing faecal pellets of rabbit on body and also eating them At about 15.00 GMT on 26th August 1991. in hot and sunny conditions, in a pasture field near West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset, I saw four Mistle Thrushes Tardus viscivorus feeding near a hedge. Three flew of! as I approached, but 1 watched the remaining one through binoculars at a distance of about 30 m. It squatted and spread its wings and, partly, its tail; after about 30 seconds, it picked up an object in its bill and placed it on the scapular region of one side, so that I had the impression that it was anting. It then seized a faecal pellet of a rabbit Oiyctolagus cuniculus, applied this to the scapular region and allowed it to roll to the ground, when the procedure was repeated. The Mistle Thrush then stood and selected another pellet, which it promptly swallowed. After alternate wing-raising, and ingesting a further pel- let, the thrush flew away. Rabbits are numerous in the field concerned and the grass is close-cropped. Rabbit pellets are common locally; those which l subsequendy inspected at the site where the thrushes had been feeding were stale and dry, and no associated invertebrates were seen. The application of faecal pellets to the body could perhaps be interpreted as substitute anting behaviour, but it is more difficult to account for the Mistle Thrush swallowing two pellets; possibly, there were associated invertebrates which I had failed to detect (though none was found on remaining pellets at the site). The pellets concerned would have consisted of undigested cellulose and would have passed twice through the rabbit’s intestinal tract, so there could have been little of food value to the bird. A. P. Radford Crossways Cottage, West. Bagborough, Taunton. Somerset TA4 SEX, Dr K. E. !.. Simmons has commented: it is difficult to understand just what the bird was doing. Initially, it may have been sunning rather than anting, for the posture adopted by the Mistle Thrush when anting '‘passively” i.e. exposing itself to ants') is superficially similar to “spread-eagle” sunning see mv two notes on this species in Bristol Ornithology 15: 166-168 but what it was doing with the rabbit dung is far from clear. It may have been half-heartedly "anting' with a pungent item, but the actions described by Dr Radford do not lit the known “active” anting behaviour ol this species at all closely. Eds New protection areas for birds News and comment compiled b) l like Everett and Robin Prytherch IN MARCH, the Government announced the designation of Great \ armouth North Denes (Norfolk), the Nene Washes (Cambridgeshire), tlie Ouse Washes (Cambridgeshire and Nor- folk , Hornsea Mere (Humberside), Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire), Flam borough Head and Bempton Cliffs (both Humberside) as Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. I he Nene Washes and Gibraltar Point have also been listed as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Con- vention, as has Roydon Common (Norfolk). The existing Ouse Washes Ramsar site has been extended. Readers will be familiar with most of these sites, even if only by reputation; Roydon Common at first seems the odd man out being known to most birdwatchers for its roosting Hen Harriers Circus cyaneas ), but its designation recognises its importance for many rare and locally uncommon plants and invertebrates and the fact that it is the most extensive example of valley mire heathland in East Anglia. We have been critical in the past of the slow progress in designations, but at last some of the lost ground is being made up. There are now 69 SPAs (covering 194,000 ha) and 62 Ramsar sites (274,000 ha) in the UK; those awaiting designation number around 165 and 95 respectively. Kighteeii ornithologists and ecologists left the children written In OSME .md translated into I'K. in March on the Ornithological Society of Arabic and published jointly with the Yemeni the Middle East's bird-survey expedition to the Environmental Protection Council, and with OSME in Yemen southern part ol the newly united country of Yemen the part that used to be Aden) and to the island of Socotra. I he venture runs into May and we hope to be able to report on it Further in due course. financing from Shell. The British Council is helping with distribution, the aim being to get a copy into even school in Yemen. The book covers the countrCs % commonest birds and the 1 1? which are endemit to southwest Arabia. I bis is an imaginative step forward: OSME is to be congratulated. 272 News and comment 273 Welsh reedbed survey An all-Wales reedbed survey by the RSPB has shown how vulnerable they are to develop- ment ol various kinds and to degradation through a lack of management. Wales has about 200 reedbeds, but 50% of them are under 0.5 ha and only 15 are larger than 1 ha. They are nevertheless of consider- able importance for birds, not only as western outposts for Reed Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Sedge Warblers .1. schoenobaenus, but also for their Cetti’s Warblers Cettia cetti (up to 50 pairs), as staging posts lor migrant hirundines, wagtails and warblers and for the mild winter conditions they provide for vulnerable species such as Great Bitterns Bolaurus stellaris and Bearded Tits Panurus biarmicus. One of the RSPB's priorities in Wales is to work towards the better management of exist- ing reedbeds and the creation of completely new ones. In this latter respect, it is a pity that the designation of Anglesey as an Environmen- tally Sensitive Area does not include the provi- sion of money for farmers who are willing to create new reedbeds Anglesey has almost a quarter of the reedbeds in Wales and, like most of the wetlands on the island, they are deteriorating in quality. Welsh Bird Report M ore than just a systematic list for 1991, the fifth report of the Welsh Ornithological Society includes papers on ringing in Wales, on the latest survey of Peregrine Falcons Falco peregri- nus in the Principality (280 territories an in- crease of 159% since 1981), on migration of Dotterels Charadnus morinellus , on the status of breeding waders (most of which are in decline), and several interesting notes. Gopies are avail- able iprice £4 inch p&p) from Mike Shrubb, Hillcrest. Uanwrtvd Wells. Powys LD5 til.. Hunting ban Italy’s Minister of the Emironment has signed a decree banning the hunting of small birds throughout Italy for a period of six months during 1993. Will it work, we wonder? Forgive us if we appear sceptical . . . ‘North West Birder’ Launched with the slogan ‘The north-westerly that always brings the birds’, the North West Birder is a quarterly magazine ‘for all bird- watchers in the North-West’, edited by John Gregory. Julian Hough, Chris Kehoe and Steve Riley. The 32-page first issue, costing £2.50, was published in January. It contains articles on Iceland Lccrus glaucoides and Glau- cous Gulls L. hyperbureus in the Northwest, on little-known birdwatching sites on the South Solway, and on the status of Greylag Geese Anser anser in the Northwest, as well as notes, news, recent reports (in September-November), some little-known facts about Fed Abraham, an agony column (with advice from Dr Phil Oscopus LBJ UTV), horoscopes for birders, a ‘Page Three Bird’ and some investigative re- porting by freelance journalist Prunella Schrenk (nicknamed ‘the Dunnock’ because of her sexual habits) concerning night watching at Sellafield. All very readable. We wish ,/VT VB well! The address to write to is NW Birder, 1 1 Baslow Drive, Heald Green, Stockport, Cheshire sKfi :sh\\ . Serengeti bird records The Birds of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (BOU Checklist no. 5) by Dieter Schmidl will soon be out of print and the author will be re- vising the data for a new edition. Relevant records will be gratefully received and acknowledged, and should be sent to Dieter Schmidl, Max-Planck-lnstitut, D-82319 Seewiesen, Post Stamberg, Germany. Jersey Report The first-ever Jersey Bird Report was published in December 1992. It includes records of all species seen on the island in 1991, and also gives details of rarity records accepted or re- jected by the British Birds Rarities Committee during 1984-91 (by invitation, the BBRC has assessed the island’s records- since January 1981). The first issue, with an Alan Harris Hartford Warbler featured on its appropriate cream- coloured cover, has now sold out, but the sec- ond will be published in June, price £3.50. and will be available from 1. J. Buxton, Le Petit Huquet, La Rue du Huquet, St Martin, Jersey. 274 . Yews and comment I4VC birthday I he Irish Wildbird Conservancy was founded in 1968, so this year sees its 25th anniversary. We are delighted to send the IWC our congratulations, not only on its birthday, but also on all us achievements over the past quarter of a century. I'he change in the Irish public’s reactions to bird- watchers. naturalists and conservationists is very striking to those who have been able to compare the almost complete lack of under- standing of the early 1960s with the informed and generally sympathetic attitude which we almost take for granted today. lo celebrate its 25th anniversary, the IWC will hold tin exhibition ol European Bird Art at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre in Dublin during 10th-26th September 1998. and will stage ;t conference and birdfair 'Celebrating Birds’ in Howth. Co. Dublin, during 19th-21st November 1992. 1 he IWC combines for Ireland the roles carried out in Britain by the BTC), the RSPB and the- county and regional clubs and soc i- eties all with the number ol stall reminiscent of the BTO's early days. It deserves support Irom anyone with any interest m or connection with Irish ornithology. I'he address to write to is Ruttledge House. 8 Longford Place. Monkstown, ( !<>. Dublin. ( JTRS Unstreaked Aero ID II you are a warbler buff, vou will want to get hold ol the latest issue of IJmicula veil. 7, no. I. February 19921. Over 60° ii ol the issue 24/56 pages) is de- voted to a paper by Karl Schulzc-Hagen and Peter H. Barthel on the identification of Euro- pean unstreaked Acroiephalus warblers. The text is in (Herman, of course, but the captions to illustrations have short English versions and the paper has a detailed, one-page English summary. I here is a fine' selection of 29 pho- tographs all but four in colour) and two colour plates. I 'he colour printing of the photographs and plates in the paper was sponsored bv Curl K^v.v (>erman)\ the sponsors ol the British Birds Rarities Committee. I he subscription pric e of I./muok outside Germany is DM69. and back issues cost DM16. The address to write to is I hieplatz 6 \. ()T Hollcnsiedi. D-2110 Xortheim 12. Germany. Christmas bloomer We apologise for giving an incorrect solution to the Christmas puzzle tint. Birth 85: page- xiii in the December issue; 86: 126). The sequence should have been: I, ARK. lack, lock rack', look rocki. ROOK . . . COOT, cook hoot/loot). cock hook/look i, lock (hock), luck (dock), DUCK ... 1 he mistake was ours; all three winning entries were- correc t. Eds OBC in Manchester I he Oriental Bird Clubs all-dav Manchester meeting will be held on 12th June, at the United Reform Churc h l lall. Elm Road, Cat- lev. Manchester. For further dentils, telephone Die k filby on Norwich i()602' 767757. Beds Bird Club flow good, these davs. to be able to give news ol co-operation. After lengths negotiations and a couple ol lively public meetings, common sense has prevailed and the newlv formed Bed- fordshire Bird Club has formally been accepted as the ornithological section of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society. I'he spectre ol two opposing groups in the county has, thus, been exorcised, to the benefit ol both organisations, all the birdwatchers and the future of Bedfordshire ornithology . Well done to all those concerned! Other counties please take- note . . For membership details iof both the BBC and the 11NI IS. write to Mary Sheridan, 28 Chestnut Hill. I.inslade, Leighton Buzzard l.l r ik. Mews and comment 275 The sparrows fall? I wo or three years ago, House Sparrows Passer domeslicus were a menace at my peanut feeders in winlei, and chattered from the eaves in summer. No more. ‘Fountains' is chirrup- less. A purely local decline? Recently, un- prompted, strangers have in conversation on learning that 1 am a birdwatcher asked me \\ here have all the sparrows gone?' Not covered by the BTO's Common Birds Census (because they were loa common?), this decline. i( there is one, has probably gone al- most unnoticed and certainly is not properly documented. Has there been a population crash? How widespread is it? Has it affected urban as well as peripheral rural areas? Are vour House Sparrows as frequent as they were a lew years ago? ( JTRSi BoPs in USSR Raptor-Link is a new, independent, three-times- a-vear newsletter devoted to birds of prey and owls in the area of the former USSR. l’he eight-page, first-ever issue, published in March, simultaneously in Russia and in the West, contains a total of 18 news items, with all text in both English and Russian. One re- port concerns the accidental killing of Snowy Owls . \ ydea scanduica in traps set on koga (arti- ficial peat cones) for Arctic foxes Alapex lagopus (one mapper alone had killed 53 Snowy Owls); another concerns surveys of nesting Steller's Sea Eagles Haliaeelus pelagian, and Ospreys Pan dion haliaetus in northeast Siberia by means of a two-seater microlight. A subscription to Raptor-Link costs £5 or S7.50 I k. £6.50 or $10 (Europe) or £8 or SI 2 elsewhere); or add an extra £8 to cover bank charges if sending other currencies. Sub- scriptions should be sent to the editor/ pub- lisher, Eugene Potapov, c/o Edward Grey Institute for Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road. Oxford o\i :tps. Pagham Harbour hide A new hide, donated by Aar Optical (1962), has been installed at Pagham Harbour Local Na- ture Reserve, W est Sussex. It is located on the Pagham Spit, giving excellent views over the harbour and shingle banks. Access is from Pagham Village mot the Sidlesham side) and is a short walk from the Pagham Spit car park (grid ref. SZ880962). Tim Dean goes north Tim Dean, Warden of Walnex Nature Re- serve since 1979, is leaving to take up a post with the RSPB in Orkney (his first love . Tim has become well known among bird- watchers, especially in Cumbria, and has taken a lead in conservation and birdwatching w ithin the area. Walncy hits developed greatly under his care, and he has published the book on The .\atural Histoiy of If alney Island (1990, reviewed Brit. Birds 84: 521 . 1 Contributed by John 1 1 1 Ison BOU at Losehill Hal] The British Ornithologists' Union found a splendid new conference venue in the centre of the Peak District for its spring conference on ■Reproductive competition: extra-pair paternity and intra-specific brood parasitism'. 1 he en- thusiasm of those investigating the mechanisms and implications of sperm competition created an exciting conference atmosphere, with very lively and constructive discussions after each formal contribution. The conference composi- tion. with participants from more than a dozen countries, had been aided by the Union's new policy of providing small grants to enable some overseas delegates to attend. Regular participants at other ornithological meetings would have been surprised to find the relatively equal (3:2) male to female ratio at this conference. It is not, however, possible to report on the influence this may have had on the incidence of l.PCs following the Satur- day night ceilidh. Perhaps it was as well that we were already weary after the afternoon's jaunts among the region's peaks. The permanent memory of this conference, however, will be the demonstration that the BOU is very much at the forefront of ornithol- ogy in Britain. Anyone who thinks otherwise should go to one of the Union's forthcoming conferences. For details, or to join the BOl . write to the Administrative Secretary, BOl . c/o The Natural History Museum, Sub-De- partment of Ornithology, I ring, Hertfordshire. News and comment 276 The last pigeon post March 1993 saw the end oi call-up and mili- tary -reservist status for Trances three million or so racing and homing pigeons (both Columba Iwm the end of a long and famous tradition which has involved not only professional, serv- ing pigeons, but also a great mam wartime conscripts. 1 he sole military pigeon post is now with the 8th Signals Regiment, just out- side Paris, with 100 birds on the strength. ‘Alauda’ The French journal Alauda. published bv the Societe d F ludes Ornithologiques. helpfully in- cludes a contents list in English. The rarities report for 1991 . compiled b\ Philippe ). Dubois, in the latest issue (volume 00. number 4 also includes an English summary . There is no colour, but the paper quality is much im- proved nowadays, so the black-and-white pho- tographs are very well reproduced. Foi subscription details, write to Museum National cl Histoire Nalurelle, Eaboratoire d’Ecologie ( lenerale. I avenue du Petit-Chateau. 91800 Brunov. France. ‘Suffolk Birds’ Proudly bearing on its cover the winner’s 'rosette its 1 he Best Annual Bird Report 1990. following the success of Suffolk Birds last year Bril. Birds 8 >: 209-308 . the latest annual report runs to a massive 174 pages for just / i-OO. As well as the excellent svstematic list documenting 1991 records, there are papers on Eagle Owls Bubo bubo. I Xing-tailed Skuas Slerrorarius longiiaudus, and breeding waders and waterfowl, and notes on 1 1 of the county's major rarities, with appropriate drawings and photographs. Great value! Copies of Suffolk Birds 1992 can be obtained from 'The Editor, c/o The Museum. High Street, Ipswich [Pi :iQH. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Britton — Northeast Dave Holman — East Anglia Anthony McGeehan — Northern Ireland Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Dr Kenny Taylor — Scotland David Tomlinson — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales Keith Vinicombe — Southwest John Wilson — Northwest Opinions expressed in this feature are ‘You the Jury’ This is a new feature, iniliallv planned to run 10 six articles, in the magazine Budwatch. Mock submissions to the British Birds Rarities ( Com- mittee are published and readers are invited to judge whether to accept or reject the record as 11 they are members ol the BBRC. In the fol- lowing issue, BBRC! members Dr Colin Brad- shaw and Rob Hume give their verdict and reasons. The aim of this feature is to try to ex- plain in simple terms and demonstrate the pro- cess ol record assessment by the BBRC. 1 he first such hypothetical record claim, published in the April 1993 issue, relates to an Alpine Swift seen in Sussex on 3rd May 1992. We and also the BBRC s sponsors. Carl fftss Germany welcome this venture bv Bird- watch. Senior BB subscriber Major R. I Ruttledge. an Honorarv Sub- scriber since 1986, admits to having been a BB subscriber for at least 69 years, since 1923. and perhaps earlier, since lie has issues from 1919 and 1921. 1 his beats R. B. Warren’s and Stephen Marchant s records (Bril. Birds 85: 386: 86: 30) by a dozen y ears. W e are grateful to John Barlee for drawing this to our atten- tion. New Recorders Richard Allison. 40 Mulberry Close. Chester- ton. Cambridge cm 2.\s. has taken over from Colin Finland as Recorder for the old county of ( lambridgeshire. John M. Clark. 4 Cy gnet Court. Old Cove Road. Fleet. Hampshire ( ; t I : t hri, has taken over from Eddie Wiseman as Rccordei for Hampshire. Steven j. Moon. Kenfig Reserve Centre. Ion Kenfig, Pyle, Mid Glamorgan < I it tPT. has taken over from J. R. Smith as Recordet for Mid Glamorgan. Silly corner We enjoyed 'Piped Wagslall' in the British Steel Corporation's Shrl .Yens, but were mvsti- fierl bv the mention in the bicestn Mercun of the very rare Gibbet frail seen at Rutland Water. (>. R. Walker hits sent us this gem: The special Egyptian swallow is like ns cousins but the whole of its underpants are red.' He spot- ted it in Swan Hellenics . \dr Cruisr handbook (12th ed. 1 989 . not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Diary dates This list covers July 1993 to June 1994 29th July to 13th August SOCIETY OK Wild like Artists' Annual Exhibition in- cluding display of winning entries in ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and 'The Richard Richardson Award’ competitions). The Mall Galleries, The Mall. London SWl. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission £2.00 free to SWLA members). 20th-22nd August British Birdwatching I AIR. Eglcton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water, Leicestershire. Enquiries to Tim Appleton, fishponds Cottage, Stamford Road, Oakham, Leicestershire i.K.lo hab. 29th August Oriental Bird Cu b Meet- INCi. Blakeney Village Hall. Blakeney, Norfolk. Details from OBC, c/o I he Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. 8th-10th September BOL AUTl'MN Meet- ing. Diseases and parasites in birds.’ Mading- ley Hall. Cambridge. Details from Dr Alistair Dawson, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood Experimental Station, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PEI7 2I.S. llth-15th September First EUROPEAN Meeting ok ihe Rapkor Research Foun- dation/Hawk & Owe Trust. University of Kent. Details from Dr Mike Nicholls, Pro- gramme Co-ordinator, Christ Church College, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent cti IQU. 2nd October RSPB AGM. Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London. Details from Events Department, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI9 2DL. 29th-31st October Scottish Or.NI I HOI.O- gis'i s’ Club Annual Conkerenoe. Badcnoch Hotel, Aviemore. Details from SOC, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh K.KI7 ,>BT. 19th-21st November IRISH WlI.DBIRD CON- SERVANCY Conference vnd Birdkair. ‘Cele- brating birds.’ Howth. Co. Dublin. Details from 1WC, Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. 19th-21st November Set) KUSH RlNGERS* CoNKERENCE. Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar. De- tails from Bernard Zonfrillo, 28 Brodie Road, Glasgow G2l :iSB. 3rd-5th December B I O ANNUAL CoNKER- ENCI. & AGM. ’Migration.’ Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. Details from B IX), The National Centre for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2Pl . 11th December OBC AGM. Zoological So- ciety meeting rooms, Regent’s Park, London (to be confirmed). Details from OBC. 7th- 9th January B IX) RINGING AND MIGRA- TION Conkerence. Hayes Conference Centre. Details from Jacquie Clark, BIO. 31st January Closing date for entries for Bird Photograph of the Year’. 15th March Closing date for entries for ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’. 6th- 10th April BOL' CONKERENCE Bird Conservation in action.’ Shuttleworth Agricul- tural College, Bedfordshire. Details from Nicola Crockford, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire sgi<> 2DL. 8th- 10th April RSPB Members' Weekend. W arwick University. Details from Events De- partment, RSPB. Mrs S. I). Cobban Fountains , Park Line, Blunham, Bedford Mh'44 3.\J 277 European news This regular six-monthly feature summarises information for the whole of Europe and adjacent parts of the Western Palearctic to complement the records published in the annual reports of the British Birds Rarities Commit- tee and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel and the periodic reports on scarce migrants in Britain and Ireland (e.g. Brit. Birds 85: 507-554; 86: 62-90; 85: 631-635). Details ol all recent records have been supplied by the official national cor- respondents (see list at end ol this report), and relevant published records have also been extracted for earlier years from the major national journals. 1 hese summaries aim to include all records of: (1) significant breeding- range expansions or contractions; (2) major irruptions of erupting species; (3) Asiatic vagrants; (4) Ncarctic species; (5) other extralimital vagrants; and (6) major national rarities, even if common elsewhere in Europe. I his report includes records from 30 countries. Unless otherwise stated, all records refer to single individuals Records siill awaiting formal ratification by the relevant national rarities committee are indicated bv an asterisk!*) Soft-plumaged/Madeira/Cape Verde Petrel Pterodroma mollis/ P. madeira/ P. feae NKTHKR lands First record: Gamperduin, Xoordholland, on 24th October 1992*. Bulwer’s Petrel Buhveria buhverii canary is- l.VN'DS Census: 1 ,000 pairs in 1907. Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelk mum NORWAY Fifth record: adult at Lista fyr, l arsund, Vest-Agder, on 9th May 1991 previ- ous four records were in 1867, 1968, 1981 and 1988). Little Shearwater Puffin us assimilu ITALY l’hird or first) record: Fadispoli, Rome, on 2 fird May 1990 (two previous records dubi- ous). Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodronui castro i ram I . Fourth record: Mocze, ( Iharcnte-Mar- itime, on fth December 1992* second and third were on I nth October 1987 and on 16th August 1988). Shag Phalacrocomx arislnte/is SWKDLN Influxes: 75 in 1991, mostly in March and November only 65 prev ious records: 1 dr lutgetv. 51: 19). Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocoriix a/ricanus kcypi Second record since 19011: adult at Abu Simbel on 21ird-24th October 1992 first was in 1988, Courser 4: 59-67; Bid. Birds 84: 2). Pink-backed Pelican Peletanus rufescens FRANCK Fourth and fifth records presumed escapes): Landes on 4th-6th September 1991 Alnuda 60: 219s and two at clang tie Canipig- nol, I Icrault, on 10th August 1992* previous records were during August 1988 to April 1990, Bril. Birds 8.4: 444). Great Bittern BoUiwvs stelhris I VRot. islands ITiircl record: dead at Ryskivatn. Sudurov, on 24th Mav 1990. SPAIN Recovery: 29-140 boom- ing males in 1991, half in Catalonia; first breeding record for Mallorca: three booming males and juveniles at Albufera lagoon in 1992 (cl. decline noted Brit. Birds 82: 1121-1122). Night Heron Yyrticorax nycticornx ICKI.AND Fourth record: 211rd June 1987 t Bliki 10: ID. Cattle Egret Bububus ibis IRANCK Northerly breeding records: pair in Marne and two pairs in btiie dr Somme alter spring influx Brit. Birds 278 | Bril. Krrt\ H(>: .'Tti-'J'IS, June 19't:i] 279 European news 86. 37). SPAIN Winter census for Iberian Penin- sula: 152,000-160,000 in 1991/92 (Airo 3: 41- 54). Little Egret Kgretta garzetta SPAIN Winter cen- sus for Iberian Peninsula: 9,700-9,900 in 1991/92 (Airo 3: 41-54). Grey Heron Ardea cinerea AUSTRIA Census: 1 ,000- 1 , 1 00 pairs breeding in 1 992. Black Stork Ciconia nigra SWF.DEN First con- tinued breeding record since 1953: two adults and one young in Skane during summer 1992. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus FRANCK Influx: 24 records involving 58 individuals, mostly during April-August 1991, including three pail's breeding in Camargue (Alautla 60: 201). African Spoonbill Pkilalea alba FRANCK Pre- sumed escapes: Eure on 9th October 1990 (third in 1990; eight previous records involving live individuals; Alauda 60: 219; Brit. Birds 85: 445), baie de l’Aiguillon, Vendee, on 8th- 10th October 1992*, and, probably same, at Beau- voir-sur-Mer, Vendee, on 6th January 1993*. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber MALTA Vagrants: (lock of 38 in October 1992 (rare and irregular, but occurring more frequently in recent years). Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor KG API lirst record: Abu Simbcl on 27th November 1992. Mute Swan Cygnus olor MALTA Influx: 25 in January 1993 (last influx in December 1984, Brit. Birds 78: 339). Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus SI.OVKNIA Sec- ond record in last 50 years: Cerknisko jezero on 15th December 1991 (previous record was in March 1987). Barnacle Goose Branla leucopsis DKNMARK Highest-ever count: 26,700 passing Dovns Klint, Langeland, on 3rd October 1992. swk- DKN Correction: first breeding was in 1971, not in 1975 (Bril. Birds 86: 38). Red-breasted Goose Branla mficollis NOR- WAY Third and fourth records: Sellevoll, Andoy, Nordland, during 11th- 14th May 1991, and Lorasleirct, Inderoy, Not'd- fronde- lag, on 15th September 1991. Ruddy Shelduck Tadoma Jbruginea SI.OVKNIA '■Second record in last 50 years: five at Ormosko jezero on 8th September 1991 (pre- vious record was in March 1984). Common Shelduck Tadoma tadoma ICKIAND First breeding record: pair bred in 1990 (Bliki 12: 9-10). Wood Duck A ix sponsa Poland Presumed escape: male from 24th December 1985 to 14th March 1986 ( Nolatki Om. 29: 64;. Mandarin Duck Aix galericulala KAROK IS- LANDS fifth record: male at Vestmanna, Strcy- moy, on 27th April 1992 (fourth was in 1984, Bril. Birds 77: 587). American Wigeon Ana.', americana ICKIAND Vagrants: three records in 1990, bringing total to 72 ( Bliki 12: 22). KITHUANIA First record: male on Kursiu Marios Gulf at Venles Ragas on 18th September 1991. SWKDKN Thirteenth record: adult male on 24th May 1991 (Var Fdgelv. 51: 19). Baikal Teal Anas fonnosa FRANCK Tenth record this century: lst-9th December 1991 (Alauda 60: 202). POLAND First record: male on 27th May 1987 ( Nolatki Om. 30: 60). Common Teal Anas crecca ICKIAND Vagrants: five records ol Nearctic race carolinensis in 1990, bringing total to 72 (Bliki 12: 23). NOR- WAY Third and sixth to ninth records of Nearctic race carolinensis : 16th April 1988, 1 5th-26th April 1991, 1 2th-3 1st May 1991, 25th-26lh April 1992 and 23rd May 1992 (records in April 1989 and May 1990, Brit. Birds 86: 38, become fourth and fifth). American Black Duck Anas rubripes ICKIAND Twentieth record: female on 11th May 1990 ( Bliki 12: 23; eighteenth and nineteenth were in June 1989, Bril. Birds 86: 38). Garganey Anas querquedula FAROK ISLANDS Fifth record: male on Sandsvatn, Sandoy, on 5th May 1990. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors CANARY IS- LANDS Second record and first for Tenerife: juvenile in October 1992*. ICKIAND Eighth record: female on 2nd October 1988 (Bliki 10: 22). morocco Ninth record: male at Oued Massa on 10th January 1993. NORWAY First record: adult male at Bjterangsoyra, Meloy, Nordland, from 19th June to 3rd July 1991. swn'/.K.Ri AND First and second records: males on 5th April 1978 and 24lh April 1989 both now accepted as being of wild origin (Om. Beob. 89: 260). Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata FAROK IS- LANDS Fourth record: male and female on Hoyvikstjorn on 2nd June 1988. MOROCCO Continued increase in winter: 12,472 in Jan- uary 1988, 15,700 in January 1989, 23,254 in January 1990 and 26,742 in January 1991 (highest-ever winter count); second breeding record: female with three young at Sidi Bou 280 Rhaba Reserve on 2nd June 1992 (first breed- ing record was in 1971). Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris I RANCH I bird to fifth records since 1981: male on 1 0th- 1 7 th August 1991 and probable juve- nile in Oise from 22nd August to 2nd Septem- ber 1991 ( Alauda 60: 202); one in Camargue on 30th December 1992*. MOROCCO Mid-win- ter census: 852 in January 1991, mainly at lake de Sidi Bou Rhaba (478) and Oued Massa (350). SWIT/KRIAND First and second records (presumed escapes): 30th August to 6th September 1991 and 22nd September 1991 (Om. Beob. 89: 259). Red-crested Pochard Aetla rufina SPAIN Suc- cessful reintroduction project in Mallorca: at least 12 pairs bred and 26 young raised at Al- bufera Lagoon. Common Pochard Aythya ferina lAROK is- lands Fifth record: male on Grothusvatn, San- doy, on 5th May 1990 (fourth was in November 1 982. Brit. Birds 76: 567). Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris FRANCK Vagrants: four males during Januarv-May 1991 (21 previous records, involving 22 indi- viduals; Alauda 60: 202). swkdkn Fourteenth and fifteenth records: adult male on 27th November 1991 (I dr Fdgelr. 51(7-8): 20j. and single at Lake Rosjon, Skane, on 13th-23rd Januarv 1993*. s\vi l/.KRlANl) Twelfth record: female on 17th March 1991; also in 1991, an overwintering male from December 1990 was seen in January and April Om. Beob. 89: 255). Common Eider Somateria molU.ssima poiand First breeding record: female with seven young in Gdansk on 29th June 1989. King Eider Somateria spectabilis Dl.NMARK T hird summer record: female at 01semagle Revle. Zealand, on 3rd-24lh August 1992*. FRANCK. Filth record: subadult male at Plouguerneau, Finistere, on 22nd November and 19th-20th December 1992*. Harlequin Duck Histrionic us histrionicus l .1 1 HI ASIA First record: male on Kursiu Mar- ios Gulf at Ventes Ragas on 18th December 1991. Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata ICKI.AND 1 wentieth and twenty-first records: male on 28th Mav to 23rd June 1990. and 2nd-3rd July 1990 {Bliki 12: 25). POIANI) First record: adult male on 7th January 1988 Xotatki Om. 31: 71 . SPAIN Sixth record: male and female at Donana, Huelva, on 6th February 1991 (previ- ous records were in 1983 and 1988. Brit. Birds 83: 224). swkdkn Vagrants: adult males on 7th European news May, 24th May and 17th June 1991 (32 previ- ous records; 1 ’dr Pagein. 51: 20). Bufllehead Bucephala albeola PORTCCAl First record: female at Sado Estuary from 24th Jan- uary to 7th February 1993*. Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica FRANCK Third record this century: probable fe- male on 2nd-30th December 1989 (Alauda 60: 202). Common Goldeneye Bucephala c/augu/a BR- IAR US Increase in wintering population: 100- 120 at Lukoml Power Station, Vitebsk region, in February 1993 (20-30 in 1981). Hooded Merganser Metgus accullatus FRANC1 I bird record: male at Rhinau, Bas-Rhin, from II th November 1992 to at least 9th January 1993*. NORWAY Fourth record: Hoplafjorden and Hammervatnet, I .evanger, Nord-Tronde- lag, from 1 3th Januarv to 20th April 1991. SWKDKN Presumed escape: male on 16th-] 7th May 1991 ( Jar Fagelv. 51: 30); others were seen in 1992 (Brit. Birds 86: 39). Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis let. t and First breeding record: pair bred in 1990 Bliki 12: 27). morocco First record: male and three fe- males at Merja Halloufa (also sighted at Mcrja Bagha. both localities north of Merja Zerga) from early December 1992 to at least 16th Januarv 1993*. portcoai. First record: Quinta do Lago development. Ria Formosa, Algarve, on 14th November 1991 (at least one possible previous record under investigation). SPAIN In- crease in south and southeast: apparent inter- breeding with White-headed Duck 0. leucocephala in at least two instances. White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala SPAIN Recovery continuing: 786 in Januarv 1992. UKRAINK Vagrants: female on 23rd October 1985 [Cat. Om. West. Reg. Cbaine 2: 2F; tin- other in April 1988 Brit. Buds 83: It) . Honey-buzzard Berms apworus < /I t II Ri.pt B- I.ic Census total: 600-850 pairs in 1985-811. I ranch High autumn passage numbers: 18,100 at Orgambidexka. I Vrenees-Atlan- tiques, and 2.200 at monlagne de la Serrc, Puy-de-Dome, in 1992. It i hand Third record: 5th September 1988 i Bliki 10: 25). Black-shouldered Kite Flanus caeruleus Nl. l HKRl.ANDs Second record: Ha/eldonk, Noordbrabani, on 24th October 1992*. Black Kite Mill as migrans c/.l.cit RKPI BlJc Census total: 70-90 pairs in 1985-89. FRANCO Autumn passage: 12,100 at Orgambidexka, lVrenees-Atlanliques in 1992. European news Red Kite Milvus mihus CZECH REPUBLIC Cen- sus total: 30-50 pairs in 1985-89. Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucorypkus POLAND Deletion: records in March and April 1992 Brit. Birds 80: 39) now rejected. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla POLAND Census: 210-240 pairs in 1992 (slow increase). SWEDEN Slow recovery: about 150 pairs hatched about 95 young in 1992. UKRAINE Census: 40-45 pairs in 1 990-9 1 . Lammergeier Gypaetus barbalus SPAIN In- crease: up to 53 territories in Spanish Pyrenees in 1991 (cl'. 40 pairs in 1986, Bril. Birds 81: 15). Riippell’s Griffon Vulture Gyps rueppellii SPAIN Vagrant: one with Griffon Vultures G. Julvus near \ aleneia de Alcantara, Caceres province, from April 1990 to June 1992, and perhaps same at Donana National Park, Huelva, on 21st-22nd October 1992* (origin unknown). Monk Vulture Aegypius monachus FRANCE Fifth record this century: Aude on 29th April 1991 ( Alauda 60: 204j; later record in Gruissan, Aude, on 15th October 1992* was probably one of four released in the Cevennes in recent reintroduction programme. Marsh Harrier Cirrus aeruginosas CZECH re- public Census total: 900-1,200 pairs in 1985- 89. Norway Fifth breeding record: pair raised three young in Ostfold count) during 4th May to about 23rd July 1991 (fourth breeding record also in Qstlbld county in 1990, Brit. Birds 85: 447). Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus CZECH REPUBLIC Census total: 50-80 pairs in 1985-89. Montagu’s Harrier Cirrus pygargus CZECH REPUBLIC Census total: 20-30 pairs in 1985-89. POLAND Large increase: about 50 new breed- ing pairs in 1992, occupying new areas (Silesia, Lublin region) and new habitats (agricultural land, whereas previously occurred only in wet- lands). Northern Goshawk Arripiter gentiles CZECH REPUBLIC Census total: 2,000-2,800 pairs in 1985-89. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Arripiter nisus CZECH REPUBLIC Census total: 3,200-3,900 (pairs in 1985-89. ICELAND Fourth record: 19th October 1988 (Bliki 10: 25). I Common Buzzard Buteo bitten CZECH REPUB- LIC Census total: 9,500-13,000 pairs in 1985- 89. 281 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus HUNGARY first breeding record: one young Hedged suc- cessfully on the Hortobagy in June 1992. SWE- DEN Fifth record: 9th and 21st October 1991 ( Var F'agelv. 5 1 : 20). Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina CZECH REPUBLIC Census total: three to six pairs in 1985-89. FRANCE Influx: Gruissan, Aude, on 10th August 1992*, immature at Saint-Denis- du-Payte, Vendee, on 13th- 18th August 1992*, in baie de Seine, Seine-Maritime, on 20th Au- gust 1992*, at Frasnes, Doubs, on 12th September 1992*, adult at Daubensand. Bas- Rhin, on 30th September 1992*, juvenile at Gruissan on 12th October 1992* (twelfth to seventeenth records this century). Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis NORWAY Third and fourth records: adult male at Boslrand, Ballangen. Nordland, on 17th- 19th May 1989 and second-year male showing characteristics of race orientalis at Brekken, Sor-i rondelag, on 22nd July 1991 (previous records were in Au- gust 1973 and July 1983). Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus NETHER- LANDS First record: Leersum, Utrecht, on 30th May 1992. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni UKRAINE Cen- sus: 35-45 pairs in 1 990-9 1 . Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus CZECH RE- PUBLIC Census total: 9,000-13,000 pairs in 1985-89. American Kestrel Falco sparverius SWITZER- LAND First record (presumed escape): 15th De- cember 1990 (Om. Beob. 89: 259). Red-footed Falcon Falco vesperlinus AUSTRIA First breeding record since 1982: small colony, with three pairs in eastern Austria. CZECH RE- PUBLIC: Census: up to five pairs in 1985-89. ICELAND Third record: male on lBth April 1 985 (Bliki 6: 43). Hobby Fako subbuteo cxecfi REPUBLIC Census total: 150-230 pairs in 1985-89. Eleonora’s Falcon Falro eleonorae POLAND Fourth record: pale-phase near Wicko on Baltic coast on 12th August 1992. SWEDEN Sixth record: Falsterbo, Skane, on 19th-24th August 1992*. Saker Falcon Falco chemtg CZECH REPUBLIC Census: eight to 12 pairs in 1985-89. UKRAINE Census: 35-40 pairs in 1990-91. Peregrine Falcon P'a/co peregiinus CZECH RE- PUBLIC Census: up to three pairs in 1985-89. ICELAND Third and fourth records: 16th Octo- 282 ber 1986 and 23rd December 1988 (Bliki 10: 26; 12: 27). Water Rail Rallus aquatints BKLARUS Second winter record: two at LukomI sewage-ponds in February 1993 (first record was in January 1954). Corn Crake Crex crex FRANCK Decline: only 670 males in almost complete census in 1991. Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrula alleni SPAIN Sev - enth record: immature at Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz province, on 31st March 1990. American Purple Gallinule Porphyrula mar tinica canary inlands First record: juvenile on Tenerife in October 1992*. Purple Swamp-hen Porphyria porphyria FRANCK Vagrant: one shot at etang du Gapes- tand. Herault, in September 1992* (Spanish- ringed, from reintroduction scheme in Catalo- nia). SPAIN Successful reintroduction projects: breeding confirmed at Albufera de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, and at Aiguamolls de l’Em- porda, Girona province, in 1992. Common Crane Crus gnis CZKCH RKPUBI.IO Increasing: four to six pairs in northern Bo- hemia in 1990; one pair bred in western Bo- hemia in 1992 (cf. first breeding in Czechoslovakia in 1989, Brit. Birds 80: +24). Portia, VI. Winter population estimate: 2,076 in February 1992 [Aim 3: 55-58). Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo NKTHKR- I AN'Ds Correction: first record (two adults in Juiy-September 1989, Brit. Birds 84: 5, of which one presumably present until at least summer 1992) now considered to have been escapes, swf.DKN Ninth record: 15th May 1991 ( Var Paged. 51: 21). Stone-curlew Burkinas oiedicnemus NKTHKR- i.ands Summering: Zwanerwater, Noord- holland, from 4th June to August 1992 (the first holding territory since last breeding in 1957). Collared Pratincole Glareola pralincola tkraink Vagrant: 22nd September 1984 {Cal. (tin. West. Res. Ukraine 2: 35). Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni CROATIA First record: 31 si May 1990 ( Aero - cephalus 55: 182). iatvia First record: Nagli, Rezekne district, on 3rd August 1992. mo- rocco Second record: Oued Massa on 1 6th- 18th November 1992* (first was in April 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 18). Killdeer Plover Charadrius von ferns tranct. Sixth record: 1’inistere on 6th- 11th February 1991 (Alaiula 60: 206). ( This species is amaz- European news ingly scarce in Europe outside Britain and Ire- land, with only four recent records notified to ‘European news’: Switzerland in December 1977, Romania in September 1985, Hungary in November-December 1986 and Spain in September 1988.) Kentish Plover Charadrius alexaiulrinus PoiANl) First breeding record: female giving distraction display at V istula mouth on 28th Mav 1992, female and two males there two days later, and juvenile in July. Pacific Golden Plover Plurialis fiida SWF.DKN Sixth and eleventh records: adults on 7th Au- gust 1987 and 8th July 1991 [Var Paged. 51: 21). American Golden Plover Plurialis dominica l-'RANCK 1 enth to twelfth records: adults on 29th-3 1 st May 1991 and 27th August 1991, and juvenile on 17th September 1991 (Alauda 60: 207). Sociable Lapwing Chetlusia gregaria FRANC I Twenty-eighth record: 12th March 1991 [Alauda 60: 207). HUNGARY Third and fourth records: adults near Euldpszallas on 24th-25th April 1992 and on the Hortobagy on 9th Oc- tober 1992. ITALY High numbers: 12 at Patitel- leria Airport on 16th September 1990. POLAND Fifth record: adult at YVysoka, near Pila, on 5th April 1992 (fourth was in April 1986, Bril. Birds 80: 11). Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla FRANC 1. Eighth record: adult at Penestin. Morbihan, on 12th September 1992. White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollui FRANCK Seventh record: first-summer on 5th June 1991 (Alauda 60: 207). ICKIAND Thirty- sixth to thirty-eighth records: 28th-30th July 1990, 29th July 1990 and 6th October 1990 ■ Bliki 12: 30). Norway Seventh record: Orin, Verdal and Rinnleiret, Eev anger, Nord-Tron- delag, on 14th July 1991. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii FRANC I Seventh and eighth records: juv eniles on 18th September 1991 and 27 th-29th September 1991 (Alauda 60: 208). Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris rnelanotos CANARY ISLANDS Vagrant: Tenerife during September- October 1992*. DKNMARK Fifteenth and six- teenth records: Kallogra, Eolland, on 8th- 1 2th August 1992* and Borreby Most’, Zealand, on 27th July to 1st August 1992*. FRANC I Va- grants: six in September 1991 (Alauda 60: 208) and 12 during August-Nov ember 1992. POLAND lentil to twelfth records: 3rd-8th May 1989, I0th-20th September 1989 and 11th- European neivs •3th September 1989 (A otalki Om. 27: 172; 29: 141; 32: 130). SWEDEN Vagrants: nine in 1991, one in May, two in July, one in August and live in September (also one late report, for July 1 990; Var Fageh. 5 1 : 22). Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficoF lis CANARY ISLANDS Vagrant: Tenerife in Octo- ber 1992*. prance Vagrants: three in September-October 1991 {Alauda 60: 209). POLAND Sixth and seventh records: 11th Au- gust 1988 and 27th July 1989 ( Notatki Om. 31: 74; 32: 131); tenth record and lirst in spring: Biebr/.a Marshes on 20th May 1992 (eighth and ninth noted Bril. Birds 85: 450-451). Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus KRANCE Twenty-third and twenty- fourth records: 15th- 18th September 1991 ( Alauda 60: 209) and Brenne on 18th-24th Oc- tober 1992*. Slender-billed Curlew .Xumenm tmuirostris GREECE Vagrants: two at Porto Lagos on 13th May 1988. morocco Wintering: two in 1991/92 stayed until 2nd February 1992 (Brit. Birds 85: 45 1); in winter 1992/93, two from 10th November 1992 to at least 1 6th January 1993. (We are publishing all records received of this species.) Spotted Redshank Triiiga aylhmpus ICELAND Fifth record: 16th September 1988 (Bliki 10: 30). Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus prance First breeding record: pair in Briere, Loire- Atlantique, in 1992. ICELAND Second record: 7th May 1988 (Bliki 10: 30). Spotted Sandpiper Aclilis mandarin PRANCE Fifth record: juvenile on Ouessant, Finistere, on 7th- 18th September 1992*. ' Willet Catnplrnphorus semipalrnatus NORWAY First record: first-winter at Molen and Omlid- stranda, Larvik, Vestfold, on 14th October and from 19th October 1992 to 23rd March 1993* 283 (plates 76 & 81). (First Finnish record was in September 1983, Bril. Birds 77: 237.) Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor PRANCE Vagrants: five records involving at least six individuals in September-October 1 99 1 (Alauda 60: 209). Pomarine Skua Slercorarius pomarinus SWITZERLAND Influx: four in September- Dec.embcr 1991 (Om. Beob. 89: 256). Arctic Skua Slercorarius parasiticus SLOVENIA Second record this century: two at Ptujsko jezero on 22nd October 1989. Long-tailed Skua Slercorarius lungicaudus SWITZERLAND Influx: at least nine and perhaps over 60, mostly in September 1991 (Om. Beob. 89: 256; cl. 30 records in France involving at least 149 individuals during August-November 1991. Brit. Birds 85: 451-452). Great Skua Slercorarius skua LATVIA Fifth record: off Salacgrtva, Limbazi district, on 2nd March 1992 (previous records were in Septem- ber/October 1967, 1977 and 1983). White-eyed Gull l/irus leuaiphthalmus EGYPT Large concentration: about 4,500 at Hurghada on 21st October 1992. Great Black-headed Gull Imiiis ichlhyaelus AUSTRIA First or second record: adult at Rheindelta, Lake of Constance, Vorarlberg, on 30th September and 2nd October 1992 (first record under review). ISRAEL Winter influx: total of 1,500-2,000 during winter 1992/93, including concentration of about 1,1 00 in Bet Shcan Valley, northern Israel, during January- February 1993. POLAND Fifth and sixth records: immature on 30th September 1989 . Volalki Om. 32: 133) and adult at M arta River, near Kolo, on 5th June 1992. UKRAINE Va- grant: 15th August 1985 Cat. Om. West. Res. I kraine 2: 36). Laughing Gull Lams atricilla FRANCE Twelfth and fourteenth records: first-winter on 15th December 1990 (Alauda 60: 211), and second- 76. F irst-winter Willet Caloplrophorus semipalrnatus. Norway, October 1992 i Hakim Heggland ) 284 w inter at Annbouts-C kippel. Nord, on 8th- 1 3th November 1992*. Franklin’s Gull hints pipixcan Ml NGARY First record: adult winter near Korosladanv on 19th September 1992. sp.\l\ Fourth record: lirst- winter at Delta del IJobregat. Barcelona, from 26th December 1990 to loth January 1991. swi.l il'.N Seventh record: atlult on I9th-21st Julv 1991 I dr Frigelv. 5 1 : 23). Sabine’s Gull lams snbini GIBR.vi.l \R Second and third records: immature at Kttropa Point on 10th April 1992 and adult on Ibth August 1992 first was in November 1987, .Unions 7: 22: Brit. Birds 8 1 : 334 . Bonaparte’s Gull lanis Philadelphia I R.Wt 1 fourth record: adult on ile de Xoirmoutier. \ entice, on 14th August 1992*. Grey-headed Gull lams eirrocephalus GIBRAL- TAR First record: juvenile on 17th August 1992 onlv previous records noted in 'European news have related to Israel, Jordan and Tunisia. Brit. Bints 83: 12; 84: 7 . Slender-billed Gull larus grnei sLOV I.NI v Second and third records: Race Ponds on 1 1th April 1990 and Sefovije Salinas on 10th-31st March 1991 first was in Julv 1989. Audouin’s Gull lams audouinii kgypi First record since 1981: up to two second-winters at Monta/ah Harbour, Alexandria, on 23rd Jan- uary 1993 last record was in November 1981, Meininger & Goodman, 1989. The Birds of Egypt. MOROCCO High numbers: 3.138 along Atlantic coast between Eayounc and the Baie de ( antra. Western Sahara, in mid-winter cen- sus during 12th- 18th January 1993. Spain Dra- matic increase continuing: 6,714 pairs in 1992 at breeding colony on Ebro Delta established in 1981 cf. Bril. Birds 83: 226 . swr a Xl-.KLWI) Deletion: December 1986 record Bril. Birds 81: 334) now rejected iOm. Beoh. 89: 2.">9). Ring-billed Gull lams delawarensis I R \\< i Vagrants: seven records in 1991 .Vanda 60: 211 . GIBRALTAR Second record: adult at Eu- ropa Point, on 21st June 1992 (first was in December 1983, llectnris 7: 53). ICI.LYM) Va- grants: seven records in 1990, bringing total to 35 Bliki 12: 32). morocco Twelfth to four- teenth records: first-summers at Oued Sebott estuary on 2nd-7th May 1992 and at Oued Sous estuary on 1 2th- 1 3th July 1992, and adult at Earache saltmarshes on 8th November 1992 and 22nd January 1993. poiand Fourth record: 17th December 1988 .Yolalki Orn. 31: 7(>). Spain Vagrants: many records during European news recent winters, with up to 16 dillcrcnt individ- uals at Gijdn bav, Asturias province, in 1989/90. swTl /I.RLVNI) Deletions: records on !st-24th December 1984, 29th Januarv 1985 and 29th Januarv 198(i Bid. Birds 80: 325) now rejected Orn. Beoh. 89: 259 . so species removed front Swiss list. Lesser Black-backed Gull Laras fuseus SPAIN Slight increase at onlv Mediterranean colony: 41 pairs on Ebro Delta in 1992 cf. 13 pairs in 1984. Brit. Birds 80: 1 2 c Herring Gull lams argent/ilus canary ISIANDS Census: 4,000-4,700 pairs in 1987 Seabird 14: 55-59 1. FRANCK First record of American race smithsonianus: first-winter on 21th January 1993*. Iceland Gull larus glaucoides SLOV AKIA First record: shot in Trebon pond basin, southern Bohemia, on 7th Julv 1990. poiand Third record: 27th December 1989 YoUitki Oni. 32: 133: Januarv 1990 record, Brit. Birds 84: 7, becomes Court Ip. Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea NKTHKRI.VNDs 1 bird record: second-winter at IJmuidcn. Noordholland, on 2 1 st-2 7th November 1992. SVVT.DKN Ninth and tenth records: one dead at Vittangi, Lapland, on 23rd November 1992*, and one in Unda, Bohuslan, on 20th-23rd Jan- utiry 1993*. Kittiwake Rissa tridaipla BKI.ARI s Second record: seven at Volina. Cherven district. Minsk region, on 9th June 1989 first was in autumn 1918). Gull-billed Tern < ielochelidon niloliea SI.OV1.MA Third record in last 50 years: Secnvije Salinas on 9th July 1992 previous records were in May 1986 and May 1990. Bril. Birds 85: 153 . Sandwich Tern Sterna sandviccnsis It I I AND Third record: 13th April 1988 Bliki 10: 32). SPAIN Increase in only Iberian colonv: 1.181 pairs breeding on Ebro Delta in 1992 first breeding in 1961 and 330 pairs in 1984. Brit. Birds 82: 327). Arctic Tern Sterna paradisian Bl.lARl s First record: second-year at Lake Chereva. Chash- tiiki district. Vitebsk region, on 25th June 1990 (ringed as nestling in Turku-Pori, Finland . Wliiskered Tern (.'hlidanias hxbridus SWKDKN Sixth record: Skatelov sljorden, Smaland, on Ith-bth October 1992* dead on Tilth, t KKAINK Census: 10-45 pairs in 1990-91. Little Auk . I de idle FRANCK Inllux: 167 In October-iNovember 1991 and also nine In Januarv -Mai ill and four in December: .Vanda 60: 213). 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(The Republic of Ireland) TEL: t0 1 ) 7731 73 1 'VC ad \\r \ n d a k thtax 285 European news Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus PC) I AND Second record since 1908: four at I^esko, southeast Poland, on 25th April 1992 (precious record was in April 1990, Brit. Birds 84: 231). Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus CANARY IS- IANDS Vagrant: Lanzarote in April 1992. African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea EGYPT Fourth and fifth records outside Gebel Elba area: at Abu Simbcl on 23rd October 1992 and 27th October 1992. Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis SWEDEN Ninth record: adult on 19th October 1991 (Var Fdgelv. 51: 24). Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalmsis GREECE Fifth record: Skala, Kefallinia Island, on 20th October 1992. Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus CANARY ISIANDS Feral breeding: population estimated to be 50-75 pairs. SLOVAKIA New feral breeder: in 1985, one pair with four young es- caped in Sazava town, central Bohemia; these birds formed the basis of a breeding colony near Sazava river, where in 1986 there were two pairs and six young, and, by March 1990, 87 wild-breeding birds (in 1987, 1 1 additional birds added into the colony by a parrot- fancier); all nests were in hazel Corylus, mostly 2 m above ground level. Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius MOROCCO Third breeding record: fledged juvenile being fed by Magpie Pica pica in Sous valley, near Taroudant, on 29th April 1992 (two previous breeding records, also in Sous valley, were in 1990 and in 1992, Brit. Birds 86: 42). SLOVENIA First record: Secovlje Salinas on 2nd-5th May 1992. Barn Owl Tyto alba SWEDEN Vagrant: one dead at Rutvik, Lulea, Norrbotten, on 3rd November 1992, had been seen alive a few days earlier (extinct as a breeder in Sweden; much farther north than any previous find, about 1 12 km south of Arctic Circle — perhaps northernmost world record?). Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei ISRAEL Status revision: one overwintering in Eilat December- February 1992/93 (also one in January 1990, and six in winter 1991/92 in southern Israel, chiefly Eilat); these records apparently result partly from better knowledge of separation from pale eastern form of Eurasian Scops Ow l 0. scops (see pages 286-287 and plates 77-80), and suggest that Striated Scops may be a not uncommon winterer in desert regions of Israel. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca DENMARK Small influx: 11th July 1992*, 14th July to 10th Au- gust 1992*, 22nd November 1992*, 6th De- cember 1992* and ‘during December 1992’*. FAROE ISIANDS First record since 1900: female dead at Hvannasund, Vidoy, on 24th October 1990. SW'EDEN Best winter since great irruption in 1962/63: more than 20 in winter 1992/93. Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa SWEDEN Southernmost breeding record: Vastmanland in 1991. Short-eared Owl Asio flatnmeus AUS TRIA Best breeding season for years: at least 19 pairs in area of Dike Neusiedl, Burgenland (Austria’s only breeding place), in 1992 (up to five pairs in other recent years). Pallid Swift Apus pallidus FRANCE Second record outside breeding range: ile de Re, Charente-Maritime, on 9th January 1993*. Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis EGYPT Fourth and southernmost record of race cyanophys: Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, on 19th November 1992. European Roller Coracias garrulus ICELAND Third record: 6th-7th September 1988 (Bliki 10: 33). Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius LATVIA Increase: now widespread, and species no longer considered by Rarities Com- mittee (first breeding was in 1985, Brit. Birds 79: 289). Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla SLOVENIA Third record this century: Ljubljan- sko barje on 21st April 1991 (previous records were in April 1976 and April 1978). Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris MALTA Vagrants: up to five in Gozo in last week of December 1992 (last recorded in 1980). Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae BELGIUM Vagrant: 16th September 1990 ( Aves 28: 147). DENMARK High numbers: about 40 during autumn 1992. FRANCE Vagrants: 30th April to 2nd May 1991 and two or three in September 1991 {A laud a 60: 213). POLAND Vagrants: three on 29lh September 1987, 15th April 1988, 5th May 1988, two on 19th September 1988, 20th-22nd September 1988 and 18th October 1988, 3rd April 1989 and 14th May 1989 (23 previous records; .Notatki Oni. 29: 63, 145; 31: 80; 32: 136). Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni POLAND Vagrant: 16th September 1988 (. Notatki Orn. 31: 80). 77 & 79. I op left and bottom left, Eurasian Scops 78 & 80. Top right and bottom right, Striated Owl Otus scops (approaching 0. s. luranicus or Scops Owl Otus brucei, Eilat, Israel, December turanims § cycladium), Eilat, Israel, October 1992 1992 (top)/March 1992 (bottom) (H. Skirihai) (//. Shirihai) European news 287 Separation of Striated Scops Owl from Eurasian Scops Owl Gener- ally, Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei differs from Eurasian Scops 0. scops in hav- ing paler/greyer and cleaner facial disc; indistinct/lacking whitish horizontal ' cross bands (as shown on most Eurasian Scops) on underpart feathers; upper- parts never show any distinct rufous colour or white spots (as common in varying degree on most Eurasian Scops); large pale speckling of outer scapu- lars (i.e. shoulder-straps) are predominantly warm buff, never whitish (but often pale cream/ sandy) like most Eurasian Scops. Striated Scops Owl’s foot feathering usually extends farther down onto bases of toes (unlike that on Eurasian Scops, which is always limited to tarsus); and its central tail feathers have only two to four broad pale bars (instead of the narrower, five to seven bars on Eurasian Scops) visible beyond uppertail-coverts, with about 1 cm of the feather tip without bar, but uniformly /faindy vermiculated grey (continu- ously barred to tip on Eurasian Scops). In general, Striated Scops is paler /greyer /sandier, with better-developed/defined longitudinal feather- centre streaks. Hadoram Shirihai Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi NORWAY Second record: juvenile ringed at Slevdalsvann, Lista, Farsund, Vest-Agder, on 21st September 1991 (first was on 29th September 1976; first Swedish record was on 5th-20th September 1991, Brit. Birds 85: 457). Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jlava LA'I VIA First record of black-headed race feldegg. male at Nagli, Rezekne district, on 12th May 1982 (cf. first Estonian record in 1971, first Finnish record in 1985 and first Dutch record in 1988, But. Buds 82: 329; 83: 227). Citrine Wagtail Motacilla cilreola EGYPT Third record: first-winter at Sharm El Sheikh on 17th- 18th October 1992. POIAND Small spring influx: four between 23rd April and 16th May 1992 in south (previous spring influx on Hel Peninsula in 1988). Garden Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus FRANCE Presumed escape: Camargue from 5th Octo- ber 1992 into early 1993 at least. Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis EGYPI First record since 1982: 77 km west of Alexandria on 22nd January 1993 (first Jordanian records this century were in 1988, Brit. Buds 84: 9). Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella DEN- MARK First record: first-year male ringed at Christianso, Bornholm, on 5th October 1992* (other recent European records have been one in 1976, at least nine during 1986-88 and one in Sweden in October 1991, Brit. Birds 83: 14; 85: 457). PC) Box 4168, Eikt 88102, Israel Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia CZECH REPUBLIC Second breeding record for Bo- hemia: nest with five young near Trebon town, southern Bohemia, in 1991 (cf. first breeding in 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 227). Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus POIAND Deletion: record in August 1987 [Brit. Birds 8 1 : 336) now rejected. Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata FRANCE Twelfth record of race stejnegeri/ maura: imma- ture on Ouessant, Finistere, on 9th- 10th Octo- ber 1992*. Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka DENMARK Third record: female at Christianso, Born- holm, on 7th October 1992*. NETHERLANDS Second and third records: first-winter male at Petten, Noordholland, on 23rd-26th October 1992, and first-winter female at Katwijk, Zuid- holland, on 31st October to 4th November 1992 (plates 86 & 88). Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca EGYPT Vagrants: two at Ayoun Mousa, South Sinai, on 2nd and 15th October 1992, and one at Abu Simbel on 24th October 1992. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti FRANCE Sixth record: male from 31st December to 17th January 1993*. NORWAY Second to fourth records: adult males at Steinodden, Lista, Far- sund, Vest-Agder, on 27th March 1989, and at Amestangen, Raelingen, Akershus, on 8th May 1991, and juvenile male at Utsira, Roga- land, on 3rd October 1992 (plate 85). Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin Cercotrichas galac- Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus ICELAND totes FRANCE Tenth record: Bouches-du-Rhone Fourth to eighth records: 8th November 1981, on 22nd May 1991 ( Alauda 60: 213). 20th October 1985, 26th September 1986 and Fj The inclusion of plates 77-88 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl Zeiss (Obcrkochcn) Ltd European news 15th October 1986 {BUM 1: 31; 6: 52; 7: 38), and at Hafurbjamarstaflir a Mitfnesi, Gull., on 24th October 1992*. 1 Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus FRANCE Third record this century: adult male in Paris on 21st March 1990 {Alauda 60: 213). Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni NORWAY Sixth record of race eunomus'. adult male at Groda, Farsund, Vest-Agder, on 15th-20th April 1992 (previous five were in October and November 1889, October 1895, November 1908 and March 1959). Dark-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis FRANCE Eleventh record: first-winter showing characters of black-throated race atrogularis on 1st January 1991 {Alauda 60: 214). LATVIA Third record: male of race atrogularis at Pape, Liepaja district, on 29th October 1991 (previ- ous two records were in December 1909 and May 1981). NORWAY Fourteenth record of race atrogularis'. juvenile male ringed at Utsira, Roga- land, on 1 st-9th October 1991. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris IAIVIA Winter influx: flocks of up to 500 widespread in November- December 1992. SWEDEN Winter influx: huge flocks in south in 1992/93. Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti EGYPT Fourth record: El Tur, South Sinai, on 22nd October 1992. Zitting Cisticola Cistkola juncidis MOROCCO Vagrant south of breeding range: Oued Ez- Zehar estuary, about 60 km south of I antan, on 18th May 1992. Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola NORWAY Fourth record: juvenile ringed at Slevdalsvann, Lista, Farsund, Vest-Agder, on 14th- 15th September 1992 (first to third were in September 1986, September 1988 and October 1988, Var Fuglefauna 11: 87-95; 13: 131-143; 14: 135-150; Bnt. Birds 84: 233). Lanceolated W a r b 1 e r Locustella lanceolata NORWAY Third record: juvenile ringed at Ut- sira, Rogaland, on 6th October 1991 (plate 84; first and second records were in September 1980 and September 1982, Bril. Birds 75: 270; 81: 20). River Warbler Locustella jluvialilis I TALY First 289 record: juvenile ringed in Po Delta, Sacca di Scordovari, on 1st September 1988. Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melano- pogon EGYPT First winter records: two at El Tur, South Sinai, on 22nd October 1992, and single 77 km west of Alexandria on 22nd Jan- uary 1993. Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola EGYPT Second record: Hurghada on 20th October 1992 (first was in March 1988, Brit. Birds 85: 459). ESTONIA First record: trapped near Voiste, Pamu District, on 10th August 1992. POLAND Census: about 7,640 singing males, mainly in north and east. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus FAROE ISIANDS Third record: dead on boat at sea east of the Faroes about May 1992. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola AUSTRIA First record: trapped at Illmitz at Eake Neusiedl, Burgenland, on 16th August 1992. BELGIUM First and second records: 13th June 1989, and 2nd September 1989 ( Oriolus 58: 47), so record on 8th September 1989 {Bnt. Birds 86: 44) is third, not first. DENMARK Fourth record: Flusby So, W-Jutland, on 17th September 1992*. ESTONIA Second record: trapped at Vaibla, Viljandi District, on 1 1 th August 1992 (first record was in July 1990, Bnt. Birds 84: 233). HUNGARY Second record: ringed near Fenekpuszta, ' Lake Balaton, on 23rd September 1992* (first record was in August 1978). ISRAEL Fourth record: one ringed in Eilat in October 1992 (plate 83). IAIVIA Apparently breeding: four juveniles trapped at Pape, Idepaja district, in August 1987, July 1988 (two) and August 1990, and adults with brood patches in July 1987 and August 1988. Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus TRANCE First record of eastern race Juscus". Maine-et- Loire on 20th May 1 990 {Alauda 60: 2 1 4). Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis ISRAEL Fifth record: one ringed in Nir David, northern Israel, on 6th June 1992. Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis ANDORRA Third record this century: adult male singing at Engolasters on 19th June 1992 (previous 81. First-winter Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, Norway, October 1992 [Hakon 82. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus on nest, Latvia, summer 1988 (see Bnt. Birds - {Erik Hansson ) . ^ . nnn ILJ c, • ■, ■, 83. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agncola, Israel, October 1992 {H. Shirdiai) 84. First-winter Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata, Norway, October 1991 {Hakon Heggland) . — r.. ■ i • r bb in nnlnnr has I Kvi! subsidised bv a donation from Carl Zeiss (Obcrkochcn) Ltd 291 European news two records also adult males, on 12th May 1990 and 25th June 1990; only other record was in 1889, Ibis 6: 520-552). Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria FRANCE Eighth to tenth records since 1981: three in Septem- ber-October 1991 (Alauda 60: 215). Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides FRANCE Sixth and seventh records: 3rd-4th September 1991 and 16th October 1991 {Alauda 60: 215). NORWAY First breeding record: pair raised at least two young at Jom- fruland, Telemark, during June and July 1991 (about twenty-sixth record for species; cf. first breeding in 1990 in Denmark and Germany, Brit. Birds 86: 45). Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitar- sus SWEDEN First record: 5th July 1991, treated as race of Greenish Warbler P. trochiloides plumbeitarsus (Var Fagelv. 51: 28). Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus DENMARK Vagrants: two in autumn 1992. FRANCE Vagrants: two in 1991, on 22nd and 27 th October 1991 {Alauda 60: 215). POLAND Fourteenth record: 9th October 1986 (Notatki Om. 29: 146). Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inoma- tus BELGIUM Vagrant: 29th September 1990 ( Aves 28: 147). DENMARK Vagrants: about seven in autumn 1992. EGYPT First record of race humei: Sharm FI Sheikh on 18th October 1992 (five previous records of P. inomatus). FAROE IS- LANDS Nineteenth and twentieth records: two on Nolsoy on 30th September 1990. FRANCE Vagrants: total of 22 in 1991, all September- October apart from one in Var from 6th Jan- uary to 3rd February {Alauda 60: 215-216). LATVIA Vagrants: only two trapped at Pape in autumn 1992, both on 25th September (high- est-ever numbers were 30 caught in autumn 1988). MALTA Twenty-second and twenty-third records: two in October 1992 (last recorded in 1990). POLAND Vagrants: four in September 1986, 30th September 1987, four in Septem- ber-October 1988 (33 previous records; Notatki Om. 29: 146; 30: 68; 31: 81). Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi DEN- MARK Eighth and ninth records: ringed at Hanstholm, NW-Judand, at beginning of Oc- tober 1991* and ringed at Christians©, Born- holm, on 25th September 1992*. NETHER- LANDS Correction: fifth record, on 6th-8th November 1990, reconsidered and now ac- cepted as Dusky Warbler P. Juscatus (sixth and seventh records of Radde’s Warbler now be- come fifth and sixth (cf. Brit. Birds 85: 460)*. NORWAY Third record: Utsira, Rogaland, on 6th October 1991 (plate 87; first and second records were in October 1981 and October 1987, Bnt. Birds 82: 352). Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus Juscatus DENMARK Twenty-fifth record: ringed at Blavandshuk, W -Jutland, on 20th-2 1 st October 1992*. FRANCE Tenth record: ile de Noirmoutier, Vendee, on 20th October 1992*. LITHUANIA First record: trapped at Ventes Ragas bird- ringing station on 22nd October 1991. NETHERLANDS Thirteenth record: 6th-8th November 1990, previously accepted as Radde’s Warbler P. schwarzi {Brit. Birds 85: 460), so record in late November to December 1990 {Brit. Birds 86: 45) becomes fourteenth. NORWAY Third and fourth records: ringed at Hegrestad, Rogaland, on 20th October 1990, and juvenile ringed at Slevdalsvann, Vest- Agder, on 7th October 1992 (first and second records were in October 1974 and October 1984). Plain Leaf Warbler Phylhscopus neglectus SWE- DEN First record: 10th October 1991 {Var Fagelv. 51: 29), not 19th October as noted ear- lier (Bnt. Birds 86: 45). Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybila EGYPT First record of race tristis : Hurghada on 26th Octo- ber 1992. Goldcrest Regulus regulus EGYPT Fourth record: three at Montazah Gardens, Alexan- dria, on 23rd January 1993. Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva CANARY ISLANDS First record for Tenerife: juvenile in October 1992*. MOROCCO Eighth, and first winter record: Meski on 12th Decem- ber 1992*. Azure Tit Pams ryanus FINLAND See Sweden. SWEDEN. The hybrid Azure X Blue Tit P. caemleus ringed in Landsort in October 1991 (Brit. Birds 85: 461) was controlled in Vertsila, eastern Finland, on 18th April 1992. 85. First-winter male Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, Nomay, October 1992 (Andrew W. Clarke) 86. First-winter male Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka, Netherlands, October 1992 (Amoud B. van den Berg) 87. Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi, Nomay, October 1991 (Hakon Heggland) 88. First-winter female Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka, Netherlands, November 1992 (Amoud B. van den Berg) Fjj The inclusion of plates 77-88 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd 292 Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria BELGIUM Vagrant: 10th-20th January 1990 (Aves 28: 148). Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus NORWAY Third and fifth to seventh records (also first breeding record): adult female at Sele, Roga- land, on 27th August 1989, fledgling ringed at Slevdalsvann, Vest-Agder, on 20th-21st July 1991, adult male there on 22nd July 1991, and another fledgling ringed on 29th July (record in April 1990, Brit. Birds 85: 461, becomes fourth). Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus FAROE ISLANDS Fifth record: Torshavn, Streymoy, on 1st July 1990. Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus FRANCE Fourth record: Corse-du-Sud on lst-3rd November 1991 (. Alciuda 60: 216). ITALY First record: juvenile in Ladispoli, Rome, on 22nd September 1988. NORWAY Fifth record: Utsira, Rogaland, on 7th October 1991. Masked Shrike Lunins nubicus SPAIN Third record this century and first for Balearic Is- lands: male at Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca, on 26th April 1991* (first and second records were in 1961 and 1962). Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax SPAIN Census results for Madrid province: 1,000-1,100 individuals during breeding season ( Ardeola 38: 9 1 -99 ) . Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis FRANCE Sixth to eighth records: Corse-du-Sud on 3rd May 1991 and 4th May 1991, and Camargue on 3rd August 1991 (. Alanda 60: 218). Golden Sparrow Passer luteus FRANCE Proba- ble escape: male in Camargue on 5th-7th July 1991* (‘cf. range expansion in northern Sene- gal, southern Mauritania’). Avadavat Amandava amandava EGYPT Range extension: Luxor on 16th October 1992 and two there on 22nd October 1992 (southern- most records along Nile Valley, representing 400-km extension). Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus ICELAND Fourth and fifth records: 4th October 1984 and 20th October 1985 {Bliki 5: 44; 10: 44). Siskin Carduelis spinus EGYPT Winter vagrants: ‘tens’ at Montazah Gardens, Alexandria, on 23rd January 1993 (last significant numbers recorded in the 1960s). Twite Carduelis Jlamrostns Switzerland Dele- tions: records in January 1953 and December 1983 now rejected {Om. Beat). 89: 260), so species removed from Swiss list. European news Common Redpoll Carduelis Jlammea LATVIA First record: female of race cabaret trapped at Pape on 15ih October 1990. Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni POLAND Influx: 18 records concerning up to 138 indi- viduals in January-March 1989 (. Notatki Om. 32: 138-139). Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptem FAROE ISLANDS Fifth record: dead at Fuglafjordur, Eysturoy, on 20th June 1990. Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erylhrinus FRANCE Summer records: subadult males singing in Haute-Savoie on 10th- 11th June 1991, and in Nord on 12th-30th June 1991 and 15th June 1991 (also juvenile on Ouessant in October 1991, Alanda 60: 218; these details replace those given Brit. Birds 85: 15). SWITZER- LAND Probable breeding: singing males at six localities in 1991, with female and two juve- niles at one site, noted as ‘possible breeding’ {Om. Beub. 89: 258, 260) [but this seems an un- duly cautious interpretation) . Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator ITALY Sev- enth record: three near San Giuliano’s Dike on 21st December 1990. Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula MALTA Seventh record: January 1993 (last recorded in 1972). Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes ICELAND Third record: 2nd-3rd November 1988 and, probably same, on 12th-20th November 1988 {Bliki 10: 46). Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos SWEDEN Eighth record: first-year female on Utklippan island, Blekingc, from 23rd October to 7th November 1992*. Yellowhammer Emberiza ciirineUa MOROCCO Ninth record: 8th November 1991 [Porphyria 4: 112; sixth and seventh records were in 1986, Brit. Birds 80: 14). Rock Bunting Emberiza cia SWEDEN Fourth record: 8th-9thjuly 1991 ( Vox Fagelv. 51: 31). Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea GREECE First record for Ionian Islands: at least three on Corfu on 7th-9thjune 1991. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla ICELAND Third record: 8th May 1988 {Bliki 10: 47). Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melano- cephala SPAIN Third record: male trapped at Sitgcs, Barcelona province, on 16th October 1992* (first and second were in 1957 and 1969). 293 European news Correspondents ANDORRA Jacqueline Crozier, Cortal de la Solana, Anyos, I^a Massana AUSTRIA Hans-Martin Berg, Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Vogelkunde, c/o Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, A-1014 Wien 1, Burgring 7, Postfach 417 BELARUS Dr Mikhael E. Nikiforov, Lab. Ecol. Terrestrial Animals, Inst. Zool., Ul.F.Skoriny 27, 220072 Minsk CANARY ISLANDS Juan Antonio Lorenzo Gutierrez, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universi- dad de la Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife CZECH REPUBLIC Professor Karel Stastny, Faculty of Forestry, Agricultural University in Prague, 281 63 Kostelec n.C.lesy DENMARK Brian Rasmussen, Kastanie Alle 27, DK-3250 Gilleleje EGYPT Sherif Baha El Din, Executive Business Service, Cairo Marriott Hotel, PO Box 33, Za- malek, Cairo ES TONIA Dr Vilju Lilleleht, Institute of Zoology and Botany, 21 Vanemuise St, EE-2400 Tartu FAROE ISLANDS Soren Sorensen, Bratskowej 5, DR-2720 Vanlose, Denmark FRANCE Dr Philippe J. Dubois, 2 rue Mozart, 92000 Nanterre GIBRALTAR Charles E. Perez, 7 Kensington House, Laguna Estate GREECE George I. Handrinos, 44 El Venizelou Str, 166 75 Glyfada HliNGARY Zoltan Waliczky, H-1039 Budapest, Juhasz Gy.u. 15. VII. 60 ICELAND Gunnlaugur Petursson, Gaudandi 21, 108 Reykjavik ISRAEL Hadoram Shirihai, Israel Trust for Ornithology, PO Box 4168, Eilat 88102 I TALY Marco Gustin, via Verdi 44, 42027, Montecchio Emilia, Reggio Emilia LATVIA Dr Janis Baumanis, Laboratory of Ornithology, Miera 3, LV-2169 Salaspils LI THUANIA Dr Petras Kurlavicius, Institute of Ecology, Academijos St. 2, 2600 Vilnius MALTA Joe Sultana & Charles Gauci, The Ornithological Society, PO Box 498, Valletta MOROCCO Michel Thevenot, Laboratoire de Biogeographie et Ecologie, Case 94, Universite de Montpellier 2, F-34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France NETHERLANDS Drs. Arnoud B. van den Berg, Duinlustparkweg 98, 2082 EG Santpoort-Zuid NORWAY Andrew W. 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D284 \if a | i/ r n e ssest op,ica' dea,er on ,he lllf 11 I A r ^ Binoculars - telescopes - video cameras - fl ■■ 1 \ 1 1 Vr lenses — tripods — SLRs — compacts * ZEISS * KOWA * BUSHNELL * LEITZ * SWIFT * RUSSIAN * PENTAX * BAUSCH & LOMB * MINOLTA * OPTOLYTH * ADLERBLICK Kow Kow 20x- 20xv 30xv Bod Bod Bod a TSN 1 & 2 E275 a TSN 3 & 4 £559 60 x zoom va £100 25x & 40x £65 va £1 28 77x £99 KOWA TS 602 p°”cRE y 20x WA SRP £263 - £199 y 27x WA SRP £293 -£219 y 20x 40x SRP £307 - £229 BUSHNELL SPACEMASTER 60m body 15x-45xzoom £199 60m body 22xWA £189 PRACTICA DISCOVERER 15x-60x zoom SRP our A4rn £199 price 1 Jv JUNE SPECIALS — LIMITED STOCKS Leica 7x42 £599 B & Lomb 8x42 £550 Leica 8x42 £629 B & Lomb 8x42P £575 Leica 10x42 £629 B & Lomb 10x42P £675 Leica 8x32 £619 Zeiss 7x42 Phone Audubov 8.5.44 £189 Zeiss 10x40 Phone Audubov 10x50 £199 Habicht 7x42 £475 T /a I 1/ r D LTD 70 ST THOMAS ST w/W kLI— KLCVVa SCARBOROUGH YOU 1DU W-Vl 0723 365024 FAX 0723 363334 British Birds Volume 86 Number 6 June 1993 245 Bird Photograph of the Year Dr J. T. R. Sharrock. lb R . J. ( .handler. Don Smith and Roger Tidman 252 Monthly marathon 253 Migrant Ring Ouzels at a stopover site on the South Downs Roy Leverton 266 i wenty-five years ago . . . 267 268 From the Rarities Committee’s files A report of a Black Stork Peter Imsdoum Mystery photographs 189 Ring-billed Gull Hugh R. Harrop 270 270 270 270 271 271 Notes I umstoncs feeding at Kit ti wake nests John Stewart- Smith Herring Gull with Black Bill and legs 1) II '. P.mley and S. XI. Emin Feeding tcchnicjue oi Gomroon Guillemot j. I), beanouie Separation of Striated Scops Ow l from Eurasian Scops Ow l Hadoram Shinhm See pages 286-287) 1 K ' Gall patterns of Eurasian Scops Ow l John C. Ire Gassick Mistle I hrush placing faecal jx llets of raBBit on Body and eating them Dr A. P Radford 272 277 278 294 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Piytherch Diary dates Mrs S. 1). Cobban European news Recent reports Barr) . Nightingale and . bithony McCeehan 204 201 Announcements Books in British BirdSHop Red ( i rouse BB lies Line-drawings: 253 Ring Ouzel Dan Pmoett Front cover: Grey Plover, Colne Estuary, Kingringhoe, 31st August 1991 Richard Allen): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 28 in January issue for procedure) i •Ill »T*J 1 V.TJ J Volume 86 Number 7 1 zmiamu The Red Kite in Wales Rarities Committee guidelines Separating juvenile Litde and Baillon’s Crakes Autumn 1992 Rarities Committee news • Mystery photographs • Notes • Letters News and comment • Reviews • Monthly marathon Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock I ersonal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant hditoi David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Don Smith & Roger Tidman Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committer P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, Andy Stoddart & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician!; MichaelJ. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Votes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe ■British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds I.td 1993 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing A lanager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please envelope correctly. Please supply SAP, if reply required. address your Papers, notes, letters, items for "News and comment’, drawings & photographs Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Line, Blunham, Bedford MKH 3NJ. Phone & Fax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3Nj. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085. 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British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Pali-arctic Except lor records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being oili-red in whole or III pan to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should In- typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue lor style of presentation, especially ol references and tables. F.nglish and scientific names and sequence of birds lollou The 'British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds 1993); or, for non-Wesl-Palearrlic spec res, Sibley & Monroe 1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World ; names ol plants follow |)om at. 1980, English Names of Wild Flowers, names of mammals follow Corbel & Southern 1977. The Handbook of British Mammals I opographieal (plumage and structure and ageing terminologs should lollou editorial recommendations lint, liirds 71: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-qualits tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should l«- inserted ligluls in penal; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers but not notes or letters receive ti-ii lire copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors!. Printed in England by Newnortb Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford I i II— i * f \ I vimu HISTORY MUSEUM -2 JUL 1393 204 HIGH HERTFOR STREET, BARNET, SHIRE, EN5 5SZ 9am - 6pm 1445, 7748 9999 US (Barnet); We are 1 0 mins M25 and AIM motorways and 15 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station WESTIEIGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HD8 8QJ Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 0484 864729 HOW TO FIND US (Denby Dale), We are close by the railway station at Denby Dale on the A636 near June. 38 & 39 on the Ml . n focus BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1993 “2- 5* MAIN STREET, TITCHWELL, NR. KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK, PE31 8BB Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 0485 210101 HOW TO FIND US (Norfolk); We are 500 yards east of the RSPB reserve at Titchwell on the A1 49 between Hunstanton and Brancaster. ANGUAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE, EGLETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICS. 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Tomroc 4pe Case 26.95 r , 10x42B 179 95 Case 16.00 Macro Monocular 52.00 Equipment Guide 3 95 AND TILfPHONf ORDCKS f A*T tXCMANO. " oStfii^li^nr»|l?totoa4orv al o mjcpm w* 4 of yONt iDjniHoncD. " 1 t lU LISTINGS CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. E&OE. PHONE FOR LATEST PRICES. Main sponsors and co-organisers in focus JULY SPECIAL The superb Optolyth TBG/TBS GA telescope available with Ceralin multi- coating or High Definition Fluorite glass supplied with 30xWW eyepiece and high-grade full-height Velbon D600 tripod. •TBG/TBS Outfit £599 (SRP £701.95) •TBG/TBS HDF Outfit £799 (SRP £951.95) 1 LOOK INTO A RARE BIRD ALERT PAGER and see why it is the best service; Proven, reliable and comprehensive in everyway. ?iurhnpTrH Rarities Committee news and announcements Sponsored by Germany P. G. Lansdoim and the Rarities Committee Committee membership is listed on the inside front cover each month, and on the back of the title page. In the absence of further nominations [Brit. Birds 85: 330-333), Andy Stoddart started his term of membership on 1st April 1993, replacing John Marchant, who retired as the longest-serving member on 31st March 1993. John served on the Committee for nearly eight years and his identification expertise with all species-groups, particularly waders, his experience in all matters relating to ringing, and his instructive and balanced comments on records, which have been features of his work, will be missed by the other members of the Committee. The following points of interest arise from the Committee’s annual meeting, held at Blunham, Bedfordshire, on 3rd April 1993. Consideration of straightforward records Even well-documented rare-bird records sometimes fail to appear in the relevant year’s ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain’. Late submission is outside the Committee’s power to remedy, other than by encouragement. The Committee will, however, be taking positive steps to improve its own performance in terms of speed of assessment. This will involve records which, in the opinion of the Hon. Secretary, concern a comparatively easy-to-identify species or subspecies, and which appear to be thoroughly documented and are free from controversy, especially those which are accompanied by clearly identifiable photographs and/or a statement of support from the appropriate county or regional recorder. Such records will be considered by a new ‘fast-track’ system. For these records only, the Rarities Committee will be divided into two five-man ‘teams’, and batches of these apparently straightforward records will be circulated to just one ‘team’. Each member’s assessment of each record will be as thorough as usual, but, given the nature of the records and the five-man circulations, adjudication time will be reduced by at least half. Records receiving five votes for acceptance will automatically be accepted. Any record which is not accepted unanimously will be recirculated to the Committee as a whole, and any record which is considered not to be eligible for the ‘fast-track’ system will be assessed by the whole Committee, as at present. Photographs of unsubmitted rarities Several observers have suggested that, if a rarc-bird record has not been submitted to the Rarities Committee and a photograph of the bird in question has been published, the Committee should assess the record on the basis of the photograph. It is important to note, however, that the law of libel permits 300 Rarities Committee news and announcements 89-91. British Birds Rarities Committee meeting, Blunham, April 1993. Left to right: Peter Lans- down (Chairman), Grahame Walbridge, Alan Brown, Pete Ellis, John Marchant, Peter Clement, Chris Heard, Andy Stoddart, Dr Colin Bradshaw, Graham Galley and Rob Hume (J. T. R. Sharrock) tedress lor an unfavourable comment made on any item which has not actually been submitted lor consideration. I his applies to reviews on books and reports on products as well as to judgments on records. The Committee has decided, therefore, not to consider as records photographs of rariues in magazines or newspapers. Observers who submit rare-bird records are, of course, welcome to make reference to published photographs in their notes. List of species considered, late submission of records and number of records requiring recirculation Discussion took place at the meeting on each of these topics, and it continued afterwards in correspondence. Any resulting changes to current practices which arc adopted by the Committee will be reported in due course. Election of new member The Committee’s nominee for the next vacancy, which will arise on or before 1st April 1994 from resignation or the longest-serving member’s automatic retirement, is Ken Shaw, who lives in Stonehaven, near Aberdeen, Grampian. Ken is the bird recorder for most of Grampian (Banff, Aberdeen and Kincardine) and is a member of the Scottish Birds Records Committee, r ogcthci with 1 etc Ellis and Dave Suddaby, and at the request of the Rarities Committee, Ken has written ‘King Eiders in Britain and Ireland, 1958-90’, in which the species’ statistics have been rationalised (Brit. Birds in press). As usual, we invite other nominations, which should be sent to me by 31st December 1993. If further nominations are received, a postal election will take place, in which county and regional recorders and bird observatories will be invited to vote. / ' (;- Lansdown, 197 Springwood, Uanediym , Cardiff, ' South Glamorgan CF2 "2 6UG Guidelines for rarities committees The international meeting of rarities committees held on Texel, Netherlands, during 1 2th-20th October 1991, agreed a set of guidelines for rarities committees. The British delegate at this meeting, representing the British Birds Rarities Committee, was Graham P. Catley. The ollicial Guidelines, which have already been published in Dutch Birding (15: 31-32), are endorsed and are followed by the BBRC. (The only respect in which the BBRC does not comply with the Guidelines concerns the publication of all records of all known escapes of all Holarctic species; it is the BBRC’s policy to encourage each individual local report editor to include information on such escapes in an appendix to the main systematic list in county and regional bird reports every year.) Extracts from the Guidelines have been published (and sometimes misquoted or misinterpreted) elsewhere in the British birding Press. The following is the correct, official version: Background and technical aspects of work of rarities committees. The following account was originally written by Peter H. Barthel and was discussed, modified and completed by the participants of the first meeting of European and American rarities committees (from Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA) on Texel, Noordholland, the Netherlands, in October 1991. The final version was written by PHB, Pieter Bison and Claudia Wilds, and was agreed on by all participants of the Texel meeting. Rationale An unusual bird sighting in a given area does not necessarily constitute a scientifically insignificant event. Such cases can be of interest in the context of migration, orientation behaviour and range extension, and as consequences of weather patterns. They have to be carefully documented to be useful in contributing to answer scientific questions. There are numerous examples of rare-bird records which, according to the knowledge of that time, were considered insignificant deviations from the norm but which later proved to be the signs of a newly- recognised phenomenon. Only long-term documentation at a high standard can reveal such patterns which may be of special interest in the light of rapid environmental changes. The recent enormous rise in bird(watch)ing activity and improvement in field identification have not only led to a steep increase in rare-bird reports but also facilitate their documentation. The sighting of a rare bird is only the first step in establishing a record: evidence must be submitted to an independent committee. Such rarities committees, now well established in many countries worldwide, provide a valuable service to the field observers and the scientific community alike by scrutinising records, publishing them in annual reports and putting on (generally accessible) file all information pertaining to observations of rare birds. In many older and still too many contemporary publications, such observations or claims have not been checked by a competent committee and lack any form of publicly available documentation. 1 hese cases are scientifically worthless and should no longer burden the ornithological literature. Rarities committees are not made mainly to verify claims of twitchers or to produce long country lists. The occurrence of rarities is a biological phenomenon to be studied like any other part of ornithology. Thus, it has to be treated in the same way: from a scientific point of view-. The listing of records is just the beginning but probably the part birders enjoy most. The neglected and most important part is to use this knowledge in further research. If one looks at rarities in this way, it becomes evident that a scientist can work only with proven or substandated records, not with claims or unverified reports. One recklessly accepted report may distort a whole pattern ol occurrence. \Bnl. Birds 86: 30 1-302, July 1993] 301 302 Guidelines for rarities committees r o reveal such patterns, especially in very rarely occurring species, the analysis of records from vast areas is essential. Therefore, close co-operation among European rarities committees is necessary. Every iarities committee (or, better, every' scientist working in the field of ornithology) in Europe must be able to trust the decisions oi any other rarities committee. This objective is best served by a standardised method for checking reports and reaching clear decisions. This method should be used in every European country (or even worldwide). To state it more bluntly, ornithology is a science and not a playground for listers. Rarities committees are responsible for the decisions they publish. Guidelines A comparison of the work of several European rarities committees has been made. Most of them, mainly in northern and central Europe, work in the same and obviously successful way. Most of the following guidelines are derived from their methods. 1. A iarities committee should work independently. In particular, decisions on records should not be influenced by societies or sponsoring organisations. 2. A rarities committee should consist ol at least five members, independendy of the size of the country'. It does not seem to be necessary or even useful to have more than ten members. Periodic iotation of all members is advisable. Members should be elected by the committee. Every member should have qualifications that contribute to the work of the committee, for example, extensive field experience, knowledge of the current literature, skills in ringing or in examining museum skins and knowledge of the current birding scene. 3. Decisions should be reached unanimously or nearly so. A record should not be accepted with more than one negative vote. There should be a provision to allow reconsideration of any record. 4. I here aie different ways to circulate reports but two seem preferable. Every member receives his/her own copy of the documentation and comes to an independent decision which he/she submits to the secretary. If the opinions diverge, a report will be sent out again (with the arguments lor and against it) until it is accepted (or rejected with at least two votes) in the third circulation. I’he second way is that one member gives a first statement, then sends the whole thing to the next member who agrees or disagrees, writes his/her opinion under the first statement -and so on. If, in the end, there are conflicting opinions, the file will circulate again. Difficult cases can be discussed in meetings of the full committee. 5. Whenever possible, the first (or preferably the first five) records should be proved by photographs, video films or tape recordings. In some cases, descriptions by highly qualified observers might suffice. (>. Reports of iarities committees should be published every year. All the relevant information on a record should by given when available (species/subspecies, date, place, province, number of individuals, age, sex, names of responsible observers, and the kinds of documentation: photographs, video films or tape recordings). It should also be slated when a bird has been caught or found dead. In the latter case, the locality of the specimen and the collection number must be given. A list of species that arc considered by the committee should be published periodically and be available upon request. A summary in English, French or German should be included in reports in other languages. Every rarities committee should send its annual reports to every other committee in Europe. 7. The first (or preferably the first five) records should always be published in detail in a national (not regional) journal, including the full description and photographs (even if of poor quality), with a summaiy in English, French or German. 1 he full documentation of every record should be kept on permanent file and made publicly accessible. 8. Every rarities committee should check the old exceptional records. In particular, reports of difficult species for which new identification criteria have been established should be reconsidered. 9. Records ol probable, certain or likely escapes ofllolarctic species (or others with a remote vagrancy potential) should be treated like genuine vagrants. Details of their occurrence should be given in an appendix to the annual report of the committee. Otherwise, possibly useful information (e.g. to reconsider them later or to establish a pattern of occurrence revealing genuine vagrancy) might get lost. 10. 1 1. 12. lain rarities committee should take care that reports that are not accepted by the committee arc not referred to in the literature. If a committee has difficulties in judging a report with respect to identity or origin, it should ask specialists for help instead of reaching an unsatisfactory decision. The participants agreed that efforts should be undertaken to establish a European list committee as well as a European rarities committee. Details should be discussed during the next meeting. They also agreed that European meetings should be held about eveiy second year. Peter H. Barthel, Pieter Bison & Claudia Wilds Separating juvenile Little and Baillon’s Crakes in the field Colin Bradshaw At the Identification Meeting of the British Birds Rarities Committee in August 1992, the question of separating Little Crake Porzana parva from Baillon’s Crake P. pusilla in juvenile plumage was addressed. The need lor research had been highlighted by some initial confusion when the juvenile Baillon’s Crake was found on Fair Isle, Shetland, in September 1991 (Brit. Birds 85: 522-523). Skins of both species were examined to identify diagnostic features. This report deals primarily with the identification features of juvenile plumage discussed at the meeting, but goes on to look at identification features in adult plumage. ■ Status Both species are rare visitors to Britain and Ireland. Baillon’s Crake has been recorded on only eight occasions during the 34 years 1 958-9 1 , although there have been three records in the last three of those years. All records have been in February, May or June, with the exception of the previously mentioned September record. little Crake has been recorded on 31 occasions during 1958-91, though not in the last four of those years. These have been spread through both early-spring and autumn migration periods, with a peak in early November; there are also two January records. Moult The two species have a similar moult pattern. The post-juvenile moult, which can occur either before migration or in the winter quarters, consists of a complete moult ol body and tail feathers, but no remiges (although there are a few records of juvenile Little Crakes moulting some primaries). The first-winter plumage is similar to the adult, but with worn remiges. All adults undergo a complete post-breeding moult, when all flight feathers are moulted syn- chronously and die birds become flighdess. This usually From the Rarities Committee’s files Sponsored by [Bril. Birth, 86: 303-31 1, July 1993] 303 304 Separating juvenile Little and Bail/on’s Crakes occurs on the breeding grounds, but can occasionally be delayed until after migration. There is a partial pre-breeding moult. In early autumn, most indi- viduals will be in either juvenile or adult plumage- Features for separating juveniles Structure Litde and Baillon’s Crakes ol any age can be separated by structural differ- ences (but see provisos in the discussion on the separation of adults on struc- ture). These were previously reported by D. I. M. Wallace [Brit. Birds 69: 443-447) and have been borne out by studies of skins, photographs and birds in the field. The key feature is the wing length and, specifically, the primary projection (see fig. 1). On little Crake, this is long, almost as long as the ex- posed tertials, with never fewer than five primary tips exposed. Baillon’s Crake has a very short primary projection, less than half the length of the exposed tertials (occasionally being almost hidden by the tertials) and rarely with more than three primary tips showing. Care should be taken, however, when the wings arc ‘drooped’, allowing a view of all the primaries. The tail of Little Crake is also much longer than that of Baillon’s Crake, but the long wings reach almost to the tail tip, whereas, on Baillon’s, the tail projects well beyond the short wingtips (K. E. Vinicombe in lilt). Whether or not this feature is obvious depends, however, on whether the tail is cocked, and the Committee felt that this would be only a minor fieldmark. Fig. 1. Differences in primary projection and tertial markings between juvenile Little Crake Pnrzana parva (left) and Baillon’s Crake P. pusilla ( Colin Bradshaw) Plumage TERTIALS A useful plumage feature for the separation of the two species also revolves around the ‘back end . Both species have dark-centred tertials. Little Crake has very pale, buff, fringes to the inner webs of all the tertials, forming a broad creamy line along the inner aspect of the folded wing from the upper end of the rump to beyond the base of the tail. 'This can be contiguous with more diffuse cream-coloured stripes down each side of the mantle. In flight, this gives Little a buff-striped appearance reminiscent of Common Quail Co- tumix cotumix. It is important to note, however, that a pale tertial streak is also shown by Spotted Crake P. porgana and thus cannot be used as a sole feature Ini id( nt Tying Little Crake. (On Bullion s Crake, there is no corresponding 305 Separating juvenile Little and Baillon’s Crakes line, the inner webs of the tertiais being either dark rufous or edged with a thin J-shaped white line, which never forms a broad continuous line. WING-COVERTS The degree and shape of spotting on the wing-coverts is often ciuoted as the most reliable feature for separating the two species. Baillon’s Crake is reputed to have white ring-shaped spots spread at random over the coverts, whilst little Crake is said to have a few regular-shaped white spots arranged in rows. We did not find this a constant feature and cannot recommend it as a sole means of separation. The wing-coverts, with the exception of the inner greater coverts, are rarely visible on small crakes in the field. These feather tracts are covered by large drooping scapulars and overlapping flank feathers so that any features on these feathers would rarely be seen. It may be that, previously, there has been some confusion over covert and scapular markings, which do appear to differ between the species (see later). If there are ring-shaped spots, then the bird is a Baillon’s Crake, but any in- dividual with ordinary spots can be either (see Brit. Birds 79: 677, plate 354, for a good example of such a Baillon’s). A feature that did seem to be con- stant was that Baillon’s Crake always had a small area of black surrounding the white spots, whereas, on Little Crake, the area just proximal to the white spot was brown and concolorous with the rest of the covert. Because of the contrast with the blacker base colour, the spots tend to be more obvious on Baillon’s Crake. Other features Three other features were thought to be relatively useful: (1) Baillon’s Crake is noticeably smaller than Little Crake, though how helpful l this would be in the case of an isolated bird is debatable, as both species are ‘small’. (2) The scapulars of Baillon’s Crake tend to be blackish with white flecks, whilst those of Little Crake are brown with white flecks. 92. Adult female little Crake Porzana pana. East Sussex, March 1985 ( Peter Gassori) 306 Separating juvenile Little and Baillon’s Crakes (3) I he underparts of Baillon’s Crake are quite heavily barred, the foreflanks as conspicuously so as the rear flanks, whilst on little Crake they tend to be relatively free of barring except on the rear flanks. We were unimpressed by difference in mantle colours as a distinguishing feature between the two species in juvenile plumage, as there seemed to be considerable overlap. Baillon’s is supposed to be chestnut above, whilst Little Crake is said to be muddy-brown. Unfortunately, the colour of the legs, which is also supposed to be a constant differentiating feature at any age, could not be assessed using study skins. Examination of photographs, however, suggests that juvenile Baillon’s can have grey-green legs, not especially different from those of juvenile little, and not always the pale pink legs illustrated by, for example, Jonsson (1992, Birds of Europe). Separation in adult plumage 1 he separation ol the two species in adult plumage is already well docu- mented in numerous books and articles and should not cause quite so many problems. Caution should, however, still be exercised. Structure Primary projection and relative size arc a constant means of identification no matter what the age or sex, but some caution should be used when assessing primary projection. The Baillon’s Crake at Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, in May 1989 (Brit. Birds 82: plates 303 & 304) had a missing tertial on one wing, making the primary projection seem abnormally long. Similarly, little Crakes coming out of moult can show a short primary projection. This is because of the moult pattern previously described. After the post-breeding moult, little Crakes regrow all the remiges at the same time, giving a uniformly shortened wing. Such a bird is, perhaps, unlikely in Britain, but this should be borne in mind when identifying the species on its breeding grounds and, rarely, in its winter quarters. fig- 2. kittle Pnrzarn pawn and Baillon’s Crakes P. pusilla [Rm Hathway) Pop right FIRST-YEAR MALE LITTLE CRAKE Note restricted area of black-and-white bars on rear Hanks and undertail, length of the bill, and primary projection. The extensive white spots on the scapulars, mantle and what little can be seen of the coverts (on crakes, these feather tracts are fre- quently covered by the scapulars and flank feathers) are typical of first-years, which show more ex- tensive spotting above than do adults. Note also how difficult it is to see red at the base of the bill. Top left ADULT BAILLON’S CRAKE A poorly marked individual, with the foreflank feathers puffed out and overlapping the rear flanks and thus partially obscuring the black-and-white barring. Note the stubbier bill, short primary projection, more extensive white spotting on mantle and scapulars, and richer upperparts, with more contrast with underparts than on Little Crake. Centre right ADULT FEMALE LITTLE CRAKE Note relatively plain upperparts and buff underparts. The pale line along the inner web of the tertials is still prominent. Bottom left JUVENILE l.riTLE CRAKE An individual with well-marked underparts. Note more extensive barring on underparts than on adult female. Separated from Baillon’s on primary projection, obvious line on inner web of tertials and extent of barring on underparts. Spotting on coverts and bare-part coloration are of dubious reliability. Bottom ^.JUVENILE baillon’s CRAKE A well-marked bird. Note short primary projection and rela- tively plain tertials. ‘Ringmarks’ visible on scapulars, but coverts hidden. Barring on flanks much more extensive than on Little, but bare parts similar. ^7^iOA7 fa First-year male Little Adult Baillon Juvenile Little Juvenile Baillon’s Adult female little 308 Separating juvenile Little and Baillon \s Crakes Plumage and bare parts In adult plumage, Baillon’s Crakes show little if any sexual difference, but this is not the case with little Crakes: males being grey below, females buff Con- sequently, adult male little Crake superficially resembles Baillon’s Crake, but the adult female looks more like the juvenile of both species. Bare-part col- oration is usually highlighted as the means of separation of adults, but this de- mands both good light and prolonged views a scenario not often associated with vagrant crakes in Britain — and there is some doubt as to the validity of leg-colour differences ( Limicola 4: 93-144). Adult little Crakes ol both sexes have a red base to a lime-green bill and olive or green legs. The red bill base is absent on Baillon’s Crake, which has a uniform yellow-green bill and greyish-pink, pinky-green, dirty-olive or occa- sionally dull-green legs. On the underparts of adult male little Crake, there is a restricted area of dark grey and white bars on the rear flanks and undertail- coverts. 1 his rarely extends in front of the legs and sometimes is so restricted as to be virtually impossible to see in the field. The remainder of the under- parts may look a paler grey than those ol Baillon’s Crake. Baillon’s has the underparts a similar shade of grey to those of Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, with extensive black-and-white barring on the rear flanks extending well forward of the legs and always being quite obvious, probably owing not only to the more extensive distribution, but also to the increased contrast between the black and the white bars compared with the duller (dark grey and white) bars of Little Crake. In addition, the muddy-brown upperparts of male Little Crake, with limited areas of white spotting, arc paler and much less contrasting than the chestnut-brown and well-spotted upperparts of Baillon’s Crake. On Baillon’s, 93. Adult female Little Crake Porzana parva, East Sussex, March 1985 (David M. Cot/ridge) 309 Separating juvenile Little and Baillon’s Crakes 94. Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla, Israel, April 1976 (R. F. Porter) the chestnut-brown on the sides of the neck shows stronger contrast with the grey underparts. Altogether, the effect is to make adult male Litde Crake seem relatively pale and plain, whilst Baillon’s is dark and well marked. These dif- ferences can be seen by comparing plates 96 and 94, and fig. 2. First-winter plumage of male litde Crake is similar to that of adult male except that both the dark feather centres and the pale spots are more numerous 95. Juvenile Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla, Cyprus, July 1982 (previously published in colour, Brit. Birds 79: plate 354)(7i Box) 310 Separating juvenile Little and Baillon ’s Crakes 96. Adult male I ittle Crake Porzana parva (note short wings), Kuwait, November 1991 (A. V. Cross) and extensive. In addition, the red at the base of the bill can be restricted and paler than on the adult, so there is potential for confusion with Baillon’s Crake as both the upperparts and the bill are more similar than on the adults. There is, however, still a paucity of barring on the underparts, and the remiges are retained, worn juvenile feathers. 97. Juvenile Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla, Kenya, April 1983 (P. B. Taylor) 311 Separating juvenile Little and Baillon’s Crakes 1 he adult female plumage of Little Crake is very similar to the juvenile plumage ol both species. The black centres to most upperpart feathers are, however, less noticeable and there are fewer white spots on the upperparts than on the juvenile plumage of either species. The net effect is to make the upperparts seem plain and pale, as on the male. The main features that can be used to separate adult female Litde Crake from juvenile Baillon’s Crake arc the same as those used to separate the juveniles. The pale line on the tertials oi little Crake, however, may not be present in spring or early summer when the plumage is worn, but, at that time of year, any Baillon’s Crake seen in Britain would be in adult plumage. In addition, there is usually very litde, if any, dank barring, which is another useful separating feature from juvenile Baillon s Crake (although juvenile litde Crake can be both as poorly barred as adult female Litde Crake and rarely almost as strongly as some juvenile Baillon s C rakes). Female Litdes can sometimes show a grey supercilium and submoustachial area. Finally, bare-part coloration, as previously described, can be used if the views are good enough. Acknowledgments The Rarities Committee wishes to thank The Natural History Museum at Tring, Martin Cade, Peter Colston, 1 ony Cross, Paul Oldfield, Mike Reed and, especially, Keith Vinicombe for their help on this subject. Summary The two best features for separating juvenile Little Porzana parva and Baillon’s Crakes P. pusilla are the length of the primary projection (Long on Litde, B***** short on Baillon’s) and the presence of a broad pale stripe along the inside of the tertials (present on Little, absent on Baillon’s). It is worth remembering that, from December to May, any small crake that has buff under- parts is a female Little Crake, as male Little and all Baillon’s Crakes are grey below between these dates (BWP vol. 2). Dr Colin Bradshaw, 9 Tynemouth Place, .North Shields, Tyne & Wear . NE30 4BJ Arctic Redpolls in Kent We apologise to John Cantelo and to our readers for the accidental omission from the painting of Arctic Carduelis hornemanni and Common Redpolls C. jlammea flammea in the March 1993 issue (fig. 1 on page 138) of the vital reference numbers, now shown here. Eds Mystery photographs "1 Single, small waders seen away from their usual habitat can pose identification problems that would not occur in more usual situa- tions. When that wader is determined to roost, bill tucked into its scapulars (plate 75), the problems are compounded and identification is even less easy. Now (plate 98, below) it is shown rather more alert. io consider our mystery bird: it is very pale, almost albinistic, with propor- tions that show it to be a small wader, a small ‘Calidrid1 since it lacks the collared appearance of the small ringed plovers Charadrius. The upperparts show a mixture of freshly acquired, rounded, dark-centred feathers and a few uniform, pale grey, rather pointed, worn feathers. This mixture is typical of waders in spring, moulting from winter to summer plumage. Its legs are dark, so the choice is between the dark-legged stints (Semipalmated Calidris pusilla and Western Sandpipers C. maun. , Little C. minuta and Red-necked Stints C. rujjcollis , ignoring the very occasional dark-legged Temminck’s Stint L. temrmnckii ), and the other three small Calidrids: Sanderling C. alba , and White-rumped C. Juscicollis and Baird’s Sandpipers C. bairdii. 312 [Bni Birds )((>: 31 2-3 13, July 1993] PHii | ■ 1 flkw. Experience bird- watching in a whole new light. Witness the best that nature has to offer through the eyes of the new EDII A angled body type Fieldscope. Its one-piece advanced prism design reflects 100% light for brighter viewing from dawn to dusk. 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Holy* SCOTLAND ABERDEEN J LizarsLtd BLAIRGOWRIF James Crockart & Soi | EDINBURGH J li/ars Ltd John Dicky j & Son Ltd. Charles Frank GLASGOW J Lizars Ltd. Charles frank | GRANTOWNONSPEY Ritchies G G Mortimer & Son INVERNESS Ormiston & Company Inverness Guns & Tackle PEEBLES Tweeddale Tackle Centre PERTH Perthshire Field Sports ROSS SHIRE *tacleod & Son. Tam SUTHERLAND Rods & Guns. Brora Plus all branches of LONDON CAME RA j EXCHANGE LTD throughout the count' . If you require further information about Zeiss Binoculars, please write to Cart (Oberkochen) Ltd, Binocular Division j Depf BB. P 0 Box 78. Woodfield Road Welwyn Garden City. Hertfordshire, Al ZEISS Germany Carl Ze Mystery photographs 313 The last two species have rather long wings compared with the other species, extending beyond the tail and giving them both a more elongated ap- pearance than the others including the mystery bird. White-rumped and Baird’s can thus be eliminated. At this stage of moult, Semipalmated Sandpiper acquires very dark mantle and scapular feathers, with relatively narrow buflish fringes, and Western Sandpiper rapidly acquires rufous upperparts and develops a scattering of small dark chevrons on the breast and flanks, giving the underparts a spotted appearance when seen from a distance. Both Little and Red-necked Stints de- velop rufous upperpart fringes in fresh adult plumage. Our bird is thus un- usual in having extensive pale grey upperpart fringes in fresh summer plumage, with only the slightest hint of rufous; it can only be a Sanderling. This is confirmed by the dark area at the bend of the wing (though this is partly covered by the breast feathers), and by the pale, almost featureless facial pattern. All the stints — even Temminck’s, which has a rather plain face have a more prominent supercilium and eye-stripe. In full summer plumage, Sanderlings are strongly rufous, but this develops only when the pale upperpart fringes have worn away. In this plumage, there are similarities with adult summer Red-necked Stint (see Brit. Birds 79: 609- 621; plate 316). There is, however, one clinching feature, well seen in the sec- ond photograph (plate 98), that immediately identifies our mystery bird as a Sanderling: the lack of a hind toe, a feature unique among the Calidrids. I photographed this individual in Gwynedd in mid April 1988. When first found, it was seen rather distandy at a small, muddy beach pool, feeding with two Dunlins C. alpina , when the immediate impression it gave was of an ex- tremely pale, perhaps albinistic wader. With closer views, its identity became apparent; it later roosted, and allowed me to take the photographs shown here now and last month. R-J- Chandler Twenty-five years ago... ‘Attempted reintroduction of the White-tailed Eagle. -The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is currently attempting to reintroduce this magnificent raptor to one of its former Scottish haunts. Four young White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla taken, with the sanction of the Norwe- gian government, from eyries in northern Norway (where this species is unprotected and much persecuted) were brought during June and July to Fair Isle, Shetland. ‘Proposed new bird observatory building for Fair Isle. —Ever since this famous bird observatory was established in 1948, its accommodation has consisted of timber huts built during the 1939-45 war by the Royal Navy. These huts are now much dilapidated, and uneconomic to maintain; die Fair Isle Observatory Trust has therefore had to plan for a new observatory building . . . esti- mated cost of this new building is £36,000. (Brit. Birds 61. 325, July 1968) At the end of the month (on the nights of 27th/28th July and lst/2nd August), 75 Grasshopper Warblers Locustella naevia were killed by flying against die lighthouse on Bardsey Island. Worse was to follow shordy . . . [7^ The inclusion of plate 98 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl Zeiss (Obcrkochcn) Ltd Notes Eurasian Curlews thermalling On 27th April 1991, at Newquay, Corn- wall, I watched two small groups ol Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata fly in from the west and land on the lawns beside the Headland Hotel. There was broken stratocumulus cloud based at about 800 m, with a light easterly wind and a surface temperature ol about 15°C. The 34 curlews then took off together and flew into the wind until they met a thermal over Newquay har- bour, when they began soaring upwards in a tight right-handed spiral. They flew on extended wings with only occasional ‘positioning’ flaps, looking re- markably like ibises (Threskiornithidae). The whole flock remained in the thermal, which drifted westwards across Fistral Bay and out to sea, by which time the curlews had been joined by a few immature gulls (Laridae) and were almost at the base of the broken cloud. John Stewart- Smith 24 Cameton Close, Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 5 RT Mistle Thrush alarm-call terrorising cat The well-known rattling alarm-call of the Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus (described in detail in BIVP vol. 5, pages 1020-1021) is not only a sign of agitation or anxiety, but also serves to attract the attention of a potential predator, and thereby distracts it from the thrush’s nest or young. Observations in my rural garden at Blunham, Bedfordshire, in the summer of 1991 and subsequently have shown that the very loudness and harshness of the call, linked with the Mistle Thrush’s fearless, aggressive behaviour, may have a more positively deterrent effect. A pair of Mistle Thrushes reared young from a nest in a hawthorn Crataegus in summer 1991. When incubating, the thrushes apparently ignored our resident domestic Siamese cat, as do all the other local birds (they are merely circumspect in their behaviour). As soon as the young hatched, however, the Mistle Thrushes’ behaviour totally altered. When the cat approached to within 40 m of the nest, both thrushes ‘rattled’ loudly and one dive-bombed the cat from behind, after the fashion of a breeding skua Stercorarius. Although there was no physical contact, the cat was instantly intimidated. He (a neutered male) ignores all other bird songs and calls, including the vaguely similar chuckling flight calls of Fieldfare T. pilaris, but, up to seven months later, the rattle of a Mistle Thrush — even if uttered by a distant individual, 200 m or so away — immediately triggered a cautious, defensive stance or, if the Mistle Thrush was closer, a panic-stricken dash towards protective cover. In at least this one case, the Mistle Thrush’s rattle call provided a very effective anti-predator protection. J. T. R. S mar rock Fountains , Park lane, Blunham , Bedford MK44 3Jff 314 Notes 315 Eurasian Jay apparently attempting to extract House Martins from nest During the evening of 20th June 1991, at Ockham Mill, Surrey, J. Allen and I noticed a Eurasian Jay Gamilus glandarius perched on a low wall, eating a bird. Although we could not positively identify the prey, it appeared to be a House Martin Delichon urbica, a colony of which was nesting on a nearby house. The jay then flew up to the colony, perching vertically on the wall, and began looking into the nests under the eaves; it did this at two dif- ferent places, before apparently losing interest and flying away. Meanwhile, the House Martins were wheeling around, frantically calling overhead, but they did not attempt to mob the jay. On revisiting the site on the evening of 26th June, we again saw a jay disturbing the colony: it sat on a chimney pot and was this time mobbed by the martins; it did not attempt to fly up to the nests, and after a few minutes flew into nearby trees. R. E. SMITH 74 Longfellow Road, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 8BE Magpies and milk bottles It is well known that tits Pams peck through milk-bottle caps for cream. By the summer of 1991, on my housing estate near Chepstow, Gwent, Magpies Pica pica had learnt this habit. A neighbour first noticed it in June, when one Magpie was seen pecking at four bottles in succession on one doorstep; this behaviour was noted regularly throughout July and August, but less regularly thereafter, following heavy rainfall in mid September after a prolonged dry period. The Magpies usually pecked one hole through the top of the cap, but sometimes made one large and one small hole (presumably with upper and lower mandibles); occasionally, the whole top was ripped off. While Magpies may have learnt this habit from the tits, it is more likely that, with the increase of this species in suburban gardens in re- cent years, they themselves learned to exploit a new and readily available food source. Black bin-liners, used for refuse and left out for collection, are also pecked through for food. As much of July- August 1991 was exceptionally dry, they may have resorted to these food sources when more natural food (for example, on grassland) was difficult to come by. Pecking of milk bottles by Magpies had been recorded previously (T. R. Birkhead in litt), but it has now been reported from many parts of Britain (. BTO News 177: 10). In the case of tits, the habit started in two or a few centres and then spread throughout the country (Fisher & Hinde, 1949, Brit. Birds 42: 347-357). There is some concern that Magpies and other birds may spread Campylobacter , a Salmonella- type organism, to human beings as a result of opening milk botdes (Hudson et al. , The Lancet May 1990: 1 160), and there ap- pears to be a clear relationship between consumption of milk from bottles pecked by Magpies (and other crows, Corvidae) and the incidence of human enteritis (BTO News 177: 10). J. D. Rae VERNON 16 Orchid Meadow, Pwllmeync, Chepstow, Gwent A letter on the subject of tits and milk bottles is published on pages 321-322. Ens Letters New Herring Gull taxonomy The recent editorial decision (Brit. Birds 86: 1-2 to adopt splitting Herring Gull into three species L. argentatus, L. cachinnans and L. armenicus, although in line with current trends in avian taxonomy, seems highly controversial. As discussed below, this treatment: (1) may be untenable for populations other than the west European, and (2) artificially promotes interest in differences rather than similarities between the populations. While argeriteus and michahellis behave as good species on the western coast of France (Yesou 1991), a far less clear situation is found in eastern Europe, where relationships between members of these two groups remain largely obscure. 1 raditionally, the yellow-legged morph breeding around the Baltic and in Scandinavia (‘ omissus ’) is subject to endless controversies. Some researchers (Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer 1982; Cramp & Simmons 1983; Dcvillers 1983) linked these gulls to cachinnans rather than to argentatus , mostly on account of leg colour. Yet, except for this feature, no consistent differences have been found in morphology, biometrics and vocalisations between yellow- legged and pink-legged Herring Gulls breeding sympatrically in this region (Stegmann 1934; Vaurie 1965; Barth 1968; Mierauskas et al. 1991). Also, there is no evidence for reproductive isolation between the two morphs in the Baltic/Scandinavia area. On the contrary, widespread interbreeding has been suggested (e.g. Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer 1982), though there are no data about mating preferences in relation to leg colour. Individuals with intermediate leg colour occur, however, not infrequently. In sum, these data suggest that ‘ omissus is a mere variant of moq^hological variation within L. a. argentatus (Stegmann 1934, 1960; Vaurie 1965; Barth 1968; Grant 1986). Whether the yellow leg colour in the Baltic area originated independently of that in southern populations is unknown. Alternatively, this feature may reflect introgression of cachinnans- genes following possible dispersal of gulls from the Black/Caspian Sea region into the Baltic (Voipio 1954; Barth 1968; but sec Stegmann 1960; Mierauskas & Greimas 1992). In that second, as yet unfalsified scenario, relationships between L cachinnans and L. argentatus are strikingly different from those found in western France. Recent northward expansion of cachinnans and michahellis colonising inland areas of central Europe is particularly interesting in this context. As argentatus simultaneously expands inland from the coast of the southern Baltic, another area of secondary contact between the two racial groups is expected to develop somewhere in the lowlands of central and eastern Europe. This has been claimed to happen very recently in Poland (Dubois et al. 1990; Dubois & Stawarczyk 1991), where both pink-legged and yellow-legged gulls were found to breed in some newly established colonies (Sikora et al. submitted). Although these yellow-legged individuals may represent the first, new colonists from the 316 Letters 317 south, their Baltic origin is much more likely (Ghylarecki & Sikora 1991; Eigenhuis 1991; Mierauskas & Greimas 1992). Anyhow, preliminary results of an ongoing study (P. Ghylarecki, M. Zielinski & A. Sikora) suggest that, while leg colour varies there from grey through pink to yellow, gulls showing more yellow legs tend to show also more extensive black bands on their primaries. This offers some support for the option that ''omissus' has had cachinnans-hirds among its ancestors, though alternative explanations are still possible. Anyway, these data show clearly that continuous variation exists between the ‘classical’ pink-legged argentatus individuals with reduced black on their wing-tips and the yellow-legged cachinnans- type birds showing more extensive black on their primaries. Also, pairs involving clearly yellow-legged and pink-legged /grey- legged birds, observed inland in Poland {contra Dubois & Stawarczyk 1991), suggest that mating preferences are at least relaxed there. Thus, it is quite possible that, in east Europe, the relationship between cachimans-gulh and argentatus-g ulls differs markedly from that found on the Atlantic coast of France. The proposed taxonomic arrangement also does not cope with the situation found in Asia, where gulls from the cachinnans-group seemingly intergrade with races linked to L. fuscus (Chylarecki & Sikora submitted). From the Asiatic perspective, armenicus looks like a smaller, slimmer variant of the central Asiatic races barabensis and taimyrensis rather than a separate species (Stegmann 1934; Bourne 1991; Chylarecki & Sikora submitted). Assigning specific status to racial groups of Herring Gull would undoubtedly enhance the interest of birdwatchers in the identification criteria of these forms. In contrast to the editors of British Birds , however, I am afraid that I consider that this would not necessarily lead to a more thorough knowledge of their moiphology, and eventually a better understanding of phylogenetical relationships. Most observers will simply focus on finding and exaggerating subtle and illusive differences found between the proposed species (or better: average individuals), while the extensive within-‘species’ variation — often exceeding that found between ‘species’ — will receive far less attention. Consequently, the whole picture would be biased towards seeking anything that could possibly separate the two taxa. In a self-reinforcing process, papers listing alleged identification characters will be more welcomed than those reporting lack of effective criteria. Also ‘sharp-eyed’ observers who could tell the species of intermediate (and actually not identifiable) individuals would be lauded by birders. The identification criteria of L. cachinnans given by authors already adopting its specific status seem just the case in point. A number of features claimed to enable ‘rapid’ (‘easy’, ‘straightforward’) separation of L. cachinnans from L. argentatus {sensu stricto) occur, in fact, in both the racial groups. The most striking example is the number of black-marked primaries, with six or seven feathers claimed to identify cachinnans and five being characteristic for race argentatus. This misunderstanding seems rooted in Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer (1982: 517), who showed an extreme variant with five black-tipped primaries as ‘common’ among argentatus , despite 87% of birds in their reference population (Goethe 1961) showing a more extensive pattern. Actually, six primaries marked black is the most frequent (usually over 60% of 318 Letters birds) phenotype in all European populations of the Herring Gull complex (except for the Norwegian one). Moreover, seven black-marked primaries also occur not infrequently among gulls of the argentatus-g. roup (up to 14%: Barth 1968; Kuschert 1979; Coulson et al. 1982; Kilpi & Hario 1986; Mierauskas et al. 1991; own observations). Similarly, gulls of the Baltic/Scandinavian region may showr a red or deep orange orbital ring, regardless of their leg colour. Also, only a fraction ol argentatus gulls show very large white mirrors and "thayert- pattern on outer primaries, while the vast majority show a wing-tip pattern inseparable from cachinnans/ michahellis as well as argenteus. Actually, except for the rare individuals with four or five black-marked primaries and/ or 'thayen -pattern, no good criteria exist to distinguish cachinnans from yellow-legged argentatus (Mierauskas & Greimas 1992). A recent article by Golley (1993) is just another nice example of such an approach. British argenteus is contrasted with an extreme pale variant of Scandinavian argentatus , representing perhaps 25% of variation found within this race. Not surprisingly, identification of the two races is found to be ‘quite straightforward , though splitting of argentatus and argenteus (sic!) has not been suggested— ‘as yet’. Last but not least, the Herring Gull case exemplifies a more general splitting trend observed nowadays in avian taxonomy. Clearly, this reflects the preference for the concept of ‘phylogenetical species’, as opposed to that of biological species’ (Cracraft 1983; McKitrick & Zink 1988). Phylogenetical species arc defined as ‘smallest diagnosable clusters ol individual organisms within which there is parental pattern of ancestry and descent’; reproductive isolation between the two is not required, in contrast to the biological species concept. Certainly, this is not the place to discuss all flaws ol phylogenetical species (cl. Avise & Ball 1990), among which the most serious is that no clear limits to this splitting exist. Vet the whole absurdity of this approach is perhaps most clear when applied to our own species, Homo sapiens. No doubt, Norwegians and Italians are phenotypically recognisable (‘on average’), they differ strongly in vocalisations (language), have quite different history, and interbreeding is rare compared with inbreeding. So, should not we treat them as distinct (phylogenetical) species? I o summarise, I feel that we should be rather cautious about introducing a new taxonomy of the Herring Gull. Fashion goes here much ahead of quantitative analyses of morphology, behaviour and genetics of the taxa in question. Several aspects of gull biology and evolutionary history need to be clarified prior to proposed changes. These include testing whether: (1) yellow legs of some Baltic/ Scandinavian birds reflect past introgression of cachinnans- genes; (2) the leg colour is determined genetically or can be influenced environmentally (diet); (3) northern and southern populations will hybridise in a possible new zone of secondary contact in eastern Europe; (4) races allied to cachinnans and fuscus intergrade in Asia; (5) armenicus intergrades with populations ol central Asia. Also a thorough biometrical analysis of morphological variation of gulls from the Atlantic coast of France lacking as yet would contribute to this knowledge. Br/.km vs-r.AW Cll YI.ARKGKI Ornithological Station, JVadwis/ahska 108, 80-680 Gdansk 40, Poland Letters 319 REFERENCES A VISE, J. C., & Ball, R. M. 1990. Principles of genealogical concordance in species concepts and biological taxonomy. Oxford Surveys in Evolutionary Biology 7: 45-67. BAR l H, E. K. 1 968. 1 he circumpolar systematics of Larus argentalus and Larus jiiscus with special reference to the Norwegian populations. Nytt Mag. fool. 15, suppl. 1: 1-50. BOURNE, W. R. P. 1991. Armenian Gulls. Omith. Soc. Middle East Bull. 26: 49-50. CHYLARECKI, P., & SlKORA, A. 1991. Yellow-legged Gulls in Poland: a comment. Dutch Birding 13: 145-148. &• Submitted. Morphology and systematic position of Taymyr Gull Larus fuscus’ taimyrensis. Coulson, J. C., Monaghan, P., Butterfield, J., Duncan, N., Thomas, C. S., & Wright, H. 1982. Variation in wing-tip pattern of the Herring Gull in Britain. Bird Study 29: 111-120. Cracraft, J 1983. Species concepts and speciation analysis. In: JOHNSTON, R. F. (ed.), Current Ornithology l. New York, pp. 159-187. Cramp. S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 3. Oxford. Devillers, P. 1983. Yellow-legged Herring Gulls on southern North Sea shores. Brit. Birds 76: 191-192. Dubois, P. J., Skakuj M., & STAYVARCZYK, T. 1990. Occurrence of Yellow-legged Gull in Poland. Dutch Birding 12: 14-17. & Stayvarczyk, T. 1991. Yellow-legged Gulls in Poland: a reply to Chylarecki & Sikora. Dutch Birding 13: 182-183. ElGENHUIS, K. 1991. Yellow-legged Gulls in Poland. Dutch Birding 13: 209-210. Goethe, F. 1961. Zur Taxonomie der Silbermowe (Larus argentatus) im siidlichen deutschen Nordseegebiet. Vogelwarte 21: 1-24. GoiTEY, M. 1993. Identification of argentatus Herring Gull. Birding World 6: 32-38. Glutz VON BLQTZHEIM, U. N., & Bauer, K. M. (eds.) 1982. Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas. vol. 8. Wiesbaden. Grant, P. J. 1986. Gulls: a guide to identification. 2nd edn. Calton. KlLPI, M., & Hario, M. 1986. Wing-tip pattern and possible affinities of coastal Finnish Herring Gulls Larus argentatus. Omis Fenn. 63: 52-54. KUSCHERT, H. 1979. Die Silbermowe (Lams argentatus) in Schleswig-Holstein — Ein Beitrag zur Diskussion tiber ihre taxonomische Stellung. Abh. Geb. Vogelk. 6: 87-112. McKlTRICK, M. C., & Zink, R. M. 1988. Species concepts in ornithology. Condor 90: 1-14. Mierauskas, P., & Greimas, E. 1992. Taxonomic status of yellow-legged Herring Gulls in eastern Baltic. Dutch Birding 14: 91-94. - & BUZUN, V. 1991. A comparison of morphometries, wing-tip pattern and vocalizations between Yellow-legged Herring Gulls ( Larus argentatus) from eastern Baltic and Larus cachimans. Acta Omith. Litu. 4: 3-26. Sikora A., Chylarecki, P., & Zielinski, M. Submitted. Expansion of the Herring Gull in Poland. STEGMANN, B. 1934. Ueber die Formen der grossen Mowen (‘subgenus Lams’) und ihre gegenseitigen Beziehungen. J. Orn. 82: 340-380. 1960. Zur Systematik des Rassenkreises Lams argentatus. J. Om. 101: 498-499. VAURIE, C. 1965. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Non-Passeriformes. London. VoiPIO, P. 1954. Uber die gelbfussigen Silbermowen Nordwest-europas. Acta Soc. Fauna Flora Fenn. 71: 1-56. Yesou, P. 1991. The sympatric breeding of Lams fuscus, L. cachinnans and L. argentatus in western France. Ibis 133: 256-263. We are very pleased to publish this contribution to the debate on the Herring Gull ‘complex’. Mr Chylarecki’s point that ‘splitting’ can lead to emphasis on differences between forms, with similarities conveniently being ignored, is a timely word of caution. We shall, for the present, however, be continuing to refer to L. argentatus, L. cachinnans and L. annenicus as separate species; this has at least created much added interest in the yellow-legged gulls which occur in England and are no longer dismissed by some observers as ‘only a race of Herring Gulf and hardly worth a second glance. A paper on the field identification of these birds is in preparation, by David Christie, Alan Harris, Rob Hume and Hadoram Shirihai, for publication in British Birds. Eds ! 99-101. Views of Rockall from southwest (above left), west (above light) and northeast (left), June 1992 {Sverija Belaoussoffj 102. Below, nesting Northern Gan- net Morus bassanus (arrowed) and position of nesting site of Common Guillemot Una aalge (circled) on Rockall, 19th June 1992 (see Brit. Birds 86: 1 6) (Svenja Belaoussoffj Letters 321 Northern Gannet and Common Guillemot nesting on Rockall My photographs of Rockall, taken during my visit on 19th June 1992 {Brit. Birds 86. 16), which I thought had been lost in the mail, have now reached me. They show general aspects of Rockall (plates 99-101), and a distant view of the Northern Gannet Morus bassanus on its nest and the position of the nesting Common Guillemot Uria aalge (plate 102). Svenja BELAOUSSOFF 86 Plunkett Road, Weston, Ontario, Canada M9L 2J6 Do British tits drink milk or just skim the cream? Opening of milk bottles by Great Parus major , Blue P. caemleus and Coal Tits P. ater is a well- known and apparently widespread phenomenon throughout the British Isles (Hinde & Fisher 1951). After removing a botde cap, tits drink from the botde and/ or carry the cap away and ingest the semi-solid cream residues on it (Fisher & Hinde 1949). It is commonly accepted that tits open botdes to take milk (Fisher & Hinde 1949; Welty 1982), yet what is not considered is why they ingest only the cream. Lactose is present in cow milk in relatively high concentrations (5-7%) and amounts (about 40% of milk’s solids: Jenness & Patton 1976). Lactose is a disaccharide, and, to be absorbed in the intestine, has first to be hydrolysed into its monosaccharide components (glucose and galactose) by the intestinal enzyme lactase (Vonk & Western 1984). Animals lacking lactase cannot digest and absorb lactose, and consequently the presence of undigested lactose in their intestines can cause severe osmotic diarrhoea (Sunshine & Kretchmer 1964). Several authors have reported lack of intestinal lactase activity in birds, including the domestic fowl Callus gallus (Plimmcr 1902), Blue-breasted Quail Cotumix chinensis and Common Crane Crus gms (Zoppi & Shmerling 1969), and Common Starling Stumus vulgaris (Martinez del Rio & Stevens 1989), while Kerry (1969) was unable to detect significant lactase activity in five species of seabird. I recently conducted a survey of intestinal disaccharidases in 1 7 bird species of six families, including three hummingbirds (Trochilidae), three tyrant-flycatchers (Tyrannidae), two thrushes (Turdidae), one wood-warbler (Parulidae), one saltator and one bunting (both Emberizidae) and six icterids (Icteridae), and could not detect lactase activity in any (see Martinez del Rio 1990). As expected from the observation that birds appear to lack intestinal lactase, ‘crop milk’ of pigeons contains mainly proteins and lipids and lacks lactose (Vandeputte-Poma 1968). Like other non-mammalian vertebrates (Martinez del Rio & Stevens 1988), birds appear unable to digest lactose. In- testinal lactase seems to be a uniquely mammalian trait associated with the evolution of mammary glands (Kretchmer 1981; Vonk & Western 1984). Because tits lack lactase, milk can cause them osmotic diarrhoea and feed- ing aversion (see Martinez del Rio & Stevens 1989). I suggest that this is why they do not drink it. In contrast with whole milk, cream is a concentrated emulsion of fat globules that contains minute amounts of lactose; lipids com- prise about 90% of the total solids in cream (Privett et al. 1968). Thus, cream is a digestible and energy-dense food for birds, and tits presumably open milk bottles to feed exclusively on it. The observation that tits open milk bottles to feed on cream rather than milk leads to two verifiable predictions: 322 Letters (1) Bottles containing milk of different grades are distinguished by caps of dif- ferent colours, fisher & Hinde (1949) mentioned that tits show marked prefer- ences among bottles with different colours, but presented no data suggesting consistent prelerences for one colour over another. I predict that tits will open bottles with silver and gold caps (containing non-homogenised and Channel Islands non-homogenised milk) preferentially over those with red caps (con- taining homogenised milk). 2) Consumer preference patterns are likely to influence bottle-opening by tits. I ht consumption ol homogenised and skim milk appears to be increasing, and replacing the consumption of non-homogenised milk, in the United King- dom (Davies & Holdworth 1984; Hall 1986). Skim and homogenised milks do not form a cteam layer, and their lactose can cause adverse digestive effects if consumed by birds. I predict that the incidence of bottle-opening by birds will decrease concurrently with the consumption ol non-homogenised milk in the British Isles. This letter was inspired by one from Dr E. Kochva. I thank Paul Andreadis, Ron Edwards, oug Levey, Olay Oftedal and Martha Wilson for commenting on the manuscript, and Michelle W hcatley for anglicising its spelling. Alberto Biirquez convinced me that milk, nectar and tits had somehow to be related: this contribution is dedicated to him. Carlos Martinez del Rio Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Piology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1003, USA REFERENCES IXwihs, L., & Holdworth, M. D. 1984. Consumption of milk and dairy products at pre-retire- ment age. Dairy Industries International 49: 149-153. I lSHKR. J., & Hinde, R. A. 1949. The opening of milk bottles by birds. Brit. Birds 42: 347-357. H ail, R. 1986. Future trends. In Milk the vital force. Proceedings of XXII International Dairy Congress, The Hague. Boston. Hinde, R. A., & Fisher, J. 1951. Further observations on the opening of milk bottles bv birds Brit. Birds 44: 392-396. 1 Jenness, R„ & Patton, S. 1976. Principles of Dairy Chemistry. New York. Kum, K. R. 1969. Intestinal disaccharidase activity in a monotreme and eight species of marsu- pials (with an added note on the disaccharidases of five species of sea birds). Comp Biochem Physiol. 29: 1015-1022. Kreichmer, N. 1981. Food: a selective agent in evolution. In WALCHER, 1). N., & KRETCHMER N. (eds.), Food, Mdiition and Evolution. New York. Martinez del Rio, Cl. 1990. Dietary, phylogenetic and ecological correlates of intestinal sucrase and maltase activity in birds. Phys. fool. 63: 987-101 1. & Si EVENS, B. R. 1988. Intestinal brush border membrane-bound disaccharidases of the American Alligator , Alligator mississippiensis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 9 IB: 751-754. & 1989. Physiological constraints on feeding behavior: intestinal membrane disaccharidases of the Starling. Science 243: 794-796. PlJMMER, R. H. A. 1902. On the presence of lactase in the intestine of animals and on the ada tation of the intestine to lactose. J. Physiol. London 35: 20-3 1 . Privt. it, O. S., Nutter, L. J., & Gross, R. A. 1968. Analysis of milk lipids. In Brink, M. Kkithevsky, D. (eds.), Dairy Lipids and Lipid Metabolism. Connecticut Sunshine, P, & Kreichmer, N. 1964. Intestinal disaccharidases: absence in two species of sea lions. Science 144: 850-851. \ ANDEPU l lE-Po.MA, J. 1968. Quelques donnees sur la composition du Mail de Pigeon’ Z I 'end Physiol. 58: 356-363. 'v s ' \ ONK, 1 1. ,J„ & Western, R. H. 1984. Comparative Biochemistry of Enzymatic Dwestion. London Wki.iyJ. C. 1982. The Life of Birds. New York. Zopi-i, G„ & Shmere.no, 1). H. 1969. Intestinal disaccharidase activities in some birds reptiles and mammals. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 29: 289-294. ’ lap- F., & Seasonal reports Autumn 1992 Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp Some unchecked reports are included, as well as authenticated records July’s weather was cloudy and wet, and rather warm, particularly in the second half, and this continued into the first ten days of August. Generally, August was unsettled and windy, and very wet: in fact, the wettest over England and Wales since 1956 and over Scotland and Ireland since 1985. Vigorous westerlies dominated the early autumn and continued until mid September, which again was a cloudy month throughout Britain and Ireland, with heavy falls of rain. October was marked by unusually frequent northerly winds, and for central England was the fifth-coldest October this century, and the coldest since 1974 for Britain and Ireland as a whole. After the non-stop excitement of the previous four months (Brit. Birds 85: Gob- 647), autumn 1992 proved generally unremarkable. August was noted for Britain’s second Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficoltis, third Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia and fourth Riippell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppellu (plate 104), a Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus, a Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin Cercotnchas galaclotes and a Green Heron Butorides virescens. September will largely be remembered for Britain’s second Hooded Warbler IVilsonia citrina, a Western Sandpiper Calidris maun in Ireland, and a tremendous passage of Black Terns Chlidonias niger. There was an encouraging start to October, with a good passage of easterly vagrants, including an obliging Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica, and record numbers of Greenish Warblers Phylloscopus trochiloides. A heavy surge of Pomarine Skuas Stercoranus pomannus occurred off the northeast coast of England and in the southwest there was a Northern Parula Parula americana and a Desert Warbler Sylvia nana (plate 103). North Ronaldsay (Orkney) again scored most house points from the rarity-seekers, but Scilly by comparison had one of its most ordinary autumns in the last 20 years. [Brit. Birds 86: 323-337, July 1993] 323 324 Autumn 1992 Early autumn The winds in July w ere predominantly westerly as a series of cyclones, whose centres tracked eastwards to the north of Scotland, dragged active weather fronts in ofr the Adantic around a persistent Azores anticyclone. An exception w'as a low-pressure centre during the first week which crossed England bringing easterlies in its wake during 4th-7th July. The rare ducks which featured strongly on the July menu came from both east and west, and perhaps the rather changeable weather pattern explains why. Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata on Fetlar (Shetland) on 1st and at Murcar (Grampian) on 9th preceded a King Eider Somateria spedabilis at North Yell (Shedand) on 12th, another Surf Scoter in the Sound of Taransay (Orkney) on 24th and a Blue- winged Teal Anas discors, an unusual July record, at Chew' Valley Lake (Avon) on 29th. A Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus at Cley (Norfolk) on lst-2nd July more properly relates to spring passage, rather than the autumn, as did the Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica already covered in the spring ‘Seasonal reports’ {Brit. Birds 85: 646, plate 297). Away from their breeding areas, there were six Red-neched Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus, with three in Orkney, and singles at Martin Mere (Lancashire), at Minsmere (Suffolk) and at Staines Reservoir (Surrey). A Pacific Golden Plover Ptuvialis Julva on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 2nd July, a Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis at Rye Harbour (East Sussex) on 4th and a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa Jtavipes on the Douglas Estuary (Co. Cork) were an exciting trio, and there were five Pectoral Sandpipers Calidris mekmotos during 1 1 th-3 1 st July- 1 he now-regular Least Tern Sterna antillanm showed well in Rye Harbour up to 12th July, and the Lesser Crested Tern S. bengalensis y stayed in the Fame Islands (Northumberland) until 21st July, leaving two days before its hybrid young, having again mated with a Sandwich Tern S. sandvicensis — where do the offspring go? Wanderers of one of our other rare breeding seabirds, Roseate Tern S. dongallu , appeared around our coasts, off Humberside on 3rd, at Breydon Water (Norfolk) during 2nd-6th, and, very unusually, inland in Nottinghamshire during 3rd-9th; then, in the second half of July, there were two at Exmouth (Devon), up to six at Dawlish Warren (Devon), up to 12 at Titchfield Haven (Hampshire), at Dungeness (Kent) on 21st, at Tynemouth (Tyne & Wear) on 23rd and at Sunderland (Tyne & Wear) on 25th. About 30 Pomarine Skuas passed by in the first half ofjuly, with eight off the northeast coast of England, and the rest off Cornwall, with another 30 in the second half ofjuly, mainly in the Southwest and off Irish coasts. There were just seven Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus, 33 Mediterranean Gulls Lams melanocephalus spread along the southwest and the south coasts of England and, unseasonally, two Glaucous Gulls L. hyperboreus and three Iceland Gulls L. glaucoides. At least three, and possibly five, Great White Egrets Egretta alba included a long- stayer at Stanford Reservoir (Leiccster- shire/Northamptonshire) during 5th-2 1st July, and up to 40 Little Egrets E. gargetta were reported, with a clear influx from mid July onwards. After the surfeit in the spring, just four Red-footed Falcons Falco vespertinus showed in July, and a Lesser Grey Shrike Imiuus minor in Devon on 9th was to be the only one of this autumn. I he spell of easterly winds during 4th-7th July carried a Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glmdarius to Blakeney Point (Norfolk) on 7th, a Little Bittern lxobrychus minutus to Fairburn lugs (North Yorkshire) on 10th, and two Purple Herons Arden purpurea on 18th. to Chichester Harbour (West Sussex) and to North Warren Marshes (Suffolk). Up to 20 Eurasian Spoonbills Plata/ea teucorodia were seen through July, mostly along the south coast of England and in East Anglia. About 30 Mediterranean Shearwaters hiffinus yelkotm passed bv after 9th July, mainly oil (he southwest coast of England, and 30 Great Shearwaters P. gravis , a few Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea , and 15 Autumn 1992 325 ' Sabine’s Gulls Lams sabini flew by Cape . Clear Island (Co. Cork) on 14th- 15th. Two Alpine Swifts Apus melba, at Bridlington (Humberside) on 15th July and at Cape Wrath (Highland) on 20th, a Black- 1 headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala, , adding to the numbers in spring, on North Ronaldsay on 15th, and a Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator near Didcot (Oxfordshire) on 18th July were typical southerly overshooters. Less unexpected perhaps was a Velvet Scoter Melanitta Jusca at Trimley (Suffolk) on 16th July. There was an inland movement of i Common Scoters M. nigra , with 60 in the West Midlands from 12th July to mid August, five in inland Suffolk during 10th- 16th July and seven on the London reservoirs; 450 Common Pochards Ay thy a Jenna on Staines Reservoir was a noteworthy July count. After a cool beginning to July, the temperatures over eastern England increased sharply from 15th to 19th, to reach a maximum of 26°C. This iniuated insect flight activity, and thus avian aerial feeders became prominent, particularly Sand Martins Riparia riparia, with 2,000 over Sandwich Bay (Kent), and a continuous movement at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) during 1 7th-2 1st, with a maximum of 5,000 on 19th, travelling with smaller numbers of Barn Swallows Hinmdo ruslica and Common Swifts Apus apus. On the same clay, a Pallid Swift A. pallidus arrived at Flamborough Head (Humberside), again in company with Common Swifts. The regular waders were thin on the ground, not helped by high water levels with the corresponding loss of muddy margins. Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa were one exception, and included among the many inland records were nine in the London area from 11th July, a peak of 110 at Welney (Norfolk/Cambridgeshire), about 100 in the West Midlands between 7th July and early September, and 312 at Inner Marsh Farm (Cheshire) and 517 at Fairhaven (Lancashire) at the end of July. Counts of Common Greenshanks Tringa nebularia were only modest, with the highest at Holbeach (Lincolnshire) with 86 on 19th July, at Farrington (Hampshire) with 53 and Havergate (Suffolk) with 40. Common Sandpipers Actitis hypolencos were, however, living up to their name, and good counts were 28 at Seaforth (Merseyside) and 45 on the River Clwyd at Rhyl (Clwyd) on 20th July. A Franklin’s Gull Lams pipixcan appeared at Titchwell (Norlolk) on 21st July, a European Serin Serinus serinus at Portland (Dorset) on 22nd, a Spotted Crake Porzana porzana at Minsmere on 24th and an early Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotla at Portland on 26th July. A high-tide roost of Dunlins Calidris alpina reached 3,800 at Gibraltar Point on 31st July and the next day an equally diligent observer counted 393 Mute Swans Cygnus olor at the mouth of the River Tweed (Northumberland). A Surf Scoter in Grampian, a Purple Heron on the Oare Marshes (Kent) and a Pacific Golden Plover on North Ronaldsay, all on 1st August, probably converged from three directions, but approaching from the south were more Little Egrets. About 85 were reported during August, including ten in West Charleton Bay (Devon), 1 1 in Poole Harbour (Dorset), 1 1 in Pegwell Bay (Kent), and at least 1 1 on the Hampshire coast between Calshot and Keyhaven. There were up to 22 on Jersey (Channel Islands) by the end of August. Mixed fortunes For those whose expectations during August turn towards waders and seabirds, elation and disappointment would have been evenly balanced. On the plus side, a Red-necked Stint stayed at Cley from 2nd to 3rd August, with a Greater Sand Plover Charadrius kschenaullii there during 5th-8th, and probably the same individual at East Tilbury (Essex) during 10th- 14th August. On the other hand, seabird passage was, with some exceptions, poor. Mean sea-level pressure was below normal over the w'hole of northwest Europe, and this month ranked alongside the most cyclonic Augusts of the century. Following this cyclonic activity, the sea-surface temperatures in the North Atlantic and waters around Britain and Ireland were much below normal (per The Royal Meteorological Society), and, although many mysteries still surround seabird movements, it is clear that tiffs situation would have affected the numbers seen around our coasts this autumn. As usual, Porthgwarra (Cornwall) was the place for Cory’s Shearwaters, with about 160 there up to 326 Autumn 1992 1 Oth August, 641 on 11th, and 173 on 12th. There were few after. The only other double- figure count was 1 1 past Old Head of Kinsale (Co. Cork) on 2nd August. Great Shearwaters totalled fewer than 30, and Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus featured scarcely better, with small numbers down the east coast of England, and about 90 past Porthgwarra during 9th- 17 th August. A total of 46 Mediterranean Shearwaters was seen off Cornwall during 2nd-6th August, the only other record in this period being two at Old Head of Kinsale on 2nd. Porthgwarra also claimed the first of four reports in August of Little Shearwaters P. assimilis, with one on 9th. There were 12 Sabine’s Gulls oil Bridges of Ross (Co. Clare) on 3rd, the same day that both White-winged Black Tern Chlidoruas leucopterus and American Wigeon Anas americana arrived in Strathclyde. There were six Pectoral Sandpipers in August, with the first at Cresswel! Ponds (Northumberland) on 5th. The very unsettled westerly weather had continued from July as the cyclone track stayed close to northern Scotland. A brief anticyclonic spell occurred, however, as a high- pressure ridge developed on the Continent from 6th August, thereafter moving to Scandinavia. This brought easterlies across the North Sea on 8th and 9th, as a low developed over Britain and Ireland, followed by another tracking across Scotland, bringing further easterlies on frontal systems to Shetland on 12th. During this break from the previously dominant westerlies, a Tawny Pipit Anlhus campestris arrived at Prawle Point (Devon) on 6th, and over 20 Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludicola arrived, then skulked, including 12 at Poole Harbour during 7th- 16th. Two Rosy Starlings Stumus roseus chose islands as landfalls: on Coll (Strathclyde) on 6th and Lundy (Devon) on 11th. These were two of only six to appear this autumn. The arrival of a Black Kite Milvus migrans at Diss (Norfolk) ^on 7th coincided with two Melodious Warblers at Christchurch (Dorset); there were to be six more, widely scattered, before the end of August. Following the big spring influx, about 30 Icterine Warblers Hippolais icterina appeared, mainly during 8th-23rd August, including eight on Fair Isle. Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria put on a good show', with about 40 after 8th, shared between the Northern Isles, including 14 on Fair Isle, and northeast England. One on North Walney (Cumbria) on 1 4th was an exception. A total of 12 Pomarine Skuas flew past our coasts prior to 7th August, there were 130 during 7th- 15th, mainly along the east coasts of England and Scotland, and a further 24 during 16th-25th. Numbers of Whimbrels JVurnenius phaeopus, in common with many other waders, remained low, but there wras a noticeable inland movement from 9th August through the midland counties of England, and also Suffolk. Dotterels Charadrius morinellus were moving through as well, with seven at Rosedale Moor (North Yorkshire) on 10th, and another 35 by the end of August, including 12 at St Margaret’s Bay on 21st and 15 at Southery Fens (Norfolk) on 26th. Other, rarer waders included a Pacific Golden Plover at Pagham Harbour (West Sussex), single White- rumped Sandpipers Calidris jitscicollis in Co. Kerry and Cheshire, a Baird’s Sandpiper C. bairdii in Norfolk, a Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus in Northamptonshire, and Wilson’s Phalaropes Phalaropus tricolor on Lundy and at Ballycotton (Co. Cork). I he regular flock ol Red-necked Grebes Podiceps grisegena at Gosford Bay (Lothian) reached a peak of 54 on 10th August, the same day that a Spotted Crake arrived on Fair Isle, the first of four during the month. 1 here were 39 Mediterranean Gulls in August, including 15 at Bembridge (Isle of Wight) on 1 1th, and nine Ring-billed Gulls Lams delawarensis included the first for Fair Isle, on 12th, the same day as a Greenish Warbler there an odd couple indeed. Arctic Skuas Stercorarius parasiticus were noted off Whitburn (Tyne & Wear) on 14th August, with 21 north and 112 south, and a Caspian Tern Sterna caspia was seen at Hengistbury Head (Dorset), also on 14th. Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus were appearing in good numbers, with 40 on Autumn 1992 327 Rainham Marshes (Greater London) on 16th, in the West Midlands, and at several sites in Hampshire, including 24 at Alresford Pond on 14th August. Black-tailed Godwits reached 469 on the Suffolk side of the Stour Estuary and at Fairhaven 1,400 were estimated on 1 1th. The roost of Common Greenshanks at Mundon (Essex) topped 130 on 1 4th. Catches of European Storm-petrels Hydrobales pelagicus on Fair Isle were down on 1991, despite constant effort, but 665 were noted off North Ronaldsay on 16th August. Reports of large movements of passerines were few, so 290 Lesser Whitethroats Sylvia curruca , 150 Common Whitethroats S. communis and 230 Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus at Gibraltar Point on 16th August were of interest, and were probably grounded by the heavy rain which spread eastwards across all areas during 15th- 16th. Further falls of Common Whitethroats included 200 at Durleston Country Park (Dorset) on 15th and 100 at Fagbury (Suffolk) on 17 th- 18 th. A Green Heron arrived on Jersey on 17th August (it was to move to Guernsey during September), and reports of nine Red-necked Phalaropes (plate 1 1 0) were received, mosdy after 18th. Two Gull-billed Terns Gelochelidon nilotica were at Filey Brigg (North Yorkshire) on 18th, and one was at Ballyheige (Co. Kerry) on 22nd. A Bridled Tern at Coquet Island (Northumberland) on 14th was presumably the one off Flamborough Head on 18th, the same day as an Alpine Swift at Biding Gap (East Sussex). There was a wide scatter of inland Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus during August, and there were three or four wandering Montagu’s Harriers C. pygargus, including the first ever on Fair Isle, on 31st August. At least 34 Ospreys Pandion haliaetus passed through, Mth peaks of six on 23rd and again on 29th. Black Terns, too, were on the move, with over 170 at three London reservoirs on 19th, and 1,200 past Dungeness on 20th. At Barns Ness, 19 on 13th August was a record count for Lothian. An all-too-brief Rufous-tailed Scrub- robin at Woodbury Common (Devon) on 19th August and a Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla near Rye Harbour on 20th were unfortunately seen by few. The large total of 22 Arctic Skuas flew over Staines Reservoir on 22nd, and 170 Common Terns Sterna hirundo at Barn Elms Reservoir (Greater London) were part of several flocks seen in the London area during 20th-22nd August. King Eiders arrived at Sullom Voe (Shetland), Wick (Highland) and Tronda (Shetland) between 21st and 26th. An intriguing report was of a Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica trapped at a Barn Swallow roost at Levington Creek (Suffolk) on 21st August, with another seen at Wareham (Dorset) on 29th how many others pass unnoticed? Ortolan Buntings Emberiza hortulana were reported after 21st, involving eight individuals, and August reports of Wrynecks Jynx lorquilla reached peaks of ten on 23rd and 13 on 31st. Light westerlies up to 21st August turned to strong southerlies on 22nd, reaching 40 knots at 1,400 m altitude, and this brought in the most unsettled phase of the month. It was also responsible for Shags Phalacrocorax arislotelu being noted inland from 22nd, with 14 at Draycote Water (Warwickshire), four in Derbyshire and four or five in Nottinghamshire. Windblown Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus were also recovered inland, with four in the London area during 23rd August to 7th September, two in Oxfordshire during 23rd-25th August, and others in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. Northern Wheatears Oenanthe oenanlhe dropped in on Fair Isle, with 550 on 23rd August, but news of an Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis in Shetland was eclipsed by 328 Autumn 1992 the arrival, after a return to strong westerly winds, of a Yellow Warbler on North Ronaldsay on 24th. Strong winds also pushed the flock of Common Scoters, estimated at 1 1,000, towards the shore at Cefn Sidan (Dyfed) on 25th August. There were also unprecedented counts of Little Gulls Laras minutus off the Durham coast on 25th, with 485 roosting near Seaham, and 41 between Horden and Blackhall. Curiously, there were no other significant reports of this species from elsewhere. A Great Snipe Gallinago media and a Woodchat Shrike on Fair Isle on 26th August were unusual neighbours, although the latter probably had its origin to the east rather than to the south of Britain. A gathering of 700 Rock Doves Columba livia on fresh-cut silage fields at Hestingott (Shetland) on 28th was an unusual record. An intense low of 97 1 mb developed near the Northern Isles on 30th and 31st August, with resultant very high westerly winds to the south, and southeasterlies to Orkney and Shetland. Seabirds were driven to within sight of the shore, and Sooty Shearwaters, which so far had been few, reached 315 along the coast of Cornwall during 28th-31st August, and there were 1,500 past Cape Clear Island on 29th, evidence of the effect of the high winds. I here were more Mediterranean Shearwaters in the last four days of August, with 165, than during the rest of the month, including 28 at St Ives (Cornwall) on 30th and 40 ofT Portland Bill on 29th-30th. Earlier, 1 1 past St Johns Point (Co. Down) on 22nd was a new record count for Northern Ireland. There w'ere also 18 reports of Long-tailed Skuas during 27 th-3 1 st, and 79 Pomarine Skuas in the same period. A total of 240 Arctic Skuas moved past Flamborough Head on 30th, and 45 Leach’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa were seen off Bridges of Ross (Co. Clare) on 28th, and another 45 off Lancashire on 30th-31st. Waders are powerful fliers and are probably not disturbed so much by strong headwinds. They can react by dropping lower in order to avoid high wind speeds at altitude. Wind speeds of 50 knots at 1,340 m from the southwest on 30th August created conditions for an impressive, visual migration along the east coast of England, which involved many species. Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta reached a peak of 442^011 Havergate Island on 29th, and there were high counts of Red Knots Calidris canutus moving south, with 16,000 at Gibraltar Point on 29th, and then along the Suffolk coast on 30th: 4,034 off Landguard, 2,475 past Southwold in four hours, 1,400 at Havergate and 2,400 at Benacre. Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus were also involved, including 8,000 at Gibraltar Point on 29th, as w'ere Great Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula, with 418 off Landguard, and 615 off Southwold on 30th, and Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola, with 278 at Landguard, 104 at Minsmere and 145 at Havergate. Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea also featured, with 22 at Benacre, 70 at Havergate and 49 at Minsmere, all on 30th. Of concern, however, was that there was a very low proportion of juveniles involved. Black-tailed Godwits reached 450 at Holbeach on 31st August, and there were 51 Common Greenshanks at Gibraltar Point on 30th. Bar-tailed Godwits Umosa lapponica showed strongly, with 575 at Havergate, 400 at Benacre, 295 at Minsmere and 1,824 off Landguard, again on 30th. On the previous day, 5,500 had gathered at Gibraltar Point, and, on the English w'est coast, 1 1 0 between Clevedon and the Yeo Estuary (Avon) was an exceptional count for the area. Inland, 30 at King George V Reservoir, 40 at Walthamstow Reservoir (Greater London) and 68 at Rookery Clay-pit (Bedfordshire), all on 30th, were notable. Yet more Black Terns W'ere involved, with 100 off Southwold on 30th August, and ten past Skokholm on 31st was a significant local record. Common Terns, too, were moving through southeast England, with 400 at King George V Reservoir and 1 1 6 at Barn Elms, and a mixed flock of 700 past Dungeness, which also included Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea. Farther north, the same weather brought together Arctic Warbler and Red-backed Shrike Lanins collurio on North Ronaldsay, and Common Rosefinch Carpodacus etythrinus and Greenish Warbler on Fair Isle. On 31st August, further discoveries in the Northern FACING PACK 103. Fop, Desert Warbler Sylvia nana , Plymouth, Devon, October 1992 {Paul Hopkins) 104. Centre, Riippell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppellii. , Holme, Norfolk, September 1992 (R. Chittenden) 105. Bottom, Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola , Holme, Sullblk, September 1992 (David 7 ip ling/ A vian Photos) I lie inc lusion of plates 103-105 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl Zeiss (Olxrkochen) Ltd British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribe 1 he books included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. 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Send S.A.E. for current usea binocular and telescope stock list. 1 (D298) Bird Illustrator of the Year competition, sponsored by Kowa Telescopes Coal Tit ( Parus ater) Gordon Trunkfield - Bird Illustrator of the Year 199 Attracting entries from the very best British artists, the Bird Illustrator of the Year competition, sponsored by Kowa Telescopes, provides both an opportunity to display their undoubted talent and, for some, an introduction to a new and satisfying career in the world of illustrating the vast number of ornithological books published today. Kowa are delighted to sponsor, for the sixth successive year, this most prestigious competition and to congratulate Richard Allen from Fingringhoe, Essex, the winner of the 1993 competition. A superb image Officially appointed distributor for Kowa Telescopes Pyser-SGI Ltd., Fircroft Way, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 6HA (D302) British Birds VOLUME 86 NUMBER 8 AUGUST 1993 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM -6 AUG 1993 PURCHASED ZOOLOGY LIBRARY ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’ Sponsored by telescopes 1st / » A* ■ W? r*S££Si8&^ .. «• Y^T , Each artist entering this testing competition has to submit a set of four black-and-white illustrations, drawn to precise dimensions. Thus, these . are not drawings which the artist happens to have done and which have, on a ’ whim, been submitted for this competition; the set of drawings must have been drawn especially as a Bird Illustrator of the Year entry. This year, 45 artists entered the competition; with the dedication and discipline that is required, it is very pleasing that we continue to receive so many sets-of-four of such a high general standard. The four judges look forward to the judging day and take great pleasure in viewing the array of excellent illustrations in many different styles. From a final short-list of five, this year’s three winners were: Bird Illustrator of the Year, 1993 1st Richard Allen (Fingringhoe, Essex) 2nd Dan Powell (Fareham, Hampshire) 3rd Ren Hathway (Tresco, Isles of Scilly) John M. Walters (Buckfastleigh, Devon) was placed fourth and Peter M. Leonard (Kingston- upon-Thames, Surrey) was placed fifth. The initial short-list also included Antony Disley (Lancashire), John Hollyer (Kent), Ernest Leahy (Hertfordshire), Barry Kent MacKay (Canada), Michael Webb (Isle of Wight) and Kester Wilson (Leicestershire). Our previous annual texts have often included suggestions and constructive criticism, and we recommend that these be consulted by any artists keen to improve their work or interested in finding a possible reason for not having achieved a place among the winners. It is, for instance, surprising to us that we still find examples (even within the work of accomplished artists) of pipits Anthus the size — by comparison with nearby leaves of Capercaillies Tetrao \Brit. Birds 86: 347-351, August 1993] 347 348 Bird Illustrator of the Tear """""'iiiwitt 'illllHiu Canada Geese Branta canadensis , River Thames, Richmond (. Richard Allen ) urogallus. Since the entries are judged as sets, not as individual pieces of artwork, a single such boob can ruin an artist’s chances of winning the tide. The judges are always glad to be able to award two other prizes associated with Bird Illustrator of the Year. A trust fund, set up in memory of the Norfolk bird-artist R. A. Richardson, enables us each year to select the winner Male Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio singing, Santon Downham, The Brecks ( Richard Allen ) Northern Lapwings Vanellus vaneUus and Black- winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni, Cornwall, autumn 1992 ( Ren Hathway ) Drake Common Eiders Somateria mollissima on the Ythan Estuary, Scotland (Dan Powell) I lorned Lark Eremophila alpestris (Ren Halhway) Bird Illustrator of the Tear 349 of The Richard Richardson Award, presented annually to the leading artist aged 2 1 or under. The winner this year was: The Richard Richardson Award 1st Peter M. Leonard (Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey) Runners-up: Max Andrews (Bath, Avon) and Joanne Karen Smith (Tilston, Cheshire) were rated equally. In memory of his late wife, Pauline J. Cook, David Cook annually funds The PJC Award, presented to the artist whose single drawing especially appeals to the judges. This allows us to select an outstanding drawing which may not have been appropriate for another prize (it may, for instance, have 0>p Great Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula and Common Tern Sterna hirundo ( Dan Powell ) 350 Bird Illustrator of the Tear [Peter M. Ireonard) heen part of an excellent set let down by one ‘dud’ drawing :. In its own right however the drawing selected for The PJC Award will have been greatly admired by all four judges. Hus year’s winner was: The PJC Award 1st John M. Walters (Buckfastleigh, Devon) In this particular case, the judges considered that the very open style of drawing did not make a sufficiently bold cover design (the use for which the largest drawings arc intended), but they did much admire the very free expressive ‘feel’ to John M. Walters’s sketch of Meadow Pipits Anthm pralensis ’ Bird Illustrator of the Tear 351 The PJC Award Winner: Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis at pre-roost site in a birch Betula tree, Yarner Wood, February 1993 (John M. Wallers) The nine drawings reproduced here (including the winner’s cover design, which will be repeated as the frontispiece to this volume) give a flavour of the 180 illustrations assessed by the judges, and a further ten will appear as cover designs during the next 12 months. The judges have also selected a total of 74 drawings by 41 artists for display at the Society ol Wildlife Artists Exhibition at The Mall Galleries in London during 29th July to 13th August 1993. This annual event is well worth a visit. I T. R. Sharrock, Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris and J‘ ' Keith Shackleton Colonisation by Bearded Tits of Leighton Moss, Lancashire John Wilson he last published survey of the British breeding population of Bearded Tits Panurus bianmicus (O’Sullivan 1976) described the spread of the popu- lauon up to 1974 from its former restricted breeding area in East Anglia to areas along the South Coast and into Humberside. At that time, a small pop- ulation had been established for only two years in north Lancashire, and pre- sented the opportunity to study the expansion of range to this isolated reedbed. This paper details the colonisation, and subsequent build-up and fluctuations of the breeding population of Bearded Tits, from 1973 to 1992. It also describes the breeding and eruptive behaviour observed in the 19 years since successful colonisation occurred. Study area The study area comprised the 134.5-ha RSPB reserve of Leighton Moss in north Lancashire. Bearded fits were confined to the 79-ha reedbed. The reedbed is almost pure common reed Phragmites australis, with fringing areas of yellow flag Ins pseudacoms and recdmace Typha latifolia, and small clumps of goat willow Salix caprea in the drier areas and along the dry edge. The reed areas are usually wet, with 1 0-20 cm of standing water in most parts in spring. Methods The Bearded Tit is a difficult species to census, and wet reedbeds also pose considerable difficulties: access may be tricky and the habitat can be physically damaged by trampling. Additionally, because of the risks of disturbing rare breeding species, such as Great Bitterns Botaurus ste Haris, and, from 1987, Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus, access had to be restricted mainly to paths. Bearded T its do not sing, and are not territorial. Males often assemble in small groups in spring, and there are several records of three individuals feed- ing at one nest. Conventional census methods, using either the Common Birds Census or point counts, are therefore difficult to apply. At Leighton Moss, an 352 | lint. Minis 86: 352-358, August 1993] 353 Bearded Tits at Leighton Moss annual census was carried out by mapping presumed pairs from sightings and observed nesting behaviour during the period from nest-building to feeding of young. For the five years 1975-79, ringing of the population with BTO rings was carried out using mist-nets. Ringing was undertaken in 1975 and 1976 as part of a population study of reedbed birds, and was usually carried out, weather permitting, on three early mornings weekly from late May to late August and on two mornings weekly from September to November. Mist-netting was re- stricted to four separate locations within the 79-ha reedbed. These covered the main juvenile assembly areas, to which some adults, especially males, were also attracted. During 1977-79, netting was carried out mainly to obtain faecal material for a study of the diet of Bearded Tits (Bibby 1981). Catching was re- stricted in 1977 and 1978 mainly to two areas, both juvenile assembly areas; in 1979, it was further restricted to one area only, and visits were usually only once or twice a week. Ringing was resumed in 1 992 as part of a national cen- - sus of Bearded Tits, but was restricted to three mainly juvenile assembly areas. Observations on nesting behaviour were made during census work. Over 60 nest sites were located, mainly by watching from a distance the adults carrying food to the nest. Because of the risk of disturbance or destruction, only 15 sites were examined closely. Early-morning observations on eruptive behaviour were made over the years, mainly from the reserve’s path network and hides. Observations were most intensive during the period of the ringing- study, with much of the reedbed covered during this period. Results Bearded Tits were first recorded at Leighton Moss on 5th November 1965, when a party- of five appeared. They were recorded throughout that winter, but there were no sightings after 15th March 1966. The next sighting was not until 13th November 1971, when, once again, five were recorded; some of these remained throughout the winter, and two were present throughout the following spring and summer, but both were females, and no breeding took place that year. Four were seen on 24th October 1972, and ten on 12th November, with four still present on 20th March 1973. Despite intensive Table 1. Estimated breeding population of Bearded Tits Panunis bmrmicus at Leighton Moss, Lancashire, 1973-92, and numbers of adults ringed or retrapped, 1975-78 and 1992 M = male; F - female Year No. of pairs No. M ringed F Year No. of pairs 1973 i 1983 35 1974 3 1984 35 1975 6 5 2 1985 35 1976 16 14 8 1986 15 1977 30 21 12 1987 12 1978 30 13 10 1988 15 1979 20 1989 25 1980 40 1990 28 1981 40 1991 30 1982 25 1992 35 No. ringed M " F 25 18 354 Bearded Tits at Leighton Moss searching, only one pair could be located later. Breeding was proved when a recently fledged young was seen with one adult on 17th May 1973. Two more successful nests were located later that season, the timing and location of the nests suggesting that all three broods were reared by one pair. Small par- ties of young were seen during the summer of 1973, and the largest flock recorded that year was one of 1 1 in mid October. 1 able 1 details the recorded changes in population following the colonisa- tion in 1973. It took four years for the population to reach 30 pairs (an initial annual population increase of 233%), and the maximum recorded population of 40 pairs was reached seven years after the initial colonisation. The declines noted in 1979, 1982 and 1986 all followed periods of cold weather in the pre- ceding winter. Prolonged cold spells rarely produce heavy snowfall at Leighton, because of its proximity to the mild West Coast, the only heavy snowfall during the period being in December 1981, when 12 cm fell; fortu- nately this soon melted. Details of the adults caught during the period of ringing studies are given in table 1. In 1975, five males of an estimated population of six were caught, and 14 out ol 16 males in 1976. In all years, more adult males than females were retrapped. Observation suggested that males were drawn into the juve- nile flocks, where the ringing effort was concentrated, much more than were the females. All the 60 nest sites were located in the thicker areas of pure reed, with the nest built into the top reed litter, usually less than 30 cm above the ground level or water level. As already noted, in normal springs, virtually all the reedbed is wet, with 10-20 cm of standing water. The densest reed litter occurred, however, in the sections with shallower water, and Bearded Tits showed a marked preference for such areas. Fledged juveniles were seen as early as 14th April. Incubation takes 12-13 days, and Hedging only 9-12 days (Wilherby et at. 1941), suggesting that laying tan start as early as 15th March. Most first-brood young appeared in May, with first eggs being laid in early to mid April. Fable 2 shows the month of first ringing of juveniles from 1975 to 1978 and in 1992. Those caught in May and June were from first broods, with the second brood appearing in late June and July. The low numbers caught in August and September suggest that very few third broods were produced at Leighton. Flocking of juveniles took place in late May in an early spring, or early June in a late spring. At Leighton, such flocks often gathered in the Table 2. Numbers of juvenile Bearded Tits Panurus biarmicus ringed in each month at Leighton Moss, Lancashire, 1975-78 and 1992 Year May Jun MONTH OI' Jul RINOING Aug Sep Oct 1975 6 2 1 1976 52 21 6 3 1977 7 50 57 1 1978 38 21 7 10 1 1992 1 1 74 13 Totals 45 140 159 19 16 2 Bearded Tits at Leighton Moss 355 Fig. 1. Locations of main sites mentioned in text Scale approximately 1 cm = 125 km small areas of dead reed left after spraying with the herbicide Dalapon (as part of a programme to control reed encroachment). They also often frequented the willows along the central footpath or causeway which crosses the reserve. The largest numbers occurred on calm early mornings and usually dispersed by mid morning, often reassembling on still evenings. They usually called ex- citedly and, on occasions, made flights of up to 200-300 m, just above the old reed tops. Only occasionally were adults seen in these groups. This behaviour lasted throughout June and July, with later broods joining the flocks. Ringing revealed that many young remained in the flock until the onset of moult. By early August, the groups had dispersed, and there was a quiet period when birds were moulting and became extremely difficult to locate or to mist-net. Some renewal of activity usually became evident at the end oi August, with calling from the reed tops or willows, and flocking of those newly moulted, now in adult plumage. The activity and flock size increased throughout September. At first, behaviour then was very similar to the activity recorded in June, but by the second or third week in September they regularly started their ‘high flying’ activity (Pearson 1975). Bearded Tits regularly took off in groups, rising to perhaps 200 m on occasions, gradually spiralling up and calling all the time. Many flocks rose to only about 30 m and then quickly plunged back to the reedbeds, calling excitedly and moving quickly through the reed tops before taking off again. Other flocks stayed in flight high above the reedbeds for up to four or five minutes. The high flying and associated activity reached a peak around 09.00 to 10.00 BST, then gradually declined, and usually ceased by 1 1 .00. Such activity was usually restricted to calm oi nearly calm sunny mornings. This eruptive behaviour usually reached a peak in late September and continued into October. The greatest activity was recorded after a succession of calm, settled early mornings. Every flock observed has always remained above the Leighton reedbed and eventually returned to the reeds, but that they do leave in at least some years is con- firmed by the recoveries of those ringed in spring or summer at Leighton and reported at Bolton, Lancashire, in October and March and (four) in South Bearded Tits at Leighton Moss \ orkshire in January, all except one in the autumn or winter following ring- ing; the exception was in its fourth year. Eruptive behaviour as described above has been recorded in every year since colonisation, although there is proof from ringing of movement away from the reedbed in only two years. During the period from mid September to late November, Bearded Fits regularly fed in groups, usually of from five to 20 individuals, on the limestone paths at Leighton. They moved out of the reeds to alight on the path, starting close to the reed edge, but, if not disturbed, they spread into the centre of the path up to 2 m from the reed edge. This activity appears to be associated with the eruptive behaviour described above; indeed, flocks which have been watched calling excitedly and taking part in high flying will gradually move from this activity to feeding on the paths. The path-feeding activity occurs during the same period as die eruptive behaviour, and, like the eruptive be- haviour, gradually tails ofl in November, with smaller numbers as the month progresses. When on the paths, the flocks feed a\idly, pecking at sometliing small. What they are taking has never been identified positively, but it has been assumed that they are taking reed seeds, which certainly fall during this period; it has also been suggested that they may be picking up grit, which they need at that time of year as they change from the soft insect food of summer to the hard reed-seed diet of autumn and winter. I can trace no published record of such behaviour, although it does occur also at Blacktoft Sands, South Humberside, in some years (A. Grieve in lilt.). Discussion The census methods used were not ideal, the greatest difficulty occurring in the favoured, drier areas, where several pail's were nesting in close proximity and small groups of up to five adult birds could be seen together, especially in early April. 1 he limits on access in some areas of the reedbed also undoubtedly led to some birds being missed, especially from 1987 onwards, following the colonisation of the reedbed by Marsh Harriers. Thus, the num- bers are considered to be accurate enough only to round down to the nearest five pairs in a year. The census methods were, however, applied consistently over the period, so should provide comparable results from year to year. The ringing gave some check on the accuracy of the mapping census, but, partly because it was not primarily aimed at assessing population levels and was restricted to only two to four areas, was also certainly subject to some bias. The first two years, when the ringing effort was more widespread, pro- duced a good fit with the census results, especially for males. Some adults in the areas of reed remote from the ringing sites were probably missed. The ringing efiort was evidently extremely successful in catching juveniles, for no unringed adult birds were caught during the four years 1976-79. 1 he origin of the Bearded lits which colonised (he Leighton reedbed is not known as none was ringed. Their arrival in the period late October to early November is, however, in keeping with the eruptive behaviour recorded else- where (Axell 1966; Pearson 1975; O’Sullivan 1976). October is the major month of movement by this species both in East Anglia (Axell 1966) and at Leighton. It could be assumed that the most likely site of origin would be the 357 Bearded Tits at Leighton Moss nearest breeding colonies at that time, which were 130 km southeast at Black- toft Sands and the Humber reedbeds. Equally possible is that they came from either the East Anglian population or the Dutch population (see fig. 1). The latter possibility is supported by a ringing recovery in January 1966 at Marton Mere, near Blackpool (25 km south of Leighton), of a juvenile female ringed at Veluwemeer Nord Ijsselmeer in the Netherlands five months earlier. The Leighton Moss population has fluctuated, with declines occurring in 1979, 1982 and 1986 following severe winters with some snow cover. The decline from 1981 to 1982 was about 37%, while the decline from 1985 to 1986 was 57%. Heavy snow, which lays the reed and prevents the birds gaining access to reed seeds, the main winter food, has caused severe declines in other areas (O’Sullivan 1976). * The successful colonisation of this isolated reedbed is a good example of the value to the species of its eruptive behaviour leading to dispersal and establish- ment in new areas. The habitat at Leighton is obviously suitable and the wet- ter, cooler weather of the Northwest has not inhibited breeding. The highest population at Leighton Moss was the 40 pairs recorded in 1980 and 1981. This gave a density in the reedbed area of 0.51 pairs per ha. In the 108-ha tidal reedbed at Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve, the density in years of high population was 0.9 pairs per ha (A. Grieve in lilt.). At Titchwell RSPB reserve in North Norfolk, the density, again in a good year, in the freshwater reedbed was 1.5 pairs in 10 ha (N. Sills in litt.). The High ton reedbed is the wettest of the three reedbeds for which density estimates are available, suggesting that Bearded Tits do prefer the drier sites, a preference observed at Leighton, where the drier areas held the bulk of the population. This preference may be partly because the thicker reed litter in such drier areas provides more nest sites than the wet areas. Another factor is that the Leighton population appears rarely to produce a third brood. Possibly the cooler, more maritime climate at Leighton, which allows an earlier start to the breeding season, produces a lower food supply later in the season when third broods would be in the nest. Third broods are regular at both Blacktoft and Titchwell, especially in warm dry summers (A. Grieve in litt.] N Sills in litt.). The Leighton Moss reedbed remains the species’ only breeding site in the Northwest, presumably because all other reedbeds in the area are too small. It has been surmised that eruptive behaviour is a response to high popula- tion levels of this species (Axell 1966) or to its dependence on the seed of a single plant species (see Bibby 1983). At Leighton, the eruptive behaviour of excited activity and high flying has occurred each year. Even in the first year, when the population was under 20 individuals, such behaviour was noted, which does not appear to support the view that eruptive behaviour is a response to high population levels. It is difficult to compare years to test if the intensity and numbers involved in eruptive behaviour vary with population levels, since, as detailed above, weather plays such an important part in the scale and intensity of eruptive behaviour. It should be remembered, however, that the Leighton population is presumed to have originated from birds which had dispersed by eruptive behaviour, and so would be more likely to exhibit such behaviour than does the long-established East Anglian population, an element of which may be sedentary. 358 Bearded Tits at Leighton Moss Acknowledgments I should like to thank Dr John Day, Glen Tyler and Norman Sills for commenting on earlier drafts of this paper. 1 he reedbed at Leighton Moss, Lancashire, was colonised by Bearded Tits Panurus biarmicus in 1973, and the population subsequently built up to a maximum of 40 pairs. The hypothesis that eruptive behaviour is a response to high population levels is questioned. References AXELL, H. E. 1966. Eruptions of Bearded 'fits during 1959-65. Brit. Birds 59: 513-543. Bibby, C. J. 1981. Food supply and diet of the Bearded Tit. Bird Study 28: 201-210. 1983. Studies of west Palearctic birds. 186 Bearded Tit. Brit. Birds 76: 549-563. O’SULLIVAN, J. M. 1976. Bearded fits in Britain and Ireland, 1966-74. Brit. Birds 69: 473-489. PEARSON, D. J. 1975. Moult and its relation to eruptive activity in the Bearded Reedling. Bird Study 22: 205-227. WiTHERBY, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R„ Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 1941. Vie Handbook of British Birds, vol. 1 . London. John 1 1 7 Ison, Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve, Myers Farm, Silveidale, Camforth, Lancashire IA5 OSIV Twenty-five years ago... A White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucoptems at Dungeness, Kent, on 5th August 1968 was the first of an unprecedented run of 25 during August-November. On the next day, 6th August 1968, single Nutcrackers .Nucifraga caryocatactes at Trunch and Ditchingham, both Norfolk, were the first in what was to become the largest-ever irruption, involving at least 315 individuals (Bril. Birds 63: 353-373). On the night of 29th/30th August 1968, 585 warblers died by colliding with the lighthouse lantern on Bardsey (Brit. Birds 61: 535). 4 ’his event triggered research, financed by the RSPB, to find ways to reduce such losses. Daurian Redstart in Scotland: captive origin and the British List Alan G. Knox, on behalf of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee On 29th April 1988, while carrying out a weekly count of Common Eiders Somateria mollissima on the Isle of May, Fife, Marc Jones found a male redstart Phoenicurus feeding on the turf near the Low Light. As it flew off, he noticed a large amount of white in the wings Jones 1 988). MJ dictated a .quick description into his pocket tape recorder and resumed his eider-counting. When he later returned to the NCC accommodation on the island, he told Dr Michael P. Harris, Robert Proctor and, later, Keith Brockie. No-one else saw the redstart that day. In the absence of suitable literature, the general opinion was that the bird had probably been one of the Mediterranean or Asian races of the Common Redstart P. phoenicurus. MPH and Dr Sarah Wanless may have seen the same bird on the island on 23rd March but, at the time, they, too, had assumed that it was a Common Redstart of one of the eastern races. The following morning, 30th April, MJ relocated the redstart some 200 m from the original site, where he and FEB were then able to watch it for several minutes. At approximately 14.00 BST on the same afternoon, MJ once again saw the redstart feeding on the turf in the same area. He called RP over, but the bird ran down a rabbit burrow before he arrived. When KB joined them a few minutes later, the bird was still out of sight. The bird was removed from the burrow, but later died. KB took the corpse with him when he left the island that afternoon and telephoned the next day to say that it was possibly a Daurian Redstart P. auroreus. This was later confirmed when KB and Bemie Zonfrillo compared the [Brit. Birds 86: 359-366, August 1993] 359 360 Origin of Daurian Redstart in Scotland specimen with skins at the Royal Museum of Scotland. A painting of the bird has been published (Brockie 1990) and is also reproduced here (fig. 1, page 365). The unfortunate individual has been further immortalised as a skin at the RMS (plate 1 1 8), and in ornithological folklore as the ‘Daurian Dcadstart’. Description (based on notes by MJ and RP) Size and structure Similar in size and shape to Common Redstart. Plumage General appearance of upperparts noticeably darker than that of Common Redstart. Back and wings almost black, contrasting vividly with brilliant white wing patches. Crown, nape and mantle slate-grey as on Common Redstart, but lacking white forehead of that species. Throat and cheeks black. Breast, belly, Banks and remainder of underparts to undertail-coverts deep brick- red (MJ) or cinnamon, slightly darker than tail (RP). Tail pattern obvious in flight: central tail bathers very dark, almost or completely black, contrasting with red (\fj), or deep orange, slightly darker than on Common Redstart (RP), outer tail feathers. Bare parts Legs, bill and eyes black. Identification The identification as a male Daurian Redstart was accepted on a single circulation around the British Birds Rarities Committee, and the record was passed to the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee, which examines all claimed ‘firsts’. The BOURC also accepted the identification without any hesitation, but the question of origin remained. Ectoparasite examination When KB and BZ had opened the box in which the specimen had been brought to the RMS, a flea had fallen from the bird’s plumage. An unusual species of flea might have provided evidence suggestive of vagrancy. This particular flea, however, was identified as a male Ceratophyllus hirundinus, which, as its name implies, is usually found on hirundines. Racial identification \ auric f 19.)9 listed two races of Daurian Redstart: nominate uuroreus breeding from south-central Siberia to Ussuriland and Korea, and leucopterus , which breeds in central China and southeast Tibet. The former is migratory' and winters south to south China, Hainan and Taiwan. P. a. leucopterus has a shorter migration and winters south to north Thailand and Vietnam. (See also Neufeldt & Vietinghoff-Scheel, 1983.) Compared with males of the nominate race, males of the southern race leucopterus have darker rufous plumage on the: underparts and blacker upperparts. The crown and nape are darker and greyer than on the nominate form (Vaurie 1959; see also Birckhead 1937). The skin of the Isle of May bird was borrowed by the BOURC from the RMS and taken to the Natural History Museum at Tring for critical examination. Part of the tail was missing, including the right-hand central feather. This is shown as present in the KB painting and was presumably lost subsequently, perhaps during skinning. The weight of the bird is given in the KB painting (fig. 1, page 365) as 14.7 g, but the label notes 7.6 g. Skins of the two races at the Natural History Museum had not been Origin of Damian Redstart in Scotland 361 116. Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus, Isle of May, Scotland, 29th-30th April 1988. Specimen in the flesh ( B . ^oiifrillo) completely separated. In particular, migrants of the nominate race were mixed in with specimens of the more southerly lencopterus. Once the birds which had been collected during the breeding season were sorted into groups from different geographic areas, the races were seen to be quite distinct. By comparison with other spring males, the Isle of May bird was attributable to the race leucopterus. The crown and nape were dark grey-brown, contrasting little with the back and mantle. The primaries, secondaries and the central tail feather were almost black. Those from the Amur and Transbaikal area (nominate auroreus) had pale crown and nape contrasting markedly with the back and mantle, and had much browner wing and central tail feathers. The colour of the underparts of the Scottish bird matched leucopterus better, although some nominate specimens were as rich. The Scottish specimen had narrow brown edges to the feathers of the upperparts, narrower than those found on the nominate race. The inclusion of plate 1 16 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Lid. 362 Chigin of Damian Redstart in Scotland 117. Daurian Redstart Phoenicians auroreus, Isle of May, Scotland, 29th-30th April 1988. Tip of right wing showing broken tips to feathers (A. G. Knox) 118. Daurian Redstart Phoenicians auroreus, Isle of May, Scotland, 29th-30th April 1988. Skin, now at the Royal Museum of Scotland (A. G. Knox) Plumage condition The plumage of the bird was fresh and in quite good condition, sufficiently fresh to suggest that the bird was an adult. While most of the plumage was good, some individual feathers were, however, significantly damaged. At least two of the tail feathers had notches near the tip. The other tail feathers were in very' good condition. None of the museum skins showed similar notches on otherwise fresh tail feathers. On both wings, the two longest primaries had broken tips (plate 117). As can be seen in the photograph, the barbs extended beyond the end of the shafts. These tips were broken, not worn. Again, although a few skins at Tring showed primaries with damaged tips, this (a) was infrequent, (b) tended to be a shorter length broken off, and (c) was confined to only one feather: never this amount of damage to the two longest feathers and never on both wings. The other primaries and secondaries on the Isle of May bird showed very little wear. The birds at Tring with damaged primary tips were generally in a more worn state, with 363 Origin of Daurian Redstart in Scotland 119. Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus, National Cage and Aviary Birds Exhibition, Birmingham, December 1992 (I). T. Parkin ) more even wear on all the wing and tail feathers. Interestingly, the nominate birds (longer-distance migrants) were on average fairly heavily abraded, in contrast to the less-damaged plumage on most of the (less-migratory) leucopterus. The wear of the specimen from the Isle of May generally matched leucopterus better. Escape likelihood Wheeler (1988) has already pointed out that Daurian Redstarts were on sale in Britain between at least July and November 1987, at prices ranging from £65 to £85 each, contrary to the editorial which accompanied Jones (1988). Indeed, the species has been available regularly since the mid 1980s following the opening of a market in a considerable number of Chinese species. Although not relevant to the Isle of May record, members of the BOURC saw a Daurian Redstart on show at the National Cage and Aviary Birds Exhibition at the NEC in December 1992 (plate 1 19). Discussion Over a decade ago, D. I. M. Wallace included Daurian Redstart in a list of eastern species that he predicted might one day reach Britain (Wallace 1980). As such, the Isle of May individual looked a likely candidate for Category A of the British List. The reality turned out to be quite different. The identification of the Isle of May bird as belonging to the southern race proved crucial. The northern race auroreus is a long-distance migrant breeding in an area from which a number of rare birds have made their way to the Western Palearctic. The more southerly leucopterus migrates shorter distances and breeds in an area which has, as yet, yielded no species for which there are accepted wild occurrences in the West. There is a flourishing trade in wild 364 Origin oj Daurian Redstart in Scotland birds from China, and most are believed to come from die southern part of the country rather than the north. Although leucoptems breeds in the south, auroreus migrates through and winters in this area, and a captive origin would need to be considered for records of either race. The condition of the Isle of x\Iay bird s plumage was also worrying. Whilst it was not as poor as that of many ex-captives, it still suggested a peiiod behind wire. The Ilea, which has never been recorded within the breeding or wintering ranges of leucoptems, was probably not originally from the redstart. 1 he majority ol long-distance passerine vagrants are first-year birds which occur in autumn, although there are some notable exceptions (e.g. Golden- winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera : BOURC 1991; Doherty 1992). The Records Committee has become increasingly concerned about spring records of very rare birds long distances from their known breeding ranges. There has recently been further evidence to suggest that many of these are probably not of wild origin. The Daurian Redstart not only occurred in spring, but, on 29th-30th April, was much earlier than might have been expected. If it had been present since 23rd March as claimed, this would have been even more surprising for a wild bird. Considering all the available information, the Records Committee voted unanimously not to admit the Isle of May Daurian Redstart to any category of the British and Irish List (BOURC 1992). What if ... ? If the Daurian Redstart had been seen only in the field and a normal written description was all that had been submitted, it is possible or even likely that the species would have been accepted. It would probably not have been possible to assign the bird to race and there would have been few precise details of' plumage condition. The escape likelihood would then have been balanced against the likelihood of natural occurrence. Wallace’s (1980) prediction of natural occurrence might have pushed the record towards Category A, but, given the numbers in captivity in western Europe and the time ol year, it is likely that this individual would have ended up in Category 1). Most birders do not wish to see birds ol known captive origin added to the British list. Furthermore, there is little to be gained from cluttering Category D with known or highly probable escaped cage-birds, although an argument could be made for keeping a separate list of such records. Category' D1 as currently defined is for species where there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a wild state (BOU 1992). With the burgeoning trade in wild birds, the task of the Records Committee is becoming increasingly difficult. Some of the most unexpected species are now kept in captivity. Escaped cage-birds could come from this country or anywhere on the Continent. They do not all turn up in suburban gardens where they are readily dismissed. Some migrate in spring and autumn, as they would have done in their natural range, arriving on remote headlands after storms, or on Fair Isle, the Isles of' Scilly or the Isle of May. Many freshly escaped cage-birds have immaculate plumage, and others live long enough to moult in the wild, thereby purging any tell-tale damaged feathers. Origin of Daurian Redstart in Scotland 365 Wt 14.7^ 'll-:, am- 23. 3— . Naturwiss 23' 91- 101 . 1979. Strophentypen des Buchfinken (. Fringilla c. coelebs L.) auf einer Probeflache der Senne (Ostmunsterland). Ber. Naturwiss. 24: 93- 1 1 4. HARTLEY, P. H. T. 1946. Unusual forms of Chaffinch song. Brit. Birds 39: 23-24. Helb, H. W., Dowse i i -Lemaire, F., Bergman, H.-H., & Conrads, K . 1985. Mixed singing in European songbirds — a review. g. Tierpsychol. 69: 27-41. Keitel, R. 1991. Chaffinch giving Nuthatch-like song. Brit. Birds 84: 224-225. SLATER, P. J. B. 1983. Chaffinch imitates Canary song elements and aspects of organisation. Auk 100: 493-495. Thorpe, W. H. 1958. The learning of song patterns by birds, with especial reference to the song of the Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. Ibis 100: 535-570. ‘Birds of the Western Palearctic’ — a note of gratitude to contribu- tors Preparation of the eighth and last volume of the Handbook (or ‘BWP’ as it is more affectionately known) is virtually complete, and publication is scheduled for 1994. The Editors would like to express their deep appreciation for the help and support generously given over many years by ornithologists and birdwatchers not only throughout Europe, but also in Russia (including beyond the Urals) and other republics of the former USSR, many countries in the Middle East, Africa, India and Pakistan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Bringing this great project to fruition has been an immense privilege and pleasure, but we could not have done it without your help. Thank you very much. BWP EDITORS We should like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all birdwatchers, to congratulate everyone involved in BUT for bringing this massive task to a successful conclusion. Apart from a very small, dedicated group of paid staff, the project has been carried out, as is traditional in ornithol- ogy, by large numbers of both amateurs and professionals, working in their own time and without expectation of reward. We thank them all, whether editors, authors, artists, contributors or advis- ers. Eds Identification of female Pine Buntings •4 Colin Bradshaw and Martin Gray Controversial birds are a double-edged sword for the British Birds Rarities Committee. 1 hey take up an inordinate amount of members’ time and effort, but out of this frequently comes a clearer understanding of a complex problem. It is rather more frustrating if, after all the effort expended, we are only a little nearer the solution than when we started. Such is the situation with the ‘Big Waters bunting’, present in Tyne & Wear from 18th February to 16th March 1990. Was it a Bine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos, as originally claimed, a Yellowhammer E. citrinella, perhaps of the less-yellow eastern race erythrogenys , or even a non-yellow Yellowhammer as others have maintained and do genuinely non-yellow Yellowhammers really exist?), or was it perhaps even a hybrid between the two species? On first circulation to the Committee, nine members voted to ‘pend for more information’ and one to reject on the grounds that female Pine Buntings arc probably not identifiable in the field. Two subsequent claims of female Pine Bunting, from North Ronaldsay, Orkney, on 12th- 13th October and 1st- 5th November 1991, were also ‘pended’. When such an impasse occurs, the BBRC frequently enlists the help of outside experts, often from abroad (which helps to explain why some records of ‘difficult’ birds take a long time before a final decision is reached). On this occasion, we sought help from three bunting experts, two of whom opted for Pine Bunting (with detailed reasons why) and the third for Yellowhammer (without giving reasons). 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Budwatche-,R^e'acENTBE SHOVJROOM&C|atur(jaY 0PE%Ma^il& Avian Adventufe^ _ TEXAS Christmas 1993 ******* our 1994 Programme includes ; FLORIDA Jan • COSTA RICA Feb MOROCCO’ Feb -HONG KONG Mar CHURCHILL June • ALASKA June ARGENTINA Oct • GAMBIA Nov TRINIDAD & TOBAGO July TEXAS & ARIZONA April Contact GERRY GRIFFITHS AVIAN ADVENTURES 3 Woodhaven • Wedges Mills Cannock • Staffs • WSll IRE 0922 417102 wkj>038472013 (D301) 0279 379 Identification of female Pine Buntings Big Waters bunting, 1990 This bird has appeared in words and photographs so many times over the past two years that there can be few who are unaware of its general appearance. Since it was at a feeding station for a month, thousands of birders were able to watch and photograph it at close range (plates 124 & 125). Initially, it was provisionally identified as a female Pine Bunting on the following characters: (i) it stood out from the Yellowhammers present in being noticeably pale, especially on the mantle, which was a cold, pale grey-brown; (ii) in the field, despite close and detailed scrutiny, it showed no visible yellow; all other plumage colours appeared normally saturated, making leucism less likely; (iii) the fringes of the primaries were a gleaming white, with no hint of yellow; (iv) a very prominent white submoustachial stripe curled behind the ear-coverts and joined a pale grey nape side; (v) the belly was white and unstreaked, extending as an inverted ‘V’ into the lower breast; (vi) the lesser coverts were a uniform grey-brown, with no hint of Yellowhammer’s pale notching. In addition, it showed several other features, many of which CB had noted on Pine Buntings in Siberia: (i) a prominent white eye-ring; (ii) a distincdy bicoloured bill, with dark upper and pale lower mandible; (iii) a whitish central nape spot bordered on each side by a short dark bar; (iv) a row of thin streaks on the white throat, with an isolated crescent of unmarked white below (see fig. 1); (v) the cap was pale grey, but so heavily and regularly streaked as to appear uniformly dark, and it never showed the pale central crown present on many Yellowhammers (and some Pine Buntings). Controversy revolved around the general plumage tones of this individual. Why was it so cold and grey, with very little brown in the plumage? It seemed unlikely to be leucistic, as the rufous on the rump, tertials and lowest row of scapulars appeared normal. Admittedly, it did become marginally browner during its stay and some chestnut became visible in the streaking on the breast sides, but, given the limited information available in the literature, it seemed difficult to believe that a Pine Bunting could be this cold. Fig. 1 . Head pattern of presumed female Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos, Big Waters, Tyne & Wear, February/March 1990 (. Martin Eccles). Note: prominent white submoustachial stripe, white eye-ring, bicoloured bill, row of thin streaks on white throat with isolated crescent of unmarked white below, heavily streaked crown with no pale central streak 381 Identification of female Pine Buntings FACING PAGE 123-127. Pine Buntings Emberiza leucocephalos and Yellowhammers E. citrinella 123. Top left, female Pine Bunting, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 1st November 1991 ID. Patterson ) 124 & 125. Top right and upper centre, ‘Big Waters bunting’ (see text), with Yellowhammers in lower photograph, Tyne & Wear, February 1990 (C. Bradshaw ) 126. Lower centre, putative hybrid between ‘Big Waters bunting’ of 1990 and Yellowhammer, with two Yellowhammers, Big Waters Reserve, Tyne & Wear, January 1991 (C. Bradshaw ) 127. Bottom, male Pine Bunting with male Yellowhammer, Northumberland, February 1992 ( Eric Bird) In a subsequent article on identification of female Pine Buntings ( Birding World 3: 89-90), Ian Lewington highlighted the following as being important features: the crown streaking; pattern of the malar stripe; relative absence of streaking on undertail-coverts; and the contrasting breast pattern, with blackish streaking in the centre fading to the sides. He concluded that the Big Waters bird was an abnormally pale Pine Bunting: a conclusion that many found difficult to believe, feeling that this was either a normal Pine Bunting or a very abnormal Yellowhammer. Big Waters buntings, 1991 During January-February 1991, two unusual-looking buntings intermittendy visited the feeding stations at the Big Waters Reserve. Both showed the same washed-out mantle coloration as the 1990 individual, but both had bright yellow primary edges and a pale yellow suffusion on the belly; one also had a yellow throat (plate 126), while the other had an intriguing yellow spot in the middle of the crown. Again, both looked quite unlike any of the Yellowhammers present and were immediately striking owing to their pale plumage. The question then posed was: were these hybrids of the 1990 ‘Pine Bunting’ with a Yellowhammer, or was there a ‘non-yellow’ gene in the local Yellowhammer population which manifested itself in these three birds in different ways? Expert opinions The BBRC sought advice on the identity of the three buntings, on the criteria useful in identifying female Pine Bunting, and on the identification of hybrids. We received detailed comments from Urban Olsson and Professor Eugeny Panov. Both thought that the original 1990 bunting was a female, that it was probably a first-winter, and that its coloration was within the normal range for Pine Bunting. UO pointed out that this coloration is due partly to broad pale fringes to the body and covert feathers obscuring the colours below (these were visible on the photographs which had been sent); as the fringes wore off, 382 Identification of female Pirn ? Buntings the bird would become less cold, darker and brighter. EP stated that the coloration of female Pine Bunting is rather variable, particularly with regard to the following characters, all of which vary more or less independently: (i) light background to head, breast and belly plumage (varies* from dull, dirt)' sandy to almost white); (ii) amount of dark markings on head and throat; (iii) amount of chestnut (feathers) on head and throat; (iv) colour ol dark streaks on sides of upperparts; (v) amount of white on nape; (vi) general colour of mande (which also tends to be slighdv paler and duller in winter). They differed in their opinions of the 1991 buntings. UO felt that these looked exacdy as he would expect a hybiid to look, ‘a sort of mosaic between mainly Pine Bunting-type pale plumage and then rather bright yellow colours in limited areas’, but added that the only way to be sure would be through DNA analysis. EP felt that they were more likely to be first-year V ellowhammers with a limited amount of yellow, but that it was ‘impossible to distinguish on phenotypical characters only between first-year Yellowhammer and first-year hybrids'. Both enlarged upon the question of hybrids (see below). In contrast, Hadoram Shirihai consulted with colleagues in Israel, where both Pine Bunting and Yellowhammer winter. They came to the conclusion that the original 1990 bunting was a non-yellow Yellowhammer, but time and workload prevented HS from giving reasons. Orkney buntings, 1991 In autumn 1991, MG, despite being on crutches, found two different female buntings on North Ronaldsay: on 12th- 13th October, and on lst-5th November. Both gave excellent views and were identified as female Pine Buntings, the second being aged as a first-winter (plate 123). The most immediate feature of both was their general cold, pale plumage, which MG likened to the effect of a Common Redpoll Carduelis jlammea of the ‘mealy’ race Jlammea in a flock of the ‘lesser’ race cabaret. Neither was quite so cold as the 1990 Big Waters bunting, and both showed fairly obvious chestnut streaks on the breast sides (a very difficult feature to see on the Big Waters individual). These appeared to be more typical Pine Buntings, but both records were ’pended’ by the Committee while investigations were carried out into the identification features of the species. What was noticeable from the descriptions of all three buntings was the large degree of overlap in features that were noted as ‘different’. It is from these areas of overlap that the list of potential separation features (see below) is drawn up. Male Pine Buntings, 1992 In February 1992, two male Pine Buntings turned up in England: in Northumberland, and at Dagenham, Essex. Many observers commented on just how cold and grey were the mantles of both. The Northumberland individual could easily be picked out among the flock of mixed finches and 383 Identification of female Pine Buntings \ ellowhammers by its mantle colour, which was markedly different from that ol any of the accompanying Yellowhammers (plate 1 27) and was matched closely by some female House Sparrows Passer domesticus. The similarity of mantle colour to that ol some pale, fresh-plumaged House Sparrows was noted also by observers of the 1990 Big Waters bunting. Photographs of the Dagenham male suggest that it had a very similar mande colour [Brit. Birds 85: plates 204 & 207). Problems of hybrids and non-yellow Yellowhammers Correspondence from both EP and UO made us realise that our views on the probable appearance of hybrids were extremely simplistic and that birds like the ‘Sizewell bunting’ {Brit. Birds 83: 240-242, plates 142 & 143) were the exception rather than the rule. We can do no better than to quote Urban Olsson in full: How hybrids can be separated is a much more difficult question to answer, since second-, third-, fourth- etc. generation offspring of hybrids must look increasingly like one of the ancestors as the genes of one species become diluted. Any type of intermediate plumage must be possible and to be expected, up to the stage where the plumage shows the characters of only one of the ancestors, but where there are still some genes left from the other species a particular individual does not look like. Clearly there could be cases where a trace of yellow could only be seen in the hand. I drink w'e must admit to ourselves that this is a problem that can never be solved unless we actually analyse the genes. For all practical purposes I think we can accept a record of Pine Bunting if the bird in question shows all the characters of Pine Bunting and nodring contradicts that diagnosis such as is the case with the first bird [Big Waters, 1990], I think it is most likely that a bird that looks just like a Pine Bunting actually is one, but 1 have no answer to how a true Yellowhammer without a trace of yellow in the plumage could be safely identified, if such a bird exists . . .’ Professor Eugeny Panov also wrote at length on hybrids and supplied colour sketches of head patterns (fig. 2, on page 384). He stated that ‘some hybrids may be identified as such only by means of examination in the hand, although such specimens occur comparatively seldom. I once caught, in the overlap zone near Novosibirsk, a female E. leucocephalos whose mate was a typical male E. citrinella. This female appeared to be a hybrid: she had yellowish bases to the crown feathers concealed under their white end parts, and also a vague yellowish belt along the middle of the belly . . .’ There seems to be a somewhat greater problem with males. EP stated: ‘In the sample of 239 adult hybrid males 58 specimens had a yellow tinge on a single, restricted, part of the plumage, namely on the wing in the region of the marginal underwing-coverts. I am not certain that this could be seen in the field . . .’ He went on to mention the possibility of a pure grey bird: ‘i.e. grey without any tinge of brown or yellow does not occur in species-specific coloration of Pine Bunting or Yellowhammer but does very rarely in some obvious hybrids. I saw such aberrant coloration in adult male hybrids but never in females . . .’ Alan Dean has raised the question of what such male hybrids might look like in first-year plumage. It would seem unlikely that they show more yellow, but which later disappears as they attain adult plumage. If not, then such an immature could show virtually no yellow at some stage. (A. R. Dean in litt.) 384 Identification of female Pine Buntings A Typical adult summer male Pine Burning, W Siberia, 16th June B Adult male hybrid, Altai, summer C Adult male hybrid, W Siberia, 16th June D Adult male hybrid, W Siberia (same locality as C), 1 9th May Fig. 2. Pine Bunting Emberiga leucocephabs and Pine Bunting X Yellowhammer E. citrinella hybrids. B had a yellow tinge to primary fringes, and C had yellow primary fringes, both having other pah- parts of plumage pure white; but note that such ‘depigmented’ hybrids may have no yellow at all, as in the case of I) ( redrawn by Martin Eccks from original colour sketches by E. Panov) Separating Pine Bunting from Yellowhammer Given all the preceding information, we feel that the following factors may help identify female Pine Bunting. No single feature by itself is enough, as the ‘impression’ of Pine Bunting is a composite of these features, but, equally, an absence of some of them would not necessarily go against the identification. We arc sure, however, that the first three are essential, as also are prolonged and close views (or examination in the hand) and preferably some supporting photographs. 385 Identification of female Pine Buntings (1) The bird must show no trace of yellow anywhere, hence the necessity for prolonged, close views (many species initially appear cold-toned, only to reveal some yellow or olive on close inspection, e.g. Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybila trislis). (2) The edges of the primaries must be seen to be pure white. Occasionally, hybrids show their only obvious trace of yellow on these parts (see plate 126). The edges of the rectrices should be white or pale grey. (3) The .ground colour of the underparts must be seen to be white or whitish, with no more than a grey, brown or creamy wash to throat and breast and becoming pure white on belly, vent and undertail-coverts. In addition, the streaked and unstreaked areas of the underparts should be quite discrete and create an inverted ' Y when viewed from in front. (4) Hie lesser coverts should be a rather uniform grey or grey-brown, with none of the pale notches shown by \ ellow'hammer. This feature can be very difficult to see, as the lesser coverts are usually hidden by the flank and scapular feathers. (5) The submoustachial stripe should be prominent, and white, off-white or pale grey. T) There should be a pale nape spot bordered on each side by a dark bar, somewhat like a poorly marked female Brambling Fringil/a montifringilla. (7) The bill is often longer, though perhaps no deeper, than on Yellowhammer. Each of the three putative Pine Bundngs had a distinedy bicoloured bill: dark grey upper mandible with paler cutting edge, and pale grey lower mandible. Some Yellowhammers’ bills, however, can (though in our experience comparatively rarely) appear bicoloured. (8) All three showed white undertail-coverts with sparse, thin, dark shaft streaks. These are not a continuation of flank streaks, but appear de novo on the undertail-coverts. (9) I wo of the three showed the feature described by Ian Lewington of a linear dotted pattern to the malar stripe, giving a composite prominent malar; this was not noted on the third, w'hich was . described as having well-defined malars. Each had a slight streaked extension from the malar, across the lower throat and isolating a white, unstreaked crescent below. We do not know w'hether Yellowhammer can show these features. (See fig. 1) (10) All three showed heavy, close, dark, linear streaks on the forehead and crown, almost running together into a striated pattern; the cap looked dark at a distance, and only with better views was this seen to be caused by this streaking on a pale or, on the Big Waters bird, almost white ground colour. I his was also decribed by IL, since when, however, CB has seen first-year Yellowhammers showing the same feature, so it is not diagnostic of Pine Bunting (in addition, some female Pine Buntings show a pale area on the central crown). (11) Pine Buntings should show some rufous in the breast and flank streaks. This can range from very obvious, as on the first North Ronaldsay individual, to almost impossible to see except in good light. This feature, when shown by Yellowhammers, appears less distinct, perhaps owing to the different ground colour. (12) Pine Buntings are often up to 10% bigger than Yellowhammers. Both the November North Ronaldsay individual and the February 1992 Northumberland male could be picked out immediately from accompanying Yellowhammers by this size difference. (13) The rump and the outer web of the feathers in the lowest row of scapulars seem a brighter rufous than on Yellowhammer (again, perhaps a result of the latter’s lack of contrast). In addition, the three female buntings in question showed more-prominent narrow white fringes to the rump feathers, producing a scalloped effect (most noticeable on the lower rump). (14) Two of the three, and several Pine Buntings in Siberia, showed very distinct, clear-cut, white or off-white eye-rings. (15) The two North Ronaldsay females (and three previous males in Britain) all gave a distinctly different call, as well as many indistinguishable from Yellowhammer’s: this call was a nervous, stuttering ‘trr-rrr-rrr-ick’ or ‘prr-rr-rr-tt’, given both in flight and from a perch. (16) The tips to the wing-coverts of Pine Bunting tend to be paler and more prominent on the median coverts than on the greater coverts, forming a distinct median-covert bar. Because of the notorious variability of this feature on many first-year buntings, however, we are unsure as to whether this is a reliable and constant difference between the two species. (17) Although not a usable field character, the underwing-coverts are white on Pine Bunting and yellow on Yellowhammer. Identification of female Pine Buntings 386 Conclusions Since the appearance of the two very grey-looking male Pine Buntings in February 1992, it does seem that the previous general perception of female Pine Bunting as being a brown-and-white bird uiay be inaccurate for winter and early-spring individuals. This had been based perhaps on faded museum specimens or experience of the species on its breeding grounds. I he identity of these recent buntings, however, particularly the original Big Waters individual of 1990 and the two at the same locality in 1991, is still a matter ol debate. Do Yellowhammers totally lacking yellow really exist? If they do, how do we prove that they are Yellowhammers? Are there any other features that may help separate these two species, and what are people’s views on the criteria listed above? Were the 1991 buntings hybrids between the 1990 individual and a Yellowhammer? We welcome comments, observations, and, particularly, answers to the above questions from observers with experience of both species. II no adverse comments are received on the suggested criteria, there arc two possible courses of action. We can either accept female Pine Buntings on these criteria, or adopt the approach ol the Swedish rarities committee, which refuses to accept sight records of tristis ChiffchafTs as it is impossible to ascertain the absence of yellow (a similar case could be made for Pine Bunting). We would recommend the former action, as, surely, it is better to allow through the odd hybrid that looks identical to Pine Bunting than to reject all female Pine Buntings, which would completely distort the true pattern ol occurrence. If the ‘miracle diagnosis’ is discovered in the future and proven by DNA testing, there is nothing to stop the BBRC reviewing all the old records, anyway. What is no longer open to doubt is that any putative female Pine Bunting will require the closest scrutiny or capture for a firm identification to be fully and confidently established. Acknowledgments We are greatly indebted to Urban Olsson and Professor Eugeny Panov for initial and continuing help and permission to use the results of their experience and hard work; to Hadoram Shirihai for his original opinion; to members of the British Birds Rarities Committee, past and present, who have put in a lot of work on this species; to Alan Brown, Alan Dean, Martin Eccles, Eric Meek. Jimmy Steele, Keith Vinicombe, and stafT of North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory for helpful comments; to Eric Bird, Ian Fisher, Dave Patterson and George Reszeter for use of their photographs during preparation of this paper; to Peter Colston and the Natural History Museum, Tring, for access to skins; and to Martin Eccles lor drawing fig. 1 and for redrawing Professor Panov’s diagrams (fig. 2). /> Colin Bradshaw, 9 Tynemouth Place, North Shields, Tyne & Wear NE30 4BJ Martin Gray, North Manse, North Ronaldsay, Orkney A1177 2BG Reviews The Birds of Moray and Nairn. By Martin Cook. Mercat Press, Edin- burgh, 1992. 273 pages; 24 black-and-white plates; 36 line-drawings. ISBN 1- 873644-051. Paperback £9.95. Tlic current bird recorder has written the first bird book for this part of Scodand to appear this century. Rather brief introductory chapters sketch in the different habitats in the area, which stretches from the Cairngorm plateau to the Moray coast, some of the great variety being appo- sitely illustrated by photographs, and describe ten birdwatching localities. The systematic list reviews the 267 species which have occurred, of which 150 are known to have bred. Commoner species merit from a third of a page to two pages. Histograms or tables are used to show annual or half-monthly count totals for many species, most for the period 1970- 91. Distribution maps, using a useful 5-km square grid, display all summer occurrences for 27 breeding species for the period 1981-90. Line-drawings and photographs decorate the text. 1 would, perhaps, have liked more discussion of any changes that might have taken place in the area in recent decades, both in the habitat chapter and in the distribution of species, where BTO Atlas surveys are virtually ignored. That grumble apart, this is a well-written and meticulously researched book which fills a long-standing gap in Britain’s county avifaunas. Malcolm Ogilvie The Pied Flycatcher. By Arne Lundberg & Rauno V. Alatalo. T. & A. D. Poyser, London, 1992. 267 pages; 8 black-and-white plates; 30 line- drawings; 31 tables; 103 figures. ISBN 0-85661-072-0. £19.00. The Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca is the perfect passerine for breeding studies. Pied flycatchers occur at high densities and eagerly take to nest-boxes. Most of the major studies are from Scandi- navia and central Europe. Their British distribution does not embrace a strong ornithological uni- versity, and British enthusiasts are mainly amateurs who find it difficult to keep up with the literature and identify new subjects on which to publish. This monograph is strongly biased towards the breeding season, which occupies about 90% of the pages. It is written in a scientific style with abundant numerical material and graphs culled from references (running to 15 pages) and a fair amount of the authors’ unpublished material. It needs to be read at a steady pace to take it all in. 1 he most exciting thing about Pied flycatchers is their polygynous breeding system in which the males can deceive the females by occupying two separate territories, often hundreds of metres apart. Human beings can readily recognise these deceivers because they occasionally visit their primary females so cannot sing so persistently on their second territory. Female Pied Flycatchers are fooled, apparently because the cost of checking out territories is high, with breeding success declining fast as the season advances. In scientific terms, the species is attractive because it lends itself to ingenious study methods. The authors’ experimental birds find their nest-boxes moving or changing quality and their mates being caught and taken away. The abundant stream of newly arriving migrants faces experimen- tal choices designed to tease apart factors that are difficult to separate by direct observation alone. Birds seem to choose territories on the basis of nest quality and food resources and are less fussy about how good their mate is. One unexpected feature is that Pied and Collared Flycatchers F. albkollvi interbreed and produce fertile young in areas where they overlap. The attractive feel and appearance of a Poyser book has become a cliche that has survived new ownership. Though this book is placed at the more serious end of the spectrum, persistent readers will enjoy this bird and its worthy book. Colin J. Bibby 387 388 Reviews Wildlife After Gravel: twenty years of practical research by The Game Conservancy and ARC. By Nick Giles. Game Conservancy, Fordingbridge, 1992. 140 pages; 102 colour plates; 1 black-and-white plate; 20 line-drawings. ISBN 0 9500130 3 X. £19.45. Gravel-pits are often the key inland birdwatching sites, yet most birdwatchers probably give little thought as to what makes them so attractive to birds. Many pits have developed as an accidental consequence of extraction, but, increasingly, gravel companies are looking to design pits for wildlife after-use. 1 his book describes the results of a pioneering study started 20 years ago by The Game Con- servancy and ARC Ltd to restore and manage a site at Great Linford, Buckinghamshire. There are chapters on the general lessons learned during the project, breeding ecology' of Mallard Anas platyrhynchos and Tufted Duck Ay thy a Juligula , habitat management for wading birds and wintering wildfowl, management of feral geese, and the interactions between bird and fish populations. There is an inevitable tendency to discuss the research results and their management implica- tions from a wildfowling point of viewy but there is still plenty of interest for those who prefer to watch the birds. The interactions between the bird and fish populations make particularly interest- ing and salutary' reading. The book is less successful in areas which have not been researched as part of the project, such as management for w'ading birds. The discussion on the management of feral goose populations is particularly timely given the current debate on the ‘problems’ caused by Canada Geese Branta canadensis , ironically one of the species which has probably benefited most from die creation of gravel-pits. Anyone who thinks the problem is simple should read this chapter. I have mixed view's on this book. The chapters on die scientific work are excellent, but are probably too detailed to be used as a management manual. The concentration on die work at Great Linford inevitably means diat some key references to other work are missed. Having said diis, 1 think that the author and sponsoring organisations are to be congratulated, die former for presenting the detailed work in such a readable way, and die latter for having the foresight to support such a long-term ecological project. Would die average birdwatcher learn anything from this book? Yes! K.EN SMITH Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Maritime Provinces. By Anthony J. Erskine. Nimbus/Nova Scolia Museum, Nova Scotia, 1992. 270 pages; 188 line-drawings; 188 distribution maps. ISBN 1-55109-010-4. Paperback C$29.95. The Maritime Provinces of Canada are made up of three provinces, New Brunswick, Prince Ed- ward Island and Nova Scotia. The planning for the Adas Project began in 1984. It covers the years 1 986-90, and involved over 1 , 1 00 volunteer observers and regional co-ordinators, who spent in excess of 43,000 hours in die field. The Adas was planned around the criteria established by The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (Sharrock 1976). The book contains 214 distribution maps and accompanying species accounts, together with three useful introductory sections cover- ing geographic background, historical background and ‘What the Adas Project achieved’. Hie 1 88 main breeding species are each given a full page, half of w hich is occupied by narrative and the other half by a 10 X 10 km-squarc map, plus a smaller 20 X 20 km-square map. The maps are clearly printed and show' the strength of breeding evidence by three different sizes of red dot. Half pages are used for the 26 peripheral and casual species covered by the survey. The book is extremely well produced, with a soft cover, and there are delightful vignettes by A/.or Vienneau accompanying each species. This is a standard work which comprehensively covers the breeding birds of the Maritimes and which will serve as a cornerstone for any future atlas project. The book is excellent value for money, and I can thoroughly recommend it its an essential purchase for anyone visiting that part of Canada. PETER SMITH Reviews 389 Avian Systematics and Taxonomy. British Ornithologists’ Club Centenary Volume. Edited by J. F. Monk. Bull BOC 112A 1-311 £30.00. lo many leaders ot British Birds , the British Ornithologists’ Club may seem pretty arcane. A \'ague group of specialists who meet for dinner once a month, and produce a slim blue journal that seems to consist mostly of records of strange birds from even stranger places. This, however, belies the fact that ‘the Bulletin is a major journal of avian taxonomy: witness the fact that, of the 43 bird species described as new to science during the 1980s, no fewer than seven were published there. Only the 1 1 ilson Bulletin, widi ten, exceeded this proud record. So, die Club really is a lead- ing light in avian taxonomy; and it is 100 years old-time for a party! This book is part of the birthday celebrations. A group of avian taxonomists and systematists was invited to write on the state of their science as the BOC enters its second century. The result is an interesting mix of contributions ranging from the historical to the contemporary. Perhaps to leaders of BB, die most interesting will be the papers by Grant and Haffer. Peter Grant (not the late, and soiely missed, Kent birder, but a scientist from Princeton) describes, in his beautifully lucid way, how natural selection acts upon the anatomy of Darwin’s finches, and alters their size and shape in response to climatic change. Jurgen Haffer presents a long and detailed review of changes in our ideas of what constitutes a species. Since most birders’ lists depend upon what they may 01 may not tick , this is a vitally important subject (to them). The reasoning behind biologi- cal, morphological and phylogenetic species concepts is discussed at length. At present, there is a worrying trend towards the adoption of the phylogenetic — ‘If it looks different, it probably is a different species’ — and this means that the world bird list might expand from about 8,000 to over 35,000 species. A depressing aspect of this volume is the paucity of British authors — it is, after all, die British Ornithologists’ Club. Philip Clancey, Hilary Fry and Peter Grant are British, but most of their re- search has been based overseas, so the only truly home-grown paper is by Alan Knox and Michael W alters, who describe the work and role of the Natural History Museum as a repository of our national collections. It is sad to think that diis may summarise the role of Britain in con- temporary avian systematics: exporter of talent, custodian of samples, and publisher of other people’s research. Nevertheless, Happy Birthday BOC, and good luck in die next one hundred years! David T. Parkin Birds: a photographic guide to the birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. By Morten Strange & Allen Jeyarajasingam. Sun Tree, Singapore, 1993. 269 pages; over 300 colour plates; 22 maps. ISBN 981- 00-3290-0. Paperback US$20.90. Of the total of 638 species recorded in the area covered by diis book, 45% are illustrated by colour photographs, all but a handful taken by one or other of die two authors. Two species are covered on each page, with around 20% of the space being occupied by the photographs and the rest by brief texts: minimal information on appearance and identification, a little more, usually, on distribution and habitat, and most on general behaviour, breeding habits and so on. With 55% of the area’s birds not covered at all (except in a checklist) and the rather small photographs being limited to one individual (sometimes male, sometimes female, sometimes in non-adult plumage), this book could not be used as a sole identification guide for the area. It is, however, an exceedingly handy source of reference, for many of the species are illustrated wtith colour photographs in print for the first time. Since it is to be used for reference purposes, it is, therefore, irritating that the photographs are arranged within sections dealing separately with five habitats, so, for instance, the woodpeckers are not all together in one place. The authors have achieved wonders in amassing, mostly through their own labours, photographs of such a high proportion of frequently difficult-to-approach birds. This book will be a welcome addition to the libraries of everyone interested in the birds of Southeast Asia. J. T. R. SHARROCK 390 Reviews The Wren. By Edward A. Armstrong. (Shire Publications, Princes Risborough, 1992. 24 pages. ISBN 0-7478-0160-6. Paperback £1.95) The late Reverend Armstrong’s The Wren (1955) was a classic Collins ‘New Natu- ralist’ monograph. Little wonder, therefore, that this Shire Natural History booklet is abso- lutely crammed with facts: 14 pages of con- densed information and ten pages of illustrations. I cannot imagine that there is any publication which is better value for £1.95. JTRS What is Happening to our Garden Birds? By Rupert Barrington. (Dorrance Publishing, Pittsburgh, 1993. 74 pages. ISBN 0- 8059-3302-6. Paperback £3.95) The author’s enthusiasm shows through on ever)' page, and his 83 years’ experience is brought to bear on ways to encourage a prolific and rich bird population in English gardens. J PRS West Country Wildlife — a naturalist’s year in Devon and Cornwall. By Kelvin Boot & Elaine Franks. (George Philip, Ix>n- don, 1992. 176 pages. £16.99) This is a typical ‘coffee-table’ book nicely produced and attractively illustrated, but superficial. The text is rambling and contains many inaccura- cies: West Country moorlands are not poor for birdwatching; Linnets Carduelis cannahina are not more common than Wrens Troglodytes troglodytes in Cornwall; but it is true that Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix are noi common in the West Country — they are extinct! The illustrations are generally pleasing and relevant. Bui what is the Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta doing with a chick? In the West Country, Avocets winter, they do not breed. Humphrey Siiters Usbome Science & Nature: ornithology. By Felicity Brooks & Bridget Gibbs. (Usbome Publishing, London, 1992. 48 pages. ISBN 0-7460-0686-1. Hardback £6.50, paper- back £4.50) An exceedingly ‘busy’ book designed for the 9- to 16-year-old and filled (indeed crammed) with interesting ornithologi- cal information on a huge variety of subjects. The use by Usbome of Peter Holden as their consultant has ensured that this really is a use- ful book, which can be strongly recommended for anyone who is becoming serious about his or her hobby. JTRS Life Histories of North American Woodpeckers. By Arthur Cleveland Bent. Illustrated by William Zimmer- man. (Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1992. Deluxe edition. 262 pages. ISBN 0-253- 31160-8. £25.00) This is Arthur Cleveland Bent’s 1939 book republished with new paint- ings, in coffee-table style. JTRS Pasarile Clocitoare din Romania. By Victor Ciochia. (Editura Stiintifica, Bucharest, 1992. 386 pages. ISBN 973-44-0060- 6. Softback, no price quoted) Held up for eco- nomic reasons, this Romanian breeding-bird atlas summarises fieldwork carried out during 1976-81, and was ready for publication in 1984. For non-Romanian readers, the main interest is the 250 species maps. Usually the 50-km-square recording unit would be too crude to show interesting distributions for a small country, but it suffices in this case be- cause Romania embraces such a wide range of altitudes (0-2,500 m) and habitats. The latter include 600 km of the Danube and its delta, as well as extensive forests and mountains. Humphrey Sitters Kingfisher. By Paola Fioratti. Trans- lated by Sylvia Sullivan. (HarperCollins, Ixmdon, 1992. 144 pages. ISBN 0-00-219957-2. £16.99) Lots of colour photographs (mostly of Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis)\ for the coffee table rather than the reference library. JTRS The Birds of Sydney: County of Cumberland, New South Wales, 1770- 1989. 2nd edn. By E. S. Hoskin, K. A. Hindwood & A. R. McGill. (Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton (NSW), 1991. 292 pages. ISBN 0-949324-40-X. AS39.00) This second edition (the first was published in 1958) is much expanded and includes 70 additional species. Chapters include where to see birds around Sydney, status changes, extensions of range, early and late dates for migrants, declines, feeding habits, suggested trees and shrubs to plant, identification notes, and, of course, a systematic list, which includes a brief description of each species as well as a paragraph on its status. I would have preferred more on status and less on identification, for there are excellent Australian field guides now available, but anyone spending time in Sydney will certainly find this book very useful. David Fisher Audubon to Xantus: the lives of those commemorated in North American bird names. By Barbara Mearns & Richard Meams. Illustrated by Dana Gardner. (Academic Press, I-ondon, 1992. 588 pages. ISBN 0-12-487423-1. £29.50) Everyone who Reviews 391 enjoyed the Meamses’ Biographies for Birdwatch- ers: the lives of those commemorated in Western I alearctic bird names (1988), reviewed in Brit. Birds 82: 383-384, will want this equally enjoy- able companion volume. The total of 98 biographies makes fascinating reading. If you have ever wondered about the people whose names we use constantly (e.g. Barrow, Bona- parte, Cory, Forster, Leach, Ross, Sabine), this book will tell you all the facts, in a highly read- able form. 1 heirs is the history of ornithology. JTRS Bibliographic d’Ornithologie Franyaise 1945-1965. By Yves Muller. (SFF, SEO, SOF, Paris, 1992. 260 pages. ISBN 2-9506548- 1-9. Softback FF230) Ronsil (1948-49) listed 11,000 ornithological works published in French/Latin between 1473 and 1944, on Fiance and its colonies. Aluller’s 2,401 entries cover the period 1945-65, for birds recorded within the present-day political boundaries of France, thus including Corsica (but not the Channel Islands). The bulk of the book consists ol five indexes: (i) full references, listed alphabetically by author (93 pages), each prefaced by a five-figure number for cross- referencing in the following indexes; (ii) journals cited (11 pages), these including many ‘foreign’ ones (e.g. BB)\ (iii) geographical index of administrative regions and departements (17 pages), with several subdivisions (e.g. Camargue, Dombes); (iv) species index (106 pages), with individual maps (different colours denote those departements with references to breeding or otherwise); (v) subject index (six pages). Thoroughly professional, beautifully designed, easy to use and, together with proposed volumes for 1966-80 and 1981-90, surely indispensable for researchers, both in France and beyond. DAC Songs of Argentinian Birds. By Robert Straneck. (Lola, Buenos Aires. Four cassettes; eight booklets. £85.00) There are 487 species recorded about half the Argentinian total. Species are arranged systematically within distinct regions/habitats (conveniendy one per booklet and cassette side). About one hour per tape gives an adequate average of 35 seconds per species. Informative booklets include a vignette, brief English notes on each species’ song/habitat, plus a map shoving the region covered. The recordings are of good quality and more comprehensive than any in my collection from other Central and South American countries. A fine achievement, and a vital aid in identifying birds in Argentina and neighbouring regions. PETER ROBERTS Fagelsang i Ostra Sibirien (Bird Songs of Eastern Siberia). By Magnus U liman. (Sveriges Ornitologiska Forening, Stockholm, 1992. Cassette. £8.50) The list of 52 species included on this tape reads like a birdwatcher’s dream. It was, therefore, disappointing to hear the results of this recordist’s travels in Siberia. I found the quality of this tape very poor, especially when compared with other, similar tapes produced in recent years. In many instances, the ‘target’ species is incredibly quiet, and most tracks are accompanied by a background noise which sounds as if they were all recorded next to a rushing river. This prevents the listener from sitting back and enjoying the songs, so I feel that this tape will be of use only as a reference. Steve Rooke The Wayland Book of Common British Birds: a photographic guide. By Nick Williams. (Wayland Publishers, Hove, 1992. 48 pages. ISBN 0-7502-0533-4. £8.99) ‘A guide to identifying Britain’s 50 commonest birds. Suitable for the 5- to 10-year-old who has not yet joined the Young Ornithologists’ Club. ' JTRS v'lPv I I fit Announcement Books in British BirdShop The following books have been added this month: Cook The Birds of Moray and Naim (Mercat Press); Harrison & Loxton The Bird: master of flight (Cassell); Giles Wildlife After Gravel (Game Conservancy/ ARC); Eundberg & Alatalo The Pied Flycatcher (Poyser); Pritchard, Housden el al. (eds.) Important Bird Areas in the United Kingdom : including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (RSPB/JNCC); Strange & Jeyarajasingam Birds: a photographic . guide to the birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore (Sun Tree). Please use the form on pages v & vi for all your book orders. News and comment compiled by Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch More Red Kites poisoned A RED KITE Milvus mikm found dead in Wales in March this year was the sixteenth poisoned there in the last four years. Five, including this latest victim, were killed near Aberystwyth, Ceredi- gion. The steady increase of the Red Kite in Wales is well known, and culminated in 99* nests this year. The continuing upturn in the bird’s fortunes are in no small way due to local people. RSPB Conservation Officer (and our correspondent in Wales), Steph Tyler, wrote to us and commented: ‘Most fanners are proud and protective towards this elegant bird of prey, but a few individuals persist with their Victorian attitudes. It is ironic that while the future of' the kite has been safeguarded by the efforts of legions of Welsh farmers, a handful of landowners continue to put this beautiful bird at risk.’ Not long after all this, a poisoned Red Kite was found dead just 9 km from the RSPB headquarters in Bedfordshire. This was one of the 20 kites released in England last year and had been in the area for some time; it was one of at least seven known to have perished in this way since the reintroduction project began in 1989. Poisoning has accounted for almost 70% of the recorded deaths so far. We are told, time and time again, that the illegal and/or irre- sponsible use of poisons is no longer a problem in the country- side - a thing of the past, in fact. Forgive us if we remain sceptical . . . *The 100th breeding pair in Wales was located in early June (Peter Davis in lilt.) Eds New DG at Game Conservancy Our congratulations to Dr Dick Potts, who Dick has also done as much as anybody to became Director General of the Game Con- build bridges across the awkward gap which servancy in March. Best known for a near life- exists between those who shoot birds and those time’s work on the Grey Partridge Perdix perdix , who don’t. The Conservancy is in good hands. News and comment 393 WOS Conference On 27th March 1993, about 100 enthusiasts gathered at Aberystwyth for the sixdi Welsh Ornithological Conference. After the WOS AGM, Iolo W illiams depressed us by reporting on recent survey work showing declines in sev- eral Welsh breeding species (e.g. Roseate 1 eras Sterna dougallii and Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix) and then cheered us up with news of in- creases in Red Kites Mihus milvus and Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus, the first recent breeding record of Corn Crakes Crex crex and the first- ever breeding of Honey-buzzards Pernis apivorus. The main theme of the Conference was waders. Brayton Holt and Richard Smith pro- duced excellently illustrated contributions on regular and vagrant species in Wales, and Steph Tyler talked on the status of some of the breeding waders; she showed how Oyster- catchers Haematopus ostralegus, Little Ringed Plovers Charadnus dubius and Common Sand- pipers Actitis hypoleucos are faring well, while Northern Lapwings VaneUus vanellus, Common Snipes Gallinago gallinago and Common Red- shanks Tringa totanus are rapidly disappearing. On a bright note, Dave Elliott described how the RSPB is developing the new Conwy reserve on spoil dumped from the construction of the Conwy tunnel: waders are already breeding there (including Gwynedd’s first Litde Ringed Plovers in 1992) and a good-sized roost has been established. Bob Howells’s fasci- nating resume of his valuable long-term work on the Burry Inlet (West Glamorgan/Dyfed) showed a worrying decline in some wader species there. Ray Waters rounded off an enjoyable conference most appropriately, using Birds of Estuaries Enquiry data to illustrate the importance of Welsh estuaries in the context of the East Atlantic Flyway. ( Contributed by Stephanie Tyler) Stora story It always makes a pleasant change to give a commercial firm a well-deserved pat on the back. We were pleased to learn {Packaging Week, April 1993) that the Stora Group has set aside 1 0,000 ha of Swedish forest as a sanctuary for the rare and declining White-backed Wood- pecker Dendrocopos leucotos. Biggest Irish twitch The first-winter male White’s Thrush gpolhera dauma trapped and released at Copeland Bird Observatory on 16th April and then relocated at lunchtime on 17th produced Ireland’s largest-ever ‘twitch’ on 18th April, with 150- 200 birders travelling (mostly from England) to see it. This was the fourth Irish record and the first for over 100 years, the third having been in Co. Mayo on 9th January 1885. Over £200 was levied from visiting twi tell- ers, the first such invasion on Copeland, despite the observatory having had two West Palearctic firsts: Fox Sparrow gjmotrichia ilicica in June 1961 and Scarlet Tanager Piranga oli- vacea in October 1963 (both before twitchers evolved). Copeland is a great observatory and deserves to be well covered. The Booking Sec- retary is Neville McKee, 65 Temple Rise, Templepatrick, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim BT39 0AG. ( Contributed by Anthony McGeehan ) Tunnel vision? One early morning in June one of us spent a pleasant hour on a well -known bridge in East Anglia watching and listening to Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus. Six or seven individuals were around, including four very noisy males, and four were watched together twice for short periods. One male gave what current bird- speak calls ‘crippling views’. Also present were several other observers, all armed with expen- sive optics and talking knowledgeably about orioles and other rare birds; they certainly saw' the ‘crippler’, and must have heard others (although they clearly did not recognise the yellow birds’ frequent ‘cat calls’), but, after a while, their conclusion was that it was a rela- tively poor morning with only two orioles pre- sent. Strange . . . but not at all surprising, perhaps; after all, none of diem seemed to be looking at any other birds at all and all of them missed a Eurasian Sparrow'havvk Accipiter nisus displaying in spectacular fashion overhead and a Common Kingfisher A Iced o atthis which flew under the bridge, calling frequendy. It was all rather depressing, really. Quail query Has anyone ever heard a Common Quail Co- tumix cotnmix (migrant or odierwise) giving the well-known ‘wet-my-lips’ call in flight? If so, we’d like to hear from you. 394 News and comment The best place in the world to watch waders Huge numbers, huge variety, tame, easy approach from nearby car track to within 50 m of high-tide roosts, perfect viewing conditions with sun always behind you, and with red sand and a turquoise sea. Also guaranteed clear sunny weather for ten months of the year (Jan- uary/February is the wet season, but it rains on only about a dozen days even then). A total of 44 species occurs regularly. The best time to visit is March/April (birds in breeding plumage) and late August/mid November (not too hot/humid). There are, however, 5,000-10,000 waders even in the slack Ylayjuly period (‘overwintering’ imma- tures), with most species still represented. And now there is a bird observatory fully operational and situated right on the shore in the centre of the best wader areas. The bird observatory offers a range of accommodation, from a five-bed self-contained chalet to 20 bunks/beds in a separate unit (air-conditioned) or bush camping plus BBQ cooking facilities. There are two resident wardens, and it is open throughout -Hhe year. There is an excellent nearby airport with daily flight connections to major cities. Where is this place? Broome in Western Australia. The address to write to is Broome Bird Observatory, PO Box 1313, Broome, WA 6725, Australia; tel. 091 935600. In March/April 1993, we counted 36,000 w'aders, in 370 flocks in 22 days, setting off on their non-stop flight to China (5,000 km, three days). It was most moving to see and hear their obvious excitement and the decision-mak- ing process over the first five to ten minutes before they got into V-formation and disappeared out of sight. ( Contributed by Dr C. D. 7. Minton) Djibouti report Djibouti III Migrant Raptor Count, by Geoff & Hilary Welch, is a detailed account of the third expedition (September-November 1987) to count the huge numbers of raptors which cross the narrows of the Bab-el-Mandeb every autumn on their way from Arabia into Africa. With more extensive coverage than before, the observers recorded 246,478 raptors of 26 species crossing the strait in 38 days. The most numerous birds by far were Steppe Buzzards Buteo buteo vulpinus (98,339, plus 29,853 Buteo sp.) and Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis (76,586, plus 27,922 Aquila sp.). In addition to full de- tails of the raptor counts, the report includes a complete systematic list for the expedition and also an annotated list of spring migrants seen over three seasons. It is available (price £5.00) from Geoff Welch, Minsmere Reserve, Westle- ton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IPI7 3BY. Colour-marked Black-tailed Godwits Observers everywhere in Europe and Africa are asked to look out for Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa with yellow wing-bars, and yellow' rings (with a black horizontal bar in the middle) on both legs. Such birds will have been marked in Iceland by a Dutch WTWO- expedition in summer 1993. Please report sightings to Gerrit J. Gerritsen, Julianastraat 40, 8019 AX Zwolle, The Netherlands. ‘Acrocephalus’ We were very pleased to receive the latest issue of Acrocephalus (vol. 14, no. 56-57): evidence that normal life continues in at least part of the former Yugoslavia. Acrocephalus is the jour- nal of the Bird Watc hing and Bird Study Asso- ciation of Slovenia (with Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the east, and Croatia to the south). The papers in this issue are mostly con- cerned with the birds of Cerknisko jezero (Take Cerknica), and there are English sum- maries. The address of the Association is 61000 Ejubljana, Langusova 10, Slovenia. Pittas Information on pittas (Pittidae) is requested for a new book. The Pittas of the World. Field obser- vations (or even notes on captive birds) are needed concerning vocalisations, breeding records, nest sites and nests, plumage of juve- niles, behaviour and diet. Records of pittas killed striking w indows or as a result of other accidents are of interest; also current status and population estimates. Photos loaned for reference will be returned in due course, and all contributions will I "re gratefully acknowledged in the book. Please send information to: Johannes Errit- zoe, laps Old Rectory, DK-6070 Christians- leld, Denmark. News and comment 395 Bursaries for young wildlife artists Six young wildlife artists are to benefit from the first awards made by a new bursary scheme, organised by Lloyds Private Banking and the Society of Wildlife Artists. The award winners are: Samantha Hignett of Saffron Walden, Essex; James McCallum of Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk; Ian Claxton of Swardeston, Norfolk; James Dunsmore of Cockfosters, Hertfordshire; Keith Andrews of Kinlochbervie, Sutherland; and Steve Gordon of Liverpool. The bursary has been established to encour- age and support talented young artists aged 15 to 25. The awards of up to £ 500 may be used to assist with such tilings as education, travel expenses and materials. The winners’ work is displayed at the Society of Wildlife Artists annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries, Lon- don, from 29th July to 13th August. Samantha Hignett’s award will enable her to spend time sketching seabirds and seals on Bardsey Island. James McCallum and Ian Claxton will be able to attend a bird-drawing course in Scotland with wildlife artist John Busby. James Dunsmore’s award will help to fund a trip to Belize, where he will record birds and insects. Keith Andrews will buy materials to help him draw wildlife around his Scottish home, while Steve Gordon will use his award to help him portray wildlife in the city of Liverpool. Aveyron and the Causses French ornithologist Peyo d’Andurain is writ- ing a book on the birds of the Departement of Aveyron and the limestone plateaux called the Causses, between Millau and Florae. He would be glad to hear from anyone willing to send him records of interesting birds seen there. The address to write to is Langlas-Mostuejouls, 12720 France. ( Contributed by Richard Vaughan ) Dyfed Conference The tenth joint Dyfed Wildlife Trust/BTO Pembrokeshire Bird Conference will be held on 27th November: Details from Dyfed Wildlife Trust, 7 Market Street, Haverford- west, Dyfed SA61 INF. Come to the Fair! The British Birdwatching Fair is at Rutland Water from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd August. The BB stand is no. M2/28 (no. 28 in marquee no. 2). Come and say ‘Hello’. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Britton — Northeast Dave Holman — East Anglia Anthony McGeehan — Northern Ireland Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Dr Kenny Taylor — Scotland David Tomlinson — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales Keith Vinicombe — Southwest John Wilson — Northwest Oran takes on IWC Oran O’Sullivan has been appointed General Manager of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy. He will be responsible for all the day-to-day running of the IWC. A member since the early 1970s, a Council member of Cape Clear Bird Observatory and co-editor of tire ‘Irish Bird Report’ since 1987, Oran’s skill and enthusiasm should be just what’s needed for the organisation that com- bines for Ireland the roles carried out in Britain by the BTO and the RSPB. New Recorder Geoff Neal, 36 The Ridgew'ay, Hawarden, Deeside, Clwyd CH5 has taken over from Peter Rath bone as Recorder for Clwyd (Den- bighshire and Flintshire). Silly corner Our thanks to the many correspondents who drew our attention to the following misprints: White-tailed Seagull that had to come up some time (. Aberdeen Press and' Journal), Heron Gull [The Engineer), Herring Full (Bristol Or- nithological Club’s Bird News), Cough ( Western Telegraph) and Hoppy {Bird Watching). We found a classic example of how not to word a cap- tion, beside a very nice photograph of a Dun- lin Calidris alpina : it says ‘Did you know' that Cornwall’s odd pair of nesting Dunlin are the most southerly breeding birds in the world?’ {Bird Watching. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 14th June to 19th July 1993 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Loch of Harray (Orkney), 15th June. Little Bittern Ixobtyckus muiutus Chew Valley Lake (Avon), 23rd June. Great WTiite Egret Egretta alba Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire), 1 1th- 12th July. Black Kite Mihus migrans Worth (Kent), 10th June; Barmston (Humberside) and Witton (Cleveland), 19th June; St Margaret’s Bay (Kent), 20th June; Hadleigh Castle Country- Park (Essex), 24th June; near Reculver (Kent), 1 1th July. Garganey Anas querquedula Brood of five young, Northern Ireland (first proof of breed- ing there). Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldwanm Indi- vidual last seen 19th June relocated at Burn- ham Norton (Norfolk), 18th July. Kentish Plover Charadrius akxandrinus Cley (Norfolk), 25th June; two, Stanpit Marsh (Dorset), 28th June. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis Juba Read’s Island (Humberside), 2nd July. American Golden Plover P. dominica Kil- shannig, Casdegregory (Co. Kerry), 16th- 18th July- WThite-rumped Sandpiper Calidris Jiiscicollis Loch of Strathbeg (Grampian), 4th-5thjuly. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus Kilshannig, 1 6th- 1 8th July. Yellow-legged Gull Lams cachinnans Grooms- port (Co. Down), 1 5th June (first for Northern Ireland). Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Point Lynas, Anglesey (Gwynedd), 22nd June; near Swansea (West Glamorgan), 4th-5th July. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia Hickling Broad/ Breydon Water area (Norfolk), 13th to at least 18th July. Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis Bea- con Ponds (Humberside), 15th-20th June; Scolt Head (Norfolk), 8th- 1 5th July; intermittendy off Northumberland coast, 12th- 17th July. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus Llyn TrafTwyll (Gwynedd), 18th June; presumed same, Cemlyn Lagoon, Anglesey, I9th-23rd June; Abberton Reservoir (Essex), 3rd-7th July. Snowy Owl .Nyctea scandiaca Early June imma- ture male rediscovered Aranmore Island (Co. Donegal), 12th- 18th July. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia tnelanocephala Filey (North Yorkshire), 27th June to at least 18th July. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Two, Capel-le-Ferne (Kent), 15th-27th June; Calf of Man (Isle of Man), 21st June. Penduline Tit Remiz pendulums Minsmere (Suffolk), 19th June. Lesser Grey Shrike Emins minor Skomer (Dyfed), 2nd-5th July. Woodchat Shrike L. senator Goss Moor (Cornwall), 21st June; Durleston Country Park (Dorset), 24th June; Selsey Bill (West Sussex), 25lh June; Kelling Quaggs (Norfolk), 22nd June to at least 18th July. For the latest, up-to-date news, phone ‘Rare Bird News’ on 0881-888 111 (25p/min cheap rate; 39p/min other times; inel. VAT) We are grateful to Rare Bird News for supplying information for this news feature 396 EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS are just around the corner . Clever use of new technology means that we are introducing several important improvements late summer. Make sure that you know what the new Rare Bird Alert service can do for you. RARE BIRD ALERT — From Scilly — IBIRDING PAGERSb- to Shetland 1 The best bird news service (D270) The Polish Wetlands Project is also supported by SWAROVSKI Main sponsors and co-organisers in focus Also sponsored by At Anglian Water INTERNATIONAL POLISH WETLANDS PROJECT LRTNC BRITISH BIRDWATCHING FAIR Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water FRI 20 - SUN 22 AUGUST 93 9.30am - 5.30pm Daily £5 Adult, Children free xi (D297) PAY LESS FOR RARE BIRD NEWS 0881 888 111 FAST RELIABLE 24 HOUR NEWS UP TO 30% CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER BIRDLINE HOTLINE TO REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS 0426 923 923 CALLS COST 25p/MIN CHEAP RATE 39p/MIN ALL OTHER TIMES BIRDING SOUTH WEST 0891 884 500 RARITY, MIGRANT AND SEA-WATCHING NEWS. HOTLINE 0426 923 923 ALL 0891 CALLS COST 36p/MIN CHEAP RATE 48p/MIN PEAK/STD Birding Brazil A Check-list and Site Guide Bruce C Forrester This long awaited, essential guide to the birdwatching localities of Brazil, is now available, containing 254 pages, paperback and spiral bound, A5 size. An up to date check-list for the country forms an important in- gredient to the guide. Here, both English and Latin names are given, with 1,661 spedes listed, plus an extensive array of sub- spedes, their distribution being evident through examination of the accompanying site lists. 177 endemics are recognised. The guide gives information on 42 sites. Each site has every species known to have occurred, listed. The guide is available at £19.95, with free postage, worldwide. Write to: Bruce C Forrester, Knockshinnoch Bungalow, Rankinston, Ayrshire, KA6 7HL. (D296) Simply Magnificent Situated in the heart of Scotland on the A823 Crieff/Dunfermline road, 4 miles south of the A9 (and just 6 miles from Gleneagles), in the beautiful Glendevon Estate of over 1,000 acres of rivers, lochs, forests and hillsides. A 12 month holiday licence enables buyers of quality static caravans and pine lodges to be continuously away from it all. GLENDEVON PARK Glendevon, Perthshire Tel: 02 59 78 12 08 Sporting opportunities, on and around the estate, are endless, and include: bird watching, walking, orienteering, fishing, golf and much more. The famous Dungeon Inn, dating back to the 15th Century, is also on the estate, a short walk from the caravans and pine lodges. What more could you want. Come and visit us. Simply Magnificent (D293) XII TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be PREPAID Rates (These prices do not include VAT) £2.50 a line — average of 7 words £8.50 a centimetre — min. 2 cms. Telephone 0621 815085 Fax: 0621 819130 H OLID A Y ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bedrooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071-43 1 2942. (BB266) CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2). Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB237) FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Reserve and The Fames. Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mrs J. Sutherland, Ross Farm, Belford, Nor- thumberland NE70 7EN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB312) WEYMOUTH. ‘Birchfields Hotel’. Close to Radipole/ Lodmoor/Portland & The Fleet. Ideal Winter/Spring breaks, local info’. Parties welcome. Details phone 0305 773255. (BB370) FILEY: Lovely seafront flat. Sleeps 4. Seawatch from lounge. Anything possible! Owner local birder. Non- smokers. Sorry no young children or pets. 0723 515273. (BB431) NORTH NORFOLK, NR CLEY. Charming 2 bed flint cottage in Holt. Tastefully furnished with all mod. cons, including gas c/heating. Garden with furniture/barbecue. Tel: 0788 815380 (after 6pm) (BB454) ISLES OF SCILLY. Self catering units for 2/5. Linen, towels, TV included. Well furnished & equipped. Guest House accommodation also available. All rooms en suite, colour TV, tea/coffee making facilities. Conveniently situated. D. Williams, The Bylet Guest House, St Mary’s, Isle of Scilly. Tel: 0720 22479. (BB450) ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds overlooking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB455) SUFFOLK. 16th century farmhouse, B&B. Private facilities. Minsmere 25 mins., Cley 60 mins. Bird information. 0502 76892. (BB459) ISLES OF SCILLY, The Wheelhouse, Porthcressa, St Marys TR21 0JG. E.T.B. 3 Crown Commended. Good food and comfortable surroundings, next door to log, B&B or B.B. & E.M. Tel. 0720 22719 (BB471) CLEY NATURE RESERVE 1 mile Small guest house offers you warm welcome. B&B and optional evening meal. Colour TV, tea-making facilities, all private facilities and central heating ip all rooms. Parking facilities and sorry, no smoking. IDEAL FOR BIRDWATCHERS THE FLJNTSTONES, W1VETON, HOLT. NORFOLK 0263 740337 (BB243) • SPEY VALLEY. Beautiful secluded informal hotel, 2 miles from village of Carrbridge. Home cooking, full central heating. All rooms en-suite. Perfect base for birdwatchers and walkers. Discount available for parties. Terms from £185.00 per week DB&B. Brochure from Mrs Y. Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel: 0479 84278. (BB467) WALES RED KIT COUNTRY . Tregaron — Guest house standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Yns-hir RSPB reserves. Parties welcome. WTB — 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 98965 or 298905. (BB433) ANGLESEY. Superb waterside position with magnificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanist in area of outstanding natural beauty. Elegant en suite rooms available for bed and breakfast. Highground. Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY. Tel: (0407) 860078. (BB472) OVERSEAS PROVENCE — HEART OF CAMARGUE. Well equipped s/c cottage. Mas d’Auphan, Le Sambuc, 13200 ARLES, France. Tel: (01033) 90972041. Fax: 90972087. (BB408) CAMARGUE — TOWN HOUSE. Sleeps 10. £ 1 50-£250 pw. (0624) 676151. Fax: 662787. (BB429) AUSTRALIA, CAIRNS, JULATTEN. At Kingfisher Park we provide accommodation in a rainforest sanctuary for native birds and animals. We are central to a variety of habitats and cater for the interests and enthusiasms of birdwatchers and naturalists. Write now for a free birdlist to Kingfisher Park, P.O. Box 3, Julatten, Queensland, Australia 4871. (BB470) PAJINKA WILDERNESS LODGE 400m from the top of Australia lies Pajinka Wilderness Lodge, a birding destination of international consequence. Pajinka boasts over y3 of Australia's bird species, (230 species, 13 endemic). Within a short drive of the Lodge are a variety of habitats including mangrove, rainforest, heathlands, swamps, open schlerophyll and vine thickets. Two major and totally different catchments lie within the area. Pajinka's Green Season from Oct-Mar, is when migratory birdsfrom Nuigini and beyond attend. In January, Pajinka hosts Nature Week, an opportunity for twitchers to pursue rare species with the support of resident and visiting experts. During the Dry season, May-Sept, the focus is on resident endemics. For more information or reservations: PH. +61 70 313 988 or FAX: +61 70 313966, or write to PO Box 7757, Cairns. 4870, Australia. (BB458) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi- pension (Private bath) from £50.00. Details, brochure, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB31 1) ISLAY, GEESE. Warm cottages sleep 8, 8 or 2. Lady Wilson, Cala na Ruadh, Port Charlotte. Tel: 049-685 289. (BB419) BIRDWATCHING TOURS AUSTRALIA — Send for our Birding brochure. Tours throughout Australia from individuals to groups. We welcome enquiries from both private customers and tour agents. Falcon Tours, 1 Simmons Drive, Roleystone, Perth, Western Australia. PH/FAX (09) 397 5125. Lie. Tour Operator. (BB330) xiii TO ADVERTISE FAX 0621 819130 VENEZUELA Ecoturismo Campo Undo. Highly praised in M.L. Goodwin’s Birding in Venezuela. 8-day tours Jan-March 1994 See over 300 birds like Flamingos, Jacamars, North Amer. migrants, Macaws and Parrots. Groups of 8 staying in beautiful ranch near national park. £1,200 includes air fare. For more information write: Mr Alfredo Tellez, Day & Night No. 133, PO Box 140280, Coral Gables, FI 33114-0280. (BB414) BIRD WA TCHING H OLID A YS CAPE TOWN For Western Cape birding and quality pelagics contact: Jim Enticott, PO Box 34088, Rhodes Gift, 7707, Cape Town or tel: 27-21-757676. Farmhouse type accommodation organised. Tour operators, groups and individuals welcome. (BB457) HONG KONG. Superb birding September to May — variety of accommodation — trips into China. Richard Lewthwaite, 2 Villa Paloma, Shuen Wan, Tai Po NT, Hong Kong. Phone/Fax: (HK) 665 8190. (BB466) DISCOUNT FLIGHTS. CAR HIRE. SEA TRAVEL. PACKAGE HOLIDAYS GROUPS & EXPEDITIONS ...worldwide Travel News Current return flights from: Europe £65 N America £215 Middle East £169 Caribbean £279 Africa £129 C&S America £325 Asia £280 Aus/NZ £505 SAVE ££s. . . Don't forget our year round package holiday discount scheme includes many of the specialists too! eg: West Gambia experience etp Scillies Oct 93 — choppers from £72 return Skybus £64, Scillonian £49 ANTARCTICA LAST CALL FOR WINTER 93/4 TOURS AT. EARLY BOOKING PRICES, LIMITED AVAILABILITY, ADVANCE REGISTRATIONS FOR WINTER 94/5 BEING TAKEN NOW! Ask for leaflet detailing our services 0272-613000 or DICK FILBY 0603-767-757 INTERNATIONAL HOUSE BANK ROAD, BRISTOL BS15 2LX, UK A.B.T.A./I.A.T.A. UiudWnss (BB463) DIVISION OF NICK'S TRAVEL 97237 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ EXPERTS IN LOW COST AIRFARES - WORLDWIDE. DISCOUNT CAR HIRE/INSURANCE SPECIALIST ADVISER - ANDY HOWES 0533 881318 (EVENINGS ONLY PLEASE) ALWAYS RING US LAST (BB460) NEW FOR 1993 A New Concept in Budget Birding Holidays FULLY-ESCORTED WEEKS FOR UNDER FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS! We are now able lo offer self-catering options to a 'new' and exciting area of Southeastern Spain at bargain prices. * Wetlands, Mountains, Coasts — excellent, varied lists. * Experienced English leader. * Quality accommodation, with choice of self-catering or very reasonable meals. * Small, relaxed groups. * Varied and flexible birding arrangements * Several departures Write tor details: Calandra Holiday, P.O. Box 89, Ashlord, Kent TN24 9TE, or call 0283 628547. Also tully-inclusive tours — options available — details on request. BB440 BIRD REPORT ORKNEY BIRD REPORT 1992, cost £3 plus 45p p & p. Available from: Vishabreck, Evie, Orkney, KW17 2PF. (BB451) BIRD INFORMATION The BEST service THE CAR IN FRONT HAS GOT A RARE BIRD ALERT PAGER What's more, soon it will have the NEW, IMPROVED service . . . RARE BIRD ALERT PAGERS: getting the news to you right across the UK, from Scilly to Shetland. For full info. Call Dick Filby on 0603 767799 'HIGH ISLAND' UPPER TEXAS COAST U S A. Just opened Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8 Birder s Haven, P.O. 309. High Island, Texas 77623 Tel: 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390 (BB242) COSTA RICA More birds than the whole of North America! Tailor-made birding trips for individuals and small groups. Brochures: (BB371) BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA APARTADO 7911 - 100B SAN JOSE COSTARICA FAX: +506-281573 (BB464) BOOKS The original BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 1 59 diary pages. Send C 6 45 inclusive p/p to: Coxton Publications, ^ Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, ? Beverley, N. Humberside HU 17 8RPm xtv TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 THE BIRD & WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP Britain ’s leading ornithological booksellers where you can find our comprehensive range of new and secondhand books and reports on birds and natural history, including all new titles as they are published. Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Mail order catalogue available on request THE BIRD & WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP 2-4 Princes Arcade, Piccadilly, London SW1Y6DS Tel: 071-287 1407 (BB462) BIRD BOOKS. Catalogue available. Free Book Search. Books bought. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherways, Freshfields, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel: 07048 71115. (BB469) BIRD BOOKS. Out-of-print, uncommon and rare. Quarterly catalogue. Peacock Books, Box 2024, Littleton Mass, 01460, USA. (BB439) ‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804. (BB422) BIRD BOOKS BOUGHT AND SOLD. Send SAE to Dr J. Tierney, ‘Hawkridge’, Nether Padley, Grindleford, Sheffield S30 1HQ. Tel: 0433 630137. (BB387) COLLECTABLE new and secondhand ornithological natural history books. SAE A5 for catalogue. Berthwan Books, Kennal Vale Cottage, Kennal Vale, Ponsanooth, Truro, Cornwall TR3 7HL. (BB453) FOR SALE FOCALPOINT THE BINOCULAR & TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS OPEN 9.30-5.30 MON-FRI SAT 9.30 4.00 At BRANDRETH BARN Guest Farm overlooking MARTIN MERE W&WT on Sunday 29th August and 19th September LEICA binocs - this months special! SKUA 'stay-on-the-scope' telescope cases (8 models). Ask for our leaflet on the world's finest cases of their type. | BEST ADVICE - BEST CHOICE BEST PRICES • Complete K0WA scope outfits from under £200 ' FOCALPOINT vJlJI Unit 8. Marbury House Firm, Bentleys Farm Lane. Higher Whitley. Near Warrington. Cheshire WA4 4QW (BB465) Telephone: 0925 730399 Fax: 0606 892207 ALL LEADING INSTRUMENTS FROM STOCK ♦ ART ♦ BIRO BOOKS (new & s/hmdj + MERLIN VENULE JACKETS ...Zeiss Kowa Opticron Bausch & Lomb Adlerblick Swift Optolyth etc. The Stockport Binocular and Telescope Centre Suppliers of quality binoculars and spotting scopes. Mail order, or callers welcome. Open 6 days 9-6. Repair service on the premises. nT&L Optical Instruments IHPR 24 Middle Hillgate, Stockport SKI 3AY Tel: 061-429 8002 (BB468) BIRD JOURNAL BACK NUMBERS SUPPLIED. (BB. Bird study, County Reports, etc.), David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon. (BB349) BRITISH BIRDS: Complete and perfect set. Uniform standard binding. Details 0971 502206. (BB477) BRITISH BIRDS, 1979-1988, 5 Easybinders, rest unbound. Offers. Tokina 500mm mirror lens, OM fit, vgc, £1 10. Tel: 0344 771317. (BB478) BWP Vols 1-5, mint condition, £250. Tel: 0793 852242 after 7.00pm. (BB476) BRITISH BIRDS Vol 71-84 (1978-1991). Offers. Tel: 0793 852242 after 7pm. (BB475) BIRDER selling surplus books, maps, reports. SAE list. Williamson, 66 Croft Road, Portland, Dorset DT5 2EP. (BB474) LEITZ TRINOVID 10x40 ban rubber armoured binoculars with strap and rainguard. Mint condition, £300. Optolyth TBG 80 Spotting scope with 30 x eyepiece and stay on case, as new, £350 ono. Tel: 0992 893623. (BB473) OPEN SUNDAYS ALL SUMMER Binoculars — telescopes — video cameras — lenses — tripods — SLRs — compacts * ZEISS * KOWA * BUSHNELL * LEITZ * SWIFT * RUSSIAN * PENTAX * BAUSCH & LOMB * MINOLTA * OPTOLYTH * ADLERBLICK Kowa TSN I & 2 £289 Kowa TSN 3 & 4 £559 20x-60 x zoom £159 20xwa £105 30xwa £129 RUSSIAN huge power 20x60 binoculars incl case & straps w v LTD 70 ST THOMAS ST iD300) SCARBOROUGH YOU 1DU 0723 365024 FAX 0723 363334 COMPACT SALE LEICA SRP SALE 8x20 BC £229 £209 10x25 BC £269 £240 8x20 BCA £269 £240 10x25 BCA £298 £260 ZEISS CLASSIC 8x20 £299 £270 10x25 £339 £309 ZEISS DESIGN 8x20 £349 £320 10x25 £359 £330 AUGUST SPECIALS — LIMITED STOCKS Leica 7x42 Leica 8x42 Leica 10x42 Leica 8x32 Audubov 8.5x44 Audubov 10x50 £599 B & Lomb 8x42 £550 £629 B & Lomb 8x42P £575 £629 B & Lomb 10x42P £575 £619 Zeiss 7x42 Phone £209 Zeiss 10x40 Phone £219 Habicht 7x42 £475 WALKERS British Birds Volume 86 Number 8 August 1993 347 Bird Illustrator of the Year and The Richard Richardson Award Dr J. T. R. Shamrock, Robert Gillmor^/llan //arris arid Keith Shack/eton 3.52 Colonisation by Bearded Tits of Leighton Moss, Lancashire John Wilson Twenty-five years ago . . . Daurian Redstart in Scodand: captive origin and the British List Dr Alan C. Knox, on behalf oj tile British Ornithologists' l him Ret ora Committee Monthly marathon Notes ^ oung Common Swifts roosting in foliage of trees Jan Holmgren Short-toed Treecreepers roosting in tree crevice Hans Schouten Simultaneous bigyny by Short-toed 1 reecrecpers Paul Isenmann and Jean- I ves Cuitlosson Apparent interruption of incubation b\ Eurasian l’reecrceper j. K. Arevalo ( ommon Starling and Song I hrush using wet food to collect powdery lix»d Mrs f. J. Hamer Letters A Pink-backed Pelican in Spain and the origin of recent European records Dr Dielmar hiinigstedt and J. / /avion Roberts 375 Use by birds of roads for navigation Chris Mead 37 6 Kingfisher apparently feeding on berries Dai'id Brazjer 376 Mimicry by Chaffinches J. M. Hilliams Birds of the Western Palearctic a note of gratitude to contributors RHP Editors From the Rarities Committee’s files Identification of female Pine Buntings Dr Colin Brad.shaiv and Martin Cray Reviews The Birds of Moray and Naim’ by Martin Cook Dr Malcolm Ogitiie ‘The Pied flycatcher' by Arne Lundberg & Rauno V. Alatalo Dr Cohn J. Bibby ‘W ildlife After Gravel: twenty years of practical research by The Game Conservancy and ARC' by Nick Giles Dr Ken Smith Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Maritime Provinces’ by Anthony J. Krskine Peter Smith ‘Avian SystemaUcs and Taxonomy. British Ornithologists’ Club Centenary Volume’ edited by J. F. Monk Dr David T. Parkin Birds: a photographic guide to the birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore’ by Morten Strange & Allen Jeyarajasingam DrJ. 7. R. Sharrock Short reviews Announcement 391 Books in British BirdShop 392 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Rytherch 396 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 347 Richard Richardson (Bryan Bland}-, 352 Bearded Tits (Kmte hahy)\ 359 Daurian Redstart ( Keith Broctie); 378 buntings (Martin Deles) Front cover: Female YVoodchat Shrike (with Montagu’s Harrier) in winter quarters, West Africa ( Richard Allen): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 28 in January issue for procedure) 387 387 388 388 389 389 390 367 368 369 371 371 372 358 359 ■ T <- ^Passage of Little Gulls across Northern England Egypt as a major wintering area of Little Gulls Yellow-browed Bunting in Orkney llare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee The BOU Records Committee Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs Volume 86 Number 9 September 1993 Mivi un.T Lv 'orUIVt ~ 3 SEP 1S93 ' PURCHASED ZOOLOGY LIBRARY I British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultant Don Smith Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Catley, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gantlett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, Andy Stoddart & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. 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KOWA TS-61 2 C/W TS-20xWA EYEPIECE AND CX-680 TRIPOD. 1 Spoon-billed Sandpipers DISCERNING BIRDERS CHOOSE BIRDQUEST FOR: BETTER BIRDING IN SMALL AND FRIENDLY GROUPS HELPFUL AND COMPETENT LEADERS WITH UNSURPASSED BIRDING EXPERTISE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF LONG DISTANCE BIRD TOURS, INCLUDING PIONEERING JOURNEYS TO THE WORLD’S LAST WILD FRONTIERS For our brochure please contact us at: Two Jays, ( f J[\ Y\ Kemple End, Birdy Brow, Stonyhurst, Lancashire \\ Jmr ) I BB6 9QY. Tel: 0254-826317. Fax:0254-826780. '^2^' Government Licensed and Fully Bonded - ATOL 2937^~iLS^ BIRDQUEST ... Miles Ahead (D303) j II British Birds VOLUME 86 NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 1993 Spring passage of Little Gulls across Northern England Doug Messenger For more than 20 years, the Little Gulls Larus minutus off the Merseyside coast of Northwest England have been attracting increasing attention, as the species’ status, particularly as a spring passage migrant, has undergone a quite remarkable change (Smith 1987). This spring movement, from the Irish Sea wintering grounds to breeding areas in Finland, has become a regular spectacle at Seaforth, having increased from single-figure counts in the 1960s to several hundreds in the late 1980s. The details of this change were well recorded during the 1970s, and exceptionally well during the 1980s. At Seaforth, counts were carried out daily, and usually several times a day. A grand total of 32,000 bird-days was recorded in the three years 1987-89, and the typical pattern is shown in fig. 1. The main passage period is between early April and early May. Peak counts are always in the second half of April, with more than 90% of gulls leaving before the middle of May. The start and finish of this period are often blurred by either windblown individuals in March or oversummering ones in May. [Bril. Birds 86: 397-406, September 1993] 397 398 Passage of Little Gulls across Northern England Fig. 1. Spring passage of Little Gulls Lams minutus at Seaforth, Merseyside, in 1989 During 1980-89, peak counts at Seaforth increased every spring by an average of 20%, reaching a maximum of 680 on 20th April 1989 (see fig. 2). 1 his figure of 680 was the peak number of Little Gulls present at one time and within 200 m of one observation point; it therefore represents only a fraction of the number passing through Seaforth during the five or six weeks of the passage period. E 800 600 400 PEAK COUNTS IN SPRING AT SEAFORTH 200 - l ig. 2. Peak spring counts of Little Gulls Lotus minutus at Seaforth, Merseyside, 1980-89 Because of the constant movement of Little Gulls between Seaforth, the adjacent Crosby Marina and the Mersey and Alt estuaries (fig. 3), it is possible only to guess at the total number of gulls involved. One can never be sure that those counted on one day arc not the same ones as those counted the previous day, or even the previous week. Very close attention to plumage details and stage of moult, however, enables some individuals to be identified, and this does indicate that there is a constant movement through Seaforth and that we do sec some different individuals each day. Passage of Little Gulls across Northern England 399 Fig. 3. Wintering areas of Little Gulls Lams minutus in the Irish Sea The 1989-91 survey A survey was carried out in April of each year during 1989-91, with the aim of locating and estimating the numbers of Little Gulls present along that stretch of the west coast between Anglesey and the Solway. Approximately 30 observers took part each year and were positioned fairly regularly along the 280 miles (450 km) of coastline. The results showed that more than 98% of the gulls recorded were along the 3 miles (4.8 km) of coastline between the Alt estuary and Seaforth. This appears to be an extremely narrow ‘gateway’ at which almost the entire Irish Sea wintering population assembles at the start of the next leg of the journey to Finland. Movement from the Irish Sea It has been tentatively suggested that ‘an overland route is probable' (Smith 1987). This rather bold (but qualified) hypothesis has never been subjected to any further discussion, and the apparent uncertainty over the route used has remained. To examine this uncertainty, it helps to look back in the year to the numbers of Little Gulls wintering in the Irish Sea. Since the early 1970s, three-figure counts have been recorded almost every winter, and with increasing frequency. These are normally associated with onshore winds and almost always along two fairly limited stretches of coastline, one on each side of the Irish Sea (see fig. 3). The biggest numbers are invariably on the Co. Wicklow coast (Ruttledge 1974, 1990) and restricted to within 30 miles (48 km) south of Dublin. Exceptional counts of 500+ in February and 600+ in January 1991 (B. Madden in litt.) give an indication of the numbers actually wintering in this sea area and show a considerable increase on previous estimates (Hutchinson & Neath 1978). 400 Passage of Little Gulls across .Northern England The only other Irish Sea coastline with regular high winter counts is the Lancashire /Merseyside coast. Here, too, three-figure counts of wind-driven birds are frequent, although numbers are not so high as in Ireland. Little Gulls usually begin to arrive on these coasts immediately the winds exceed force 3 (B. Madden in litt.\ personal observations) and, as they increase in seventy, so more gulls arrive. The high counts on one side of the Irish Sea have never occurred on the same day (and rarely in the same week) as high counts on the other side. This gives rise to the thought that these Irish Sea gulls are in fact a discrete population which is moved about by winds and/or the availability of food, and is ‘dumped’ — presumably fragmented — on the nearest coast(s) when the gales commence. This would also explain why even severe gales are not guaranteed to produce any Little Gulls at any particular location (Rutdedge 1990). As the gales subside, usually in March, coincidentally these several hundred mostly adult) gulls become migrants. As the numbers off Wicklow decrease through March and April, so records on Merseyside increase as the mills assemble at Seaforth en route to Finland. The eastward passage 1 he choice of direction for continuation of the movement beyond Seaforth is lather limited. Records of Little Gulls moving north around or across Scotland in spnng are extremely scarce (Cunningham 1983; Verrall & Bourne 1982). 1 hat they fly south and around the Welsh coast and southern England is extremely unlikely, and not supported by any evidence. for confn-mauon of or at least some supporting evidence for, Smith’s 1. 8/ hypothesis, over 250 county bird reports and avifaunas were searched. All records of Little Gulls more than 20 miles (32 km) inland from any coast were extracted, and a selection is presented in figs. 4-6. Some personal correspondence was also necessary for confirmation of some records, and for expansion and/or breaking-down of a few, rather vague, general statements. As the gulls move eastwards from Seaforth, they do so at great height (Smith 1987). On many occasions, small flocks have been seen to spiral high into the sky and eventually to disappear from view: parties up to 50 strong have been recorded on one or two occasions, while llocks of half this size are regularly seen (personal observations). Groups of fewer than ten almost certainly attract insufficient attention to be recorded as ‘spiralling’ birds. I he commencement of the spiralling is always apparently chaotic and accompanied by much calling. As the gulls gain height, so they become more ordered and move away as a fairly compact, coherent flock. Peak daily counts uic generally in the afternoon, and, since numbers usually decrease towards evening, it is probable that departure and ‘spiralling’ continue alter dark, as there are never any gulls present at dawn (personal observations). An incidental observation which has been noted only recently is the apparent reconnaissance flights’. On many occasions in April 1991 Little Gulls were seen to spiral upwards and disappear from view, only to’ return again within five or ten minutes. Once, there were 17 adults on the Seaforth 128'131- l‘i,,I<‘ Gulls I / in is minulus, Merseyside; from top ,o bottom, juvenile, adult winter, adult summer, and first-summer (Steve Young/ 'Birdwakh') Passage of Little Gulls across Northern England 40 1 Passage of Little Gulls across Northern England reserve: all took flight together and disappeared at height, flying eastwards; within five minutes, however, 1 7 adults reappeared on the reserve. On' another occasion, 42 individuals were seen to go* through the same procedure, and again, within five minutes, the same number reappeared. One may justifiably assume that the coincidence of these counts was due to the same flocks returning each time. A possible explanation for these ‘dummy runs’ is t lat the gulls were testing or assessing the weather conditions before embarking on the cross-country leg of their journey. An incorrect assessment at this point could be a reason why some do not complete the journey in one attempt. The majority of the Seaforth Little Gulls move away in the manner outlined above, and many will fly high over the English east coast a few hours atcr. 1 hese are the gulls which are unrecorded on the cross-country journey and thus can provide no direct confirmation for Smith’s (1987) hypothesis. Other records, however, do provide support for the idea of a cross-country migration: when Little Gulls, for reasons of adverse weather, tiredness or whatever, descend or stop oil part-way through their journey. The first real evidence of a cross-country movement is as the gulls move east out of Merseyside, into Greater Manchester and towards the Pennines. Two of die largest of many waters in the area are Pennington Flash and Audcnshaw Reservoir (see fig. 7), both of which are fairly well watched. During 1975-89, some Little Gulls were recorded each spring at both waters. Counts were usually m low single figures, but were quite regular. At Audcnshaw there were occasional double-figure counts, with peaks of 15 on 8th May 1980 20 on 2nd May 1984 and 27 on 5th May 1991 (R. Travis in litt.). Despite the relative remoteness of some of the reservoirs in this area of the west Pennines, and the consequent paucity of records, the pattern of a passage movement is still very clear. The records for all the waters of east Lancashire and Greater Manchester have been totalled and are shown in fig 4 As the gulls progress over the Pennines, they travel on a narrow front, with inland records north of the River Ribble being scarce. As they move into cst Yorkshire, into the area bounded roughly by Leeds, Sheffield, 60 — 50 — « 40- ■g m ° 30 — a) & £ 2 20- 10 — 0 — EA ST L .AN CS&GRT MANCHESTER 1975-1989 ~ | r 1 ◄ Suit men ng B rds- — 1 1 ■ TV A IV T JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH ' APRIL MAY JU NE 1975-89 Passage of Little Gulls across Northern England 403 Fig. 5. Numbers of Little Gulls Larus minutus recorded in West Yorkshire, 1960-89 Huddersfield and Doncaster, the front broadens and they become more dispersed. This dispersal, coupled with the remoteness of this largely moorland area, where the very many reservoirs and other waters are very rarely watched, makes it likely that many gulls go unrecorded. At the well-established observation points, such as Fairburn, Swillington Ings, Wath Ings, Wintersett Reservoir, Blackmoorfoot Reservoir (see fig. 7) and some others, recording is well organised. There are relatively few spring records every year at each of these localities, but, when added together, they again show a pattern very similar to that in the west Pennines and similar to that at Seaforth (see fig. 5). There are some records of small flocks ‘falling in’ and staying for brief periods: for example, 12 adults at Swillington, near Leeds, on 15th April 1974, 12 at Blackmoorfoot, near Huddersfield, on 22nd April 1978, and 20 at Treeton, near Sheffield, on 7th May 1980. When all factors are considered, these small numbers are really not less than one would expect from several hundred Little Gulls which left the Seaforth area over a period of several days, flying across some inhospitable terrain and possibly at night. The location which stands out from the others in this area is Fairburn Ings. In spite of its close proximity to some of the sites mentioned above, the number of Little Gull records is noticeably higher. This could, of course, be due to more intensive watching and recording. Since the early 1950s, there have been some Little Gulls every spring, with more than five together on at least ten occasions. Notable counts have been of 22 on 26th April 1976, 17 on 4th May 1978, and a record 36 on 2nd May 1986. There have, in fact, been more spring-passage Litde Gulls recorded at Fairburn than the combined total for the rest of Yorkshire. A considered local explanation for this uniqueness of Fairburn Ings is that there is a passage movement down the Aire Valley. All of these records in West Yorkshire are of gulls arriving from over the Pennines and heading east towards the coast. It has been noted for many years that the incidence of Little Gulls at these inland locations usually coincides with easterly winds. This coincidence is due to eastward-flying gulls being stalled by the headwinds, rather than gulls being blown in from the east coast. 404 Passage of Little Gulls across Northern England As stated eailier, the vast majority move inland and eastwards from Seaforth. Some, however (numbers vary gready from year to year), move up the Mersey past Liverpool. This is not a separate movement, but more the southern flank of that just described. In its initial stage it is almost accidental, and is made up of small flocks which wander into the river mouth and become sepaiated from the main assembly. Single figures are recorded every spnng, and frequently double figures, in the area of Garston and Widnes to the south of Liverpool. As the river narrows between Frodsham and Woolston, near Warrington, there are also regular high-single-figure counts and occasionally more. Peak numbers at Frodsham have been of" 15 in May 1973 and 48 on 5th May 1981. This movement can then be traced east acioss north Cheshire, with several meres producing some spring records in most years; these rarely reach double figures, but the pattern is again what would be expected of a passage movement (see fig. 6). A total of 76 Little Gulls has been recorded, and with records in every year, between 1970 and from Cheshire into north Derbyshire and the Peak District there are records every year, but double figures on just one occasion, when 26 were counted on 30th April 1984 at Church Wilne Reservoir. The normal incidence of the species in this area still shows through as a passage movement. ' & Into the flatness of north Lincolnshire and Humberside, this movement of birds from Merseyside may next be recorded at one of the intensely watched points on the North Sea coast. Ringing returns have shown that the Seaforth Little Gulls move to and from breeding grounds in Finland. The circumstantial evidence presented here shows that this connection with Finland is very significant. The several hundred and probably many more— individuals counted at Seaforth each spring undoubtedly move across Northern England in a manner similar to that described. In spite of the shortage of records for a few inland areas the evidence is sufficient to show that the west-to-cast movement in spring is regular. It will vary each spring in direction, location and magnitude in Fig. 7. Locations in Northern England with regular spring records of Little Gulls Larus minutus during 1970-89 response to many unpredictable and unknown factors. The manner in which the gulls travel does not allow for more than this vague description of the movement. The 300 and more spring Litde Gulls actually recorded crossing West Yorkshire since the 1950s are neither vagrants nor wanderers, but individuals on a well-established passage journey. Is there another jlightline? It has become increasingly evident that Seaforth is the most important site in Britain for spring passage of Litde Gulls. In the area of 1 ayside in eastern Scotland, however, some occur every spring, and occasionally several hundreds. The extreme variation in numbers recorded in Tayside is almost certainly due in part to a lack of observer coverage. It is in the years with big numbers that the obvious question is asked: where did they come from? As there is no evidence of a movement up the east coast of England, nor of a movement through the Solway or the Clyde, there is the temptation to consider the Seaforth gulls as the source; since there is nothing to indicate the route of the high-flying gulls which leave Seaforth, one is tempted to look towards eastern Scotland. Of course, these spring Litde Gulls on Tayside could have wintered in the North Sea, but this is not supported by any conclusive evidence. It certainly leaves scope for much more research. Ackno wle dgments This paper would have been impossible without the assistance of the many Seaforth birdwatchers who have counted many thousands of Litde Gulls over the years. I am grateful to Steve White for his many suggestions and comments during the typing (and retyping) of the earlier drafts of this paper, and also to Chris Kehoe for much useful advice and for checking the final draft. 406 Passage oj Little Gulls across Northern England Many people across the L K (and beyond) have provided invaluable help by way of their own records or by photocopying records from area reports: in particular, Ted Abraham, Doug Dickson, Rick Goater, Peter Gordon, Brian Harper, J. Harwood, Robin Homer, Rodney Key, Brian Martin, Phil Matthews and Athol Wallis. I hanks are also due to the 50 or so people who took part in the three-year survey of the Northwest Coast, to 'Birdline North West' for sponsoring it, to Bryan Southworth for preparing die histograms, and to Pete Kinsella for drawing die maps. Summary Since the 1960s, numbers of Little Gulls Lints minutus recorded in spring on the Merseyside coast °l Norlhwest England have increased remarkably. The main passage is between early April and early May, peaking in the second half of April, and represents a movement to Finnish breeding grounds of gulls wintering in die Irish Sea. Inland records of Litde Gulls in Northern England support the hypothesis of a regular cross-country passage eastwards across the Pennines and ' orkshire. lhe origin of Little Gulls which appear in spring in Tayside, eastern Scotland, remains unproven. References Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 3. Oxford. CUNNINGHAM, P. 1983. The Birds of the Outer Hebrides. Perth. fox, A. D. 1986. 1 he little Gull in Ceredigion, West Wales. Seabird 9: 26-31. Hutchinson, C. D. 1986. litde Gull, hi Lack, P. C. (ed.), The Allas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. Gallon. & Neath, B. 1978. litde Gulls ill Britain and Ireland. Brit. Birds 71: 563-582. MESSENGER, D., & White, S. Unpublished. A Survey of little Gulls off the North West Coast, 1987-89. Ru iTCKDGE, R. F. 1974. Unprecedented numbers of Litde Gulls in Ireland. Brit. Birds 67' 166- 167. - 1990. Exceptional influx of Little Gulls on the North Wicklow Coast. Irish Birdirw News 1 No. 2: 73-74. S.Ml iH.^P. H. 1987. The changing status of Little Gulls in North Merseyside, England. Seabird 10: Yi.rra1.1,, K., & BOURNE, W. R. P. 1982. Seabird movement around Western Islay. Scot. Birds 12: WHITE, S. 1987-89. Seaforth Bird Reports. Utncs. Trust for Nature Conservation, Preston. Doug Messenger, 1 03 Hampstead Road, Liverpool LG 8N0 Twenty-five years ago... In early September 1968 came the firs, of a run of Richard’s Pipits Anti, us novaesre/andtae which was soon to be described as an ‘avalanche’. A. leas. 130-150 were submitted to and accepted by the Ra.ittcs Committee, willt most in mid September and early October. More Asian rarities would follow . . . Egypt as a major wintering area of Little Gulls Peter L. Meininger and UJfe Gjol Sorensen One of the most striking results of a survey between December 1989 and June 1990 of all Egyptian wetlands was the unprecedented total of at least 52,769 Little Gulls Larus minutus wintering at the Nile Delta lakes (fig. 1) (see Brit. Birds 84: 7). The weather in winter was generally good, with no strong winds in the weeks preceding the counts. On Lake Manzala, 47,316 Little Gulls were counted, mainly during surveys from boats in the central parts of the lake on 7th and 8th January, in large mixed flocks along with 64,540 Black-headed Gulls L. ndibundus and 38,741 Whiskered Terns Chlidomas hybndus. They were mainly resting on the water and picking insects from the surface in flight. The weather was cloudy and cold, with heavy showers. The Litde Gull flocks contained adults, first-winters and second-winters, with adults slighdy predominant in the large flocks. Age composition of some small flocks examined varied considerably: one group ol 2 1 consisted only of first-winter individuals, while another held 1 4 first-winters, two second- winters and 33 adults. On 14th and 15th January, 3,894 Litde Gulls were counted on Lake Burul- lus, mainly during an aerial survey of the open northwestern part, with smaller numbers in marshes along the southern shore. Again, they were gen- erally in mixed flocks with 13,900 Black-headed Gulls and 4,500 Whiskered Terns. On 15th- 18th January, totals of 866 and 643 litde Gulls were counted on Lakes Maryut and Idku, respectively. Only very small numbers of Litde Gulls were seen at sea off Lake Burullus, along the beach at Port Said, in Alexandria harbour and on the saline lakes of El Mahala and Lake Bardawil. Not one was observed at any of the inland wedands or along the Red Sea, although, on 2nd January, a flock of 22 first- winter and two second-winter individuals was seen flying south low over the Suez Canal, about 50 km north of Suez, indicating that at least some may have reached die Red Sea. The situation in spring was strikingly different, although only Lake Manzala of the above localities was covered at that season. Between early March and late May, no little Gulls were seen on this lake, but on 23rd March at least 5,000 were present at sea just west of Port Said, near the El Gamil outlet. The only other spring observations were of two at Lake Qarun on 15th March and on 15th May. Until recently, the Little Gull was considered a scarce winter visitor to Egypt from mid September to early May, mainly along the Mediterranean 407 [Bril. Birds 86: 407-410, September 1993] 408 Egypt as a major wintering area of Little Gulls coast (Goodman & Meininger 1989), with maxima of 130 on Lake Idku on 28th January 1978 (Meininger et al 1979) and 260 at Lake Burullus on 7th February 1986 (Meininger & Baha el Din 1986). Winter surveys of the Nile Delta lakes, comparable to that in 1989/90, were made in 1978/79 and 1979/80 (Meininger & Mullie 1981a, b). Although huge numbers of Whiskered lerns were recorded during all three surveys, only 150 Little Gulls were found in 1978/79 and three in 1979/80. Whether the unprecedented numbers ol the latter species in 1989/90 represent a recent change in winter- ing grounds or just an exceptional phenomenon remains to be clarified. The wintering areas ol the East Siberian Little Gull population are un- known, and those ol the West Siberian and Northwest Russian and Baltic population imperfectly known (Cramp & Simmons 1983). The species winters essentially offshore (though it is not truly pelagic), mainly along the western seaboard from the Irish Sea and the North Sea southwards to the Atlantic coast of Morocco, in the Mediterranean Sea, to a lesser extent in the Black Sea, and on the southern Caspian Sea. Based on relatively scanty information, Erard (1960) considered the main winter quarters to be in the Mediterranean’ particularly at both the western and the eastern ends, with a second area in t ic North Sea, the English Channel and along the Atlantic coast. In winter, Little Gulls appear inshore in numbers mainly as a result of adverse weather (Hutchinson & Neath 1978). In the Mediterranean, concentrations of up to 1,300 have been seen off the east coast ol Spain (Carrera 1988), while large flocks recorded at Gibraltar during easterly gales suggest important pelagic concentrations east of the Strait of Gibraltar (Finlayson 1992). Parties have been seen moving into coastal MEDITERRANEAN SEA Alexandria LAKE BURULLUS LAKE IDKU LAKE MANZALA EL , MALAHA LAKE BARDAWIL Lakes LAKE QARUN Irrigated areas lag. 1. Location of sites mentioned in text 409 Egypt as a major wintering area of Little Gulls lagoons in Cyprus during stonny weather in winter, but they do not stay for long (W. R. P. Bourne in Hutchinson & Neath 1978). In January 1953, a large gathering of seabirds scattered over a wide area off Oran, Algeria, included at least several hundred Little Gulls (Bourne 1957), while Bundy (1976) mentioned up to 100 of this species occurring in Tripoli harbour, Libya, highest numbers usually coinciding with rough weather. Winter surveys from various parts of the Mediterranean coastline have so far revealed only remarkably small numbers of Litde Gulls (maximum of hundreds): along the coasts of Spain (Isenmann 1976; Bermejo et al. 1986), France (Isenmann 1980), Italy (Fasola 1984), Sicily (Iapichino & Massa 1989), Malta (Sultana & Gaud 1982), Turkey (Beaman et al. 1975), Lebanon (Kumerloeve 1962), Israel (Paz 1987), Algeria Jacob 1979) and Morocco (Beaubrun & Thevenot in Bermejo et al. 1986). The previous largest known winter concentration was of 5,000-10,000, along the English Channel coast of Brittany, France, in December 1974 [Brit. Birds 68: 347). Apart from in areas off Spain, no large winter gatherings have been reported from the Mediterranean, although, in autumn, large numbers pass through the Bosporus (Ballance & Lee 1961) and along the Black Sea coast of Romania (van Impe 1 969). The northern Black Sea holds big concen- trations in both spring and autumn (up to 30,000 in early August), undoubtedly involving many individuals of Asian origin (Zubakin 1990). The figure of over 52,000 Litde Gulls recorded in Egypt in January 1990 appears, therefore, to be the largest number ever recorded anywhere, and shows the eastern Mediterranean to be a wintering area of major importance, at least in some years. Since the species’ world population is believed to be only several tens of thousands of breeding pairs, almost exclusively in the for- mer USSR (Zubakin 1990), the Nile Delta lakes must have held a significant proportion of this population in January 1990. Acknowledgments The Egyptian Wetland Project 1989/90, a joint project of the Foundation for Ornithological Research in Egypt, the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau and the Egyptian Wildlife Service, would not have been possible without grants from the National Geographic Society (grant 4031-89), the Swiss Office Federal de l’Environnement, des Forets et du Paysage through the Ramsar Bureau, and the Foundation lour du Valat. Our colleagues of the Egyptian Wildlife Service, in particular Dr Gamil A. M. Atta, were instrumental in the success of the project. Winter counts were carried out by Gamil A. M. Atta, HenkJ. M. Baptist, lb K. Petersen and John Walmsley, as well as the authors. Cor Berrevoets prepared the map. Summary In January 1990, during a survey of Egyptian wetlands, a total of 52,769 Little Gulls Laws minutus was recorded at the Nile Delta lakes. This is the highest concentration of this species ever recorded anywhere, and also indicates that the eastern Mediterranean may, at least in some years, be a major wintering area for Little Gulls. References Ballance, D. K., & Lee, S. L. B. 1961. Notes on autumn migration at the Bosphorus and in the Aegean. Ibis 103a: 185-204. . Beaman, M.. Porter, R. F„ & Vittery, A. (eds.) 1975. Bird Report 1970-73. Ornithological Society of Turkey, Sandy. 410 Egypt as a major wintering area of Little Gulls Bermejo, A, Carrera, E., DE Juana, E. A., & Teixeira, A. M. 1986. Primer censo general de gav'otas y charranes (Landae) invemantes en la Peninsula Iberica (Enero de 1984). Ardeola 33: Bourne, W. R. P. 1957. Manx Shearwaters, little Gulls ancTother seabirds wintering off the Al- genan coast. Ibis 99: 1 1 7- 1 1 8. Bundy, G. 1976. The Birds of Libya . BOU, London. C arrera, E. 1988. Invemada de gaviotas y charranes en la Peninsula Iberica. In Telleria J. L. (ed.), Invemada de aves en la Peninsula Iberica. SEO Monografias 1, Madrid. Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 3. Oxford. RARD C. I960. Sur l’aire de reproduction, les zones d’hivemages et les migrations de la Mou- ette Pygmee Lams minutus Pallas. Alauda 28: 1 96-228. Fasoia, M. 1984. Censimicnto preliminare dei Laridae svemanti in Italia. Avocetta 8: 57-63. INI AY SON, G. 1992. Birds of the Strait of Gibraltar. London. Goodman, S. M., & Meininger, P. L. (eds.) 1989. The Birds of Egypt. Oxford, i icmxsoN, C. D., & Neath, B. 1978. little Gulls in Britain and Ireland. Brit. Birds 71: 563- jo2. Iapichino, C.. & Massa, B. 1989. The Birds of Sicily. BOU, London. Isenmann, P. 1976. Note sur le stationnement hivemal des Larides sur la cote mediterraneenne d Espagne. L Oiseau et RFO 46: 135-142. 1980. Resultats efun premier recensement de Larides hivemants sur le littoral mediter- raneen tran^ais (fevner 1979). L'Oiseau et RFO 50: 161-163. Jagou. J. P. 1979. Resultats dim recensement hivemal de Larides en Algerie. Gerfaut 69: 425-436. UMERI.OEVE, H. 1962. Basstolpel (Sula bassana ) und Zwergmowen {Lams ' minutus) vor der libanesischen Kuste. Vogelwarte 21: 221-222. Monger, P. L & Baha el Din, S. M.' 1986. Seabirds along the Mediterranean coast of Lgypt. In MLDMARAV IS & MONBAIUJU, X. (eds.), Mediterranean Marine Avifauna. Berlin 7 MUIqJJJ»„ G l981a- Egyptian wedands as threatened wintering areas for waterbirds S amlgrouse 3: 62-/7. & 1981b. The Significance of Egyptian Wetlands for Wintering Waterbirds. Holy Land Conser- vation fund, New York. r ’ .. 7 ’ N AN DKR, & SPAANS, B. 1979. Report of the Netherlands Ornithological Expedition to Egypt in January and bebruary 1979. Middelburg. Paz, L. 1987. The Birds oj Israel. Bromley. St El ana, J., & Gauci, C-. 1982. A New Guide to the Birds of Malta. Valletta. \ v\ Impe, J. 1969 Sur la migration d’automne de Lams minutus Pallas dans le sud-est de la Roumante. Alauda 37: 79-80. ZuBAKJN, V. A. 1990. Hydrocoloeus minutus , Zwergmowe. In IlJCHEV, V. D., & Feint V E eds : Handbuch der Vogel der Sowjetunion. Band 6 (1). Wittenberg Lutherstadt. Petet L. Meininger, Foundation for Ornithological Research in Egypt, Belfort 7, 4336 JK Middelburg, .Netherlands Uffe (jol Sorensen, Mollegade 21 1 tv, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE m Fll ELE > DAYS Kay Optical Est. 1962 SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc Alternative venues to Morden, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below. Every effort is made to take our full range of equipment and payment can be made in all the usual ways. 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(0352) 771590 Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd C.H7 4 i n vi You can also pay using these credit cards: Sponsored by From the Rarities Committee’s files Germany Yellow-browed Bunting in Orkney The following details were submitted to the Rarities Committee: SPECIES Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chuysophrys PLACE North Ronaldsay, Orkney DATES 22nd-23rd September 1992 DURATION OF OBSERVATION approx. 1 hour OBSERVER Peter J. Donnelly Who first found and identified it? PJD OTHER OBSERVERS Martin Gray, Ian Jones, K. Wilson, K. Woodbridge, A. Duncan, and about 49 others. OPriCAL AIDS 10 X 40 BGAT Zeiss W and 20 X 60 Nikon ED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF SPECIES Nil EXPERIENCE OF SIMILAR SPECIES Reed E. schoeniclus, Rustic E. rustica, Little Bunting E. pusilla RANGE down to 3 m PRESENT FOR COMPARISON ALONGSIDE Reed Bunting, Ortolan Bunting E. hortulana PHOTOGRAPHED BY Rob Wilson WEATHER Wind NE 3, decreasing. Cloud 8 oktas. Light conditions good, up to 400 m. Visibility good. Rain just stopping. DISCOVERY The previous night’s forecast showed a good stream of northeasterlies far into central Russia (CIS). The weather system already had provided us with Tors d’oeuvres’ in the form of eastern migrants, and there was an air of expectancy on the morning of 22nd September. The dark clouds and heavy rain that hung over the island that day did their best to prevent even the most determined birder from going out. At about 15.00 GMT I had just about given up the chance of getting some birding done, when I noticed a bedraggled Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla sitting on a sheltered window sill. Thoughts immediately came to mind of wading through flocks of windswept migrants. I wasted no more time and shot out. The skies were heavy and black, but the rain soon slowed down to a fine drizzle. I headed around the back of the house towards Antabreck. The idea that I might find vast numbers of migrants was soon knocked on the head when after about 15 minutes I had nothing other than two Song Thrushes Turdus philomelos. I decided to persevere, heading towards Antabreck’s Tattie patch’ roughly central to the island. I thrashed the oatfield just to the west of the ‘tattie patch’ with little to show, then at about 15.30 I went into the west- ern end of the ‘tattie patch’. As I walked slowly along the drills, there seemed to be a good concentration of Skylarks Alauda arvensis and Reed Buntings which flew olf ahead of me. I walked farther in when a small bunting with white outer tail feathers flew on to some barbed wire some 5 m away, arousing my suspicions. [Brit. Birds 86: 411-414, September 1993] 411 412 Yellow-browed Bunting in Orkney i)a(U Croujm /PlAC*- Un M^xAkj (oj!) 6 COfc-fZ. t-^C G.U, W*t>7tr OOTt< T AIL ffrTHtC C*-£ tAeu^T 6nc^->n-'v'(>i tfNCt^> &£U?I ^2 Eg- •■ Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophiys. North Ronaidsay, Orkney, September 1992 {Peter J. Donnelly) I checked through my bins to find to my amazement an Emberiza- type bunting with a striking black-and-white head pattern and a smudge of bright lemon-yellow in front of and over the eye. I knew instantly that it was a Yellow-browed Bunting E. chysophrys , the third for Britain! I just stood and watched it perched on the fence as though I had looked Medusa in the eyes. I felt the blood slowly run out of my body and my legs turn to jelly: this Eastern gem was perhaps the most sought-after of all the buntings on the British List and I knew why. I regained my composure and slowly backed off, keeping my eye on the bird all the time. I knew I could contact Martin Gray and the Bird Observatory at North Manse, the nearest house some 200 m away. Leaving the bird still on the fence, I bolted across to North Manse: Linford Christie eat your heart out! fortunately, Martin was in and, after overcoming the initial shock of what I was trying to tell him, he was out of the house doing a good impression of a shire-horse at the gallop (and I thought I could run!). When we arrived at the ‘tattic patch’, I was amazed to see the bird still on the fence and, after an anxious few seconds pointing it out, MG finally saw it. Unfortunately, no sooner had he got his bins on it than it flew some 500 m away. I turned and looked at MG’s panic-stricken face. He said that he had no idea what that Yellow-browed Bunting in Orkney 4 1 3 was, but that he had never seen one before; but, owing to die brevity of his view, he was unable to detect any yellow on its supercilium. We both headed off to relocate it when the bird-observatory crews arrived with tripods and arms hanging out of the cars. We searched the immediate area, but were unable to relocate it. After a frantic search and a barrage of questions, Ian Jones shouted out with a cry of delight that he saw the bird heading back to the ‘tatrie patch’. We all carefully made our way there, and, after patiendy waiting, the bird appeared briedy to everybody’s delight. Every- body managed to get identifiable views, although not wholly satisfactory, but, with the diminishing tight, we decided to wait until the next morning. We put the word out as soon as possible and decided to meet at first tight to relocate the bird. The next morning the bunting gave better views, but never for any length of time, and fortunately remained faithful to the ‘tattie patch’ for those lucky enough to get to North Ronaldsay that day. An addi- tional bonus of a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola ensured a vast interest, but, unfortunately, the Yellow-browed Bunting was last seen flying south that evening and, although an extensive search was made, it was never relocated. DESCRIPTION Initial appearance Slightly smaller than Reed Bunting, but more bulky, tike Rustic Bunting. White outer tail feathers ruling out American sparrows. With the advances of modern field guides, identification obvious. Fig. 2. Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, September 1992 (. Kester Wilson) Yellow-browed, Bunting in Orkney 414 Head Very striking black lateral crown-stripes. White median crown-stripe not obvious at first. Broad white supercilium with bright lemon-yellow in front of and over the eye; interestingly, this feature was in fact difficult for a lot of people to see. Ear-coverts dark brown with pale ear-spot not easy to see. Black eye-stripe and dark brown/black moustachial stripe giving darker border to ear-coverts. White/pale submoustachial stripe running around ear-coverts. Dark malar stripe running to distinct malar patch. Pale/white throat. Upperparts Chestnut upperparts with dark centres on mantle, chestnut not as bright as on Reed Bunting. Tertials same colour, with dark ‘thumb mark’. Greater coverts: dark centres with chestnut edgings and pale tips. Median coverts: dark centres with pale tips. Median coverts’ tips paler than greater coverts’ tips. Whole impression giving two faint wing-bars, unlike Reed Bunting. Lesser coverts not seen. White outer tail feathers. Underparts Pale white underparts with dark brown/black streaking. Black malar sti ipe with black malar patch. Streaking fine on breast, becoming bolder on flanks, and some slight buffish wash on flanks. Bare parts Large bill pale, with darker oilmen. Pale legs horn colour. A very approachable bird down to a few metres then flying off a short distance. Difficult to find in the stubble owing to its habit of crouching close to the ground. At first when flushed would alight nearby and stay for some time. Very loyal to the area in which it was found. I can’t lie certain, but at least two of us heard a call slightly higher-pitched than the ‘tic’ of a Little Bunting. By all accounts, a brighter and better-marked individual than the Fair Isle bird of October 1980 {Brit. Birds 75: 530). Peter J. Donnelly Purtabreck, North Ronaldsay, Orkney Alt 7 7 2BE Peter Lansdown (Chairman, British Birds Rarities Committee) has commented as follows: ‘Only high-quality rarity-record submissions are chosen for this series, and Peter Donnelly’s Yellow- browed Bunting record is no exception. The submission included not only the details which are requested on the front of the Rarities Committee’s Record Form, and a lull description of the bird, but also some splendid paintings. Furthermore, Yellow-browed Bunting is an extreme rarity. More even than that, however, was provided by Peter’s account of his discovery of the bird. His evocative narrative starts with the doom-and-gloom that every hopeful migrant-watcher has expe- rienced, but all of this is blown away as the bird is found. After that, the excitement bursts through and it was refreshing for Rarities Committee members to encounter so much pure enjov- ment in a record submission.’ Eds jpl Rarities Committee mm) news and 438t announcements Sponsored by ZEISS Germany P. G. Lansdown and the Rarities Committee In the last ‘Rarities Committee news and announcements’ {Brit. Birds 86: 299-300), it was stated that the Committee was considering further changes to current practices, and those which have been adopted are detailed below. Removal of species from Rarities Committee list The interest in birdwatching in general and in migrants and rarities in partic- ular continues to grow. One result of this is that many species are recorded in Britain more frequently now than, for instance, ten years ago. Some species are not the ‘rarities’ they used to be, and the Rarities Committee, albeit with a little reluctance, removes species from time to time from its list of species considered. In recent years these have been Common Crane Gras grus and Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis at the end of 1987 (Brit. Birds 80: 422) and Little Egret Fgretta gargetta, Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata , European Bee- eater Merops apiaster , Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus and Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator at the end of 1990 {Brit. Birds 83: 411-412). Now, with effect from the end of 1993, the Committee has decided to make further deletions from its list of species considered. For each species, the Committee’s decision was based mainly on the number which occurs annu- ally, though it was influenced in some instances also by the species’ comparative ease of identification and record-assessment. Records of the following species dated up to 31st December 1993 should continue to be submitted to the Rarities Committee, preferably via the local recorder, whilst those dated from 1st January 1994 should be sent only to the appropriate county or regional recorder. The figures in brackets indicate the number of new individuals of each species accepted to date each year during the ten-year period 1982-91. For Ring-necked Duck there are, in addition, a number of long-staying and returning individuals each year. Ring-necked Duck Ayttiya coltaris (16, 7, 11, 22, 8, 17, 24, 25, 26, 8) Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (10, 17, 15, 14, 12, 17, 14, 15, 15, 21) Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla (1 1, 1 1, 41, 22, 25, 43,- 18, 49, 24, 24) These three species, like those listed earlier, will now be designated ‘scarce migrants’. A series of papers entitled ‘Scarce migrants in Britain and Ireland’, the first one of which was published in December 1992 {Brit, Birds 85: 63 1 - 635), will collate and analyse all records of such species in Britain and Ireland. Papers covering the identification problems of Ring-necked Duck, Short- toed Lark and Little Bunting, highlighting pitfalls, will appear in this journal in due course. The Rarities Committee is aware that an additional burden will now fall on county and regional records committees and will be pleased [Brit. Birds fid: 415-416, September 1993| 415 416 Rarities Committee news and announcements to continue to consider any particularly difficult or contentious record, at the request of a recorder. Late submission of records A major cause of delay between the occurrence of a rarity and the record’s acceptance is late submission. With the Rarities Committee’s recommendation that lecords ot larities are submitted via local recorders, the county and re- gional recorders are in an ideal position at any moment in time to know whether or not a particular record has been submitted. If there is any doubt, an enquiry to the Committee’s Secretary will quickly establish the answer. Steve Piotrowski, Editor of the award-winning Suffolk Birds 1991 {Brit. Birds 85. 299-308), has suggested a system to combat late submission. He has pro- posed that observers are, in effect, given a three-month deadline from the first appearance of a rarity to submit their written report. If no report has been forthcoming after three months, he considers that recorders should be encour- agx d to assemble evidence, such as field notes from other observers, photographs, and so on, add to these a completed Rarities Committee Record Form and submit the data to the Committee. The Committee supports Steve Piotrowski’s proposal and suggests that it is adopted by county and regional recorders with immediate effect. Record-recirculation procedure Currently, if the first circulation of a record to the Rarities Committee gener- ates nine votes to accept and one vote to pend or reject, the record is recirculated. 1 hr Committee has decided to change its procedure in such circumstances, providing that the single odd vote is not amongst the last three- votes regis- tered, thus demonstrating that at least three members have not supported the single stated reason for non-acceptance. In future, such a record will be sent only to the one out-of-step member for reconsideration of his vote. If he decides to change his vote, the record will be deemed accepted; if not, it will be recirculated in the usual manner. We hope that this will speed up the acceptance of several comparatively straightforward records each year. P. G. Iumsdown, 197 Springwood, Llanedeym, Cardiff South Glamorgan CF2 6UG Sponsored by Rare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee* P. G. Lansdown The basic facts about the Committee have already been published (Brit. Birds 80: 487-491). First, however, a little background history. The journal British Birds founded the Committee back in 1959 and has guided it wisely ever since. The optical company Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd has sponsored the Committee for over ten years. The BOLT Records Committee, the BTO, the Irish Rare Birds Committee, the Natural History Museum at Tring, the Rare Breeding Birds Panel and the RSPB all work closely with the Rarities Committee. The biggest acknowledgment of all, however, must go to the county and regional recorders and bird-observatory wardens, and to the many observers who contribute to bird recording in this country. Record submission Let us begin our examination of the rarity recording system by considering the six essential ingredients of a widely accepted rare-bird record. First and foremost, of course, is the rare bird, though it must be admitted that a common bird, or even no bird at all, has been tried on occasions. There is the observer who finds the bird, and the observer who compiles and submits the record; these two are often one and the same. Then there is acceptance of the record by an acknowledged authoritative body, publication ol the accepted record, and a pennanent archive that allows future access to documentation for research and review purposes. Most observers would agree that the discovery and identification of a national rarity is a binding highlight, and that the observer involved is jully deserving of the credit attached to the find. As a consequence, though, there is an understandable reluctance to be seen to submit what is regarded as ‘someone else’s record’. So, when a finder is forgetful, or shy, or unaware of the system, or extremely busy with other matters, and does not submit his or her record, there is normally a considerable delay before a fellow observer, often the local recoider, realises that the record has not been submitted and plucks up the courage to step in and oblige. For our purposes, however, let us assume that the finder is the record submitter. He or she is faced with three decisions: when to submit the record, where it should be sent, and what should be included. So far as the when is concerned, an observer should submit a record as soon Germany *This paper is a lightly edited transcript of the talk given by the Chairman ol the Rarities Committee at the British Trust for Ornithology/'Birding World’ Conference held at Swanwick, Derbyshire, during 26th-28th March 1993. [Brit. Birds 86: 417-422, September 1993] 417 418 Rare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee as possible after the observation. Because of report publication dates, a prompt submission is especially important for September to December records. It can be argued that, in historical terms, speed is unimportant, and certainly thoroughness in the records- vetting procedure must not be compromised by publication dates or other outside pressure. Nevertheless, the Rarities Committee, in common with most observers and recorders, likes to see as many as possible of a single year’s records in print together. It must be stressed, however, that a major cause of delay between an occurrence of a rarity and its publication is late submission of the record. The second of the finder’s decisions concerns where to send the record. In the case ol a trapped and ringed rarity', the record should be submitted to the B I O Ringing Office. All other records reach the Committee in one of two ways. One is by direct submission, in which case a copy of the record should be sent to the appropriate county or regional recorder. The other way is to that recorder, which is the route preferred by the Rarities Committee. This latter way also solves a further problem faced by many observers: whether records of a particular species are considered at local or at national level. County and regional recorders are in a position to know the answer to this, either trom experience or from the Committee’s list of species considered. This list is not static, of course, and from time to time the Committee considers potential deletions and additions. For the sake of consistency, alterations are not frequent. Records of species removed from the list are adjudicated at local level, though this does not normally mean a relaxation in the requirement for an observer to provide good documentation. /Vll rarity records, whether direct submissions or arrivals via the BTO or a local recorder, reach the Committee through its Secretary, Mike Rogers. The finder’s third decision concerns the record itself. Those of you who are not involved in record assessment would be surprised - shocked even - at the sometimes very poor standard of record submissions. Copies of the Rarities Committee’s record form are available from the Committee and from recorders. If every rarity-record submission contained one of these forms, duly completed, it would make record processing considerably easier. A full description is central to any report, of course. It should include all of the characters used in the identification process. A not uncommon fault is the inclusion of a statement such as ‘identified by a combination of bill length and breast pattern’. These features should be described, not merely mentioned, though by all means with an explanation of their use in eliminating a confusion species. If, for some reason, an important element of a bird is not seen, it is far better to say, for example, ‘leg colour not noted because of long grass’ than for the absent leg colour to be queried later in correspondence. This sort of query can also be rendered unnecessary by the inclusion in a report of the original field notes, or a copy of them. 'What field notes?’, I hear some of you ask. Where have all the notebooks and pencils gone? Pocket dictation machines certainly haven’t replaced them. They simply do not seem to be part of the average birder’s equipment. Yet field notes are so important, as they describe the bird on view, not some prior image or later reference. 419 Rare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee Photographs or transparencies, whether or not taken by the finder, and sketches, regardless of artistic merit, greatly improve the Committee’s understanding of a report, though they should not be considered as substitutes for a good description. Contrary to some popular beliefs, although an observer’s high reputation is an important element in the assessment process, such observers are nevertheless expected to provide cast-iron written evidence of their identification. No record is accepted on an observer’s good reputation alone. So, our record submitter, having decided the ‘when’ and the ‘where’, and ‘what’ to include, sends the record to the county or regional recorder. Many local bird clubs and societies, especially those in counties or regions which attract a larger-than-average number of rarities, appoint someone in addition to the recorder to liaise with the Committee over rare-bird records. For our purposes, however, let us assume that the line of communication is between the recorder and the Rarities Committee. For each rarity record, the recorder expects from the Committee a thorough assessment and a clear-cut decision on its acceptability. In return, the Committee expects from the recorder an input to each record at submission. One aspect of this input is a decision as to whether the documentation can be improved to any great degree. For instance, if more than one observer was involved in a sighting, and the notes received from just one observer appear to be inadequate, an effort should be made to obtain a second description. Or if photographs are known to have been taken yet are not included with notes which seem to be inconclusive, these should be requested. In short, a recorder should ensure that the paperwork for each record is as complete as possible. The other way in which the recorder can help die Committee is to include with every record a sentence or two about the observer. This is particularly useful for single-observer records. The comment can be ‘has contributed to the local report for many years and is considered to be totally reliable’ or ‘inexperienced but keen; this is his first major find’ or even ‘never heard of this observer’. It is not helpful to wait for a record to be accepted before informing the Committee of the single observer’s infamous birding reputation at local level, for example. Recorders who assist the Committee in these two ways are less likely to suffer delays in the record-assessment process. A query from the Committee which could have been avoided, either by the greater diligence of the observer or a greater input from the recorder, results in a record’s recirculation. Recirculations are obviously time-consuming and cause delays in decision making. The Committee believes that it ought to be a reasonable assumption that a record submission from a recorder contains all of the information that could be pertinent to the record, and that the Committee should be in a position to accept or reject that record without feeling the need to enquire after further evidence. This is not the case at present, but the Committee would like to see rarity recording evolve in this direction to the mutual benefit of local and national recording. 420 Rare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee I Here will always be some recirculations, of course, but let these be for very' difficult or marginal records, the merits ol which arc under discussion, rather than for records which require additional information. Only rarely is a recirculation completed in time for publication in the relevant Rarities Report. Incidentally, it should be pointed out that those bird clubs and societies which circulate rarity records to their own records committees before submission to the Rarities Committee obviously have longer to wait, on average, between the appearance of a rare bird and the notification of a decision on the record. Record assessment So, our local recorder, having added his or her contribution to the record, now sends it to the Committee’s Secretary. Occasionally, at the discretion of the Secretary, the record may, at this stage, be passed to a specialist for expert opinion. 4 his happens most often with records ol tare seabirds; such records circulate to the Committee’s own Seabirds Advisory Panel. I he vast majority of records, however, are circulated by the Secretary directly to the Committee. The records, which, including recirculations, numbered over 1,500 in 1992, are sent by post in batches. Batches vary in content, with up to 15 records in a routine batch, five in a recirculation batch and just one if it involves a potential new species for Britain. Records are passed between members, by post, in a predetermined order which varies from batch to batch. There are ten voting members, and the Committee feels that this is probably the best number at which to operate. A larger number of members would obviously increase record-assessment periods, whilst fewer members would most certainly reduce coqjorate expertise owing to the inevitable loss of specialists in particular fields. It would also erode the regional input created by the deliberately widespread geographical representation amongst members. The longest-serving voting member retires each year, which ensures that the Committee retains a healthy blend of experience and freshness. The Committee nominates its own candidate to fill this vacancy, and invites further nominations. If any are forthcoming, all the county and regional recoiders and bird observatories arc invited to vote in a democratic postal election. Before they can vote, however, they must have an understanding of the qualifications required for membership of the Committee. A widely acknowledged expertise in identification and a proven reliability in the field are prerequisites, of course. Ready access to a large library of bird books, the ability to express one’s self clearly and accurately in the English language, and possession of an inordinate degree of understanding of human nature, especially where birders arc concerned, are all useful factors, though not vital ones. What is vital, however, is the willingness to set aside around a dozen hours of spare time each week of every year. One final but extremely important point is that Committee members are not employed by British Birds. They are unpaid volunteers, just like local 421 Rare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee recorders, and thus they retain freedom to comment and vote on records as they wish. Indeed, BB has always encouraged the Committee to operate in total independence. The Secretary, having referenced, prepared and often commented on a record, includes it with other records in a batch which is circulated to the Committee. Each Committee member studies all of the record’s documentation, consults reference material if appropriate, reads all previous members’ comments, writes his own comment and concludes with a vote. Members’ comments vary greatly in length. The more difficult records, and those which involve complex identification issues, frequently accumulate several pages of informed opinion and detailed discussion. By contrast, members’ votes are clear, one-word messages. ‘Accept’ means that the Committee member considers that the documentation is sufficient fully to establish the identification, to eliminate all alternative species, and to convince a reviewing body in the future. ‘Reject’ means that these requirements are not satisfied, though it is frequently a case of non-proven rather than of a suspected misidentification. ‘Pend’ means a request for specific additional information to be added to the file and for the record to be recirculated. As mentioned earlier, the number of recirculations could be considerably reduced by greater involvement at the right time from the observer or the recorder. Fewer recirculations means quicker decisions on records and less work for the Committee. Very occasionally, Committee members vote on the provenance of a particular rare bird, where there is a suspicion or a likelihood of captive origin. This is not an easy task, but it may soon be assisted by a database arising out of a European initiative. Incidentally, whilst on the subject of Europe, the Rarities Committee fully supports the ‘Guidelines for rarities committees’ drawn up by European and American representatives and published recently in Dutch Birding (15: 31-32) and in British Birds (86: 301-302). Individual members’ comments and votes are confidential, and the Committee is of the opinion that this arrangement has the advantage of allowing members to be totally clear and unambiguous on paper. For a record to be accepted, all ten members on first circulation, or at least nine on a subsequent circulation, must vote in its favour. The current acceptance rate is about 82%. Without putting its thoroughness in jeopardy, the Committee works very hard to achieve a quick turn-around of records, and there are certain procedures in place to assist this objective. These include a maximum batch- holding period and a system of diverting records around members who are away. From time to time, however, one or two members encounter problems outside their Rarities Committee work, as happened in 1992. Though this is perfectly understandable, it is not acceptable, and the Committee now has a system which we hope will enable it to avoid such problems in the future. It is worth underlining here that, recirculations apart, late submission of records is the major factor in the incompleteness of rarities reports. During the 422 Rare- bird recording and the Rarities Committee first four months of 1992, for example, 40% of all records circulated to the Committee were over six months old when submitted. A further important factor is simply timing. If -a record is accepted in, say, September, the relevant recorder will be informed of the result immediately, though it will not be published in a rarities report for another year. It is both improper and irresponsible to criticise the Rarities Committee for a delay in acceptance without ascertaining dates for the receipt of the record and the notification of the result to the recorder. lor each circulation, when the final Committee member has commented and \ oted on the records, the batch is returned to the Secretary, who reads the comments on each record and adds up the votes. Some of these records will require to be recirculated, usually after an enquiry to one of the observers or to the local recorder. As stated earlier, it is intended to reduce such recirculations to an absolute minimum. A firm decision will have been reached on the great majority of the records. A very few of these, which involve claims of birds new to Britain and Ireland, arc forwarded to the BOURC, with which the Rarities Committee has a close working relationship. foi the remainder, the Committee’s decisions are communicated by the Secretary to the county and regional recorders and bird-observatory wardens. In turn, they can notify the observers. Reasons for decisions are given, and may be discussed in more detail with the Secretary if so desired. Details of these records are published in British Birds in the annual ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain’. Some individual records feature in greater depth in the series ‘From the Rarities Committee’s files’ and others, notably firsts for Britain and Ireland, arc the subjects of short papers. A debt of gratitude is owed to Carl ffeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd for its long-standing sponsorship, which ( liable s tlu Committee to carry out its work and to produce such a substantial and well-illustrated annual report. Once the details of a record have been published, the record itself, whether accepted oi rejected, together with all relevant correspondence and the Committee members’ comments and votes, is retained permanently on file for future reference. So, our record has travelled from observer to archive, via various interested parties. Perhaps, one day, it will help a researcher to establish a new identification character. I his contribution is part of a session entitled ‘The way forward on recording rare and scarce birds’. The way forward is through a strong and vigorous local recording network in partnership with the Rarities Committee and the BOURC. Everyone , observers included, must ensure that there is convincing, adequate documentation for all published rarity and scarcity records. If this requires adjustments to current practices, then so be it. I he only acceptable and, therefore, satisfactory recording system is one in which there is total confidence in the written record locally, nationally and internationally. We have such a system in Britain, and centra! to that system is the Rarities Committee. P. G. Lansdown, 197 Springwood, Uanedeym, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF2 6UG The BOU Records Committee — through a newcomer’s eyes Tony Man Exactly what does the British Ornitiiologists’ Union Records Committee (BOURC) do? How does it go about its work? What qualifications do its members have? Why does it take so long to reach decisions? Is it out of touch? And why do we need it, when we already have the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC)? These are all fair questions, several of which I have myself asked in the past. It seemed to me to be a rather shadowy committee, not given to much publicity, whose operations were conducted in some secrecy, although things have been changing recendy. I knew that die Committee’s primary function was to confirm each new admission to ‘The British List’ after the BBRC has satisfied itself that the identification was correct. Moreover, like most birders, I had become well aware from articles and correspondence in several journals that it was involved with the controversial new English names. One reason for the low profile of the BOURC is probably that many active birders and twitchers — the people who find most rare birds and have a great interest in them — are not members of the BOU. Its current membership is about 2,000, of whom about one-third live outside the United Kingdom. BOURC reports are published in Ibis , which is for BOLT members. One has to say diat it is not the lightest of reading, nor is field identification of birds its highest priority. Having been a member of the BOURC since May 1992, I should like to offer some answers to the above questions, as seen by a new boy. Cartoon by M. J. Everett, courtesy of the BOURC [Bril. Birds 86: 423-429, September 1993] 423 424 The BOU Records Committee 1. BOURC and BBRC — why two committees? 4 lie main difference between the two committees is that the BOURC is con- cerned principally with assessing details concerning possible new species to the British List, and with maintaining that list, whereas the BBRC assesses the identification details of the much larger number of all records of major rari- ties. The BBRC and the BOL RC jointly consider identification aspects of the records ol potential new species, but admittance to the British list depends upon a unanimous decision on identification by the members of the BOURC, who also determine (by a two-thirds majority) how each record is to be cate- gorised. 2. What are the full functions of the BOURC? It has three official functions: i. To maintain the British and Irish List of birds ii. To prepare reports for Ibis on changes to the List iii. lo prepare checklists of the birds of Britain and Ireland As part ol the first function, the BOURC examines claims of new species or subspecies; reviews taxonomy and nomenclature (the BOURC was responsible for several recent ‘splits’ concerning birds on the List); reviews the status of feral birds; and considers English names. 1 he BOURC also examines records ol major rarities prior to the first year for which the BBRC assessed rarity records (1958). The Committee is appointed by, and is accountable in all matters to, the Council of the BOU. 3. How does it go about its work? The Committee has ten members, including the Chairman and Secretary. Each member of the Committee serves for ten years, with the longest-serving retiring at each May BOU Council meeting. The Chairman and Secretary each serve four years in office, the present ones having started their terms in May 1990. There arc two formal meetings annually, which are minuted to record all decisions and recommendations. The Committee Chairman is an ex-offrcio member of BOLJ Council, and represents the Committee at Council meetings. Most of the Committee’s day-to-day work is carried out by postal circula- tion, as with the BBRC. Records of birds new to Britain arc passed to the BOURC by the BBRC after that committee has examined them. A file is pre- pared by the Committee Secretary, with a summary of the record and the original descriptions. The file also contains comprehensive supporting docu- mentation, including the BBRC comments and conclusions; photocopies of relevant literature; correspondence from independent consultants or- specialists; references to captivity and escape likelihood; extracts from journals referring to migration and vagrancy patterns; copies ol' weather maps; and any other material paperwork. 4 he folder is usually quite bulky, and time-consuming lo peruse. lire Committee has a standing consultant on American birds, as Ncarctic species form a significant number of the new species to the List. Records from Ireland are included in BOURC reports and checklists for The BOU Records Committee 425 completeness of the zoogeographic unit of the British Isles, but Irish records are assessed by the Irish Rare Birds Committee, not by the BOURC. Records arc circulated in a different order each time, so that each member has at times to initiate the comments and voting, thus possibly avoiding being influenced by what others have written and decided. Following two serious postal losses in the early 1980s, Recorded Delivery is used, and records are sent singly. All deliberations and conclusions, except for the final coiporate de- cision, are treated as confidential, although, in my view, a case could be ar- gued for making our comments available to the observers concerned. We should have nothing to hide. Decisions to accept identification must be unanimous; decisions on categori- sation, where the identification is accepted, are by a two-thirds majority. If such a majority on categorisation cannot be achieved, following recirculation if necessary, the record is discussed at the next meeting of the Committee, and may be put into a suitable holding position in Category D (see Appendix 1 for definitions of categories A, B, C and D). As already outlined, the essential difference between the BBRC and the BOURC is that, where potential first records for Britain are concerned, the former is concerned solely with identification, whereas the latter is concerned not only with identification (not necessarily agreeing with the BBRC!), but also with taxonomy and the origin of the bird. With identification, the record has to be proved beyond all reasonable doubt, on the basis of the evidence sub- mitted, and in most cases the verdict is clear-cut. With origin, such unanimity is less likely, as there are no absolutes: one can rarely be absolutely certain as to where a bird has come from, or how it got here. The BOU Records Committee has to make a judgnent founded on the fullest evidence . available, using the wide knowledge and experience of its members and those it consults. In a recent consideration of an American passerine claim for addition to the British List, this evidence included several weeks of weather maps; extracts from American State Bird Reports and jour- nals to illustrate range changes and vagrant occurrences; and photocopies of trade-journal advertisements for the sale of captive birds both in Britain and abroad. But, however hard we try, we cannot guarantee always to be correct, and, if in doubt, we err on the side of caution. This sometimes means placing a record in Category D as a temporary measure, to await subsequent records or further information. This sometimes infuriates observers who have seen such a bird, and suffer what one of them once described to the Committee as a ‘tickectomy’. 4. What qualifications do its members have? You will appreciate from what I have said in the preceding section that exper- tise in identification and skill in the field are not the only qualifications re- quired. We are not just about identification, and, to me, it seems important to have a well-balanced range of general international ornithological experience and knowledge, which I believe we have. Currently, our membership includes a taxonomist/professional museum worker; an avian geneticist; an ornithological librarian; an expert in the wild- 426 The BOU Records Committee bird trade; several professional ornithologists who include research and bird- protection work among their skills; and keen, experienced, active, amateur birders (I venture to include myself in the last category'). The professional or- nithologists are all keen and active birders. The Chairman of the BBRC is a BOL RC member in an ex-ollicio (and voting) capacity. (See Appendix 2 for a list of the current membership.) 5. Why does it take so long to reach decisions? Intrinsically, a postal voting system involving ten people includes potential delay factors, and we try hard to minimise those. But there are more signifi- cant reasons for the time some records take to reach a conclusion. These may not be fully,' appreciated by the observers concerned, who quite understand- ably regard it as a bureaucratic and perhaps cumbersome intervention by an establishment body, holding up their right to tick the bird. Some records need one or more consultants’ views before circulation, and, ii those people are abroad (as they usually arc), that takes time before circula- tion can begin, l or most records, examination ol museum skins takes place, often to see il it is possible to confirm or determine age, sex and race, since this information can assist in coming to a decision; indeed, it is often essential. Sometimes, skins have to be borrowed from museums, and some records re- quire that a complete reassessment be made ol' the validity of certain races and their characters. Some files, for example on a species which looks fit for Category A, may in- volve the inclusion of any existing Category B or D records with the circula- tion, tor reconsideration. Some records are recirculated at the request of the BBRC; others at the request ol the observers, or of Committee members. Where there is disagreement in voting, there will perhaps need to be one or more recirculations. Conscious of some valid criticism of delay, considerable progress has been made over the last two years to speed up the review and adjudication proce- dures. It is, however, impracticable to set target turnaround times for records, as each one is different. 6. Is the Committee out of touch? I think not. Most of our members see many rare birds, especially new ones to the British List (whether out of a sense of duty to the Committee, or for any selfish or personal reason such as to tick them, I would not venture to judge). They travel widely and meet a good cross-section of birders, twitchers and or- nithologists, both professional and amateur, between them. 1 would suggest that they have a good knowledge of the current birding scene. 7. Why do we need the BOURC? I’he BOU is the senior ornithological organisation in Britain, having been founded by Professor Alfred Newton FRS in 1858. It is devoted to the ad- vancement of the science of ornithology, and has a respected international in- fluence in academic ornithology. Ibis plays a major role in maintaining ornithology as an important branch of zoology worldwide, by publishing the results of ornithological research. It seems entirely appropriate, therefore, that The BOU Records Committee 427 the BOU should continue to be charged with the duty of maintaining the British List through its Records Committee. The origins of the BBRC are rather different. Before its formation in 1959, the responsibility for the vetting, acceptance and rejection, and the publica- tion, of rarity records in Britain rested with the individual local bird recorders, and, for extreme rarities, rather haphazardly with the editors of British Birds. The BBRC has responsibility for collecting, investigating and applying uni- form standards to claimed records of rare birds in England, Scotland and Wales and at sea extending to 200 nautical miles. It publishes annually in one document the essential details of the rarities seen in Britain the previous year. Only records of birds new to Britain are passed on to the BOURC. Publica- tion of those is subject to acceptance by both committees, but it is the detailed investigations into taxonomy, escape likelihood and vagrancy potential which are the BOURC’s principal role, as well as a double-check on identification. Some people have suggested that the BBRC should fulfil all these roles, but I do not see that as being either appropriate or practical. Not appropriate, in view of the historical and organisational situation I have described, and the different functions of each committee as constituted. Not practical, for, al- though I cannot speak for the members of the BBRC, their present workload is such that I cannot see them welcoming the additional task of investigation which the BOURC currently performs. To put this practical aspect into context — the BBRC currendy considers (including recirculations) an average of about 1,300 records each year, which averages nearly four records for every day of the year, or five per working day. The BOLlRC’s work is rather less intensive — in the period since I joined the Committee, I had initially to deal with records at the rate of about one per week, but this has slowed down as we have reduced the backlog. But, within each record, I have found that there can be several hours of work. Members of the Committee can spend several days on individual records when circumstances demand it. 8. Recent changes Aware of the gap in communication between the Committee and birders, sev- eral important changes have taken place in the last two years. First, BOURC reports, which used to be published irregularly (averaging one every three years), have been appearing more frequently. While the Thir- teenth Report had been in 1988, the Fourteenth was published in April 1991, followed by subsequent reports at six-monthly intervals since then — five in the last two years, and a sixth in preparation. This has been possible to sustain only because of the recent increase in turnaround rate for records. Secondly, with the blessing of the BOU Council, the BOURC now sends Press releases of routine acceptance decisions to the main birding journals and magazines ahead of publication in Ibis. (Complicated decisions, rejections, deletions and taxonomic matters are not Press-released in this manner.) Not all the magazines circulated in this way choose to use the information. Thirdly, the BOURC now sends advance page-proofs of its Ibis reports to the same journals and magazines so that editors may extract information of interest to their readers, rather than having to wait for the reports in Ibis. 428 The BOU Records Committee Fourthly, as a result of a BOURC initiative, comments on BBRC and BOURC decisions are now appended to the official write-ups of new species in British Birds. The BOURC is also preparing a series of short accounts of some recent records which were not accepted. 1 he Reports of the Committee now include details of the files currently being processed. It is worth noting that the BOURC is accused sometimes of holding up records which have never been sent to it to consider. 9. Conclusion .As you will see, considerable progress has been made in publicising the activi- ties of the BOURC, and trying to make it more user-friendly. Great efforts are being made to speed up its adjudication processes. File more we can do to overcome allegations of sloth, indifference, elitism and remoteness, the bet- ter it will be for everybody. In my view, these suggestions arc largely unfounded, but I personally be- lieve that we can continue to do more to open up the adjudication process. I welcome the publication of lists of pending rarity decisions, such as those which now appear in some hireling journals. In my opinion, a case could be made for adding to such lists the reasons for any undue delay, where these are not too sensitive. I see it to be important that we not only gain the confidence of those who submit records, but also show accountability to them in our ac- tivities. This will be a matter of building upon what has been achieved most re- cently in accelerating both adjudication and publication arrangements. This hits required a lot of effort by the Committee. Since joining, I have been gen- uinely impressed by the commitment and dedication of the Committee’s members; by their fairness and thoroughness; by the range and depth of then- knowledge and experience; and, above all, by the determination of the Chair- man and Secretary continually to improve our performance. B. A. E. Man, 1 7 Roundhouse Drive, West Peny, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PEI 8 ODJ Appendix 1. Species categories A Species which have been recorded in an apparendy wild state in Britain or Ireland at least once since 1st January 1958. B Species which have been recorded in an apparendy wild state in Britain or Ireland at least once up to 31st December 1957, but have not been recorded subsequently. C Species which, although introduced by man, have now established regular feral breeding stock which apparently maintains itself without necessary recourse to further introduction. D Species which would otherwise appear in Categories A or B except that (Dl) there is a reason- able doubt that they have ever occurred in a wild state, or (D2) they have certainly arrived with a combination of ship and human assistance, including provision of (bod and shelter, or (D3) they have only ever been found dead on the tideline; also (D4) species that would other- wise appear in category C except that their feral populations may or may not be self-support- ing. Species in Category I) do not form part of the main List. The main object of category D is to collect to- gether the records of species which are not yet full additions, so that these are not overlooked if there arc suhse- quent fully acceptable records. Editors of bird reports are encouraged to include records of species in category I ) as appendices to their systematic lists. 1 lie species in each category are reviewed annually. Additions and changes of category are detailed in the annual reports of the BOURC. The BOU Records Committee 429 Appendix 2. BOURC members, 1992-93 Dr Alan Knox (Chairman) Tim Inskipp (Secretary) Ian Dawson Peter Lansdown John Marchant AMERICAN CONSULTANT: Dr Ian Nisbet Tony Marr John Mather Dr David Parkin Richard Porter Keith Yinicombe ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY: Gwen Bonham We are delighted to publish this explanation of the workings of the BOURC, which follows similar outlines of the work of the BBRC (by Peter Lansdown, Brit. Birds 80: 487-491; 86: 417- 422) and of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (by Robert Spencer, Brit. Birds 85: 1 17-122). All the decisions on records taken by the BBRC are totally independent of the Editorial Board of British Birds , though the BBRC was created by and is run under the aegis of British Birds. Simi- larly, the decisions on records taken by the BOURC are made independendy of the Council of the BOU. As Tony Marr has explained, there are both historical reasons and practical reasons for having two independent but co-operating committees, with different functions. History should not be an excuse for perpetuating a system that is failing, but in this case we believe that the system is highly successful, producing reliable validation of records, with the decisions being accepted as au- thoritative by the international ornithological community. Neither British Birds nor the BBRC has any aspiration to take over the role of the BOURC, and we believe that the reverse is also the case. We appreciate the need for ‘an Upper House’ which assesses all aspects of the claims of the rarest species in great detail, as well as dealing with other matters such as taxonomy and feral species. This enables the BBRC to adjudicate on a greater number of rare-bird records than would otherwise be the case. We also appreciate the need for different qualifications for the members of the two committees. It is worth noting, however, that six of the current ten members of the BOURC are former elected members of the BBRC, so are bringing their years of experi- ence in judging rarity records to the specialist body making the final judgments on the rarest of tire rare. Eds Announcement ‘Sibes’ in Thailand, 1994 Thai artist Kamol Ko- molphalin and BB Editor Tim Sharrock will again be taking a relaxed look at Siberian win- terers (White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma, Lance- olated Warbler Locustella lanceolata, Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanums and so on) and Oriental residents (such as this Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella) in Thailand, during 13th February to 8th March 1994. A small, quiet group is essential on narrow forest trails, so numbers are strictly limited, and the emphasis is on prolonged good views of every bird for everyone. BB subscribers get a 10% reduction on the normal price. For full details, write or phone to David Fisher/Jen- nifer Thomas, Sunbird, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 1 DF; tel: Sandy (0767) 682969. Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs So few photographers take black-and-white photographs nowadays that the Editorial Board decided that this annual selection should be discontinued. No announcement about it was, therefore, published in the December 1992 or January’ 1993 issues, where notice is usually given of such selections and competitions. Despite this, 46 prints were submitted. These included the four shown here, which the four judges of the Bird Photograph of the Year compe- tition (the entries for which were looked at on the same day) could not resist selecting for publication in British Birds. The number of black-and-white pho- tographs may be few these days, but the standard is certainly maintained. The Common Swift Apus apus photographed by Bobby Smith is a compos- ite photograph, the clouds being printed in separately, producing this striking picture (plate 1 32). I he pair of European Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus copu- lating (plate 133) is also the result of Bobby Smith’s work. He described the events as follows: ‘The male called the female off the nest as usual, but she would not leave, since the young were hatching. The male kept on calling to her, from close beside my hide. He then landed on the hide and started to call from it. The female still would not leave. The male then came down to the nest and mated with her before flying off. Hie whole incident was over in a few seconds, so there was no time for a second picture. After the young were dry', the female called to the male, who came in with food, then the female left and the male fed the young and stayed with them until she came back. I ony Hamblin had set up his hide close to a sapling oak Quercus to attempt to photograph a Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus using a tape lure. No cuckoo obliged, but a male Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis was inquisitive and came to the oak, displayed and sang both from the air and from the sapling (plate 134). The nest of the Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida , photographed by Kevin Carlson (plate 135), was less than 1 m above the ground, in a small bush. It was photographed from a hide which was introduced over a period of several days. We gready welcome receiving black-and-white prints (whether taken as black-and-whites or converted from colour transparencies) for possible publica- tion in British Birds. RJC, DS, JTRS and RT 132. Common Swift Apus apus. Dumfries-shire, August 1983 [Bobby Smith) (Hasselblad; 800 mm Xciss 1 lunar lens, \ Id/ flash heads with infra-red beam; black-and-white print from colour negative: clouds, Ilford FP4) 133. European Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus copulating at nest, Dumfries-shire, July 1983 [Bobby Smith) (Hasselblad Metz 60T/1 + meca twin; black-and-white from Ektachrome transparency) 134. Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis singing, Warwickshire, May 1991 ( Tony Hamblin ) (Canon T90; 500 mm Canon; Ilford XP2) 135. Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida at nest, Cyprus, June 1992 [Kevin Carlson) (Nikon F501 AF; 70-210 mm Nikon; 2 flash heads at f.27; Ilford XP2) 430 |™k~ .'• . -Vv . 2 - * ■ ■ 'v^'SI 1ft. > 1 V v|j feW W ■ -• JK ■,T rr ■ , Sponsored by PhotoSpot 34. Desert Sparrow There are few good published photographs of the Desert Sparrow Passer simplex , one of the most attractive, but infrequendy reported, members of the genus. It can be rather elusive; for instance, it remained unrecorded in the Sudan, from where it was originally described, for over 50 years. This individ- ual’s unusually upright posture highlights its relatively long legs, and shows the characteristic black facial mask and bib that tend to be obscured when the bird crouches in a more normal attitude. Then, the pale grey upperparts and streaked wings blend with the typical background of sand and pebbles, rendering the bird very inconspicuous. This species has also been featured previously in Dutch Birding (6: 139-140) and in British Birds (83: 195-201). J. D. Summers-Smith Merlewood, The Avenue, Guisborough, Cleveland TS14 8EE ZEISS Germany 136. Male Desert Sparrow Passer simplex, Morocco, April 1992 ( Christian Pouteau). Male adopted this upright posture during courtship display to the female (Nikon F801, 5.6/400 IF- ED, f.8, Kodachrome 64) Common Shelduck nesting in open position in barn For several years now, Common Shelducks Tadoma tadorna have been seen in summer on an inland lake, which is about 450 m from an old farm in Lancashire. No nest had ever been found, but young have been seen in some years. Despite the lake diving up in 1992, the ducks were still present and amazed me by nesting in an old brick-buiJt bam. This has no doors back or front, and is used for storing silage. In April, while I was collecting hens’ eggs for the farmer, one egg obviously different from all others was left in its hollow on a bale of hay 2 m from ground level against the back wall. Eventually, ten were laid, and by 2nd May the duck was sitting very tight, allowing close approach. A hide was easily erected in the bales and photographs taken over the next week (plate 137); then the bird was left until the hatch. Prior to this, the eggs were inspected and the ducklings easily seen through the shells. On the estimated hatch day, die nest was empty, with no trace of shells anywhere. Both adults could be seen on the mud of the dried-up kike, but no ducklings were present. 137. Female Common Shelduck Tadoma tadoma approaching nest with eggs in open position on hay bales in barn, Lancashire, May 1992 (Dennis Green ) 434 . S ' T- i , W< WRYNECK on your local patch? Read about it on your pager and get down to see it, before it’s gone! . . . NEW LOWER PRICE now even better value! 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HOTLINE 0426 923 923 ALL 0891 CALLS COST 36p/MIN CHEAP RATE 48p/MIN PEAK/STD ( D 1 8 1 ) Notes 435 A few days later, while moving bales, the nest bales were moved. Well below, all ten eggs were found, neady stored, over 1 m away from the nest bale, in a kind of larder. A rat hole was seen below the nest and a tunnel seen leading upwards through the bale to the nest hollow. The eggs had pi esumably been removed, one by one, by common rats Rattus noruegicus and stored for food. DENNIS GREEN 199 Deysbrook Lane, West Derby, Liverpool LI 2 4YE Nesting by Common Shelducks in holes in haystacks or among straw bales is quite frequent, but this instance ol an open position (albeit within a building) is unusual. Eds House Sparrows nesting in cliffs in Scilly On 6th June 1981, in die Isles ol Scilly, Cornwall, I watched House Sparrows Passer domesticus carrying nesting material into three holes in the earth immediately below the top of the cliff at Pelistry Bay, St Mary’s. On 4th June in the following year, I found a similar colony of four occupied nests in the cliff backing Neck of the Pool, on St Martin’s. Such holes are lined with grasses, and I have also seen sparrows carrying in feathers. As nesting in sea cliffs appears not to have been reported previously for the House Sparrow, it seems worthwhile to record the details. Since 1981, I have searched for other colonies in the islands, and so far have found them on St Martin’s (five sites), St Mary’s (probably eight) and Bryher (two); cliffs on Tresco and St Agnes appear not to be so suitable, and I have not found sparrows sufficiendy near to cliffs to suggest that they might be nesting in them (sites on St Mary’s and Bryher, however, were previously overlooked). From the many nest holes seen in 1991 at Old Town, between Carn Leh and St Alary’s Church, this could be the largest colony in Scilly. Littie is known of the history of these colonies, which are certainly very un- usual, if not unique, in Britain. Dr J. D. Summers-Smith [in litt.) has seen House Sparrows nesting in earth banks and the sides of road cuttings in, for example, Cyprus and Afghanistan, but never in cliffs over the sea. Since the Isles of Scilly are so frequented by birders, yet the colonies have remained un- noticed, it is possible that similar sites exist elsewhere in Britain. Vivian Jack- son, an inhabitant of St Martin’s, has informed me (verbally) that sites at Neck of the Pool and at Little Bay have been occupied Tor many years’; the latter site is now (1991) unoccupied, though old holes, some still containing grasses, remain. Outside the breeding season, Mrs V. Allsop (in litt.) watched House Sparrows entering holes in the Neck of the Pool site in the autumn of 1990. House Sparrows will take over the nesting holes of Sand Martins Riparia riparia , which have only occasionally been recorded breeding in Scilly. Some years ago, Vivian Jackson drilled holes in the Neck of the Pool cliff in the hope of encouraging them to stay, and these were occupied by House Spar- rows, but this does not explain the origin of most of the holes. The most likely explanation is that the sparrows dig the holes themselves. The power of the House Sparrow’s bill should not be underestimated: Montagu (1831) noted that Londoners who fixed unglazed delftware pots to the walls of their houses did so for no great love of the birds, ‘but to prevent their nesting under the eaves, where they dig out the mortar with their strong bills, when they do not find holes large enough for their accommodation.’ The nests are invariably in soft, black, sandy earth, immediately below the 436 Notes tops of the low cliffs and preferentially beneath overhanging vegetation, although, where cliff fails have occurred, nests may be exposed. The House Sparrows would have no more difficulty burrowing into this than Tree Spar- row's P. montanus have in excavating holes in the soft rotten wood of pollarded willows Salix. In March 1961, House Sparrows on Tresco were found to be capable of digging holes in the stems of palm trees in the Abbey Gardens (King 1966), and Vivian Jackson (verbally) has seen the same recendy at Middle Town, St Martin's. Dr J. D. Summers-Smith has also drawn my attention to Bourne’s (1953) account of a House Sparrow' which apparently excavated its own nest site in an ornamental willow in a garden in Sussex in 1947-49. Tree nests of the conventional kind built by House Sparrows are also found in the Isles of Scilly, w'here their construction must be a recent innovation. As photographs from the 1870s and 1880s indicate, the islands were then almost totally devoid of trees; the hedges (or ‘fences’ as they are called locally) of Es- callonia and other evergreen shrubs were planted as windbreaks for die flower- growing industry, which became increasingly important from the mid 1880s. Nests of this kind are also built by the Spanish Sparrow P. hispaniolensis in bushes and trees, including palms, in the southern part of its range (Summers- Smith 1988). As tree nests are more typical of sparrows breeding in wanner regions, is it possible that their prevalence in the Isles of Scilly is a result of the islands’ mild climate? Gooders (1971) stated that few House Sparrow nests are placed in trees in the colder parts of the species’ range, and then only in those with dense foliage, whereas nesting in open trees is quite common in warmer regions, free nests are certainly common in Scilly nowadays, and were very obvious in 1987 after hard frost and snow in January had killed a high pro- portion of the Pittosporum hedges, allowing the sparrows’ untidy nests to stand out like miniature rookeries. The question remaining is whether the cliff nests are, like the tree nests in Scilly, a recent development, or an ancient one that has escaped notice. Most birdwatchers pay little attention to the House Sparrow and have ‘acquired the habit of not looking and not seeing the undesired thing’ (Hudson 1 908). I should like to thank Viv Jackson and Mrs Viv Allsop of St Martin’s for their observations, and Dr Dennis Summers-Smith for reading and comment- ing upon my first draft of this note. R . D . PENHALLURICK 10 Treseder’s Gardens, Truro, Cornwall TR1 / 77? REFERENCES Bourne, W. R. P. 1953. House Sparrow enlarging its nesting-site. Bril Birds 46: 381-382. GOODERS, J. (ed.) 1971. Birds of the World, vol. 9. London. HUDSON, W. H. 1908. The Land’s End. London. King, B. 1966. Cornwall Bird-watching and Preservation Society, 35th Annual Report 1965 : 95. MONTAGU, G. (ed.) 1831. Dictionary of British Birds. London. Summers-Smith, J. D. 1988. The Sparrows. Calton. Campbell & Ferguson-Lees (1972, A Field Guide to Birds' .Nests) noted for the House Sparrow: ‘occasionally up to 1,000 m or more from buildings, e.g. on Shetland sea cliff (R J Tulloch) the inference being that this was an isolated instance. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (1976) noted, without details, that ‘natural colonies ... are usually where suitable breeding holes are abundant . . . on cliffs or rock faces.’ We welcome details of any observations concerning the excavation of cliff nest holes by sparrows. Eds Letters Red Grouse, wagtails, and the classification and English names of birds It seems unfortunate that the long-established disputes over bird names lcgularly ignore their primary function, surely to provide simple, clear, con- cise, consistent identifications. According to the precept at the start of our best national checklist, by E. Hartert, F. C. R. Jourdain, N. F. Ticehurst and H. F. Witherby, the Hand-list of British Birds of 1912, which eventually grew into the Handbook of Biitish Birds, ‘Nomenclature is only “a means, not an end”, but without uniformity it is a confusion , and it seems a pity their successors have failed to follow it. Thus, if for example we consider the case of the Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus raised by John Parker and so summarily dismissed by Drs Knox & Parkin [Brit. Birds 85: 680; 86: 92), this is not actually a new issue, but one considered by, for example, Alfred Newton who concluded in 1896 {Dictionary of Birds: 388-394): ‘Grouse ... a word of uncertain origin [footnote — it seems first to occur ... as “Grows” (at Eltham in 1531), and considering the locality must refer to Black Game] ... but in common speech applied almost exclusively, when used alone, to ( Lagopus scoticus) . . . called in English the Red Grouse, but not a century ago almost invariably spoken of as the Moor-fowl or Moor-game ... It does not naturally occur beyond the limits of the British Islands, and is the only species among birds absolutely peculiar to them. 1 he word “species” may be used advisedly, since the Red Grouse invariably “breeds true”, it admits of an easy diagnosis [his italics], and it has a defi- nite geographical range; but scarcely any zoologist who looks further into the matter can doubt of its common origin with the Willow-Grouse (L. lagopus) . . . that inhabits a subarctic zone . . . ‘The Red Grouse indeed is rarely or never found away from the heather upon which it chiefly subsists, and with which it is in most men’s minds associated; while the Willow-Grouse . . . seems to prefer the shrubby growth of berry-bearing plants . . . that, often thickly interspersed with willows and birches, clothes the higher levels . . . the Willow-Grouse always becomes white in the winter, which the Red Grouse never does; but then we find that in summer there is a considerable resemblance between the two species ... No distinction can be discovered in their voice, their eggs or their build . . . [While the Red Grouse] is the only species of the genus which does not assume white clothing in winter . . . every [my italics] species of Lagopus has its first set of remiges coloured brown . . . ’ Thus, in general, compared with the Willow Grouse, the Red Grouse also shows the most fundamental difference that exists between the Scottish Cross- bill Irma scotica and the Common Crossbill L. curvirostra: adaptation for a dif- ferent food plant. Otherwise, the grouse differ from the crossbills most in two ways: they are easier to tell apart, but have failed to develop an overlap in dis- tribution, so it is impossible to tell how easily they would hybridise. It is en- tirely a matter of opinion, which makes no difference to the birds, how much importance is given to each consideration, yet because some grouse show minor intermediate characters unlikely to be due to hybridisation, whereas the crossbills, which are much more similar, have not yet been detected hybridis- ing either, we are asked to exchange famous Lagopus scoticus as our only en- demic species for obscure, zoogeographically similar Loxia scotica. So far, this of course makes little practical difference to anyone except 437 438 letters trendy twitchers (who seem to have caused most of the trouble), compilers of quizzes, and the front cover of British Birds. But excessive pedantry could also have more serious consequences. The males of two* of our other near-endemic forms with traditional vernacular names, Motacilla alba yarrellii and Motacilla Jlava jlavissima, are quite easily distinguished in spring from the Continental forms, which are not uncommon on passage, and occasionally breed. Every time one ol these is recorded, is it necessary' to write tiresome gobblcdcgook about a Tied (or \ ellow) Wagtail of the race yarrellii (or favissimaf? It is time that, in addition to our endemic species, we were given back the names of our recognisable races. Perhaps we might sacrifice some of the more unnecessary scientific names to make way for them? W. R. P. BOURNE Zoology Department, Aberdeen University, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN We have no wish to comment on Dr Bourne’s opinions on the taxonomic status of the Red Grouse, hut must do so on the subject covered in his two final paragraphs. For more than 15 years, we have avoided the use in British Birds of separate English names for races, which had reached extreme proportions some 50 years ago, with every race being given its own English name (see, for example, the Witherby Handbook). The ‘halfway-house’ of a couple of decades ago, with, for instance, Pied Wagtail for Motacilla alba yarrellii and White Wagtail for M. a. alba, led to statements in popular bird books such as ‘There are four species of wagtail in Britain: the Pied, the 5 ellow, the Grey and the White, and a fifth occurs as a migrant, the Blue-headed’. How confusing to a beginner or non-birdwatcher! We continue to believe that the use of English names should be restricted to species, and that the complicated concept of races is best expressed by the use of scientific trinomials. Ed.S English name changes In his review of Checklist of Birds of Britain and Ireland (6th edn, 1992), A. R. Dean noted {Brit. Birds 85: 615) that ‘the 1941 edition of Withe rby’s ’ Handbook ’ reveals at least 17 species names no longer in use (e.g. Eversmann s Warbler Phylloscopus borealis , Buff-backed Heron Bubulcus ibis , and American Stint Calidris mimtilld).'1 In fact (even ignoring numerous minor changes, of hyphenation for exam- ple), 40 not 17 of the 1941 names were no longer in use in 1992. There were 31 changes between the Handbook (1941) and the next BOU checklist (1952), and 35 between the latter and the then current version of the British Birds list (1984); in total, there were 53 changes between 1941 and 1984, with some species having three different English names in the three lists (e.g. Com- mon Heron, Heron, Grey Heron; Common Eider, Eider-Duck, Eider), and others changing but then reverting (e.g. White’s Thrush to Golden Mountain Thrush to White’s Thrush). Have the current changes gone far enough? It was not until 1952 that Emberiza citrinella lost its logical English name of Yellow Bunting. Perhaps that should have been restored. J. T. R. Sharrock Fountains, Park Lane , Blunham , Bedford MK44 3NJ English names of Western Palearctic birds The publication of your List of English .Names of Western Palearctic Birds should not be allowed to pass without a word of thanks to those who have laboured so long to produce it. You have had to consider upwards of 900 names, for many of which you have had to find an appropriate adjective to distinguish a familiar bird from its rarer or more distant relatives. This was a laudable undertaking, though not one in which you can ex- pect to please everybody all the time. I do not expect that 1 am alone in regretting Letters 439 some of your choices, but I hope I am not alone in being ready to accept them. There are, however, just two of your 900 or so recommendations from which I must dissent because they are in breach of the rule that you must not transfer a name from one species to another. First, you propose that the newly recog- nised species, Puffinus yelkouan, be called the ‘Mediterranean Shearwater’. A new species needs a new name, not a second-hand one. ‘Mediterranean Shearwater’ is the name used by W. B. Alexander in Iris Birds of the Ocean (1928) and by Witherby in his Handbook (1940) for a species then called Puffinus kuhlii, but now known as Calonectris diomedea, Cory’s Shearwater. This is already a most confus- ing situation, and our confusion will only be compounded if ‘Mediterranean Shearwater’ reappears as the name of a quite different species. Is there any bar to calling Puffinus yelkouan, say, the ‘Aegean Shearwater’? Secondly, I see that you propose to call Lanius schach the ‘Long-tailed Shrike’, despite tire fact that there are already two names, ‘Black-headed Shrike’ and ‘Rufous-backed Shrike’, under which our accumulated knowledge of this species has been stored. Admittedly, this bird has several distinctive races, not all of which are either black-headed or rufous-backed, so neither name is entirely sat- isfactory; but is this sufficient justification for giving it yet another name? It is certainly no justification whatever for stealing the long-established English name of the African shrike Corvinella comma , whose interesting life-style is recorded under the name ‘Long-tailed Shrike’. In your editorial, you sound glad to be rid of this job and to be able to ‘con- centrate on more important matters’. I do not deny that there are more impor- tant questions than the standardisation of English bird names, but I would not have you drink that the time you have devoted to dris subject was wasted. The science of ornithology still derives considerable benefit from the observations of amateur field workers and birdwatchers, whose numbers are in rapid expansion and whose interests are becoming worldwide. They now form an international fraternity — as is shown by the advertisement in your January issue inviting read- ers of BB to join the American Birding Association and receive its newsletter- in which they will find that some familiar birds have unfamiliar names (and the same will be true for American birders who subscribe to BB). Of course, this would pose no problem if only we were accustomed to using scientific names, on which there is now virtual transatlantic unanimity. But, unlike the devotees of some other branches of natural history, amateur ornithologists are allergic to scientific names, not only because they are in a language we no longer learn and find difficult to spell and pronounce, but also because we have no confi- dence in their stability. Take the case of a well-known member of the genus Turdus, which, in my first bird book (published in 1919), had the name musicus, though that name had already been officially changed to philomelos , which is once more this bird’s name, after a spell as ericetorum. Throughout all these vicis- situdes it has remained a Song Thrush, the stability of its English name ensuring that it retained its identity. We would like to think that scientific names have also achieved stability, but who knows what revolutionary' changes may yet be in store from the likes of Sibley and Ahlquist? Perhaps we may be forgiven for supposing that stable, standard English names will provide a safe refuge from future taxonomic storms. J- Duncan Wood 10 Coles Drive, Amside, Camforth, Lancashire LA5 OEJ 440 Letters following the publication of our list in the January issue we have received a score of letters on this subject, three highly critical and the other 1 7 mainly congratulatory. We have chosen this let- ter from an eminent former Assistant Editor ol British Birds as an example of the latter category. 1 o answer Duncan Wood’s points. First, only a tiny proportion of today’s active birdwatchers will have called Calonectris diorriedea by the name ‘Mediterranean Shearwater’, which was used for the nominate race of that species (C. d. borealis then being called ‘North Atlantic Shearwater’) only until 1950, the name Cory s Shearwater’, already used by the American Ornithologists’ Union, being adopted by British Birds in 1951. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that only those bird- watchers now aged over 60 will ever have used ‘Mediterranean Shearwater’ for C. diorriedea. Nice as it is, Aegean Shearwater would be as inappropriate as is 'Balearic Shearwater’ for a species with distinct races found at opposite ends of the Mediterranean Sea. Secondly, Lamus schach has been called Ixtng-tailed Shrike by British Birds for 16 years, since 1978, and this is also the name used in BIVP as well as in many standard handbooks or field guides throughout its world range. Ihe African ‘Western Long-tailed Shrike’ Corvinella corvina and Eastern Long-tailed Shrike C. melanoleuca , to use their former English names, are now generally known as ‘Yellow'-billed Shrike’ and ‘Magpie Shrike’, respectively. We believe that the current transition period may see some of the new' English names being adopted more quickly than others, but that stability will be achieved within a few' years, and will then be appreciated. It is, after all, only a few years since Perdix perdix w'as ‘Partridge’ and A idea iinerea was Heron , yet most birdwatchers now refer to them both naturally in conversation as ‘Grey’ whenever confusion with another species is a possibility. The same will be true of ‘North- ern Gannet for Morus bassanus, Northern Wheatear’ for Oenanthe oenanthe , and the various other new names now adopted for formal use. Thus, we agree with Duncan Wood’s final paragraph, and thank him for his welcome comments. Eds Sacrosanct names In these times of inflamed debate about the sense in changing bird names, it may be interesting to be reminded of the names of the founder of modern zoological nomenclature, Carl von Linne, who, to the English-speaking world, is commonly known as Carl Linnaeus. Iinnaeus’s father was Nils Ingvarsson. In those days, Swedish sons took their family name after their father’s first name (and daughters theirs after thcii mother s), adding son (or ‘dotter’) at the end. A similar system was practised in the other Nordic countries and in Russia. Not much of a nomen- clatoiial stability: family names changed for each generation. Linnaeus would have been Carl Nilsson to us if his father had not gone to a university to study physics. Much of the education and communication at the universities was conducted in Latin, and students were required to change or Latinise their family names for practical purposes. Nils Ingvarsson adopted the family name Linnaeus after a large lime tree (Mind’ in Swedish) at his family mansion. Thus, young Carl Nilsson became Carl Linnaeus. Later in life, he was ennobled (in 1761, with four years’ retroactivity) and his family name changed once more, to von Linne, which incidentally is the name by which he is known to his countrymen. (Ask a Swede about Linnaeus and you will get a querying face; Linne, or von Linne, rings the bell.) Thus, the names of the very founder of zoological nomenclature demonstrate not only that no names arc sacrosanct, but also that different names are currently used for the same person without much harm done. Lars SVENSSON Sturegatan 60, S-l 14 36 Stockholm, Sweden II most Swedes really would not recognise the name Linnaeus, this seems to us to demonstrate exac tly the opposite: that there is a distinct advantage in having name standardisation. Eds Reviews Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. VII: flycatchers to shrikes. Edited by S. Cramp & C. M. Perrins. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1993. 577 pages; 29 colour plates; numerous line-drawings. ISBN 0-19-857510-6. £75.00. ' Volume 7, the penultimate volume of BWP, follows hot on the heels of volume 6 (see Brit. Birds 86: 127-128). These two volumes were in fact originally scheduled as one (warblers to shrikes) but the amount of material eventually accumulated on the Sylviidae warranted its publication in a separate volume. The current volume now completes the flycatchers to shrikes. Perhaps not surprisingly, therefore, this ‘additional’ volume is the slimmest one so far, but, at £75 for 577 pages, it is also the most expensive per page. This, however, is a much more manageable size than the distinctly unwieldy volume 5, and a total of ten volumes (rather than eight) would have created a series much easier to manipulate and also placed less strain on the none-too-substantial bindings. Eleven families are covered in the now familiar format: Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae), babblers (Timaliidae), long-tailed tits and allies (Aegithalidae), tits (Paridae), nuthatches (Sittidae), wallcreepers (Tichodromadidae), treecreepers (Certhiidae), penduline tits and allies (Remizidae), sunbirds and allies (Nectariniidae), Old World orioles and allies (Oriolidae), and shrikes (Laniidae). The 45 species texts average 12 pages, but vary from two pages for Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis to 26V2 pages for Great Tit Parus major. The Paridae have been the focus of a substantial number of' intensive and long-term studies, and this is reflected in the balance of the texts: the paragraphs on ‘Food’ for both Great Tit and Blue Tit P. caemleus extend to six pages, while the text on ‘Voice’ under Great Tit includes no fewer than 2 1 sonagrams. There are 29 colour plates by four artists. Colour work by Kim Franklin and Chris Rose appears in BWP for the first time. Plates by Alan Harris now adorn three volumes, while Norman Arlott has contributed plates to four volumes (a feat matched only by D. I. M. Wallace) — a contribution worthy of special note, particularly in view of BWP’s archaic habit of consigning artists’ names to the introductory acknowledgments rather than placing their names in their rightful place on cover and title page. In general, the plates are convincing and well executed. I particularly liked Chris Rose’s characterful plate of Crested Tits P. cristatus. I also welcome Norman Arlott’s depiction of 14 individual Great Grey Shrikes Lanius excubitor of eight races, as the illustrations in far too few works cater adequately for geographical variation. This problem used to beset the L. collurio/ L. isabellinus group before Red-backed Shrike and Isabelline Shrike were taxonomically split, and, with some workers (e.g. E. N. Panow) proposing that L. excubitor be split into two species (a predominantly northern excubitor group and a southern meridional group), it is pleasing to see a reasonably full range of plumages depicted here. In one or two cases, the plates are too small to show potentially critical identification features, and this can be a particular problem when these features are also omitted from the ‘Field characters’ texts. Two examples of this include the ‘bottle-shaped’ white mark at the base of the primaries of female/non-breeding Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis, and the pattern of the large alula feather on Short-toed Treecreeper Cerihia brachydactyla (see Ears Jonsson’s Birds of Europe for the level of illustration which these species warrant). Ian Wallace continues the Herculean task of providing ‘Field characters’ texts which will meet the requirements of modem birdwatchers, with their ever-rising standards and expectations. For me, Wallace has no peer in selecting apposite adjectives which encompass in a few words 441 442 Reviews the essence of a species or a species-group. In conveying the general appearance of species to the reader, he has long and distinguished service. In this volume, where the majority of species covered are relatively distinctive, his style works well. See the^ text on Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus foi a classic example. With the few species which are inherently more difficult to identify, a less personal approach is necessary, however, and the reader wishing to review the latest and most reliable identification criteria on, for example, Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica , ( ’ollared Flycatcher or Short-toed Treecreeper will need to look elsewhere. Factual errors seem to be few, though the assertion that underpart scaling on female Isabelline Shrike is particularly significant in the case of nominate isabelhnus presumably follows from a misprint in my paper on this species, where ‘distinct’ appeared in place of ‘indistinct’ (Brit. Birds 75: 403; corrected 75: 604). With the appearance of this volume, completion of BWP is now' in sight. Despite its problems, die editors have succeeded in producing a work of peerless authority. It goes without saying that, lor ornithologists for whom BWP has been part of their ornithological development for the past 1/ years, volume 7 will be an automatic purchase. A. R. Dean Birds of Prey. By Nicholas Hammond & Bruce Pearson. Hamlyn Bird Behaviour Guides, Hamlyn, London, 1993. 160 pages; 66 colour illustrations; 17 black-and-white illustrations; one map. ISBN 0-540-01277-7 £14.99. 1 he birds of prey featured are European raptors (excluding owls), and they are presented very attractively in this book, which is one of a new series. I he bulk of the text is divided into four chapters, covering feeding, courtship and breeding, aggression and movement. In the treaunent of these subjects, Nicholas Hammond attempts to reveal the diversity of behaviour and special adaptations by comparing closely related species or contrasting between families. The text is written in a relaxed and easily read style, and is mined at readers with little knowledge of the subject. Unfortunately, the occasional unnecessary cliche slips m (e.g. ‘Flying is a vvay of life for all raptors’), inappropriate when many species spend most of the day perched. And it’s a pity he had to quote an exceptionally high speed for a Peregrine Falcon halco peregrinus dive (402 kph) without giving the more likely, and generally accepted, estimate 1(4) 180 kph). I he UK distribution of the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo is given incorrectly as (only) the Southwest and Welsh Marches: a strange error. A gazetteer , and map, gives nearly 200 of the best raptor-watching sites in Europe, die majority culled from Important Bird Areas in Europe (ICBP, 1989), with just ten sites listed for the UK. As well as several typographical errors in the main text and in the gazetteer, and, for Spain, a discrepancy between the site numbers on the map and in the list, the population of the Red Kite Milvus milvus in Germany is quoted as the largest of any country, and in Spain as Europe’s most important population, which, 1 assume, means the same thing; in one illustration (p. 1 1 7), a Rough-legged Buzzard B. lagopus is identified as a Peregrine Falcon; two tables showing the habitats preferred by each species not only lack farmland as one of the habitats, but also have some missing entries (e.g. Common Buzzard not in deciduous woodland; Lesser Kestrel Falco naumamu not in towns; Eleonora’s Falcon F. eleonorae not on die coast). All these niggling errors give the impression that the book was rushed into print. Finally, how-ever, 1 must mention Bruce Pearson’s illustrations, mostly water-colour sketches which complement the text well and are a sheer delight: full of life and capturing the jizz of each species remarkably well. They gready add to the appeal of the book which, for my money is worth buying for them alone. Robin Prythkrch Divers. By Roy Dennis. (Colin Baxter Photography, Grantown-on-Spey, 1993. 72 pages, isbn 0-948661-37-2. Paperback £9.95) Popular account of all five species of diver Gama illustrated with stunning photographs stunningly reproduced, those by Janos Jurka being especially evocative and beautiful. (This book is also being published in the USA with an American-oriented text, as Loons by Voyageur Press.) JTRS The New Times Nature Diary. By Derwent May. Illustrated by Richard Blake. (Robson Books, London, 1993. 127 pages. ISBN 0-86051-850-7. £10.95) A year’s ‘nature notes’ reprinted from The Times. JTRS News and comment compiled by Mike Everett and Robin Piytherch More worries for birds of prey FOR THE MOST PART, our bird-of-prey populations are thriving: the general situation for most species is better than at any time within living memory. There are several reasons for this healthy state of affairs, not the least of which is the enormous improvement in their public standing which we have seen during the last 20 years or so. That, in turn, is related to our greatly increased knowledge of raptor ecology. So far, so good, but — as we have noted before the picture is flawed. Illegal (as well as senseless and unjustifiable) persecution continues, albeit by a minority of diehards, and nests are still robbed of both eggs and young. These problems are bad enough, but a new and particularly insidious trend has emerged over the last year or two which should be of serious concern to all of us. A small but vociferous minority is calling for various forms ol control of some of our bird-of-prey populations, basing their arguments on the notion that, if raptor numbers are increasing, their prey species must be declining. The main target species are Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus and Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. The most extreme calls for action come in the form of anonymous, scurrilous and widely circulated leaflets which distort (and in some cases invent) population and prey statistics, these appear to emanate from part of the racing-pigeon fraternity. Arguably, some pigeon-fanciers may have a genuine problem, but they should beware of the activities of their lunatic fringe if they want a sympathetic hearing. Elsewhere, we see specious arguments advanced in certain country magazines and national newspapers, or hear them in the House of Lords, frequently from 443 444 News and comment country people and fieldsports enthusiasts who assure us that they are the only ones who know what they are talking about. I hey either distrust ornithologists and the conservation organisations or dismiss them as 'a bunch of ignorant townies’. The level of their own ignorance is in some cases truly profound. While arguments to counter the anti-raptor propaganda will continue, it seems a pity that in some cases they will always fall on deaf ears. More Ramsar sites On the eve of the June meeting of the 5th Ramsar Conference in Kushiro, Japan, there was good news for birds and their conservation as three more areas in England and Wales were formally designated Ramsar sites. International recognition of their wildlife value was given to Hamford Water, Essex; the Lower Derwent Valley, Humberside/North \ orkshire; and Crymlyn Bog, West Glamorgan. The two English sites were also declared Special Protection Areas (SI ’.Vs) under the EC Birds Directive. All this represents some more steps in the right direction, but there are still over 1 00 Ramsar sites awaiting official designation and the Government still has a long way to go before it fulfils all of its international obligations. BPY Birds Illustrated Co-operation benefits us all. I he top-quality quarterly magazine Birds Illustrated features in its summer 1993 issue (vol. 2, no. 3) not only Alan Williams’s award- winning photograph of the Essex Hoopoe Upupa epops {Brit. Birds 86: plate 65), but also seven other ol the short-listed entries: Mallard Anas platyrhynchos by Bob Glover, Red-throated Divers Gavia slellata by Tony Hamblin, House Sparrows Passer domesticus by Ernie Janes, Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus by Mark Hamblin, Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis by R. J. C. Blewitt, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea by Mike Weston and Mute Swan Cygnus olor by Edmund Fellowes. I his depiction of the ‘strength in depth’ of the entries for Bird Photograph of the Year is marvellous publicity for the competition and has given exposure to the work of additional top photographers. BB and the sponsors of BP\ HarperCollins Publishers and Christopher Helm Publishers are both delighted at this link, which we hope will become annual. II you want to obtain a back issue of Birds Illustrated , send a cheque for £3.50 (£4.00 if overseas) to Birds Illustrated Back Issues, lower House, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicester I.KI6 9KK Swift ID Most of the latest issue of the bimonthly journal Dutch Birding (vol. 15, no. 3, June 1993) is devoted to a paper (by Philip Chantler, illustrated by Gerald Driessens) on identification of the 1 1 species of Western Palearctic swifts (Common Apus apus, Pallid A. pallidus, Pacific A. pacijicus, Alpine A. melba, White-rumped A. coffer, Little A. affinis, Plain A. unicolor , African Palm Cypsiurus paivus. White- throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus and Chimney Chaetura pelagica), together with their confusion species. The paper is 39 pages in length, with seven colour plates, 14 photographs and numerous drawings, all helpful and relevant. Copies of this issue can be obtained for NEC 10.00 (inch p&p) by paying this into Dutch giro account 01-50-697 in the name of Dutch Birding Association, Amsterdam, or by sending NEC 10.00 in cash to DBA, Postbus 7561 1, 1070 AP Amsterdam, Netherlands. Rare breeding birds Observers with information on rare breeding Birds in Britain are requested to send full details now to the relevant county bird recorder (or to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel's Secre- tary, Dr Malcolm Ogilvie, Gleneairn, Bruit h- laddich, Isle of Islay I‘A-19 7UN). Please do not wait until the end of the year. News and comment 445 A breath of the past We owe many thanks to Antony Witherby who has recently passed to us, for safe keeping, an archive of photographs, drawings and other items dating from the days (June 1907 to March 1973) when BB was published by H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd. This fascinating collection includes, for in- stance, the map by C. J. & H. G. Alexander showing the distribution of breeding birds around Tunbridge Wells in summer 1907 (the precursor of the modern CBC), which was re- drawn neatly for publication in British Birds (2: 325). Now, we show here HGA’s original map, an ornithohistorical milestone. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Britton — Northeast Dave Holman — East Anglia Anthony McGeehan — Northern Ireland Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Dr Kenny Taylor — Scotland David Tomlinson — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales Keith Vinicombe — Southwest Oil Licensing Round disappointment The RSPB was quick to castigate the Govern- ment when, in a joint move with Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature, it criti- cised the announcement in June of the results of the 14th Offshore Licensing Round for oil and gas exploration. Both the statutory and the voluntary conservation organisations ad- vised against licensing in sensitive areas of high wildlife value, only to see exploration licences granted in parts of Cardigan Bay, the North Channel (between Orkney and Shetland), the Moray Firth, the English Channel and the Sol- way Firth. New YOC awards scheme The project guide Wildlife Action Awards (price £\ from the Young Ornithologists’ Club, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL) provides young people with 35 different ideas for con- servation activities. The new scheme involves gaining points from completed projects to- wards bronze, silver and gold Wildlife Action Awards, with outstanding winners qualifying for entry to the RSPB Young Conservationist of the Year Award. VII Bedfordshire Bird Conference Not surprising if you can’t remember numbers I to VI: they were in 1949-54. This time, the Bedfordshire Bird Club is holding an all-day meeting at Silsoe Agricultural College on 13th November 1993. The programme includes a talk on the history of BB by Rob Hume. The cost is £10 per person (cheques payable to Bedfordshire Natural History Society), includ- ing coffee, buffet lunch and tea, and please also send a SAE for directions and programme details. Write to Paul Trodd, 17 Northall Road, Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire LU6 2DQ. Carved birds An exhibition of original carvings of birds by East of England artists is being held at Pens- thorpe Waterfowl Park, Fakenham, Norfolk, during lst-3rd October 1993. For further de- tails, contact the organiser, Mrs Judith Nicoll, 18 Dilton Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex SSO 7HG. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Sponsored by Monthly marathon The white bird in July (plate 1 15) was named as: Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea (87%), Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides (6%), Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea (4%), Mediterranean Gull L. nulanocephalus (2%), Kittiwake Rissa tndactyla (1%) and Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus (< 1 %). It was an Ivory Gull, photographed in Svalbard in July 1991 by Wendy Dickson (SCORE 13). 138. Sixth ‘Monthly marathon’, using new rules (see page 149); eighth stage: photo no. 87. Identify the species. Send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th October 1993 For a free SUNBIRI) brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 1 OF or tele- phone Sandy (0767) 682969. Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary of unchecked reports covers the period 20th July to 15th August 1993 Soft-plumaged Petrel Plerodroma mollis Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), 1 1 th August. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Build-up of at least 100 from second half of July, including at least 1 7 on the Feign Estuary (Devon) and nine on Thorncy Island (West Sussex). Marsh Sandpiper Tringa slagnalilis Cliffc Marshes (Kent), 2 1st July to 13th August. Lesser Yellowlegs T. Jkwipes Two, Douglas Estuary (Co. Cork), 24th July. Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus Eigg (High- land), 20th July. Pallid Swift Apus pallidas Burnham Norton (Norfolk), 25th July; Howlh Head (Co. Dublin), 9th August (flying in morning, picked up exhausted in afternoon, died in evening; second Irish record, first was in October 1913). Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis North Ronaldsay (Orkney), at least 13th- 14th August. For the latest, up-to-date news, phone ‘Rare Bird News’ on 0881-888 111 (25p/ min cheap rate; 39p/min other times; inch VAT) 446 TAKES OFF HERE Get the very best out of your birding with BIRDWATCH every month ^ Detailed guides on where to see the best birds around Britain and Ireland € How to identify everything from plovers and petrels to rare warblers and buntings ^ Exclusive photos and detailed reports of the latest rarities ^ In-depth essays on the world's birding hot-spots *r Coverage of all the big conservation ^ issues and scientific discoveries ^ Regular features by Britain’s top birders, including Bill Oddie, Eric Simms, Anthony McGeehan and Colin Bradshaw »ON SALE AT YOUR NEWSAGENT NOW Our own Conservation Area makes us unique. A pool and woodland adjacent to the showroom attract numerous birds, enabling our visitors to test equipment in field conditions. The experts Professionals recommend ! 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The famous Dungeon Inn, dating back to the 15th Century, is also on the estate, a short walk from the caravans and pine lodges. What more could you want. Come and visit us. Simply Magnificent | (D293) BEIDAIHE "W £1250 Leaders: Paul Holt and Martin Williams EILAT 3,0CS4N0V £475 Leaders: Killian Mullamey and Steve Rooke BHARATPUR™N£1155 Leader: Paul Holt Details from Sunbird, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SC 19 IDF. Tel: 0767-682969. (Please specify which event you are interested in). (D277) New WildWatch „ Computer Software Whether you study one species or many. Birds, insects, butterflies or mammals. This is the NEW, all-in-one system that has been designed especially for you ! WildWatch will show the exact location of any species you have recorded on a full colour map that you have designed. Print maps in colour or B& W, create detailed reports, species lists and location histories. Comes with user guide, full on-line-help, maps & species database. * Store 1 MILLION observations : Design & Print full colour maps tftfh Display observations onto maps ,f{ For IBM PC's (V GA)/Archimedes V it, /mi -ACCESSI ONLY £79 INCLUSIVE Iyjsa FULL 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! WHAT TO DO NEXT! E’or next day delivery of WildWatch please cal 1 (09 1 ) 455 4300 (9am-5pm). For more information please write trv- Computer Concepts (Northern), 'Hie Business Centre, Eldon Street, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE33 5JE. (D305) The natural means of trapping S P I II E R T E E II B R D N Passerine standard net with 15 mm mesh and 4 shelves available in lenghts 9m USD 26/pc, 12m USD 29/pc. Ask for other meshes. Spider Technologies Iso-Roobertinkatu 33 D 34 00120 Helsinki FINLAND Tel & Fax +358-0-611 087 - for licenced ringers only - (D3I2) XII TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 H OLID A Y ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bedrooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071-431 2942. (BB266) FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Reserve and The Fames. Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mrs J. Sutherland, Ross Farm, Belford, Nor- thumberland NE70 7EN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB312) FILEY: Lovely seafront flat. Sleeps 4. Seawatch from lounge. Anything possible! Owner local birder. Non- smokers. Sorry no young children or pets. 0723 515273. (BB431) NORTH NORFOLK, NR CLEY. Charming 2 bed Bint cottage in Holt. Tastefully furnished with all mod. cons, including gas c/heating. Garden with furniture/barbecue. Tel: 0788 815380 (after 6pm) (BB454) ISLES OF SCILLY. Self catering units for 2/5. Linen, towels, TV included. Well furnished & equipped. Guest House accommodation also available. All rooms en suite, . colour TV, tea/coffee making facilities. Conveniently situated. D. Williams, The Bylet Guest House, St Mary’s, Isle of Scilly. Tel: 0720 22479. (BB450) ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds overlooking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB455) SUFFOLK. 16th century farmhouse, B&B. Private facilities. Minsmere 25 mins., Cley 60 mins Bird information. 0502 76892. (BB459) I ISLES OF SCILLY, The Wheelhouse, Porthcressa, St Marys TR21 0JG. E.T.B. 3 Crown Commended. Good food and comfortable surroundings, next door to log, B&B or B.B. & E.M. Tel. 0720 22719 (BB471) ' WEYMOUTH. ‘Birchfields Hotel’. Close to Radipole/ Lodmoor/Portland & The Fleet. Ideal Winter/Spring breaks, local info. Parties welcome. Details phone 0305 773255. (BB491) GARA MILL, Slapton, Devon. Self-catering for 2-7 in - secluded four acres overlooking river and woods. Eight detached cedar lodges, plus 2 CH flats in 16c. cornmill. ' Near Slapton Ley. TVs. Dogs welcome. Free brochure: (0803) 770295. (BB485) i CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2). Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB493) ff CLEY NATURE RESERVE 1 milel Small guest house offers you warm welcome, B&B and optional evening meal. Colour TV. tea-making facilities, all private facilities and central heating ip all rooms. Parking facilities and sorry, no smoking. IDEAL FOR BIRDWATCHERS THE FUNTSTONES. W1VETON, HOLT. NORFOLK 0263 740337 (BB488) ^ * WALES RED KIT COUNTRY. Tregaron — Guest house standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Yns-hir RSPB reserves. Parties welcome. WTB 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 98965 or 298905. (BB433) ANGLESEY. Superb waterside position with magnificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanist in area of outstanding natural beauty. Elegant en suite rooms available for bed and breakfast. Highground. Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY. Tel: (0407) 860078. (BB472) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi- pension (Private bath) from £50.00. Details, brochure, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB31 1) SPEY VALLEY. Beautiful secluded informal hotel, 2 miles from village of Carrbridge. Home cooking, full central heating. All rooms en-suite. Perfect base for birdwatchers and walkers. Discount available for parties. Terms from £185.00 per week DB&B. Brochure from Mrs Y. Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel: 0479 84278. (BB467) ISLAY, GEESE. Warm cottages sleep 8, 8 or 2. Lady Wilson, Cala na Ruadh. Port Charlotte. Tel: 049-685 289. (BB419) OVERSEAS PROVENCE — HEART OF CAMARGUE. Well equipped s/c cottage. Mas d’Auphan, Le Sambuc, 13200 ARLES. France. Tel: (01033) 90972041. Fax: 90972087. (BB408) AUSTRALIA, CAIRNS, JULATTEN. At Kingfisher Park we provide accommodation in a rainforest sanctuary for native birds and animals. We are central to a variety of habitats and cater for the interests and enthusiasms of birdwatchers and naturalists. Write now for a free birdlist to Kingfisher Park, P.O. Box 3, Julatten, Queensland, Australia 4871. (BB470) PAJINKA WILDERNESS LODGE 400m from the top of Australia lies Pajinka Wilderness Lodge, a birding destination of international consequence. Pajinka boasts over y3 of Australia’s bird species, (230 species, 13 endemic). Within a short drive of the Lodge are a variety of habitats including mangrove, rainforest, heathlands, swamps, open schlerophyll and vine thickets. Two major and totally different catchments lie within the area. Pajinka’s Green Season from Oct-Mar, is when migratory birdsfrom Nuigini and beyond attend. In January, Pajinka hosts Nature Week, an opportunity for twitchers to pursue rare species with the support of resident and visiting experts. During the Dry season, May-Sept, the focus is on resident endemics. For more information or reservations: PH. +61 70 313 988 or FAX: +61 70 313966, or write to PO Box 7757, Cairns. 4870, Australia. (BB458) BIRD WA TCHING H OLID A YS CAPE TOWN For Western Cape birding and quality pelagics contact: Jim Enticott, PO Box 34088, Rhodes Gift, 7707, Cape Town or tel: 27-21-757676. Farmhouse type accommodation organised. Tour operators, groups and individuals welcome. (BB457) HIGH ISLAND’ UPPER TEXAS COAST U.S.A. Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8. Tours given. 'Birder’s Haven, PO Box 309, High Island, Texas 77623. Tel 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390. (BB487) SRI LANKA Combine serious birdwatching (21 endemic species) with a wonderful holiday in our superb island. For tailormade trips (individuals and groups) contact the experienced specialists. A. Baur & Co (Travel) Ltd PO Box 11, Colombo 1 Fax No. 0094-1-448493 (BB490) TO ADVERTISE FAX 0621 819130 CHINA 1994 0k SPRING MIGRATION WF BIRDING PACKAGE HOLIDAYS (BB492) ABTAl 97237 DIVISION OF NICK S TRAVEL 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ EXPERTS IN LOW COST AIRFARES - WORLDWIDE. DISCOUNT CAR HIRE/INSURANCE SPECIALIST ADVISER - ANDY HOWES 0533 881318 (EVENINGS ONLY PLEASE) ^ALWAYS RING US LAST (BB460)^ HONG KONG. Superb birding September to May — variety of accommodation — trips into China. Richard Lewthwaite, 2 Villa Paloma, Shuen Wan, Tai Po NT, Hong Kong. Phone/Fax: (HK) 665 8190. (BB466) BIRD REPORT ORKNEY BIRD REPORT 1992, cost £3 plus 45p p & p. Available from: Vishabreck, Evie, Orkney, KW17 2PF. (BB45I) BIRD INFORMATION The BEST service Now: NEW LOWER PRICE and new improved service. It's why THE CAR IN FRONT has got a Rare Bird Alert Pager RARE BIRD ALERT PAGERS: getting the news to you right across the UK, from Scilly to Shetland. For full info. Call Dick Filby on 0603 767799 (BB481 ) DISCOUNT FLIGHTS. CAB HIRE. SEA TRAVEL. PACKAGE HOLIDAYS GROUPS & EXPEDITIONS . . . worldwide Travel News Current return flights from: Israel Gambia £159 £224 Kuala Lumpar... Jakata £372 £422 Morocco £129 £4fiQ Delmi £313 £399 Bangkok £359 £475 Katmmandu ... £435 Madagascar £450 oAvt tts. . . Always phone us — we get new fares and special offers daily! NEW FOR '94 — HONG KONG & BEIDAIME — See separate advert ANTARCTICA WINTER 93/4. Cape to Cape — Limited - - space. Antarctica & The Falklands 1 & 2 — Full The Emperor — Full. Advance registrations for Winter 94/5 being taken now! Ask for leaflet detailing our services 0272-613000 or DICK FILBY 0603-767-757 INTERNATIONAL HOUSE BANK ROAD, BRISTOL BS15 2LX, UK A.B.T.A./I.A.T.A. (BB480) BIRD WATCHING TOURS SRI LANKA - ORNITHOLOGISTS PARADISE - Home to 426 species 21 of which are endemic - Specialist guides provided for tours from individuals to groups - Best period November to March - Contact Delmege Forsyth Tours, 101, Vinayalankara Mawatha. Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. 0094 1 693361 - 8, 699500 & 699984 21320 LEWIS CE. 21536 DFSHIP, 22766 DELAIR CF 0094 1 698139, 699413, 686149 (BB489) VENEZUELA Ecoturismo Campo Undo. Highly praised in M L. Goodwin's Birding in Venezuela. 8-day lours Jan-March 1994, See over 300 birds like Flamingos, Jacamars, North Amer. migrants, Macaws and Parrots. Groups of 8 staying in beautiful ranch near national park. £1,200 includes air fare. For more information write: Mr Alfredo Tellez, Day & Night No 133 PO Box 140280, Coral Gables, FI 33114-0280. (BB414) AUSTRALIA — Send for our Birding brochure Tours throughout Australia from individuals to groups. We welcome enquiries from both private customers and tour agents. Falcon Tours, 1 Simmons Drive, Rolcystone, Perth, Western Australia. PH/FAX (09) 397 5125. Lie. Tout- Operator. (BB330) i eicpnone Telex Fax 0(7(7 AD 'BIRD BOOKS'. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Brian! Books. 94 Quarry I anc. Kclsall. Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel 0829 51804. (BB422) COLLECTABLE new and secondhand ornithological natural history books. SAP A5 for catalogue. Bcrthwan Books. Kcnnal Vale Cottage, Kennal Vale. Ponsanooth. T ruro, Cornwall TR3 7HL. (BB453) XIV TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 THE BIRD & WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP Britain 's leading omithobgical booksellers where you can find our comprehensive range of new and secondhand books and reports on birds and natural history, including all new titles as they are published. Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Mail order catabgue avaibble on request THE BIRD & WILDLIFE BOOKSHOP 2-4 Princes Arcade, Piccadilly, London SW1Y 6DS Tel: 071-287 1407 (BB479) The original BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 1 59 diary pages. Send £6.45 inclusive p/p to: Coxton Publications, WANTED BIRD BOOKS. Good secondhand bird books bought. Offers to Nightingale Books. Tel: 0689 860040. (BB486) HUGE STOCKS - LOW PRICES HELPFUL & EFFICIENT SERVICE Binoculars — telescopes — video cameras lenses — tripods — SLRs — compacts * ZEISS * KOWA * BUSHNELL * LEITZ * SWIFT * RUSSIAN ‘PENTAX *BAUSCH & LOMB ‘MINOLTA *OPTOLYTtt ADLERBLICK WALKERS Kowa TSN I & 2 ^99 Kowa TSN 3 & 4 £599 20x60 x zoom 20xwa £105 25x40x £65 30xwa £129 77x £" RUSSIAN 20x60 binoculars incl case & straps w BUSHNELL SPACE MASTER 60M body, 1 5x — 45x £199 60 M body, 22wa £189 PRAKTICA “DISCOVERER” 15x - 60x 60 zoom SPECIAL C1*>Q PRICE X. I UV SEPTEMBER SPECIALS LIMITED STOCK Leica 7x42 £649 B& Lomb 8x42 £550 Leica 8x42 £649 B&Lomb8x42P £575 Leica 10x42 £649 B & Lomb 10x42P £575 Leica 8x32 £619 Zeiss 7x42 Phone Audubon 8.5x44 £209 Zeiss 10x40 Phone Audubon 10x50 £219 Habicht 7x42 £475 LTD 70 ST THOMAS ST SCARBOROUGH YOU 1DU 0723 365024 FAX 0723 363334 British Birds Volume 86 Number 9 September 1993 397 Spring passage of Little Gulls across Northern England Doug Messenger 406 Twenty-five years ago . . . 407 Egypt as a major wintering area of Little Gulls Peter L. Xleirnnger and Uffe Cjjol Sorensen From the Rarities Committee’s files 41 1 Yellow-browed Bunting in Orkney Peter J. Donnelly 415 Rarities Committee news and announcements P. G. Lansdown and the Rarities Committee 417 Rare -bird recording and the Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown 423 The BOU Records Committee — through a newcomer’s eyes B. A. E. Man Announcement 429 ‘Sibes’ in Thailand, 1994 430 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs Dr R. J. Chandler, Don Smith, Dr J. T. R. Shanock and Roger Tidman 433 PhotoSpot 34 Desert Sparrow Dr J. D. Summers-Smith Notes 434 Common Shelduck nesting in open position in barn Dennis Green 435 House Sparrows nesting in dirts in St illy R. D. Penhalhmck Letters 437 Red Grouse, wagtails, and the classification and English names of birds Dr IE R P Bourne 438 English name changes Dr J. 7. P. Sharrock 438 English names of Western Palearctic birds J. Duncan Wood 440 Sacrosanct names I Mrs Svensson Reviews 441 Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. VII: flycatchers to shrikes’ edited by S. Cramp & C. M Perrins A. R. Dean 442 Birds of Prey' by Nicholas Hammond & Bruce Pearson Robin Piytherch 442 Short reviews 443 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch 446 Monthly marathon 446 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 397 Little Chills (Dan Pawed,: 407 Little (hill (Dane .Yunu r); 423 the BOl’RC at work’ M. J. Everett)', 429 Banded Kingfisher (. Kamol hamotphalm) Front cover: Wood Pigeons (Jim /yes): the original drawing of this month's cover design, measuring 24.8 X 27.75 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (sec page 28 in January issue for procedure) ZEISS Volume 86 Number 10 October 1993 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 2 8 SEP 1993 PURCHASED ZOOLOGY LIBRAR' ire birds in Great Britain in 1992 Sponsored by ers • Monthly marathon • Review s and comment • Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultant Don Smith Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Catley, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gantlett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, Andy Stoddart & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1993 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on diUcrcnl items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for News and comment’, drawings & photographs Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Eax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lime, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085. Eax: (0621) 819130 Bird news for ‘Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MKI7 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 41 N. Phone: Mold (0352) 770581. Fax: (0352) 771590 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) libraries and agencies £47.50, IR£55.50 or S89.70. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £38.60, IR£45.20 or $73.00; personal airmail, outside Europe £64.85, 1R£75.70 or SI 22.50. Single back copies £5.00, IR£5.70 or S9.50. (This special issue: £8.00, IR£9.00 or SI 5.00.) Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made direedy into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearctie. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should lx* typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequence of birds follow The British Birds* List of EngUsh Names of Western Palearctie Birds (1993); or, for non-Wcst-Palcarcti( species, Sibley & Monroe (1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World, names of plants follow Dony ft tii (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers; names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern [1977, The Handbook of British Mammals Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should lx- in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should be inserted lightly in pencil; captions should lx* typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1993 '.3* NORTH LONDON 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTFORDSHIRE, EN5 5SZ Open Mon ■ Sat 9am - 6pm Tel: 081-449 1445, 081-441 7748 Fax: 081-440 9999 HOW TO FIND US (Barnet); We are 10 mins from M25 and A1 M motorways and 1 5 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS (VkLES AND SERVICE NORFOLK MAIN STREET, TITCHWELL, NR. KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK, PE31 8BB Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 0485 210101 HOW TO FIND US (Norfolk), We are 500 yards east of the RSPB reserve at Titchwell on the A1 49 between Hunstanton and Brancaster. YORKSHIRE WESTUIGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HD8 8QJ Open Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm Tel: 0484 864729 HOW TO FIND US (Denby Dale); We are close by the railway station at Denby Dale on the A636 Near June. 38 & 39 on the Ml . LEICESTERSHIRE ANGLIAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE EGLETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICESTER, LAI 5 8BT Open 7 days 9am - 5pm Tel: 0572 770656 HOW TO FIND US (Egleton) We are situated on the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water. Follow signposts to Egleton Village on the A6003 to Oakham. WWT MARTIN MERE, ASKIRK, LANCASHIRE SAT 25 & SUN 26 SEPT SAT 27 5 SUN 28 NOV iY NATURE RESERVE, ■ NORTH NORFOLK SUN 26 SEPT SPURN PENINSULA | K NORTH HUMBERSIDE SAT 16 8 SUN 17 OCT AUTUMN FIELD EVENTS FOR CUSTOMERS PREFERRING TO SELECT AND PURCHASE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS WE OFFER THE FOliOWING PROGRAMME WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE RSPB, WWT AND COUNTY TRUSTS. MOST EVENTS ARE HEID FROM 10 AM - 4 PM - WRITE OR PHONE FOR FURTHER DETAILS. RSPB DUNGENESS, KENT SAT 2 & SUN 3 OCT NORTHUMBRIAN BIRDWATCHING FESTIVAL DRURIDGE BAY COUNTRY PARK SAT 9 8 SUN 10 OCT ABBERTON RESERVOIR, COLCHESTER, ESSEX SUN 17 OCT, SUN 21 NOV POTTERIC CARR, DONCASTER, SOUTH YORKSHIRE SAT 23 8 SUN 24 OCT WWT SUMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE SAT 9 8 SUN 10 OCT SAT 13 8 SUN 14 NOV WWT LLANELLI, DYFED, WALES SAT 30 8 SUN 31 OCT FISHERS GREEN, IEEVAL1EY COUNTRY PARK, ESSEX SUN 10 OCT, SUN 14 NOV RSPB PULBOROUGH BROOKS, WEST SUSSEX SAT 6 8 SUN 7 NOV PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY, | DORSET NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN | EVERY SATURDAY 8 SUNDAY FROM 10AM ■ 4PM. How lo find us: Drive on to Portland Bill and follow signs lo Southwell. Take the road towards the Bill. We ate situated in the observatory by | the lower lighthouse. ILS OF OUR BLUE RIBAND CAREPLAN ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE COVER AVAILABLE ON REQUEST CCH & LOMB £ H36BGAP 599.00 C428GAP 649.00 v«42BGAP 649.00 • 8x36B 258.00 1 0x40BGA 279.00 8«24 99.00 ..-45x60BGAP 395.00 Body 41 2.00 :D Body 850.00 - '64.00 149.00 Zoom 21 8.00 37.00 NNELL £ iew 8x42BGA 109.00 osier Body 185.00 ip ;r Body ED 329.00 ► jr GA Body 198.00 c Zoom 79.00 ■ 55.00 20.00 I ZEISS £ &»3x20BT*P 349.00 IOx25BT*P 359.00 •’3x20BP 299.00 IOx25BP 339.00 . <20BGAP 339.00 x30BGAT*P 699.00 <42BGAT*P 769 00 3x40BGAT*P 769 00 Ox40BT*P 849.00 <56BGAT*P 979.00 •Jorro GAT 1599.00 i 3500.00 ard 8.00 s 20 00 6.00 “-nyard 15.00 ■ 8x20BC 229.00 1 0x25BC 269.00 8x20BCA 269.00 1 0x25BCA 298.00 Mini 20.00 7x42BA 698.00 ' 8x32BA 649 00 8x42BA 718.00 1 0x42BA 738.00 sh 8x42B 139.95 1 0x42B 149.95 •x42B 169.95 on 10x42B 179.95 NIKON £ 7x20CF III 89.00 8x23CF III 99.00 9x25CF III 109.00 10x25CF III 129.00 8x32DCF 419.00 10X40DCF 429.00 8x30E 269.00 10x35E 289.00 Fieldscope II Body 329.00 Fieldscope IIA 45° Body 329.00 Fieldscope EDJI Body 589.00 Fieldscope EDIIA 45° Body 589.00 15x/20x/30x/40x 89.00 30xWF (new) 169.00 20-45x Zoom 169.00 60x 109.00 Photo Kit 1 89.00 Rubber Lens Hood 10.00 Stay-on Case 45.00 Hoya HMC Filter 20.00 Spotting Scope 20x60GA 229.00 Spotting Scope 1 5x-45x60GA 289.00 20 x 39.00 1 5-45x Zoom 11 9.00 KOWA £ TS-611 Body 316.00 TS-612 Body 296.00 TS-613 EDBody 656.00 TS 614 EDBody 596.00 TS 20xWA 74.00 TS 27xWA 109.00 TSN-lASN-2Body 349.00 TSN-3/TSN-4 Body 649 00 20x-60x Zoom 179.00 20xWA 119.00 25x 80.00 30xWA 149.00 40x 80.00 60x 138.00 77% 125.00 Skua Stay-OnCase 39.95 27xWA (Screwfit) 69 00 Screw Bay Adaptor 20.00 Photo Adapt 800mm 150.00 Photo Adapt 1 200mm . 230.00 SWIFT £ Trilyte 8x42BGA 159.00 Tryfite 10x42BGA 165.00 Audubon HR5 8.5x44 279.00 Audubon HR5 10x50 299.00 Viewmaster 60 Body 159.00 1 5x-45x Zoom 59.00 20x 29.00 Case 16.00 OPTOLYTH £ Alpin 8x30BGA 258.00 Alpin 8x40BGA 279.00 Alpin 1 0x40BGA 283.00 Alpin 1 0X50BGA 315.00 Touring 8x32BGA 449.00 Touring 7x42BGA 495.00 Touring 10x40BGA 495.00 TBG80/TBS80 Body 475.00 TBG HD/TBS HD Body 725.00 20xWW 1 38.00 30xWA 87.00 30xWW 157.00 40xWA 87 00 70xWW (new) 1 89.00 22x-60xZoom 179 00 TBG/TBS Stay on Case 45.00 OPTICRON £ Vega II 8x30 62.00 Vega II 8x40 67.00 MCF 8x24 Compact 107.00 MCF 10x24 Compact 109.00 Dioptron 8x32 163.00 Dioptron 8x42 165.00 Dioptron 10x42 175.00 Dioptron 1 0x50 183.00 HR 8x32 MC 194.00 HR 8x42 MC 198 00 HR 10x42 MC 209.00 HR 1 0x50MC 217.00 Observation 20x80 395.00 Observation 30x80 395.00 HR 80 Body 320.00 30xWA 46.00 HR 60 22x & Case 260.00 HR GA, 22x & Case 290.00 HR 45°, 22x & Case 285.00 HRGAED 22x & Case 595.00 HR 60 20x-60x & Cose ... 285.00 HR GA20x-60x & Case 320.00 HR 45° 20x-60x & Case . 325.00 HRGAED 20x-60x&Case 665.00 1 5x/25x/40x 36.00 22xWA 46.00 30xW HR 53.00 HR 20-60x 105.00 HR Stay on case 44.00 Classic IF60 144.00 Classic IF75 172.00 1 8xWA or 22xWA 27.00 25x or 30x 27.00 18x-45x or 22-4 7x zoom 90.00 Piccolo MKII Body 1 70.00 Piccolo ED Body 369.00 Eye Pieces from 30.00 Pnoto Kits from 36.00 Cases for scopes 1 5.00 Macro Monocular 52.00 SWAROVSKI £ 8x20B 265.00 10x25B 289.00 SLC 1 1 7x30SLC II 430.00 SLC 1 1 8x30SLC II 449.00 SLC 7x42 SLC 599.00 SLC 10x42 SLC 659,00 Case 29.00 Diana 10x40 410.00 AT80 Body 595.00 22xWA 78.00 20x-60x Zoom 1 89.00 CULLMANN £ Hide Clamp 59.95 Shoulder Pod 34.95 Q/R System 14.95 Q/R Plate 6.95 31 00B Tripod (new) 89.95 3400B Tripod (new). 119.95 Combi Grip 19.95 Multipod 39.99 MANFROTTO £ 290/128 105.00 290B/1 28 109.00 144/128 115.00 1 448/128 119.00 Tripod Strap 14.95 Q/R Plate 5.95 Monopod 079B or 1 34B . . 34.95 SLIK £ Master D-3 109.00 VELBON £ DH-10ML Mini 24,95 CX-580 49.95 CX-680 59.95 D-600 69.95 D-700 79 95 Q/R System 10.00 Q/R Plates from 5.00 ACCESSORIES £ Car Window Mount 30.00 Universal Mount 28.00 42.00 3.50 Lens Cleaning Cloth 3.00 Tripod Strap 8.00 Wide Lanyards from 4.95 Binocular Clamps from 6.95 T- Mounts from 7.00 Reversing Rings from 7 00 Double eyepiece Case 9.95 Tamrac Scope Case 26.95 Equipment Guide 3.95 LISTINGS CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. E&OA. PHONE FOR LATEST PRICES BOOKS Also at these shops, over 300 book titles and bird recordings in association with the Bird And Wildlife Bookshop. REPAIRS Full service and repair facilities in our own workshops. All work carries six month warranty MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Please remember to add £2.00 towards the cost of insured Trakbak postage and packing - whether paying by cheque,Visa, Access or Mastercard - and aoods will be despatched with full 14 days approval on receipt of your remittance. PART EXCHANGE Top prices paid for good condition telescopes and binoculars. SECOND HAND ITEMS All instruments offered with six month warranty. Send S.A.E. for current us ea binocular and telescope stock list. THIS MONTHS SPECIAL OFFERS • TOP QUALITY BAUSCH & LOMB 7X35B DISCOVERER BINOCULAR NORMAL SRP £399 £229 (SAVE £1/0) • BUSHNELL SPACEMASTER IN BLACK RUBBER ARMOURED FINISH WITH 15-45XZOOM EYEPIECE, CASE AND VELBON CX-680 TRIPOD NORMAL SRP £356 £299 (SAVE £57) HELPFUL AND COMPETENT LEADERS WITH UNSURPASSED BIRDING EXPERTISE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF LONG DISTANCE BIRD TOURS, INCLUDING PIONEERING JOURNEYS TO THE WORLD’S LAST WILD FRONTIERS For our brochure please contact us at: Two Jays, Kemple End, Birdy Brow, Stonyhurst, Lancashire BB6 9QY. Tel: 0254-826317. Fax:0254-826780. Government Licensed and Fully Bonded - ATOL 2937 BIRDQUEST ... Miles Ahead (D303) Spoon-hilled Sandpipers DISCERNING BIRDERS CHOOSE BIRDQUEST FOR: BETTER BIRDING IN SMALL AND FRIENDLY GROUPS it SEE HOW MUCH YOU GET... \\^ NEW LOWER PRICE: GET ONE IN TIME FOR THE SCILLIES! N Just 92p is all that it now costs to ensure that you get all of todays bird news, no matter how much news there is. Make sure that you know about the Great Grey Shrike or the Waxwing near you, as well as the rarest birds. Read about it on your Rare Bird A'ert Pager screen, as soon as it’s broadcast, or at your leisure (it automatically stores the last 40 messages). Make sure that you make the best use of "our spare time and your money. NEW MEGA ALERT and EARLYBIRD features: As well as the new lower price for full national coverage, we have just introduced Mega Alert and Earlybird. These exciting new features mean that the pager service is more closely tailored to the needs of the working birder. News of all the Wrynecks, Shorelarks and Yellow-browed Warblers is very useful when you are out and about, interesting when you are at home, but not urgent when you are at work, so . . . MEGA ALERT gives extra priority to the most important news. This enables you to flick a switch on your pager so that all the less important news will be stored silently in your pager’s memory. However when news breaks of a mega (such as a Spoon- billed Sandpiper or a Siberian Accentor!) the silent mode is overridden and you will be alerted with a noisy bleep, telling you to read the message on your pager screen immediately! EARLYBIRD means that prior to 7.45am all news is automatically transmitted silently. The major benefits of this are that extra early news will not disturb you, plus you can keep your pager switched on overnight in case of mega news which will be v broadcast on the Mega Alert override at any time! / For full details of the Rare Bird Alert Pager service call Dick Filby now and ask for the latest information pack and an order form. Pagers can be delivered in as little as three working days and they work on Scilly too! Tel. 0603 767799. RARE BIRD ALERT — From Scilly BIRDING PAGERS— to Shetland 1 The best bird news service iii (D324) Alternative venues to Morden, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below Every effort is made to take our full range of equipment and payment can be made in all the usual ways. Repairs can also be handed in * 10.00 am to 4.00 pm* * PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sunday 26th September, 31st October and 28th November. ★ SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sunday 3rd October and 7th November. * BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 junction (with access from the B2042 or B2027; the information centre is to the north of the reservoir) on Sunday 10th October and 14th November. ★ COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE near Trmg, Herts, on the B488 (off the A41 ) close to Bulbourne Saturday 25th September and 23rd October. * SLIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) Village Hall (on the left, halfway along village road into the W&WT). Saturday 2nd October. * DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK near Reading (M4, A329(M) Woodley turnoff) and then A329 to Winnersh and Winnersh Station (B3030) on Sunday 17th October in the Loddon Room ★ THE SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Woods Mill, Henfield, W Sussex (A2037) on Sunday 19th September. A NEW FACILITY has also been opened here — selling a selection of our binoculars (Phone 0273 492630) * DURLSTON COUNTRY PARK off the A351 near Swanage, Dorset In the visitor centre on Sunday 12th September and 14th November. A NEW FACILITY selling a selection of our binoculars has been opened here (0929 424443) * THE KENT TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION in the Tyland Barn, near Sandling, Maidstone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, going south), on Sunday 26th September, 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. ★ HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR off the A130 north of Basildon. Essex, on Sunday 24th October (near fishing lodge). ★ NT WICKEN FEN off the A1 123. NE of Cambridge. In the visitor centre on Sunday 19th September. * CASTLE WOODS, Llandeilo, Dyfed (SN 622 222). Junction of A40 and A483 20 mins from Jet. 49 of M4 Sunday 3rd October (0437 769062 for a leaflet). * ALTON WATER, Suffolk, near Ipswich, on the B1080 Holbrook/ Stutton Road Sunday 17th October. * MARSH FARM COUNTRY PARK, T Q 81 5 962) South Woodham Ferrers, Essex Sunday 10th October. * BURTON MILL POND. 2 miles south of Petworth, W Sussex (SU.979 181), off the A285 Sunday 21st November. UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical Es 962 SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc ZEISS £ 10 * 25 BP Dialyt 339 10 x 25 B/TP (New DS) ...359 8 x 20 B/TP (New DS) 349 8 x 30 BGA/T (P) 699 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) 769 10x40 BGA/T (P) 769 15x60 BGA/T 1,499 BAUSCH & LOMB rl x 36 Elite 636 ▲ i 8 x 42 Elite 699 (.10x42 Elite ,699 15-45x BGA Elite Scope. .395 77mm Elite body 412 77mm Elite (ED) body 659 20x (WA) Eyepiece 164 30x Eyepiece 149 20 60x Zoom eyepiece 218 800mm Camera Adaptor 175 800mm RA mirror lens kit 299 SWAROVSKI 7 x 30 SLC (BM) 430 8 x 30 SLC (WB) 449 10x42 SLC (new) 659 7 x 42 SK (new) 599 LEICA 8 x 20 BC Trinovid 219 8 x 20 BCA T rinovid 269 10x25 BC Trinovid 269 10 x 25 BCA Trinovid 298 BA Trinovid ...649 BA Trinovid 698 BA Trinovid . 718 10 x 42 BA Trinovid 738 SWIFT 8V2 x 44 HR Audubon 279 10 x 50 Audubon 299 NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof 189 10 x 25 waterproof 199 8 x 20 F roof prism 150 10 x 25 F roof prism 165 8 x 30 ECF porro WF 269 10x35 ECF porro WF 279 Fieldscope II body 329 Fieldscope ED II body 589 Angled Fieldscope 1 1 A body 329 Angled EDNA body 589 15x, 20x, 30x or 40x EP 89 30x (WA) eyepiece (new) 169 60x eyepiece 109 20-45x Zoom eyepiece 169 Camera adaptor 189 Mod for other cameras 18 Quality filter 13 Rubber hood 8 Stay-on-case 40 We can modify your ear- lier model Nikon tele- scopes to lake Ihe zoom eyepiece and the new 30x (WA) eyepiece. Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA 259 Spotting scope 20-45x GA 329 KOWA TSN-1 (45°) body 349 TSN-2 body 349 TSN-3 (F) Prominar body 649 TSN-4 (F) Prominar body 649 25x or 40x eyepiece 80 20x (WA) eyepiece 119 30x (WA) eyepiece 149 20-60x zoom eyepiece .... 179 60x eyepiece 125 77x eyepiece 138 Cam adaptor 800mm 150 Cam adaptor 1200mm 230 Kowa case 29 Skua case 40 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 74 NEW 60mm Scopes TS-611 body (45°) 316 TS-612 body 296 TS-613 ED Prominar Body (45° ) 656 TS-614 ED Prominar Body 596 20x (WA) eyepiece 74 27x (WA) eyepiece 109 20-60x zoom eyepiece 127 Also, TSN eyepieces fit the 611/614 series Cases included BUSHNELL Spacemaster (black rubber armoured) c/w zoom eyepiece and case 270 22x (WA) EP 32 25x or 40x EP 30 Photokit 62 NATUREVIEW 8x42 binos 109 VIEWMASTER 45° scope body 149 25x Eyepiece 30 27x (WA) Eyepiece 74 OPTOLYTH 8x30 Alpin 258 8x40 Alpin 279 10x40 Alpin 283 10x50 Alpin 315 12x50 Alpin 320 7x42 Alpin 295 TBG 80 telescope body 475 TBS 80 (45°) body 475 TBG/TBS 80 Fluorite 725 30x (WW) new eyepiece 157 20x (WW) eyepiece 138 30x or 40x eyepiece 87 70x (WW) eyepiece 189 22-60x zoom eyepiece . 179 Nylon case 30 Stay-on case for TB5/TB9 45 OPTICRON 8x32 Dioptron (145) 163 8 x 42 Dioptron (148) 165 10 x 42 Dioptron (153) 175 10 x 50 Dioptron (162) 183 8x32 (HRII) (174) 194 8x42 (HRII) (179) 198 10x42 (HRII) (186) 209 10x50 (HRII) (199) 217 7x42 (HRII) (178) 196 7x35 Elite (185) 195 9x35 Elite (220) 230 7 x 40 Minerva (200) 220 9 x 35 Minerva (200) 217 8 x 40 Minerva (206) 221 10 x 40 Minerva (215) 229 7 x 24, 8 x 24 or 10 x 24 MCF (95) 107 HR 60mm scopes Std w/22x (WA) & case (235) 260 Std w/zoom & case (259) 285 GA w/22x (WA) & case ..(275) 290 GA w/zoom & case (299) 320 45° w/22x (WA) & case (220) 285 45° w/zoom & case (250)325 HR black rubber armoured ED body (299) 510 30x (WA) eyepiece 53 20-60x zoom eyepiece (95) 105 HR Photokit (64) 72 Filter (8) 10 Rubber hood (5) 7 DISCOVERY 8x42 or 10x42 RP, GA 125 ROSS 8 x 42 Cavendish 140 10 x 42 Hanover 150 8 x 42 Regent 170 10 x 42 Kensington 180 ADLERBLICK 10 x 42 rubber or leather coated, multi-coated 169 DISCOVERY 8 x 42 or 10 x 42 roof prism, rubber armoured 125 'BUDGET BINOS Russian 8 x 30 45 Fixed-focus 8 x 35 (with close- up feature) 69 Vega 8 x 40 (65)67 Vega 8x30 (60)62 Vega 10x50 69 Falcon 7-21 x 40 zoom 79 ’ Monoculars and Opera Glasses available TRIPODS etc Slik D3 105 Manfrotto 1 44B/200 115 Manfrotto 290B/200 105 Universal clamp 28 Car window mount 30 Shoulder pod 35 Cullmann hide clamp 60 Tripod case 15 Tripod straps, from 7 T-mounts, from 10 Lens cleaning kit 4 Leather eyepiece pouch 7 A with FREE 2 year accident cover HOURS: Monday-Saturday 9 am to 5pm (Lunch 1 -2pm) • VIEWING FACILITIES • Location Southern edge of Greater London. 15 minutes' drive from M25 (via the A3, then the Mer- ton turn-off) or 2 minutes' walk from Morden Underground • Parking 50 yards past our premises — 1st left • Long-established workshop Optical instru- ment experience unrivalled • Mail Order • Personal Exports including VAT claw-back • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments), • P/x arranged • Used items • Package deals Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought E.&O.E. Phone: 081-648 8822 Fax: 081-687 2021 (D322) KAY OPTICAL (1962), 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5HP (1st Floor) > British Birds VOLUME 86 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER 1993 Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Sponsored by ZEISS Michael J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee with comments by Colin Bradshaw and Peter Clement This is the Rarities Committee’s thirty-fifth annual report, and the Com- mittee wishes to express its sincere appreciation of the eleventh consecu- tive year of sponsorship of its work by Carl Lpiss (Oberkochen) Ltd. Rarities Committee membership is listed on the inside front cover of British Birds each month, and on the back of the title page in each volume. Points of interest arising mainly from the Committee’s annual meeting in April 1993 have been published already in ‘Rarities Committee news and announce- ments {Brit. Birds 86: 299-300, 415-416), including several proposals which, for many records, will result in a shortening of the time between the occurrence of the bird and a decision on the record. Details of the Committee’s constitu- tion and operation have been published in ‘Rare birds: the work of the British Birds Rarities Committee’ {Brit. Birds 80: 487-491) and further details, together with the Committee’s views on recording rarities, have been published in ‘Rare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee’ {Brit. Birds 86: 417-422). A fact sheet about the Committee, its list of species considered and copies of its record form (which should be used, or its format followed, when submitting i reports) may be obtained from the Secretary, Michael J. Rogers, whose ad- dress is at the end of this report (please enclose a suitable stamped addressed envelope). All records of any species on the Committee’s list should be sent to the Sec- retary, preferably through the appropriate county or regional recorder or, in the case of a trapped and ringed rarity, via the BTO Ringing Unit. 1992 and earlier years The Committee has already processed 751 records for 1992, 82% of which lave been accepted. There are two records for 1992 still in circulation, 23 awaiting further information concerning the occurrence or comments from reorders or experts on the species, and 63 which were received too late for assessment for inclusion in this report. Excluding a number of records of I Bril. Birds 86: 447-540, October 1993] 447 448 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 acknowledged difficult species and subspecies, such as South Polar Skua Sterco- rarius maccomiicki , Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii and Willow Warbler Phylhscopus trochilus yakutensis, a total of 66 records for 1991 *and earlier years is still out- standing: nine of these are under active consideration, whilst the remaining 57 are awaiting the results of further enquiries. During the past year, with the exception of a few records which require to be recirculated, the Rarities Committee completed its reviews of the records of American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica and Pacific Golden Plover P. fuha, Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida and Arctic Warbler Phylhscopus borealis. The results of these reviews will be published in due course. The Committee is currently engaged upon reviews of the records of Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis and Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola. Records which involve birds new to Britain are always of great interest. They are considered, in turn, by the British Birds Rarities Committee and by the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee, and it is the latter which makes the decisions on categorisation and taxonomy. This report con- tains a number of such highlights: Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auntus (at Charlton’s Pond, Billingham, Cleveland, from January to April 1989), Mourning Dove genaida macroura (on Calf of Man, Isle of Man, in October and November 1989), Eastern Phoebe Sayomis phoebe (on Lundy, Devon, in April 1987) and Brown-headed Cowbird Mohthrus ater (on Islay, Strathclyde, in April 1988) have been added to Category A of the British and Irish List; Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius (at Skcrryvore Lighthouse, Strathclyde, in June 1985 and at Moel-y-gest, Gwynedd, in June 1987) and Dirk Sparrow Chondestes gramniacus (at Landguard Point, Suffolk, in June and July 1981) have been upgraded from Category D to Category' A; ‘Two-barred Warbler’ Phylhscopus trochihides plumbeitarsus (on Gugh, Scilly, in October 1987) has been added to Category A as a race of Greenish Warbler; and Monk Vulture Aegypius monachus (at various localities in mid Wales from November 1977 to February 1978) and Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum (at Noss, Shetland, in June 1985) have been added to Category D. Acknowledgments The Committee wishes to record its most sincere gratitude to all observers and county and regional recorders, bird observatory wardens and reserve wardens and their committees for their continued co-operation, upon which the day-to-day work of the Rarities Committee and this report’s accuracy and completeness are entirely dependent. Special thanks are due also to the Irish Rare Birds Committee and its Secretary, Patrick Smiddy, for permission tc> include in tltis report all accepted records of rare birds in Ireland. The details, included in this report under the separate heading IRELAND, are published in the form supplied and relate wholly to records which have been assessed by the IRBG. This much-appreciated and long-standing co-operation allows the presentation of a complete review of all rare-bird records and running toLils of all rare species in the geographical unit of Britain and Ireland. The Rarities Committee is indebted to many individuals and organisations for assistance during the past year. Once again (for the sixteenth time), Mike Rogers has compiled the main body of the report. The species comments have been written jointly by Dr Colin Bradshaw (non-passer- ines) and Peter Clement (passerines), and the running totals for each species have been compiled by Peter Fraser and John Ryan, both teams remaining unchanged since last year. The Seabirds Advisory Panel, whose members are Peter Colston, Bill Curtis, Jim Fnticott, Steve Madge and Tony Marr, continue to provide the Committee with specialist advice, as have Dr Bill Bourne, David Brewer, James Ferguson-Lees, Dick Foreman, Eire Jonsson, Barbara Massey, Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 449 Urban Olsson, Prof. Eugeny Panov and Richard Ranft. The British Library of Wildlife Sounds, the BTO, the Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, Rare Bird News, the Rare Breed- ing Birds Panel, the RSPB, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Zoological Museum at Tring have liaised over various matters. I he Committee continues to encourage the submission of photographs and transparencies with larity records, though not as substitutes for the written record, and thanks all photographers who ha\e sent pictures of rarities, a selection of which enhances this report. Next month’s issue of British Bints will feature The Carl Zeiss Award’, which will be presented to the photographer who has supplied to the Rarities Committee ‘the most helpful, interesting and instructive’ photograph or transparency of a rarity, taken in the field or in the hand in Britain (see Brit. Birds 84: 589 for the full rules). The Committee is grateful also to those observers who included drawings of rarities in their record submissions; some of these are included hi this report. PGL Highlights The year 1992 was characterised by the occurrence of a number of extreme vagrants, some exceptional spring influxes of several species and yet also by some long quiet periods and a general lack of vagrants from the west. Both winter periods were noteworthy mainly for the reappearance of returning birds and the long stay of several regulars, with no marked incur- sions of any wildfowl, gulls or northern finches, the Arctic Redpolls Carduelis homemanni resorting to their more usual haunts of the Northern Isles. The most unusual bird of January was a Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla at Spurn (Humberside), while three white Gyr Falcons Falco rusticolus in the North and Northwest were typically elusive, in contrast to the two wintering male Pine Buntings Embenza leucocephatos. The almost simultaneous arrival of a Rustic Bunting E. rustica and a Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator in late March possibly suggests that both had wintered somewhere in western Europe. April proved unremarkable except for a Pied-billed Grebe Podilym- bus podiceps and the first of three spring Little Bitterns Ixobychus minutus , although ’old faithfuls’ like the Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris and Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus returned to their favoured colonies, though only briefly. An incursion of Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis into northwest Europe saw at least 18 reach Britain: how many more went unde- tected? Other southern herons were scarce, but a Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides and two new Glossy Ibises Plegadis falcinellus were noteworthy. As May progressed, and particularly after a hot airstream from southeast Europe finally reached Britain on 13th, so the number and variety of vagrants from origins south, east and even west seemed to grow daily. Expected southern overshoots included a few (duplicated?) Alpine Swifts Apus melba, ten Red- rumped Swallows Hirundo daurica , four Great Reed Warblers Acrocephatus arundinaceus , eight Short-toed Larks, two European Rollers Coracias gar - rulus, both in the Northwest, over 20 Subalpine Warblers Sylvia cantillans , most in the Northern Isles but including three in Ireland, and, exceptionally, five Sardinian Warblers S. melanocephala. Surprisingly, eastern waders (three Marsh Sandpipers Tringa stagnatilis, three Broad-billed Sandpipers Lim- icola falcinellus and one Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus) were outnumbered by Nearctic waders (presumably heading north), with three American Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica, three Semipalmated Sandpipers Calidris pusilla, seven Lesser Yellowlegs T. Jlavipes and a Long-billed Dow- itcher Limnodromus scolopaceus , all probably leftovers from autumn 1991. Three 450 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 species then dominated the May scene by sheer weight of numbers: Red- throated Pipits Anthus cervinus arrived in two main waves, with about eight during 14th- 17th and 20 during 21st-31st, split mainly between Norfolk and the Northern Isles; Red-footed Falcons F. vespeitinus were more widespread, but Norfolk and Kent took the lion’s share of a record spring total which was apparently at least 107 individuals; and White-winged Black Terns Chlido- nias leucopterus , that most beautiful of the marsh terns, occurred en masse, with at least 16 during 18th- 19th and five more around the same period, in marked contrast to which it was a blank year for Whiskered Tern C. hy- bndus. Extreme vagrants then seemed to occur in four areas: East Anglia, Yorkshire, St Kilda and the Northern Isles. A male Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis on St Kilda preceded a live Brunnich’s Guillemot Una lomvia at the latter site and Britain’s second Marmora’s Warbler S. sarda together with a singing Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata at Spurn, while in East Anglia a singing River Warbler Locustella jluviatihs and a White-throated Sparrow gjnotrichia albicollis appeared from opposite directions. Typically, Fair Isle struck back, widt a multiple arrival of Black-headed Buntings Emberiza meknocephak and a Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola. Amongst all this action were an unprecedented number of Greenish Warblers Phylloscopus trochiloides , a Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus in Highland and two more singing Booted Warblers, but there were only two Thrush Nightingales Luscinia luscinia, despite the high totals of Common Rosefinches Carpodacus erythnnus and Marsh Warblers A. palustris. Two or three Great White Egrets Egretta alba wandered around during July and August, and a Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor and a Great Spotted Cuckoo Ckmator glandarius were fairly normal occurrences. Tern- watchers located a Forster’s Sterna forsten and two Gull-billed Gelochelidon nilotica, wliilst the Lesser Crested S. bengalensis raised another problematic hybrid. In a poor autumn for passage waders, three Pacific Golden Plovers Pluvialis Juba suggested that we may have a returning pool of adults. There was a Greater Sand Plover Charadrius bschenaultii in Essex and then Kent, and Norfolk continued its purple run with Britain’s second Red- necked Stint Calidris ruficollis. Other August highlights were the first non- adult-male and mainland Riippell’s Warbler Sybia rueppelli, a tape-lured Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla and a single Great Snipe Gallinago media. One of the major features of the autumn was the lack of Nearctic waders, wildfowl and landbirds, and it was thus astonishing that, of the three Nearctic wood-warblers to appear, two were extreme vagrants and both relatively early: Britain’s third Yellow Warbler Dendroica pebchia in August and Britain’s sec- ond Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina in early September, the latter being another major bird for St Kilda. Along with them in the early westerly flow came most of the rather few western waders of the autumn — including a juve- nile Solitary Sandpiper T. solilana on Fair Isle — and a Bobolink Dolichonyx oyzivorus at the other end of the country. A Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus and a Northern Panda Paruk americana completed the October crop from the west. From the cast came another influx of White-winged Black Terns, and a simultaneous arrival of four Yellow-breasted Buntings Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 45 1 Emberiza aureola was unusual only in its far-flung distribution. September and early October were dominated by eastern vagrants in the Northern Isles, but, despite the presence of such headline-catching species as Yellow-browed Bunting E. ckrysophrys (Britain’s third), Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola , and Siberian 4 oothera sibirica , Eyebrowed Turdus obscums and Dark-throated Thrushes T. ruficollis , the totals of most species were unexceptional, with just one Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi, two Lanceolated Warblers L. lanceolata and only three Radde’s Warblers Phylloscopus schwarzi. There were, however, 13 Dusky Warblers P. Jiiscatus and, with cold, northerly winds cutting off the supply of eastern vagrants, only the increasingly regular Olive-backed Pipits A. hodgsoni and ‘Siberian’ Stonechats Saxicola torquata maura/ stejnegeri came through in any strength later in October. Other notables included Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka (but no Desert Wheatears 0. deserti in 1992), Isabelline Wheatear 0. isabellina, Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni, a fine total of six Bonelli’s Warblers P. bonelli , a Paddyfield Warbler and a Desert Warbler Sylvia nana , all species apparently on the increase. From mid October onwards, however, avian vagrancy generally died a death, and it was left to the Nearctic to produce the last trump cards: two more Pied-billed Grebes, a new Lesser Scaup Aythya affvnis and the second White- throated Sparrow of die year, all except the duck remaining to winter at their chosen haunts. GPC Systematic list of accepted records The principles and procedures followed in considering records were explained in the 1958 report [Brit. Birds 53: 155-158). The systematic list is set out in the same way as in the 1991 report (85: 507-554). The following points show the basis on which the list has been compiled. (i) The details included for each record are (1) 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 photographed or tape-recorded (and this evidence seen or heard by the Committee); (5) if trapped or found dead and where specimen is stored, if known; (6) date(s); and (7) observer(s), up to three in number, in alpha- betical order. (ii) In general, this report is confined to records which are regarded as certain, and ‘probables’ are not included. In the case of die very similar Long-billed Limnodromus scolopaceus and Short-billed Dowitchers L. griseus, however, we are continuing to publish indeterminate records, and this also applies to those of prat- incoles Glareola, albatrosses Diomedea and frigatebirds Fregata. (iii) The sequence of species, English names and specific nomenclature follow The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds (1993). Any sight records of subspecies (including those of birds trapped and released) are normally referred to as ‘showing the char- acters’ of the race concerned. (iv) The three numbers in brackets after each species’ name refer respectively to die total number of individuals recorded in Britain and Ireland (excluding those ‘At sea’) (1) to the end of 1957, (2) for the period since the forma- tion of the Rarities Committee in 1958, but excluding (3) die current year. The decision as to how many individuals were involved is often difficult and rather arbitrary, but the consensus of members is indicated by ‘possibly die same’ (counted as different in the totals), probably the same’ (counted as the same in totals), or ‘the same’ when the evidence is certain or overwhelming. An identical approach is 452 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 applied to records of the same species recur- ring at the same locality alter a lapse of time, including those which occur annually at the same or a nearby site. In considering claims of more than one individual at the same or adja- cent localities, the Committee usually requires firm evidence before more than one is counted in the totals. A detailed breakdown of the fig- ures for previous years is held by the Honorary Secretary. (v) Irish records, assessed and accepted by the Irish Rare Birds Committee, are in- cluded separately, following the subheading IRELAND. (vi) The world range is given in brackets at the beginning of each species comment. White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii (18, 130, 2) Orkney North Ronaldsay, adult, 28th April (M. Gray el at). Shetland Fedar, adult, 28th December (H. R. Harrop, M. Heubeck, R. J. Tulloch). 1991 Lothian Gosford Bay, Aberlady and Gullane Bay area, at least one first-summer, 31st July to September, two, 25th-30th August {Brit. Birds 85: 510), singles, 8th September (A. Brown), 16th (F. D. Hamilton), 25th J. McOwat). 1991 At sea Sea area Thames, 50° 81' N 01° 55' E, about 6 km east of Ramsgate, Kent, 15th December J. H. van der Dol, R. H. Lawrence et at.). (Arctic Russia eastwards to Arctic Canada) A year returning to the pattern of more northerly records as befits this Arctic species. The ones summering in Lothian reflect the events of 1987, but fidelity to diat site is unlikely to persist as all will be busy with family matters in future summers. Identifying one from a cross-Channel ferry required good teamwork by a good team. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps (0, 1 3, 3) Cornwall Argal Reservoir, 14th November to 1993 (D. P. Eva et at). Northumberland Druridge Pools, 26th December to 9di May 1993, photographed (M. Carr, 1. Fisher el at.). Oxfordshire Radley Gravel-pit, Abingdon, 26th April to 17th May (N. J. Hallam, M. G. Wil- son el al.) {Brit. Birds 85: plate 299). (North and South America) With the best-ever year for this species and all being typical long-stayers, the mystery remains as to why and how this species should be prone to straggling to Europe. It is no more fond of the sea than is the Little Grebe Tachybaptus rujicollis, so presumably must make its way here by a succession of short hops via Greenland and Iceland’s coastal waters. The larger grebes can sometimes be seen on visible migration travelling with par- ties of ducks or even auks, but this is a nocturnal migrant. The wide spread of occurrence dates over the years holds no clues and docs not suggest that Atlantic weather-patterns have any special relevance. Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris (2, 26, 0) Shetland He rmaness, Unst, individual last recorded 14th June 1991 {Bril. Birds 85: 510), 19th April to 30th June (M. Riddy per D. Suddaby). 1990 At sea Sea area Cromarty, 57° 49' N 02° 50' W, 12.6 km north of Portknockie, Grampian, 5th September, photographed (M. F. Leopold, P. Wolf). Sea area Irish Sea, about 6 km off Strumble Head, Dyfed, 17th September (C. W. Murphy). (Southern oceans) The Hcrmancss bird once more returned, but was only sporadic in its apjjearances. It has been recorded since 1972 with the excep- tion of 1988 and 1989. A report of one from Fife has yet to be studied by this Committee. 453 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Albatross Diomedea (3, 44, 1) IREIAND Tile following record of an albatross, though not specifically identified, was considered most likely to have been a Black-browed. 1991 Cork Adult, Dursey Island, 8th October. The Irish Rare Birds Committee is currently reviewing all Irish albatross records. Soft-plumaged Petrel superspecies Pterodroma mollis/ madeira/ feae (0, 3, 0) IREIAND 1990 Cork Cape Clear Island, 26th August. 1991 Down St John’s Point, 20th August. (Pacific, Central and Southern Atlantic, and Southern Indian Oceans). Petrel Pterodroma (1, 5, 0) IRELAND 1989 Cork Old Head of Kinsale, 14th August. There is one other Irish record of a Pterodroma, off Cape Clear Island, Cork, in September 1974. Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis (5, 82, 1) 1988 Dyfed Strumble Head, two, 7th October (P. Murray, G. H. Rees). 1989 Northumberland Seaton Sluice, 17th July (M. Hepple, A. Hutt). 1991 Humberside Flamborough Head, 1 1th September (G. P. Catley, A. Grieve, M. Newsome it at.). IRELAND 1992 Cork Cape Clear Island, 14th August. The Irish Rare Birds Committee is currently reviewing all Irish Little Shearwater and ‘small shearwater’ records. (Atlantic south from Madeira and Caribbean, southern Pacific and Indian Oceans) Because of the difficulty in providing convincing evidence of identity on paper, Little Shearwaters take a considerable time to be accepted. It is, dierefore, not surprising that all the British records in this report refer to birds from earlier years. It seems that many observers have become fixated on use of the terms ‘whirring’ and ‘auk-like’ when describing little Shearwater’s flight. It is the view of the Committee that these are excellent terms for describing auks, but are not really referable to Little Shearwater. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus (4, 1 3, 0) 1990 Cumbria South YValney, 9th October (T. Dean). 1990 Dyfed Strumble Head, 6th September (P. Bristow, G. H. Rees et at.). (Southern oceans) Wilson’s Storm-petrel is one of the few rewards that come all too infrequently to dedicated watchers from western headlands. The observers of both these birds certainly fall into that category with, collectively, thousands of hours spent seawatching. Identifying a bird such as this is partic- ularly difficult when there is no-one else present with whom to check the fea- tures. In view of this, the Walney bird was not only well watched, but also particularly well described. Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auntus (0, 1, 0) 1989 Cleveland Charlton’s Pond, Billingham, 1 llh January to 21st April (T- J- Williams d at.) (Brit. Birds 82: plates 180-182). (North America) One of the more underwhelming species added to the British List in the last decade. The finder should be congratulated for not only 454 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 suspecting the identification initially but also having the persistence required to get others to this unlikely spot for a British first. It performed well to packed crowds and TV cameras and allowed detailed scrutiny of the differences between it and Great Cormorant P. carbo. Frigatebird Fregata (1, 4, 0) IRELAND The following record refers to an unidentified frigatebird, most probably a female Magnificent F. magnifwens. 1989 Dublin Dalkey, 18th June. (Tropical oceans) The totals include the sole fully accepted bird, a Magnificent of the Caribbean race rothschildi, on Tiree, Strathclyde, in 1953. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus (150, 165, 3) Cornwall Porthgwarra, ugh Aderry, 1 9th May. 139. Great White Egret Egretta alba, Loch Lochy, Highland, June 1990 ( G . Cart) HO. Juvenile Night Heron Nyctkorax nycticorax, Southampton, Hampshire, December 1992 (Tony Croucher) 456 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 (South Eurasia, Africa and the Americas; European population winters in Alrica) In 1992, Night Herons made something of a return to their usual leient status, after the dearth in 1991. Records showed a typical spread, with two overwintering, spring overshoots and displaced juveniles in autumn. .Although the tno ol records of juveniles in Strathclyde could suggest genuine vagrancy the presence of unringed, free-flying juveniles and adults at the Edinburgh Zoo colony must bring these and the overwintering Tayside bird under suspicion. Whether this dilemma can ever be sorted out is debatable, and many British records could relate to these feral individuals. Perhaps the only logical recourse is to accept as wild all that are seen well enough to ascer- tain that they are not colour- rinsed O Green Heron Butorides virescens (0, 3, 0) (North and Central America, and West Indies) A report of an immature horn St Peter Port, Guernsey, in September has yet to be assessed by the Committee. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (95, 31.1) Cornwall l owed. lac k, 13111-1911! May (M.J. Rogers. D. Walsh el at). (Southern Europe, southwest Asia and Africa; winters Africa) A single first noted from the garden of the Committee’s Honorary Secretary, seemed a just reward for Ins having to spend the rest of the spring at the typewriter. It has to be stated that the behaviour of some who came to see it was far from exemplary. Palmer), presumed to come from VVelney, Nor- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (2, 51, ] 8 Cambridgeshire Burwell, two, 20tli May (D. folk. See also Norfolk. Hertfordshire Stockers Lake and Maple Cross area, eight, 3rd-4th Ma\ G. Elton A. Stride et (is ! Bril. Birds ?b: plate 293; 86: plate 141), two presumed to move to Norfolk Humberside Messingham, 6th- 10th May, photographed (G. P. Galley, N. Drinkall I T Ham- man et a/.). J urCSl'm C“me ^ Suflblk’ and » come f„„„ Suffolk Ousden, iltree, 3rd May, „vo photographed (E. Camillon, C : R N P & It I- vl]NI presumed to move to Welney, Norfolk. ' ' Yorkshire, North Nunnington, live, 6th May, photographed (O. & Mrs J. Turner) four pre- sumed to move to Lincolnshire. pit (Almost cosmopolitan in tropics; nearest breeders in north of France) The fact that the Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Suffolk records came by chance from 0 jsc i van t farmers at localities well away from the haunts of birdwatchers sug- gests that still more may well have featured in this influx. Nonetheless the Committee felt obliged to adopt a statistically conservative approach to Un- available data. 1 he four ... Lincolnshire had dark legs, whereas all members 01 the Hertfordshire party were apparently in prime breeding condition At least one more remains to be reported to the Committee. Rare birds in Great Bntain in 1992 457 Little Egret Egretta garzetta (23, 717, — ) 1990 Cheshire Rostherne Mere, 1st May (D. A. Clarke, J. P. Day, P. G. H. YVolstenholme), previously not accepted (Brit. Birds 85: 553). Neumann’s Flash, 6th May [Brit. Birds 85: 511), was at Lostock. 1990 Fife Lochore Meadows, 5th June (W. Gilfillan et at.), also in Highland. 1990 Highland See above. 1990 Man, Isle of Many localities, at least two, 17th March to 13th May (Dr). P. Cullen, F. Moore et at). (South Eurasia, Africa and Australia) The task of assessing these gets easier as we know that fewer and fewer back- records will come in each year. I lie Committee hopes that these admittedly beautiful birds have become so estab- lished that they will never become rarities again. There is no doubt, however, that the unexpected discovery of one of these birds away from the South Coast ‘hot-spots’ will still make many an observer’s month, if not year. Great White Egret Egretta alba (10, 45, 6) Grampian Ythan Estuary, 10th- 15th June, photographed (S. M. & W. G. Johnston et ai). Hampshire Needs Oar Point, 17th July, photographed J. M. Clark, Dr G. P. Green et ai). Leicestershire/Northamptonshire Stanford Reservoir, 5lh-21st July, photographed (S. Tilley, 1. M. Wilson et at). Northumberland Holywell Pond, 4th July ( 1 ■ R- Gleeves, J. E. l erguson el alt). Somerset Durleigh Reservoir, 1 1 th- 1 4th July (S. Rogers et ai). Warwickshire Brandon Marsh, 8th July (M. 1 aylor et al.). 1990 Highland Bunkargaig, Loch Lochy, 31st May to 1st June, photographed (A. Mee, D. M. Pullan et al.) (plate 139). Loch Droma, 3rd June J. McGhie, D. Willis et al), not same as Loch Lochy; metal ring, right leg, untraced. (Almost cosmopolitan; extremely local in Europe) A return to numbers more typical of recent years after the scarcity in 1991. Given the regular, if small, numbers wintering in the Netherlands and Belgium, it seems only a matter of time before one winters somewhere in Britain. The Northumberland individual was photographed but no photographs were submitted to the Committee, nor were details of at least two other reports. Black Stork Ciconia nigra (26, 81, 1 ) Avon Bath, 13th June (P.J. Basterfield). 1991 Norfolk Stiflkey, 16th- 17th June (S. J. Harrap, R. G. Millington et al). (Eurasia and Southern Africa; winters Africa) A further addition to the remarkable series of records in 1991 and then a return to the pre-1987 num- bers. In a spring with so many eastern vagrants, this perhaps suggests that our ones tend to be southern in origin. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (many, 57, 4) Cheshire Neumann’s and Marston Flashes, 2nd-3rd October (R. B. Dyke, D. M. W alters et al), presumed same as Cumbria. Cleveland Haverton Hole, 5th May (M. A. Blick, C. Sharp et ah. Cumbria Near Kirkbride, 30th September (R. Bottomley), also in Cheshire. Kent Stodmarsh area, since 1991 (Bril. Birds 85: 513) to 4th April, 1st August to end of year; same Sheppey, 2 1 st-28th March, 29th April to 31st May, 18th-22nd July (per D. W. I aylor) Norfolk Cley and Kelling Quag, 6th May (D. A. Bridges, M. N. Sidwcll, Miss B. Vevers et ah. Suffolk Carlton Marshes, 6th-8th May (R. C. Smith et al); same, Mmsmere, 6th (M. farrow, G R. Welch et al), not same as Norfolk. 1987 Buckinghamshire Willen Lake, 29th May (Brit. Birds 81: 544), now considered not accept- able. 458 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 1988 Bedfordshire South Mills, 13th May {Brit. Birds 82: 560), now considered not acceptable. (Almost cosmopolitan, but nearest breeders in Camarguc wintering in Africa) The unacceptable 1987 and 1988 records, together with one from Cambridgeshire in 1989, are now considered to have been insufficiendy well- documented to exclude the possibility of confusion with the Hertfordshire Puna Ibis Plegadis ndgwayi , which is known to have absented itself periodically from its usual haunts. An excellent year for new birds, with at least four indi- viduals appearing. This was mirrored in other northern European countries, with records in Belgium, Finland and Sweden. Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus (0, 8, 0) IRELAND A returning adult ol the North American race C. c. columbianus was recorded as follows. 1991-92 Wexford Adult, North Slob. 3rd March and 17th December to 2nd February 1992. (North America) Lesser White-fronted Goose Ansar erythropus (47, 76, 0) (Northeast Europe and Siberia; winters Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia] Because ol the confusion over origins of the ones seen in Britain, the Committee has opted to provide details of all occurrences in the species com- ment only. I his allows details to be placed on record, but not included in the statistics, which are intended to relate to wild individuals. The Finnish re-introduction scheme produced the ‘neck-ringed’ individual at Slimbndge from 1990 onwards; introduced stock in Sweden has already bred with wild individuals and produced young, which have not been ringed The effect of these schemes is that we can no longer assume that birds "dis- playing traditional features of wild Lesser White-fronted Goose are genuine wild birds. It is important, so that patterns can be assessed and monitored, that all records of this species are submitted, even when they are suspected of being feral. An adult was at Chew Valley and Blagdon Lakes, Avon, from 18th October 1991 to 15th February 1992. An adult was at Read’s Island, Humberside, from 8th May to about 12th October 1992, when it was shot dead. In Kent, two adults and an immature were in the Westbere area from nth to 19th May 1991 and an adult was in the Sheppey/Elmley /Swale area from 24th February to 16th May 1992. In Lancashire in 1991, single adults were at Rufford on 7th October, Martin Mere from 4th October to 6th November and on 27th November, Little Crosby on 3rd December and Cockerham on 8th December: these could have referred to just two individu- als; also, ringed first-winter (captive-reared, released Swedish Lapland) at Aldcliffe Marsh from 22nd November 1991 to at least 22nd April 1992. In Lincolnshire, an adult with an injured leg was at Saltfleetby on 31st October 1992, and other single adults were at Musselburgh, Lothian, on 15th- 17th June 1992, at Stanhoc, Norfolk, from 9th to at least 23rd November 1991, and at Blithfield, Staffordshire, on 5th and 13th October 1991. In addition' the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust summer survey identified 29 free-flying indi- viduals, including 24 in East Anglia. The principal site was the Otter Trust at Bungay, Suffolk, where a flock of 15 full-winged birds is kept. 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Birds Illustrated Summer issue is available from good newsagents from 29th June, or order your copy direct by using the form below. # A Shvtkiv Nuri utter • 'fc odd Mle* - Bfu Jaipur. ;«■*$ Spain SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Complete and send to: Marketing Dept, Birds Illustrated, Bretton Court, Bretton Peterborough PE3 8DZ. Four issue subscription - £11.80 OVERSEAS RATES: Surface Mail - £15.50 Airmail Europe • £16.50 Airmail World • £22.00 I enclose a cheque/debit my credit card* payable to Birds Illustrated. Visa/Access/Diner's Club/ AMEX* Card No: Expiry date: Name: Address: Postcode: Tick here if you do not wish to recieve details of any special offers or new products X (D290) VI Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 459 at Lackford Wildfowl Reserve, two on the River Bure broads and singles at three other Norfolk sites. Elsewhere, there were two in Gloucestershire and singles in Kent, Clwyd and Cumbria. We have also heard of a free-flying flock in Dorset, and would welcome further details of this. Brent Goose Branta bemicla (1, 54, 0) Individuals showing the characters of the North American and East Siberian race B. b. nigricans were recorded as follows: Hampshire See Sussex, West. Suffolk See 1991 Suffolk below. Sussex, West Thorney Island and other localities, Chichester Harbour, adult, since 1991 to 15th February, presumed same, 11th October to 1993; also visited Hayling Island, Hampshire; another adult, 30th January possibly to 8lh February, presumed same as second 1991 individual (C. B. Collins et at). See 1991 Sussex, West, below. 1990 Hampshire Farlington Marsh, adult, at least 8th January (I. Lakin, R. White el at). 1990 Kent Swalecliffe area, adult, 23rd October to 25th November (Brit. Birds 85: 514), ob- servers were J. A. S. Patterson el at. 1991 Suffolk Felixstowe, adult, 8th December to 26th May 1992 (M. C. Marsh et at). 1991 Sussex, West Thorney Island and other localities, Chichester Harbour, adult, since 1990 [Brit. Birds 84: 459) to 3rd January; presumed same, 25th October intermittently to 1992, accom- panied by four juveniles resembling B. b. bemicla', adult, 13th-2 1st January, presumed returning 1989 individual [Brit. Birds 83: 448), accompanied on 21st by four juveniles resembling B. b. nigri- cans (C. B. Collins). IRELAND 1989 Wicklow Adult, Kilcoole, 18th April. 1991-92 Down Adult, Newcastle and Minerstown, 24th February to 4th March 1991 and pre- sumably the same individual at Newcasde from 30th December to at least 2nd April 1992. It was also seen at Killough from 11th to 19th April 1992. 1991 Dublin Adult, Bull Island, 16th to 22nd April. Adult, Rogerstown, 29th December. 1991 Londonderry Adult, Faughanvale, Lough Foyle, 25th October. Considered to be the same individual as seen in previous years. 1992 Dublin Adult, Rogerstown, 28th November. Adult, Corballis, 22nd November. 1992 Londonderry Adult, Faughanvale, Lough Foyle, 7th to 28th October. I he same indi- vidual as in previous years. Most, if not all, of these records very probably refer to returning individuals. (Arctic North America and East Siberia; winters USA and East Asia) There was an adult at Havre des Pas, Jersey, on 28th October 1991 to 6th February 1992, presumed to be returning individual last recorded 4th- 12th Deccmbci 1984' {Brit. Birds 79: 543). As mentioned last year and demonstrated in the 1991 entry for Sussex, there now appear to be ‘hybrid’ juveniles visiting Britain and, consequently, descriptions must now eliminate these and show all the characters of this race. ‘Hybrid’ young have also been reported m Zuidholland and Zeeland, Netherlands [Dutch Birdtng 15: 61-63). Red-breasted Goose Branta mficollis (15, 25, 0) Cumbria Rockcliffe Marsh, first-winter, 22nd March to 19th April (A. Baldwin, D. Bailey, C. Wilson et at), presumed same as Dumfries & Galloway. Dumfries & Galloway Caerlaverock since 1991, then Mersehead to 7th March, also in Cum- bria; presumed same, Caerlaverock, as adult, 5th October to 7th November, near Dumfries, 10th November to 10th January 1993 (P. N. Collin et at). 1991 Dumfries & Galloway Caerlaverock, first-winter, 2nd October to 1992 (P. N. Collin et at). (West Siberia; winters Southeast Europe) A welcome return for this lovely goose, not recorded in Britain since 1988, but, in typical fashion, returning in 460 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 successive years. Let us hope that this presages a run of records similar to that in the mid 1980s. American Wigeon Anas ammeana (22, 227, 10) Dorset l.iulesea. The Meet, 6, 31st October; same, Lodmoor, 15th to at least 22nd November D.J. Ghown, I. Prophet, J. Williamson el at.). Fife Burntisland, 8, 10th October to 1993, presumed returning individual last recorded I-ochore Meadows, 8th December 1991 (Brit. Birds 85: 514); first-winter <5, 30th October to 3rd Novem- ber; ¥, 30th October to 1993, presumed returning individual last recorded Stenhouse Reservoir 13th January 1991 (Brit. Buds 85: 514) (D. E. Dickson, J. S. Nadin et at.). Stenhouse Reservoir, 8, 28th November, same as Burntisland j. S. Nadin). Gloucestershire Slimbridge, first-winter 8, 15th September (D. B. Paynter et a!.). Grampian Loch of Strathbcg, 8. 6th-8thjune (P. D. Bloor, Dr I. M. Phillips et at.). Highland Loch Ussie, 8, since 1991 to 18th January (Brit. Birds 85: 514). Lancashire Martin Mere, 8, 17th-20th October (P. Massey et at.). Leicestershire Eyebrook Reservoir, 9, 26th March to 7th April, age/sex uncertain, 4th-22nd October A. H. J. Harrop, T. Mitcham, J. Wright et a/.). Shetland Sac Water, Voe, 8, 9th- 12th June (K. A. Mason et at.). Strathclyde An Phaophail, Tiree, 8, 21st May (1. 1). Bullock, A. Knight). 1991 Cumbria 1-even Estuary. 8. 26th February (D. Jewell), presumed returning individual last recorded 13th-25th February 1990 (Brit. Birds 84: 459). 1991 Fife Lochore Meadows, 8, 15th October to at least 8th December (Brit. Birds 85: 514 also at Burntisland (B. H. Little et at). 1991 Hampshire Lower Test Marshes, 8, 9th February to 15th April (M. E. Edgeller M. Rafter, D.J. Unsworth et at.). 1991 Lothian Gladhouse Reservoir, 8, to 27th January (Brit. Birds 85: 514), to 22nd Eebruarv; presumed same, Rosebery Reservoir, 3rd February (R. W. J. Smith. E. L. J. Vick) 1991 Northumberland Cresswell Pond, 8, 22nd-29th December, photographed J Brooke I fisher, S. Sexton et at.). IRKLAND 1991 Cork Adult male, Rosscarbery, 1st November. 1991-92 Fermanagh Male and female, Castle Caldwell, Ix.wer Lough Erne, 16th January to 26th March 1991. 1 he same individuals were again present from 8th October 1991 to 3rd April 1992 Clare Adult male, I-ough O’Grady, 22nd May to 1st June. Probably the same individual as recorded in 1991. 1992 Kerry Adult male, Ballydavid, 21st to 22nd June. (North America; winters USA and Central America) The trio in Fife prompt the suspicion that breeding may have taken place somewhere other than on the west side of the Atlantic and this could, in turn, suggest that they arc not of genuinely wild origin. Even so, could the Grampian male have been that on Shetland making a refuelling stop en route to Iceland? Further records from Grampian remain under consideration. A 1991 record from Pett Level, East Sussex, on 1st June was considered to relate to two probable escapes. At the BBRC identification meeting, evidence was presented showing that some of the supposedly diagnostic features separating this species ^from Eurasian Wigeon A. penebpe are unreliable. This will be published in ‘From the Rarities Committee’s files’ in the near future. Common Teal Anas crecca (13, 323, -) Drakes showing the characters of the North American race A. c. carolmmsu were recorded as follows: 1989 Sussex, West Arundel, 21st April to 1st May Brit. Birds 83: 150,. 2nd (A. S. Cook 1 ,42 & 143. Male Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris : above, Willen Dike, Buckinghamshire, May 1991 {Martin S. Gamer)-, below, Kendal, Cumbria, December 1992 {Steve Young/ BirdwatcH) 462 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 1990 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, 2nd-I0thJul\ C. Featherstone, A. Grieve et at). 1990 Norfolk Cley, 21st March to 25th April (M. A. Golley, D. J. Holman et at). 1990 Sussex, West Arundel, 10th-24th March (Brit. Birds 85: 515), presumed returning 1989 in- dividual above. •* 1990 Yorkshire, North/West Fairbum lugs, 30th March to 8th May R. Horner. I Lunn et at.). ' (North America) A batch of records irom past years; this race is no longer considered by the Rarities Committee. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors (19, 156, 6) Avon ( hew Valley Lake, $, 29th July to 13th August (K. L. F'ox, K. E. Vinicombe et at.). Cheshire Inner Marsh Farm, 8, 27th-28th May (G. Hogan, G. H. Rhodes, M. G. & Dr J. E. Turner et at). Cornwall Upper Tamar Reservoir, d, first-winter 8 and 9, 11th January (S. M. Christophers, E. J. Cook). Lancashire Martin Mere, 8, 3rd-6th September (D.J. Rigby, C. G. Tomlinson eta/,). 1988 Cambridgeshire Fen Drayton, 9, 20th August to 8th October (Bril, Birds 84: 461), aged as first-summer, reared three, probably four, hybrid young, probably present since June. 1988 Yorkshire, North Bolton-on-S\vale, 9 or immature, 29th September to 9th October D. Beaumont et at.). 1991 Dorset Abbotsbury, first-winter, 30th October to 2nd November (M. A. Hallett et at). (North America; winters south to Brazil) A male at Arundel Wildfowl Reserve, West Sussex, from 2nd to at least 27th November 1991 was consid- ered likely to have been ol captive origin; it had some white primaries. Partial albinism occurs much more commonly among captive-bred birds than in the wild. The presence of presumed hybrid offspring in Cambridgeshire in 1988 is another compounding problem. Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris (1, 313, 8) Cornwall Drifi Reservoir, d, since 1991 (see 1991 below), intermittently to 4th March. 14th October to 1993, presumed same, Marazion, at least 14th February, Eoe Pool, intermittently, 19th April to 22nd November, Stithians Reservoir, 19th-29th September,. 2nd October, Bussow Reservoir, 1 3th October J. F. Ryan et al.). Cumbria River Kent, Kendal, d, 25th November to 1993, photographed J. Fishman et at) (plate 143), presumed same as Wayoh Reservoir, Lancashire, last recorded 22nd December 1991 (Brit. Birds 85: 515). Devon Topsham, 8, 27th May (D. Wood). Grampian Loch of Strathbeg, 8, at least 10th- 14th May J. D. Poyncr et at). Greater London Lonsdale Road Reservoir, 8, 20th April (B. P. Aris, M. J. & Mrs A. P. Earn et Hampshire Timsbury Gravel-pit, 8, since 1991 (see 1991 below), to 5th April, 14th October to 1993 (per J. M. Clark). Kent Dungeness, 8, 3rd May (P. G. Akers et at). Norfolk Acle, Ranworth and Wroxham Broads, d, 17lh December 1991 to 1992 (Brit. Birds 85: 515), 5th January (C. &J. R. Appleton, M. Fiszer et at), to 9th April (per G. E. Dunmore), pre- sumed same. Ranworth Broad, 31st December to 1993 (B. W. Jarvis et at). Warwickshire Lea Marston, 8, 17th-19th April (P. Clarke, D. A. Jennings et at). Western Isles Ixtch Stiapavat, Lewis, 8, 17th March (P. Cunningham, R. D. Wemyss el at). 1989 Yorkshire, West Pugney’s Gravel-pit, Wakefield, 8 , at least 24th April (Bril. Birds 83: 452), presumed same, Swillington Ings, 27th May to 19th June (D. J. 1). Hickman el al) subse- quently recorded 1990 (Brit. Birds 84: 462; 85: 516), 1991 (Brit. Birds 85: 516 and below). 1990 Devon Roadford Reservoir, 8, January to at least 11th March (Mrs J. P. Smalley. T. 11. Smith et at). 1990 Hampshire I imsbury Gravel-pit, d, returning 1989 individual (Brit. Birds 83: 152), to at least 28th January, 22nd December to 1991, also Alresford Pond, 27th January (per J. M Clark ' 1991 Buckinghamshire Willett Dike, d, 12th May (A. V. Harding,' E. J. Reed A Webb et at) (plate 142). Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 463 1991 Cornwall Argal and College Reservoirs, 9, 9th-28th February (B. Cave el at.). Drift Reser- voir and Marazion, two 6 6 since 1990 to 6th March, one to 22nd Writ. Birds 85: 515), one to 30th, other to 17th April, both, Loe Pool, 1st, 20th April, one, 10th, one or other, 1 0th August to 30th November, presumed one of same, Drift Reservoir, 1 4th December to 1992 (per S. M. Christophers, J. F. Ryan). 1991 Dyfed Milford Haven, 6, 23rd to at least 25th April (J. \'V. Donovan, P. Kerrison el at), possibly same as Cornwall. 1991 Hampshire Allington (Lane) Gravel-pit, 6 , 9th-28th March (Brit. Birds 85: 515), same, Timsbury Gravel-pit, 1st January to 8th March, returned, Linbrook Lake, Blashford, 16th-27th November, Timsbury Gravel-pit, 28th to 1992 (per J. M. Clark). 1991 Norfolk Acle, Ranworth and Wroxham Broads, 6, 10th-25th February (Brit. Birds 85: 515), Belaugh Broad, 26th (per P. R. Allard). 1991 Northumberland Cresswell Pond, 6, 21st September (P. YV. Davidson, R. Fairhurst per B. N. Rossiter), same, Druridge Pools, 22nd-26th (per B. N. Rossiter), same as Tyne & Wear (Brit. Birds 85: 516). 1991 Strathclyde Martnaham Loch, 9 , 6th- 1 6th April (W. A. Davidson, R. H. Hogg et at). Bogton Loch and Waterside, River Doon, 6, 19th January to 20th April (P. McEwan, G. Mitchell, A. Stevenson et at), returned, Bogton Loch, 16th October to 6th November J. Hazlett et at.), previously recorded, Bogton Loch, 9th- 10th October 1990 (Brit. Birds 84: 462). 1991 Yorkshire, South Worsborough Reservoir, 6 , 4th October (G. Jackson, G. Lee, K. D. Robertson et at.), same, Thrybergh Reservoir, 7th-24th, photographed (K. J. Hayhow, R. J. Scott), same as West Yorkshire. 1991 Yorkshire, West Parker’s Pond, Ledston, 6, 24th March (Brit. Birds 85: 516), 1st April J. Martin). IRELAND 1991 Armagh Male, Oxford Island, 23rd April, and presumably the same individual at Ellis’s Gut from 5th to 6th May (both Lough Neagh). 1991 Londonderry Female or first-winter male, Ballyronan, Lough Neagh, 24th October. 1992 Cork Male, Gearagh, 31st October. 1992 Kerry Male, Killarney, 17th April. (North America; winters to Central America) An interesting source for spec- ulation is the annual frequency of widely dispersed and brief spring records of what must be passage migrants, but whence, and whither and in what direc- tion might they be travelling? None but the Milford Haven, Dyfed, record in 1991 seems even possibly related to those elsewhere; might that one have called in at Inch Lake, Co. Donegal, on 5th May (Brit. Birds 85: 516)? It is also of interest to note the high proportion of spring records elsewhere in Europe (Brit. Birds 86: 38), and might the Iceland bird on 10th- 11th May 1990 have been en route from British waters? This species ceases to be considered by the Rarities Committee for any record on or after 1st January 1994. Lesser Scaup Aythya ajfmis (0, 4, 1) Dorset Hatch Pond, Poole Harbour, first-winter 6, 28th November, 4th-5th December, pho- tographed (M. Constantine, 1. M. Lewis, S. Robson, S. F. Smith et at), same, Littlesea, 6th, 1 0th- 1 1 th December (S. J. Morrison). IRELAND 1991-92-93 Down The male of previous years visited several Co. Down sites up to 23rd Febru- ary 1991. ft returned on 17th November and remained to 17th March 1992. It relumed again on 15th November and remained into 1993. This individual first appeared in this area from Febru- ary to April 1988 and has returned every winter since then. (Western North America; winters south and east to Colombia) The price ol a captive-bred Lesser Scaup has decreased considerably over the past few years, which must indicate that more arc being bred. There seems no reason, 464 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 however, to doubt the credentials of the one in Northern Ireland. As men- tioned in the 1 990 report (Brit. Birds 84: 463), identification of this duck, par- ticularly in non-adult-male plumage, is difficulty and the observers of the Dorset bird should be congratulated. King Eider Somateria spectabilis (62, 165, 4) Borders Si Abb’s Head, second-year 8 , 22nd April to 18di May R. G. Young el at.), probable returning 1991 first-year 8 (Brit. Birds 85: 519), presumed also in Grampian, Northumberland. Fife 1 ayport, 8, 19th January to at least 8th March (D. E. Dickson, M. Ramage et at.), pre- sumed returning 1991 individual (Brit. Birds 85: 519) and one or other of Ythan Estuary, Grampian, individuals. Grampian Annachie, 8, 23rd March (T. W. Marshall). Ythan Estuary, 8, 24th March to end of May (T. \\ . Marshall, S. A. Regneussan et a/.), same as Annachie; another 6, 3rd to end of May (Dr E M. Phillips, K. D. Shaw et at.), one or other also in Fife. Girdleness, second-year 8, 1 1 th- 1 2th January (Dr I. M. Phillips, S. A. Reeves, K. D. Shaw el at.), presumed same, Sandend, 31st May to 8th June (D. Barr, M. J. H. Cook, P. 1 . Hirst), probably same as Borders, Northum- berland; 8, 21st-23rd September (Dr I. M. Phillips, G. Ruthven). Lossiemouth, <3, 27th Septem- ber to 3rd October (R. Proctor. I. Sutton et at.) (fig. 1), probably same as Embo, Highland. Highland Brora area, 8, since 1991 (Brit. Birds 85: 519), to 1st March, 24th December to 1993 pet A. V ittery); same, Embo, 5th- 11th October (R. J. Evans per A. Vittery), also Lossiemouth, Grampian. Sinclair’s Bay, first-winter 8, 12th May J. Smith), presumed same, VVick, 25th August (A. Banwell, E. G. R. Evans, P. J. Heath et at). Northumberland Chesvvick Rocks, 8. probably second-year, 2 7 th-28t h June, photographed (A. Janes, M.J. Sharp et a/.), presumed same as Borders, Grampian. Shetland Uyeasound, Unst, 8, 12th January (M. Heubeck, M. Mellor, R.J. Tulloch), presumed same, Skuda Sound, 8th March (M. G. Pennington), Whalefirth, on at least 28th April (S. Smith pet D. Suddaby), Gullivoe, lstjune to 4th July [J. N. Dymond et at.), Muckle Flugga, 27th August H. R. Harrop, R.J. 1 ulloch et at.), ofl Gutcher, 10th-28th November (per D. Suddaby), return- ing to Uyeasound area 28th December to 1993 (H. R. Harrop, M. Heubeck, R.J. Tulloch). Sul- lorn \ oe, 8, 21st-23rd August (H. R. Harrop, R.J. 1 ulloch et at.). Tresta area, 8, 9th January to 31st May, 26th November to 1993 (per D. Suddaby), same, Trondra, 26th August to 3rd September (H. R. Harrop, M. Heubeck, J. Swale et at.), presumed same as 1990-91 below. Western Isles Hirta, St Hilda, 8, 1 2th- 1 5th June (J. Vaughan et at.). 1990 Shetland Tresta Voe, Radayre and Raewick, 8, since 1989 (Brit. Birds 83: 454), to 3rd July, 21st November to 1991 (per 1). Suddaby). 1991 Grampian Ythan Estuary, 8, 14th December (T. W. Marshall), presumed one or other last recorded July ( Brit. Birds 85: 519). 1991 Highland Wick Bay area, 8, !9th-20th May, photographed (E. W. E. Maughan et at.), possibly same as Brora (Bril. Birds 85: 519). 4tAti t - 'it? ft'-t'-i _ ts'Ti-rv ' — 1 to v— 4 >tv« V-A \\ ,-v*v TvsvCkv* . wv*,2 l ig. I. Male King Eider Somateria spectabilis in eclipse, Lossiemouth, Grampian, 3rd October 1992 (R. hvetor) Rare birds in Great Biitain in 1992 465 (Circumpolar Arctic) Most of those recorded this year relate to known indi- viduals. The St Kilda bird, at least, however, seems to be new, while one of the Scottish birds crossed the border into Northumberland. The statistics are being rationalised and a paper on King Eider occurrences will be published in British Birds shortly. Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata (75, 290, -) 1982 Norfolk Cley, 18th September (Brit. Birds 77: 517), now considered inadequately docu- mented. 1990 Humberside Reighton Sands, near Speeton, 6 , 11th November (T. Isherwood). IRELAND 1990 Down Male, Dundrum Bay, 5th January. (North Amci'ica) This species left the Committee’s list in 1990. Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatus (5, 0, 0) 1983 Buckinghamshire Willen Lake, 9, 28th-29th December (Brit. Birds 81: 550), now regarded as probable escape. (North America) An almost inevitable decision after events of the past two to three years. In the Netherlands, there are records of this species in most years which arc regarded as referring to escapes. Black Kite Milvus migrans (5, 158, 12) Dorset Portland, 15th May (D., G. & Mrs S. Walbridge). East Knighton, 16th May (C. Auld, R. Price, N. Symes el at.). Near Creech Heath, 6th June, photographed (R. J. Arnfield, A. E. Blake) (plate 144), presumed same, Durlston, 5th-6th (per M. Cade) (plate 145). 144 & 145. Black Kite Milvus migrans, June 1992: above, near Creech Heath, Dorset (A. E. Blake)-, below, Durlston, Dorset (Gavin Maclean) 466 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Essex Stow Marsh, 17th May (A. \\ . Shearring). East Tilbury, 24th May (F. Frampton, G. Glombeck, P. Warner et at.). Shoeburyness, 2nd June (A. R. Perkins). Great Wakering, 21st August (A. R. & MissJ. Perkins). Humberside Tophill Low, 1 1th April (R. Lyon, F. X. Mofl^t). Kent Stodmarsh area, 24th May (Mrs S. B. Carter, T. Hatton, R. S. Kelly et at). Lancashire Pendle, 23rd May P. Massey). Norfolk Stifikey, 24di August (S. M. Starling). Wight, Isle of Godshill, 19th May (Mrs M. Beisley, D. B. Wooldridge). 1988 Cleveland South Gare, 16th April (M. A. Blick, D. Page, N. A. Preston). 1989 Kent Sandwich Bay, 29th May (P. W. J. Findley, W. E. Fletcher et at). 1989 Lincolnshire Frampton and Holbeach Marshes, 9th June (C. R. & Mrs K. R. Casey, M. H. Champion et at). 1989 Yorkshire, West Swillington, 2nd May (A. J. & I. A. Ross). 1990 Hampshire Hawkhill Inclosure, New Forest, 9th May (D.J. Burges). 1990 Scilly Bryher and Tresco, 13th May J. W. Hale. D. H. Payne et at.). 1991 Cornwall Hayle, 16th April (A. R. Birch, L. P. Williams). 1991 Kent Broadstairs, 4th August (B. Short et at.). 1991 Yorkshire, North Near Hillen, 7th May (G. J. Todd). (Most of Eurasia, Africa and Australia; winters Africa and southern Asia) 1 he distinctive jizz ol Black Kite is difficult to convey on paper, and records can be equally difficult to judge: there are several still awaiting a final decision from the Committee. Despite this, there were more in 1992 than in 1991, mostly spring overshoots. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (many, 21,0) 1989 Humberside Humberstone, 26th April (J. B. Baranowski, C. Gorman et at). Spurn, 8th May (1. C rowdier, C. P. Musgrave et at.). Mcssingham, Scawby and Brigg area, 21st-22nd May (W. Gillatt, J. Petvt et at). All presumed same as 1989 Humberside and Lincolnshire individual already published (Brit. Birds 83: 457). (Southwest Greenland, Iceland and northern Eurasia) No acceptable records of wild individuals once again. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus (100, 386, 107) Avon Stanton Wick, first-summer d, 30th May to 3rd June (A. H. Davis et at). Berkshire Dinton Pastures Country-park, Hurst, first-summer d, 3rd June (N. Edwards, D. L. Horton et at). Cambridgeshire Ouse Washes, d, first-summer d, 16th May (O. & M. Marks, B. S. & G. Martin, P. Mason), 9, 16th (O. & M. Marks, B. S. & G. Martin). Fen Drayton, first-summer 9, 28th A lay to 1st June (B. S. Martin, J. L. I Parslow, R. M. Patient); first-summer 9, 8th- 1 3th June (D. Bilcock, J. L. F. Parslow, R. M. Patient). Cleveland Haverton Hole, d, 12th June (C. Dodsworth, S.J. Hinley). Cornwall Porthgwarra, d, 21st May J. F. Ryan et at). Kynance Cove, 9, probably first-sum- mei, 13th June J. Banneijee, J. A. Rowlands). Crows-an-Wra, first-summer d, 20th-28th June (D. S. Flumm, G. B. Hocking, S. P. Jones et at). Cumbria Nenthead, near Alston, first-summer d, 8th June (R. Bottomley), seen to fiy into Co. Durham. Devon Lundy, 9, 19th-24th May (A. M. Jewels, 1. Kendall, P. Mayer et at). Lee Bay, first-sum- mer d, 22nd-23rd May, photographed J. Nobbs, A. Perry). Braunton Burrows, d, 31st May to 2nd June (M. & Mrs B. Blackmorc, J. M. Breeds). Dorset Hengistbury Head, first-summer d, 3rd-4thjunc (A. Hayden et at.) (plates 146 & 147). Durham See Cumbria. Dyfed Rhandirmwyn, 9, 29lh May (A. R. Pickup et at). Bosherston Lake, 9. 2nd June R. I Ellis, R.J. Haycock). Essex Abberton Reservoir, first-summer d, 2 1 st-24th May (R. Allen, M. Cock, ]. Frank el a/.). probably same, Fingringhoc, 23rd (R. P. Hull). Latchington, first-summer d, 23rd-29th August ( C . J . & Mrs M. J. Mackenzie-Grieve el at). Rare, birds in Great Britain in 1992 467 Rfep-Fogrep (V-r^M^ee. Q J oe.(\NX^fe feuff/ iva (K-^rn-e./ uiPPe£ pftfi.rs fiEouno cjuiTH €>vJs',-,€_ oftRtc g,f\Ret*re, pp.uC qftey pDeeneft'D fei_f\cK. i^f\suc/fv\ou&Tftc_m<\i_ 5re>P£ tip ToTHe uPPe^ mfv»oc>ifei-£ c;eey' i-joooeeMfttsjDiSue . uoHlT^. THEOW" V. u. OP Sir^Ai l ,* ^ o*o ukPP&U S.oc lAtoDtfc. COoecrS o«-Pv^c;«t feyff U^WTCV Ultc£_ ^ S'VX^VLL- HO&6X wax. 6toP.P£<. TO iT5 Cwt*JC,S . Fig. 2. First-summer female Red-footed Falcon /v;/ro vespertinus, Gloucestershire/Wiltshire, May- June 1992 (/?. G. Baatsen ) Gloucestershire Cotswold Water Park, two first-summer $9, 29th May to 2nd June, pho- tographed (R. G. Baatsen, P. Chaney et at.) (fig. 2), also in Wiltshire. Grampian Kirkton, first-summer 9, 31st May to 13th June, taken into care injured, pho- tographed (A. G. Clarke, I. Gordon et at) (plate 153). Greater London Walthamstow, 9, 2nd June (S. Fenwick). Hampshire Bishop ’s Dyke, 3, 17th May (K. A. Arber, P. Gammidge, Dr P. Whitfield), pre- sumed same, Ashley Walk, 25th-26th (M. C. & P. Combridge, Dr A. M. Hanby, G. C. Stephen- son et at). Near Burley, first-summer 9, 10th- 15th June (N. W. Orr), presumed same, Picket Post, 21st (M. C. & P. Combridge), presumed same, Fritham Plain, 27th (T. M. J. Doran). Houghton, 3, first-summer 6, 24th May, <5 to 25th (Dr A. M. Hanby, G. C. Stephenson et at.). Southamp- ton, first-summer 3 , 19th May (D. A. Christie). Highland Duthil, near Carrbridge, 3, 29th May (D. E. &J. Horrabin). Humberside Spurn, 9, 15th May (D. P. Boyle et alp first-summer 3, 29th May J. S. Barclay, A. M. Pratt et at). Tophill Low, 3, 28th May (W. H. I. caiman, G. Norris). Flamborough Head, first-summer 3, 30th May J. McLoughlin). Kent Rushenden, first-summer 3, 14th May J. A. Rowlands). Stodmarsh, at least seven: 9, 20th May (C. D. Abrams, D. B. Rosair); at least two 9 9, 22nd May (C. D. Abrams, J. K. Archer, J. M. Wame); three first-summer 3 3, three 9 9, 23rd-25lh (C. D. Abrams, J. Cantelo, R. J. Fairbank et at.), 3, age uncertain, 27th, presumed one of same (M. J. Baldock); 3, age uncertain, 10th June, presumed additional (C. H. Hindle, D. W. Silliphant, D. Tutt et at.). Sandwich Bay, 9, 3rd June (P. A. Brown); 3, 10th (I. Hunter, S. D. Stansfield); 9, age uncertain, 15th (S. D. Stans- field); 3, age uncertain, 25th (P. W. J. Findley et at.). Northbourne, first-summer 3, 23rd May (D. Anning). St Margaret’s Bay, 9, 15th June (C. S. Johnson). Lancashire .Blackpool, first-summer 9, 29th May to 3rd June (M. Jones, K. McEllan, D. Pit- man et at.) (plates 1 48 & 1 49). Leicestershire Rudand Water, 3, 7th- 13th June J. A. Sharpe, C. J. Watts et at,). 146 & 147. First-summer male Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, Hengistbury Head, Dorset, June 1992 (P. R. Boardman ) Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 469 Merseyside Marshside Marsh, first-summer 2 , 25th May (Dr B. McCarthy). Norfolk Winterton, 2, 26th April to 3rd May (J. Maslin, I. N. Smith el at.); 2, 28th May (I. N. Smith), presumed same, Horsey, 29th (J. R. Whitelegg, P. G. H. YVolstenholme). Horsey, 2, 14th May (C. Pitt, F. F. Pitts), presumed same, Gorleston, 14th (B. W. Jones); probably same, Brad- well, 15th (P. R. Allard). Happisburgh, 2, 14th May (T. R. Barker, M. Fiszer, P. J. Heath). Blakeney Point, first-summer d, 14th May (M. S. Cavanagh, A. M. Stoddart); 2, 14th May (M. S. Cavanagh, A. M. Stoddart), presumed same, Cley, 14th (A. P. Benson, D. A. Bridges). Titchwell, first-summer d, 14th May (C. Ward), probably same. Holme, 14th (G. 1*. Hibberd). Welney, d, 26th-31st May J. Arbon, J. B. Kemp et at). Holme, d, 28th-29th May (W. Boyd, G. F. Hibberd, N. Lawton et at .); 2, 28th May (G. F. Hibberd), presumed same, Brancaster, 29th (R. Q. Skeen et at). Blakeney Point, 2, 29th May (M. J. & R. Hills). Holkham Meals, 2, 29th May (V. Eve). How Hill and Reedham Water, first-summer d, 15th-20th June (M. Dane, P. J. Heath et at). Hickling, two d d, 28th June J. S. Hampshire, B. \\ Jams et at). Northamptonshire Thrapston, first-summer d, 23rd May to 4di June, photographed (Dr R. J. Chandler et at). Orkney Rendall, 2, 1st June (M. Grant, J. B. Ribbands). North Ronaldsay, first-summer dd, 28th May to 10th June, two, 28th, photographed (D. Patterson, K. A. Wilson et al)\ first-summer 2, 2nd June (P. J. Donnelly, K. A. Wilson et at) (fig. 3). Scilly St Martin’s, first-summer 2, 19th, 23rd May; same, St Mary’s, 20th-21st (Miss C. E. Lankester, K. Pellow el at). Shetland At least seven: Burravoe, Yell, d. 29th May (M. Heubeck, D. Suddaby et at), probably same, Voe, 3rd-4th June (A. Hawick, K. Osborn et at). Vesta Virdin, Sullom, first-summer d , 29th May J. & T. P. Drew), presumed same, Channerwick, 30th (M. Mellor et at .); presumed same, Sandwick, 31st (L. Dalziel et at. per D. Suddaby). Roe Brecks, Sullom, 2, lst-3id june J. & T. P. Drew et at), probably also at Bixter. Tingwall, 2, 5th June (M. Heubeck), probably also at Bixter. Bixter, 2, 1 0th- 1 1th June (N. E. & Mrs B. Wall el at) (plates 150 & 151); another 2, 10th- 11th (H. R. Harrop, K. Osborn, A. Williams et at .), one or other, 12th (per D. Suddaby). Fair Isle, first-summer d, 26th -2 7th May (K. Bowey, P. S. Castle, Dr R. Riddington et at), first- summer d, 29th-30th (Dr R. Riddington, S. C. Votier et at); 2, 29th May to 2nd June (Dr R. Riddington, T. Sweetland et at). Somerset At least seven: Dunball, first-summer d, 19th, 21st May (B. J. Hill). Westhay Moor, second-summer d, 18th-22nd May, presumed same, 20th-23rd June; d, 20th May (B. J. Hill, Rurf wA S* Hf' ?Lf £K- ’ScfV.K. P.S.'bofJNrfcO.y Fiv. 3. First-summer female Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 2nd June 1992 (P. J. Donnelly) 148-152. Red-footed falcons Falco vespertinus. above and below, first-summer female, Blackpool Lan- cashire. June 1992 (Sieve Young/ Birdwatch)- facing page top and centre, female, Bixter, Shetland, June 1992 top, A h. Wall- centre , Dennis Coutts)\ facing page bottom, female, Filey, North Yorkshire, May 1992 (Ian Robinson) 472 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 0 •summer male Red-footed falcon Fcilco vespertinus {B. J. Small] Landguard, Suffolk, 30th M B. Rabbitts, A. M. & B. two first-summer 8 8 , presumed one or other, B. Rabbitts), presumed Moor, 14th (I I. Packer, R. Slade). Shapwick Heath, 27th May (D..J. Davies). YVesthay Heath 2bth May to 22nd June (T. A. Box, B. R. Ellis, B. 1). Gibbs el a/.). Chilton Moor, 12th June (D. Smallshire); 9, 4th June (T. A. Box per same, Chilton Moor, 8th (Miss M. Bolas); presumed same, Westhav A. M. Slade per B. Rabbitts). Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 473 153. First-summer female Red-footed falcon Fcilco vespertinus, Knkton, Giampian, June 1992 (S. M. D. Alexander) Suffolk Cavenham Heath, 3, 21st-22nd April (M. J. Austin, P. V. Hayman et at). Falkenham, $, 14th May (P. Harvey). Orfordness, 9, 24th-25th May (M. D. Crewe et at). North Warren, first-summer 9, 25th-29th May (W. J. Brame, J. M. Cawston, R. Macklin et at.). Landguard, first- summer 3, 30th May (N. Odin, B. J. Small et at.) (fig. 4). Hengrave area, first-summer 9, 7th to at least 9th June (A. Howe et at). Capel St Andrew, first-summer 3, 9th June (R. F. Tomlinson). Bran- don, 9, 9th June (A. M. Stevenson, J. L. Thomas). Trimley Marshes, 9, 15th June (R. Beecroft). Sussex, East Pett Level, 9, 5th June (C. H. Dean). Powdermill Reservoir, Seddlescombe, two first-summer 33, 9, age uncertain, 9th June J. D. & R J- 1 rytherch). Wiltshire Cotswold Water Park, first-summer 3, 1 6th-2 1 st May (P. E. Castle et at.)', two first- summer 9 9, 31st May to 2nd June (P. E. Castle et at.), same as Gloucestershire (fig. 2). Haxton Down, first-summer 3, 2nd June (B. Maxfield). Yorkshire, North Filey, first-summer 9, 26th-30th May, photographed (P. J. Dunn et al.)\ 9, 30th-3 1 st May J. Harwood, J. A. Pollintine, A. Stonier et at) (plate 152). Between Muston and Filey first-summer 9, 30th to at least 31st May (P. Jones, A. Shirlock, J. Wood), probably same as Filey. Scargill Reservoir, 6, 26th to at least 31st May J. E. Atkinson, R. Evison,J. McLough- lin et at.). York, 9, age uncertain, 25th June (D. Denson, V. Green, R. Hilton et at,). Yorkshire, West Pugney’s Country-park, Wakefield, first-summer 3, 11th June (S. Daniels, J. M. Turton et at .), presumed same, 19th-25lh (G. Carr, J. Laws et at.). 1987 Suffolk Cavenham Heath, immature 3, 2nd October (M. Wright). 1988 Cumbria Longtown, 9, 8th September (D. Johnston). 1988 Kent Sandwich Bay, 9, 20th June (C. N. Davison, W. E. Fletcher, M.J. Pollard). 1990 Essex Barling, first-summer 3, 5th May, photographed (A. R. Perkins). 1990 Hampshire Beaulieu Road, first-summer 3, 28th May (M. A. Hardwick et at), presumed same as 30th [Brit. Birds 84: 467). 1991 Cambridgeshire Chesterton, 9, 23rd May (R. Thewlis). 1991 Norfolk Sandringham Warren, 9, 26th May [Brit. Birds 85: 520), obsewers included M. Harris. 474 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 1991 Somerset Somerton, 9, 13th September (R. VV. Surmon). IRELAND 1992 Galway Five, Ballyconnelly, 28th April. (Last Europe to Central Siberia; winters in Africa) Unprecedented numbers arrived in two major waves, during 14th- 17th May and 28th-30th May. The majority of records were in the Southeast and East Anglia, and comparatively few north of a line from Filey to Morecambe Bay, with the exception of the Northern Isles. 1 he Committee was disappointed by the low' standard of too many of the descriptions, which occasionally were of the ‘There were a lot about and this was one school. In contrast, one ol the best descriptions was from a group of golfers w'ho described themselves as ’not really birdwatchers’. If all descriptions had been as comprehensive as that one, there would have been more accepted records this year. Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus (many, 101, 5) Durham See 1991 Durham below. Grampian Bennachie Hills, white-phase, 28th November (D. J. Gill). Orkney St Ola, Mainland, white-phase, 25th January (S. J. Williams), presumed same, 11th- 12th, 20th-24th April (D. Suddaby et aL), same, Widewall, South Ronaldsay, 31st (H. Mackenzie). Shetland Fetlar, white-phase, 22nd February (F. Coutts, B. Thomason, A. Wilson), presumed same, 1 1th- 12th, 20th-24th April (D. Suddaby et aL), same, Burravoe, Yell, 14th April (S. Smith). Western Isles Hirta, St Kilda, first-year white-phase, 26th February to at least 25th March pre- sumed same, 25th April (T. J. Dix, Miss C. Lee, J. Vaughan et aL). 1990 Shetland Trondra and Tingwall, 16th- 17th April (Brit. Birds 84: 468), was first-winter 6. 1990 Strathclyde Islay, first-summer 6 white-phase, 17th April (Dr M. A. Ogilvie, M. A. Pea- cock). 1991 Durham Eggleston, 1 eesdale, first-winter white-phase or intermediate, 8th December to 19th January 1992 (D. Raw et aL). 1991 Strathclyde Port Charlotte, Islay, juvenile 9 white-phase, taken into care injured, 3rd November, released, found dead Macarthur’s Head, 10th, photographed (E. Wilson et at.). IRELAND 1991 Galway The bird recorded in Brit. Birds 85: 521 was present from 31st March to 22nd April. 1991-92 Kerry 1 he bird recorded in Brit. Birds 85: 521 was present from 15th November to 13th March 1992. 1992 Londonderry One, Magilligan Point, 18th to 19th April. This bird was, apparently, pre- sent in this area of Lough Foyle since early February. (Circumpolar Arctic) Subsequent events in Kent, yet to be published by us, suggested a degree of prescience in last year’s report. The Durham individual was an exciting find, but was on a heavily keepered stretch of grouse moor which is an important area for other breeding raptors. The finders realised that, with a large-scale twitch , relations between the gamekeepers and bird- watchers would deteriorate to such an extent that important survey work could not continue, so reluctantly had to avoid giving the record publicity. Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla (many, 8, 1) Sussex, East Icklesham, 9, trapped, 11th August (G. Barnes, S. J. R. Rumsey, T. Squire et at). (Eurasia, Africa and Australasia; European population winters in Africa) With four in the last four years, this species has become unexpectedly more frequent. The latest two arc the first in autumn since at least 1957. A recent paper {Brit. Birds 86: 303-31 1) has covered identification at this time of year. T\ 1 154. Black -winged Still Himantopus himantopus (with Black-headed Gull Lams ridibundits), Stanpit Marsh, Dorset, May 1990 (P. R. Boardman) 155 & 156. Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii, August 1992: above, East Tilbury, Essex (Jack Levene); below, Cley, Norfolk (R. C. Wilson ) 476 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Great Bustard Otis tarda (many, 20, 0) 1973 Cleveland Goathland Moor, then Yorkshire, 18th August (Brit. Birds 68: 334), now consid- ered inadequately documented. 1973 Yorkshire See above. _ Eurasia east from Germany and Iberia to Western China, and North- western Africa) Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (90, 175, 7) Cornwall Marazion, 1 5th- 1 7th May (R. W. Hirst, M.J. Rogers el at). Devon \\ ration, juvenile or first-winter, 6th-9th December, second individual, 6th, photographed (L. P. & S. D. Bruce). Norfolk Hickling, two, 16th May (A. D. Boote, Mr & Mrs M. J. Seago et at.). Breydon and Bemey Marsh, 20th-23rd May (P. R. Allard, J. Burton et at.). Sussex, East Bewl Water, 19th May (R. Dixon, P. C. Bance et at.). 1989 Hampshire Farlington Marsh, 8th November (C. Cockbum). 1990 Dorset Stanpit Marsh, 12th May, photographed (D. A. Custard, I. & P. Rabjohns et at.) (plate 154), previously published as not accepted {Brit. Birds 85: 553). 1990 Western Isles Howmore, South Uist, two, 5th July (M. Wills). 1991 Humberside Southfield Reservoir, 7th May, Flamborough Head, 11th [Brit. Birds 85: 522:. same, Blacktoft Sands, 7th, 12th (N. Douglas, A. Grieve et at.), also in North and South Yorkshire. 1991 Yorkshire, North kiley Dams, Uth May, photographed (D. Bedford, 1. Robinson et at.), same as Humberside. 1991 Yorkshire, South Wath lugs, 7th May (H. Crooks, J. H. Goddard, J. M. Turton et at.), same as Humberside. (Southern Eurasia, Africa, Australia and the Americas; European popula- tion winters Africa) An old Channel Islands occurrence, never officially re- ported, has, however, been portrayed in British Birds (81: plate 202): it was photographed in Guernsey in April 1988. .Another cjuict year, alter the feasts ol 1987 and 1990, was rather surprising when exceptional numbers were in Atlantic France, and a breeding colony was established in the Netherlands. 1 he December record is unusual, with only two previous records in that month. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola (30, 48, I ) Dorset Portland, 31st May (M. Cade, C. Ingham, G. & Mrs S. K. Moyser et at.). (South Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa; winters Africa) A typical date and short stay. Where are the long-stayers of yesteryear? Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni (5, 20, 1 ) Cornwall Davidstowe area, first-winter, 2nd- 11th October (C. & D. K. Lamsdell P. ]. Okes J. F. Ryan et at). (West Asia; winters Africa) At immature that was tentatively reported as Collared Pratincole G. pratincola initially before being reidentified as this species. Killdeer Plover Charadrius vociferus (9, 39, 0) 1990 Western Isles Eoligarry, Barra, 10th October (A. Stewart). IRELAND 1991 Cork Adult, Ballycotton, 7th January to 2nd March. (North America; winters USA and Central America) None for this year, but late-autumn and winter records are typical. Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 477 Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaullii (0, 10, l) Essex East Tilbury, 10th- 14th August, photographed (S. Huggins, A. J. Kane, C. Rose el at.) (plate 155). Kent ClifFe, 14th August (T. P. Laws el at), presumed same as Essex. (Southern Russia east to Mongolia; winters Africa, Southern Asia and Australia) These records are presumably of the same bird as the Cley, Norfolk, individual, which was not officially reported to the Committee in time for this report, despite its having been photographed (plate 156); a report needs to be submitted, with a request for an assessment to be made, before the Committee is entided to pass judgment on a record. American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica (3, 157, 6) Dorset Ferrybridge, first-summer, 20th-22nd May, photographed (M. A. Hallett, G. Walt) ridge el at). Stanpit Marsh, adult, 22nd-24th May (L. Chappell et at). Northamptonshire Welford, adult, 15th October (R. D. Gorsage, E. K. & N. McMahon et at.). Scilly Tresco, first-summer, 26th to at least 29th May (J. & R. Rettke-Grover, W. E. Oddic el at.), same, Green Island, 7th June (W. H. Wagstafl). Strathclyde Colonsay, adult, 3rd to at least 5th October J. & P. M. Clarke, D. C. Jardine). 1990 Derbyshire Rother Valley Country-park, juvenile, 12th- 15th October (M. N. Reeder et at.). 1991 Bedfordshire Cranfield, juvenile, intermittently, 16th to at least 25th November (D. J. Odell, P. Smith et al.), also in Buckinghamshire. 1991 Buckinghamshire Broughton, juvenile, intermittently, 12th-25th November, pho- tographed (A. V. Harding, E. J. Reed, C. Ward et al .), same as Bedfordshire. 1991 Northamptonshire Pitsford Reservoir, juvenile, 12th- 13th October (E. K. & N. McMa- hon, S. R. Mawby, M. H. Rogers et al). 1991 Scilly St Agnes, juvenile, 26th September to 16th October {Brit. Birds 85: 525, plate 41), same, St Mary’s, 22nd-25th September, 14th October (D. J. D. Hickman, W. H. Wagstafl et al.). 1991 Shetland Pair Isle, adult, 15th August (P. V. Harvey, N. E. Milius et al). 1991 Warwickshire Grandborough, juvenile, 18th October (T. Marlow, G. M. Pullan et al), same, Draycote Water, 22nd-23rd (T. Marlow, S. Seal, T. W. Willey et al), near Willoughby, 26th (N. F. Osborne). 1REIAND 1991 Cork Adult, Douglas Estuary, 24th August to 1st September. Juvenile, Clonakilty/lnchy- doney, 18th to 27th October. 1991-92 Tyrone Annaghroe, 28th December and 9th February. 1992 Down Strand Lough and Killough Harbour, 2nd to 13th August. The Irish Rare Birds Committee intends to review all past Irish records of ‘Lesser Golden Plovers’ P. dominica/ P. fuhia. _ . (Arctic North America and extreme Northeast Asia; winters South America) A reasonable spread of records, with the usual westerly bias. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis Juba (3, 1 /, 4) Hampshire Needs Oar Point, adult, 27th-28th June, photographed (D. J. Unsworth et al). Norfolk Breydon, adult, 28th May (P. R. Allard). . Orkney North Ronaldsay, adult, lst-3rd August (P. J. Donnelly, D. Jackson, K. A. Wilson et al.). Shetland Fair Isle, adult, 2nd-3rdjuly (N. J. Riddiford, Dr R. Riddmgton et al) 1990 Kent Sandwich Bay, adult, 20th-22nd June (K. B. Ellis, J. N. Hollyer et al) 1991 Northumberland Druridge Pools, adult, 22nd-23rd June, photographed (M. G. Ander- son, T. I. Mills, J. G. Steele et al) (plate 163). . (North and Northeast Asia, and Alaska; winters southern Asia, Australia and Western North America) Further typical dates, all in summer, when five were seen in Sweden; but, surely, we are overlooking this species in autumn? American or Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica/ P. Juba (6, 182, 10) 1989 Clwyd Oakenholt Marsh, adult, 23rd July (C. Bennett, N. J. Holton). 478 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 I he totals include those specifically identified. The results of' the Committee’s comprehensive review will be published in British Birds next year. Sociable Lapwing Chettusia gregaria (5, 31, 0) 1991 Berkshire Brimpton Gravel-pits, adult, 10th April (D. A. Henshilwood). Southeast Russia and West-Central Asia; winters Northeast Africa and Southwest Asia) 1 his individual, at a fairly unlikely locality', must have stunned the observer: what a good find for your local patch. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilki (2, 62, 3) Norfolk H h iding, 8th-9th May (J. Hampshire, D. & T. Nicholson). Northumberland l ame Islands, 15th- 18th June, photographed (P. Bush el at. i. Shetland Fair Isle, 13th- 15th May (P. V. Harvey, S. C. Voder el at.) (plate 157). (North America, winters Central and South America) Three more spring records. Could these, plus those in Norfolk and Cleveland in 1989, refer to just one or two individuals? Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri (1,5, 1) IRELAND 1992 Wexford Juvenile, North Slob, 3rd to 6th September. This is the first Irish record. (North America; winters southern USA and Central America) None in Britain, but the juvenile in Co. Wexford was one of the highlights of the year. Red-necked Stint Calidris rujicollis (0, 1 , 1 ) Norfolk Clev, adult, 29th July to 3rd August (S. J. M. Gantlett, M. A. Golley, R. G. Millington E. T. Myers et at.). (Sibeiia, winters Southeast Asia and Australia) 1 he second record for Britain and Ireland was this summer-plumaged adult at Cley, Norfolk. The first was on 22nd-29th July 1986 at Blacktoft, Humberside {Brit. Birds 81: 557; 82: 391-395). The sixth for Sweden was seen on 24th July 1992; could it have been the Cley bird? White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris juscicollis (24, 318, 3) 1989 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, adult, 9th- 14th August (A. Grieve et at.). 1991 Dyfed Teifi Estuary, adult, 5th August (J. Green). IRELAND 1991 Antrim Duncrue Street Marsh, Belfast, 26th September. 1991 Wexford Adult, Tacumshin, 13th August. 1992 Cork Adult, Youghal, 4th September. 1992 Kerry Adult, Blackrock Strand, 18th to 20th August. 1992 Londonderry Juvenile. Bann Estuary, 3 1st October. (Northern North America; winters southern South America) Three in Ireland, but no acceptable records for Britain in 1992 of this species, which appears to be getting rarer here. Does this perhaps suggest temporary popula- tion changes in the New World, changed weather patterns or the demise of individuals ‘stranded' on this side of the Atlantic for several years? Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bandit '(5, 158, 1) Norfolk Cantley, adult, 18th-20th August (D.J. Holman, J. R. Eausdcll eta/.). 1989 Kent Elmley, juvenile, 27th September to 8th October (M. Dengate, M. J. Wilkinson el a/' 1989 Shetland Haroldswick, Unst, 6th-7th September (M. G. Pennington), 'presumed same Pool of Virkic, 8th- 1 1th (Brit. Hints 83: 462). as 157. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla, Fair Isle, Shetland, May 1992 ( Dennis Coutts) 158. Juvenile Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria, Fair Isle, Shetland, September 1992 (. Dennis Coutts) 480 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 159. Juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii, Easton Bavents, Suffolk, October 1990 (C. R. .Naunton ) 1990 Suffolk Easton Bavents, juvenile, 27th October to at least 1st November, photographed (C. R. Naunton) (plate 159). 1991 Devon Northam Burrows, juvenile, 29th September to 3rd October, photographed (M. Preston, M. E. Woolacott et at.). . (North America and Northeast Siberia; winters South America) Another species that seems to be getting less common in Britain, although there are some records for 1 992 which have yet to be submitted. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limkola falcinellus (23, 137, 4) Cleveland Greatham Creek and Seal Sands, 3rd-6th June (P. A. A. Baxter, M. Leakey et at.). Humberside Read’s Island, Fcrriby, 6th June (G. P. Galley). Norfolk Hickling, 7th June (A. J. Prater). Gley, lst-2ndjuly (C. J. Butterworth et at.). 1991 Norfolk Breydon, 8th March (P. R. Allard). (North Eurasia; winters South Asia and Australia) Some records are still to be submitted, but, nevertheless, 1992 was a better year than 1991 and more in keeping with previous years. This species was, however, obviously not influ- enced by the weather conditions that brought record numbers of other eastern birds to our shores this spring. Stilt Sandpiper Micropalama himantopus (1, 25, 0) 1990 Kent Gliffe, adult, 1 1 th-22nd July (Brit. Birds 85: 526), was trapped 12th and now shown not to have been same as 1990 Suffolk individual [Brit. Birds 84: 471) (P. Larkin). 1RKLAND 1989 Kerry Adult, Akcragh Lough, 4th to 9th September. 1991 Cork The bird recorded in Brit. Birds 85: 526 was present at Rosscarbery from 19th to 20th September and it was seen at Clonakilty on 21st September. (North America; winters South America) None in Britain or Ireland in 1992, but an interesting change in the statistics for 1990. This species has a pattern of haphazard occurrence here. 481 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis (33, 413, — ) 1979 Norfolk Hickling, 12th September to 1st October (P. R. Allard, S. E. Linsell, M. J. Seago et at.). (North America; winters southern South America) This species left the Committee’s list in 1982. Great Snipe Gallinago media (180, 68, 1) Shetland Fair Isle, adult, 26th, 31st August (C. Bradshaw, M. Wood et at.). (Northeast Europe and Northwest Asia; winters Africa) This bird brought a degree of disbelief to a Canadian birder on the island at the time, when everyone present formed a ‘picket line’ and swept across the island until the snipe was refound. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus (9, 1 54, 4) Northamptonshire Pitsford Reservoir, adult, 10th- 12th August, photographed (P. A. Britten, S. R. Mawby et at.). Sussex, West Sidlesham Ferry, adult, 2 1 st-23rd May (T. J. Edwards et al.) (plate 165). 1990 Dumfries & Galloway Caerlaverock, juvenile to first-winter, 15th October to 16th Jan- uary 1991 (P. N. Collin, S. D. Cooper et al.). 1991 Devon Fremington Pill, 19th January to 19th April (D. & S. Churchill, F. A. Dobinson et al.), possibly same as Braunton, at least 22nd October 1990 (Brit. Birds 84: 471). 1991 Dumfries & Galloway See 1990 above. IRELAND 1990-91 Down The first-winter at Belfast Harbour Estate since 27 th October 1990 remained to 14th April 1991. 1992 Cork Juvenile, Inchydoney, 27th September to 23rd October. 1992 Dublin Juvenile, Rogerstown, 17th to 26th October; same individual at Swords Estuary, 31st October to 6th November. (North America and Northeast Siberia; winters USA and Central America) A slight recovery, following only one new individual in 1991. Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus or L. griseus (31, 255, 4) 1990 Warwickshire Draycote Water, adult, 23rd-26th August (P. J. Finden, R. E. Harbird, B. F. Kington et al.). A summer-plumaged adult which never came close enough to be specifi- cally identified. The totals include those specifically identified. Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda (15, 28, 0) 1973 Yorkshire, North Bolton-on-Swale, 6th August (Brit. Birds 67: 321), now considered to be inadequately documented. IRELAND 1988 Mayo Lough Learn, The Mullet, 10th October. 1991 Cork The bird recorded in Biit. Birds 85: 527 was present from 18th to 24th September. (North .America; winters South America) None in 1992. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (12, 62, 4) Lincolnshire Bardney, 1 8th- 19th May (K. D. Durose et al.) (plate 1 64). Norfolk Gunton Park, 20th-22nd May (A. P. Benson, D. A. Bridges, K. Hewitt et al.). Holkham, 7th-9th June (V. Eve et al.). Sussex, East Icklesham, 4th July (I. Hunter, T. Squire). 1990 Grampian Cotehill Loch, 15th- 16th May (C. Barton, A. G. Clarke et al). 1990 Norfolk Pcntney, 17th May (A. Banwell), probably same as Lakenheath Flash, 16th (Brit. Birds 84: 472). 160. Adult Ross’s Gull Rhodostet/iia rosea (with Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus) Hartlepool, Cleveland, October 1992 (J. At. Youngs) 162. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia, Tayside, April-May 1992 [D. A. Maclernan) ! 163. Adult Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis Juba, Druridge Pools, Northumberland, June 1991 {Ian Fisher ) 164. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis, Bardney, Lincolnshire, May 1992 ( Steve Young/ BirdwatcH) Adult Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus, Sidlesham Ferry, West Sussex, May 1992 {Barry Mitchell 484 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 (Southeast Europe, West and East Asia; winters Africa, South Asia and Australia) With the total now standing at nine, 1990 has become the best-ever year for this species. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa Jlavipes (35, 182, 10) Grampian Cult’s Reservoir, Aberdeen, 18th- 19th May, photographed (D. J. Bain, L. T. A. Brain, K. D. Shaw et at.). Loch of Strathbeg, juvenile, 15 th August (J. Dunbar, J. D. Poyner). Lancashire Marion Mere, 5th May, photographed (A. Conway, C. Kehoe, A. Pryce et at.) (plate 161). Norfolk Cley, 28th-29th May (L. G. R. Evans, A. M. Stoddart et a/.). Scilly St Mary’s, juvenile, 26th August to 22nd September (R. Flood, P. M. Griggs el at). Western Isles Loch Ordais, Lewis, juvenile, 29th September to 8th October, photographed (R. D. Wemyss et at). Wiltshire Cotswold Water Park, 28di April (N. P. Adams, M. L. Buckland). 1986 Leicestershire Watermead Gravel-pits, first-winter, 14th September [J. Wright). IRELAND 1991 Antrim Duncrue Street Marsh, Belfast, 24th September to 12th October. 1991 Cork l'he following corrections should be made to the dates of the birds referred to in Brit. Birds 85: 527. Youghal, 7th to at least 20th September; Ring, Clonakilty, 5th October; Kinsale Marsh, 6th to 27th October. All three were juveniles. 1992 Cork Kinsale Marsh, 3rd to 4th May. Adult, Douglas Estuary, 19th June into 1993. 1992 Londonderry .Adult, Lough Beg, 22nd April to 10th May. (North America; winters southern USA, Central and South America) An excellent year for the species, with, surprisingly, seven in spring and only three in autumn. The Marlon Mere individual was seen on a bird-race; it had previously been identified as a Wood Sandpiper T. glareola, but the above observers reidentified it and then continued with the race. Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria (6, 22, 1) Shedand Fair Isle, juvenile, 1 3th- 1 5th September (P. V. Harvey, Dr R. Riddington et at.) (plate 158). (North America; winters Central and South America) The first ever for both Fair Isle and Shetland, found at a small puddle by the school. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus (3, 36, 1) Suffolk Southwold, 27th May, photographed (C. R. Naunton). 1990 Hampshire Farlington Marsh, 13th-27th May (M. Collins et a/.). (Northeast Europe and Siberia; winters Africa, South Asia and Australia) This single was the only record for 1 992. Once again, the paucity of records in a spring noted for eastern vagrants is interesting. Arc waders less susceptible to such weather conditions than other groups of birds? Spotted Sandpiper Actitis maculana (6, 98, 3) Somerset Burnham-on-Sea, juvenile, 27th September to 7th October (B. J. Hill, B. Babbitts et aL); juvenile to adult, 27th October to 1993 (P. A. Amies, B. J. Hill, B. Rabbitts et at). Tayside Loch Rannoch, 30th April to 26th May, photographed (A. A. Murray, W. Thompson, T. Vorsterman et at.) (plate 162). 1990 Cornwall Lynher Estuary, 28th September (E. H. Williams). 1990 Warwickshire Draycote Water, 29th-30th May (R. Mays, C. 1). Toll). (North America; winters USA south to Uruguay) The long series of sight- ings at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, has created a difference of opinion as to whether there were one or two individuals involved; the Committee would be interested in information on this subject. The Tayside bird has followed the recent pattern of summering individuals. It seems obvious that any wintering Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 ‘Common Sandpiper A. hypoleucos’ is worth a careful second look. 485 Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor ( 1 , 244, 3) Devon Lundy, juvenile, 27th August to 1st September (A. M. Jewels et at). 1988 Lancashire Leighton Moss, 9, 24th-25th May, photographed (P. J. Marsh, K. Scovell et at). 1990 Grampian Findhorn Bay, 9, 16th May (S. Dowden, D. M. Pullan, I. T. Rowlands). 1991 Cheshire Woolston Lyes, first-winter, 19th October to 4th November (19. Bowman, J. R. Dickinson, D. Riley et at.). 1991 Dumfries & Galloway Caerlaverock, first-winter, 3rd October (P. N. Collin et at.). 1991 Fife Eden Estuary, age uncertain, 23rd-24th September (D. Fotheringham, D. Ogilvie). 1991 Lancashire Martin Mere, first-winter, 30th September to 3rd October (R. Pyefinch et at.). IRELAND 1991 Antrim First-winter, Duncrue Street Marsh, Belfast, 25th September. 1991 Wexford Lady’s Island Lake, 28th to 29th September. 1992 Cork F irst-winter, Ballycotton, 30th August to 5th September. 1992 Down Belfast Harbour Estate, 6th to 7th October. (North America; winters South America) This species tends to be one ol the earliest of the vagrant American waders each autumn. How many are juven- iles is difficult to assess, as many past records do not establish the age. There are, however, at least three other August juveniles, on 27th (Cambridgeshire 1979), 26th (Cleveland 1985) and 19th (Lincolnshire 1985), so the Lundy record is not without precedent. Laughing Gull Lams attialla (2, 61, 0) Norfolk Walcott and Paston area, first-winter, since 25th December 1991 (Brit. Birds 85: 528) to 8th January. 1990 Dorset Ferrybridge, adult. 18th March [Bril. Birds 85: 553), now considered acceptable (B. Spencer). 1991 Lothian Musselburgh, adult, 26th May (P. R. Bould, B. A. Hickman, Dr L. L. J. \ ick). IRELAND 1991 Londonderry The two juveniles referred to in Brit. Birds 85: 529 have been found unac- ceptable by the Irish Rare Birds Committee after a review. 1991 Louth The bird referred to in Brit. Birds 85: 529 was present from 29th November to 7th December. (North America; winters USA to South America) The Norfolk individual continued to delight observers in 1992, but this is the first year since 1987 without an acceptable ‘new’ bird. Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixean (0, 24, 3) Cornwall Crowdy Reservoir, adult, 2nd August (D. Clegg, J. M. Randall). Lothian Musselburgh, first-summer, 3rd-4thjune (1. Gillies, K. Gillon, Dr L. L. J. \ ick et at.). Norfolk Titchwell, adult, 21st July (D. & M. D. Abdullah, I. Turner). 1991 Cleveland Reclamation Pond, adult, 19th-23rd June (Brit. Birds 85: 529), finder wasj. B. Dunnett. 1991 Humberside Flamborough Head, second-summer, 11th August (D. Beaumont, P. A. Lassey, M. Newsome et at). 1991 Sussex, East Newhaven, adult, 4th January [Brit. Birds 85: 553), now considered accept- able (N. J. Thomas). 1991 Yorkshire, North Bolton-on-Swale and Scorton. adult, 7th November to 6th December (N. Morgan, R. Taylor). 1991 Yorkshire, South Thrybergh Country Park, adult, 8th December (E. A. Fisher, D. R. Pickering) (fig. 5), presumed same as North Yorkshire. (North America; winters South America) Another good year for this species. 166. White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias kucopterus, Suffolk, June 1991 [Jack lame) 167. Adult, presumed female, Lesser Crested T ern Sterna bengalensis, I /mg Nanny, Northumberland, May 1992 {Ian Fisher) 169. White-winged Black Terns Chlidonias leucopterus (with Black Tern C. niger, above), Kenfig, Mid Glamorgan, May 1992 (above, R. G. Smith; below, Howard Mcholls) 488 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 frojvlaluvX) C^uJi (oJLlAV V ^ c'JJ4r^ Tojfc. . "t3 fijOwr\ic>W" hi \ . (iSu.'S- ^\s) A^kbu^ \i, >Wc - vi>Xuk». \»AxxA' C+-*syjv\E* Sctx©Ajm~, Vx/vo cAoV^-c\XyO C+jL,iajr^ 6ca^hU*iO . MoAU, Gca^uIaj^ c up^JU— --' V*X>AJ^\ cLcvAi- rTVvevx^^vjf Vx> \o« oAi>«yvJ So-rr\jL cv_/} ^nxft\Ldu l_a/*^«r" V)«vcl2^Ji CIotV^O^VxcvXXSnoO \i^\>^ tVwtlar' Ccnv^o^tJl vj^uiVv ^>V>6a\aL - Wo.\i «i Qott. C*a_o » Owi * sVm^jJI e*f^C3 3*t3 *5 £trrrr» S ftVaAuiy . ^ «^JU - Gcjlo Mat Crew<\ X «A , *J*S~ Oer**A^ I (Vo^> K WVoutlgxAo C ^ o\j^\j.V ) Cormo\A l"0\X<\AjUj A cyoA*. sVxr\A V*Aea\x^ . ^^.4 V lqVv o^uW\ o\o-v Ap o-f cAjsoa. rw^S- • SrwAio^- \lf \tuf\ ^BuAe ^*aAxJI Cull , i^gli c Ivunlgf or— - V-ct^Ia^ \jjAh \o*crtvXjLr' ’ UMA^O , s»XsAa_ . VjcA**-v*>*^^ SurrA*jr V-a Vu^>iix- onrv p> wutc*j^) -ft ^ VuJxoV) • 0 crr^^^Vxjv^ V» «rv^_ -X V> A^j < ,€V IcvJ v»VAa ^aAxtP«A^-> Vx>\A*_ N*A i <3^ O^V^rveO sWLW-, 5E • A 7T7sH-€r-e_ Fig. 5. Adult Franklin’s Gull Urn pipixcan, South Yorkshire, December 1991 (Ashley Fisher) There have been 15 new individuals in the last six years, compared with 15 Laughing Gulls L atricilla in the same period. Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 489 Bonaparte’s Gull Lams Philadelphia (11, 65, 4) Cornwall Polruan and Fowey, first-winter, 8th March (S. C. Madge). Camel Estuary, adult, 29th March (S. M. Christophers, P. A. Maker). St John’s Lake, adult, 22ncl April (S. C. Madge), prob- ably returning individual last recorded Plym Estuary area, Devon, 5th May 1991 [Brit. Birds 85: 529). Warwickshire Draycote Water, first-summer, 24th May (T. Marlow, G. M. Pullan). 1979 Lincolnshire Grimsby Docks, probably first-winter, 17th March {Bril. Birds 73: 512), iden- tification no longer supported by G. P. Catley. 1980 Hampshire F arlington Marsh, first-summer, 15th July [Brit. Birds 75: 506), now withdrawn by observers; observation of 23rd July not affected. 1990 Cheshire/Clwyd 1 nner Marsh Farm, adult, 2nd December (Bril. Birds 84: 474), was not accepted (Brit. Birds 85: 553). 1990 Clwyd See above. 1990 Dorset Portland, first-winter, 2nd March (D. & Mrs M., G. & Mrs S. Walbridge). 1990 Highland Stradi Bay, Gairloch, adult, 31st July to 1st August (D. M. Pullan, I. T. Row- lands et at). 1990 Scilly St Mary’s and St Martin’s, first-winter to adult, 21st March intermittently to 14th October (W. H. Wagstaff et alt). 1991 Staffordshire Westport Lake, first-winter, 24th December (W. J. Low). IRELAND 1992 Antrim Adult, Randalstown, Lough Neagh, 2nd October. (North America; winters USA and Mexico) Sorting out returning individu- als for this species is quite difficult, especially as most records are grouped in the Southwest. The late acceptances show what a good year 1990 was for this species, with perhaps as many as 1 1 individuals present. Ring-billed Gull Laras delawarensis (0, 614, — ) 1985 Yorkshire, North Filey, second-winter, 25th July (P. J. Dunn). (North America; winters USA to Mexico) Reports after 1987 are not con- sidered by the Committee. Herring Gull Lams argentatus (0, 1 3, 0) IRELAND One showing the characters of the North American race L. a. smilhsonianus w'as recorded as follow's : 1991 Antrim First-winter, Belfast Rubbish-tip, 13th March. (North America) The previous 12, all of which were in Ireland, were listed last year {Brit. Birds 85: 529). Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides (0, 14, 1) Individuals showing the characters of the North American race L. g. kumlimi were recorded as follows: Highland Inverness, adult, 2nd January (S. J. Aspinall, R. H. Dennis), presumed same as 1991 Grampian. 1991 Grampian Banff Bay and Flarbour, adult, at least 5th January (M. G. Pennington, Dr I. M. Phillips, S. A. Reeves et at.), presumed returning individual last recorded 12th April 1989 (Brit. Birds 83: 466). IRELAND 1991 Donegal Two adults, Killybegs, 16th February. 1991 Sligo Adult, Sligo Dump, 2nd February. 1992-93 Cork Adult, The Lough and Dunkettle, 28th December to 3 1st January 1993. (Baffin Island and Northwest Ungava Peninsula, Canada; winters North America) With the recent interest in the races of Iceland Gull, including L. g. thayeri, shall we soon see the submission of records of immatures? 490 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea (2, 52, 1) Cleveland Hartlepool, adult, 11th October, photographed (M. A. Blick, B. I. K. Caswell el at.) (plate 160). 1975 Cleveland Seaton Carew, first-winter, 8th August (Brit. Birds 69: 341), now considered in- adequately documented. IRELAND 1991 Galway Adult, Nimmo’s Pier, 6th to 13th January. (Northeast Siberia and Canada) This delightful gull was found following a prolonged period of good seawatching. Presumably the winds that drove hordes ot Pomarine Skuas Stercoranus pomarinus onto the Northeast coasts also brought this bird into the shelter of Hartlepool Bay. Ivory Gull Pagophila ebumea (76, 36, 1) Highland Brora, first-summer, 26th March (I. Smitton, A. Vittery). 1991 Grampian Inverallochy, Fraserburgh, first-winter, taken into care injured, 29th December, photographed (L. T. A. Brain, Mrs M. Buchan et at). (Arctic) It is now seven years since the last accessible mainland bird, in Cleveland in 1986. These are two typical records. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica (52, 187, 3) Orkney North Ronaldsay, 27th May (M. Gray). Yorkshire, North Filey Brigg, two adults, 18th August (P. R. Beaumont, S. Cochrane, P. |. Dunn et at). 1960 Lothian Aberlady, then East Lothian, 1 1th September (Brit. Birds 54: 188), now considered inadequately documented. 1966 Lothian Dalmeny, then West Lothian, 3rd September (Brit. Birds 60: 321), now considered inadequately documented. 1968 Lothian Aberlady, then East Lothian, 22nd March (Brit. Birds 62: 473), now' considered in- adequately documented. 1969 Central Region Skinflats, then Stirlingshire, 6th September (Brit. Birds 63: 280), now' con- sidered inadequately documented. 1973 Cleveland Greatham Creek, then Durham, 21st June (Brit. Birds 67: 327), now considered inadequately documented. 1973 Durham See 1973 Cleveland above. 1989 Northumberland Cresswell, 1st July (A. 1). McLevy). 1990 Dumfries & Galloway Loch Ryan, first-winter, 12th October (B. W. Litherland). 1991 Norfolk Burnham Norton, 14th July (M. E. S. Rooney). (Almost cosmopolitan, nearest breeding colony in Denmark; European pop- ulation winters Africa) This is the first Orkney record of Gull-billed Tern and only the second for the Northern Isles. Observers would be well advised not to rely on bill shape, but to concentrate more on relative proportions and wing pattern if a record of this notoriously difficult-to-prove species is to be accepted. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia (30, 191, 5) Bedfordshire Priory Country Park, 17th April (D. Kramer), presumed same as Bucking- hamshire and Suffolk. Buckinghamshire Willen Dike, 17th April (M. J. Bodlcy, P. Price, T. & YV. R. Tunnicliffe et at), presumed same as Bedfordshire and Suffolk. Cheshire Neumann’s Flash, Marbury and Great Budworth Meres, 30th-3 1 st May (A. W. P. Hearn, D. J. YV. faylor, D. M. Walters et at). Dorset Hengistbury Head, 15th August (D. N. Smith). Humberside Messingham, 23rd June (J. T. Harriman). Suffolk Kackford, intermittently, 5th- 1 8th April (A. Fate et at.) (plates 170-172), presumed also in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. 170-172. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia (with Moorhen Gallinula chloropus and Common Teals Anas crecca, below), Lackford, Suffolk, April 1992 (above, David Tip ling/ Avian; below, R. C. Wilson) 492 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Yorkshire, North Bolton-on-Swalc, 27th May, same, Mickletown Ings, West Yorkshire, 27th (N. Morgan et al.). Yorkshire, West See above. 1989 Glamorgan, Mid Kenfig, 1 1th April (A. Clarke). 1989 Yorkshire, West Ardsley Reservoir, 23rd May J. Holliday, J. Martin. D. Woodhead). 1991 Dorset W eymouth and Portland area, adult and juvenile, 13th- 15th September (C. E. Richards et at.). 1991 Suffolk Covehithe and Benacre, 5th July J. M. Cawston, E. W. Patrick). Lackford, 23rd July (J. Dorling). IRELAND 1991 Cork Adult, Rosscarbery, 12th July. (Almost cosmopolitan except South America, everywhere local; European populations winter in Africa) 1 he Lackford, Suffolk, individual wandered over much of southeast England during its stay. An average year and geographical spread for a species which very rarely strays north of Yorkshire. Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis (0, 4, 0) Northumberland Panic Islands, 9, 1st May to 21st July, presumed returning 1991 individual But. Buds 8j. 530), again paired with Sandwich 1 ern S. satidvicensis, one young raised to (lying stage (R. Elliot, G. 1 aylor, M. Thornton el al.), presumed same, Long Nanny, 19th May, pho- tographed (I. Eisher, C. Norman) (plate 167), Newbiggin, 22nd July (A. Priest), also in Suffolk. Suffolk Minsmere, 4th-6th August (P. Chesbrough, M. E. Cornish et al.), presumed same as Northumberland. 1991 Suffolk Benacre, 25th August H. Parsons, S. E. Pearson, M. J. Thompson), presumed same ;is Northumberland (Bril. Birds 85: 530-531). 1991 Yorkshire, North 1'iley, 24th August (C. C. 1 homas et al.), presumed same as Northum- berland (Brit. Birds 85: 530-531). (North and East Africa, east to Australia; winter quarters uncertain) The ninth year in residence (and she also returned in 1993) for the Fame Islands? bird, once again raising a hybrid young which may yet return to baffle us. Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri (0, 20, 1) Merseyside Eormby Point, adult, 16th August (Dr B. McCarthy). I R El AND 1991-92-93 Down The bird recorded in Brit. Birds 85: 531 was present to 8th March. What was probably the same individual was present in the same area from 8th November 1992 into 1993. (North America; winters USA and Mexico) The Irish Sea is very much the hot-spot for this species, which regularly appears on both coasts. Although a wi n ter-pl um aged individual is easy to identify when it is the only tern on the beach in January, an observer who picks one out of a passage of terns in August is to be congratulated. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus (20. 85, 0) 1964 Cleveland Coatham Sands, then North Yorkshire, 30ih August (Brit. Birds 58: 363), now considered inadequately documented. 1964 Yorkshire, North See above. (South Eurasia, Africa and Australia; European birds winter in Africa) li is amazing that in the best-ever year for White-winged Black Terns C. leucoj items no Whiskered hitched a lift with a flock of its relatives. This was not mirrored in the rest of Europe, with records the highest ever in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Latvia, and breeding numbers the highest ever in Poland. This is the third consecutive blank year in Britain and Ireland. 493 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus (50, 540, 42) Berkshire Theale, second-summer, 18th May (P. E. Standley, B. Uttley et at.). Cheshire Neumann’s Flash, second-summer, 8th May (P. E. Kenyon). Cumbria Carr Beds, near Rockcliffe, two, 18th- 19th May, photographed (A. Cremin et at.). Devon Plymstock, adult, 26th-28th July, photographed (P. T. Molyneux et at.). Dorset Lodmoor, adult, 29th September (U. Lotberg). Stanpit Marsh, adult, 22nd August (L. Chappell). Essex Hanningfield Reservoir, three, 18th May (J. Miller, J. T. Smith). Abberton Reservoir, adult or second-summer, 29th July (D. & Mrs A. A. Adams, B. Smith); juvenile, 24th-31st August (A. Ketde, R. V. A. Marshall, J. Norgate et at). Canvey Island, juvenile, 11th September J. S award). Fife Fife Ness, 31st May (D. Simpson, S. Taylor). Glamorgan, Mid Kenfig, three, 18th May, photographed (C. Hurford, P. Jones, K. Luxford et at) (plates 168 & 169). Gloucestershire Slimbridge, two juveniles, 9th August (L. P. Alder). Grampian Loc h of Strathbeg, 23rd May, photographed (K. Munday et at). Greater London William Girling Reservoir, juvenile, 13th-14th September (B. Reed et at.). Hampshire Fleet Pond, juvenile, 22nd August J. M. Clark, J. Dixon, G. C. Stephenson et at). Hereford & Worcester Westwood Pool, Droitwich and Wilden Lagoons, Kidderminster, adult, 1 1th September (G. & W. F. Peplow, S. M. Whitehouse et at.). Kent Swale, two, 1 8th- 1 9th May, photographed (Cl. G. Bradshaw et at.). Dungeness, first-winter, 24th September (D. Okines, D. Walker). Leicestershire Rudand Water, juvenile, 1 1th- 13th September (A. H. J. Harrop, C. Lylhall el at.). Lincolnshire Covenham Reservoir, juvenile, 23rd August to 2nd September (G. P. Clatley, D. Jenkins, A. C. Sims et at). Northamptonshire Daventry Reservoir Country Park, 18th May (D. G. Carrington et at.). Pits- ford Reservoir, three, 19th May, photographed (R. W. Bullock, D. J. Lewis et at.); juvenile, 12th- 13th September (P. A. Britten, S. F. Coles, A. D. J. Cook et at). Earl’s Barton, juvenile, 14th August (P. A. Britten, K. Taylor, M. Williams et at). Nottinghamshire Lound, 16th May, photographed (G. Hobson, R. Marshall et at.); adult. 11th September (G. Barlow, P. Palmer). Somerset Combwich, juvenile, 4th-7th October, presumed same, Durleigh Reservoir, 8th-23rd (C. F. S. Avent, B. Rabbitts et at.). Staffordshire Belvide Reservoir, adult, 8th August J. K. Higginson et at.). Strathclyde Baron’s Haugh, adult, 3rd-7th August, photographed (S. Clifton, I. English, R. G. Nisbett et at.). Sussex, East Pett Level, adult, 26th August J. A. B. Gale), presumed same, Rye, 28th to 4th September (R. G. Harris et at.). Sussex, West Chichester Harbour, adult, 14th- 15th May (C. B. Collins). 1989 Kent Dungeness, juvenile, 5th- 11th September {Brit. Birds 83: 469), observer was D. Walker. 1990 Lancashire Leighton Moss and Dockacre Gravel-pits, adult or second-summer, 15th- 16th July {Brit. Birds 85: 531), 15th only. 1991 Devon Slapton Ley, second-summer, lst-2ndjune J. F. Babbington, R. W. White). 1991 Essex/Suffolk Gibbonsgate Lake, near Flatford Mill and River Stour, near Cattawade, two, 2nd-4th June, photographed (R. Allan, Dr M. F. M. Bamford, D. R. Moore el at) (fig. 6, page 494; plate 166). 1991 Gwent Llandegfedd Reservoir, 29th-31st May, photographed J. R. Bennett et at.). 1991 Hampshire Blashford Gravel-pit, juvenile, 22nd-25th September (A. I. Prophet el at.). 1991 Highland Loch of Mey and St John’s Ixich, 7th-12thjune J. Smith). 1991 Suffolk See Essex/Suffolk above. IRELAND 1991 Wexford The bird referred to in Brit. Birds 85: 531 was an adult and was first seen at Lady’s Island Lake from 9th to 10th August; it then moved to Tacumshin and was there to at least 17th August. Juvenile, Tacumshin, 17th-24th August, it or another at Lady’s Island Lake on 14th and 29th September and at the Cull on 14th and 28th September, Kilmore Quay on 5th October and Tacumshin on 6th October. It seems certain that two juveniles were involved in tlris series of sightings. 1992 Clare Adult, Lough O’Grady, 1st June. 494 Rare birds in Great Biitain in 1992 Sfci*v' , u^Ua'U, -{or* ioiw«^ Cov^b'Ycllt^ t^jlV bl***L ^*vvK^ / bltM^ v^vv«/✓ tfK Cia^4cv>i/a h*v^Fxl/i **a*« Kx. l^oUy \aj i mj rxAjfUxs pc^MA^j a ***>< 'w"*7 ^ OK!^ c^A-t ?"(*.(• twct ^ t?. S hv Ilv £* /f*r\ Fig. 6. Two White-winged Black Terns Chlidonias leucopterus, Essex/SufFolk, June 1991 {Richard AM) (Southeast Europe, Asia and Africa; European birds winter Africa) An astounding year for this species broke both spring and annual records. At least 21 occurred in spring, with 15 arriving on 1 8th- 1 9th May, including three groups of three; a further 21 or more were seen in autumn. Interestingly, the sole Irish record was the latest of the spring crop, and the only June record. 173 & 174. Juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamalor gland anus, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, November 1992 (Jack Levene) 175. Below, juvenile European Roller Corcicias garmhis, Orfordness, Suffolk, September 1991 Jack Levene) 496 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Briinnich’s Guillemot Una lorrwia (2, 25, 1) Western Isles Hirta, St Kjlda, 26th May (T. J. Dix), same, 6th June J. Vaughan). (Circumpolar Arctic) Still a very rare bird, though logic suggests that it should winter in northern waters in some numbers. Where are they all? Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus (0, 1 , 0) Devon Lundy, 30th March to 29th April (R. H. C. Bonser, N. J. Hallam, A. M. Jewels et at.), presumed returning 1991 individual {Brit. Birds 85: 532). (Pacific seaboard of .Alaska and Northeast Siberia; winters North Pacific.) There is something peculiarly British about the term ‘presumed returning in- dividual'. II' another turns up on Lundy, it will be as unlikely as the second coming of the Dodo Raphus cucullatus. Mourning Dove Renaula macroura (0, 1 , 0) 1989 Man, Isle of Calf of Man, trapped, 31st October, photographed, found dead 1st Novem- ber, now at Manx Museum (A. Sapsford, K. Scott). (North and Central America south to Panama) The first record for the Western Palearctic. A short-distance migrant within its native range, northern birds move south to winter well within the range. Not included by Robbins [Bnt. Birds 73: 448-457) among the 38 most-likely candidates for an autumn transatlantic flight, but mentioned as a probable for a successful crossing. Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius (6, 28, 2) Norfolk Clcy, juvenile, 7th July (P. L. Board), same, Blakeney Point, 7th- 1 1th (R. Gilbert, D. McNeil et at.). Suffolk Aldeburgh, juvenile moulting to first-winter, 29th October to 12th November (Mr & Mrs J. R. Pilkington et at.) (plates 173 & 174). 1990 Devon Dawlish Warren, 20th-28th March, dead 29th (K. R. Grant et at.) [Bnt. Birds 83: plate 298). 1990 Kent Sandwich Bay, dead, 25th March, skin retained by E. Robson (W. E. Fletcher et at.). (South Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa; winters Africa) Two records in a year is about the average, though 1991 was blank. At least two of the previous March records have been of birds which have subsequently died (or been found dead), presumably from starvation. The July record is only the third in mid summer. Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops (64, 20, 0) 1986 Orkney Papa Westray, 24th June to 11th July, trapped 1st July, found dead 12th, pho- tographed, remains retained by E. R. Meek (M. Gray, E. R. Meek et at.). (South Europe, Russia, West Asia and Northwest Africa; winters Africa) 4'his belated acceptance lakes the total of records since the formation of the Committee in 1958 to 20 (i.e. an occurrence rate of one every 21 months). Prior to 1 958 there were 64 records, so this clearly reflects a downward trend. The third record for Orkney; the previous ones were in June 1965 and November 1970. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca (many, 1 02, 2) Shetland Fctlar, two $9, from 1991 (Bril. Birds 85: 532), to 29th March, one to 13th May, other, Unst, 8th April to 17th May (per 1). Suddaby), probably one of same, Dales Voc, Main- land, 27th May (T. R. Gleeves, K. I). Shaw). Western Isles Balranald, North List, 8, 30th-31st May, taken into care injured, died 9th June, now at Glasgow Museum (T. J. Dix, S. Parish et at.). Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 497 1990 Grampian/Highland Ben Macdui area, 9, 17th May to 28th August, 16th December (R. Smith), presumed returning individual of 21st June to 4th September 1987 (Brit. Birds 83: 470). 1991 Grampian/Highland Ben Macdui area, 9, 15th April (R. Smith), presumed returning 1990 individual. IRELAND 1992 Mayo Achill, 19th February. (Circumpolar Arctic; disperses south in some winters) The fate of the male in the Western Isles is particularly regrettable as the preponderance of females continues. He had been ringed at Stavanger, Norway (exact date not yet known), so the possibility of further recruitment from the north to our ageing and declining outpost still exists. In addition to the above records, an adult female came aboard a Spanish fishing vessel about 320 km east of Newfoundland and was eventually brought ashore at Aberdeen on 2nd July; she was found to be in good health, was released on 3rd, and was last seen on 4th. A June report from North Uist, Western Isles, remains to be assessed by the Committee. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica (0, 5, 0) 1991 Fife St Andrews, 8th- 10th November, photographed (Dr R. W. Byrne, D. E. Dickson, Dr J. Graves et at.) (plates 180 & 181). (North America; winters to central South America) The fourth record (fifth individual) for the British Isles since the first in 1982, and the first for Scotland; previous records were from Cornwall and Scilly; all have been in October or November. A further record from 1983 remains under considera- tion. Alpine Swift Apus melba (150, 303, 16) Cornwall Loe Bar, 1 1 th April J. S. Gilbert, P. Kemp). Devon Bideford, 25th April (M. C. Dennis, A. S. Hall). Dorset Branksome Chine, 26th April J. H. Blackburn). Kent Foreness, 22nd-23rd April (S. D. W. Mount el at.); second individual, 23rd (T. M. Black- burn, M. McCarthy. D. McKee et at.)', presumed one of same, Minnis Bay, 23rd (T. N. Hodge et at.)- Dungeness, 2nd May (P. G. Akers); probably same, Folkestone, 2nd-3rd (I. A. Roberts, J. P. Siddle et at.), Dover, 3rd (per D. W. Taylor), Minnis Bay and Reculver, 4th (T. N. Hodge, C. Osborne). Suffolk Dunwich, 23rd May (B. J. Small) (fig. 7). Sussex, East Beachy Head, 18th August (D. P. Dunk). Wight, Isle of Ventnor, 23rd April (A. Butler). 1988 Sussex, East Beachy Head, 27th March (P. M. Leonard, A. Tagg). 1990 Essex Shoeburyness, 22nd March (P. Collins). 1990 Hampshire Titchfield, in office building, 26th March, photographed (D. S. Foot, C. Sav- age et at.). 1990 Kent St Margaret’s, 4th October (I. P. Hodgson). 1991 Cornwall Lamoma, 6th July (B. D. Blowers). 1991 Suffolk Landguard, 1 1th July (A. Bimpson el at.). IRELAND 1992 Dublin Dun Laoghaire, 19th to 20th March, five, Killiney, 20th March. Howth Head, 27 th May. (South Eurasia, Noithwest and East Africa; winters Africa) There were also belated records from the Channel Islands, with singles at St Clement, Jersey, on 1st October 1987 and another on Jersey on 27th March 1990. Continued on page 500 176. Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi, Fair Isle, Shetland, October 1992 (Ian Fisher) 177. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni, Fair Isle, Shetland, October 1992 ( Dennis Coutts) DPA MADE BY LEICA "You've got to hand it to Leica... these superb binos are a real eye opener." BILLODDIE At first sight an exemplary, functional and timelessly beautiful design. On second sight a convincing and superior optical performance. A long-term view observes and confirms the unsurpassed reliability of precision mechanics. The new binocular generation from Leica. Made for the demanding observer who wishes to sweep the horizon yet never miss the nearby detail. There is a choice of three outstanding models. 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(D286| FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE HAMLYN BIRD BEHAVIOUR GUIDES AND THE HAML YN BIRD SPECIES G UIDES THE SERIES CONTINUE ON 30TH SEPTEMBER 1993 WITH Seabirds W f 4 Vj fr . SEABIRDS Author: Rob Hume. Illustrated by Bruce Pearson, price: £14.99 The second book in this major series covering birdwatching by both family and behaviour. An illustrated guide to r.he behaviour of seabirds seen regularly in the Western Palearctic. Specially commissioned artwork in both colour and black and white supplements the text on all aspects of seabird behaviour. Thi Great Tit "A THE GREAT TIT Author: Andrew Gosler. Illustrator: Norman Arlott, price: £9.99 The third book in this series heralding an exciting new concept in illustrated bird monographs, written by acknowledged experts in the field. Showing the most important aspects of identification and behaviour of the largest of the common tits. To order these titles or any other Hamlyn Natural History titles please call 0933 410511 (D323) IX THE PEREGRINE FALCON SECOND EDITION Derek Ratcliff e The first edition was a landmark in natural history publishing, a classic species monograph and our most requested tide. It is now a collectors item. So ivh at' s cl ifferen t about the second edition ? It's completely revised and updated, benefitting from a decade of major advances in our knowledge of Peregrine biology, local movements and population turnover, feeding, breeding and nesting habits. And... ...It's Available. Nozu. The Peregrine Falcon (2/e) by Derek Ratcliff e ISBN: 0 85661 060 7 July 1993,488pp., £25.00 Order your copy from your local bookseller or from: T & AD POYSER 24-28 Oval Road London NWI7DX (Tel. 071-267 4466) BIRDING TAKES OFF HERE Get the very best out of your birding with BIRDWATCH every month ^ Detailed guides on where to see the best birds around Britain and Ireland ^ How to identify everything from plovers and petrels to rare warblers and buntings ^ Exclusive photos and detailed reports of the latest rarities ^ In-depth essays on the world's birding hot-spots ^ Coverage of all the big conservation issues and scientific discoveries Regular features by Britain's top birders, including Bill Oddie. Eric Simms, Anthony McGeehan and Colin Bradshaw ON SALE AT YOUR NEWSAGENT NOW (D301 ) (D314) 178. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina, Mizen Head, Co. Cork, October 1992 (, Anthony McGeehan ) 179. First-winter Citrine Wagtail Molacilla citreola , St Mary’s, Scilly, September 1992 ( David Rimes) 500 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 b/w* P/WM£7L ctvfrvtt r»m pms Ropy pwisk ftifif ^ urrxr /mem piwev 0n&ar 0Aoa>. fr/rm p&mseb OCoAft mAt pta>e. r Mm open -fbuxep Pam . Se& co^pAtiStN inttH s/n^v Mme-nv Itooft-T /men joexrLy c-KSAmtem Pyftff-g PATfH Suetfj FAUy fft/rptx /vjf&f'fi ere . (jmCfi fKerunZ op PA'ffftt -LIKE (Af/ffP Avrua . Fig. 7. .Alpine Swift Apus melba, Dunwich, Suffolk, May 1992 [B. J. Smalt) 1 he British total of nine is a good average and a great improvement on last year. The complete absence of any in autumn is noteworthy. Details of a long-staying individual in May and early June in Borders have not yet been received. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster (154, 327, -) 1989 Kent I'orcness, 24th May (S. 1). \V. Mount). (South Europe, Southwest Asia and Northwest Africa; winters Africa) A belated acceptance is of one in the Channel Islands, at L’Elacq, Jersey, on 22nd July 1989. This species was dropped from the list of species considered by the Committee at the end of 1990. European Roller Coracias garrulus (135, 85, 2) Cumbria North YValney, 27th June (T. Jones, C. Raven et at.). Strathclyde Gott Hay, Tiree, 20th May J. E. R. Allen, Dr D. Lewis). 1991 Suffolk Orfordness, juvenile, 8th- 1 2th September, photographed (D. Crawshaw, M. D. Crewe et at.) (plate 1 75). (South and East Europe, West Asia and Northwest Africa; winters Africa) Two records is about the average number per year of this very colourful rarity, and they are on fairly typical dates. The Strathclyde bird is the twenti- eth in Scotland since 1958. Details of one in Kent in June have not yet been received for consideration. Eastern Phoebe Sayomis phoebe (0, 1 , 0) 1987 Devon Lundy, 24th-25th April (C. McShane, K. J. Mitchell, A.J. Wood). (North America, winters south to Mexico) The first record for the Western Palcarctic. A relatively short-distance migrant within its native range and not greatly anticipated on this side of the Atlantic, although it has made it to the Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 501 Bahamas in the past. It was not included among Chandler S. Robbins’s 38 most-likely candidates for an autumn transatlantic flight {Brit. Birds 73: 448- 457). A record from south Devon two days prior to this one remains under consideration. 180 & 181. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica, St Andrews, Fife, November 1991 [above, D. E. Dickson; below, Mary Macinlyre) see page 497 502 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (40, 353, 19) Cornwall Rame Head, 30th September to 2nd October (S. Bird, R. Eynon, V. R. Tucker el at.). Humberside Spurn, trapped, 12th January, photographed J. Cudworth, G. E. Dobbs el at.). Norfolk Blakeney Point, 4th May (S. C. Joyner, A. M. Stoddart). „ Scilly St Mary’s, 21st to at least 25th April (G. C. Stephenson el at.)', 20th-24th September (P. D. Hyde et at.); 3rd- 12th October (D. E. Balmer, 1. Lakin, M. A. Newell el at.) (plate 113). Bryher, 20th May (Miss C. E. Lankester, K. Pellow). Shetland Baltasound, Unst, 1st May (L. Leask, M. J. McLeod, M. G. Pennington et at). Fair Isle, 18th- 19th May (P. V. Harvey et at). Sumburgh, 24di-25di May (R. A. Matthews, D. Sud- daby et at.). Northdale, Unst, 23rd-30th September (T. Hutchinson, M. Jones el alt). Scatness, 24th-25th September (G. J. Hinchon et at.), same, Sumburgh Head, 26th-28th (per D. Suddaby). Virkie, two, 27th September, presumed one of same, 29th J. N. Dymond et at.). Fair Isle, 2nd October (N. J. Riddiford). YVhalsay, 7th October (K. Osborn). Fedar, 3rd- 16th October (B. Thomason). Suffolk I^andguard, 23rd-25th September (M. L. Cornish, N. Odin et at.). Yorkshire, North Filey, 16th May J. W. Cooper, W. Hill, J. Hilcox et at.). 1991 Dorset Hengistbury Head, 29th October (G. Armstrong et at.). 1991 Hertfordshire Tyttenhanger Gravel-pit, 7th- 10th May (G. J. White et at.). 1991 Humberside Flamborough Head, 14th-20th September J. C. Lamplough, P. A. Lasscy, M. Newsome et at.). 1991 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 7th-20th October, two, 10th- 15th, three, 1 2th (Bril. Birds 85: 534) as stated, but differing individual 8th, giving total of four. 1991 Sussex, West East Head, Chichester Harbour, 26th June to 4th July (S. J. Aspinall, G. Cockburn, B. F. Forbes et at.). (South Eurasia; winters North Africa) Another good showing with most in the expected peak times of' May and September-Octobcr. Midsummer and midwinter records are exceptional, so the West Sussex and Humberside records are particularly notable; the Humberside record was of a bird of one of the grey eastern (but indeterminate in the field) races, and is also only the second in January. Records of this species will cease to be considered by the Committee from the end of December 1993. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica (7, 224, 1 1) Bedfordshire South Mills, 19th May (P. Oldfield). Berkshire Theale, 2nd May (H. Nedey). Dorset Portland, 29th April (M. Cade, G. L. Webber, I. Weston). Essex Hainault Forest, 23rd May (M. K. Dennis). Hereford & Worcester Upton Warren, lst-2nd May, photographed (S. M. Whitehouse et at.). Kent Folkestone, 23rd May (I. A. Roberts). Norfolk Sheringham, 7th October (K. B. Shepherd, S. C. Volier). Suffolk Southwold, 29th May (T. North). Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, 3rd May (S. Phipps). Wight, Isle of Havenstreet, 4di May J. C. Gloyn, D.J. & M. Hunnybun, G. & M. Sparshott et at). Yorkshire, North Filey, 31st May (L. Gillard). 1988 Avon New Passage, 22nd April (N. 1'. Lacy). 1989 Humberside Flamborough Head, 15th April (D. G. Hobson). 1990 Avon Chew Valley Hike, 20th October (R. Palmer et at.). 1991 Cornwall Marazion, 14th April (E.J. Cook, R.J. Lee). 1991 Dorset Portland, 17th June (G. Walbridge). 1991 Kent Stodmarsh area, 1 4th- 1 8th June (D. C. Gilbert et at). 1991 Scilly Bryher, 24th April (R. G. W. Heselden) (fig. 8). 1991 Suffolk Thorpeness, 15th May J. Briant, R. Glover). (South and East Eurasia and Africa; winters Africa) A relatively poor show- ing compared with the high numbers of the 1987-90 period, and till except one were in spring. The late acceptance of the five 1991 records moves the total for that year on to seven. S//Q7) C C3>-) fr~Cl S’ 6' '■V5 &r ouruzr - cr pr/'nQ/’/ tAo^o «*< - CK< ,VcvcA UfpnrtDi/t COVCT^J . SAcu^tVey - kyicta. - &ocJc ccyD c*6oa* or~cv>ac covert ^ i-Or^ , z^OiA// -f «jzUjy+^3 <£* *flf*£* 60 oUbmr%***4r*ib 4T)i . '^cxdA«y* /oc^j ^Ciqht d C3— /-*•> CX c/n £>*-y *■ T 1 / Ck/^ — /— f fy ^ 3 a4t6«A^ khtc^, nxuxrty-d 3<-;a//c»JI , besu/^ Of . O/iiwru-no /its&as prv-Kj-^. ^ §r<%'dh , ^ C-C306-0_5 &erpa/-t* /*' O»*o to \s&nt <-J*i'te .j^a, crea~i^ C5n Fig. 8. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo dauiica , Bryher, Scilly, April 1991 (/?. G. IK Heselden ) W-L-*- &■<■> InvU, <$U- «"!.(> ^ % rtA- ^ v*JL/p*vV* vJ»Vl(t Ol_ < s/N»V il **• £ Hui o-A o^arpA* *>«4lJA. ^ ••'V tar+X^ f./x jX cJ iuU Vwvt. GjwJOrft- Wli OO^Lr <2r«Ajkr tA» tjer^ oXjil &wtA^ tJCrrv * — Afwfc: wUik»- Fyt H C«- co-^i r*jdiaw , -xx-w. |>,->v-s>rt*t. /?A/-vAA<-i o-v cU>ceJ< v-O*.^ <^A» C»i-v.-Vr~«.^\ V^a. «j&_ J U)V*n-« ^ * t-.oUb. VAaA£. S»VN fn>Mfr^e£ / i *w :-i> > ,pe«cJU~<*-aW t’^kvJlrjr( C? JS^V^UGn»-WvCU«. . cwA’' W/vOt*'*, W.e.^. 1 ■ f -ft^s K»- WVaj*. ^ u^A-b- ^o,-xt4 t^LoJoi, K. “■*k "fc»- U-k>^b- rf-iu. L ib a>t> P'V.-A-^ ro~,p p-oUA ttcL^^jV i^'*' bA)v-'N ^ +riTL tejuV-trt V>i*i AksV. e^_ &,vi ^^■W_ oo«j- +rd, S. 1). W. Mount). Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 ^05 Lincolnshire Gibraltar Point, in song, 26th-28th May (P. M. Troake, R. K. Watson K M Wilson). Merseyside Red Rocks, 15th May (M. G. & Dr J. E. Turner, E. Williams). Seaforth, in song, 2oth May, photographed [J. Dempsey, C. Kehoe, S. White et at). Norfolk Happisburgh, 14th May; 14th- 18th; 15th- 17th (G. M. CressweU, M. Fiszer et at). Cley 1 4th- loth May (A. P. Benson, S. J. M. Gandett et at). Blakeney Point, 14th May (M S Ca- vanagh, A. M. Stoddart); 26th-28th, two, 27th-28th (G. M. CressweU, S. C. Joyner, A. M. Stod- dan et at.) VVelney, 21st May J. B. Kemp). Breydon, 23rd May (P. R. Allard). Weyboume, 26th May (1. \\ right). Shenngham, 3rd October (K. B. Shepherd). Orkney North Ronaldsay, 31st May to 1st June (K. A. Wilson et at); 30di September (A. Ban- well, M. Gray, F. Maroevic et at). Stronsay, 2nd October J. W. N. Andrews, J. F. Holloway;. Scilly St Mary’s, 4th October (A. Blagden, C. & D. K. LamsdeU, R. Overton et at). Tresco 13th- 16th October (S. J. Broyd et at.) (plate 112). Shetland Fair Isle, ten: at least 17th May (S. C. Voder el at); 19th-23rd, trapped 21st (P. V. Harvey, S. C. Voder el at.)-, 24th-25th (S. C. Voder et at.)-, 27th (K. Bowey, P. V. Harvey); 27th- 28th (S. C. Voder et at.)-, 27th-28th (K. Bowey, P. V. Harvey, S. C. Voder et at)-, 29th (S. C. Voder); 30th-31st (I. Brown, I. Sweedand et at .); presumed another, 31st (R. Taylor); 30th September to 1st October (N. C. Green, D. Rhymes et at). Fedar, in song, 4th-25th June, pho- tographed J. & Mrs 1. Miller, A. Stanbury, B. Thomason et at). Catfirth, 21st September (C. Byers, P. V. Hayman et at). Suffolk Shingle Street, 1 1 th October (M. D. Crewe). 1988 Devon Emesetde, 14th October (E. Griffiths). 1990 Cornwall Marazion, 14th May (M. P. Semmens). 1990 Greater Manchester Ladybrook Valley, Cheadle Hulme, 14th October (G. Fightfoot). 1991 Cambridgeshire Northey Fen, Nene Washes, 26th May (M. & S. Davies, R. Davis Mrs H. J. Welch et at). 1991 Dyfed Skomer, 6th-8th September (Miss K. F. Fawrence, T. Parke, S. 1 & Mrs A C Sut- cliffe et at). 1991 Scilly St Mary’s, at least 1 1 da- 1 2th December (D. J. D. Hickman, W. H. Wagstaff). 1991 Tyne & Wear Ryhope, 20th May (S.J. Ling et at). (Arctic Eurasia; winters India and Africa) Following on from the good num- bers in 1991, which, with the four late acceptances given here, achieved a total of 16, a record high, the year 1992 can be considered outstanding, with over 40 records. .Almost three-quarters of this total occurred in May and just over one quarter were in September and October. Inland records are excep- tional, but the Greater London record is the sixth, and the second at that locality7. The comment in last year’s report regarding those who have heard this species sing in Britain may now be redundant; this year’s deluge of records has enabled several observers in Merseyside and Shedand to be added to the list. Several records, particularly in spring, remain to be reported and the Committee would welcome details of any record not included above. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola (2, 56, 3) Scilly St Mary’s, first-winter, 1 3th- 1 6th September, photographed (N. Benson, D. N. T. Rimes, M. Rose et at.) (plate 1 79). Shetland Fair Isle, first-winter, 5th September (P. V. Harvey, Dr R. Riddington, S. C. Votierl Seafield, Lerwick, first-winter, 30th September (P. V. Hayman, K. Hudson, K. Osborn). (Northeast and East Russia, West Siberia, West and Central Asia; win- ters Southern and Southeast Asia) Three records, at very traditional sites, are the average for this scarce wagtail. Two records in Scilly (in 1978 and 1979) and one in the Western Isles in September 1992 remain under consideration. 182. First-winter Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus, Fair Isle, Shetland, October 1992 ( Dennis Coutts) 183. I irst-winter Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, September 1 992 (R. Chittenden ) (see also plate 1 85) . 507 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia (2, 92, 5) Norfolk Gram bo rough Hill, Salthouse, 26th September (R. C. Abel, M. J. Saunt el at). Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-summer, trapped, 25th May, photographed (M. Gray, A. Mitchell, U 1 atterson). Deemess, first-winter, trapped, 1st September (C. J. Corse el al.). Shetland Fair Isle, first-summer, trapped, 5th June (P. V. 1 larvey, Dr R. Riddington, R. Taylor et «/.); first-winter, 18th-20th September, trapped 18th J. Coutts, Dr R. Riddington et al) (plate 192). (Scandinavia, East Europe and West Asia; winters Africa) A good showing, in contrast to the previous two years, including the third for Orkney. The Not folk bird was very obliging, sitting in a small bush for most of its stay and frequently offering good views. Details of one at Holkham, Norfolk, have yet to be reported to the Committee. Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata (1, 173, 15) Individuals showing the characters of one or other of the eastern races S. t. maura or stejnegeri were recorded as follows: Humberside Dane’s Dyke, Flamborough, $ or immature, 19th October (D. Bywater). Spurn, first-winter 9, trapped, 8th October, photographed J. Cudworth et al)-, 9 or immature, 8th- 22nd, trapped 8th (T. Collins, J. Cudworth, P. Hazard et al). Orkney Stronsay, 9 or immature, lst-4th October, photographed J. W. N. Andrews, J. F. Hol- loway, M. Johnson); d, 3rd-4th October, photographed J. W. N. Andrews, J. F. & Mrs S. M. Holloway). Scilly St Martin’s, 9 or immature, 7th October (C. & D. K. Lamsdell). Shetland Sumburgh, d, 30th September to 14th October (M. Edgecombe et al). Fair Isle, 9 or immature, 6th October (M. G. & Dr J. E. Turner). Grutness, first-winter d , 7th- 16th October J. Clifton et al). Yorkshire, North Filey, d, 12th- 19th October (P. J. Dunn, L. Gillard, A. Norris et al) (fig. 10). 1989 Norfolk Holkham Meals, 9 or immature, 10th- 17th September (D. J. Holman et al). 1990 Dorset Hengistbury Head, d, 7th October (P. Brash, M. J. Gibbons et al). 1990 Kent Foreness, 9 or immature, 9th- 10th November (K. Evans, K. D. Lord). 1990 Northumberland Newbiggin, d, 20th October (M. Henry, S. Sexton). 1991 Borders St Abb’s Head, 9 or immature, 26th-29th October (D. Graham, R. D. Murray et al). 1991 Cornwall Kenidjack, 9 or immature, 10th- 15th October (S. M. Christophers et al); d, 1 5th-2 1 st November J. F. Ryan, M. P. Semmens et al). The Lizard, first-winter d, 15th October (A. R. Pay et al). 1991 Dyfed Skokholm, 9 or immature, 1 1 th- 1 5th October (M. Betts). 1991 Grampian Rattray Head, d, 28th September (T. W. Marshall, S. A. Reeves). 1991 Humberside Spurn, 9 or immature, 29th to at least 30th September J. McLoughlin et al). Easington, 9 or immature, 13th to at least 17th October (A. J. Booth, D. Hursthouse, J. McLoughlin et al). 1991 Norfolk Blakeney Point, first-winter d and 9 or immature, 29th-30th September (G. M. Cresswell, M. I. Eldridge, A. M. Stoddart et al); 9 or immature, 21st October (P. J. Heath, A. M. Stoddart). Breydon, 9 or immature, 7th- 11th October, photographed (P. R. Allard, K. R. Dye et al). Titchwell, 9 or immature, 11th- 13th October (R. Q. Skeen et al). Sheringham, 9 or imma- ture, 22nd-24th October (M. Young-Powell et al). 1991 Shetland Fair Isle, five 9 9 or immatures: two, 26th October (P. V. Harvey, G. J. Ors- man et al); 27th (H. R. Harrop, P. V. Harvey et al); 30th (H. R. Harrop); trapped, 9th Novem- ber, photographed (H. R. Harrop, C. J. Orsman et al). Skaw, Unst, first-winter d, 20th-22nd September (C. Donald, R. Proctor et al). Grutness, 9 or immature, 11th October (P. M. Ellis et al). Boddam, 9 or immature, 20th October (M. Mellor). 1991 Suffolk Lowestoft, 9 9 or immatures, 5th October; 21st-25th (the late P. Gill et al). YVal- berswick, 9 or immature, 26th October (A. A. K. Lancaster). (White Sea, eastwards across Siberia, East Caucasus and Northern Iran) The comments in last year’s report (Brit. Birds 85: 537) regarding 1991 should now be deleted, as, with the inclusion of these late submissions and accep- tances, both 1991 and 1992 were very good years. The revised totals for 508 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1 992 -bsV g*- te»AS TuTT~ uaU. S (avOcs . peou: Iv-j bc.Vw^ oavovV o»*J© s <&o S) «\A*Jc . Pale, bxouua A»v kobaeAC. u/\JbL duxjwUa^. S*brwUev-Oj . Cim( 61 O&ObTfA p«A4X 0\Vo PoJer lovjti b*«xi.+ btllj -fe u.lwt’kfcR Wvie* -hajLl. courts . (,iou^|) pojft powtdi -farmed b~j b vm»c>«^ &e£.9 . vjVa*\ WjLoa -Vo.wct -cooCu4s fJux**tv^ '^tv- tw iun^e. r?°-^ w*V\»dr\fcW Vu V fco^4 +\j»sLr <^>‘VL ClU^-rt 3 ( poJ^ ~’rv^~=\«-S kc-V^ps . -c*,*.04 -ba-» V t«*-»««n . ^°-'e tW* M f=> I bfe/i gr\ S~To KiECbWVT • H.IO .T2. Do.ft ieufcpeod, UUVsW^oJViiU u^u-feui tcMxtr dLUMf . Ulkvvj-|*t. (SoukrkcM uppt< ruy'«w «_<(.^e_ ‘ Fig. 10. Male Stonechat Saxicola tmquata of eastern race maura/stejnegeri, Filey, North Yorkshire, October 1992 [P. J. Dunn) recent years mean that there were 21 in 1990, 24 in 1991 (equalling the record year of 1987) and ten in 1992, following a lean spell of three in 1989 and four in 1 988. 509 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Scveial other records remain under consideration. The Committee receives a considerable number of reports of vagrant races of this species that do not state clearly whether the pale rump is streaked or unstreaked, which has added to delays in some record assessments. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina (1, 7, 1) 1991 Scilly Gugh, 15th-26th October (Brit. Birds 85: 537), correct observers were D A Bridges C. &J. R. Lansdell. 5 5 IRELAND 1992 Cork Mizen Head, 10th to 1 7th October (plate 178). (South and Central Eurasia from Russia and Turkey eastwards; winters Northeast Africa and from Arabia eastwards to central India) The Co. Cork record is the most westerly ever and the first for Ireland. One British report remains under consideration by the Committee. Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka (3, 24, 1) Fife l ife Ness,. 9, 1 8th-2 1st September (Dr R. W. Byrne, A-M. Stout et at.). (Southeast Europe and South-central Asia; winters East Africa) Compared with the five records in 1991, this is a poor showing and a return to the soli- tary occui rences ol previous years; has now occurred in every year since 1985. Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica (15, 33, 4) Buckinghamshire Chearsley, 8, 25th April (J. E. Rose, M. S. Wallen el at.) (Brit. Birds 85: plate 296). Gwynedd Bardsey, 8, in song, 6th May (R Jenks, A. Leitch, A. & R. Normand et at.). Kent Denge Marsh, 3, 16th May (K. Alexander, T. Manship, D. Wilson et at.). IRELAND 1992 Cork First-year male, Cape C lear Island, 26th to 27th May; showed characters of the west- ern race 0. h. hispanica. (Southern Europe, Northwest Africa and Southwest Asia, also Iran; winters West Africa) Also a late acceptance of one in the Channel Islands, at Noinnont, Jersey, on 13th- 14th May 1990. Four in one year is good by any standards (and follows the blank year of 1991); the males in spring make for easy identification and acceptance. In ad- dition to these, one record is still under consideration, and details of a further one in Hampshire have yet to be reported. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti (1 1 , 31, 0) 1988 Cornwall Near Sennen Cove, 9, 5th November (C. C. Barnard, L. P. Williams). (North Africa, Northwest Arabia, east to Mongolia; winters Sahara, Arabia and Pakistan) This takes the number of records for 1 988 to three, all typically in the late autumn. Also a first-winter in the Channel Islands, at L’ree Bay, Guernsey, on 24th November 1991. Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius (0, 2, 0) 1985 Strathclyde Skerryvore Lighthouse, first-summer 8, 4th-7th June, dead 8th (Brit. Birds 79: 585). 1987 Gwynedd Moel-y-Gest, 3, 4th June (Brit. Birds 81: 594). 184. First-winter female Siberian Thrash goothera sibirica , North Ronaldsay, Orkney, October 1992 ( J . B. Higgutt) The British Birds Rarities Committee is sponsored by ZEISS 185. I irst-winter Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella cnthiola, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, September 1992 (J. B. Higgott) (see ;ilso plate 183) Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 51 [ (Southern Europe, east to the Ukraine and Southwest Asia, also Northwest Africa, lesident, or partial migrant to North Africa) These two records, previ- ously published in Category D, arc now admitted to the British and Irish list [Bat. Birds 86: 229) and enter the statistical record. The other two records, in Orkney in 1966 and East Sussex in 1977, remain in Category D. A welcome addition to the British and Irish List. White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma (29, 1 6, 0) 1991 Highland Brora, 27th-29th September, possibly since 23rd (A. Vinery et at.). (Northern and Central Siberia; winters Southern India and Southeast Asia) Of the six records since 1980, all except one (in 1984) have been within ten days of this record. Three days, possibly longer, must be considered a long time lot a White s Thrush to stay around in Britain; of the 1 6 individuals since 1957, only three have stayed for more than one day. Siberian Thrush ^oothera sibinca (1, 3, 1) Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter $, lsl-8th October, trapped 1st, photographed (A. E. Duncan, Dr K F. Woodbridge el at) (plate 184). (Central Siberia east to Japan; winters India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia) The fifth for Britain and Ireland and the first since an immature female on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, in October 1986. All previous records have been for but a single day, so this obliging and lingering individual was admired by sev- eral boadoads of pilgrims. Grey-cheeked Thrush Cathanis minimus ( 1 , 40, 0) 1991 Scilly St Agnes, 22nd-26th September; 1 6th- 1 7 th October. Si Mary’s, 17th-20th October (Brit. Birds 85: 538). /Ml were first-winters. (North America and Eastern Siberia; winters Eastern USA, West Indies and Central America) Autumn 1992 was poor for transatlantic vagrants, hence the lack of records of this species or Swainson’s Thrush C. ustulatus , the first year since 1981 that neither has appeared. Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus (0, 13, 1) Shetland Fair Isle, first-winter, 4th October (N. C. Green, D. Rhymes, Dr R. Riddington et at) (plate 182). (Siberia and Eastern Asia to Japan; winters China and Indonesia) It seems that at least one Eyebrowed now usually accompanies the first flocks of Redwings T. iliacus into the British Isles. The Scilly connection of the two pre- vious autumns seems to have come to a (temporary?) halt, but there was a gap in 1988 and 1989 when none appeared. Of the 14 records since 1958, six have been in Scilly, and all but four have been in October. Dark-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis (3, 19, 2) Orkney Finstown, 9, 23rd October (W. K. Barclay, K. Fairclough et at.). Scilly St Mary’s, first-winter 9, 22nd October (P. Bristow, D. R. W. Gilmore, J. P. Hunt et at.). (Central Asia; winters Northern India and China) The second record for each locality, the Scilly individual being the highlight of an extended quiet spell at a time of year which usually produces an abundance of rarities. Both, as usual, were of the black-throated race atrogularis. One can only speculate on how many go undetected on the East Coast or even inland. 512 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola (3, 10, 1) Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter, 23rd-25th September, trapped 23rd, photographed (A. E. Duncan, M. Gray, I. Jones et at.) (plates 183 & 185). (Western Siberia and Central Asia to Japan; wiffters India and Southeast Asia) The first in Britain since three on Fair Isle, Shetland, in October 1988, but there has been one since then in Ireland, on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, in October 1990. /Ml but four of the 14 records have been in Shetland, mosdy in the second half of September or the first half of October. Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata (9, 43, 2) Shetland Scatness, 17th September (G. J. Hinchon, N. & T. J. Lawrence el a/.). Fair Isle, 27th September J. P. Martin, M. D. & L. Sutton el at.). (East Eurasia from Central Russia to North Japan; winters Philippines and Southeast .Asia) The one at Scatness is only the fifth record in Shetland away from Fair Isle, where 41 of the 54 British records have occurred; the current unbroken run of appearances on Fair Isle now stretches back to 1984. All except four (one in May and three in November) have occurred within the period 8th September to 18th October. The comment under Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi, another of Fair Isle’s great specialities, applies equally well, if not more so, here. River Warbler Ijocuslella Jluvuitilis (0, 12, 1) Cambridgeshire VVicken Fen, in song, 1 Oth- 1 1th June (C. & T. J. Bennett, G. Hcwson, D. Palmer). (Central and East Europe and West-central Asia; winters Southeast Africa) Numerically this is the rarest Locustella on the British list, but has probably been seen by more observers than all individuals of the previous two put to- gether. The first since 1989. There have been recent increases in the number of records in the Netherlands and an expansion of range in Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden {Brit. Birds 86: 44). Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola (2, 15, 2) Shetland Fair Isle, 9th- 1 Oth June (P. V. Harvey, R. Taylor, S. G. Votier el at.). Sussex, East Icklesham, trapped, 13th, 18th October (T. Squire el at.). (South Russia and Asia; winters Southwest Asia and India) The first records since 1988 and the third in June (and fourth in spring); the Sussex bird is a notable first for the South Coast. Details of one at FI am borough, Humberside, have not yet been submitted. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum (9, 11, 0) 1991 Fife Isle of May, dead, 30th September (J. Calladine, G. Redlern el at.). 1991 Lincolnshire Theddlethorpe Dunes, trapped, 3rd September, released 4th, photographed (A. Ashley, A. D. Lowe, M. Thompson el at). 1991 Northumberland Low Hauxley, first-winter, trapped 31st August, 1st September, pho- tographed (M. Davison, I. Fisher, N. Foggo et at) (plate 188). (Eurasia eastwards from Finland; winters India and Sri Lanka) Three within one 31 -day period, all examined in the hand. Identification and assessment made for hard work all around, especially to exclude the possibility' of hybrids with Reed Warbler A. scirpaceus or Marsh Warbler A. palmtris. 513 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus (23, 144, 4) Avon Chew Valley Lake, in song, 18th May J. Aldridge, R. M. Curber et at). Kent St Mary’s Marshes, 21st May (A. Jones). Shetland b air Isle, 9th June (Dr R. Riddington, R. Taylor, S. C. Voder et at). Suffolk Aldeburgh, in song, 31st May (D. &J. Newton et at). 1990 Lincolnshire VVaithe, in song, 19th May (K. Atkin, H. Bunn). 1991 Lancashire Leighton Moss, in song, 4th- 13th June J. &J. Wilson et at). (Europe, Southwest and East Asia and North Africa; winters Africa) A very typical spread of records, with May and June outstripping all other months for this frequendy garrulous, gurgling, gravel-voiced songster. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata (1, 31, 5) Cleveland Hardepool Headland, 7th-8th June (I. Boustead, T. G. Francis et at). Cumbria South Walney, in song, trapped, 17th June, photographed (T. Dean, 1. R. Kinley, C. Raven et at). Fife Isle of May, 2nd September J. Calladine, N. Mann, C. Wernham). Humberside Spurn, in song, 10di-22nd June, trapped 1 1th (D. P. Boyle, J. T. Hardman, B. R. Spence et at) (Brit. Birds 85: plate 294; 86: plate 193). Shetland F air Isle, first-winter, 14th- 16th September, trapped 16th (P. V. Harvey, Dr R. Rid- dington et at). (Northwest Russia, east to Mongolia and south to Iran; winters India) A record year (one ahead of the four records in each of 1981 and 1987) and the first records in spring. There was a small-scale arrival in early June, though it is conceivable that only two individuals were involved at the time; the Cumbria record is particularly unusual. Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda (0, 1, 1) Humberside Spurn, in song, 8th-9thjune, trapped 8th (D. P. Boyle, G. Grainger, B. R. Spence et at). (Southeast Spain and the West Mediterranean islands; winters in Northwest Africa) The first was a long-staying individual on moorland in South Yorkshire from mid May to late July 1982 and was, at the time, considered likely to be a very singular event. This individual (and a third in 1993) shows that even the unexpected can occur or recur. Although found on the morning following the arrival of migrants of Scandinavian origin, it is possible that the bird had been in Britain (or elsewhere in northwest Europe) for up to two weeks before being discovered, perhaps arriving at the same time as other migrants from the Mediterranean on 24th May. Sub alpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans (12, 252, 23) Cornwall Near Sennen, S , 15th May (M. P. Semmens, S. Worley). Treen, 9 or first-summer, 27th-30th September (D. S. Flumm, J. F. Ryan et at). Devon Lundy, 8, 6th May (R. Bower, H. J. Radley et at). Dyfed Skomer, 8, 14th May (M. Everett, R. Bradbury, J. Poole); 8, 22nd May, photographed J. Potter, M. S. Wallen et at). Skokholm, 8, 15th May (S. Barclay, M. Betts, H. J. Radley et at), possibly same as Skomer, 14th. Gwynedd Bardsey, first-summer 8, trapped, 28th May (C. Brown, P. Jenks, A. Leitch et at). Merseyside Moreton, 9, at least 9th May (P. G. Gutleridge, M. G. & DrJ. E. Turner). Northumberland Newbiggin-by-Sea, 8, 1 3th May (A. Priest, J. G. Steele et at.). Shetland Sumburgh, 9, 20th May, photographed (A. & J. Clifton et at) (plate 187). Fair Isle, first-summer 8, 2 1 st-25th May, trapped 21st, 25th (P. V. Harvey, R. M. Porter, S. C. Voder et at); 8, 27th May (T. J. Baldwin, P. V. Harvey, K. Huxley et at); 9, 27th J. N. Dymond et at); Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 515 6 , 28th (P. V. Harvey et alp 8, 2nd June (P. S. Casde, T. Sweetland, S. C. Votier et al)] 8, 3rd June (R. laylor); 8 , 1 2th June (S. C. Votier et at). Breiwick, Eshaness, 8 , lstjune (W. Fox). Western Isles North Lochynort, South Uist, 8, 21st May (J. Metcalf). Wight, Isle of Bembridge, first-summer 8, 23rd-27th April J. C. Gloyn, D.J. & M. Hunnybun, M. J. Sparshott et al). 1991 Scilly St Agnes, 2, 9th May (A. J. Merritt et al). IREIAND 1992 Cork Male, Cape Clear Island, 20th April. 1992 Kerry Female, Bolus Head, 12th June. 1992 Wexford Female/first-year male, trapped, Great Saltee, 16th May. (South Europe, West Turkey, Northwest Africa; winters Northern and West Africa) A good year, with over 20 records in spring and a complete contrast to the two in 1991 and 11 in 1990; the best year remains 1988, with 32 records. The abundance of records in Shetland in years of high occurrence is again reflected here. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala (1, 24, 7) Devon Prawle Point, 9, trapped, 7th May, photographed (N. F. Trigg et al). Greater London Surbiton, 2, trapped, 2nd June, photographed (D. J. Montier, Mrs M. Waller). Merseyside Formby Point, first-summer 8, 28th-31st May, trapped 28th, photographed J. D. Fletcher, D. Ogle et al) (plate 189). Norfolk Weybourne, 2, trapped 14th May, released 15th (M. D. & M. J. Preston et al). Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-summer 9, 25th-27th May, trapped 25th, photographed (P. J. Donnelly, A. E. Duncan et al). Stronsay, 8 , 29th-31st October, photographed J. F. & Mrs S. M. Holloway, Mr & Mrs N. Kent). Shetland Cunningsburgh, 8, 24dr July to 1 1th November J. Nicolson, Mr & Mrs L. Smith, D. Suddaby) (plate 186). (South Europe, Middle East and North Africa) The best year for Sardinian Warblers, exceeding the five in 1988 and five in 1990; the trend is clearly up- ward, except for the complete and inexplicable absence in 1989. Of the 25 previously accepted records, 21 were males, so the four (trapped) females this year go some way towards restoring the balance. The Greater London record, surely one of the most astonishing and unpredictable occurrences of the year, is the first inland. The long-staying individual in Shedand recalls two previous individuals (both also males) at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, one from 30th June to 15th September 1979 and the second from 6th July to 31st August 1986. Riippell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli (0, 3, 1) Norfolk Holme, first-winter, 31st August to 4th September (A. Banwell, G. F. Hibberd, R. G. Millington et al) (plate 104). (Coastal regions of East Mediterranean; winters Northeast .Africa) Only the fourth for Britain, and the first on the mainland - a fact much appreciated by the many who went to see it and by the Norfolk Naturalists’ Trust which or- ganised a very efficient queuing and viewing system and boosted its funds from the contributions made by the happy throngs of satisfied birders. Previous records were on Mainland, Shetland, from mid August to mid September 1977, on Lundy, Devon, in June 1979 and on Whalsay, Shetland, in October 1990. 516 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Desert Warbler Sylvia nana (0, 8, 1) Devon Mount Gould. Plymouth, 19th-26th October (P. Aley et at.) (plate 103). 1991 Humberside Flamborough Head, first-winter, 13th October to 5th November, trapped 13th (P. A. Lassey, P. J. Willoughby et at). 1991 Kent Seasalter, 3rd-5th November, photographed (J. T. Shilling et at.). (Middle East, Central Asia and Northwest Sahara) The year 1991 becomes the best for this species, with three records; this year’s bird is the earliest by one day; all have been in the period 1 9th October to 2nd January. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides (13, 201, 29) Cumbria Amside, in song, 9th June J. Gregory, R. living et at.). South Walney, trapped, 30th June, photographed (T. Dean, R. Woodland, P. Zaltovvski et at.) (plate 190). Devon Wembury Point, 22nd September (P. F. Goodfellow). East Soar, 27th September (P. Saunders et at). Dorset Portland, in song, trapped, 10th June (M. Cade, M. Rogers et at.). Fife Isle of May, 29th May (J. Conner, N. Mann et at.)\ first-winter, trapped, 28th August J. Calladine, N. Mann). Grampian Rattray Head, in song, 31st May (L. T. A. Brain, T. W. Marshall, A. Webb et at.). Girdleness, first-winter, 23rd-24th August (S. A. Reeves, R. A. Schofield, K. D. Shaw et at). Humberside Spurn, in song, 1st June (D. P. Boyle, B. R. Spence et at). Man, Isle of Calf of Man, trapped, 12th June, photographed (N. V. & Mrs M. McCanch). Norfolk Blakeney Point, in song, 30th May (G. E. Dunmore, S. C. Joyner, A. M. Stoddart et at). Waxham, in song, 31st May (T. R. & Mrs J. Barker, T. Nicholson et at). Blakeney Point, 5th-7th September (M. I. Eldridge, A. i\l. Stoddart et at). Orkney Sanday, 28th May (E. R. Meek). Stronsay, 26th-28th August, photographed J. F. & Mrs S. M. Holloway). Shetland Fetlar, 3rd June (A. Aitken, A. Stanbury, B. Thomason). Fair Isle, 1st June (P. S. Castle, C. J. Cox, Dr R. Riddington et at.); another, trapped, 2nd June, presumed same, 9th UppypaT poli Jtaitiua «t Awj Uku* rta I i wM -it 5upe«oi atotf ctW- tkpuntwq *w Uppt*- XhUutM- utH v Up tc pale -pitloj / htfra itMr iajxuehMt_ SlM \t, 4t X tyOv, mtffWi tiMt , oMoMjU S GOpuf&M , OxK I KWup £U>d ufptdad , (ill tit uM (Jm*.. , IkiCOt , tyspt* ■{mqaL. •jdQtoJxf* bfiuJi "fat' Cu d/MMAct '■itMcVj ( a* ad uv adtfjliGi it ahe sJvHvut a ucuU at afau. OMOtifUyLt teuo, pUuaU / u-tUAcul puthtfi SmM, W Hua count (jteiK u mOl rf) ivxha at ctoiAt* tOuaj (tact hut s Hyuxi/v , t Ui cuuoJX ijjfcl at a«y my w UuAiY pofc ypjuar^u a** wlufc wWa KJ at to a. tvyuT WU£w WM4LE* , d, ,fua'- luiaa-iamt ) /(Cwulay) tx L-Am/j -tioU /XKumW Msuuo mat to* , ^ wWA tuuUui - ' t cut datk. (jMij o-iA jdtv&-bu*y4 HCtcUut tkru/pj VcSttt Fig. cpAxk ^ CKppakW*- tc tout Um 1 '-ft'*- ^ ijMo 'l/Ut Nowjjpati diii '-:iT7i_e \)LZ~ 1 'I5«j<3+T u>Im£ ■WStef-AiO S Fig. 12. Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, September 1992 (P. J. Donnelly ) (Central, West and South Europe, Levant and Northwest Africa; winters northern Africa) The best year since 1984, but 1976, with 1 1 records, remains well ahead of all other years. A good autumn, with all records in the period mid September to mid October, but there has been none in spring since two in Norfolk in April and May 1988. A late record of one in Norfolk in November remains to be assessed by the Committee. Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis (2, 14, 1) Western Isles Hirta, St Kilda, 8 , 24th May (T. J. Dix, J. Vaughan). (Central and Southeast Europe and West Russia; winters Africa) The first since 1986. Of the total of 17 records for Britain, 13 have been in May, two in June and singles in September and October; all except this bird and three individuals in Caernarvon (1957), Cumbria (1964) and Scilly (1984) have been on the East Coast. Further reports from Dungeness, Kent, and Suffolk in early May are still being assessed by the Committee. Ltts fV<- torJO 6.4*. OiATVAU-4 no i uju.ua (Jttn ( Ouot T*nT To aJ’ftdtWkTJ "to 4>.'&UT + Tft\U Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydaclyla (0, 16, 0) 1979 Dorset Portland, trapped, 7th May (A. J. Bundy, D. E. Pauli, M. Rogers el al.). 1983 Kent St Margaret’s, trapped, 24th September J. R. H. Clements, A. J. Greenland). 1984 Kent Dungeness, trapped, 15th, 19th April (S. D. McMinn et al). 1988 Kent Sandwich Bay, 19th-25th October, trapped 19th (K. B. Ellis, W. E. Fletcher, N. V. McCanch et al). 1990 Kent Sandwich Bay, trapped, 7th November, photographed (C. Solly, S. Stansfield, J. H. van der Dol). (Central and South Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa) These belated acceptances take the British total to 16, of which 13 have been in Kent. Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus (0, 59, 2) Gwynedd Llyn Rhos Dhu, Anglesey, 21st October (N. E. Gammon, C. Kighdey, Mrs P. Wal- ton et at). 524 Rare birds in Great Biitain in 1992 Yorkshire, North Knaresborough, 8, alloy ring, right leg, 19th-20th September (R. & Mrs S. Evison, J. R. Mather et at.) (plate 195). 1988 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, <5,9,1 1th- 12th November (A. Grieve, I. Robinson et al.). 1989 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, 17th, 30th March (A. Grieve, C. Gutheridge), possibly since 1988. 1991 Kent Dungeness, 30th-3 1 st December (B. Banson, J. & R. Beale, D. Walker et a/.). (Western Europe to Manchuria; mainly resident, occasionally dispersive or eruptive) After the promising increase in records in the late 1980s and 1990- 91, with peaks of 12 in 1989 and ten in 1991, this is, by comparison, a poor showing; the incipient colonist seems to have had a (temporary?) change of heart. Details of one in Cleveland in July have not yet been reported. Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus (1, 35, 0) 1991 Kent North Foreland, first-winter, 28th October (K. Lord, M. P. Sutherland). 1991 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 8, 28th October to 2nd November (M. Gray et al.). (South Asia to China; winters Northeast Africa) The year 1992 was the first since 1986 for which the record sheet remains blank for this species, a sad state of affairs compared with the heady days of 1988, with seven records, or even the four in 1991 (three of which arrived in the period 26th-28th October). Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor (32, 108, 1) Devon Otterton, 9th July (Mrs E.J. Brookes, D. & MrsJ. Cullen, P. YV. EUicott et al.). IRELAND 1991 Waterford Dungarvan, 20th to 24th September. (South and East Europe and Southwest Asia; winters East and South Africa) A less-than-averagc showing. Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubilor (1, 3, 2) Individuals showing the characters of the eastern race L. e. pallidirostris were recorded as follows: Cornwall Cape Cornwall and Kenidjack Cam, 21st-23rd April, photographed (A. R. Birch, R. Hathway, J. F. Ryan et al.) (fig. 9, on page 503; plates 196 & 197 on page 527). Suffolk Easton Barents and Southwold, age uncertain, 4th-7lh October, photographed (W. J. Brame, J. M. Cawston, E. W. Patrick et al). 1989 Dorset Portland, first-winter, 1st November (G. Walbridge,J. Williamson et al). (Southern and Eastern Siberia) The first since 1986 and the total for the British Isles now moves to six. The Cornish individual is the first in spring; September-November arc the other months of occurrence. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator (101, 485, -) 1990 Devon Prawle Point, 21st March (D. E. Balmer, P. St Pierre et al). (West, Central and South Europe, Southwest Asia and North Africa; win- ters North and West Africa) This record takes the 1990 total to 23; it is also the fourth March record in Devon for that year and the seventh ever (all of which were in 1990). This species was dropped from the list of species consid- ered by the Committee at the end of 1990. Rosy Starling Stumus roseus (160, 215, 5) Cornwall Scnnen, juvenile, 2()th September (S. Hey). Devon Lundy, adult, 11th- 13th August, photographed (J. Alford, A. M. Jewels et al.). 525 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Essex Bradfield, adult, 9th- 1 1th June (R. & K. Dowsett et at.). Glamorgan, Mid Kenfig and Sker area, juvenile, 20th September to 4th October (O. J. Leyshon, L. & Mrs E. Murley el at.). Orkney Stronsay, adult, 4th- 10th July, photographed J. F. & Mrs S. M. Holloway et at.). 1987 Yorkshire, West Wakefield, adult, 23rd June, photographed (Miss S. Pettitt per S. P. Singleton). 1991 Cornwall Penzance, juvenile, 7th- 1 0th October (M. V. Sneary et at). 1991 Cumbria South Walney, juvenile, 6th-8th September (T. Dean, C. Raven, J. Robinson- Dean). 1991 Devon Hope Cove, juvenile, 3rd-4th September (Brit. Birds 85: 548), 7th J. Martin). 1991 Highland Thurso, juvenile, 13th November J. Smith et at.). 1989 At sea Sea area Humber, 53° 02' N 02° 15' E, 48 km northeast of Great Yarmouth, Nor- folk, adult, 7th June, photographed (C. W. Smith). (Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia; winters India) Three summer adults and two autumn juveniles: a below-average showing. At least five other records have yet to be submitted to the Committee, however, and several others remain under consideration. The first year since 1976 that none has appeared in Scilly. The late acceptances for 1991 take the total for that year to 13, exceeded only by the 17 in 1983. Red-eyed Vireo Vireo otivaceus (1, 73, 1) Strathclyde Arinagour, Coll, 3rd October (I. D. Bullock). 1988 Highland Thurso, 8th November (P. M. Miller). 1990 Humberside Kilnsea, 30th September to 1st October, trapped 30th, photographed (A. Dixon, B. R. Spence et at.). 1991 Cleveland North Gare, 12th October (B. J. K. Caswell, M. N. Sidwell et at.). 1991 Cornwall The Lizard, 30di September to 10th October (B. Cave et at.). IRELAND 1991 Wexford The bird referred to in Brit. Birds 85: 548-549 was present from 12th to 14th October. (North America; winters Cuba and northern South America) A poor year by recent standards — six in 1991, ten in 1990 and 12 in 1988 — no doubt re- flecting the adverse conditions for a successful transatlantic crossing at the end of September and beginning of October. The bird in Highland in November 1988 is the latest ever (by about ten days) and it is tempting to speculate on its exact arrival date; otherwise, all records have been in the period 21st September to 29th October. Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni (30, 239, 9) Norfolk Gunton Park, 17th- 19th February (A. P. Benson) (fig. 13). East Hading, 28th January to 6th February (MrsJ. Dean el at). Orkney North Ronaldsay, 16th February7 (D. Patterson, K. N. Scott, K. A. Wilson). Stromness, Mainland, 25th-28th April (E. R. Meek, Mr & Mrs S. Mowat). Shapinsay, 24th-27th October (P. & Mrs L. Hollindrake). Shetland Fedar, 19th February (B. & C. Thomason). Fair Isle, 29th April (P. V. Harvey); 1 8th October (P. V. Harvey, C. J. Orsman, Dr R. Riddington et at). Cunningsburgh, 18th-20th Octo- ber (C. Donald, H. R. Harrop, M. G. Pennington et at). 1982 Lincolnshire Saltlleetby, 21st February to at least 13th April, trapped, not ringed, 21st March, photographed (G. P. Catley, M. Mellor et at). 1989 Suffolk Martlesham, 1 1 th-28th January, photographed J. A. Davis, M. C. Marsh et at). 1990 Humberside Grimston, 8th-9th December (A. & T. Isherwood). 1990 Yorkshire, North Filey Brigg, first-winter, 19th-20th October, trapped 20th (P. J. Dunn, R. E. Harbird, H. J. Whitehead et at). 1991 Bedfordshire New Wavendon Heath, 2 1 st-28th March, another, 23rd-24th (Brit. Birds 85: 526 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 549): observers of first should include M.J. Palmer; second present 24th only; correct locality .Asp- ley Heath. 1991 Kent Sevenoaks, 2nd March (Bril. Birds 85: 549), was not considered acceptable. 1991 Lincolnshire Linwood Warren, two, 2 lst-2 7th January (K. D. Durose, S. P. Botham). 1991 Norfolk Sandringham, 17th January (M. E. S. Rooney). Mousehold Heath, twenty, 10th- 16th March (Brit. Birds 85: 549), 17th (R. i\i. Patient). 1991 Suffolk Blaxhall Heath, 29th March ;B. J. Small). 1991 Surrey Godstone 1 0th- 1 1th March (R. J. & S. J. Aspinall, R. P. Bosanquet el at). 1991 Tyne & Wear Dunston-upon-Tyne, 13th February (K. Bowey). (Circumpolar Arctic; spreads erratically south in winter) Four of the records were of birds seen on one day only, and five occurred during April and October, all indicating passage movement. Details of at least one other have not yet been reported to the Committee. df CO£ To iHoetE MAHbfilLl ci. e*u>a AULT I £ itebfcLL fitWTDM fotK i/dtL tMtSMM NbifpLlC _ 'c»t«££-r' cl£Ar\ PriM Clift. ClimBo* J bull 'feUfcJ bold .toAaXs , oeojL . cUslrKoW\>e kofuJx boude. & • Gre.'i I6utf hJuth -to utibC b rOa/L fv-fi-cX u-ccU/ -feuJL COO-Cf'-tS -fc> u^>pe^ -fcuX c£X/e<4x fijujL -SKOU. CAa-FtClA *dyjo£C ocKced oHUj ceb dose, re oax 3l oL*££\x_ld-fc- -to .VA cJjloa. kjLoU, uajcUsP ew-bs wdi- clcu-fe -bdtixde OKaXa "h^ts *b mjlgUo/^ ^-7 ^ con^4s [one#, ofcwicus )) j kfijoC ) w. \ Also wKbU. edtaed fcbtcfe. Hu** tuiudb Moif kiirtNcnvie t aocrt. &xiKSni* 0£>vt wiur* OxmP ** VMK W tucjC Ja^rU.O< 6*ac k£C Ufiwr to ufl&L miLOJaiTl . -b be c^ncmLtu rvJfrir 'bkade d'tdu-U.' ,corvv^>tcrc^/ -to R*xApoUo bnroA ^ . NIoKcaJ ^3 w docvv^xA_C -towards loccJ- JftscLs Fig. 13. Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni, Gunton Park, (A. P. Benson) UAcUrta-U. G0s/e/-ts c£ CudXft/ bond i»eM — orv 1°1W (i«a ocXCj) . 6^-°U. bUxcfc uuJProJ. sKr\^t , m(W pt/OuActd £*"w_-c cdbcMQ kxd. ^KD OvXc^ coL otose . Se*^e*rxl 'cxdtecret’ buds (^ppenf- ed -to R-a-O0 ^ M i /4-i a /-/ cy- rto to L-ov-cUr- "fcxaJ. ccAjec-ts . KoMffij&r Una luAss pco-Xs^er^ Aj^oeJ oLo-cov ex. dt^use bo^ uiadv ^^Cc^CcXm to t j^jeLLs- -tojJ c0*ts~Q- fdgs** frPlf Alo7& - Norfolk, 17th- 19th February 1992 Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera (40, 75, 0) 1987 Shetland Fair Isle, 9, 28th August (A. D. Warren and YOC group). 1990 Derbyshire Upper Derwentdale, 6, 1 1th November (K. R. Gould). 1990 Kent Bedgebury, juvenile or first-winter 9, 7th October to 11th November (Brit. Birds 84: 499), another, at least 13th October, photographed (K. A. & Mrs M. A. Hook et at). 1990 Norfolk Sandringham Warren, 8, 29th September J. R. Williamson et at.) (Bril. Birds 84: plate 92). 1990 Yorkshire, North Dalby Forest, 8, 3rd December (W. F. Curtis). (Northeast Europe, North-central Asia, northern North America and Hispaniola; winters south and west of breeding range) The late acceptances for 1990 take the total of records in this most recent invasion year to 22, sec- ond only to the numbers (mostly juveniles) involved in the localised invasion of the Northern Isles in August 1987. 1!: 197. Below, C meat Grey Shrike Lanins ex- rn of eastern race pallidirosiris, Cape Cornwall, Cornwall, April 1992 (Ren Hathway ) -Right, male Penduline Tit Remiz pendulum, sbotough, North Yorkshire, September 1992 ( Jack Levene) 528 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus (10, 478, 0) 1990 Durham Hamsterley Forest, up to ten, 7th November to 10th March 1991 (A. L. .Arm- strong, B. Unwin et at). 1990 Norfolk Sprowston, 6, 29th November to 1st December*, two 9 9, 29th November, 2nd December, 9, 1st, 8 photographed (C. &J. R. Lansdell). 1990 Northamptonshire Wakerley Great Wood, 6, 25th November to at least 9th January 1991 (S. P. Botham et at.); 9, 22nd November to at least 16th March 1991 (R. F. Burrows, P. Campbell et at.). 1990 Nottinghamshire The Dukeries, three c 58, two first-winter 8 8, two 9 9, 14th Decem- ber to 1 6th February 1991 (D. Hursthouse et at.). 1990 Tyne & Wear Chopwell Woods, at least 27, 17th November to at least 26th December, 88, trapped: 20th November; three, 21st; two, 5th December; 9 9, trapped: 20th, 21st Novem- ber :K. Bowey, S. Westerberg et at.) (Brit. Birds 84: plate 90). 1991 Cleveland Birk Brow, up to 47, 1 st- 1 8th March, at least 22 photographed (M. A. Blick. D. J. Britton, J. Youngs et at.), probably included six, Lockwood Beck Reservoir, since 11th November 1 990 (Brit. Birds 84: 500). 1991 Durham See 1990 above. 1991 Northamptonshire Wakerley Great Wood, 8, 2nd March (A. H. J. H. trrop), probably since 1990 above. 1991 Nottinghamshire See 1990 above. 1991 Yorkshire, North Oakdale, Osmotherly, seven, including 8, 31st March (P. Kerr), pre- sumed four of same, including three 86, 9, 1 3th April (M. J. Hobbs, J. C. Lowen, A. J. Mus- grove et at.). (Scandinavia and West Russia; periodically spreads south and west in win- ter) None in 1992; these acceptances take the totals for the invasion to 267; the March and April records given here are the final records of a large-scale irruption that began with the arrivals in Shetland in the last week of September 1990. Several more records relating to that period remain under consideration. Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus (0, 6, 1) Highland Balnakeil, near Durness, <5 , 4th June, photographed fDr M. H. Blattner et at.) (plates 198 & 199). (Southeast Spain, Canary Islands, Northern Africa and Southwest Asia) The first since 1987 and the seventh ever; five have now occurred at the end of May or beginning of June. This record, so far north for an overshooting mi- grant in late spring, recalls similar records in Sutherland (June 1971) and Orkney (1981). Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator (8, 2, 1) Shedand Lerwick, 8 , probably first-year, in song, 25th March to at least 25th April (P. Barn et at.) (Biit. Birds 85: plates 20 1 , 205). (Scandinavia across Asia and North America) The first since May 1975 and only the tenth record (eleventh individual) for Britain and Ireland, of which only six have been this century. During the early part of this bird’s stay, the interest in its occurrence was such that it made the national news, becoming doubly newsworthy when it was reported (apparently without foundation) that the bird was having difficulty finding food, through lack of its favoured pines on Shetland, and birdwatchers were becoming concerned for its welfare. Pine Grosbeaks periodically undertake fairly large-scale invasions into southern Scandinavia from farther cast. The last sizeable invasion involving thousands was in 1976-77, but a smaller-scalc arrival took place in 1989-90, and in such : Below, female or immature Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola, Inner Fame, Northumberland, September 1 992 (Jack Levene ) 530 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 years there has been widespread, but unfulfilled, expectation (and predictions) of birds arriving on the east coast of Britain. The one in 1992 arrived in a year when there were no reported invasions into southern Scandinavia. Northern Parula Panda americana (0, 14, 1) Scilly St Mary’s, 8th- 10th October (D. Helliar, B. J. Mathews, B. J. Widden el at.). (Noith America; winters Central America) 1 lie first since one on Dursey Island, Co. Cork, in September 1989 and two in England (Cornwall and Dorset) in 1988. Of the total of 15 records (the first was in 1966), five have been in Scilly, lour in Cornwall and three in Dorset. Usually a confiding species, this individual was, at times, very difficult to sec as it foraged in thickly ivy-clad trees. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia (0, 2, 1) Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter 8, trapped, 24th August (A. E. Duncan, A. Mitchell, K. A. Wilson ei at.). 1990 Shetland Helendale, Lerwick, 8, 3rd-4th November (Bril. Bints 84: 500, plate 97), age/sex uncertain. (North and Central America; winters south to Peru) In the hand, this indi- vidual was provisionally identified as a first-winter male of the eastern race aes- tiva. It is the earliest of the three British records (and is also the earliest autumn date for a transatlantic crossing by an American passerine) by two days, and recalls the first on Bardsey, Gwynedd, in August 1964. The dates reflect the early departure of Yellow Warblers from the breeding areas in the forests of northern Canada and Alaska, none of which makes it any easier to understand the second record in Britain, in Shetland in the first week of November 1990. Hooded Warbler I Vilsonia citrina (0, 1, 1) Western Isles Hirta, St Kilda, 10th September (T.J. DixJ. Vaughan). (North America; winters south to Panama) The second British record of this, the most unlikely of the American warblers to have reached this side of the Atlantic; the first was on St Agnes, Scilly, in September 1970. Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus (0, 2, 0) 1981 Suffolk Landguard Point, 30th June to 8th July {Brit. Birds 75: 531; 86: plate 201). 1991 Norfolk Waxham, 15th-l 7th May (B. W. Jarvis el at.) {Brit. Birds 84: plates 306 & 307). (North America; winters south to El Salvador) The 1981 record, previously published in Category D, is now admitted to the British and Irish list {Brit. Buds 86. 229) and enters the statistical record, for all that their journey from the New World has to be assumed to be natural, the geographical coincidence suggests that both had hitched a lift somewhere along the way to the North Sea. Nonetheless, the timing of both occurrences conforms to that of numer- ous other North American seed-eaters over the years. Will the next be in the year 2001? White-throated Sparrow ^onotrichia albicollis (1, 16, 2) Lincolnshire Willingham, 5th December to 28th March 1993, trapped 5th December, photo- graphed (N. Bray, S. A. Britton, G. P. Galley el at.) (plates 202 & 203). Suffolk Trimley St Mary, 31st May to 8th June (W.J. Brame, E. W. Patrick el at.) {Brit. Birds 85: plate 295; 86: plate 204). 531 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 (North America) Much of what is said in the comment under the previous species may be applied to the Suffolk record, since it was remarkably close to Felixstowe docks. The first since 1989 and the eighteenth and nineteenth for Britain and Ireland. The dates of the Suffolk bird coincide with those of the ten previous spring records, and the one in Lincolnshire (which lived in a small clump of hawthorns in a clearing in the middle of a huge Forestry Commission plantation and survived some extremely cold midwinter nights) is the third to overwinter here. Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis (1, 14, 1) Strathclyde Hamilton, 6, 3rd-4th May, photographed (I. & Mrs J. Sheddon et at.). (North America) The shaqD eyes of the observers feeding the sparrows in their back garden detected this bird, the sixteenth for Britain and Ireland and the fifth in Scodand. May is the peak month for records of this species, and gardens are the habitat in which they occur most frequently. Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos (2, 17, 2) Greater London Dagenham Chase, 6, 12th February to 17th March (K. Barrett, L. Harrison et at.) {Brit. Birds 85: plates 204, 207). Northumberland Cresswell, <3, 29th January to 19th February, photographed (I. Fisher et at.) (plate 127). (Urals, across Asia to Sakhalin; winters Middle East, India, China) These two prolonged stayers provided ample opportunities for observers to get fully acquainted with the species; the Northumberland individual proved somewhat elusive on occasion, but the Dagenham one never failed to put on a good show, much to the delight of over 2,000 birders and other admirers. The total now stands at 2 1 for Britain (there are no records for Ireland), and 1 1 of these have been in the Northern Isles. The record of a female at Big Waters Nature Reserve, Tyne & Wear, in 1990 remains under review {Brit. Birds 86: 378- 386). 202 & 203. White-throated Spar row < 'onotrichia albicollis, Willingham, Lincolnshire, December White-throated Sparrow < 'onotrichia albicollis, Trimley St Mary, Suffolk, June [Steve Young/ Birdwakh ) 206. Female Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica, near Nanjizal, Cornwall, October 1992 (.Nigel Bean) 534 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys (0, 2, 1) Orkney North Ronaldsay, 22nd-23rd September (P. J. Donnelly et at.) [Brit. Birds 86: 411-414). (Northeast Asia and East China; winters Southeast China) The third for Britain, and the earliest by about two weeks; th£ previous records were in Norfolk ; 1975; and Shetland (1980). This record immediately preceded a Pallas s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola and was a week ahead of the female Siberian Thrush ^polhera sibirica in what was an outstanding autumn for North Ronaldsay. Rustic Bunting Emberiza mstica (34, 214, 14) Cornwall Near Nanjizal, 9, 7 th-8th October, photographed (N. Hando, G. C. Stephenson el at ) (plate 206). ^ Humberside Spurn, 27th-29th September (P. Bowman, D. P. Boyle el at). Lincolnshire Saltfleetby, 22nd March, photographed (A. H. J. Harrop, A. C. Sims el at.). Northumberland Holy Island, 6, 3 1st May, photographed (M. J. Sharp et at.). Fame Islands, 6, 3rd October (W. Makin et at.). Orkney Stronsay, 3rd October J. Andrews, J. F. & Mrs S. M. Holloway). North Ronaldsay, 29th October to 2nd November (P. J. Donnelly, A. Mitchell et at.). Shetland 1 ait Isle, 9. 25th May (P. \. Harvey et at). Grutness, 6, 2nd June, same, Sumburgh, 3rd (A. &J. Clifton, J. & Mrs 1. Miller et at.). Sumburgh and Scatness, 27th-29th September A. \. Moon, J. Wame, S. A. Webb et at.). Sumburgh, 4th October (P. M. Ellis et at.). Skaw, l nst, trapped, 4th October (G. Donald, K. Osborn, M. G. Pennington et at.). Suffolk Landguard, first-winter 6 , trapped, 3rd October, photographed (R. Duncan, N. Odin et at.) (plate 205). Western Isles Hirta, St Hilda, 6, 27th May J. Vaughan). 1990 Shetland Sumburgh and Grutness, 9, 28th-30th May (Brit. Birds 84: 501), finders included S. Baldwin, N. A. Driver, D. Taylor. 1991 Cornwall Sennen, 14th October (Dr A. M. Hanby, B. Short, J. Young et at.). 1991 Highland Baligill, Sutherland, in song, 16th- 18th May, photographed (E. W. E. Maughan, J. Smith, J. Walker). 1991 Shetland Noss, 9, 27th May (R. Armstrong). 1991 Tyne & Wear Sunderland, 12th to at least 17th October (T. I. Mills el at.). (Northeast Europe across to North Asia; winters Turkestan to China and Japan) A good year, and follows a slowly rising trend with previous peaks of 1/ in 1990 and 19 in 1987. The Lincolnshire record is the earliest ever in Britain and predates two others in that month; apart from this record, the four others in spring arrived in the period 25th May to 2nd June, and eight of the nine autumn records were in the period 27th September to 8th October. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla (93, 463, 1 3) Borders St Abb’s Head, 3rd October (A. Kerr, D. Patterson). Cornwall St Columb Major, adult, 18th January to 2nd February, trapped 2nd, photographed (R. Burridge, S. M. Christophers, M. George). Grampian Balmedie, 1st October (H. Gregory, Dr I. M. Phillips). Northumberland Cocklawburn Dunes, 29th September (G. W. Dodds). Orkney North Ronaldsay, 28th September to 6th October (A. Banwell, K. M. Wilson et at.)-, 2nd-3rd October (P. J. & Mrs M. J. Donnelly, Mrs A. Tulloch); 4th-9th October, trapped 4th (A. E. Duncan, E. Wells et at). Scilly Fresco, 22nd-23rd October (D. Rhymes et at.). Shetland Whalsay, at least two: 2 1 st-24th September (M. I. Eldridgc, J. I.. Irvine, A. M. Stod- dard, probably same, 29th-30th (M. I. Eldridgc, A. M. Stoddart); 25th September (M. I. Eldridgc, Dr B. Marshall, A. M. Stoddart et at.). Out Skerries, trapped, 3rd October (E. Fait). Fctlar. 3rd- 10th October (A. Aitken, B. Thomason). Fair Isle, 1 5th October (Dr R. Riddington, J. M. l'urton et at). Surrey Frensham Little Pond, in song, 1 4th- 1 7th April (S. P. Peters et at.). 1989 Humberside Flamborough Head, 18th September (P. A. Easscy). 535 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 1990 Dorset Verne Common, 25th April (C. E. Richards). 1990 Scilly St Mary’s, 13th- 18th October {Brit. Birds 84: 502), 12th (S. Berry, J. Howarth et at). 1991 Devon South Milton Ley, first-year, trapped 23rd November, released 24th (R. Burridge, M. George et at). 1991 Northumberland Newbiggin, two, 10th October (C. Annan, A. Priest); another, 10th (T. J. Tams). 1991 Yorkshire, North Filey, 1 2th- 1 3th October (S. Cochrane, D. J. & P. M. Scanlan, H. J. Whitehead). (Northeast Europe and North Asia; winters Turkestan to India and Southeast Asia) A fairly typical showing, though 13 is slightly below the aver- age of the last few years. The late 1989 record published here takes that year’s total, the highest ever, to 50. The recent pattern of wintering in secluded spots, and occasional records in spring, is again shown in the 1992 records. Is this a very scarce wintering bird in Britain and northwest Europe or are these just records of late migrants which have run out of impetus and the urge to go anywhere else? This species will be dropped from the list considered by the Committee at the end of December 1993. Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola (10, 146, 4) Norfolk Holme, 9 or immature, 19th-20th September (A. Banwell, W. Boyd, G. F. Hibberd et at.) (plate 105). Northumberland Fame Islands, 2 or immature, 18th-20th September (P. Allen, P. Bush et at.) (plate 200). Orkney Stronsay, 2 or immature, 21st September (J. F. & Mrs S. M. Holloway, M. Sutton et at.). Shetland Fair Isle, 2 or immature, 1 7 th-20th September (R. G. Bayldon, P. V. Harvey et al.). 1991 Tyne & Wear Ryhope, 9 or immature, 22nd September (S. J. Ling) (fig. 14). to'oo jtripe. + broad darn lateral crown stripes Unttarpariv with distinct y«llcw wasW femcti'n- belly, unmarked exC£ptpsr « fevO paiots-rifwte on tre Allies -t ylomks legs pinKlSk OfGrvje. i- ashyr,j>harp Trior to«s anc\ fp Sightly rr one ivyousi mooted with prominent block SUrcsts stoyiQse on rrmth . obvious pale 'tromUrmy on Sld& of montb . Cyerrs hppsd i/Sm ih , esp- tfwdicins , Creating) dcwt>l< wrp)bar£. 'blade, mtb ibarm boff 5twrVil;durkpy«y cvn. paler, tarn C-tl- 'teicK Fig. 14. Female or immature Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola , Ryhope, Tyne & Wear, September 1 99 1 (S. J. Ling) (Northeast Europe across North Asia; winters India and Southeast Asia) Four records are about an average showing, but those away from the Northern Isles provided one of the surprises of the year. The vast majority are always in September. One further September 1992 report, from Shetland, remains under consideration. 536 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Black-headed Bunting Ernberiza melanocephala (9, 83, 1 2) Cornwall Gwithian, 3, 20th May (P. A. Rutter). Orkney North Ronaldsay, <3, 15th-27th July, trapped 17th, photographed (Dr K. F. Wood- bridge et at). Scilly St Martin’s, 8. 18th-23rd May (P. Larkin, D. Osborn). Shetland Fair Isle, five: 9, 9th June (P. V. Haney et at.)- 6, 9, 10th (P. V’. Harvey, R. Taylor); another 3, 10th J. Goutts, R. Taylor, S. G. Voder); 3, 14th J. & P. Shilton). Aithsetter, 9, 30th September to 4th October, trapped 3rd (P. M. Ellis, A. McCall et at.). Somerset Shapwick Heath, 3, 21st April (P. W. Luxton). Suffolk Trimley St Mary, 8, 4th June (A. Banwell et at.). Western Isles Drimsdale, South Uist, 3, 1 3th-2 1st August (T. J. Dix, G. Flogdell. A. M. Macaskill). (Southeast Lurope and Southwest Asia; winters India) A typical spread of records conforming to the pattern ol late-May to June arrival, plus one late- summer and two autumn records; the timing of the late-spring arrival pattern compares well with that ol other migrants from Southeast Europe and must surely be a strong indication ol their origin. The exception to the rule, the April record in Somerset, is only the third for that month, the two previous being in 1979 in Norfolk and in Scilly. Details of at least four others have not yet been reported to the Committee. The previous best year was 1988, with eight. An indeterminate bird on Blakeney Point, Norfolk, on 1 0th- 1 1th September 1989 posed considerable identification problems for those who saw it, and for the Committee; a ‘warm apricot’ wash to the rump and a deep ‘chup’ call- note suggested, however, that it was this species rather than a Red-headed Bunting E. bruniceps. Bobolink Dolichonyx oyzivorus (0, 16, 1) Dorset Portland, 1 4th- 1 8th September (A. S. & R. G. Brett, G. 1). Lewis et at.) (plate 207). (North America; winters South America) The seventeenth for Britain and Ireland, but only the second on the British mainland (the first was in Devon in September 1991); all have been in the period 13th September to 12th October. Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater (0, 1 , 0) 1988 Strathclyde Ardnave, Islay, 8, 24th April (C. R. McKay). (North America; winters South and East USA and Mexico) This is the first record for Britain and Ireland, and the second for the Western Palearetic (the first was an adult female in Norway on 1st June 1987, Brit. Birds 82: 354). This species is currently greatly increasing in both numbers and range in the USA. The Islay record has been placed in Category A of the British and Irish List by the BOURC {Ibis in press). Northern Oriole Icterus galbula (0, 1 8, 0) Essex See 1991 Essex, below. 1991 Essex Wcstclill-on-Sea, first-year 3, 2nd December to 24th March 1992, photographed [J. Miller, R. Mullins, C. Todd et at.) (plate 208). (North America; winters Mexico to Venezuela) Another strange bird-at-the- birdtable discovery; this is the eighteenth for Britain and Ireland, and the third record in the midwinter period. It is the first since (and strongly recalls) the long-staying individual at Roch, Dyfed, from January to April 1989. 207. Bobolink Dolichonyx oyzwotm, Portland Bill, Dorset, September 1992 (B. E. Slade) 208. 1 irst-year male Northern Oiiole Icterus galbula (with Greenfinch Carduelis chloris), Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, March 1992 {R. Mullins) 538 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1992 Almost next-door to the site of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovi- cianus which occurred in December and January 1975 at Lcigh-on-Sea, Essex, it adds one more to the inexplicable list of Neaixtic passerines wintering in southeastern England, which includes the 1989 Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera and Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas in Kent. Appendix 1. Category D species accepted (see Brit. Birds 64: 429) Monk Vulture Aegypius monachus (0, 1, 0) 1977 Powys Builth Wells area, 29th November, and various localities in Dyfed to 20th February 1978, photographed (Robert A. Richardson, N. A. & the late Mrs L. A. Tucker, K. E. Vinicombe el at.) (Bril. Birds 86: 229). 1978 Dyfed See above. 1978 Powys See above. (Eurasia from Iberia to Northern China; winters south to northern Africa, Arabia, India and southern China) Formerly rejected by the BOURG as almost certainly an escape from captivity, but possibility of natural occurrence now acknowledged (Ibis 135: 221). Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum (0, 1 , 0) 1985 Shetland Noss, 25th-26th June, photographed (Ms S. Crosthwaite, Mr & Mrs P. Reward. G. R. McKay) Brit. Birds 86: 229). (North America; winters south to northern South America) Whilst natural vagrancy is possible, this is also a not uncommon cage-bird (Ibis 135: 221). Appendix 2. List of records not accepted 1 his list contains all current records not accepted after circulation to the Committee. It does not include (a) those withdrawn by the observers) without circulation, after discussion with the Hon- orary Secretary; (b) those which, even if circulated, were not attributed by the observers) to any definite species; or (c) those mentioned in ‘Seasonal reports’ or ‘Recent reports’ in this journal, if full details were unobtainable. Birds considered to be certain escapes are also omitted. In the vast majority of cases, the record was not accepted because we were not cominccd. on the evidence before us, that the identification was fully established; in only a very few cases were we satisfied that a mistake had been made. 1992 White-billed Diver Hcngistbury Head. Dorset, 12th May: Waxham, Norfolk. 6th Decembei Black- browed Albatross Portland, Dorset, 7th October. Albatross Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, 31st May. Little Shearwater St Abbs, Borders, 15th April; Gwennap Head, Cornwall, 9th August; St Osvth, Essex, 1 I tit September: Strumblc Head, Dyfed, 1st November. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Rami Head. Cornwall, 14th August. Night Heron Aldcrlcy Edge. Cheshire, 17th May. Cattle Egret Poole Harbour, Dorset, 19th March: Grove, Buckinghamshire, 4th May. Great White Egret Poole Harbour. Dorset, 1 0th July. American Wigeon Tirec, Strathclyde, 9, 21st May; Langsett Reservoir, South Yorkshire, 16th March. King Eider Yel- lowciaig, Lothian, 6th february. Steller’s Eider Minsmcre, Suffolk, 28th September. Barrow’s Goldeneye Loch Unnhc, Strathclyde, 6th April. Black Kite Minsmcre, Suffolk, 10th April; Salhousc. Norfolk. 25th April; Gresham, Norfolk. 9th May: Paston, Norfolk, 10th May; Stowmarket, Suflolk. 13th June; Bolbcrry Down. Devon, 27th September. White-tailed Eagle Langton Herring, Dorset, !4lh April. Eleonora’s Falcon Horsey. Norfolk, 15th June Red-footed Falcon Minsmcre, Suffolk, 5th Mav: Heaton. West Yorkshire. 1 3th May; Stanford Reservoir, Leicestershire, 16th May; Niton, Isle of Wight, 16th May: Thttrsley Common, Surrey, 18th May; Stcwartby, Bedfordshire, 22nd May; Slinfold, West Sussex, 25th May; Chaddcsden, Derbyshire, 26th May; Colwick, Nottinghamshire, 1st June; St Abb’s Head, Borders, 2nd June; Fingringhoc. Essex. 10th June; Kew Gardens, Greater Dtndon, 17th June; Harrold, Bedfordshire, 22nd June: Dunkcry Beacon, Somerset. 25th June; Tregaron, Dyfed, 8th July; Old Hall Marshes, Essex, 20th July; Tunstall Forest, Suflolk, 24th Julv. Gyr Falcon Bowncss Common, Cumbria, 13th February; Brae, Shetland, 17th February; Sea area Forties. 3rd October. Baillon’s Crake North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 31st January. Pacific Golden Plover Fair Isle. Shet- land, 4th June; Pagham Harbour, West Sussex. 15th August; Norton Fen, Lincolnshire, 24th August. Baird’s Sandpiper Chasewater, Staffordshire . 4th May. Long-billed Dowitclier Unst. Shetland, 25th Mav. Dowitcher Spurn. Humberside, 26th August; Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway, 12th October. Marsh Sandpiper Fheale, Berkshire. 21st July. Greater Yellowlegs Montrose Basin, Taysidc, 8th May. Lesser Yellowlegs Avcton Gifford, Devon, 2()th September. Bonaparte’s Gull Papa West ray. Orkney. 1st June: Brora, Highland, 8th June. Iceland Gull kumlieni ) Swillington lugs. West Yorkshire. 5th January; Aigburth, Illustrator of the Year competition, sponsored by Kowa Telescopes ’asted Mergansers displaying. Nik Borrow's award winning 1990 B1Y Competition entry. “First, and most important, this telescope is optically magnificent, with phenomenal clarity and a superbly large field of view. If you are a birder who is seeking the best possible telescope . . . :the optical gain is significant, especially in the worst viewing conditions. It is an elite instrument, to be treasured by those fortunate enough to own one.” Dr J T R Sharrock, testing the Kowa TSN-3 with x20W eyepiece, British Birds June 1990. hKowa TSN Fluorite lens scope, available angled or straight. A superb image jlly appointed distributor for Kowa Telescopes ) ySGI Ltd., Fircroft Way, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 6HA (D915) xi RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS A COMPLETELY NEW EXPERIENCE Dr. Algirdas Knystautas and his team of experts invite you to join them on one of their exciting programme of escorted birdwatching holidays to some of the most spectacular destinations on earth. Participants can look forward to superlative birding with many Palearctic rarities amongst the attractions. APRIL-MAY 1 994 TOURS MAY-SEPTEMBER Ringing in Tien Shan Mountains — April 20 - May 3 Boreal Forest of Russia — April. 21-28 Great Caucasas — May 5-14 Volga Delta — May 11-20 South Ukraine — May 14-24 Birds & Flowers of Central Asia — May 15-28 Ussuriland & Amur Delta — May 19-June 8 Kazakhstan & Altai — May 20-June 9 The Baltic States — May 30-June 12 Taimyr & Central Siberia — June 20-July 10 Tien Shan Mountains — July 15-28 Ringing in Lithuania — August 27-September 17 Ringing in Tien Shan Mountains — September 7-22 For further details and copy of 1994 brochure please apply to: RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS 57 Fore Street, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 IPG Tel: 0548 856437 Fax: 0548 857537 45 Bird Census Techniques’ by Colin J. Bibby, Neil D. Burgess & David Hill Ih htdwtk Tomurtojc 544 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch 548 Recent reports Harry .Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan 548 Twenty-five years ago . . . Front cover: Red-eyed \ irco caught in a breeze ( Ren Hathway): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 28 in January issue for procedure) British Birds Volume 86 Number 11 November 1993 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM -5 NOV 1993 PURCHASED ZOOLOGY LIBRARY The Armenian Gull in Armenia Rose-ringed Parakeets in Britain Winter 1992/93 W The Carl Zeiss Award • Best Bird Book of the Year Notes • Letters • Reviews • Mystery photographs ews and comment • Monthly marathon • Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Edito: David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultant Don Smith Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee R. A. Hume (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gantlett, C. D. R. Heard, Andy Stoddart & Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser 'Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton I RS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Lid 1993 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd. 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager , Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAL, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for ‘News and comment ’, drawings & photographs Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MR n 3NJ. Phone & Fax: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscr iptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MR(4 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085. Fax: (0621) 819130 Bird news for ‘Seasonal reports' Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MR] 7 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Chvvd ( h : H.v Plum,: Mold 0352 770581. Fax: 0352 771590 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £47.50, 1 R/ 55.50 or $89.70. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £38.60, IR£45.20 or $73.00; personal airmail, outside Europe £64.85, IR£75.70 or $122.50. Single back copies £5.00, IR£5.70 or $9.50. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made direedy into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearctic. Lxcept for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in pail to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequence of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds 1993 : or, for non-West-Palcarctic species. Sibley & Monroe (1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World names of plants follow l)ony el al 1980, English Names of Wild Flowers; names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1977, The Handbook of British Mammals Topographical plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations i Bril. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should Im* inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters} receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford. 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SPECIAL OFFERS •TOP QUALITY BAUSCH & LOMB 7X35B DISCOVERER BINOCULAR NORMAL SRP £399 £229 (SAVE £170) • BUSHNELL SPACEMASTER IN BLACK RUBBER ARMOURED FINISH WITH 1S-4SXZ00M EYEPIECE, CASE AND VELBON CX-680 TRIPOD NORMAL SRP £356 £299 (SAVE £57) WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1993 “3^ ■ V. ■! % « (D327) i Cygn us Wildlife 1994 programme of escorted birdwatching holidays DESTINATIONS JANUARY - JUNE INCLUDE: NORTHERN INDIA £1490 SRI LANKA £1790 TIGER SPECIAL £1690 TEXAS £1290 MAJORCA £625 POLAND £975 NETHERLANDS £580 CUBA £1790 HUNGARY £925 BOHEMIA £890 AUSTRIA £790 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO £2990 Other departures later in the year include Madagascar, Arizona and California, Washington, Gambia, Argentina, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands, Ethiopia, Southern India, Queensland and Nepal. ALSO FULL PROGRAMME OF RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS. Tour groups have a maximum of 18 participants, are escorted by experienced leaders and we cater for all levels of expertise. 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BHARATPUR from £1190 with Paul Holt, 6-15 January EILAT from £440 (or £380 self-catering) with Killian Mullarney and Steve Rooke 13-20/27 March HONG KONG from £1190 with Richard Lewthwaite and Steve Rooke 10-20/24 March (with optional China extension) BEIDAIHE from £1090 with Martin Wiliams and Paul Holt 30 April - 15/22 May Retails from Sunbird, I’O Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SC, 19 IPF Tel 0767 682969 (Please speeify which event you are interested in). Xuul’iri! i* .« ir.uhnji iwnii- it! l umUvhun I inukxl (D286) II CROWS AND JAYS A guide to the crows, jays and magpies of the world. Madge “r and Hilary Burn The collaboration of Steve Madge, one of the best known field birders in the world, and Hilary Burn, the internationally acclaimed bird artist has pro- duced CROWS AND JAYS - a magnificent guide to all the world's corvid species. Some crows, like the Carrion Crow, Raven or Magpie are well known and abundant. 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SQ24 9RB (D317) IV British Birds \ OLIME 86 NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER 1993 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM -5 NOV 1993 PURCHASED 700L0GY LIBRARY New BBRC Chairman i ¥3eter Lansdown joined the British Birds Rarities Committee in April 1983 X (Bnt. Birds 76: 417) and was appointed Chairman in late 1986 [Brit. Birds 80: 22). During his seven years as Chairman, the work of the Committee (ex- plained by him in two detailed accounts, Brit. Birds 80: 487-491; 86: 417-422) has developed and expanded (e.g. the new feature ‘From the Rarities Com- mittee s files ), and the work of the Chairman has increased considerably. Peter Lansdown has now, however, asked to be relieved of his duties and, with great reluctance, but also understanding, the Editorial Board has ac- cepted his resignation. We thank Peter for the enormous contribution which he has made through his meticulously thorough work for the Committee over the past 1 0 1 / 2 years. Consultations with all the members of the Rarities Committee revealed one overwhelmingly popular candidate to succeed Peter Lansdown. It is with great pleasure that we can announce that Rob Hume has been invited to take on the very demanding job of Chairman of the BBRC, and that he has accepted this responsibility, starting this month. Rob joined the Committee in April 1988 [Brit. Birds 81: 464) and has chosen at present to remain as a voting member as well as being Chairman (his term ol office as a voting member would end naturally in March 1996), so no immediate election of an addi- tional new member is needed. It is worth noting that the BBRC has benefited greatly from the dedication of its Chairmen, who have numbered only four in the Committee’s 35-year history: P. A. D. Hol- lom (1959-71), D. I. M. Wallace (1971-76), the late P. J. Grant (1976-86) and Peter Lansdown (1986-93). Eds The British Birds Rarities Committee is sponsored by ZEISS 549 The Armenian Gull in Armenia A. V. Filchagov Interest in the Armenian Gull Larus ( argentatus ) armeniais* has increased dra- matically since the realisation that this gull showed a characteristic black band on the bill (e.g., Geroudct 1982; Hume 1983; Cramp & Simmons 1983; Dubois 1985; Grant 1988; Satat & Laird 1992). The uniqueness of this char- acter among Palearctic forms ol the species/subspecies complex that includes Herring L. argentatus , Yellow-legged L cachinnans and Lesser Black-backed Gulls LJuscus (hereafter referred to as "the complex’) was one of the reasons that led P. Devillers (Devillers & Potvliege 1981; Dcvillers 1985) and others (e.g., J. Haffer in Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer 1982) to consider the Armenian Gull a full species. This approach remains debatable, however, owing to the paucity ol morphological descriptions and eco-ethological observations from the breeding grounds. Such data are limited to the initial scientific description ol this form from Lake Sevan, Armenia (Buturlin 1 934a), and brief accounts of its distribution and breeding ecology, mainly from the same place, sum- marised in regional avifaunistic reviews (Lyaister & Sosnin 1942; Dahl 1954). More recently, only Airumyan et al. (1974) have referred, briefly, to these gulls at Sevan. On 1 3th- 14th June 1990, I visited a colony of Annenian Gulls at Sevan, a lake situated in a mountain valley at 1,900 m above sea level. Studies of pheno- typic and behavioural parameters were carried out from a hide at two points within the colony, and during twn walks across the colony to ring 200 young. Observations were facilitated by the fair degree of tolerance the gulls showed * This form, first described as hints taimyrensis armeniais by Buturlin (1934a), was at the same time referred to I.. argentatus as a synonym of the subspecies /.. a. taimyrensis by Stegmann (1934); subse- quently, it has been considered an independent subspecies or a synonym of the subspecies taimyrensis of L argentatus (V auric 1965; Cramp & Simmons 1983) or of /., cachinnans (Strcscmann & Timofeeff-Ressovsky 1947; Stepanyan 1990). Voous (1962) apparently included it in /. finals (sensu Into). ' harlier this year, British Birds (86: 1-2) announced the decision to treat the Armenian Gull as a separate species, hints armenicus. 550 I Kill. Birds H<>: "nO-jitiO. Novrmlxr The Armenian Gull, in Armenia 551 towards a human intruder: when 1 remained motionless, they quickly landed at a distance of 5-15 m and made rapid contact with their young. History and ecology of Armenian colonies In the first third of this century, Armenian Gulls bred at several places along Lake Sevan shore and on swamp lowlands nearby. Nests were built in various habitats, including cliffs, reedbeds, sand beaches and even agricultural fields (Lyaister & Sosnin 1 942). I he gulls were considered to damage fisheries and were therefore persecuted by local inhabitants. Their eggs were also harvested for food (Lyaister & Sosnin 1942; Airumyan et al. 1974). From 1936 until the mid 1970s, the water level was artificially lowered by about 18 m. As a result, the extent of the lake decreased and many physical and biotic elements changed; intensive eutrophication began. The lake also tended more frequently to be covered by ice in winter (Airumyan et al. 1974; Rumyantsev 1991). These modifications must have had an effect on the gull population, resulting in a sharp decrease in breeding numbers; it is even likely that breeding did not occur at all in some years. Nesting is now restricted to an area of two small adjacent islands in the northwestern part of the lake which appeared around 1960 as a result of the lowering of the water level. In 1965-69, numbers were estimated at 60-100 pairs or a few more (Airumvan et al. 1974). The situation has since improved greatly. In June 1990, I estimated that about 3,000 pairs were nesting on one island and about 1,000 on the other. The colony not only occupied the islands, but also extended to the nearby shore, where a few tens of pairs were breeding. The islands have recently been included within the Sevan National Park boundary. Away from Lake Sevan, colonies of Armenian Gulls are known in Armenia only on Arpilich lake (41° 05'N, 43° 40'E), referred to as Lake Arpa by Suter (1990), where gulls nest also on islands and in even larger numbers than at Sevan. These colonies first appeared in the mid 1970s (S. O. Petrosyan, verbally). This gulf’s Armenian population seems currently, therefore, in view of the high number of breeders, to be in a healthy state. These high local concentra- tions, however, probably linked to the scarcity of suitable breeding sites pro- tected from terrestrial predators and human beings, make the population vulnerable to chance factors. Breeding biology and behaviour The gulls at Sevan nest mainly among stones and grass, although some nests were placed under the cover of isolated bushes and at the edge of shrubs occupying part of one island. Almost all the open area of both islands was colonised by gulls. Nesting density was high, with frequently only 1-2 m between nests. V. V. Leonovich, who visited the islands on 27th and 30th April 1990, pointed out (verbally) that egg-laying was in full swing at that time: on 27th, many pairs which had finished building had not yet laid or had incomplete clutches, and at only a few nests were eggs already being incubated; three 552 The Armenian Gull in Armenia days later, the number ol nests without eggs or with incomplete clutches had obviously decreased and most pairs had full clutches of three eggs. When I visited in mid June, only two clutches were still being incubated, while the majority ol nestlings were 15-25 days old. This ‘indicates that, in 1990, the peak period of laying occurred in the last ten days of April: i.e. 10-15 days latei than in Black Sea and southern Caspian Sea colonies (ol Yellow-legged Gulls) in years with normal weather conditions (Dyunin 1948; Kostin 1983; pers. obs.). According to V. V. Leonovich and S. O. Petrosyan [in litt.\ the average size ol 113 eggs was 68.1 X 48.1 mm, and the average weight of 60 eggs at lay- ing or shordy after was 80.14 g. The eggs seem to be smaller than those of other gulls of the argentatus-cachinnans part of the complex (see Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer 1982; Cramp & Simmons 1983). Among all the East European and Asian forms, the subspecies heuglini and barabensis seem to be the closest to armeniais in egg size (table 1). 1 he social situation in the colony was rather tense. During my observations, tei ritorial conflicts were not unusual and were occasionally accompanied by prolonged fighting. Adults were sometimes seen to peck at and kill stray nestlings, which they partly ate. Table 1. Mean size and volume of eggs of subspecies /forms of ‘Herring Gull com- plex’ Lams argentalus-cachinnans-Juscus within populations of East Europe and Northern Asia Data for taimyrensis from V. Grabovsky (in Filchagov et at. 1992); other data author’s own (for vegae. from eggs deposited in Zoological Museum of Moscow State University) Volume = 0.51 X length X breadth (see Hoyt 1979); SD — standard deviation Subspecies/ form Locality Years Sample size Length in mm (range) Breadth in mm (range) Mean volume in cm' armenicus Lake Sevan 1981, 1988 & 1990 113 68.1 (SD 2.3) (61.5-74.9) 48.1 (SD 1.4) (45.1-51.0) 80.4 (SD 6.2) heuglini NW Kanin Peninsula 1990, 1991 91 70.0 (SD 3.0) (63.0-76.8) 48.2 (SD 1.6) (45.0-56.3) 83.0 (SD 7.4) heuglini Ob Bay 1988 44 69.0 (SD 2.2) (65.1-76.3) 49.1 (SD 1.3) (45.6-51.6) 84.9 (SD 5.8) barabensis Lake Saltaim, Omsk region 1990 43 70.8 (SD 2.5) (66.2-76.1) 48.9 (SD 1.3) (46.4-51.9) 86.6 (SD 6.0) cachinnans Lake Sarykamysh, 1 989 N Turkmenistan 70 71.8 (SD 2.7) (65.6-77.6) 50.0 (SD 1.7) (43.5-52.6) 91.9 (SD 8.2) mongolicus Lake Baykal 1992 50 73.2 (SD 2.5) (68.3-78.4) 50.3 (SD 1.1) (47.4-52.3) 94.5 (SD 4.9) taimyrensis NW Taimyr 1990 30 71.7 (SD 2.7) (66.0-76.5) 49.5 (SD 2.7) (42.2-53.1) 90.65 (SD 8.6) vegae Bclyaka Spit, Chukotka 1977, 1986-88 30 73.8 (SD 2.8) (68.1-77.5) 50.75 (SD 1.3) (48.5-53.3) 97. 1 (SD 6.8) argentatus Solovctskie Is, White Sea 1988 50 74.6 (SD 3.3) (67.1-83.2) 50.1 (SD 1.6) (47.2-54.4) 93.6 (SD 15.5) The Armenian Gull in Armenia 553 211. Armenian Gull Larus (argentatus) aimenicus giving "jiiscus- type’ Long Gall display, Armenia, June 1990 (A. V Filchagov) Body movements during the Long Call display resembled those of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the head movements having a very large amplitude. At times in the Throw-forward phase, the bill nearly touched the belly, and in the Throw-back phase the head almost touched the back. Variations of this display were classified according to head position at the extreme point of the Throw-back phase: juscus- type when the head was perpendicular to the ground surface or nearer to the back (plate 211); argentatus- type when the head-neck-back line was straight (plate 212); and intermediate-type. Of 54 dis- plays observed, these types occurred in the ratio of 33:8:13, respectively. 212. Armenian Gull Laras ( argentatus ) armenicus giving "argentatus- type’ display, with straight head-neck-back line, Armenia, June 1990 (A. V Filchagov ) The Armenian Gull in Armenia 555 The voice of the Armenian Gull is quite shrill and hoarse, and not so melo- dious as that of the Herring Gull. As shown by sonagrams (fig. 1), the har- i monic structure of the Long Call resembles that of gulls of the cachinnans-juscus part of the complex. The Long Call is uttered hurriedly, even excitedly, as with cachinnans. A characteristic feature of the Lake Sevan Armenian Gulls was that they regularly held their wings in a somewhat lowered, relaxed position (plates 2 1 3- 215 on pages 556-557). In other gulls of the complex, such a position is ob- served mainly in agonistic situations, or when the air temperature is higher. At Sevan, it was the usual position even in obviously calm situations without any social contacts, and at any time in the day, including the cool morning and evening hours. Structure, plumage and bare-part variations Structural traits such as a comparatively rounded head, blunt-ended bill, short neck (in flight) and others, noted as inconstant or variable on Armenian Gulls in winter quarters (cf. Grant 1988 and Satat & Laird 1992), were typical of Sevan birds. Taken in combination, they can be very helpful for distinguishing Armenian Gulls in the field elsewhere. Plumage details were carefully recorded for about 150 breeding birds. Of these, 3% had not yet acquired full adult plumage and showed many brown markings on wing-coverts and tail. Those in full adult plumage had a rela- tively uniform, moderately dark mantle, appearing somewhat darker than cachinnans. The wingtip patterns of nine adults found dead in the colony were examined. All had black on seven primaries, and one also had some black on the eighth. A white subterminal mirror on the second outer primary was found on only one, on the inner web. Five birds had black markings on the first three, four or five outermost greater primary coverts, a feature regularly present on adults of other forms (at least heuglini, barabensis, mongolicus, vegae and tairnyrensis: pers. obs.). All breeding birds had yellow to bright yellow legs and a red or orange-red orbital ring. Iris colour varied from dark brown to pale yellowish: on many in- dividuals (at least six out of 44, from photographs) the iris was pale enough to contrast with the pupil, and in rare cases had no dark pigment (plates 213- 215). Bill pattern, too, was variable. Of 51 gulls examined closely, 33 had an un- broken black band on the upper mandible and a black spot in front of die red spot on the lower mandible, with some variation in the width of the band and the size of the spot. On another 1 6, the band was more or less reduced to a tiny spot on the upper mandible, again with much individual variation. Two had no black at all on the bill. Band pigment was of variable intensity, and was sometimes more grey than black. A red spot at the gonydeal angle was present on all birds, often extending to die upper mandible. Fig. 1. Sonagrams of Long Call of different forms of Herring/Lesser Black-backed Gull Lotus argenlatus/Juscus complex. A: L a. argentatus (recorded by V. I. Grabovsky, Solovetskie Islands, White Sea, June 1988); B: A/ juscus (details as for A); C: L c. cachmncms (E. N. Panov, Ogurchinsky Island, SE Caspian Sea, April 1987); D: L (a.) barabensis (V. Buzun, Saltaim Lake, Omsk region, May 1992); E & F: L (cl) armeniais (V. V. Leonovich, Sevan, Armenia, April 1990) 556 The Armenian Gull in Armenia 213-215. Armenian (mils I /mis ( argentatus ) amenicus showing variability of intensity of iris colour (from pale yellowish to dark brown), and loosely held wings, Armenia, June 1990 (A. V. Filchagov) [l nfortunately, all the negatives of A. \ . I ilchagov’s photographs taken during his trip to .Vrmenia were stolen in a robbery in Paris. The plates accompanying this paper have, therefore, been taken from the only remaining (rough) prints which, fortunately, had been sent to British Birds with the first draft of this paper. Eds] The Armenian Gull in Armenia 557 Discussion The Armenian population of the Armenian Gull suffered a severe decrease from the 1930s to the 1960s, followed by an even more dramatic increase during the subsequent two decades. This recent strong growth could explain why it is only in later years that the characteristic field marks of this gull have become obvious to birdwatchers. The information presented here shows that these phenotypic characters are, however, variable. A very puzzling fact is that the black bill band, now seen to be present on a large majority of breeders, was not mentioned either in the initial description of this form (Buturlin 1934a), or by other authorities of that time who saw at least some of the type-series specimens (e.g. Stegmann 1934) and observed many Armenian Gulls alive (Dahl & Sosnin 1947). It seems probable that Buturlin and others had good reasons not to include this character in their descriptions; if so, this suggests that the bill band was not so common in the earlier Sevan population, or was less distinctive than it is now. This is supported by examination of those specimens from the type-series (collected in 1923-28 by G. V. Sosnin: see Buturlin 1934a) which are de- posited in the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University. A wide black band is visible only on one female showing traces of immature plumage (probably a three-year-old). Of three adults in full plumage, one shows no dark pigmentation on the bill; the other two, including the type specimen, show dark (not black) lines and diffuse spots on the bill, which may have been present on the living birds, but which may also, quite naturally, be linked to skin-drying. The detailed bill patterns of other specimens in old collections that include type-series, which are deposited in Erevan (Institute of Zoology) and St Peters- burg (Zoological Institute), are not known to me. In some cases, however, black 558 The Armenian Gull in Armenia is absent or markedly reduced (S. O. Petrosyan and P. Yesou in litt.). It appears, therefore, that dark bill markings may already have been present on breeding birds in the 1920s and before, but that they may at that time have bet n considered to be traces of immaturity or to have resulted from skin- drying. In any event, the frequency of such markings was much lower than it is now. A possible explanation for this discrepancy, suggested by P. Yesou verbally), is that the markings may be related to age: they should tend to be absent on the older adults which predominate in a stable or decreasing popula- tion, as was the case in the 1920s, but should be more or less marked on younger adults, which must now account for a large proportion of breeders. I he present data also confirm that both frequency and the degree of ex- piession ol this black bill band vary seasonally, as suggested by Cramp & Sim- mons 1 983), Grant (1988) and Satat & Laird (1992). A black band is found on almost every adult in winter (Satat & Laird 1992; Madge 1992), being so developed that it often masks the red gonydeal spot (Hume 1983; Grant 1988), but it is markedly reduced or absent on one-third of Sevan breeders, and on the other two-thirds is sometimes narrower on the upper mandible and olten reduced to a small spot on the lower one. his coloui , too, appears to vary seasonally. It is usually dark and only occa- sionally yellowish in winter (Satat & Laird 1992), whereas a reduction in dark pigment is commoner on the breeding grounds. Such seasonal change in bare-part coloration may seem a very odd phenomenon to West European ornithologists and birdwatchers, as adults of West European forms of either Herring, Yellow-legged or Lesser Black-backed Gulls are not known to exhibit any change in iris colour, and the occasional dark bill band— found more commonly on Lesser Black-backed, but also on Herring and Yellow-legged Gulls is usually considered a sign of immaturity ; Grant 1986). Iris colour may, however, be more variable (at least in breeding- areas), and dark bill markings in winter can develop regularly on adults of othei Asian forms, particularly within the heuglini-taimyrensis-barabensts group (Hirschfeld 1992; Yesou & Filchagov in prep.; see also photograph in Madge 1 992 of two gulls labelled ‘probably of the subspecies cachimans' ’, which in fact look like typical barabensis). Dark bill pigmentation also occurs commonly in winter on adult Glaucous-winged Gulls L glaucescens (Vermeer 1 963). Further- more, in some Asian populations, small dark markings on the bill, mostly on the upper mandible, are frequently found on breeding birds in full adult plumage, for example, on 1 8 out of 29 barabensis from the Omsk region exam- ined in the hand (pers. obs.). I he Armenian Gull, by virtue of its comparatively small size, certain phenotypical characters of adults (extensive dark on primaries, leg and orbital- ring colours, dark mantle) and its Long Call vocalisation and display, is related to the cachinnans-Juscus group of the northern Palearctic, and seems closer to barabensis and heuglmi. Its present breeding distribution, restricted to mountain lakes, may be of a relict nature, though this is merely supposition and other scenarios cannot be excluded (e.g., that a northern ancestral form emigrated to mountain lakes, where it found a suitable environment). Our suggestion that the Armenian Gull is linked to the northern forms through barabensis accords with the idea already developed by Buturlin (1934b) The Armenian Gull in Armenia 559 and again, recently, by Bourne (1989). Further studies are needed, permitting a more objective assessment of genealogical relationships and, particularly, the taxonomic status of the Armenian Gull. With our present state of knowledge, the only basis for the promotion of the Armenian Gull to a lull species, Larus armenicus , appears to be its geographical isolation: a rather weak basis in sys- tematics. Acknowledgments I am much obliged to E. G. Zakharyan, Director of the Sevan National Park, for his help in organising my fieldwork. 1 gratefully thank my older colleagues, S. O. Petrosyan and V. V. Leonovich, whose information and data were very useful for this paper. I thank Dr P. Tomkovich, who permitted me to work with the ornithological collection of the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University, and Dr A. A. Nikolsky and A. B. Vasilyeva for their help with sonagraphic analysis. Particular thanks are due to P. Yesou, who acquainted me with the latest papers and articles on the Armenian Gull and helped to improve significantly the manuscript. Summary On 13th- 14th June 1990, observations were made at Lake Sevan, Armenia, on phenotypic traits, breeding and behaviour of the Armenian Gull Larus (argentatus) armenicus. Historical and ecological data on Sevan colonies are reviewed. The black bill band as well as iris colour were variable on breeders. Black markings on the bill are now the most distinctive feature of the Armenian Gull, but their occurrence seems to have been much less frequent 60-70 years ago than nowadays. Certain phenotypic characters of adults and Long Call display and vocalisation indicate that the Armenian Gull is related to the cachinnansfiscus group of gulls of the northern Palearctic. References Airumyan, K. A., Geiijkman, B. O., & Margaryan, N. A. 1974. [The state of ornithofauna in die basin of Lake Sevan and the prospects of restoring the resources of aquatic-marsh birds in .Armenia.] goologichesky sbomik (Inst. fool. Akad. Nauk Armenii) 8: 3 1 -64. (In Russian) BOURNE, W. R. P. 1989. The relationship between the Armenian and Heuglin’s Gulls. Abstracts 2nd Mediterranean Seabird Symp. Mallorca, Spain, March 1 989. BUTURLIN, S. A. 1934a. Lams taimyrensis armenicus, subsp. nov. Ibis ser. 13 (4): 171-172. 1934b. [Waders, gulls, auks, sandgrouse, pigeons and doves. In Buturlin, S. A., & DEMEN- TIEV, G. P., Complete guide to identification of the birds of the USSR. vol. 1.] Moscow & Leningrad. (In Russian) Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 3. Oxford. Dahl, S. K. 1954. [Animal world of Armenia: Vertebrates, vol. 1.] Erevan. (In Russian) & Sosnin, G. V. 1947. [Guide to identification of birds of Armenia.] Erevan. (In Russian) DEVILLERS, P. 1985. Gulls. In Campbeil, B., & Lack, E. (eds.), A Dictionary of Birds. Calton. & PoTVLlEGE, R. 1981. Le Goeland leucophee Lams cachinnans michahellis en Belgique. Gerfaul 71: 659-666. DUBOIS, A. G. 1985. Considerations sur le Goeland d’Armenie Larus armenicus en Israel. Alauda 53: 226-228. DYUNIN, A. G. 1948. [The Yellow-legged Gull in southwestern Caspian Sea. In 77 le Yellow-legged Gull and Flamingo in the Caspian Sea, pp. 3-31.] Central Administrative Board of Reserves, Moscow. (In Russian) Filchagov, A. V., Yesou, P., & GrabOVSKY, V. I. 1992. Le Goeland du Taimyr Larus heuglini taimyrensis. repartition et biologie estivales. L’Oiseau et RFO 62: 128-148. GEROUDET, P. 1 982. Le Goeland d’Armenie larus (cachinnans) armenicus en Israel. Alauda 50: 3 1 0-3 1 1 . Glutz von Blotzheim, U. N., & Bauer, K. M. 1982. Handbuch der Vogel Mittelmropas. vol. 8/1. Wiesbaden. 560 The Armenian Gull in Armenia Grant, P.J. 1986. Gulls: a guide to identification. Second edition. Calton. 1988. Notes on Armenian Herring Gull. In GRANT, P.J., Sharrock. J. T. R.. Taggar, S., & Shirihai, H. (eds.). International Bird Identification. Proceedings of 4th International Identification Meet- ing. Bilal lst-8th November 1986. Biggleswade. Hirschfeld, E. 1992. More gulls with bill bands. Boding WorlcTb: 1 16. Ho\ l, D. 1 . 1979. Practical methods of estimating volume and fresh weight of birds’ eeas Auk 96: 73-77. Humk, R. A. 1983. Herring Gulls in Israel. Brit. Birds 76: 189-191. Kostin, Y. V'. 1983. [The birds of the Crimea, j Moscow. (In Russian) Evusifr, A. I-.. & SOSNIN, G. \ . 1942. [Materials on the omithofauna of Armenia (Ornis Armeniaca).] Erevan. (In Russian) Madge, S. 1992. Yellow -legged Gulls with bill bands. Birding World 5: 67-68. Rumyantsev, Y. A. 1991. [The present state of Lake Sevan. In Sevastyanov, U. V., Mame- Do\ , E. D., & Rt ,\n anise\ , \ . A. (eds.), History of Sevan. Issy-kul, Balkhash, faisan and Aral lakes.] Leningrad. (In Russian) Satat, N., & Laird, B. 1992. The Armenian Gull. Birding World 5: 32-36. S l KGMaxn, B. K. 1934. Lber die formen der grossen Mo wen ‘subgenus Ixirus und ihre gegenseiti- gen Beziehungen. J. Om. 72: 340-380. SfEPANYAN, E. S. 1990. [Conspectus of the ornithological fauna of the USSR.] Moscow. (In Russian) S i RESEM.WN. I... & I IMOFEEEI-Rkssoysky, N. W. 1947. Artentstehung in geographischen For- menkreisen. 1. Der Fonnenkreis lams argentatus-cachinnansfuscus. Biol. fbl. 66: 57-76. St TER, YV. 1990. Comments on the breeding range of the Armenian Gull. OSME Bull. 25: 12-15. \ At RIE, G. 1965. The Birds of the Palearctu Fauna. Non- Passeriformes. London. Vermeer, K. 1963. The breeding biology of the Glaucous-winged Gull {Larus glaucescens) on Man- darte Island. B.C. Occas. Pap. Brit. Colum. hoc. Mus. 13: 1-104. \ oous, K. H. 1962. Die \ogelwelt Europas und ihre Yerbredung. Hamburg and Berlin. A. I . Filchagov, Institute of Evolutionary Animal Morphology and Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospekt 33, Moscow 117071, Russia Feral Rose-ringed Parakeets in Britain David H. W Morgan The Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri is found naturally in Central and West Africa and the Indian subcontinent, but has escaped or been introduced in numerous other parts of the world, in many of which it has be- come successfully established (Lever 1987). Feral Rose-ringed Parakeets were reported breeding in Northrepps, Norfolk, as long ago as 1855 (quoted in Lever 1977), and the species was also reported breeding in Epping Forest, Essex, in 1930 and at Lilford, Northamptonshire, in 1931 (quoted in Low 1992). For most of the period 1930-66, the importa- tion of parrots such as the Rose-ringed Parakeet was prohibited, but thereafter feral records began to increase. Breeding was suspected in Southfleet, Kent, in 1969, and was confirmed at two sites on the outskirts of South London in 1971 (Lever 1987). By 1979, there were records from 32 counties, with breed- ing proved in seven and suspected in many others (Hawkes 1979), and, in 1983, observations in 50 counties with breeding recorded in ten (Lever 1987). In 1986, the British population was estimated at around 1,000, mostly in the southeast of England (Lack 1986), although this figure may be an exag- geration. The species was added to ‘Category C’ of the British List in 1984 (BOU 1984), with the subsequent decision to treat the race occurring in Britain as ‘undetermined’ (BOF 1991). Rose-ringed Parakeets are extremely popular with aviculturists, particularly on account of the latter’s penchant for producing colour mutations, more of which have been created with this species than with almost any other psittacine. In the early 1970s, fairly soon after importation recommenced, most of those imported into Britain came from India (Inskipp 1975). In the 1980s, however, the large majority was of African origin (Department of the Environment 1983, 1984a, 1984b, 1985; Commission of the European Com- munities undated, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992). Although many thousands have been imported since 1966, these numbers are probably dwarfed by those 562 Rose-ringed. Parakeets in Britain 216. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri, Clacton, Essex, April 1980 (Harry Huggins) Inclusion of plate 216 in colour has been subsidised by support from Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd bred in captivity in the UK. In 1987, for example, just 17% of the members of the Parrot Society bred a total of 533 Rose-ringed Parakeets (Coombes 1988), and the total number bred in the UK annually is probably several times this figure. Because more colour mutations have been produced from specimens of Asian origin, these are the kind most commonly kept in captivity (Low 1992, Cooper & Dracup 1978). Some avicultural literature suggests that the Asian specimens in captivity are of the subspecies manillensis (Low 1992; Roper 1 982), but in practice most aviculturists do not distinguish further than between Asian and African birds (D. Alderton, verbally). Four subspecies of the Rose-ringed Parakeet are recognised. Table I gives their distinguishing characteristics, but these should be treated with some caution in view of the, small sample sizes on which some figures are based and the slightly differing ways in which some of the biometrics may have been taken. Top binoculars for the future >. Most popular binoculars Most popular make of binocular Recbn^nended by British Biftfe. the definitive binocular ENGLAND AVON Ace Cameras. Bath BEDFORDSHIRE Countryside Optics. Marston Moretaine BERKSHIRE Link Cameras & Video. Reading; Vic Odden Photographic. Maidenhead CAMBRIDGESHIRE Carnpkms Camera Exchange. Cambridge CHESHIRE Focalpomt, Higher Whitley; Wildings Photographic, Wilmslow. 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Distinguishing features of the four subspecies of Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri * - data from Cramp (1985); all other measurements from Forshaw (1989) v ubspecies Wing in mm (mean) Tail in mm (mean) Bill in mm (mean) Weight ing Upper mandible Lower mandible \ k. krameri S Senegal to S Sudan) 6 144-157 (150) 9 143-152 (148) 194-278 (231) 177-240 (198) 18-21 (19.6) 18-21 (19.8) 51-93* Red; black tip Black; limited red near base k. pamostris t 5 Sudan to Somalia) 6 146-160 (153) 9 148-160 (153) 215-246 (234) 184-218 (196) 19-21 (19.6) 19-21 (19.6) Mainly red; slightly black tip Black ■ k. borealis 1 -’akistan, N India ) SE China) 8 170-177 (174) 8 172-187 (178)* 9 170-175 (172) 9 168-178 (173)* 226-253 (239) 229-279 (253)* 211-230 (220) 204-238 (221)* 22-25 (23.2) 23.2-26.4 (23.8)* 21-24 (23.0) 20.8-24.4 (22.6)* 104-143* 116-139 Red Red; sometimes marked with black P ’. k. man illensis ' i India, Sri Lanka) 8 162-180(170) 8 160-169 (165)* 9 153-167 (163) 9 154-160(158)* 203-235 (219) 182-235 (205)* 174-210 (193) 164-188(178)* 22-25 (23.3) 23.1- 25.4 (24.2)* 21-24 (22.6) 22.2- 22.8 (22.5)* Red; sometimes black on tip Black Of seven feral individuals ringed in Britain (Mead & Clark 1993), some measurements have been acquired for six; female, Dorking, Surrey: wing 181 mm, weight 156 g; unsexed juvenile, Runnymede, Surrey: wing 177 mm, weight 174 g; unsexed juvenile, Runnymede: wing 187 mm, weight 167 g; unsexed juvenile, Runnymede: wing 182 mm, weight 144 g; unsexed juvenile, Runnymede: wing 175 mm, weight 140 g; unsexed adult, Runnymede: wing 183 mm, weight 160 g. These sizes are far larger- than those given in any published references for the African subspecies, and suggest the larger of the two Asian subspecies {borealis). The latter are best separated by bill coloration (table 1). Individuals observed in the field at Sidcup, Kent, Margate, Kent, and Wraysbury, Berkshire, appeared to have entirely red bills (R. M. Patient in litt .), this also indicating borealis , although it should be noted that determining the lower-mandible colour in the field is by no means simple. Some caution is, however, needed. It is known that, with captive birds, selective breeding and abundant food tend to produce specimens which are larger than their wild counterparts, while in peninsular India, at about 20°N, which is roughly the boundary between the two Asian subspecies of Rose- ringed Parakeet, bill coloration can be variable (Ali & Ripley 1969). Finally, Rose-ringed Parakeets are from time to time crossed with the rather larger and proportionately much larger-billed Alexandrine Parakeet P. eupatria (Smith 1979), which has also been reported flying free in Britain, sometimes with Rose-ringed (Patient 1992). In summary, the feral British population of the Rose-ringed Parakeet would appear to consist of individuals of Asian origin, and probably of the subspecies borealis. Further study of individuals in the field and in the hand is required, however, before this can be stated with complete certainty. 564 Rose-ringed Parakeets in Bntain Acknowledgments The author is grateful to T. P. Inskipp for his helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper, and to K. Herber and J. Forss for supplying biometrics. References Ali, S., & Rjpley, S. D. 1969. Handbook of tbe Birds of India and Pakistan, vol. 3. Bombay. Brjiish Ornithologists’ Union. 1984. Records Committee: Eleventh Report (December 1983). Ibis 126: 440-445. 1991. Records Committee: Fifteenth Report (April 1991). Ibis 133: 438-441. Commission of the European Communities. Undated. European Economic Community 1984 Annual Report to CITES. Not published. 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. EC Annual Report 1985, . . . 1986, . . . 1987, . . . 1988, . . . 1989. Commission of the European Communities. Coombes, D. (ed.) 1988. A Register of Parrots Bred during 1987 by Some Biitish Members of the Parrot Society. The Parrot Society, Bedford. Cooper, N. D., & Dracup, E. A. 1978. A Register of Parrots Bred during 1977 by Some Biitish Members of the Parrot Society. The Parrot Society, Bedford. Cramp, S. (ed.) 1985. The Birds of die Western Palearctic. vol. 4. Oxford. Department of the Environment. 1983, 1984a, 1984b, 1985. Report for 1980 . . . 1981 . . . 1 982 ... 7 983 on the Implementation in the United Kingdom of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. DoE, London. Forshaw, J. 1989. Parrots of the World. Third (revised) edition. Blandford. H.WVKES, B. 1979. Ring-necked Parakeet enquiry. BTO .News 102: 5. INSKIPP, T. P. 1975. All Heaven in a Rage. RSPB, Sandy. Lack, P. 1986. The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton. Lever, C. 1977. The Naturalized Animals of the British Isles. London. - 1987. Naturalized Birds of the World. Ixtndon. Low, R. 1992. Parrots. Their breeding and care. Third (revised) edition. Blandford. Mead, c. J., & Clark, J. A. 1993. Report on bird ringing for Britain and Ireland for 1991. Ring- ing and Migration 14: 1-72. PATIENT, R. M. 1992. British Parakeets. Birding World 5: 194. Roper, M. (ed.) 1982. A Register of Parrots Bred in 1981 by Some British Members of the Parrot Society. The Parrot Society, Bedford. SMITH, G. A. 1979. Lovebirds and Related Parrots. Ixindon. David H. I V. Morgan, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road , Peterborough PEI 1JT ‘The Carl Zeiss Award’ Every year, the sponsor of the British Birds Rarities Committee, Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd , presents The Carl Zeiss Award for ‘the most helpful, interesting and instructive’ photograph of a rarity circulated during the previous 12 months to the mem- bers of the BBRC with a submitted record. A short-list of candidates for consideration is selected during the year by the ten members of the Committee, and the final judging is carried out by the Chairman of the Committee and the Managing Editor of British Birds. This year’s short-list was as follows: Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica, St Andrews, Fife, November 1991, photographed by D. E. Dickson (plate 180) and Mary Macintyre (plate 181). Citrine Wagtail Motacitla citreola, St Mary’s, Scilly, September 1992, photographed by David Rimes (plate 179). Great Grey Shrike Lanins excubitor of the race pallidirostris, Cape Cornwall, Cornwall, April 1992, photographed by Ren Hathway (plate 196). Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus, near Dumess, Highland, June 1992, photographed by Dr M. H. Blattner (plates 198 & 199). The Chimney Swift was found on 8th November 1991 by Dr Jeff Graves, and watched also that day by Dr R. W. Byrne and Professor Peter Branscombe. It was identified joindy by them. Despite its having been watched during its three-day stay by well over 350 birders, the only descrip- tions submitted were by the finder and RWB. The photographic evidence was, therefore, helpful during assessment of the record. The Citrine Wagtail was found on the evening of 13th September 1992 by Nigel Benson and Melanie Rose. They were joined the next morning by David N. T. Rimes, and the bird eventually provided good views, sometimes in company with a Grey Wagtail M. cinerea. David Rimes’s description was the only one submitted, and clinched the identification, but his high-quality photographs were much admired by the members of the Committee. The Cape Cornwall Great Grey Shrike was originally found and misidenti- fied as a Lesser Grey Shrike L. minor , but was reidentified as Great Grey inde- pendently by Paul Semmens and John F. Ryan, and then as pallidirostris by JFR and Renfred Hathway. Excellent sets of notes by JFR and Andrew Birch, together with paintings by AB (see page 503) and RH (see forthcoming account in ‘From the Rarities Committee’s files’), established the identification. RH’s photographs, however, although not of the quality that would have won Bird Photograph of the Year, were invaluable in establishing the precise extent of white in the wing (especially in the flight shot, plate 1 96), which is so important in the racial identification as pallidirostris. The Trumpeter Finch was found by Dr Martin H. Blattner whilst on a trip to Scotland with the Ornithological Society of Basle, and was watched for ten minutes by him and other members of the group. He was already familiar with the species from the Cabo de Gata region in Spain, and Dr Blattner’s RARITIES COMMITTEE IM A K '-M iGermany 7 /fv V ) AWARD 565 566 The Carl ^eiss Award concise description noted that the bird was ‘Near but not associated with House Sparrows [Passer domesticus], smaller than House Sparrows, plumage sandcoloured (brighter than on the photos), bill and legs pink, so it was a male. See photos. No vocalizations.’ The judiciously obtained supporting photographs were enormously welcomed by the Committee when assessing the record. After some discussion, this year’s three judges unanimously selected Ren Hathway as the wanner of The Carl Zeiss Award for 1 993 for his instructive photograph of the 'Steppe' Great Grey Shrike in flight. Ren Hathway can now' choose either a gass 10X40 BGAT*P or a %eiss 7X42 BGAT*P binocu- lar as his prize. .All the other contenders, and those whose rarity photographs or documentary' drawings have appeared in the 1992 report (or in ‘Seasonal reports’), will receive one of the specially woven sew-on badges featuring The Carl Zeiss Award logo. R. A. Hume, Peter Lansdown and J. T. R. Sharrock Mystery photographs 217. Mystery photograph 191. Identify the species. Answer on page 584 Sponsored by From the Rarities Committee’s files ZEISS Records not accepted At the end of each annual "Report on rare birds in Great Britain’ there is a list of records not accepted. Observers, especially those who have submitted records which have appeared under this heading, occasionally express an interest in the precise meaning of the term ‘not accepted’. It is readily apparent to the Committee that this term continues to be widely misconstrued. \ arious interpretations of ‘not accepted’ have been suggested by observers, the most frequent being either that the Rarities Committee does not believe the record or that the Committee has positively identified the bird concerned as an alternative, commoner species. Both of these interpretations could correcdy be applied to some records, but very rarely. The overwhelmingly commonest reason for non-acceptance is simply that reports contain insuffi- cient detail to prove the identification, hence the avoidance of the more posi- tive term ‘rejected’. The terms ‘proven’ and ‘non-proven’ would be far more appropriate than ‘accepted’ and ‘rejected’, which are publishing-house terms for submitted manuscripts which the Committee has, for better or worse, inherited through common usage. Sometimes, elements are absent from a description owing to a lack of dili- gence and attention to detail on the part of the observer. This can be rectified by a personal resolve to compile a full description in logical sequence when- ever a rare bird is discovered. By definition, this will not be very often. More frequently, a description is incomplete because of factors largely or entirely beyond an observer’s control: brief views, poor light, bad weather, long viewing distance, impeded views owing to the bird’s skulking nature, or any combination of these. Such restrictions on a description should be mentioned in the report. Though the resulting gaps are testimony to an observer’s honesty, their effect may still be sufficient to prevent the acceptance of the record. It is better, however, to leave such gaps, with due explanation, than to gloss over them by deceit. Conversely, and much more rarely, there is an increasing number of claims being submitted by birdwatchers who are quite obviously falsifying or embel- lishing their accounts by means of reference to the literature, from knowledge of the species gained from others, or through personal experience abroad. A few such claims apparently come from observers who, for reasons best known to themselves, engage in intentional fraud. By no means all of these observers are over-keen youngsters anxious to gain kudos. Far more embellished claims, however, are attributable to self-delusion or over-zealousness, afflictions that are not confined to novices or to any one age-group. An extremely rare but dangerous extension of self-delusion is mass hallucination, when a large 567 568 From the Rarities Committee’s files number of observers is swept along on a tide of infectious enthusiasm and agrees, quite incorrecdy, the identification of the bird in question (some may have had doubts, but have hesitated to contradict their peers). For each plumage stage of each species, there are minimum requirements for a written description to be acceptable. Essentially, the documentation must be sufficient to eliminate all alternative species and to satisfy the Committee that the evidence would also convince a reviewing body in the future. An observer s high reputation is obviously an important element in the assessment process, but even the best observers are expected to provide cast-iron written evidence. No record is accepted on an observer’s reputation alone. Without adequate, convincing documentation, a record has to be placed in the annual list of records not accepted. Peter Lansdovvn and Michael J. Rogers 197 Spnngwood, Llanedeym, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF2 6UG Twenty-five years ago... The British Trust for Ornithology has announced that its endeavours to obtain financial backing for the ambitious project of mapping the breeding distributions of British and Irish birds have been rewarded. The Leverhulme Trust Fund has granted to the B.T.O. a total of £\ 1,720 over 572 years; this will pay for a full-time organiser and cover such incidental expenses as stationer/ and travel.’ {Brit. Birds 61: 535, November 1968) Also in November 1968, a Pied-billed Grebe Poditymbus podkeps at Welney, Norfolk, during 9th- 1 2th was only the third British record. The ‘British Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year For the benefit of those who may wish to acquire (or give as a present) just one of the many bird books published each year, British Birds selects annu- ally its choice of the "Best Bird Book of the Year’ from those reviewed in the journal during the previous 12 months. The winner may, in one year, be an important, erudite scientific treatise and, in another, a lighter, less academic work, but it will always be reliable, well produced and thoroughly worthy of inclusion in any birdwatcher’s library. Our choice for BEST BIRD BOOK OF 1993 is: Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 1. Ostrich to ducks. Edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal. Illustrated by Francesc Jutglar and others. Lynx Editions, Barcelona, 1992. £95.00. (Review: Brit. Birds 86: 190-191) Two other books were close contenders and are also strongly recommended by us: Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. By Lars Jonsson. Translated by David Christie. Published by Christopher Helm (Publishers), London, 1992. £25. 00. (Review: Brit. Birds 86: 23-24) Dunnock Behaviour and Social Evolution. By N. B. Davies. Illustrated by David Quinn. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1992. Hardback £35.00, paperback £13.50. (Review: Brit. Birds 86: 128) Handbook of the BIRDS OF THE WORLD Volume 1 Ostrich te Ducks Lynx Editions 569 Prolonged song of Collared Dove At Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, the ‘coo- coo-cuk song of the Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto is normally repeated in a series of up to five or seven phrases. I have noted it widi up to 1 5 phrases. On 8th July 1993, I counted a song of 62 continuous such calls, then a momentary quiet, followed by a resumption of 17 more. R. F. RUTTLEDGE Doom, Newcastle, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Prolonged spells of singing are a feature of the small doves Streptopelia , but that described by Major Rutdedge is especially noteworthy. Eds Aggressive behaviour of Alpine Swifts at nest On 15th May 1990, near Lumbier, northern Spain, I watched Alpine Swifts Apus melba flying noisily into crevices in a rock face some 20 m above me. Two or three often emerged together, usually spilling out and diving a few metres before pulling out into nonnal level flight. On eight or ten occasions within perhaps ten minutes, they appeared together, sometimes three clinging to each other, with one soon separating off, or two side by side, one holding the other’s wing just above the carpal joint with its bill. They flew out from the cliff face in a steep glide, rocking from side to side as one struggled to free itself from the other, or, more spectacularly, two were almost face to face and came down in a flat spin, like a spinning sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus key, until almost at the foot of the cliff. One duo separated only just above the ground, and narrowly missed my head as they pulled out of the final dive. While this happened, they kept up a constant chorus of screaming and chattering calls. BWP (vol. 4) implies that aggression at the nest is rare among Alpine Swifts. R . A. HUME 15 Cedar Gardens, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 1EY Great Spotted Woodpecker killing Robin In May 1990, a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos major was still feeding regularly at a hanging food container in a garden in the New Forest, Hampshire. A Robin Enthacus ruhecula watched for their arrival and then fed on the crumbs they dropped. This continued for some days, until one of the woodpeckers dropped from the feeder and on to the Robin, and with three quick blows from its bill smashc d the Robin s cranium, before resuming feeding. Neither woodpecker touched the coipse thereafter. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are well known to enlarge the entrance holes of nestboxes to reach nestling tits Parus inside, but the killing of an adult Robin in the open seems unusual. Guy Mountfort H Park Manor , St Aldhelm ' s Road, Poole, Dorset BH13 6BS 570 Notes 571 Hedge Accentors’ feeding from suspended nut containers On several dates between December 1989 and March 1990, from the offices of Space Computer Systems Ltd in Solihull, West Midlands, we saw Hedge Accentors Prunella modularis hanging and feeding from a standard red plastic- mesh peanut feeder located about 3 m outside the office window. On each occasion, a single bird was seen to fly up from its normal ground-feeding activity and spend up to 20 seconds at the feeder, before returning to the ground. More than one individual bird was involved, and at least two of the six observed feeding attempts were successful. Steven H. Shaw and Shirley McKenzie 14 Friars Close, Binley Woods, Warwickshire CV3 20W Blackbird hanging upside-down from twigs to feed On 5th May 1 990, in a mixed deciduous wood with a few scattered conifers near Crawcrook, Tyne & Wear, I noticed a male Blackbird Turdus merula fly to a slender branch almost at the top of a tall old sycamore Ace?- pseudoplatanus. He then moved out along the branch and dropped into the small twigs depending from it, from where he hung by his feet in a more or less horizontal position, belly upwards. He appeared to be collecting insects, possibly small cateipillars, from the young leaves. The Blackbird visited this same branch again and once more hung upside-down, apparently with complete confidence. Kathleen I. Barratt 30 Vancouver Drive, Newcastle, upon Tyne NE7 7 SB Blackbirds have been observed feeding from hanging nut-baskets (e.g. Brit. Birds 69: 371), but the behaviour reported above seems most unusual. Eds Cetti’s Warbler flycatching On 27th March 1990, near Highbridge, Somerset, I spent some time watching a Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti. For most of the period it skulked in typical fashion, occasionally singing. For two or three minutes, however, it perched in full view at the top of a bramble Rubus Jruticosus, from where it flew out and chased insects, rather like a Phylloscopus warbler or even a typical flycatcher Muscicapa/ Ficedula. On one sortie, it caught, with no difficulty, an unidentified insect the size of a blowfly Calliphora, before returning to near its original perch. The weather was unseasonably warm, and unusually large numbers of flying insects were present. B. J. Hill 109 Highbridge Road, Bumham-on-Sea, Somerset TA8 1LN D. T. Ireland has commented as follows: ‘I have checked carefully through my copious notes on Cetti’s Warbler behaviour and can find no record of Inn ing noticed this myself, nor am I aware of any published reference to this behaviour. I accept that it is not generally surprising behaviour for a warbler, but I would suggest that for a Cetti’s it really is quite abnormal. My experience is that the birds in southwest England are the most confiding and it is therefore that bit easier to watch their behaviour, but anywhere else, and particularly in the Mediterranean, they are the very devil to see and something like this type of behaviour would stand out like a sore thumb. I therefore think that this observation is extremely interesting and represents quite a departure from what would be expected of this species.’ Eds 572 Notes Exceptional claw-wear of Great Reed Warbler A Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus on Fair Isle, Shetland, during 27th May to 10th June 1988 (. Bnt . Birds 82: 547) spent all its time on a vertical 30-m cliff, and on the beach below, at Maver’s Geo, near the bird observatory, apart from its first day, when it was trapped in the Gully, and during a visit to the same trap on 9th June. The cliff was partially covered with clumps of thrift Armeria maritima and sea campion Silene mantima, amongst which it foraged, working vertically as well as horizontally. Frequently, it crossed barely vegetated rocky' outcrops, though it appeared less at home than the resident Rock Pipits Anthus petrosus. It was clearly finding enough food in this abnormal habitat, because its weight increased from 24.0 g to 28.0 g between 27di May and 9th June (both weights taken at 07.45 GMT). Lack of adaptation to the environment was evident, however, from its claw tips, which were normal and without damage on 27 th May but by 6th June had worn away almost to die toe. Doubt has occasionally been cast on records from the Northern Isles of birds with worn claws or other bare parts or plumage (e.g. a 1986 report of European Scops Owl Otus scops from Papa Westray, Orkney, accepted recendy, Bnt. Birds 86: 496), the assumption being that excessive wear equates with a captive origin. This note acts as a cautionary tale that excessive wear may also be a feature of birds obliged to forage in atypical habitat, and can happen very quickly. NICK RlDDIFORD and PETER POTTS Fair Isle Bird Observatory, Fair Isle, Shetland ^E2 9JU At least three adult Blue Tits feeding young in same nest In 1990, a pair of Blue Tits Parus caemleus raised young in a nestbox about 6 m up on the external stonework frame of a second-floor window of my house in Keighley, West Yorkshire. For the few days before the young flew, I was working daily from 05.00 GMT or earlier at a desk by the window and was able to observe events from 60 cm or so. On 5th-6th June, I noticed that at least three adults were feeding the young. Two had normal plumage and were often seen together; they appeared at the nest more frequendy, and I assumed them to be the true parents. A third adult was thinner and scruffier, with darker (melanistic) plumage, and had matted blackish head feathers (it looked as if it had been contaminated with oil or tar). An adult with a slighdy blackish, ruffled appearance was almost certainly a fourth individual, though I never saw this and the third together so cannot be totally sure. All entered the nestbox and fed the young, and also stood on top of the box; not uncommonly, two adults were inside the box while a third perched on a metal rod above the window, waiting its turn to enter. On 7th June, the young left the nest: at least five flew straight from the entrance hole between 04.50 and 05.10 GMT, and the sixth, after some encouragement, at 05.24; die seventh, however, needed much more coaxing and did not leave the nest until 06.42, after one or two adults had fed it, called to it, entered the box several times and probably chivied it physically (I heard scrabbling noises from inside, and occasionally glimpsed the chick at the hole). Only the two normal-plumaged adults assisted in coaxing the final two nestlings. I never saw any of die Blue Tits again. ALISON CLAYBOURNE 6 Laurel Crescent, Keighley , West Yorkshire BD21 2 HA Letters Red-crested Pochard hybrids The occurrence of hybrids involving Red- crested Pochards Netta rufina may not be so unusual as is suggested by A. H. J. Harrop’s note (Brit. Birds 86: 130). A. P. Gray (1958) recorded hybrids with 1 1 species of the genus Anas, five species of the genus Aythya and one within the genus Netta. A hybrid male Northern Pintail Anas acuta X female Red-crested Pochard apparently produced sterile offspring of both sexes. In 1966, a pin- ioned female Red-crested Pochard at Dungeness, Kent (released by local wild- fowlers), raised a single male after mating with a male Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. A portrait photograph of this bird, by Pamela Harrison, is repro- duced in Dungeness Bird Observatory Report 1966. In 1967, a further two hybrids were reared, but only one, a female, survived. Both hybrids were last recorded in November 1968. As is to be expected, virtually all records of hybrids refer to birds in captivity. Bob SCOTT 8 Woodlands, St Neots, Cambridgeshire PE 19 1UE REFERENCE Gray, A. P. 1958. Bird Hybrids: a check-list with bibliography. Farnham. Tits opening milk bottles In a recent letter, J. C. Rae Vernon referred to a paper by Fisher & Hinde (1949, Brit. Birds 42: 347-357) as showing that the habit of tits Parus of opening milk ‘started in two or a few centres’. Since this paper has often been misquoted in this way, it may be worth pointing out that we then interpreted the evidence as suggesting that new records of the habit more than 15 miles (24 km) from a previous record ‘probably represent new discoveries of the habit by individual birds’. We reported that, by 1947, there were 89 records more than 15 miles from any other places where the habit had been recorded previously. We wrote ‘In England and Wales, then, it seems likely that the habit has arisen de novo on an average of at least once per vice-county, and may have arisen more often than this.’ In a later paper (Hinde & Fisher, Brit. Birds 44: 393-396), we discussed the mechanisms involved in the discovery and spread of the habit and implied that it might have been invented even more often. ROBERT A. HlNDE The Master’s Lodge, St John’s College, Cambridge CB2 1TP ‘Italian’ Sparrows in Corsica Alan Harris’s ‘Mystery photographs’ text and the editorial comment (Brit. Birds 83: 163-164) prompt the following. According to Summers-Smith (1988, The Sparrows ), Corsica, because of its geo- graphical isolation, has probably the only remaining ‘pure’ stock of House Sparrows Passer domesticus of the ‘Italian’ race italiae. When I visited Corsica in 573 574 Letters April 1984, however, I discovered, around the houses of a small village just north ol Vizzavona in the centre of the island, at an altitude of several hun- dred metres, two apparently normal grey-crowned male House Sparrows of the nominate race domesticus. They were associating freely with, and presum- ably interbreeding with, the local ‘Italian’ Sparrows; some female nominate House Sparrows could arguably also have been present. Furthermore, in the following year a male Spanish Sparrow P. hispamolensis was observed at Bonifa- cio, in the south of the island (D. Farrow in Utt). Birdwatchers visiting Corsica, and presumably elsewhere in the central Mediterranean, should therefore bear in mind that, when trying to determine specific characteristics of female ‘Italian' Sparrow, the gene pool may not be so pure as we think. Hence, this may possibly be the reason for die confusion that exists, as highlighted by Alan Harris. Martin S. Garner 15 Lancing Road , Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 8JN The smallest book on ornithology I trust I may be forgiven for re-open- ing correspondence which last appeared in your pages under this heading on 1st May 1928 {Brit. Birds 21: 287). In the first ol three letters {Brit. Birds 18: 258), Hugh S. Gladstone, later Sir Hugh and noted bibliophile ol his day, described a curious little book which he had acquired, entitled A .\atural History of 48 Birds with elegant engravings from drawings by Alfred Mills. No author was named, but it had been printed for Darton, Harvey & Darton, Gracechurch Street, in 1810. The one distinctive feature of this opus minimus, which contained some 96 pages of text and draw- ings, was that it measured only 2.45 X 2.25 inches (6.2 X 5.7 cm). In this and the subsequent letters, Sir Hugh reported on an 1812 edition in its origi- nal red calf cover, an 1816 edition in French, and 1816 editions in English, in pink and in green calf covers. It seems that there were also some differences in layout between some ol' these five copies. I now have the pleasure of reporting that I, too, came into possession of a copy of this diminutive work some years ago. It is an 1812 edition, apparently identical in content to that of Sir Hugh’s, but, strangely, in a black cardboard cover. 1 o my satisfaction, I have now found a safe and permanent home for it in the RSPB library at The Lodge. It will doubtless be dwarfed by more learned tomes, but I cannot resist drawing attention to the entry entitled ‘The Dodo’, which is set in the present tense. Perhaps the unknown author knew something which nobody else did. MICHAEL J. ROGERS 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, St Ives, Cornwall. TR263AZ Reviews The Common Tern. By Rob Hume. Hamlyn, London, 1993. 127 pages; 20 colour plates; 4 colour illustrations; 27 line-drawings. ISBN 0-540-01266-1. Paperback £9.99. This second title in a series designed to be ‘scientifically accurate but not overburdened with scientific jargon successfully achieves that aim. To know' terns is to love them for their grace, romantic journeys and survival against the poor odds we make for them — including reluctance to control their increasingly significant predator, the pretty little fox Vulpes wipes. While it might have said more on the birds’ protection, here indeed is a book by a man who loves terns very dearly, and it shows. Rob Hume has constructed a reader-friendly treatise from an ocean of literature, using much from kindred spirits George and Anne Marples, w'ho gave us Sea Terns or Sea Swallows back in 1934, and from his own observations. The line-drawings and colour illustrations facilitate separation from the look-alike Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea and Roseate Tern S. dougallii but are a bit arty: on pages 43 and 45, for example, there are unhelpful differences in the vital wing pattern of the Common Tern S. hirundo. The photographs are excellent. Where 1 8 pages are devoted to points of identification, a summary a la Svensson would have been welcome, and a map of the Common Tern’s breeding range around the whole of the northern hemisphere w'ould have widened appreciation of this species. It was a small mistake to say that none bred at Dungeness in 1956-58. This is a book to be enjoyed. H. E. Ax EI.L The Birds of Buckinghamshire. Edited by Peter Lack and David Ferguson. Illustrations by Kim Atkinson, Philip Burton, Jane Cross, Crispin Fisher & David Mead. Buckinghamshire Bird Club, Burnham, 1993. 350 pages; ten black-and-white plates; 42 line-drawings; 98 distribution maps; numerous histograms. ISBN 0-907823-12-2. £1 1.95. The long tradition of county avifaunas has served British ornithology well, and this is a most welcome addition. There are short chapters on the ornithological history of Buckinghamshire (which is meagre) and the topography and habitats of the county, which set the scene, but as always most space is given over to the systematic list, which runs to 264 pages. Design is spacious, with the outside one-third of each page blank, or containing the appropriate tetrad breeding-atlas map or histograms of seasonal distribution or annual totals. There are occa- sional decorative line-drawings. The integration of the breeding-distribution maps with the text is especially useful, and estimates of the total breeding population (made by David Ferguson) appear for every breeding species. The maps cover the years 1980-85 (with some limited gap-filling during 1986) and the decision was wisely taken not to incorporate information gathered (regrettably using a different methodology, giving incompatible results) during 1988-91 for The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Unlike the accounts of most such surveys, the summary statistics for the maps are given as a separate table, rather than individually with each map, a system for which there are some advantages. Buckinghamshire’s most widespread species is the Blackbird Turdus merula, found in 88% of tetrads. Another table of losses and gains during the twentieth century shows that nine breeding species have disappeared from the county (all since 1947, the most recent being Whinchat Saxicola rubetra in 1983, Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus in 1984 and 575 576 Rei’iews Wryneck Jynx torquilla in 1985). On the other hand, 14 have been gained, the most recent being Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamauensis in 1980 and Gadwall Anas strepera in 1985. A collection of county avifaunas forms an excellent basis for an ornithological reference library, and birdwatchers not only from Buckinghamshire itself, but also from all its neighbouring coun- ties, will find a great deal of interest here. How will the Buckinghamshire estimates of 1 ,000 pairs of Eurasian Jays Garrulus glandarius or 15,000 pairs of Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella, for instance, compare with those from my own county of Bedfordshire? Peter Lack and David Fergu- son (and the whole team responsible for the surveys and the book) have provided much interesting reading for the present, and an invaluable source of reference for the future. J. T. R. SHARROCK Les Pies-Grieches d’Europe, d’Afrique du Nord et du Moyen- Orient. By Norbert Lefranc. Delachaux et Niestle, Lausanne, 1993. 240 pages; 23 colour plates; 9 colour illustrations; 12 line-drawings. ISBN 2-603- 00852-8. FF 195. Published in association with the WWF, this volume is part of a project to focus attention on the diminishing populations of shrikes (Laniidae) in central Europe. It deals with 1 1 species found in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East: nine typical shrikes of die genus Lanius, plus Black- crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala and Rosy-patched Bushshrike Rhodophoneus crumtus. A general introduction to the shrike family outlines classification, subfamilies and general characteristics. Monographs on the 1 1 species follow, each accompanied by a distribution map (showing breeding and wintering areas, and principal migration routes) and a full-page colour plate. The latter depict adult male, adult female and juvenile plumages, but not first-winter (an unfortunate omission, at least in the case of Isabelline Shrike L. isabellinus, where the differences from Red-backed Shrike L. collurio of similar age are thus left unelucidated). The texts cover range and systematics, identification, subspecies, biometrics, moult, breeding biology and migration, and are completed with a comprehensive bibliography. The final section includes a thought-provoking discussion of factors — both natural and man- made affecting the surviv al of shrikes, including meteorological changes, habitat destruction, and intensive hunting in certain parts of southern Europe. Policies for conservation are outlined, with recommendations for areas to be designated, where suitable habitat is maintained and the use of chemicals eliminated. A welcome addition to the relatively limited literature on shrikes: it is to be hoped that both this volume and E. N. Panow' s Die 1 1 iirger der Palaarktis ( 1 983) will one day appear in English editions- A. R. Dean Manual of Ornithology: avian structure & function. By Noble S. Proctor & Patrick J. Lynch. Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 1993. xi + 340 pages; 4 black-and-white photographs and more than 200 drawings. ISBN 0-300-5746-6. £30. The Manual of Ornithology should not be confused with other volumes bearing similar titles. This is not a general introduction to ornithology: it is an illustrated guide to bird anatomy aimed at undergraduates of North American universities. The dust jacket reveals that it is also meant for ‘bird lovers in general’, but the publishers are being optimistic. The core of the book comprises chapters on systematics, bird topography, feathers, the skeleton, musculature, the digestive system, the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the urinogenital and endocrine systems and the nervous system. Each is illustrated with a number of large (and sometimes rather odd) drawings accompanied by a text, dissection instructions and a worksheet of questions. Those wishing to learn more about bird structure and function will find much to interest them, w'ritten in an accessible form. The last chapter on field techniques seems strangely out of place, with sections including where to look for birds on migration, choosing binoculars, telescopes and tripods, and keeping field notes. Universities with courses in ornithology will need this volume, but I am not sure who else will buy it. Appropriately, it comes in a dust-jacket from which bloodstains may easily be wiped. Alan Knox Seasonal reports Winter 1992/93 Keith Allsopp and Barry Nightingale Some unchecked reports are included, as well as authenticated records Mild, unsettled, westerly weather predominated from the beginning of November until 18th December, with high pressure to the south and low to the north. Short incursions of colder Arctic air arrived from the northwest when the centre of pressure moved northwards in mid Atlantic occasionally. There were no notable arrivals of normal wintering or irruptive species. On 19th December high-pressure systems on the Continent joined with the Azores high, directing the depressions to the north, but allowing cold, dry air to come in from the east, overnight frosts icing over some inland waters. There was some displacement westwards of wildfowl and wintering Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus and European Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria. By 4th January, the centre of pressure moved south and the weather turned westerly with a vengeance. A series of depressions tracking eastwards to the north of Scodand brought mild, wet, westerly air to the south, and severe gales in northern Scodand. The first, on 5th, drove the oil-tanker Braer ashore on to the rocks at Sumburgh (Shedand) to spill all of its cargo. Most of the local wintering Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis and sea-ducks were heavily oiled and perished on the shore. Further gales pounding the islands until 26th served effectively to disperse the surface oil, eliminating that immediate danger. The depression on 10th, setting a record low for the North Atlantic of 916 mbars, was one of several in January to bring very high northerly winds from polar regions on their western flanks. Perhaps in consequence, there was an unprecedented number of Ross’s Gulls Rhodostethia rosea reported, from 17th until the end of March. Up to three were seen at Kinnaird Head, Fraserburgh (Grampian) (plates 218 & 219), with further Scottish records from Inverness (Highland) and Stornoway (Western Isles). There were two sightings at Flamborough Head (Humberside) and others at North Shields and Whitburn (Tyne & Wear) in northeast England, and further singles in the Southwest, at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) and Portishead (Avon). The rough seas also disrupted the wintering patterns of Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, with weakened individuals appearing inland; an unusual movement on 25th, following two days of westerly gales, involved 1,000 moving through London [Brit. Birds 86: 577-582, November 1993] 577 578 Winter 1992/93 reservoirs, and seawatchers on the Lincolnshire coast logged 1 ,800 moving northwards. High pressure building from the south at the end of January' brought quieter conditions which continued into February7, the anticyclone moving northwards to cover much of western Europe with extensive areas of persistent fog, freezing lor some periods. A small proportion of the wintering geese on the Continent began arriving on the East Coast from Suffolk north to Cleveland from 13th. Some 2,000 were involved, mosdy in flocks under 100 strong, with White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons predominant: 560 collected at Breydon Water (Norfolk) by 18th and 650 were estimated in Lincolnshire, while smaller groups wandered across the Midlands to the West. Accompanying Bean A. fabalis and Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis were mainly in groups of under ten. From 15th, pressure declined to the east and, with the centre now to the west, cold northwesterly air arrived, becoming very cold by the end of the month as winds turned more northerly and then easterly in early March. From 5th until the end of March, the air came from a more westerly or southerly origin, temperatures increased but, with high pressure close, the weather remained largely setded in die South and East, but the West and North experienced periods of wet and windy weather. Divers, grebes and wildfowl Notable concentrations of Red-throated Divers Gama stellata were reported in the Thames Estuary, with 218 counted at T ilbury (Essex) on 20th December and 440 off Dungeness (Kent) on 29th. In spite of the gales, only a few divers were seen inland, most being Great Northern Divers G. irnrner in January, with up to seven individuals. A White-billed Diver G. adamsii wintered in Shetland and one other was seen in Filey Bay (North Yorkshire) in March. It was an unexceptional winter for grebe reports, apart from a Pied-billed Grebe Podxlymbus podiceps which stayed at Argal Reservoir (Cornwall) throughout and another in Northumberland in late December and into January. Out-of- season seabird sightings were of Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectm diomedea , with two off Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) on 7th November and one at Filey Brigg on 13th January, and several Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus over the same monthly span. From late January into February, there w'as an invasion of Shags inland, probably displaced by the January gales. On 3rd February, 56 together in Nottinghamshire and 24 in the West Midlands were the largest concentrations, thereafter dispersing elsewhere. The increasing trend for Great Bitterns Botaurus stellaris to winter in areas not suitable for breeding RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS A COMPLETELY NEW EXPERIENCE Dr. Algirdas Knystautas and his team of experts invite you to join them on one of their exciting programme of escorted bird watching holidays to some of the most spectacular destinations on earth. Participants can look forward to superlative birding with many Palearctic rarities amongst the attractions. APRIL-MAY 1 994 TOURS MAY-SEPTEMBER Ringing in Tien Shan Mountains — April 20 - May 3 Boreal Forest of Russia — April. 21-28 Great Caucasas — May 5-14 Volga Delta — May 11-20 South Ukraine — May 14-24 Birds & Flowers of Central Asia — May 15-28 Ussuriland & Amur Delta — May 19-June 8 Kazakhstan & Altai — May 20-June 9 The Baltic States — May 30-June 12 Taimyr & Central Siberia — June 20-July 10 Tien Shan Mountains — July 15-28 Ringing in Lithuania — August 27-September 17 Ringing in Tien Shan Mountains — September 7-22 For further details and copy of 1994 brochure please apply to: RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS 57 Fore Street, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 IPG Tel: 0548 656437 Fax: 0548 857537 (D308) W ABTA 62948 Best Days British Birds ^ Their most exciting birdwatching experiences, described by David Fisher David Glue Steve Madge Bill Oddie Robin Edited by Malcolm Ogiline & Stuart Winter Published by British Birds I.td, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk+4 :t\j Available from all good bookshops £14.95 hardback ISBN 0 9508471 4 .5 Prytherch & many others (D292) Alternative venues to Morden, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below Every effort is made to take our full range of equipment and payment can be made in all the usual ways Repairs can also be handed in * 10.00 am to 4.00 pm* ★ PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sunday 31st October, 28th November and 19th December. * SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sunday 7th November and 5th December. ★ BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 junction (with access from the B2042 or B2027; the information centre is to the north of the reservoir) on Sunday 14th November and 12th December. * BURTON MILL POND, 2 miles south of Petworth, W Sussex (SU 979 181), off the A285 Sunday 21st November. * COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE near Tring, Herts, on the B488 (off the A41) close to Bulbourne Saturday 23rd October and 20th November. * SLIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) Village Hall (on the left, halfway along village road into the W&WT) Saturday 11th December. ★ DURLSTON COUNTRY PARK off the A351 near Swanage. Dorset In the visitor centre on Sunday 14th November. A NEW FACILITY selling a selection of our binoculars has been opened here (0929 424443) ★ THE KENT TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION in the Tyland Barn, near Sandlmg, Maidstone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, going south), on Sunday 21st November, 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. * HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR off the A130 north of Basildon, Essex, on Sunday 24th October (near fishing lodge) A STODMARSH NNR (TR 220.610). In Information Hut in car park. Take minor road to Grove and Stodmarsh off the A28 Canterbury/Margate road Sunday 28th November. UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical6 962 SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc HOURS: Monday-Saturday 9 am to 5pm (Lunch 1 -2pm| • VIEWING FACILITIES • Location Southern edge of Greater London. 15 minutes' drive trom M25 (via the A3, then the Mer- ton turn-off) or 2 minutes’ walk from Morden Underground. • Parking 50 yards past our premises — 1st left. • Long-established workshop Optical instru- ment experience unrivalled • Mail Order • Personal Exports including VAT claw-back Interest-tree shorl-term credit (3 payments) P/x arranged Used items Package deals Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought. E.&O.E. Phone: 081-648 8822 Fax: 081-687 2021 KAY OPTICAL (1962), 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5HP (1st Floor) 163 165 10 x 42 Dioptron 175 10 x 50 Dioptron 183 194 198 209 217 196 8 x 42 (HRII) ... 10 x 42 (HRII) 10x50 (HRII) . 7x42 (HRII) ... ZEISS £ Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA 259 OPTICRON 10 x 25 BP Dialyt 339 Spotting scope 20-45xGA 329 8 x 32 Dioptron 10 x 25 B/TP (New DS) .359 8 x 42 Dioptron 8 x 20 B/TP (New DS) . 349 KOWA 8 x 30 BGA/T (P) 699 TSN-1 (45°) body 349 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) 769 TSN-2 body 349 8x 32 (HRII). 10 x 40 BGA/T (P) 769 TSN-3 (F) Prominar body . 15x60 BGA/T 1,499 64g TSN-4 (F) Prominar body BAUSCH & LOMB 64g r x 36 Elite (599)636 25x or 40x eyepiece 80 A< 8 X 42 Elite (649)699 20x (WA) eyepiece 119 LlOx 42 Elite. ...(649)699 30x (WA) eyepiece 149 15-45x BGA Elite Scope .395 20-60x zoom eyepiece .... 179 77mm Elite body 412 60x eyepiece 125 77mm Elite (ED) body 20x (WA) Eyepiece ’4® Cam adaptor 1200mm .230 HR 60mm scopes 20 60x Zoom eyepiece 218 Kowa case 29 Std w/22x ( WA) & case 260 800mm Camera Adaptor 1 75 Skua case 40 g,d w/z00m & case 285 800mm RA mirror lens kit 299 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece GA w/22x (WA) &case 290 SWAROVSKI 74 GA & case 320 NEW 60mm Scopes 45° w/22x (WA) & case ... 285 7 x 30 SLC (BM) 430 TS-611 body (45°) .316 45° w/zoom & case 325 8 x 30 SLC (WB) 449 Ts.612 body 296 HR black rubber armoured 10x42 SLC (new) 659 JS-613 ED Prominar ED body (299)510 7 x 42 SK (new) 599 Body (45oj g56 3qx (WA) eyepiece 53 7 x 35 Elite 195 9x35 Elite 230 7 x 40 Minerva . 220 9 x 35 Minerva 217 8 x 40 Minerva 221 10x40 Minerva 229 1K. 77x eyepiece 138 7 x 24, 8 x 24 or 10 x 24 MCF 1M Cam adaptor 800mm 150 107 LEICA 8 x 20 BC Trinovid .219 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 269 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 269 10 x 25 BCA Trinovid 298 {8 x 32 BA Trinovid 649 7 x 42 BA Trinovid 698 8 x 42 BA Trinovid 718 10 x 42 BA Trinovid 738 TS-614 ED Prominar Body 20-60x zoom eyepiece 596 HR Photokit 20x (WA) eyepiece 27x (WA) eyepiece .74 109 Filter Rubber hood .105 .72 .10 ...7 20-60x zoom eyepiece . 127 DISCOVERY Also, TSN eyepieces fit the 8 x 42 or 10 x 42 RP, 611/614 series. Cases ^ included .125 BUSHNELL ROSS 8 x 42 Cavendish 140 10 x 42 Hanover 150 SWIFT 8y2 x 44 HR Audubon 10 x 50 Audubon .279 299 Spacemaster (black rubber 8 x Regent 170 armoured) c/w zoom eyepiece 10 x 42 Kensington 180 and case 270 ADLERBLICK NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof 189 10 x 25 waterproof 199 8 x 20 F roof prism 150 10 x 25 F roof prism 165 8 x 30 ECF porro WF 269 10 x 35 ECF porro WF 279 22x (WA) EP 46 25x or 40x EP 36 Photokit 62 NATUREVIEW 8x42 bmos 109 10 x 42 rubber or leather coated, multi-coated 169 DISCOVERY 8 x 42 or 10 x 42 roof prism, rubber armoured 125 ‘BUDGET BINOS Russian 8 x 30 45 Fixed-focus 8 x 35 (with close- VIEWMASTER Fieldscope „ body .329 £ K 67 25TK2 H 6? body 329 OPTOLYTH 258 8x40 Alpin 279 10x40 Alpin 283 10x50 Alpin 315 Angled EDNA body 589 15x, 20x, 30xor40xEP 89 8x30 AIP'n 30x (WA) eyepiece (new) 169 60x eyepiece 109 20-45x Zoom eyepiece 169 Camera adaptor 189 12x50 Alpm 320 Mod for other cameras 18 7x42 Alpin . Vega 10 x 50 69 Falcon 7-21 x 40 zoom 79 * Monoculars and Opera Glasses available. TRIPODS etc Cullman "Birding/1" (New) 90 Slik D3 105 295 Manfrotto 144B/200 115 Quality filter 13 TBG 80 telescope body 475 Manfrotto 290B/200 105 Rubber hood 8 TBB 80 (48 (body 475 Universal clamp 28 Stay-on-case 40 TBG7TBB 80 Fluorite 725 Car window mount 30 30x (WW) new eyepiece ... 1 57 Shoulder pod 35 20x (WW) eyepiece 138 Cullmann hide clamp 60 30x or 40x eyepiece 87 Tripod case 15 70x (WW) eyepiece 189 Tripod straps, from 7 22-60x zoom eyepiece 179 T-mounts. from 10 Nylon case 30 Lens cleaning kit 4 Stay-on case for TB5/TB9 45 Leather eyepiece pouch 7 with FREE 2 year accident cover We can modify your ear- lier model Nikon tele- scopes to take the zoom eyepiece and the new 30x (WA) eyepiece. Below, male Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris , showing brown neck-ring unusually well, Strumpshaw, Norfolk. March 1993 ( Robin Chittenden ) 580 Winter 1992/93 221. Second-winter Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, Littlehampton, West Sussex, December 1992 (Ian Carter) 222. Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Breydon Water, Norfolk, December 1992 (N. Clayton ) Winter 1992/93 581 continues: 12 were reported in January and live in February and March. Little Egrets Egrelta garzetta (plate 222) wintering in the Southwest continued, with increased numbers over last year’s: about 40 in November, 55 in December, and about 70 in January, decreasing to 60, with more dispersal to Wales and Ireland, throughout the winter. Successful wintering leading to successful breeding may explain this increase. In contrast, Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia were present in numbers only during February, with 12 reported during the foggy period on the Continent. Numbers ol Tundra Swans Cygnus columbianus reached 5,000 on the Ouse Washes (Cambridgeshire/Norfolk), 764 at Martin Mere (Lancashire) and 340 at Slimbridge (Gloucestershire), all in February, much the same as last year with few' young among them. Welney (Norfolk) again attracted most Whooper Swans C. cygnus, with 856 on 28th February, the Martin Mere flock peaking at 604 also in February. Only 2,500 White- fronted Geese arrived at Slimbridge by February, well down on 1991/92. The flock on Islay (Strathclyde) of the Greenland race flavirostris w'as estimated at 10,500 in December. The only report of a wild Lesser White-fronted Goose A. nythropus was of a marked bird at Slimbridge from the reintroduction programme in Scandinavia. The Red-breasted Goose Branla ruficollis returned with the 11,000 Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway) and remained until March, and another arrived in Essex in January. Up to seven American Wigeons Anas americana, seven Common Teals A. crecca of the race carolinensis, and nine Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris (plate 220) were reported in each month, similar numbers to last year and probably mostly the same individuals. Up to four Ferruginous Ducks Aythya nyroca were found, and three King Eiders Somateria spectabilis. Twelve Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata was the total estimated in the scoter flocks off Scottish and Welsh coasts in February. Smews Mergus albellus were found inland in quite good numbers: the 30 before Christmas increased to over 70 after, mainly concentrated in southeast England, but with individuals well scattered northwards to Scotland. Birds of prey Two or three introduced Red Kites Milvus milvus were reported in most of the winter months awray from known concentrations. Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus, as in recent years, were sparsely distributed in eastern coastal areas, with up to seven being seen in any one month. A Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus was a regular on Tory Island (Co. Donegal). Waders, gulls and terns I wo or three Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus wintered, and a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa jlavipes stayed in Co. Cork and a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularm in Somerset. The last two vagrant Nearctic species often survive the winter, but their response to the spring migration may well lead to a very difficult attempt to return to their breeding grounds. The rough seas forced five Grey Phalaropes Phalaropus julkam.es inshore during January, but clearly few attempt to winter at these latitudes. Pomarine Skuas Stercormus pomannus were still present in small numbers offshore during the winter, nine being seen in stormy January. Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus (plate 221) neared 200, also in January, and Nearctic gull reports included one Laughing Gull L. atrkdla 1 three Bonaparte’s Gulls L. Philadelphia and Ring-billed Gulls L. delawarensis, whose numbers peaked at about 90 in February, as last winter. The 190 Iceland Gulls L. glaucoides and 95 Glaucous Gulls L. hyperboreus found in February were obvious displacements from the north, the first species’ records including individuals showing the characteristics of die Canadian subspecies kumlieni. An Ivory Gull Pagophila ebumea found dead in the Channel Islands on 3rd January preceded the storms. A Briinnich’s Guillemot Uria lornvia was an exciung find at Musselburgh (Lothian) on 27th March. Tw'o or three Black Guillemots Cepphus grylle ventured south in December, but surprisingly few Little Auks Aik aUe w'ere blown inshore: mainly singles, the largest number being 101 off Anstrudier (Fife) on 24th January. 582 Winter 1992/93 Near-passerines and passerines Migrant Wood Larks Lullula arborea were reported in November, four in Essex and one in Worcestershire, and a flock of 30 in Cornwall in January; March migrants included three in Kent and one in Cumbria. Homed Larks Eremophila alpestris were found along the East Coast from Northumberland to Suffolk: the total of 75 in November was significantly higher than last winter’s influx, and most of the subsequent total of 50 were at Titchwell (Norfolk), where 32 were regular. Water Pipits Anthus spinoletta wintered in good numbers again, with 20 collecting on Cley Marshes (Norfolk) in February. Only a few Bohemian Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus arrived this winter: 15 in March was the maximum monthly count. Late-staying autumn migrants included a Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus on 26th December, a Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria in Essex on 4th-6th December (killed by a cat and a Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus in Cornwall on 14th December. T wo or three Yellow- browed Warblers P. inornatus survived through the winter, and there was some dispersal of resident Dartford Warblers S. undata, with four being found in non-breeding areas. Wintering Firecrests Regulus ignicapillm in the Channel Islands were estimated at between 50 and 100, in contrast to 26 for England, which increased in March to 60 as spring movements began. Great Grey Shrikes Lanius excubitor stayed on about 14 winter territories, and there were good concentrations of Bramblings Fringilla montijringilla, with flocks of 200 and 800 in northwest England in November and December and 1,000 in Cornwall in January. Lapland Longspurs Cakarius lapponicus were scarce this winter, with a few East Coast flocks ol 20. A White-throated Sparrow Pjmotnchia albkollis was a surviving winter rarity in Lincolnshire, from 5th December into M arch. I wo Little Buntings Ernbmza pusilla wintered in England, continuing a pattern, one in Oxfordshire and another at Beddington Sewage-farm (Greater London). The latter locality also held a Rustic Bunting E. rustka, from 9th February to 13th March, and another appeared at Maidstone (Kent) in late March. Acknowledgments This summary was compiled from contributions from: M. Drydcn, 1. Kinley, P. E. Lynch, E. R. Meek P Murphy, M. Wallen; and published information including that in the newsletters of the Bristol Ornithological Club, Buckinghamshire Bird Club, Derbyshire Ornithological Society, Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society, Fife Bird Club, Hampshire Ornithological Society, Hertfordshire Bird Club, La Socicte Gucmcsiaisc, Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society, Leigh Ornithological Society, London Natural History Society, Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers, Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, Shetland Bird Club, Shropshire Ornithological Society, Societe Jersiaise, South East Scotland Bird Bulletin, Surrey Bird Club Sussex Ornithological Society, West Midland Bird Club, Fair Isle Bird Observatory and Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory. We are especially grateful to Rare Bird News, which supplied copies of all the records reported to its phone service, and to Birding South West. Keith Alhopp and Barry Nightingale , 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS Announcements The ‘BB’ Award for the Best Annual Bird Report Entries are invited for the third annual award (see account of the first and second awards, Brit. Birds 85: 299-308; 86: 163-165), which is open to all those clubs and societies in Britain and Ireland which publish an annual bird report. The aim of the Award is to provide public acknowledgment of the high quality of publications which may generally be seen only locally, and to encourage and promote high standards in all regional bird reports. We hope that every local bird club and society in Britain and Ireland will submit a copy of its annual report for consideration by the judges. The senior editor of the winning report will receive an inscribed book of his choice as a permanent personal memento of the aw'ard, and the club or society publishing the winning report will be authorised to use the logo of the Aw'ard on their reports and in their advertising and promotion. Entries (which need consist only of a copy of the club or society’s 1992 report and a covering note stating the number of members, the price of the report and from w'hom it can be obtained) should be submitted at once if available (the closing date for entries is 15th December 1993) to Bird Report Award, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Tee-shirts and sweat-shirts Exclusively designed for British Birds readers, in a natural bottle- green. Tee-shirts available in four sizes (M, L, XL and XXL), and sweat-shirts in the three larger sizes. Tee-shirts feature the Red Grouse logo and the words ‘I’m a British birder’; sweat-shirts feature the Mike Everett drawing of a birdwatcher sitting under a small tree {Brit. Birds 84: 27) and the words ‘British Birds’. Prices (including VAT) are £7.50 for tee-shirts and £13.30 for sweat-shirts (not available in M size), plus f 1.50 for p&p per order. Please make cheques payable to ‘British Birds’ and send orders to Mrs Ali Gathercole, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK.44 3NJ, or phone credit-card orders to her during office hours on Biggleswade (0767) 40467. (Credit-card orders can also be made outside office hours on the answ'erphone: please quote name, address, numbers of each product, sizes required, card number and expiry date.) ‘BB’ ties Available exclusively to BB subscribers, these distinctive ties in blue, green, brown or maroon feature our Red Grouse logo in w'hite. Price £6.95 (inch VAT) post free. Please order from Ali Gathercole, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, quoting quantity of each colour and your BB reference number. Books in British BirdShop The following books have been added this month: Clark & Eyre Birds of Hampshire (Hampshire OS) Davies Dunnock Behcwiour and Social Evolution (OUP) Sibley & Monroe A World Checklist of Birds (Y ale UP) Please use the form on pages ix & x for all your book orders. January issue Please remember that the January' issue of BB is always posted in mid January rather than in late December. A few' panic-stricken subscribers phone us early each January about non-receipt of the first issue of the year. If your address label was red, you will have received a renewal reminder with this issue; it would help the efficient distribution of next year’s BB if you returned the fonn to us as soon as possible. Thank you. 583 Mystery photographs mThe fairly long neck, pot belly, short and slightly decun ed bill, and scaly upperparts readily suggest that our mystery bird (plate 217 on page 566) is a Calidris wader, or perhaps a Ruff Phllomachus pugnax. Discerning the size of a lone wader in the field, let alone from a photograph, is more than often fraught with difficulties. 1 he methodical observer would do well to try to age the bird. We have no idea when the photograph was taken (although the amount of abrasion visible on the tertials and the greater coverts would not suggest a ‘fresh juvenile) and must therefore concentrate on plumage characters to narrow the options. Very few Calidris waders of any age show the amount of underparts streaking, particularly on the belly, flanks and \ent, exhibited by our bird (and this eliminates Ruff). Even fewer show a pale, but clearly defined, basal area to the bill, thus eliminating Great Knot C. tenuirostns. In the Western Palearctic, on these two features alone, we can narrow the field to just four possibilities: Shaip-tailed Sandpiper C. acuminata , I ectoral Sandpiper C. melanotos, Long-toed Stint C. subminuta and Purple Sand- piper C. maritima. The last of these can immediately be eliminated, since our biid exhibits a comparatively short bill and also has prominent streaking around both the nape and the ear-coverts (Purple Sandpiper would appear dark, and unmarked in these two regions). Our bird has a prominent supercilium which is at its broadest behind the eye, whereas that of a Pectoral would be more prominent in front, and the crown pattern seems to be clearly demarcated from the nape, giving the bird a capped appearance, lacking the uniformity of crown and nape associated with Pectoral. Furthermore, the pale eye-ring is very obvious and, although not a feature generally associated with Long-toed Stint, it is evident on many Pectorals, though rarely reaching the prominence of that shown by Shaip- tailed. \\ ith the pendulum now swinging in favour of Sharp-tailed, the under- parts pattern becomes the sole clinching factor. At all ages, Pectoral Sandpiper exhibits a vertically streaked breast that forms a downward point at the lower edge, contrasting with an essentially white belly and vent. A similar, but perhaps less striking pattern is shown by Long-toed Stint, but our bird shows breast streaking (with no hint of a lower-edge demarcation) that continues into bold, ventrally pointing chevrons extending onto the belly, flanks and vent. This underparts pattern is diagnostic of and, indeed, unique to Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in summer plumage. This individual, photographed by Yasuo Ueki in Japan in 1984, has not yet attained full summer plumage; the fairly abraded tertials and greater (except the penultimate inner pair), median and lesser coverts are retained greyish winter feathers, while the scapulars are the immaculate dark-centred and pale-fringed feathers of nuptial dress, although several are missing from the upper row. Hugh R Harr o i> Fairview , Scatness, Virkie , Shetland ~E3 9JW 584 News and comment compiled by Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch Forests and the future NQT ALL I HAT LONG AGO, criticism of the Forestry Commission was almost a daily event. The design and, very often, the location of commercial plantations seemed to work against the best interests of birds and other wildlife, and various aspects of forest management appeared to make the general situation even worse. This has changed dramatically, and nowadays our state foresters can rightly claim to have achieved an enormous amount for wildlife conservation, in all its forms. In August 1993 alone, we received Press Releases from the Department of Forestry concerning the Government’s go-ahead for ‘Community Forests’ (for recreation and conservation) east of London, in south Staffordshire and in Tyne & Wear; another described wedand restoration in the new Delamere Forest Park in Cheshire. All this positive action, though, is taking place against a background of a possible new threat of very large proportions: the privatisation of our state forestry system, currently under consideration by government. How you regard the principle of privatisation depends, to a large extent, on your politics, but the effect of privatisation on our state-owned and state-managed forests is another matter altogether. Conservation bodies such as the RSPB are rightly asking some very pointed questions. What guarantees are there that the private sector will be able (or even willing) to continue the excellent conservation work currently undertaken by the FC? Will vital wildlife areas be sacrificed for commercial gain? Will the likely amount of subsidisation needed to maintain the status quo make a nonsense of any savings to the nation achieved by selling off the FC? And what about the promised national strategy for our forests? Birdwatchers will not be the only ones worried about future access arrangements to large areas of forest. There are lots of worrying questions here, but not many answers so far. It seems to us that there are very large clouds massing on the horizon . . . 585 586 News and comment Additions and changes to the British and Irish List I lie latest report from the BOU Records Committee has just been published (Ibis 135: 493-499). One species is added to Category A: Northern Mockingbird Alimus polyglottos Two records: Saltash, Cornwall, 30th August 1982, and Hamford Water, Essex, 17th-23rd May 1988. In both cases, the BOURC considered that there was a high likelihood of assisted passage across the Atlantic on board ship. (Two other records were accepted, but one at Worms Head, West Glamorgan, during 24th July to 11th August 1978 occurred when the likelihood of escape from captivity was high, so it was placed in Category D 1 , and one at Blakeney Point, Norfolk, during 20th- 28th August 1971 was considered to be a probable escape, so was not admitted to anv category.) One species is transferred from Category A to Category' D: Baikal Teal Anas formosa Ten British records were assessed, identification accepted for five, but regarded as unproven or not acceptable for the other five: Essex 1906 and Norfolk * 1929 accepted but high likelihood of escape, so ' not admitted to any category; Grampian 1958, Dorset 1969 and Dumfries & Galloway 1973 accepted for Category Dl. An Irish specimen from Co. Fermanagh, originally thought to be a first-year, proved on re-examination to be an adult and is not accepted on the main Irish list (Irish Birds 3: 335). One species is removed from the British and Irish list: Black Wheatear Oenanlhe Imcura After review, none of the four British records (Fair Isle 1912, Cheshire 1943, Fair Isle 1953 and Kent 1954) was considered to be acceptable. Five species are added to Category D: Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus Added to Category D4, as the feral population in Britain totals over 80, is expected to increase and should be monitored. Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Added to Category D4, as the feral population in Cambridgeshire has reached about 130 individuals and should be monitored. Falcated Duck Anas falcata Added to Category Dl. Eight records during 1975-88 were accepted (three may relate to one individual); natural origin is possible but unlikely, whereas the species is common in captivity. Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angus tiros tris Added to Category Dl. Two records accepted (Staffordshire 1973 and Avon/Somerset 1984- 85). This is ^)ne of the commoner ducks in captivity here, but a natural origin is also possible. Chukar Partridge Alectoris c/iukar Added to Category D4, to encourage monitoring of the current large feral population (of pure Chukar and Chukar X Red-legged Partridge A. rufa hybrids), which is, however, expected to become extinct within a few years. After review, one species is retained in Category-' A: White-winged Lark Melanocorypha leucoplera Three records are no longer considered acceptable (Sussex 1917 and 1933, Hertfordshire 1955), but two are still regarded as satisfactory: Sussex 22nd November 1869 and King’s Lynn, Norfolk, 22nd-24th October 1981. Two subspecies are added to Category' A: Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jlava Only two records of the black-headed race feldegg are accepted: Fair Isle, Shetland, male, 7th-9th Mav 1970, and Skateraw, Lothian, 28th April 1984. Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata A record of a male of the race variegata from the Caucasus is accepted: Porthgwarra, Cornwall, lst-4th October 1985. Deletions include the nominate race of the Merlin Fako columbarius, the race delicata of the Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and the nominate race of the Horned Lark Ermophila alpestns (see also ‘Richard Meinertzhagen a case of fraud examined’ by .Man G. Knox, Ibis 135: 320-325). Species considered but not admitted for any category', despite identification being accepted, include White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala. seen in several counties 1978-80 (common in captivity, rare in the wild in Western Europe), Grey-headed Gull Lams cirrocephalus, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, February 1991 (high escape likelihood, low likelihood of natural vagrancy, especially in February), and Pallas’s Rosefinch Carpodacus roseus. on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, June-July 1988 (high escape likelihood, low likelihood of natural occurrence of this individual, which ‘showed anomalous plumage conditions’). After these changes, the British and Irish List stands at a total of 550 species (522 in A, 19 in B and 9 in C), with an additional 20 species in the limbo of Category D, which is not part of the I jst. News and comment 587 Escapes in Finland I he Finnish Rarities Committee has been tackling the ticklish matter of escapes from captivity [Lintumies 6: 194-199; 240-247), just as this problem has been addressed here by the BBRC and, especially, the BOU Records Committee. After reviewing the status of over 40 species on the Finnish List, the Committee transferred seven species from its Category 1 (genuine vagrants) to Category III (presumed escapes): Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber , Falcated Duck Anas Jalcala , Bufflehead Bucephala albeola , Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatw, , Laughing- Dove Streptopelia senegalensis, Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus and Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides. These seven now join 1 7 other species which were already in the Finnish Category 111: Little Blue Heron Hydranassa caerulea , Chilean Flamingo P. (ruber) chilensis, Bar- headed Goose Anser indicus , Ruddy Shelduck Tadoma J'emiginea (but also in Category 1 on the basis of some old records). Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata , Baikal l eal Anas formosa, Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis, Steller’s Sea Eagle Haliaeelus pelagicus, Monk Vulture Aegypius monachus, Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus, W allcreeper Tichodroma muraria, White-cheeked Starling Stumus cineraceus, White-shouldered Starling S. sinensis, Yellow-throated Bunting E. elegans, Indigo Bunting Passerina tyanea, Painted Bunting P. dtis and Lazuli Bunting P. amoena. *If you think that our annual Famous Grouse Scotch whisky Christmas puzzle is devious, just consider this explana- tion, from Hannu Jannes, of the cap- tion to this cartoon: ‘Direct translation of “Seitseman veljeksen siivouspaiva” is somediing like “The clean-up day of seven brothers”. There is, however, a famous old Finnish book about seven brodiers (quite simple and uneducated boys) and their adventures, so the sen- tence has a more complex meaning than just seven brothers doing some cleaning. “(ON) . . . GELMAjATT” means “(Pr) . . . oblem waste” and “III LUOKKA” means “Third grade”; Ongelmajate is dangerous, very toxic waste, which is difficult to get rid of, “III Luokka” signifying that it is the most poisonous of all. Note also, however, drat presumed escapes were formerly placed in so-called “cat- egory III" in Finland (equivalent to your “category D”). Finally, the car- toonist’s name, “E. T. Pinnamatka”, is an inside joke. The word means some- thing like “E. T. Travellingtwitcher”, but it is an anagram of die real name of the cartoonist, who is Matti Kapa- nen, a former member of our Rarities Committee.’ ‘Bird Watching’ highlights Among the several commercial birdwatching magazines available not only by subscription, but also on the bookstalls these days, Bird Watching complements (and seldom competes with) BB. We are happy to co-operate with BW, and shall be drawing attention each month to its current main features. (BW will be doing the same for BB.) The November issue of BW includes Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum and other UK rarity photographs; Ian Wallace’s personal history of British birdwatching; ‘County Call’ on Glamorgan; the BTO’s New Year’s Bird Count preview; and an article on ‘Choosing the right bird holiday’. It sounds like an interesting mix. Why not give B W a try? 588 News and comment Palearctic party It’s a sort of wake’, chortled Max Nicholson, diabolical smile and camera flashing gleefully at the assembled staff of Birds of the Western Palearctic and Oxford University Press. The occasion was the farewell party at Wolfson College, Oxford, on 29th July, to mark the conclusion of producing all eight volumes of BWP (the final volume will be published next year). It was a rare meeting of generations, a reminder that BWP started a very long time ago, and could not have survived vvithout the support and commitment of many people. Max (now in his ninetieth year) recalled that, for him, the birth pangs started with the vacuum created by his despatch of the Hastings Rarities affair in the early 1960s. It was good to see other early baton-carriers, such as James Ferguson-I,ees, Ken Simmons and Pat Sellar. Robert Gillmor was there to see one of his water-colours presented by Chris Perrins to Rpth Wootton, who typed nearly ever)' word of every volume. Of course, thoughts strayed often to our departed chief, Stanley Cramp. Like a surprise magician, 1). I. M. Wallace sprang to his feet after chocolate mousse to declare that, being a Celt (to which his splendid tartan trews bore ample testament), he had the gift of communing with the other side, and brought greetings from Stanley, who incidentally ‘apologised to his office staff for smoking too much and being a bit bad-tempered at times’. 1 he atmosphere was a mixture of joyful celebration, and not a little relief that the tiger’s back had successfully been ridden. (< Contributed by Euan Dunn) BTO+SOS 1 he SOS is the Shropshire Ornithological Society, which gets together with die BTO at a joint one-day conference on ‘Water birds in Shropshire at I he Shirehall in Shrewsbury on 13th November 1993. The cost is £10 per person, which includes coffee, lunch, tea and conference fee. For full details, contact Ken Bird, 44 Bromley Road, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 3AZ, or phone Shrewsbury (0743) 363807, as soon as possible. Rarity descriptions It is very helpful if all observers of rarities send in their descriptions (preferably to the relevant county or regional recorder) as soon as possible after the sighting. It will speed up the decision- making process if notes on all major autumn rarities are submitted by mid November at the latest. Please do not wait until January. Thank you. (Contributed by M. J. Rogers) Fewer Wood Pigeons Some statistics published by Organbidexka Col Libre (OCL) earlier this year, based on their regular counts at several passes in the French Pyr ences, show a huge drop in the numbers of Wood Pigeons Columba palumbus migrating across the mountains in autumn. OCL counted 464,000 at Organbidexka alone in 1981, but only 164,000 in 1992. The trend is confirmed from another source: the Pyrenees- Atlantiques Hunting Federation counted 308,807 in 1981 and 91,200 in 1992. No reasons were advanced for what appears to be a massive decline in what has always been the most spectacular trans-Pyrenean migrant. Icelandic wildfowl stamps The Nature Conservation Council of Iceland has issued two wildfowl stamps in support of land acquisition and wildfowl conservation at Lake Myvatn. More details from the Council at PO Box 5324, 125 Reykjavik, Iceland. The tern business We are always glad to hear of industry taking positive action to help birds, so a note from National Power telling us that they donated £10,000 to the Merseyside Ringing Group this year w'as particularly interesting. The money was given to enable the Group to improve and enlarge the tern islands they have installed and maintained at the British Steel site at Shotton, Deeside. No fewer than 312 pairs of Common Ferns Sterna hirundo bred on the islands in 1992, making the site the best one for this species in Wales. Over many years, the Group s activities have enabled this population to grow and grow; they were awarded the Prince of Wales Award for conservation in 1971. Their ringing has shown that the Shotton terns winter in Ghana, Sierra leone, Senegal and Liberia. The hope was for an increased colony at Shotton in 1993, so we look forward to hearing whether this was realised. News and comment 589 Bert Hamar It is always sad to hear of the passing of one of those indefatigable, much-loved people who have been the backbone of our local and regional birdwatching clubs and societies. Such a man was H. W. (Bert) Hamar, who died in May, aged 73. He founded what has become the thriving Gwent Ornithological Society, and recendy served as its President. The GOS has instituted the Bert Hamar Research Grant as a memorial to his life and work; available to GOS members, it will (appropriately) be awarded for bird research within the county. Adopt a duck If you phone liz Lancashire on Dursley (0453) 890333 before 15th December 1993, you will be in time to learn more about the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s c urrent duck-adoption scheme. More duck-adopters are needed: the proceeds from the scheme go towards the expensive business of maintaining the Trust’s centres, all of which provide valuable havens for wintering wildfowl. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Britton — Northeast Dave Holman — East Anglia Anthony McGeehan — Northern Ireland Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Dr Kenny Taylor — Scotland David Tomlinson — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales Keith Vinicombe — Southwest John Wilson — Northwest Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Sponsored by Monthly marathon September’s bird (plate 1 38) was named as: Little Gull Lams minutus (94%), Mediterranean Gull L. melanocephalus (3%) Bonaparte’s Gull L. Philadelphia (2%) and Franklin’s Gull L. pipixcan (1%). No trap, it was a Little Gull, photographed by Axel Halley in Germany in October 1 988 (SCORE 6). The first person to achieve a score of 500 will win a hireling trip with SUNBIRD to Africa, Asia or North Anerica. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. 223. Sixth ‘Monthly marathon’, using new' rules (see page 149); tenth stage: photo no. 89. Identify the species. Send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th December 1993 Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 13th September to 17th October 1993 1 hese are unchecked reports, not authenticated records Semipaimated Plover Charadrius semipabnatus First- winter plover showing some diagnostic features of tins species at Balk cotton (Co. Cork s 29th September, and again on 9th October, hut not definitely subsequently. American Golden Plover Phwialis dommica Single juveniles at Courtmacsherry Co. Cork'. Ist-3rd October, and at Kinsale (Co. Cork), bth-Bth October. Least Sandpiper Calidris mmuti/la Havle Estuary Cornwall . 3rd-4th October. White-rumped Sandpiper Juscicollis Singles at Courtmacsherry. 6th October, and Kinsale, bth-Bth October. Baird’s Sandpiper C. bairdii North Ronaldsay Orkney), 4th-7th October. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola fakinellus Havlc Estuary, 1 1th October. Stilt Sandpiper Micropalama himantopus First-winter at Blennerville Co. Kerry), lsti October. Great Snipe Gallinago media North Ronaldsay, 4th- 5th October. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Porthmadog (Gwynedd), 17th October. LJpland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Foula Shetland . 3rd October; St Mary's Isles of Scilly), 6th to at least I 7th October. Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea Unst (Shetland), 4th October. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Rye Harbour (East Sussex), 16th October. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), 17th October. Pechora Pipit A. gustavi Fair Isle Shetland). 27th to at least 30th September. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Fair Isle. 18th- 26th September; Ballycotton, 21st September. Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus Fair Isle, 15th- 16th September. White’s Thrush ’ ‘oothera daurna Lerwick (Shetland), 1st October. Hermit Thrush Lathams guttatus Fresco Isles of Scilly), 11th October and 15th to at least 17th October. Eyebrowed Thrush 7 Urdus obscurus St Man s, 7th- 14th October; St Agnes (Isles of Scilly), 15th- 16th October. Dark-throated Thrush V. ruficoHis Fair Isle. 1 1th October: St Martin’s (Isles of Scilly), 1 3th- 1 4th October. Lanceolated Warbler Ijocustella lanceolata Two, Fair Isle, 17th September. River Warbler L. Jlaviatilis Fair Isle, 26th-27th September; Out Skerries (Shetland). 9th- 1 0th October. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Ringed, Fagbury Cliff (Suffolk), 19th September, and another there on 4th October; St Kilda (Western Isles), 6th October (found dead on 7th); Out Skerries, 9th- 10th October. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata North Ronaldsay, 14th September. Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi North Ronaldsay, 3rd October; St Agnes (Isles of Scilly), 3rd-4th October. Dusky Warbler /’ juscatus St Kilda, 4th October. Fair Isle, 10th October. Penduline Tit Rcmir pendulums Three. Land's End (Cornwall), 1 1th October, and up to eight by 13th October; Tresco, 15th and 17th October. Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus First-winter, l ory Island (Co. Donegal), 3rd October. YeUow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronala Cape Clear Island, 7th- 1 6th October. Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata Brownstown Head (Co. Waterford), 3rd October. Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Old Head of Kinsale (Co. Cork), 10th October. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Phructicus ludovicianus Tresco, 12th- 14th October. applies all its information free to ‘British Birds'. up-to-date news y Rare Bird News Call 0881-888-11 1 for the latest (25p/min cheap rate; 39p/min other times: incl. 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You can also pay using If y0Ur address for credit card purposes is different from that above give it here these credit cards: s iA Please debit my Access/Visa/MastcrCard/Eurocard Expiry date Signature You SSSAtir pl“e ‘"“c vour “ “■ “ Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN X FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE HAML YN BIRD BEHA VIOUR GUIDES AND THE HAML YN BIRD SPECIES GUIDES THE SERIES CONTINUE ON 30TH SEPTEMBER 1993 WITH SEABIRDS Author: Rob Hume. Illustrated by Bruce Pearson, price: £14.99 The second book in this major series covering birdwatching by both family and behaviour. An illustrated guide to v.he behaviour of seabirds seen regularly in the Western Palearctic. Specially commissioned artwork in both colour and black and white supplements the text on all aspects of seabird behav iour. THE GREAT TIT Author: Andrew Gosler. Illustrator: Norman Arlott, price: £9.99 The third book in this series heralding an exciting new concept in illustrated bird monographs, written by acknowledged experts in the field. Showing the most important aspects of identification and behaviour of the largest of the common tits. To order these titles or any other Hamlyn Natural History titles please call 0933 410511 (D323) Si \ BIRDS Hi <£& ” f% - ■iS* ■ A** V 'r ' p, if,. ' Till- ed K I VI ill Aa . * ' Tu Some say we don't have the birds to match exotic species for visual appeal , but the songs and calls of British species can match any region for variety and beauty - and the sound of its bird community is an essential characteristic of any landscape or habitat. birdsong in britoin announce the release of: a selection of recordings made in the springs of 1991 through to 1993, by producer Geoff Sample direct to digital (DDD) : in ambient stereo (M/S) A range of British habitats, focusing on some typical communities includes: Caledonian pinewood with a caper lek visited by goldcrest, crested tit and siskin; blackcock lek on the moorland fringe; 4 species of thrush in the birches and sitka around a Highland village; nightingale and tawny owls on the Brecks; various woodland communities in the Chiltems and Forest of Dean; cameos of some wetland warblers; nightjars, tree pipits, stonechats, etc. on a New Forest heath. The first CD of British 'atmospheres':- includes an 8 page booklet of detailed notes. Total playing time 74 mins - also available on cassette (real-time on chrome). No announcements: just birds, from some of the quietest places left in Britain - the next best thing to being there ! Order direct from publishers - cheque/PO payable to wild at heart (allow 1 4 days for delivery) CD £12.99 . Cassette £7.99 (includes postage/packing). Wild at Heart, PO Box 3543, London SE8 4QP. 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Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mrs J. Sutherland. Ross Farm, Belford, Nor- thumberland NE70 7EN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB312) FILEY: Lovely seafront Hat. Sleeps 4. Seawatch from lounge. Anything possible! Owner local birder. Non- smokers. Sorry no young children or pets. 0723 515273. (BB431) ' ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds overlooking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB455) WEYMOUTH. ‘Birchfields Hotel’. Close to Radipole/ Lodmoor/Portland & The Fleet. Ideal Winter/Spring breaks, local info. Parties welcome. Details phone 0305 773255. (BB49I) NORTH NORFOLK, NR CLEY. Charming 2 bed Bint cottage in Holt. Tastefully furnished, well equipped, g.c.h., I spacious, gdn. Tel: 0788 815380. (BB508) | CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2). Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB493) CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bedrooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. I Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071-431 2942. (BB535) CLEY NATURE RESERVE 1 mile Small guest house offers you warm welcome B&B and optional evening meal Colour TV. tea making facilities, all private facilities and central heating ip all rooms. Parking facilities and sorry, no smoking IDEAL FOR BIRDWATCHERS THE FUNTSTONES. W1VETON, HOLT NORFOLK 0263 740337 (BB488) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi- pension (Private bath) from £50.00. Details, brochure, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB31 1) SPEY VALLEY. Beautiful secluded informal hotel, 2 miles from village of Carrbridge. Home cooking, full central heating. All rooms en-suite. Perfect base for birdwatchers and walkers. Discount available for parties. Terms from £185.00 per week DB&B. Brochure from Mrs Y. Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel: 0479 841278 (BB523) WALES RED KITE COUNTRY. Tregaron — Guest house standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Yns-hir RSPB reserves. Parties welcome. WTB - 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter 0974 98965 or 298905. iiinattt OVERSEAS AUSTRALIA, CAIRNS. JULATTEN. At Kingfisher Park we provide accommodation in a rainforest sanctuary for native birds and animals. We are central to a variety of habitats and cater for the interests and enthusiasms of birdwatchers and naturalists. Write now for a free birdlist to Kingfisher Park. P.O. Box 3, Julatten, Queensland, Australia 4871. (BB470) XII TO ADVERTISE FAX 0621 81 91 30 PAJINKA WILDERNESS LODGE 400m from the top of Australia lies Pajinka Wilderness Lodge, a birding destination of international consequence. Pajinka boasts over y3 of Australia’s bird species, (230 species, 13 endemic). Within a short drive of the Lodge are a variety of habitats including mangrove, rainforest, heathlands, swamps, open schlerophyll and vine thickets. Two major and totally different catchments lie within the area. Pajinka's Green Season from Oct-Mar, is when migratory birds from Nuigini and beyond attend. In January, Pajinka hosts Nature Week, an opportunity for twitchers to pursue rare species with the support of resident and visiting experts. During the Dry season, May-Sept, the focus is on resident endemics. For more information or reservations: PH. +61 70 313 988 or FAX: +61 70 313966, or write to PO Box 7757, Cairns. 4870, Australia. (BB527) NOR TH MALLORCA family house, peaceful Old Pollensa. Mountain views, near beaches and wildlife sites. Brochure 0628 22342. (BB531) PROVENCE-HEART OF CAMARGUE Farm cott & apt, also B&B. Mas d’Auphan, Le Sambuc, 13200 ARLES, France. Tel: (01033) 90972041. Fax: 90972087. (BB530) BIRD WA TCHING H OLID A YS HIGH ISLAND’ UPPER TEXAS COAST U.S.A. Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8. Tours given. Birder's Haven, PO Box 309, High Island. Texas 77623. Tel: 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390 (BB487) HONG KONG. Superb birding September to May — variety of accommodation — trips into China. Richard Lewthwaite, 2 Villa Paloma, Shuen Wan, Tai Po NT, Hong Kong. Phone/Fax: (HK) 665 8190. (BB466) ISRAEL. Guiding for birdwatchers and accom- modation arrangements for all parts of Israel, all year around, by HADORAM SHIRIHAI. Spe- cialising in finding interesting species that are hard to observe, and focusing on desert species such as Floubara Bustard, sandgrouse and raptors such as Lanner Falcon and Saker Falcon. Please sign up via SUNBIRD office: telephone 0767-682969; fax 0767-692481. For direct contact with guide, call telefax 00972-7-379326. (BB503) DIVISION OF NICK'S TRAVEL IabtaI 97237 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ EXPERTS IN LOW COST AIRFARES - WORLDWIDE. DISCOUNT CAR HIRE/INSURANCE SPECIALIST ADVISER - ANDY HOWES 0533 881318 (EVENINGS ONLY PLEASE) ALWAYS RING US LAST (BB514) DISCOUNT FLIGHTS. CAR HIRE. SEA TRAVEL PACKAGE HOLIDAYS GROUPS & EXPEDITIONS ...worldwide Travel News £152 Beijing £355 £209 .. £270 £129 Costa Rica £449 £324 £462 £355 Perth £562 Current return flights from: Eilat Gambia £209 Morocco £129 Delmi £324 Bangkok £355 BA SAINSBURY’S VOUCHERS ACCEPTED! Birding package holidays — Hong Kong, April £1,129 Beldaime, May £949 Contact us for details. ANTARCTICA ALL 1993/4 TOURS FULL! ADVANCE REGISTER FOR 1994/5 NOW. Ask for leaflet detailing our services 0272-613000 or DICK FILBY 0603-767-757 INTERNATIONAL HOUSE BANK ROAD, BRISTOL BS15 2LX, UK A.B.T.A./I.A.T.A. (BB520) COSTA RICA EXPERIENCE THE BEST IN BIRDING! TAILOR-MADE TRIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS & GROUPS BROCHURES: BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA APARTAD0 7911, 1000B SAN JOSE (BB529) COSTA RICA FAX: +506-281573 SOUTHERN SPAIN Quality Birding at Budget Prices. Flights, accommo- dation, escorted trips, access to the best ‘hotspots’ and some of Europe’s rarest species. Brochure from Calandra Holidays, 29 Hurst Road, Ashford, Kent or call 0233 628547. (BB52f SKOKHOLM ISLAND off Pembrokeshire Coast. Thousands of seabirds, migrants, rare visitors. Seawatching. Full board accommodation — Saturday to Saturday April to end September. SAE to Dept. BB., Dyfed Wildlife Trust, 7 Market Street, Haverfordwest, Dyfed, SA61 INF. Tel: (0437) 765462. (BB517) BIRD WA TCHING TO URS AUSTRALIA — Send for our Birding brochure. Tours throughout Australia from individuals to groups. We welcome enquiries from both private customers and tour agents. Falcon Tours, 1 Simmons Drive. Roleystone. Perth, Western Australia. PH/FAX (09) 397 5125. Lie. Tour Operator. (BB330) BIRDING-WILDLIFE TOURS with experts in desert and Bharatpur Wetlands, Rajasthan, from October ’93 onwards. Details on request. “Nature Trails”, B-33, Sethi Colony, Jaipur, India. Fax 373288. Phone (0141 ) 540570. (BB534) xiii TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 SRI LANKA - ORNITHOLOGISTS PARADISE - Home to 426 species 21 of which are endemic Specialist guides provided for tours from individuals to groups Best period November to March - Contact Delmege Forsyth Tours. 101. Vinayalankara Mawatha. Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. Telephone 0094 1 693361 - 8. 699500 & 699984 Telex 21320 LEWIS CE, 21536 DFSHIP. 22766 DELAIR CE Fax 00941698139.699413,686149 (BB489) SEA WA TCHING HO LI DA Y SHEARW ATER JOURNEYS: seabirdingand whale watching trips year-round from Monterey. California. Albatross. Shearwaters, Storm-petrels. Alcids and Jaegers. Humpback and Blue whales; Aug to Nov. Gray whales: Jan. Schedule available from: Debra L. Shearwater. PO Box 1445, Dept BB, Soquel, CA 95073, USA. Tel: 408-688 1990. (BB509) SITUATIONS VACANT SANDWICH BAY BIRD OBSERVATORY ASSISTANT WARDENS Applications are invited for Assistant Warden posts. Ringers or experienced birders required. 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V Filchagov Feral Rose-ringed Parakeets in Britain David H. IV. Morgan The Carl Zeiss Award’ R. A. Hume. Peter Lonsdoum and Dr 7- T. R. Sharrock Mystery photographs 191 From the Rarities Committee’s files Records not accepted Peter Lamdmm and Michael J. Rogers Twenty-five years ago . . . The ‘British Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year Notes Prolonged song of Collared Dove Major R. F. Ruttledge Aggressive behaviour of Alpine Swifts at nest R. A. Hume c.reat Spotted Woodpecker killing Robin Guv Mountfort Hedge Armors feeding from suspended nut containers Dr Steven H. Shan and Shtrb McKenzie Blackbird hanging upside-down from twigs to feed Kathleen 1. Harratt Cetti’s Warbler flycatching B. J. Hill Exceptional claw -wear of Great Reed Warbler Mck Riddiford and Peter Potts At least three adult Blue 1 its feeding young in same nest Alison Clayboume Letters Red-crested Pochard hybrids Bob Scott Tits opening milk botdes Professor Robert A. Hinde Italian Sparrows in Corsica Martin S. Gamer Phe smallest lnx>k on ornithology Michael J. Rogers Reviews 575 ‘The Common Tern’ by Rob Hume H. K. Axell o75 The Birds of Buckinghamshire' edited by Peter lack & David Ferguson Dr J. T. R. Shanock S/b Les Ftes-Oneches d Europe, d’Afrique du Nord et du Moyen-Orienf by Norbert Lefranc A. R. Dean Manual of Ornithology: avian structure & function’ by Noble S. Proctor & Patrick I I vnch Dr Alan Knox ’ 577 Seasonal reports Winter 1992/93 Keith Allsofip and Barry Nightingale Announcements 583 583 583 583 583 584 550 561 565 566 567 568 569 570 570 570 57 1 571 571 572 572 573 573 573 574 585 589 590 The ‘BB‘ Award for the Best Annual Bird Report I ee-shirts and sweat-shirts ‘BB’ ties Books in British BirdShop January issue Mystery photographs 191 The solution Hugh R. Harrop News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch Monthly marathon Recent reports Barry .Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan line-drawings: 550 Wnian Gull (Rob Hume), 561 Rose-ringed Parakeets CV V. McCanch : 577 Kmiuakrs^ (PM Jones ); 5 78 \\ Ime-lronted Geese (George B Broun), 581 Smew lint Jones), 582 Great Grey Shnke Dan Powell), 582 Horned lark (Mike Pollard, Front cover: Female Peregrine Falcon (Stuart Brocklehurst ): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.5 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auc tion (see page 28 in January issue For procedure) Introduced and escaped geese in summer 1991 Brown Shrike: new to Britain and Ireland Status and categorisation of feral birds F. R. Smith (1906-1992) Bruce Campbell OBE PhD (1912-1993) Studies of Bullfinch British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultant Don Smith Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee R. A. Hume (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. 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Postage A packing extra on all orders) NATURAL HISTORY BOOK SERVICE LTD 2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN Tel: 0803-865913 Fax:0803-865280 TAKES OFF HERE THE PEREGRINE FALCON SECOND EDITION Derek Ratcliffe The first edition was a landmark in natural history publishing, a classic species monograph and our most requested title. It is now a collectors item. So what's different about th e secon d ed i ti on ? It's completely revised and updated, benefitting from a decade of major advances in our knowledge of Peregrine biology, local movements and population turnover, feeding, breeding and nesting habits. And... ...It's Available. Now. The Peregrine Falcon (2/e) by Derek Ratcliffe ISBN: 0 85661 060 7 July 1993,488pp., £25.00 Order your copy from your local bookseller or from: T & AD POYSER 24-28 Oval Road London NWI7DX (Tel. 071-267 4466) (D301 ) Get the very best out of your birding with BIRDWATCH every month ^ Detailed guides on where to see the best birds around Britain and Ireland How to identify everything from plovers and petrels to rare warblers and buntings ^ Exclusive photos and detailed " reports of the latest rarities In-depth essays on the world's birding hot-spots ^ Coverage of all the big conservation issues and scientific discoveries ^ Regular features by Britain's top birders, including Bill Oddie, Eric Simms, Anthony McGeehan and Colin Bradshaw ON SALE AT YOUR NEWSAGENT NOW | (IX1 IV British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers The b°oks included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. It is the °f Bntu[l Bird{ and Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd to provide British rrds subscribers with the best, most reliable and friendliest service possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd. All correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo J^^^k^_T^euddvn^NIold^iClwvclCH74LN. Books All listed books are POST FREE. SPECIAL OFFERS British Btrds/IBCE International Bird Identification (usually £ 10.50) I lnclr»r T7i/, f ' / It /TJ 1 \ .. Please tick £ Paperback £9.50 □ Goslcr The Great Tit (Hamlyn) EXCLUSIVE REDUCED PRICE (usually £9.99) 1 £8 99 FI Hume The Common Tern (Hamlyn) EXCLUSIVE REDUCED price (usually £9.99) /'8 99 (“1 Hume & Pearson Seabirds (Hamlyn) EXCLUSIVE REDUCED price (usually £14 99) 'no 99 n Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds vol. 2: birds of prey " ' to Pratincoles (OUP) DUE FEBRUARY 1994. PREPUBLICATION price (price after three months £150.00) £125j eu 'fu lWlntCr ^ )(‘VS mtfl Bir Alan Knox, Buckinghamshire County Museum, Tring Road. , Hatton , Buckinghamshire HP22 5PJ Acknowledgments As well as the many people who help 'BB' in a whole variety of ways, many of whose names arc listed on the inside front cover each month or within our subscription leaflets, we should like to thank the following, who waived till or part of their photographic or artistic fees in favour of ‘BB’: Richard Allen, Norman Arlott, A. E. Blake, Dr Martin H. Blattner, Keith Brockie, Dr Kevin Carlson, Andrew W. Clarke, Tony Croucher, 1). E. Dickson, A. Duncan, Hanne & Jens Eriksen, E. W. Flaxman, Richard Fowling, Professor G. FI. Fry, Axel Halley, Ren Hathway, Erik Flirschfcld. Dr C. D. T. Minton, Nicholas Pike, Dan Powell, Brian E. Slade, B. J. Small. E. J. Steele, P. B. 'Baylor and Bernard Zonfrillo. We apologise for any accidental oversight. Obituaries Francis Raymond Smith (1906-1992) I first met Ray Smith in the mid 1950s. In fact, I nearly fell over him. I was walking an area ol the North Cornwall coasdine, searching for any sign of a Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus during their disastrous population collapse, when I tripped over a pair of legs sticking out of a bracken clump. A smiling, sun-tanned and embarrassed man, with a pair of ancient binocu- lars tied around his neck by a piece of cord, apologised and, after he discov- ered that we shared the same interests, introduced himself as ‘F. R. Smith’. That same day, Ray took me to a beautiful spot near Mawgan Porth and together we peered over the edge of a 90-m cliff on to the breakers below. 227. F. R. Smith, Devon, late 1970s {Don Tucker) [Brit. Birds 86: 615-616, December 1993] 615 616 F R. Smith (1906-1992) From out of a dark fissure on the cliff-face flew my first Cornish Choughs Pyrrhocorax fryrrhocorax , rising in spirals on the up-currents until they were level with us and then, with half-closed wings, plunging towards the surT with clear ringing calls. It was a day never to be forgotten. Pure magic! Our paths met again some ten years later, wfien my work took me to Devon and 1 joined Ray and the late R. G. Adams on their regular winter weekend bird counts on the Exe estuary. We started, regardless of tides, every Saturday and Sunday at 7 a.m. on-the-dot and if either Dick Adams or I was late at the rendezvous Ray left without us; he was never late because he always got out of bed at 4.30 a.m. I can still clearly picture him being dragged along the sand-dunes on Dawlish Warren by his uncontrollable golden cocker spaniel, named ‘Andy’, who hated everyone except Ray. Unfortunately, on one of these estuary counts Andy decided to do battle with the Penzance-to-Paddington express train and sadly lost the fight, but he was cjuickJy replaced by an even more eccentric animal of the same breed that refused point blank to allow Ray to get into his own car. Ray, I believe, was happiest when working in the field on his own and he astonished many people with the number of interesting birds he discovered in the county. His fieldcraft was quite superb for he had the ability to sit quietly for hour upon hour (unlike many birders today) noting every bird and every detail on each species, locating the nest sites as he often did, accompanied by his son /Man and making note of behaviour as well as mere identification. Ray Smith will be best remembered for his great involvement with the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca nest-box scheme in Yamer Wood on the edge of Dartmoor, for it was there that he met Bruce Campbell in 1957 and together they revolutionised the Pied Flycatcher scene in Devon and throughout other parts of England and Wales —studying the new nest-box colonies and ringing hundreds of nestlings and adults, the work continuing to this day. Ray was also one of the principal ringers at Slapton Ley in Devon for many years, but later concentrated his ringing efforts nearer to his home in Exeter where 1 joined him, together with a friend, and we formed the Exeter Ringing Group. His ability to assess records was recognised at a national level for, when he was already the Recorder for the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society and produced the Society’s annual bird report, he was invited to join the BBRC, on which he was a voting member for 13 years (1963-75) and Hon. Secretary for ten (1966-75). Ray Smith died on 21st February 1992, at the age of 86, following a bout of pneumonia. All who knew him will remember him as a shy, modest and unassuming man who was wholly sincere and cared for other people; one who avoided publicity and whose values were those of a true lover of nature, like many, I feel fortunate to have spent many happy times with him and extend a belated message of sympathy to all his family. Robin Khan Bruce Campbell OBE PhD (1912-1993) 228. Dr Bruce Campbell OBK, Oxfordshire, December 1976 {John Knight/ Oxfordshire County Council) With the passing of Bruce Campbell on 9th January 1993, British ornithology has lost an ardent enthusiast and a great supporter. Bruce could lay claim to a number of ‘firsts’. He was the first person to obtain a Doctorate in Ornithology in the UK. This was for a thesis entitled ‘A comparison of bird populations upon “industrial” and “rural” farmland in South Wales’, a study done, as the tide suggests, of the birds of a variety of [Brit. Birds 86: 617-619, December 1993J 617 618 Bruce Campbell ORE PhD (1912-1993) agricultural areas in 1943 and 1944. The basic area which he used as his rural control was around Court Perrott, north of' Newport, an area for which he eventually accumulated six years of census data (1942-47). Another of his firsts was to see the value of, and set up on a permanent basis, what is now the longest-running nest-box study in the UK (perhaps anywhere, for, although the Dutch started earlier still, their study area has changed). In 1942, J. M. B. Brown had put up 84 nest-boxes in Nagshead Enclosure in the Forest of Dean and 15 had been occupied by Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca. Bruce was shown the ‘Piedie Flies’ in 1946, and in 1947 he went down to ring the chicks. This got him firmly hooked, and the nest-boxes in Nagshead Plantation became a life-long interest. For many years, Bruce was the catalyst of this study. In spite of a busy life, Bruce managed to maintain observations on the birds nesting in the Dean until the late 1960s. Much of the daily record-keeping w'as done by forestry students based in the Dean, but it was done under Bruce’s supervision and he took an active and enthusiastic part, visiting the area many times each season. In 1974 the area became an RSPB reserve, and the records are still maintained. Bruce w'rote a number of papers about them, of which perhaps the most useful wras that in 1968 in Forestry (41: 27-46), which summarised the 20-odd years of the study to that date. He also, unavoidably, collected much information on Great Parus major and Blue fits P. caeruleus and took an interest in these, too, but the flycatchers were his greatest love. Bruce was, first and foremost, a field ornithologist, with a wide general interest in natural history. Perhaps his most outstanding attribute w'as his skill at finding birds’ nests; this was evident from his earliest years, his father having been an avid ‘egger’. But he was not, at least in later years, much interested in egg-collecting; what came out of the egg was of far greater interest to him. His nest-finding was aided by an outstanding ability to climb trees and so reach nests others certainly could not. He played a key role in the setting up of the BTO’s Nest Record Scheme, running it himself for many years. He was also one of the leading contributors: during the years 1954-87 he contributed more than 8,400 nest record cards, plus many colony record sheets. He married this skill with the ringing of the young whenever possible. Bruce’s first real job was with the Central Council for Recreative Physical I raining, but his real love was always birds and he was invited to become the first full-time Secretary' (= Director) of the BTO when it was based in Oxford; he took up this position in October 1948. He was often involved in broadcasting during these years and left the BTO just before it moved to iiing to become Senior Producer of the Natural History Unit of the BBC, a position he occupied for three years, playing an important part in the widening of interest in and understanding of the countryside. He then ‘returned to Oxfordshire’ (he never moved away during the years he worked for the BBC in Bristol) and became Advisory Editor of The Countryman from 1962 to 1989. It is not possible to cover in any detail all the many things Bruce did, but, amongst his other positions, he was a Vice-President of the BTO and recipient of the Tucker Medal and one of the first of the BTO’s Jubilee Medals, he was also Vice-President of the BOU and recipient of the Union Bruce Campbell OBE PhD (1912-1993) 6 1 9 Mcdd, and he served on the Councils of the Wildfowl Trust, the RSPB, the British Ecological Society, the Oxford Ornithological Society (and' was President), the Banbury Ornithological Society, the West Oxfordshire Field Club, and the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists’ Trust (and was Chairman). He was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours in 1976 (Brit. Birds 69: 42). Although based in Oxford since 1948, Bruce was first and foremost a Scot, and whenever possible he was to be found scouring the hills of his beloved Argyll, where he spent many of his happiest boyhood months (although he was brought up in southern England, he spent school holidays with his family in Scotland). Others might pursue their ornithology in more distant parts of Europe oi even farther afield. Bruce did travel abroad, particularly in the penocl when he was Secretary of the BTO, but foreign lands seemed to hold only a low appeal. For Bruce, Scotland filled all his needs and in his later years he rarely went abroad, though he perhaps regarded Oxfordshire as that. Bruce published a number of books. Perhaps the most important ormthologically is A Dictionary of Birds (1985), virtually a complete rewrite of the older work by Landsborough Thomson, which he edited with Elizabeth Lack; it remains, in my view, without peer as a reference book. Birdwatcher at Dirge (1979) is an autobiography which provides much more information about his life than space allows here. We miss him. C. M. PERRINS Twenty-five years ago... ‘In the old days a British bird-watcher, not looking beyond his home islands, required no adjec- tive to distinguish the only species of kite that frequents them. Today, almost surely using A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe , he does need an adjective to separate it from the Black Kite Milvus migrans and so one is glad to see that M. milmis has become the Red Kite. ‘In America the name Duck Hawk has been giving way to that of Peregrine Falcon for Faleo peregrinus and one looks forward to the day when Stercorarius parasiticus becomes the Arctic Skua instead of the Parasitic Jaeger. Is it visionary to hope, as well, for the time when the Short-billed Gull of the Pacific coast of America and the Common Gull of Europe, both Lams canus, become the circumpolar Mew Gull?’ (Louis J. Halle in Brit. Birds 61: 573-574, December 1968). Also in December 1968, two Little Bustards Tetrax tetrax were found dead in Norfolk, near Diss on 19th and near King’s Lynn on 31st. How many others remained undiscovered? Diary dates This list covers January to December 1994 7 th-9th January BTO RINGING AND MIGRA- TION CoNKKRKNCK. Hayes Conference Centre. Deuiils from Jacquie Clark, BTO, The Nun- nery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. 31st January Closing date for entries for ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’. 29th-30th January YOL'NG ORNITHOLO- GISTS’ Club Garden Birdwatch Survey. Details from YOC, The Lodge, Sandy, Bed- fordshire sc; 1 9 2DL. 5th March SOC SPRING CONFERENCE. Aberdeen University. Details from SOC, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH 7 5BT. 15th March Closing date for entries for ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’. 25th-27th March Irish Wildbird Conser- vancy/RSPB All-Ireland Conference. Garryvoe Hotel, Shanagarry, Ballycotton, Co. Cork. Details from IWC, Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. 26th March WELSH ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCI- ETY Annual Conference. Department of Information and Library Studies, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. Details from Jean McBeth, Minas Tirith, Llanfihangel-y- Creuddyn, Aberystwyth, Dyfcd SY23 4LA. 6th- 10th April BOU ANNUAL CONFERENCE & AGM. ‘Bird Conservation in action.’ Shut- tleworth Agricultural College, Bedfordshire. Details from Mrs Gwen Bonham, BOU, c/o The Natural History' Museum, Sub-depart- ment of Ornithology', Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 (TAP. [Offers of papers to Nicola Crock- ford, c/o RSPB, The lodge, Sandy, Bedford- shire SGI 9 2DI„] 8th-10th April RSPB MEMBERS’ WEEKEND. Warwick University. Details from Yvonne Brown, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedford- shire SGI 9 2DL. May In Focus’ Birdrace. County bird- watch. In association with BirdLife Interna- tional. Details and entry forms from Lesley Stanton, BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA. 21st-22nd May Birdathon ’94. YOC National Sponsored Birdwatch. Details from YOC. 25th June Oriental Bird Club Meeting. Manchester. Details from OBC, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI9 2DL. 28th July to 12th August SOCIETY OF Wildlife Artists’ Annual Exhibition (in- cluding display of winning entries in ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’ competitions). The Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission £2.00 (free to SWLA members). 12th-18th August Birdlife International 21st World CONFERENCE. Rosenheim, Ger- many. Details from Georgina Green, BirdUfe International. 19th-20th August British Birdwatching Fair. Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water, Leicestershire. Enquiries to Tim Appleton, Fishponds Cottage, Stamford Road, Oakham, Leicestershire I.EI5 8AB. 20th-25th August XXI INTERNATIONAL Ornithological Congress. Hofberg, Vienna, Austria. Details from IOC Intercon- vention, Friedrichstras.se 7, A- 1043 Vienna, Austria. 28th August OBC MEETING. Blakeney Vil- lage Hall, Blakeney, Norfolk. Details from OBC. 1st October RSPB AGM. Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London. Details from Yvonne Brown. RSPB. October/November SCOTTISH ORNITHOL- OGISTS’ Club Annual Conference. Details from SOC. 2nd-4th December BTO ANNUAL CONFER- ENCE & AGM. Swan wick. Details from BTO. 10th December OBC TENTH ANNIVERSARY AGM. Zoological Society meeting rooms, Regent’s Park, London. Details from OBC. Mrs S. I). Cobban , Fountains , Park Lane , Blunham, Bedford Xth'44 3KJ 620 Mystery photographs 229. Mystery photograph 192. Identify the species. Answer on pages 651-653 ZEISS Inclusion of plate 229 in colour has been subsidised by support from Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd 621 Announcements ‘The Carl Zeiss Award’ Carl Zeiss Germany, sponsor of the Rarities Committee, is offering an annual prize of Carl 10 X 40 B/GAT Dialyt or 7 X 42 B/GAT binoculars to the photographer who supplies ‘the most helpful, interesting and instructive’ photo- graph of a rarity, taken in Britain. The photograph, a colour print, black-and-white print or transparency, must have been submitted (in the usual ways, \ia the relevant county bird recorder or directly to the Rarities Committee) with a description or set of descriptions which circulates to the Committee (or in time to circu- late to the Committee with descriptions submitted by others). The winning photograph may be big, bright, shaip and beautiful, or be small, dull, fuzzy and admired only by the Committee, but it will have included details which helped to clinch the identification of the bird in question and it may well have added to ornithological knowledge of the species’ identification, ageing or sexing criteria. The winning photograph will be picked by the Chairman of die Rarities Committee and the Managing Editor of British Birds from a short-list selected during the year by the ten members of the Committee. The third Award will be made from among 1993 (and earlier) photographs of birds accepted for inclusion in the 1994 report. The winner will be announced in November 1994. Ehe aim of this award is to encourage the submission of potentially useful photographs to the Rarities Committee, for record assessment, as subsequent reference material, and for possible pub- lication. Runners-up in the competition, and photographers whose rarity photographs have been selected for publication during the year (in the rarities report itself or in ‘Seasonal reports’), will each receive a sew-on woven badge incorporating the Carl Zeiss Award logo, in recognition of their contributions to the rarity assessment process. Each year, the winning photograph will be published in British Birds. The winner will be able to choose which Carl Zeiss binoculars he or she would prefer as a prize. Bird Photograph of the Year In 1994, this annual competition will again be sponsored jointly by Christopher Helm Publishers and Haqx'rCollins Publishers. The rules will be the same as those this year (Bril. Birds 86: 27), but the photographs must have been taken during 1993. There will again be an additional prize, the Windrush Photos Award, for the highest-placed pho- tograph taken by an entrant aged under 2 1 years (please state date of birth if eligible). The closing date is 3 1st January 1994. Please send in your transparencies early. Bird Illustrator of the Year The closing date for this competition, which will again be spon- sored by Kowa telescopes, is Tuesday 15th March 1994. Required dimensions of entries will be the same as for this year (see Brit. Birds 86: 27). Binding your ‘BB’ Standard book-binding of BB issues costs £18.48 per volume. Use the form on the back of the index, and send yours in to arrive before one of the four annual deadlines: 1 5th January, 15th March, 1 st July and 1st October. The binders’ address is: Guidon Journal Bindery, Roslin Road, London W3 8DH, telephone 081-752 0552. Coming soon in ‘BB’ As well as Hippolais warbler identification (see page 623), other papers ‘in the pipeline’ will be covering King Eider Somaleria spectabilis numbers, choughs fyrrhocorax and jackdaws Cowus, Pied Oenanlhe pleschanka and Cyprus Pied Wheatears 0. cypriaca, pollutants in Great Bitterns Botaums stellaris, an invited paper on species and subspecies, ‘splitting’ and ‘lumping’, Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra census, Red-footed Falcons Cairo vesper turns, British woodpecker (Picidae) biology, the latest official report of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, and The strange case of the Whistling Oofoo’. RARITIES COMMITTEE m Germany AWARD 622 wm - FIELE 1 DAYS Alternative venues to Morden, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below. Every effort is made to take our full range of equipment and payment can be made in all the usual ways. Repairs can also be handed in. ★ 10.00 am to 4.00 pm* * PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sunday 28th November and 19th December. * SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevcnoaks Bat and Ball station on Sunday 5th December. ★ BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 junction (with access from the B2042 or B2027; the information centre is to the north of the reservoir) on Sunday 14th November and 12th December. A BURTON MILL POND, 2 miles south of Petworth. W. Sussex (SU. 979. 181 ). off the A285 Sunday 21st November. A COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE near Tring, Herts, on the B488 (off the A41 ) close to Bulbourne Saturday 20th November. A SLIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) Village Hall (on the left, halfway along village road into the W&WT). Saturday 11th December. A DURLSTON COUNTRY PARK off the A351 near Swanage, Dorset. In the visitor centre on Sunday 14th November. A NEW FACILITY selling a selection of our binoculars has been opened here (0929 424443) A THE KENT TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION in the Tyland Barn, near Sandling, Maidstone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, going south), on Sunday 21st November, 10.30am to 4.00 pm. A ALTON WATER, Suffolk, near Ipswich, on the B1080 Holbrook/ Stutton road, Sunday 19th December. A BEWL WATER, Kent, on the A21, just south of Lamberhurst. In the Education Centre Sunday 12th December. The staff of Kay Optical wish you all a HAPPY CHRISTMAS followed by a PEACEFUL NEW YEAR. UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical 5 962 SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc ZEISS £ Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA. 259 10 x 42 Dioptron 175 1 0 x 25 BP Dialyt 339 Spotting scope 20-45x GA.329 1 0 x 50 Dioptron 183 10 x 25 B/TP (New DS) .. .359 8 x 32 (HRII) 194 8 x 20 B/TP (New DS) 349KOWA 8x42 (HRII) 198 8 x 30 BGA/T (P) 699 TSN-1 (45°) body 349 1 0 x 42 (HRII) 209 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) 769 TSN-2 body 349 10 x 50 (HRII) 2,7 10 x 40 BGA/T (P) 769 TSN-3 (F) Prominar body 7x42 (HRII) 196 15x60 BGA/T 1,499 649 7 X 35 Elite 195 TSN-4 (F) Prominar body 9 x 35 Elite 230 BAUSCH & LOMB 649 OH3 7 x 40 Minerva 220 rl x 36 Elite (599)636 25x or 40x eyepiece 80 9x35Minerva 217 8 x 42 Elite (649)699 20x (WA) eyepiece 119 8 x40 Minerva 221 v.10 x 42 Elite... .(649) 699 30x (WA) eyepiece 149 iox 40 Minerva 229 15-45X BGA Elite Scope .395 20-60x zoom eyepiece ... 179 7 x 24, 8 x 24 or 10 x 24 MCF 77mm Elite body 412 60x eyepiece 125 77mm Elite (ED) body 659 77x eyepiece .138 HR 60mm scopes' 20x (WA) Eyepiece 164 Cam. adaptor 800mm 150 Std w/22x (WA) & case 260 30x EVePiece 149 Cam adaptor 1200mm 230 std w/zoom & case 285 20 60x Zoom eyepiece 218 Kowa case 29 GAw/22x (WA) &case 290 800mm Camera Adaptor 1 75 Skua case 40 GA w/z00m & case 320 800mm RA mirror lens kit 299 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 45° w/22x (WA) &case 285 74 45° w/zoom & case 325 7 nn c. rm. NEW 60mm Scopes HR black rubber armoured 7 x 30 SLC (BM) 430 TS-611 body (45°) 316 ED body (299)510 8 x 30 SLC 449 1S6'2 b°dy 296 30x (WA) eyepiece 53 3x42cSLC(new> 659 TS-613 ED Prominar 20-60x zoom eyepiece . .105 7 x 42 SK (new) 599 Body (45°) 656 HR Photokit 72 TS-61 4 ED Prominar Body pj|ter 1Q . 596 Rubber hood 8 x 20 BC Tnnovid 219 20x (WA) eyepiece 74 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid. 269 27x (WA) eyepiece ...109 °ISC0VERY 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 269 20-60x zoom eyepiece 127 8 x 42 or 10 * 42 RP. 10 x 25 BCA Trinovid 298 Also, TSN eyepieces fit the ^ ^28 8x32 BA Trinovid 649 611/614 series. Cases R0SS 7 x 42 BA Trinovid ...698 included. 8 x 42 Cavendish 140 8 X 42 BA Trinovid . 718 10 x 42 Hanover 150 10x42 BA Trinovid 738 BUSHNELL 8 x 42 Regent 170 Spacemaster (black rubber 10 x 42 Kensington 180 ) X 2t | SWIFT 8’/2 x 44 HR Audubon 10 x 50 Audubon armoured) c/wzoom eyepiece .279 and case.. ..270 ADLERBLICK 10 x 42 rubber or leather coated, multi-coated 169 NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof 189 10 x 25 waterproof 199 299 22x (WA) EP 46 25x or 40x EP 36 27x (WA) eyepiece 74 DISCOVERY Photokit 62 8 x 42 or 10 x 42 roof prism, rubber armoured 125 NATUREVIEW 8 x 20 F roof prism 150 ""o k ‘BUDGET BINOS ... .. - ... 8x42 bmos 109 :> Russian 8 x 30 45 Fixed-focus 8 x 35 (with close- up feature) 69 Vega 8 x 40 67 Vega 8 x 30 62 * Monoculars and Glasses available. Opera 10 x 25 F roof prism 165 8 x 30 EOF porro WF .269 OPTOLYTH 10 x 35 ECF porro WF 279 8x30 Alpin 258 Fieldscope II body 329 8x40 Alpin 279 Fieldscope ED II body 589 10x40 Alpin 283 Angled Fieldscope IIA 10x50 Alpin 315 Vega 10x 50 69 body 329 12x50 Alpin 320 Ef!con 7-21 x 40 zoom 79 Angled EDIIA body 589 7x42 Alpin 295 1 5x, 20x, 30x or 40x EP 89 TBG 80 telescope body . 475 30x (WA) eyepiece (new) 169 TBS 80 (45°) body 475 TRIPODS etc 60x eyepiece 109 TBG/TBS 80 Fluorite 725 Cullman ’’Birding/I” 20-45x Zoom eyepiece 169 TBS 65 (45°) body 399 (New) 90 Camera adaptor 189 TBG 65 body 399 Slik 03 105 Mod for other cameras 18 30x ( WW) new eyepiece . . . 1 57 Manfrotto 1 448/200 115 Quality filter 13 20x (WW) eyepiece 138 Manfrotto 290B/200 105 Rubber hood 8 30x or 40x eyepiece 87 Universal clamp 28 Stay-on-case.. 40 70x (WW) eyepiece 189 Car window mount 30 22-60x zoom eyepiece 179 Shoulder pod 35 Nylon case 30 Cullmann hide clamp 60 Stay-on case for TB5/TB9 45 Tripod case 15 Tripod straps, from 7 OPTICRON T-mounts, from 10 8 x 32 Dioptron 163 Lens cleaning kit 4 8 x 42 Dioptron 165 Leather eyepiece pouch 7 with FREE 2 year accident cover We can modify your ear- lier model Nikon tele- scopes to take the zoom eyepiece and the new 30x (WA) eyepiece. • VIEWING FACILITIES • Location Southern edge of Greater London. 15 minutes’ drive from M25 (via the A3, then the Mer- ton turn-off) or 2 minutes’ walk from Morden Underground • Parking 50 yards past our premises — 1st left. • Long-established workshop Optical instru- ment experience unrivalled • Mail Order • Personal Exports including VAT claw-back • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments). • P/x arranged • Used items • Package deals Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought. E.&O.E. Phone: 081-648 8822 Fax: 081-687 2021 (D339) KAY OPTICAL (1962), 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5HP (1st Floor) vn Top binocula^ for the future \ '• Most popular J binoculars Most popular make of binocular Rec&Kirnended by British BirWw. ENGLAND AVON Ace Cameras. Bath BEDFORDSHIRE Countryside Optics. Marston Moretame BERKSHIRE Link Cameras & Video Reading Vic Odden Photographic . Maidenhead CAMBRIDGESHIRE Campkms Camera Exchange Cambridge CHESHIRE Focalpomt Higher Whitley Wildings Photographic. Wilmslow. Delta Firearms. Crewe CO DURHAM Risbeys Modern Camera Shop Darlington CORNWALL Springfield Firearms. St Austell CUMBRIA Abbey Photographic. Keudal DEVON Devon Cantera Centre. Exeter Exmouth Paignton Plymouth; The Sportsman. Paignton DORSE T Weymouth Camera Corner. Weymouth N R Green Ltd. Poole ESSEX E J Markham & Son Ltd, Colchester GLOUCESTERSHIRE Owen Barke Opticians Tewkesbury GTR MANCHESTER Beavers o< Bolton Ltd. Bolton. Pennine Photographic & Binocular Centre. 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Nikon Binoculars NIKON UK LTD. (United Kingdom) 380 RICHMOND ROAD, KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (081) 541 4440 FAX: (081) 541 4584 10- YEAR WARRANTY Fieldscope EDII 10X40DCF HP RA I Bird Illustrator of the Year competition, sponsored by Kowa Telescopes Red-breasted Mergansers displaying. Nik Borrow's award winning 1990 BIY Competition entry. ‘First, and most important, this telescope is optically magnificent, with phenomenal clarity and a superbly large field of view. If you are a birder who is seeking the best possible telescope . . . the optical gain is significant, especially in the worst viewing conditions. It is an elite instrument, to be treasured by those fortunate enough to own one.” Kowa TSN Fluorite lens Dr J T R Sharrock, testing the Kowa TSN-3 with x20W eyepiece, British Birds June 1990. scope, available angled or straight. A superb image Officially appointed distributor for Kowa Telescopes Pyser-SGI Ltd., Fircroft Way, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 6HA (D915 Colour-marked birds: a reminder Although colour-marking may be used in purely local studies (e.g. of behaviour), the majority of studies of marked populations depend upon co- operation lrom all observers who sight the marked individuals. Only in exceptional instances do we publish separate requests on this subject (there are far too many such studies to include them all) you see a bird marked in some way (other than with ordinary BTO rings), please report it as follows: r GORMOtowrs Colour-ring sightings, Dr Robin Sellers, Rose Cottage, Ragnall Lane, Walkley Y\ ood, Nailsworth, Gloucester GL6 oru. SVVANS AND GEESE Colour-ring sightings, Carl Mitchell, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge Gloucester Gl.2 7BT. WADERS Wader Study Group, PO Box 247, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5SN. GU1-LS LarSe g^s: Peter Rock, 32 Kersteman Road, Redlands, Bristol BS6 7BX; small gulls: B'fO. 1 he Nunnery, Nunnery Place, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. all other SPECIES Kevin Baker, BTO. Hippo photos 1 he text is completed for a forthcoming major paper on Hippolais warblers by Hadoram Shirihai, David A. Christie and Alan Harris. lo complete the photographic selection, good-quality transparencies or prints showing individuals in the field are needed as follows: Olivaceous Warbler H. pallida autumn: worn adult Booted Warbler H. caligata autumn: worn adult Olive-tree Warbler H. olivetorum autumn: worn adult Icterinc Warbler H. icterim all plumages Melodious Warbler H. pnlyglotta all plumages Please send original colour transparencies or colour prints to Mrs Sheila Cobban, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. ‘British BirdShop’ subsidises ‘BB’ Please order all your bird books by using the British BirdShop order forms which are included in BB each month (pages v & vi this month). All the profits received by BB go directly towards funding extra pages, extra photographs and the use of colour illustrations within BB itself. By using the POST FREE service" provided by British BirdShop, we try to ensure that you not only receive the friendliest, quickest and most efficient mail-order bird-book service, but also help to improve the contents of BB, and hold down the subscription price, to everyone’s benefit. Thank you for supporting us. Drawings of rare breeding birds tVi tists may care to note that line-drawings are included within the report on ‘Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom every year, and that British Birds always welcomes the submission of drawings of appropriate species for possible selection. Sizes should be those specified for the Bird Illustrator of the Year competition: 16.35 cm wide X 6.9 cm deep, or 8.1 cm wide X 6.0 cm deep, for publication at two-thirds of those sizes. Please send drawings to the BB Editorial Office. 623 Monthly marathon The thick-billed passerine (plate 209) was named by competitors as: Blue Chaffinch Fnngilla teydea (75%) Yellow- throated Sparrow Petronia xanlhocollis (8%) Common Chaffinch F. coelebs (7%) House Sparrow Passer domesticus (6%) with a few votes for Snow (inch Montifringilla nivalis, I rumpeter Finch Bucanetes gUhagineus and two for Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla. It was a female Blue Chaffinch, photographed by A. S. Butler on Tenerife in October 1988 (SCORE 25). The first person to achieve a score of 500 will win a birding trip with SUNBIRD to Africa, Asia or North America. For a Iree SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. 230. Sixth ‘Monthly marathon’, using new rules (sec page 149); eleventh stage: photo no. 90. Iden- tify the species. Send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane. Blunham, Bedford MKt i :iN), to arrive by 15th January 1994 624 Common Buzzard taking Common Teal in flight On 24th November 1985, at Milngavie Reservoir, Lanarkshire, I saw a Common Buzzard Buteo buteo drop on to a Common Teal Anas crecca in flight and carry it off. The duck had taken off with a flock of wildfowl which also included Mallards A platyrhynchos, Eurasian Wigeons A. penelope, Tufted Ducks Aythya fuhguk and Common Pochards A.ferina. The Common Teal did not appear to lag behind the main flock D. Kenney 6 Staffin Street, Summerston, Glasgow G23 5EJ Although the Common Buzzard is an opportunistic feeder, taking whatever is available, this record ol one catching in flight such a fast and agile prey as a Common Teal is noteworthy. Eds Hobbies nesting on pylon During work for the new Bedfordshire breeding atlas, fieldwoikers surveyed areas of the county rarely visited by birdwatchers, arable farmland. In Bedfordshire, these areas are quite extensively crossed by power lines and associated pylons, which are often the most prominent structures in an otherwise flat and featureless landscape. During 1988, intensive fieldwork in one 10-km square resulted in three nests of Hobbies Falco subbuteo being located approximately 3 km apart. At one site, a pair successfully reared three juveniles from an old nest of Carrion Crows Corvus corone situated some 10 m from the ground in the outer arm of a pylon of the box-girder type. At all three sites, Hobbies were seen to use pylons as observation platforms and plucking posts. Although Fiuczynski & Nethersole- Thompson ( Bnt . Birds 73: 293) referred to Hobbies breeding in artificial nests in Germany, I can find no reference to this species nesting on man-made structures. Paul TRODD 1 7 Noithall Road, Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire LU6 2DQ_ Dr Humphrey Crick has informed us that the nest record cards of the BTO contain no records of Hobbies nesting on man-made structures, although there are recent records of Peregrine Falcons F. peregnnus using such sites. He adds: ‘It would certainly seem to be quite a wonderful way to allow these birds to spread further, although I am not sure how safe they would be from the depredations of egg-collectors etc.’ Eds Common Coot eating its own egg At about 06.30 hours on 5th April 1990, while checking a set of seven nests of Common Coot Fulica atra on the conduit that carries the River Ver through Verulamium Park, St Albans, Hertfordshire, I saw an incubating coot eat the contents of one of its eggs. As I walked along the adjacent path at a distance of 3-5 m from the nests (the coots are fully habituated to people using the park), I passed the penultimate 625 626 Notes nest to check the last one some 30-40 m farther downstream. On returning, I could see that the Common Coot was holding an egg in its mouth, apparently with its lower mandible puncturing the shell. It placed the egg beside its right flank and then ate the contents, apparendy as they* dribbled out, covering its beak and frontal lobe with yolk. Finally, it pushed the egg back underneath its body and continued incubating. Such behaviour by Common Coots appears not to have been recorded before (cf. Brit. Birds 40: 199-203; 62: 134-143). Among the British rails and crakes (Rallidae), bigamous male Moorhens Gallinula chloropus or one of their mates were recorded destroying eggs laid by the other female (D. W. Gibbons, Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 19: 221-232), and a Water Rail Rallus aquaticus destroyed an egg that had not hatched within 24 hours of the rest of its clutch of nine eggs Lord William Percy, 1951, Three Studies in Bird Character). Neither of these records, however, is similar to that in St Albans. Humphrey Q,. P. Crick British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, The ford, Norfolk IP24 2PU Derek Goodwin has queried whether this may have been a response to accidental egg breakage. A similar instance to that above, however, involved a Moorhen deliberately piercing a hole in one of its own eggs and feeding the contents to its chicks {Brit. Birds 62: 1 1 6). Eds Common Coot feeding eggshell to young At 18.35 hours on 13th May 1991, in the Birstall Lakes Park, north of Leicester, I noticed the nest of a Common Coot Fulica atm with three recently hatched young. Although their down was dry, none of the nestlings was attempting to leave the nest, though all were begging for food. Both parents were in attendance. The egg-tooth was clearly visible on each chick. As I watched, one of the parents appeared to feed a chick with a white substance from within the nest. This was repeated, and when I watched carefully through binoculars the substance proved to be eggshell which had been broken into small pieces. On the following day, 1 revisited the site: the young had left, but it was not possible to examine the nest cup to check how much shell remained. I). A. C. McNeil 175 Byron Street, Ijoughhorough, Leicestershire LEI I OJN Juvenile Common Coot incubating eggs On 8th July 1991, at Pugneys Country Park, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, a pair of Common Coots Fulica atm had laid a second clutch of eggs in a nest on a small pile of stones at the water’s edge of the reserve lake. Their first clutch had produced two young, one of which, now well grown, was close by the nest. One of the adults (easily identified, as it had streaks of white on its head and neck) had been about for some months and was assumed, from previous observations while it attended its mate during incubation of the first brood, to be the male. This individual was now incubating the second clutch. The juvenile coot was seen to swim towards the nest, carrying some nest material, which it dropped at the foot of Notes 627 the nest on the pile of stones. It then climbed out of the water and up on to the nest, and the male left the nest and entered the water. At least two crps were visible in the nest. The juvenile settled on to the eggs and began to incubate Some two or three minutes later, another adult Common Coot, presumed to be the female, swam towards the nest and climbed on to it. The juvenile got up from the eggs and moved to one side, closely watching the iemale, before sitting down on one side of the nest. The female then settled on the eggs, side by side with the juvenile and facing in the same direction. The two remained in this position for at least 15 minutes, before I left. During the time both coots were on the nest together, the female began first to preen hcrsell and then to preen the head and neck of the juvenile. Geoffrey Carr Fem Cottage, Cardigan Lane, Manor Road, Ossett, West Yorkshire Juvenile Common C.oots and Moorhens Gallinula chloropus are both known to help in feeding their later-brood siblings (e.g. Brit. Birds 67: 150-151; Fjeldsa, 1977, The Coot and the Moorhen). We are, however, unaware of any records of juvenile Common Coots assisting in incubation, although this has been recorded for juvenile Moorhens (Brit. Birds 57: 123). Eds Whimbrels perching on overhead electricity cables On 26th December 1988, in the coastal marshes near Banjul, The Gambia, I saw seven Whimbrels Numemus phaeopus perched on overhead electricity cables along the side ol a main road (plate 231). I here was no aerial predator visible, but a predator may have been in the mangrove bushes below, causing the Whimbrels to take refuge on the wires. Another explanation may have been that they were roosting at high tide (cf. Brit. Birds 78: 236; 83: 289). Single Whimbrels were observed on other occasions perched at the top of dc ad trees about 1 2 m above the mangrove swamps, but no others were seen to use electricity cables. Philip Palmer 72 Grove Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 7JN 231. Whimbrel Numemus phaeopus, perching on electricity cable, The Gambia, December 1988 (. Philip Palmer) 628 Notes Spotted Sandpiper displaying to and mating with Common Sandpiper On 5th June 1990, at Elland gravel-pits, West Yorkshire, I watched a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia frequently display to a Common Sandpiper A. hypoleucos. It also spent much time in surrounding vegetation, apparently calling to its congener. At 20.00 GMT, I was able to approach the waders to within about 50 m without disturbing them. From cover, I observed the Spotted Sandpiper approach the Common Sandpiper and display: it raised its wings vertically and circled the latter in a buoyant and bouncing manner, this culminating in its mating with the Common Sandpiper and then taking flight, calling quite loudly. The Common Sandpiper did not seem unduly excited and proceeded to splash itself at the water’s edge and then preen. David Lawrence 1 6 Thomas Street Rastrick, Bughouse, I Vest Yorkshire HD6 HBD Glaucous Gulls feeding at overturned icebergs On 16th July 1989, at Jakobshavns Icefjord, Jakobshavn (Ilulissat), West Greenland, we noticed that, when an iceberg was turning over in the sea, four or five Glaucous Gulls Larus hyperboreus soon arrived to feed on the surface of the water and of the overturned ice, probably on crustaceans or other organisms brought to the surface by the movement of ice. The loud thunder-like sound caused by the crash of ice into the sea may have attracted the gulls. 1 he next day, the remains of a very big iceberg (weighing millions of tonnes) had covered the sea area for several kilometres around with pieces of crashed ice (one caused the death of three sailors). Within a few hours, about 170 Glaucous Gulls were feeding in the same manner, where previously we had seen no more than ten. Similar opportunistic feeding behaviour was recorded by Harrison (1979, Condor 81: 93-95) in the Bering Sea, where bottom-feeding grey whales Eschrichtius robustus were bringing quantities of detritus to the surface. Fui.VIO FraTICEI.LI and ALESSANDRO MONTEM AGGIORI SROPU, c/ o Oasi WWF ‘ Bosco di Palo', Via Palo Laziale, 2-00055 Ladispoli, Rome, Italy Common Terns feeding on fishermen’s bait On 27th June 1987, at Priory Country Park, Bedford, I noticed several Common Terns Sterna hirundo feeding on pupae ol the blowfly Calliphora vomitona placed on the water as bait by fishermen. On 30th June 1990, within a minute of two handfuls of this bait being thrown, nine Common Terns arrived and hovered over the food, picking it from the surface; they normally carried out this activity about 3-4 m from the shoreline, but when the fisherman was rebaiting his line they f'cd as close as 1-1.5 m to him. I have noticed this behaviour on several other dates. It did not begin on the first day of the fishing season, but after 1 1 days in 1987 and 14 in 1990, suggesting that a learning period is involved. David Kramer 7 Little Headlands, Putnoe, Bedford MP4 1 8JT Daurian Redstart in Scodand Dr Alan Knox’s paper on behalf of the BOU Records Committee on the occurrence of the Daurian Redstart Phoenicians auroreus on the Isle of May, Fife, in 1988 (Brit. Birds 86: 359-366) highlights well the problems of maintaining the British List. On the evidence presented, it would appear that the bird was not of ‘natural’ origin, but had reached the island through the agency of man. The broken primary tips were cited among the supporting evidence for this conclusion. If the same criterion was generally applied to other rare species, some recently accepted records must also be reduced to the status of ‘non-bird’, so far as the British List is concerned. As a prime example, we would refer to the Daurian Starling Stumus sluminus caught on Fair Isle, Shetland, in spring 1985 (Brit. Birds 82: 603-612). The hand-held bird shows clearly in the photographs published (plates 367 & 369) that at least two primaries of the left wing and one of the right have the tips broken off, exactly as Dr Knox points out on the Daurian Redstart. The written description mentions ‘slight wear on outermost (2nd) primary’, a rather economical understatement. The tail is also mentioned as having a broken outer feather. The photographs show a bedraggled tail in which the state of wear would be difficult to assess. Despite these hallmarks of captivity, the BOURC accepted the record as being of genuine occurrence. Double standards appear to be being operated by the Committee, and one or other species should be reviewed. Some anomalies appear in Dr Knox’s review of the Daurian Redstart which we can perhaps clarify. The cause of death was by inhalation of fine dust particles disturbed in the burrow when the bird was caught. This was obvious from the mouth and oesophageal tract when BZ skinned the bird. There were no injuries or subcutaneous marks to show that the bird had been manhandled. Catching birds which have gone down burrows on the Isle of May happens occasionally and has never previously proved hazardous for the birds caught. The Daurian Redstart had been unfrozen for a few days and then frozen and defrosted prior to skinning, and hence showed signs of feather ‘slipping’ around the rump and tail (as is obvious in plate 1 16); the other central tail feather had fallen out before the bird was skinned (as seen in the same photograph), not during skinning as was suggested. The dehydration and desiccation may account for the weight discrepancies mentioned: the weight at capture (taken by KB) is undoubtedly the more accurate. As can also be seen from plate 116 and from fig. 1 on page 365, the legs were brown, not black, as described by Marc Jones and Robert Proctor in 629 630 Letters their notes. The bird was fully grown, according to its skull pneumatisation, and the testes were enlarged. It would probably have bred (or hybridised) that summer. The hirundine flea, which had been adhering to the bird, was probably from one of the nests of Bam Swallow Hirundo rustica on the Isle of May, in which the Redstart may have roosted. This practice, and the bird’s habit of entering rabbit burrows, could account for the damage to the primaries. Although perhaps academic, it is worth recording that the Daurian Redstart had a full stomach, and the following invertebrates were identified: an adult Carabid beetle, an adult Curculionid weevil, some adult Dipteran flies, some Lepidoptera larvae, some midge larvae, a spider and a beetle larva. Clearly, the bird had no difficulty finding adequate food and thus maintaining its body condition, which was, in our opinion, good. This also suggests that the bird seen on 23rd March was probably the same one. There is an abundance of invertebrates on the Isle of May at most times of the year, and any insectivorous species could survive with little chance of starvation. Bernard Zonfrillo and Keith Brockie 28 Brodie Road , Glasgow G2J 3SB We understand that the BOU Records Committee was already, even before the comments by Bernard Zonfrillo and Keith Brockie in this letter, re-examining the evidence concerning the origins of the Daurian Starling which occurred on Fair Isle. Eos Song Thrushes feeding on periwinkles McCanch & McCanch (Brit. Birds 85: 618) reported a Song Thrush Turdus philomelos feeding on periwinkles Littorina littorea during a period of severely cold weather in Kent. Marine molluscs may form a more-usual component of the diet of Hebridean Song Thrushes T. p. hebridensis. This race is described in the Handbook of British Birds (Witherby et at., vol. 2, pp. 118-119, 1940) as frequenting the seashore in winter and picking up snails and marine molluscs. While on the Isle of Harris (Meavag, near Tarbcrt), Outer Hebrides, on 8th September 1974, I watched ‘three or four' Song Thrushes feeding amongst the tidal rocks on periwinkles, which they smashed against the rocks. I found several smashed shells and, after watching one bird closely, noted that the ‘shells require quite a bit of bashing’. Periwinkle shells arc considerably thicker than Cepaea or land-snail shells and may represent an energetically more-expensive food resource. Use of the littoral zone in this way may be an important adaptation enabling Song Thrushes to colonise and survive in relatively barren island habitats, and it would be interesting to discover the extent to which Hebridean Song Thrushes rely on marine snails as a food source. CHRIS Red FERN Westfield House , Acomb, Hexham , Northumberland .HE46 4RJ Song Thrushes feeding on periwinkles I was most intrigued to read the note and letter on Song Thrushes Turdus philomelos feeding on periwinkles from McCanch & McCanch (Brit. Birds 85: 618) and Hardy (Brit. Birds 86: 134) and Letters 631 Derek Goodwin's comment appended to the first contribution. This habit is much commoner than the authors suggested. The following is a direct quote Irom page 105 of my book British Thrushes (1978): ‘Manne molluscs are perhaps taken more widely by some of die thrush species than has been previously suspected, especially in cold weather. O. D. Hunt watched a score of song thrushes Tn^he' rmm°h P™^eS lltt0rea> in January 1963 along the shoreline of St John’s on stones” S rSf K n “they Were bcatinS the m°^cs out of their shells on stones Some of the birds worked away on the beach while others carried the molluscs to chlftop anvils normally used for dealing with garden snails. This habit has been regularly recorded on the estuary of the Exe in Devon and was described in the County Bird Report' for 1940 FoUowmgon notes in the journal British Birds the editors asked for further information about this bn of shoreline feeding and they received nine replies. C. J. Feare (1967) writing about the enquiry observed that the habit of thrushes feeding in the littoral zone “does not seem to be uncommon Both common periwinkles and the rough winkle (L saxatihs) have been found in the t s of blackbird mistie thrush, song thrush, Hebridean song thrush and redwing. Song thrushes i win a S° , , 01,V S WhC'lks { Jhais~Nucelk, kpUlus >— a habit mentioned by Howard Saunders in 9 m h‘s An Illustrated Manual of British Birds- and perhaps on topshells ( Gibbula ) as well. In cold weather fieldfares can sometimes be seen exploring the beach for small marine animals Hebridean song thrushes have been known to take small crabs and Bernard King watched son? thrushes in September 1959 on St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly competing with tumstones and dunlin lot the crop of sandhoppers ( Gammarus locusta) that appeared on the wet sand and in the lic e wrack. Marine worms may also form a food resource and blackbirds have been recorded taking lugworms {Arenicola), ribbon worms and greenish polychaete worms from the sands on the Solent and song thrushes lugworms at low tide on the Isles of Scilly. ‘Many of these observations illustrate the wide tastes of members of the genus Tardus.’ I know how easy it is to overlook previous records, but British Birds seems to have ignored its own request for information on this topic as well as the paragraph in my own book. During 56 years of publishing my own ornithological discoveries, observations and bibliographical references I have experienced at least a dozen examples in which these have been ignored or missed. It is a pity if obvious sources are not consulted. Eric Simms 2 1 Church Street, South Witham, Grantham , Lincolnshire . NG33 5PJ YVe do try- to refer to relevant parts of the extensive ornithological literature before publishing notes, in which we aim to record original observations, but we are fallible; we accept Mr Simms’s criticism. Eds Treecreeper puzzle Hans Schouten reported four Short- toed Treecreepers Certhia brachydactyk roosting in a tree crevice (Brit. Birds 86: 369-370), but I consider that his photograph (plate 122) shows at least five and probably six individuals. Alan Harris 60 East Park, Harlow, Essex CM 17 OSE Hans Schouten now agrees that six may be the correct count. He has kindly supplied an additional transparency, in which the treecreepers are in slightly different positions. Alan Harris has perused and analysed this second photograph in detail, and has demonstrated that it shows parts of at least six different individuals. Eds The sparrows fall Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (Brit. Birds 86: 275) has drawn the attention of British Birds readers to the suggestion that there have been recent declines in the numbers of House Sparrows Passer domesticus in Britain. We 632 letters should like to correct the statement that the species has not been covered by the British 1’rust for Ornithology’s Common Birds Census (see Marchant et at. 1990). Furthermore, B TO data confirm a shallow decline in House Sparrow numbers over the last 16 years. House Sparrows were specifically excluded from the CBC in instructions issued up to the early 1970s, on the grounds that problems of access to build- ings and of estimating the sizes of large colonies made censuses impractical at many sites. Subsequendy, however, observers were encouraged to count House Sparrows wherever possible, although the number of plots for which we receive data remains relatively small. Our recent review of population changes (Marchant et al. 1990) found that censuses had been taken at enough sites to allow an index of House Sparrow population size to begin in 1976 (fig. 1). This index shows a 32% decline in House Sparrow numbers between 1976 and 1992 (based on an average of around 50 plots in each year-to-year com- parison), supporting Dr Sharrock’s contention. Other data collected by the B I O are consistent with a recent decrease. Winter counts from suburban gardens in the BTO’s Garden Bird Feeding Survey peaked in the winter ol 1976/77 (after highly successful breeding in the hot, dry summer of 1976), and declined by 15-20% over the period 1978- 88 (Thompson 1988). Changes in House Sparrow distribution between 1968- 72 (Sharrock 1976) and 1988-91 are evident in the maps of The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991 (Gibbons et al. 1993). There have been losses in northern Scotland, the Scottish borders and Ireland. Summers- Smith (1993) speculates in Tie New Atlas that the apparent decline is due mainly to reductions in food supply through increasing intensification of farm- land. Interestingly, other European monitoring schemes suggest that House Sparrow populations have been relatively stable over the last ten years (Hus- tings 1992). 120 80 x 60 ro CD D CD "U C 40 20 0 — 1— — L L I i I 1_ i __ .... .1 I I I 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 Fig. I Common Birds Census index values for House Sparrows Passer domesticus. The index was set arbitrarily at 100 in 1980. Data were drawn from all plots, irrespective of habitat Letters 633 Common Birds Censuses are taken almost exclusively on farmland and in wood and, while many, or perhaps most. House Sparrows nest in urban and subuiban habitats. On farmland especially, it is still the case that many census-takers omit House Sparrows from their returns. For these reasons, and because numbers are relatively variable between sites, we cannot be sure how T c°!nfSU tS rePresent lhe real changes in population size. It is hoped that the BIOs new Breeding Bird Survey, which will cover all habitats, and because of its random selection of counting sites will be far more representa- m'e ol Britain as a whole, will provide a better measure of population changes 01 House Sparrow (among other species) from 1994 onwards. Please contact Dr Richard Gregory at the BTO if you would like further information about this new survey, which begins in the spring of 1994. The CBC is funded under a contract from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf ol English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales, and Scottish Natural Heritage, and under a contract from the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. Dawn Balmer andJoHN Marchant Census l blit, British Trust for Omitholog)>, The .Nunnery, Thetford, No folk lPr>4 2PU REFERENCES Gibbons, D \V„ Rkid.J. B, & Chapman R. A. 1993. The New Atlas of Breeding Buds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991 . London. Husiings, K 1992. European monitoring studies on breeding birds: an update. Bird Census News 5 (2): 1-56. SOVON, The Netherlands. Marchant, J. H„ Hudson R., Garter S. E, & Whittington P. A. 1990. Population Trends in British Breeding Birds. BTO/NCC, Tring. Sharrock, J. 1. R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton. Summers-Smith, J. D. 1993. House Sparrow. In: Gibbons el al., The New Allas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. London. Thompson, P. S. 1988. Long-term Trends in the Use of Gardens by Birds. BTO Research Report 32. \\ e are delighted that the kite flown in ‘News and comment’ has provoked this useful response fioiu the BIO. We have also received nine letters from subscribers commenting on the situation in their local areas, seven confirming decreases (GeofTrey Carr, West Yorkshire; K. Heron, Staffordshire; J. Holt, East Sussex: J. G. Parker, Norfolk; K. G. Spencer, Lancashire; Paul Trodd, Bedfordshire; and Duncan Wood, Lancashire) and two reporting no sign of a decline (Derek Goodwin, Kent; Mrs J. Irvine, Hampshire). Geoffrey Carr particularly drew a comparison with the position many years ago when huge flocks formed to feed on stooked com, and K. G. Spencer drew attention to his The Countryside Around Us (1989), where he commented that ‘Post- breeding flocks in the countryside (“town sparrows on their holidays”, as Clifford Oakes used to call them) aie less often seen, and communal roosts in winter time are . . . becoming more excep- tional.’ The I Vest Midland Bird Club Bulletin (no. 369, September/October 1993) included the ques- tion But can anyone tell me where have all the House Sparrows gone? Very few visited my bird table through the winter and virtually none through the summer.’ In addition, Dr Hans-Giinther Bauer has drawn our attention to the paper by himself and George Heine (J. Orn. 133: 1-22) documenting a 22.1% decline in numbers of House Sparrows between 1980/81 and 1990/91 found by comparing line-transect counts by 100 observers in 278 tetrads in Austria, Germany and Switzerland around Lake Constance. Eds Great Auk Islands: a field biologist in the Arctic. By Tim Birk- head. Illustrated by David Quinn. T. & A. 1). Poyser, London, 1993. 275 pages; 14 colour plales; 91 black-and-white plates; 36 line-drawings. ISBN 0-85661 -077- 1 . £22.00. T he title of this book is a double entendre, using the strict definition of that phrase: ‘to have two meanings’. This is principally an account of the author’s experiences studying seabirds, mainly Common Guillemot Uria aalge and Briinnich’s Guillemot l . lorrmia , on islands in the Canadian High Arctic and oil the coast of Labrador. Sandwiched within this is a section devoted to the Great Auk Alca impennis. One of the islands visited in the course of the author’s seven summers in Canada was Funk Island, ofl the coast of Newfoundland, the site of one of the two known breeding colonies of Great Auks on that side of the Atlantic. It was this that stimulated thoughts on how these birds actually lived, and there follows a fascinating survey of the existing, often rather skimpy, knowl- edge of their breeding biology, fleshed out with careful deduction and hypothesis based on the author’s detailed studies of the two smaller auks. By assembling the available evidence from old accounts of the bird and adding his own scientific judgments, Tim Birkhead concludes that the young of Great Auks were precocial, leaving the nesting site within a few days of hatching. Among arguments he puts forward in favour of this theory is that it would relieve the flightless adults of the high energy expenditure of carrying food back to the chick in the nest, which in turn would have to be guarded by one of the parents. Perhaps surprisingly, the parallel with penguins, which do exactly this, is not drawn. .As an aside, I particularly liked the story that, because of the exceptionally high demand for Great Auk skins once they had become extinct, taxonomists at the Hancock Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne used to make up fakes using, among other bits and pieces, the wings of Razorbills Alca torda, which were almost exactly the right size. The details of the author’s research on guillemots are presented in a most readable text, accom- panied by apposite photographs and excellent line-drawings, wrapped up in what is, essentially, a travelogue, detailing some of the perils as well as the enjoyment of moving around in a part of the world where communications and transport are often difficult or erratic, or both. The fisherman who took the author and other biologists out to one group of remote islands insisted on being paid on arrival at the islands. He never returned to pick them up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can wholeheartedly recommend it, whether your interests are islands, the Arctic or, indeed, auks, great or small. Malc:oi.M OdlA'IE Rare Birds in Britain 1992. By L. G. R. Evans. Evans, Little Chalfont, 1993. 167 pages; 16 colour plates; 28 line-drawings; 33 distribution maps. Paperback £9.95. This, Lee Evans’s third annual labour of love, contains a remarkable number of rarity and scarce- migrant records, gleaned from the various rarc-bird information lines, county recorders and individual observers. Whilst his ‘judge and jury’ approach generally works well with the major rarities, the big question is: how' accurate is the rest of the book? To test this, I compared Rare Birds with my own county’s annual publication, the high-quality Avon Bird Report. 1 discovered discrepancies with 32 of the 42 records which I found in the two publications. These largely involved differences with 6.34 Reviews 635 eitlS e iected i ‘V ^ P ? ^ r'P°rt and deluded five tha, were , ’ected by’ °runot SL*bmitted to, the local committee. This may not, of course necessarily an indictment of the author since his book is only as good as the information received but it does emphasise the size and difficulty of his task. Despite this, it is an attractive, well-designed and well-produced publication with some excellent colour Photographs and distribution maps, while the author’s own refreshing enthusiasm is rea2 apparent from my point of view, its strong point is its analyses of the scarce migrants, which are c.DaK(,nOp' m (c,er Pf] iCati°nS (f°r CXample’ who would have guessefthat there were nearly t U,UU(J ro marine Skuas Stercoranus pomarinus reported in 1 992?). Jlt™ aClm!;. that 1 fed Unueasy about lhe increasing trend towards publishing unsubstantiated ■ g lgs, but .1 one accepts that it is not definitive, then it can clearly be regarded as a useful and recommended supplement to the twitcher’s library, and one that will no doubt continue to evolve fhe author can certainly be congratulated on his hard work. Kei th VlNICOMBE The Kestrel. By Michael Shrubb. Hamlyn, London, 1993. 128 pages; 13 colour plates; 4 colour illustrations; 21 line-drawings. ISBN 0-540-01^78-5 Paperback £9.99. Not only is the Common Kestrel Falco lirmunculus the one raptor that everyone can easily see, it is also one of the best researched, having in recent years been subject to detailed studies in several parts o Europe. I lus most recent book on the species provides a brief descriptive account which draws heavily on some of this research, and at the same time contains some of the author’s own observations and some new analyses of nest records and ringing recoveries from the British Trust for Ornithology. 1 he layout of the book is fairly conventional, with chapters on races and distribution, habitat and population, food and hunting, territory and display, breeding, moult, roosting, movements and mortality. In depth of treatment, the book lies somewhere between the Poyser volume on the Kestrel by Andrew \ ullage (1990), which is the most detailed and scientifically rigorous, and the popular and highly personalised account of the species by Gordon Riddle (1991). Michael Shrubbs’s book is readable and succinctly written, and, by today’s standards reasonably priced. i ’ The Black Robin: saving the world’s most endangered bird. By David Buder & Don Merton. (OUP, New York, 1992. 294 pages. ISBN 0-19-558260-8. Paperback £ 19.50) This is an adventu re story, documenting the trials and tribulations of the successful (so far) rescue from extinction of the Chatham Islands Robin Petroica traversi. It has, in reality, been saved three times: first by the inaccessibility of its last refuge, Little Mangere Island, which remained free of rats, cats and other such ground predators; secondly by its not being recognised as a full species until the middle of this century, thereby avoiding the unwanted attention of Victorian bird- collectors; and thirdly by the experimental translocation from Little Mangere to Mangere Island and South East Island and fostering by other species, notably the (despite its name) closely related Tomtit Petroica macrocephala chalhamensis. The book is well written and well illustrated, and those not interested in the minutiae can easily skip the bits of scientific detail, for, although this is a complete history of the successful experiments, the story is told largely in narrative form. JTRS Camouflage in Nature: changing colour for survival. By Marco Ferrari. (Prion, London, 1993. 144 pages. ISBN 1-85375-113-8. £ 18.99) The large format (36 cm X 26 cm) allows the stunning photographs to be repro- duced at huge size for maximum impact. Un- fortunately, the subjects are almost invariably far too large, so that the camouflaged animal is perfectly obvious and its background is scarcely shown. How' much better this book w'ould have been had one needed to look at each illustration hard in order to find the camou- flaged creature. JTRS A Birdwatchers’ Guide to Southern Spain and Gibraltar. By Clive Fin- layson. Illustrated by Mike Langman. (Prion, Perry, 1993. 89 pages. ISBN 1-87-1 1 04- 033. Paperback £9.75) As with previous books in this series (covering Morocco, Brit. Birds 83: 292, Nepal, Brit. Birds 81: 675, and Seychelles), the layout and design are crisp, clear and very 636 Reviews easy indeed to follow. As well as accounts of the best birding areas, with appropriate maps, there is excellent advice on how to travel, whether to hitchhike, dangers from theft, illness or bulls (and cows!), what weather to expect and what clothing to take. Don’t dream of visiting this area without reading this book thoroughly beforehand and taking it widi you. JTRS Birds on Lowland Farms. By Peter Lack. (HMSO, London, 1992. 140 pages. ISBN 0-85661-043-7. Paperback £ 1 4.95i This excellent book is about the impact of manage- ment of lowland farms (defined as those below 300 m) on birds. It results from a collaboration between the British Trust for Ornithology, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture. The book aims to de- scribe what birds need and use in the farmland landscape, which factors are most important in deciding distribution and abundance, what the effects of different management practices are, and how management may be improved for birds within viable farming. Does it succeed? Yes! Each chapter includes management recommendations, and a final chapter lists eight general principles for man- aging farmland for the benefit of birds. The conflicts between conservation and the most profitable farming are firmly admitted and sen- sible compromises suggested. It is clear, w'ell written and comprehensive. 1 recommend it highly. Michael Shrubb The Natural History of the Oak Tree. By Richard Lewington & David Streeter. (Dorling Kindersley, London, 1993. 60 pages. ISBN 0-7513-0048-9. £ 12.99) Fungi, bugs, galls, beetles, moths, the lot: all illustrated in 60 painting-filled pages, knowledgeably annotated. A look-and-browse book. JTRS Whistling in the Dark: in pursuit of the Nightingale. By Richard Mabey. (Sin- clair-Stevenson, London, 1993. 120 pages. ISBN 1-85619-176-1. £9.99) To quote the author, ‘This book does not set out to be an ornitho- logical study . . . Whistling in the Dark is an episodic account . . . through the matted thick- ets of medieval poetry, adolescent romanticism and animal psychology, and the scrubby wastes where they overlap.’ JTRS A Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali: the Greater Sunda Islands. By John MacKinnon & Karen Phillipps, with Paul Andrew & Frank Rozendaal. (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1993. 507 pages. ISBN 0-19-854035-3 (hbk); 0-19-854034-5 (pbk). Hardback £50.00; paperback £25.00) This guide illustrates till 820 bird species of the Greater Sundas in colour for the first time, with 88 plates which are both attractive and generally accurate, despite some problems with scale (e.g. compare Garnet and Giant Pittas). Unfortunately, the concise text is frequently too superficial and the layout is rather wasteful of space: the species descriptions are often little more than extended plate captions, simply describing fea- tures which can be seen readily on the plates, with little detail on difficult plumages or comparison with similar species. Zoogeograph- ically, it would have been useful to include die Malay Peninsula, which essentially shares the same avifauna. Nevertheless, this book is essen- tial for anyone visiting the region and will re- main the standard for some years. Nigei. Redman The Hawkmoths of the Western Palearctic. By A. R. Pittaway. (Harley Books, Great Horkesley, 1993. 240 pages. ISBN 0-946589-21-6. £55.00) This is another in the wonderful series of definitive volumes pub- lished by Harley Books. Produced in associa- tion with the Natural History Museum, this covers all 57 West Palearctic hawkmoths (Sphingidae), illustrated in colour by photo- graphs of mounted specimens (imagos) or by paintings (larvae). 'Flic book is dedicated to the memory of the late L. Hugh Newman (1909- 1993). ' JTRS The Peregrine Falcon. 2nd edn. By Derek Ratcliffe. (T. & A. D. Povscr, London, 1993. 454 pages. ISBN 0-85661-060-7. £25.00) The classic monograph, first published in 1980 (reviewed Brit. Birds 74: 310-31 1), now- updated especially in relation to the increase in numbers of Peregrine Falcon Valeo peregrinus not only in Britain and Ireland but also in many other parts of its w'orld range, and with the incorporation of much new information on the biology of the species. JTRS Bats of Britain and Europe. By Wilfried Schober & Eckard Grimmberger. Consultant Editor Dr Robert E. Stebbings. (Hamlvn Publishing, London, 1993. 224 pages, isbn 0-600-57965-4. Paperback £8.99) One third of this field guide is devoted to the biology of bats in general and the rest to individual accounts of the 30 Reviews European species and an identification key. Illustration is almost entirely by means of photographs. There is relatively little on identification in the field (as distinct from in the hand), though there are sonagrams for 20 species. Ranges are described, but there are no distribution maps. JTRS A Supplement to Distribution and Tax- onomy of Birds of the World. By Charles G. Sibley & Burt L. Monroe. (Yale University Press, London, 1993. 108 pages. ISBN 0-300-05549-8. Paperback £19.95) With 108 pages, densely packed with hundreds of amendments and corrections (everything from minor spelling mistakes to new splitting or lumping of species), this is an essential pur- chase for everyone owning and using the Sib- ley & Monroe tome (1990). The authors now recognise 9,699 species (in 2,063 genera). JTRS Puffins. By Kenny Taylor. Illustrated by John Cox. (Whittet Books, London, 1993. 128 pages. ISBN 1-873580-06-1. £7.99) One is bound to ask whether another book on the Puffin Fratercula arctica is justified, but here the answer is ‘Yes’. Could one say otherwise, when the author has spent years studying Puffins? 637 This informative book is much enlivened by John Cox s illustrations, both serious (if one can say that about this bird), and cartoons, to which the Puffin admirably lends itself. If you do not have a book on Puffins, then buy this one, and make sure a friend who has yet to experience the thrill of a Puffin colony has one 35 we^- David Saunders Where to Find Birds in North East Queensland. By Jo Wieneke. Jo Wieneke, Belgian Gardens, Queensland, 1992. 124 pages. ISBN 0-646-06975-6. Paperback AS 15.00) This bird-finding guide covers the aieas around and between Cairns and Townsville. The first half is a guide to sites, which seems detailed and accurate, and in- cludes clear maps of each area. The second half comprises a systematic list, with a sentence or two about the status of each species, a very useful key for identifying the northern rainfor- est possums (Phalangeridae) which are a high- light of any spotlighting trip and much easier to find than owls, a selected bibliography, and lists of cassette recordings, maps and guides. This excellent source of information for any- one visiting this part of Queensland is recom- mended. David Fisher ALSO RECEIVED The Japanese Crane: bird of happiness. Revised edn. By Dorothy Britton & Tsuneo Hayashida. (Kodansha International, Tokyo, 1993. 64 pages. ISBN 4-7700-1768-5. £22.50) Healing the Planet: strategies for resolving the environmental crisis. By Paid R. Ehrlich & Anne H. Ehrlich. (Surrey Beatty, Chipping Norton (NSW), 1992. 366 pages. ISBN 0-949324-46-9 Paperback AS22.00) " Photographic Field Guide. Birds of Britain and Europe. 2nd edn. By Jim Flegg. Photographs by David Hosking. (New Holland, London, 1993. 256 pages. ISBN 1-85368-244-6. Hardback £14.99. ISBN 1- 85368-263-2. Paperback £9.99) (Reviewed Brit. Birds 84: 31-32) The Birds of Cyprus. BOU Checklist No. 6. 2nd edn. By Peter Flint & Peter Stewart. (BOU Tring, 1992. 234 pages. ISBN 0-907446-14-0. Hardback £22.50) (Reviewed Brit. Birds 76: 600) The Macmillan Field Guide to Bird Identification. 2nd edn. By Alan Harris, Laurel Tucker & Keith Vinicombe. (Pan Macmillan, London, 1993. 224 pages. ISBN 0-333-59280-8. Paperback £7.99) (Re- viewed Brit. Birds 82: 421) Born to Sing: an interpretation and world survey of bird song. Reprint. (Indiana University Press, Bloomington and London, 1973. 304 pages. ISBN 0-253-32729-6. Hardback £28.50. ISBN 0-253-20743-6. Paperback £1 1.99) (Reviewed Brit. Birds 66: 403-404) Eric Hosking’s Owls. 3rd edn. By Eric Hosking with Dr Jim Flegg. (Michael Joseph, London, 1993. 171 pages. ISBN 0-7207-1601-2. Paperback £12.99) (Reviewed Brit. Birds 75: 435) Where to Watch Birds in Scotland. 2nd edn. By Mike Madders & Julia Welstead. (Christopher Helm Publishers, London, 1993. 313 pages. ISBN 0-7136-3704-8. Paperback £1 1.99) (Reviewed Brit Birds 84- 77-78) Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa. 1991 update. 3rd edn. By Kenneth Newman. (HarperCollins, London, 1992. 480 pages. ISBN 0-00-219950-5. Paperback £14.99) (Reviewed Brit. Birds 78: 688-689) Florida Bird Species: an annotated list. By William B. Robertson Jr & Glen E. Woolfenden. (Florida Ornithological Society, Gainesville, 1992. 260 pages. Hardback S22.95. Paperback SI 7.95) A Birder’s Guide to Wyoming. By Oliver K. Scott. (American Birding Association, Colorado Springs 1993. 246 pages. ISBN 1-878788-02-7. Paperback SI 4.95) Studies of West Palearctic birds 192. Bullfinch* Ian Newton In many respects, the handsome Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula is quite distinct from most other finches of the West Palearctic region. Its coloration is striking, more different between the sexes than with other finches, and both adult and juvenile plumages lack any hint of streaking. The feathers themselves have a soft, silky texture, quite unlike those of other finches. The bill structure is also unique, both the rounded shape and the pattern of grooves on the palate, which function in feeding. For while, like other finches, the Bullfinch cats mainly seeds, it includes a much greater proportion of fleshy fruits and tree buds in its diet than do the other species. Behaviourally, the Bullfinch has been described as ‘quiet and unobtrusive’. It remains inconspicuous, even in the nesting season, and, as explained later, it has unusual courtship and breeding behaviour. Another peculiarity, which is well known to bird-ringers, is that it seldom struggles when handled, but usually lies limply with open bill. No other European finch behaves in this way. Despite the bright plumage of the males, Bullfinches are never easy to see. They usually betray their presence by their piping calls or by the flash of white rumps as a small part)' is flushed from a feeding site. The piping call is quite unlike the multisyllabic twittering calls of Carduelis finches, and is uttered mainly by isolated individuals, apparently wishing to re-establish contact, or by startled birds, suddenly flushed from a feeding site. It is also given in flight. Otherwise, Bullfinches in a group maintain contact with one another using a faint pipping note, which precedes or accompanies short moves within a tree or bush. In distribution, the Bullfinch extends from Ireland, across Eurasia, to Japan. In general, individuals are larger and brighter towards the north and towards the tops of mountain ranges. The British birds are given subspecific rank (P. />. nesa ) because they arc smaller than P. />. pyrrhula from northern Europe and *This paper, and others in this long-running British Birds series, will he published in a forthcoming HarperCollins book. 639 Studies oj Bullfinch Slbena and darker and duller than other continental forms (notably P t» coccinea) 1 he most cunous race is P. p. munna of the Azores Islands, in which the male has lost the bright coloration typical of other Bullfinches, and looks like the female (Bibby et al. 1992). Over most of their Eurasian range, Bullfinches breed at low density in forests dominated by coniferous trees, but in western Europe they also extend into broadleaved woodland. In Britain, they are widespread, breeding in woodland undergrowth, thickets, shrubberies and tall straggling hedgerows, and m the parks and gardens of towns. In various parts of Europe, densities of up to five pairs per km ’ have been recorded, rising to more than 20 pairs per km in patches of especially good nesting habitat, such as scrub or thicket spruce, d hey are usually seen singly or in pairs, but, at favoured feeding sites, parnes of up to a dozen or more are not infrequent, especially in autumn and winter. Such groups are only loosely bound, however, and throughout the day individuals continually arrive at and leave the feeding site, apparently behaving largely independently of one another. When disturbed, they retreat rapidly into the nearest cover. When numbers of Bullfinches arc feeding together, for example in a fruiting tree, aggression between them is frequent. In the typical threat display, one crouches with its tail twisted to one side, head feathers sleeked and open bill directed towards an opponent, uttering a hoarse braying sound, which carries only about 20 m (Hinde 1955). Where feeding positions are scarce, there are also frequent supplanting attacks, in which one bird flies directly at another, which flees, allowing the attacker to perch in its place. In extreme cases, the attacker may chase its victim for a few metres, but such chases are more often associated with pair formation than with feeding. Feeding behaviour for most of the year, as mentioned above, Bullfinches feed on the fruits of certain tiers and herbaceous plants, switching from one favoured species to another as each in turn comes into crop. During the growing season, many seeds aic eaten in a solt, unripened state. In English woodland, preferred seeds include those of dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, wych elm Ulmus glabra, birch Betula, meadow-sweet Filipendula ulmana , bramble Rubus, common nettle l itica dioica, anel ash Fraxinus excelsior, while on cultivated land the seeds of many common weeds are eaten, starting in spring with chickweed Stellana media and dandelion Faraxacum officinale, and followed in turn by various buttercups Ranunculus, sorrel Rumex acetosa, sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus, redshank Polygonum persicaiia, fat-hen Chenopodium album, common nettle and various docks Rumex (Newton 1967, 1972). Towards the end of the growing season, Bullfinches turn increasingly to the seeds that will sustain them through the autumn and winter, initially those of nettle, birch and rowan Sorbus aucuparia , and later those of bramble, dock and ash (and, in upland areas, heather Calluna vulgaiis). Where it is available, ash forms a major winter food, but Bullfinches feed chiefly from certain individual trees, sometimes completely stripping them during the course of a winter, while avoiding the majority of still-laden trees in the vicinity. Such highly selective feeding occurs because ash seeds contain poisonous phenolic 640 Studies of Bullfinch compounds (Greig-Smith & Wilson 1985), which, to the human palate, give the seeds a bitter taste. The seeds from preferred trees have lower phenolic content than those from other trees, and also tend to have higher fat contents. As seed supplies are not replenished during the winter, the size of the initial crops, and the rate at which they are depleted, influence the date when they run out, and Bullfinches have to switch from seeds to buds. In southern England, in years of good ash crops, Bullfinches can continue to feed on seeds until February or March, before switching wholly to buds. In years with no ash crop, however, the seeds of other food-plants are usually eaten by January, and the switch to buds occurs earlier. In these poor seed years, Bullfinches can suffer heavy mortality because buds arc often still small then, and poor in nutrients. In January, on a diet of buds alone, the birds may rapidly lose weight, and only later in the year, when buds arc larger, can they subsist on buds alone (Newton 1964). The implication is that, in years of poor seed crops and late bud-swell, food supply can be an important factor limiting Bullfinch numbers (but see later). Among the buds of wild trees that are eaten in spring, favourites include blackthorn Prunus spinosa and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, and, where available, also crab apple Alalus syhestns. It is only the centres of the buds which arc swallowed, the parts otherwise destined to become fruit. The outer parts are peeled off in the bill and discarded, littering the ground below. Within any one tree species, the birds tend to return repeatedly to those individual trees whose buds arc most advanced. In late spring, as buds open, Bullfinches turn to the flowers, shedding the outer parts and swallowing the ovules. Flowers of sallow Salix, oak Quercus and crab apple are especially favoured, and form the bulk of the diet until fresh seeds become plentiful again. For fruit-growers and gardeners, the' Bullfinch creates problems, because it cats the buds from fruit and ornamental trees, reducing the blossom and hence the crop. Cultivated fruit trees have buds of the size most acceptable to Bullfinches, and are derived from wild species whose buds arc preferred in natural conditions. Various ornamental trees, such as forsythia Forsythia , arc also attacked in spring, partly because their early flowering requires early bud- swell, ahead of native trees. A single Bullfinch can remove the buds from fruit trees at 30 or more per minute, and in winter the feeding is remarkably systematic, as a bird works along each branch taking all but the terminal buds (Newton 1972). As Bullfinches enter orchards from the adjacent woods and hedgerows, they attack the nearest trees first, penetrating farther into the orchard as the days go by. For this reason, damage is often most marked on the edges of orchards, and declines towards the centre. In general, among cultivated fruits, the buds of plum and pear are most preferred, with gooseberries and currants next, followed by apples and cherries, but within any one type of fruit certain varieties are preferred to others. Among pears, for example, ‘Conference’ is preferred to ‘Cornice’, so that, in a mixed orchard at blossom time, ‘Conference’ trees may be almost denuded of flower, while the adjoining ‘Cornice’ arc in full bloom (Newton 1964). The preferences for certain varieties are again linked with earlier A donation from HarpcrCollins lias subsidised (lie publication of plate 232 in colour. 641 Studies of Bullfinch bud-swell, with higher nutrient content, notably protein and fructose, and in some varieties with lower concentrations of offensive chemicals (Summers & Jones 1976; Greig-Smith 1985a). In January, captive Bullfinches lose weight less rapidly when led on ‘Conference’ pear buds than when fed on ‘Cornice’ pear or wild hawthorn buds (Newton 1964; Summers 1982). In England, the Bullfinch was considered an orchard pest as long ago as the sixteenth century, when one penny was offered in reward for ‘everie Bulfynche or other Byrde that devoureth the blowthe of fruit’. In southeast England, however, Bullfinch numbers increased enormously in the 1950s, making this for a time the biggest problem that the fruit-growing industry had to contend with. Almost every fruit-grower had little option but to trap Bullfinches (using cage-traps with a live decoy) throughout the winter and spnng, and many growers in well-wooded areas caught more than a thousand Bullfinches each year. Although this trapping helped to reduce the damage, the fact that the catches were maintained year after year showed that it had no sustained effect on Bullfinch numbers. Then, gradually, from the mid 1970s, Bullfinches became scarcer again, the catches on most farms declined, and the damage dropped to acceptable levels. Nowadays few, if any, fruit- growers continue a regular trapping programme. As it happens, the rise and fall of the Bullfinch coincided with the fall and rise of its main predator, the Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. Tliis raptor declined in the 1950s, following the introduction of organochlorine pesticides, disappearing almost completely from the fruit-growing areas of southeast England. Its numbers recovered in the 1970s and 1980s, following reductions 232. f emale Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula eating blackberries Rubus, Cambridgeshire, October 1991 (I. Wyllie). These fruits form a major food item, being eaten from the time they ripen in late summer until long after the flesh has withered in late winter 233. Juvenile Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula eating berries <>l honeysuckle Lonkera periclymenum (John Markham). Juveniles of both sexes have brown body plumage and lack the black cap and bib of adults in organochlorine use (Newton 1986). Moreover, in the West, where Sparrowhawk numbers recovered up to ten years earlier than in the east, Bullfinch damage also declined earlier. If these events were causally connected, there are two possible explanations. First, Sparrowhawks, by their predation, might have had a direct effect on Bullfinches, holding their numbers at a much lower level than occurred in the absence of Sparrowhawks. Alternatively, Sparrowhawks might have affected Bullfinches indirectly, the absence of the predator encouraging the prey to venture farther from cover than usual, thereby bringing more food within reach, which in turn could have promoted the rise in numbers (Newton 1967). At the time of their peak numbers in the 1960s, Bullfinches fed regularly in more open situations than formerly, and I saw several (locks of more than 100 individuals in fields, more than 100 m from cover. It is hard to say whether access to the food-plants in open habitat led to the increase in numbers, or whether the increase in numbers forced the Bullfinches to feed in more open areas than formerly. So, if the Sparrowhawk was indeed involved in the changes in Bullfinch numbers, the precise mechanism is uncertain. It is ironical, however, that chemicals used to destroy arthropod pests in orchards may have indirectly created a more serious bird pest. The Bullfinch uses the same bill movements for dealing with almost all its foods, whether these are seeds, buds, berries, seed-pods or capsules (Newton 1972). The object is nipped off, held lengthwise and crushed in the bill, then turned by the tongue against the lower jaw, so that the outer layer the husk of a seed or the flesh of a fruit is peeled off. It is also the only European finch known to eat small snails, crushing and deshelling them in the bill by the Studies of Bullfinch Studies of Bullfinch ( ) j o same procedure. The jaws are weak, however, and a peck from a Bullfinch is trivial compared with a bite from the similar-sized Greenfinch Carduelis chloris. With dandelions and similar plants, the Bullfinch attacks the seed head at the side, biting out small pieces which are turned in the bill to extract the seeds. It is thus limited to feeding on those Compositae, such as sow-thistles, which have small, soft seed heads, and does not normally tackle the larger thistles. With its rounded bill, the Bullfinch cannot easily take small seeds from the ground, but it will take large ones, such as those of sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. It also has difficulty in picking seeds out of cones, so does not normally feed directly from conifers. In its feeding, the Bullfinch is able to cling to twigs and plant stems, and can also hover to obtain fruits from the ends of branches or other difficult sites. Unlike some Carduelis finches, however, it does not hang upside-down to feed, nor does it hold lood-items under its feet while they are worked with the bill. Parent Bullfinches raise their young from hatching on a mixture of soft seeds and small invertebrates, especially caterpillars, spiders and small snails. 1 his diet is selected especially for the chicks. As the young grow, the proportion of animal material is gradually reduced until, by the time they leave the nest, they are getting seeds alone. The adults carry food to their young in special throat pouches, which open one on each side of the tongue. When full, these pouches give the bird a swollen-throated appearance. Some other finches, notably the Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator , the trumpeter finches Bucanetes and the rosy finches Leucosticte , have similar throat pouches, perhaps reflecting a close affinity between these genera. Other cardueline finches carry food to their young in their gullets, and have no special structure for the puqDose. Breeding behaviour In its breeding behaviour, the Bullfinch again departs markedly from the usual cardueline pattern (Newton 1972). The bird is not obviously territorial, nor does it nest in loose colonies like the Carduelis finches. It has no flight-display or other conspicuous behaviour, and the song, which is usually delivered from within cover rather than from a vantage point, is so weak that it carries no more than a few metres. Indeed, in the breeding season, the pairs seem to keep themselves to themselves, ‘maintaining a low profile’, and having little or no contact with other Bullfinches except when they meet at feeding sites. On the other hand, those types of behaviour connected with the pair-bond are greatly elaborated, compared with other finches. All the displays are mutual, and may be initiated by either sex, with the hen playing almost as active a role as the cock, and adopting similar postures. In the typical display, the belly feathers are puffed out, and the tail twisted towards the partner, while the birds make bowing and nibbling movements with the bill. The cock feeds the hen by regurgitation, reaching up and placing the food in her bill, while she pivots from side to side. The statement that Bullfinches pair for life was frequent in early bird books, and was probably based on the fact that pairs are often seen in winter, as well as in the breeding season. In a study of Bullfinches in southern England, 234. Female Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula brooding small chicks, Cambridgeshire, June 1992 (/. YVyllie). Until the young are half grown, the female stays at the nest while the male collects the (bod. When the young are larger, both parents collect the food and visit the nest together 235. Male Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula feeding on seeds of common nettle Urtka dioica, a favoured autumn food, Cambridgeshire, October 1991 (/. WyUie). Bullfinches can cling to vertical stems with ease, but, unlike some other finches, they cannot hang upside-down to feed i iH * A- J 645 Studies of Bullfinch Wilkinson (1982) recorded the sex composition of all the groups he encountered outside the breeding season. In groups of two individuals, a male- temale combination was significantly commoner than expected by chance, while groups of two males or two females were significantly less common. Moreover, in largei gioups an equal sex ratio was again commoner than expected by chance. Aggression within feeding groups was found to increase with group size, but whenever a group contained more males than females fights were more frequent than expected on the basis of group-size alone. Males started more attacks than females, and directed them almost entirely at other males; when females initiated aggression, they attacked other females moie often than males. These findings again suggested that activities associated with pair-bonding were frequent in winter. In Iris study of captive Bullfinches, Nicolai (1956) found that each young bird formed a close liaison with one of its siblings when only six or seven weeks old and still in juvenile plumage. The birds ‘caressed each other’, fed each other, and invited each other to mate, but none of their actions was proficient and no mating took place. At diis stage, there was no colour difference between the sexes, and two cocks or two hens often paired together. Such pairs remained together, performing mutual displays throughout the winter, but broke up in the following spring when each bird formed a normal relationship with an unrelated bird of the opposite sex. Nicolai suggested that this represented the appearance, in incomplete form, of behaviour which would keep the pair together in later life. Proof from ringing that pairs stay together in the wild, either through the winter or from year to year, is, however, lacking. The social system of the Bullfinch would clearly repay further study. Like most other passerines, Bullfinches normally breed for the first time when they are less than one year old. As the breeding season approaches, the pairs separate from the groups, avoiding all contact with other Bullfinches. Both sexes pick up nest material, but the female does the building, at all times accompanied closely by the male. This would now be interpreted as ‘mate- guarding’, by which the male protects his paternity. The nest is usually built well within a thick shrub 1-2 m above the ground, occasionally higher. It is well hidden, and is placed on a flat branch or tangle of twigs, seldom in a fork. It is a distinct two-layered structure, having a shallow base of thin dry twigs and a lining of rootlets, again quite different from the nests of Carduelis finches. The eggs number three to six, and are bluish-white with purple- brown spots. Incubation takes 12-14 days and the young stay in the nest for 15-17 days if undisturbed. The hen incubates the eggs and broods the chicks, being fed at the nest by the cock, who calls her off and regurgitates food into her bill. She returns to the nest and in turn regurgitates the food into the open bills of the chicks. Once the young are about half grown, and can be left unbrooded, both parents collect the food and feed the young, foraging and visiting the nest together. If necessary, the adults may regularly fly more than 1 km from the nest to reach good feeding areas. After leaving the nest, the young are fed by their parents for a further 15- 20 days. For about half this time, they remain near the nest, but then begin to accompany their parents to feeding sites. The young become fully independent at about 35 days old. Much of their food in the post-fledging Donations from HarperCollins have subsidised the publication of plates 234 and 235 in colour. 646 Studies of Bullfinch 236. Pair of Bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula feeding young, Lancashire, summer 1974 ( Dennis Green). Note the swollen throat pouch of the right-hand adult, in which food for the young is stored. The young themselves hold the food temporarily in the gullet, and it can be seen through the transpar- ent neck skin, enabling different items to be identified period may be provided by the male, because the female often begins another nest then (Nicolai 1956; Bijlsma 1982). The breeding season varies with latitude, but, as with most seed-eaters, is relatively long. In southern Britain laying usually extends from late April (in early springs only) to late July, so that the latest young fledge in August. But, in some years of abundant food, laying extends into September, so that the last young fledge in October. This would give time for up to three broods per pair in a short season, and up to four in a long one, but few (if any) pairs could raise this number, because of heavy predation on the eggs and chicks. In Wytham Wood, near Oxford, about 85% of the nests that were started in May were lost to predators, declining to 50% in June and 30% in July- August. In farmland, predation was less, declining from 56% to 33% and 16% (Newton 1972). The main predators were probably weasels Mustek nivalis , Eurasian Jays Garrulus glandarius and Magpies Pica pica, and the seasonal Studies of Bullfinch decline in predation was associated with a gradual thickening of cover through plant growth which made the nests harder to find. The greater success of farmland nests was probably because bushes were thicker there (through hedge-clipping) and predators were scarcer. In addition to predation, some nests failed through desertion, especially during spells of wet weather. Similar seasonal trends m nest success were noted in the Netherlands (Bijlsma 1982). Because so many nests fail, it would be easy to overrate the role of predation in limiting breeding success. A repeat nest is usually started within a few days of the loss of a previous one, so that a pair might lose several clutches and still have enough of the season left in which to raise young. The wild Bullfinches studied by Nicolai (1956) in Germany usually reared two bioods each year, but laid up to five clutches to get them. In captivity, if the eggs were taken away, the number sometimes rose to seven clutches a year. Despite the high predation in my own Oxford study, the ratio of young to adults as determined horn mist-netted samples at the end of short breeding seasons (last young in August) was usually around 3:1, and after a long season (last young in October) it was 5:1. Moult, mortality and movements After breeding, Bullfinches moult. The adults take 10-13 weeks to replace their entire plumage, and the juveniles take seven to nine weeks to replace their body feathers, retaining the flight and tail feathers for another year. In both age groups, the shorter periods are recorded from individuals that begin latest in the year (Newton 1966). Most adults start moulting while they are feeding their last brood and, because individuals vary greatly in the dates of their last nests, they also vary in the dates they moult. In five years near Oxford, the start of moult in the population I studied was spread over eight weeks from mid July, but, in a sixth year when some pairs prolonged their breeding, the start of moult was spread over 13 weeks from mid July. The average annual mortality of British Bullfinches has been calculated from ringing recoveries at 52 ± 3% (mean ± standard error) for males and 59 ± 3% for females (Dobson 1987). This difference between the sexes is statistically significant, and may account for the fact that, among large samples of Bullfinches seen or trapped, males are usually more numerous than females (Newton 1972; Greig-Smith & Wilson 1984). In Britain, Bullfinches are classed as ‘resident’, because they do not migrate but simply disperse in any direction from the natal area. In autumn, they can appear at many places, including offshore islands, where they do not breed. Of 1,552 ringed Bullfinches recovered in Britain during 1910-74, 80% had moved less than 5 km from where they were ringed, and only about 5% had moved more than 25 km (Summers 1979). Significantly more long movements were recorded after 1960 than before, associated mainly with years of high population and poor tree-seed crops. Movement was especially marked in the winter of 1961/62, a year of widespread tree-crop failure, and again in 1964/65 and 1967/68. More recent studies, with radio-tagged birds, have revealed that individuals may remain for weeks or months within a short distance of a good food source, before suddenly moving up to several kilometres to a new site (Greig-Smith & Wilson 1984; Greig-Smith 1985b). 648 Studies of Bullfinch Such movements are often associated with the exhaustion of a food supply, and a fall of snow wall often bring Bullfinches into new' areas, where there w'as previously none, if food is locally available. Because there is no territoriality or other social restriction on movements, any given locality in wooded terrain may be within the range of hundreds of Bullfinches, which may account for the large numbers killed over several months in particular orchards, far more than could live there at any one time. Farther north in Europe, Bullfinches perform regular migrations, but again die movements are much more marked in years ol widespread failure of relevant tree-seed crops. In northern f ennoscandia, Bullfinches that remain in years of tree-crop failure depend largely on handouts from human beings, for the birds are regular visitors to garden feeding trays, taking sunflower and other seeds. It is strange diat this habit has never caught on in Britain. References Bibb\ , C.J., CHARLTON, 1. D., & Ramos, J. 1992. Studies of West Palearctic birds. 191. Azores Bullfinch. Brit. Birds 85: 677-680. Bijlsma, R. G. 1982. Breeding season, clutch size and breeding success in the Bullfinch Pyrrhula pynhula. Ardea 70: 25-30. Dobson, A. 1987. A comparison ol seasonal and annual mortality for both sexes of fifteen species of common British birds. Omis Scand. 18: 122-128. Greig-Smith, P. W. 1985a. The importance of flavour in determining the feeding preferences of Bullfinches ( Pynhula pynhula ) for the buds of two pear cultivars. J. Appl. Ecol. 22: 29-37. 1985b. Winter survival, home ranges and feeding of first-year and adult Bullfinches. In: SlBLY, R. M., & Smith, R. H., Behavioural Ecology, pp. 387-392. Oxford. , Wilson, M. F., BLUNDEN, C. A., & Wii^son, G. M. 1983. Bud-eating by Bullfinches fyrrhula pynhula, in relation to the chemical constituents of two pear cultivars. Ann. Appl Biol 103: 335-343. , & WILSON, G. M. 1984. Patterns of activity and habitat use by a population of Bullfinches [Pynhula pynhula L.) in relation to bud-feeding in orchards. J. Appl. Ecol. 21: 401-422. , & WILSON, M. F. 1985. Influences of seed size, nutrient composition and phenolic content on the preferences of Bullfinches feeding in ash trees. Oikos 44: 47-54. Hinde, R. A. 1955. A comparative study of the courtship of certain finches (Fringillidae). Ibis 97: 706-745. Newton, I. 1964. Bud-eating by Bullfinches in relation to the natural food-supply. 7. Appl Ecol L 265-279. 1966. The moult of the Bullfinch pynhula pynhula. Ibis 108: 41-67. 1967. The feeding ecology of the Bullfinch ( Pynhula pynhula L.) in southern England 7 Anim. Ecol. 36: 721-744. 1972. Finches. London. 1 986. The Spanowhawk. Calton. Nicolai, J. 1956. Zur Biologie und Ethologie des Gimpels ( Pynhula pynhula I A 7- Tierpsychol 13- 93-132. Summers, D. D. B. 1979. Bullfinch dispersal and migration in relation to fruit and damage Bnt Birds 12: 249-263. 1981. Bullfinch (. Pynhula pynhula) damage in orchards in relation to woodland bud and seed feeding. In Thresh, J. M., Pests, Pathogens & Vegetation, pp. 385-391. London. 1982. The survival of Bullfinches on cultivated fruit buds. J. Appl. Ecol. 19: 813-819. , & Jones, F. J. S. 1976. The importance of protein in the selection of fruit buds by Bullfinches. Experimental Horticulture 28: 47-50. Wilkinson, R. 1982. Group size and composition and the frequency of social interactions in Bullfinches pynhula pynhula. Omis Scand. 13: 117-122. Dr Ian Newton FRS, Institute of Terrestnal Ecology, Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PEI 7 2LS News and comment compiled by Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett Sky Larks set-aside The folly ol hasty decision-making over the management of rota- tional set-aside has meant that hoped-for improvement in the breeding performance of Sky Larks Alauda awensis , and other birds using the fields, has not been realised. Monitoring by the BTO showed that large numbers were attracted away from adjacent crops into the new habitat, for nesting. Farmers were compelled to control weed growth on the set-aside by early summer, which meant that many nests of ground-nesting birds, which contained eggs or young, were destroyed. This, of course, is what would have happened if the birds had had only crop fields to nest in, but normal farming activities would have caused the damage. In effect, then, the birds have fared just the same — badly. It is expected that the rules will be changed before next sum- mer, so that farmers will not be required to control weeds on their rotational set-aside during the critical period from April to June. Let us hope that next year will see a great improvement in success for breeding birds in set-asides. Perhaps, for the Sky Lark, it will help to bring a stop to its decline on arable farm- land. Eggs? — not likely We were amazed to see, in the Financial Times of 20th August 1 993, that it is now possible to buy reproduction wild-bird eggs. A company has produced replicas of about 50 common and unusual species. The collection, we read, ‘is a “conservation-friendly” alternative to the illegal practice of nest-raiding’. We learn that the RSPB is not very keen on the idea. It feels, quite rightly we think, that if these products get into the hands of youngsters they could encourage them to look for the real thing. Furthermore, those who developed the product clearly have little notion of what motivates the true collector. It is not just the appearance of an egg, but how it varies with the rest of the clutch, how this year’s clutch compares with last year’s, and so on. We cannot imagine that egg-collectors will be in the least bit interested in them, apart from an initial curiosity. Replica eggs are used by biologists in studies where the real eggs may be removed temporarily for examination (under licence), but these are often pretty crude affairs, since a perfect reproduction is not necessary. 649 650 News and comment British Birdwatching Fair As a first-time attender I was very impressed with the size of the Fair (at Rutland Water during 20th-2‘2nd August 1993), with the interest provided by the very many stands, and by the numbers attending, though it never seemed too crowded. The only complaint seemed to be that, because of its size, two days were needed to do it justice. There was plenty to see and do, with, so it seemed, hundreds of stands offering optical and photographic equipment, bird books, bird holidays and much, much more. Whatever your interest, there was someone there to talk to, and with luck to answer your questions. It is said that if you wrait in London at Trafalgar Square sooner or later you will meet everyone you know'; it is the same at the Rutland Water Fair. Compared with previous years, the attendance was up (10,400), and a record amount (approximately £30,000) was raised for the Polish Wetlands Appeal. As usual, BB had a stand, featuring, amongst other things, our traditional ‘Mystery photographs’ competition. The winners were: Friday, J. Barclay (North Yorkshire); Saturday, David Jardine (Northumberland); and Sunday, John Cox (Essex). Well done, all three! [Rjd) Song Thrush out, Magpie in It has always been up in the top 12, for 22 years that is, until last winter. Yes, the decline of the Song Thrush Turdus philomelos has now' made its mark in the latest results of the B I O’s Garden Bird Feeding Survey for the 1992/93 season. Replacing the Song Thrush is the Magpie Pica pica , which should be no surprise to most of us. It was seen in 72% of the gardens surveyed. Nine of the top 12 species were seen in 94% or more gardens: Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis, Robin Erithacus rubecula , Blackbird T. merula , Blue Tit Pants caeruleus, Great Tit P. major, Common Starling Stumus vulgaris, House Sparrow Passer domesticus, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs and Greenfinch Carduelis chloris. Blackbird and Blue Tit appeared in all (211) gardens. With ‘BB’ to Thailand The relaxed trip with the small friendly group, led by top Thai birder and artist Kamol Komolphalin and BB s Tim Sharrock, still has space for any one, two or three weeks during 13th February to 8th March 1994. Ring Sun- bird for details: Sandy (0767) 682969. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Britton — Northeast Dave Holman — East Anglia Anthony McGeehan — Northern Ireland Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Dr Kenny Taylor — Scotland David Tomlinson — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales Keith Vinicombe — Southivest John Wilson — Northwest Forktail-Leica Award Our apologies to the Oriental Bird Club: we have somehow contrived to miss the announcement that its annual award, supported as usual by Leica, would be available again this year. In December 1992, the £1,000 award was won by Deddy Juhaeni, towards his studies of die breeding distribution and ecology of the Sumba Hornbill Rhyticeros everetti, which is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sumba. To learn more of dtis or the 1994 Award, write to the OBC Conservation Officer, Carol Inskipp, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 2D I.. OBC AGM Meet at 11 a.m. on 11th December at The Zoological Society, Regent’s Park, London, to hear talks on Singapore, Laos and megapodes. The meeting will end at 5 p.m., but will be followed by ‘a social event’, says Oriental Bird Club Secretary Nigel Lindsey. ‘Bird Watching’ highlights The December issue of Bird Watching puts a spodight on Co. Kerry (the top eight sites) and on birdwatching in Hungary; Ian Wallace continues his personal history, now reaching the late 1960s; the highs and lows in the BIO’s .New Atlas of Breeding Birds are featured; and there is a report on Stilly, with rarity photographs. Bird Watching should lie available at your local bookstall. Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Mystery photographs mThis month’s mystery photograph (plate 229 on page 621) is obviously of a small passerine with an insectivore’s bill. The bird is clearly in very bright light and very deep shade, so that its photographic appearance is a combination of underexposure and overexposure, giving false tones and contrast. We must, therefore, concentrate on structure and pattern rather than colour. The mystery bird has a relatively large eye and head and, despite the shadowing of the overlying foliage, it is easy to see a very distinctively marked head with a broad white supercilium from the forehead and a dark eye-stripe. I her e are no very obvious marks on the wing or mantle, and the underparts aic hidden from view, from the shape of the bill and the general proportions, we can deduce that this is an accentor, chat, flycatcher or warbler. The lack of streaking above excludes the accentors, even though many of the eastern species show prominent supercilia, whilst Western Palearctic flycatchers and chats do not show supercilia as distinctive as on this bird. We are left with warblers, and it is difficult to pick the genus. The head is too well marked for Hippolais or Sylvia and the bill appears to be too thick for most Phylloscopus warblers, with the exception of Radde’s P. schwarzi and Arctic Warblers P. borealis , whilst the general shape appears wrong for Acrocephalus or Locustella warblers. Are there any other options? Careful examination of the bill shows that not only is it quite broad for a small insectivore, but it also has a distinct hook on the tip. This is not really a feature of either Radde’s or Arctic Warbler, although the former can sometimes show a ‘hint’ of a hook. This is, however, characteristic of the Nearctic vireos Vireo, of which three, Red-eyed V olivaceus, Philadelphia V. philadelphicus and Yellow-throated V Jlavifrons, have occurred in Britain and Ireland, and a further three are potential vagrants (Warbling V. gilvus, White-eyed V. griseus and Solitary V. solitarius). The combination of large head and eye, fairly stout legs, well-marked head pattern and relatively plain uppeq:>arts would support this generic identification. Now that we are certain that it is a vireo, it is a relatively easy matter to narrow the field down. Yellow-throated, White-eyed and Solitary Vireos show double white wing-bars, broad white edges to the tertials, supercilia which do not extend behind the eye and ‘spectacles’. There is no sign of these on our mystery bird. We can, therefore, be sure that it is one of the ‘plain’ vireos, but which one? There is considerable overlap between Red-eyed and Philadelphia, and between Philadelphia and Warbling Vireos. The distinguishing features of the three species have been described both in books (Zimmer 1985; Kaufman 1990) and in articles (Bradshaw 1992). Can we decide which this is? f Bril. Birds 86: 651-653, December 1993] 651 652 Mystery photographs Looking at the bird critically is difficult, as there is considerable shadow obscuring many ol the plumage features. The most prominent mark is the supercilium, which starts as a large square blob on die forehead — indeed, on this view, it may even cross the forehead completely — and then narrows before arching over the eye and fading fairly soon after the eye. There is a continuous line from the eye to the bill, narrow at the bill but widening towards the eye. There is a large crescent-shaped, pale patch below the eye that appears to be bordered in front and below with darker areas. We cannot see whether there is a dark upper border to the supercilium because of the shadow. The rest of the plumage looks reasonably uniform, and the head is relatively large and rounded. Red-eyed Vireo is the most likely, as it has been recorded over 80 times in the Western Palearcdc compared with only two Philadelphia and no Warbling Vireos. Something is, however, not quite right for Red-eyed Vireo, even though we cannot see the characteristic, dark upper border to the supercilium. Red-eyed Vireo usually shows a straight supercilium which starts as a narrow line on the forehead, widens behind the eye and fades as it passes the rear of the ear-coverts. In addition, the pale patch below the eye is contiguous with the pale throat. Red-eyed Vireo tends to have a relatively small, angular head accentuated by its long bill. "Phis all combines to give Red-eyed Vireo an 'angry look and a head pattern not dissimilar to Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. Other features helpful in distinguishing Red-eyed Vireo from the other two are the aforementioned dark upper border to the supercilium and silky-white underparts washed with variable amounts of pale yellow, particularly on the flanks and undertail-coverts. Warbling and Philadelphia Vireos are more difficult to differentiate, especially on these views, as their head patterns are very similar. Neither shows a dark upper border to the supercilium and both show a supercilium which curves over the eye and a relatively rounded head. Warbling Vireo, however, never shows such an obvious black line between the bill and the eye: there is usually a gap, so that the pale of the supercilium joins the pale patch below and surrounds the eye, giving the bird a slightly ‘quizzical’ look. In addition, Warbling Vireo would seldom show a supercilium as distinct as that on our mystery bird. The supercilium is usually duller (pale grey and not white or cream), while the cap is grey, rarely showing any blue tones, and noticeably paler than that of Philadelphia Vireo. In general, Warbling Vireo is a much duller bird than the other two species, with grey-brown upperparts (although immatures frequently show green tones), less contrast between the crown and the rest of the upperparts, and the underparts variably pale yellowish, often overlapping in colour tones with Philadelphia Vireo. The pattern of coloration on the underparts is different, however, with Warbling Vireo showing its most intense coloration on the flanks, lateral breast and undcrtail-coverts, with paler throat and central breast, whilst on Philadelphia Vireo the opposite is true. There are subtle differences in shape between the two species: Warbling Vireo tends to be larger-billed, flatter-headed and longer-tailed than Philadelphia Vireo (though not so much as Rcd-cycd Vireo), but an observer would need to be very familiar with both species to use this when identifying a vagrant. Mystery photographs 553 Our mystery bnd is a Philadelphia Vireo and shows the characteristic ‘gentle' expression of that species, formed by its smaller bill, larger eye and head pattern. The distinct, white supercilium starts from a large ‘blob’ on the forehead, narrows in front of the eye, widens as it arches over the eye and then fades along the upper border of the ear-coverts. The pale patch below the eye tends to be surrounded by slightly darker areas and thus looks more distinct than on the other two species. It has a blue-grey crown, with no darkening at the sides, and olive-green upperparts. Some individuals show an indistinct wing-bar on the greater coverts, and this is just visible on the mystery bird, although, given the lighting conditions, this may be a photographic artefact. The underparts can vary from silky-white washed pale yellow to a uniform mid-yellow colour, but the most intense coloration is always on the throat and central breast. Philadelphia is smaller than either of the other two species, and relatively squat for a vireo. Differences between the three species are subtle, with Philadelphia and Warbling Vireos looking most similar in autumn and Red-eyed and Philadelphia most similar in spring. When encountering a vagrant, all relevant features should be noted with care. I photographed this individual at Hecla Island, Manitoba, Canada, in late August 1991. Colin Bradshaw REFERENCES Bradshaw, C. 1992. The identification of vireos in Britain and Europe. Birding World 5: 308-31 1. Kaufman, K. 1990. A Field Guide to Advanced Birding. Boston. Zimmer, K. 1985. The Western Bird Watcher. Eagleswood Cliffs. Corrections Volume 85 516 Plate 216 shows a Common Redpoll Carduelis Jlammea of the nominate race, not an Arctic Redpoll C. homemami. Volume 86 171 Do Mediterranean Shags occur in southwest England? Line 4. ‘December’ should read ‘October’. 226 Monthly marathon. ‘Ray Hobbs’ should read ‘Ralph Hobbs’. 231 Waders IN Hong Kong. Line 2. Longitude and latitude figures should be transposed. 239 Waders in Hong Kong. Plate 62. ‘May 1988’ should read ‘April 1990’. 289 EUROPEAN news. Plate 82. ‘ Erik Hans son should read ‘Vrnturs Klimpins' 324 SEASONAL reports. Sound of Taransay (Western Isles), not (Orkney). Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 18th October to 14th November 1993 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis North Ronaldsay (Orkney), 1st November. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Near Defford (Hereford & Worcester), 1st to at least 1 4th November. Little Egret Egretta garzella Many still in southern Britain; also one, Ballycarny, Larne Lough (Co. Antrim), and two, Saleen (Co. Cork). American Wigeon Anas ameruana Male, Ros- tellan (Co. Cork), early November to 14th November. Ring-necked Duck Ayt/iya collaris Male, Dunfanaghy (Co. Donegal), 13th- 14th November. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albuilla Skomer (Dyfed), 1 Oth- 1 1 th November. Common Crane Grtis grus Individual at Tacumshin (Co. Wexford), present to the end of October. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus I iichwell (Norfolk), from at least 1st to at least 13th November. Great Snipe Gallinago media Shoeburyness (Essex), from about 1st to 9th November. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus First-winter at Kilbaha -(Co. Clare), from 1 5th October to early November. Hoopoe Upupa epops Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), 20th-3 1 st October, with two on 30th. Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii St Mary’s (Isles of Scilly), 2 1 st-22nd October; probable, Cape- Clear Island, 29th October; Fair Isle (Shet- land), 31st October to 10th November (trapped on 1st November). Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus Win- spit (Dorset), 30th October to 8th November. Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica Stiffkey (Norfolk), 25th October to 1st Novem- ber. Dark-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis Sher- ingham (Norfolk), 3 1 st October. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetonm Fair Isle, 22nd October; Dungeness (Kent), 2nd November. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Cape Clear Island, 19th October. Pallas’s Leaf Warbler P. proregulus Three, Landguard Point (Suffolk), 1st November, with one staying until 10th November; Fagbury Cliff (Suffolk), 1 st November; two, Wells Wood (Norfolk), 2nd November; Hengistbury Head (Dorset), 4th November; Sandwich Bay (Kent), 5th November; Climping (West Sussex), and Kessingland (Suffolk), 7 th November; Kilnsea (Humberside), 7th-8th November; Lundy (Devon), 11th- 12th November. Radde’s Warbler P. schwarzi Old Head of Kinsale (Co. Cork), 24th October; St Mar- garet’s Bay (Kent), 3rd-5th November; New- biggin (Northumberland), 7th November. Dusky Warbler P. Juscatns Gliftonville (Kent), and Blakeney (Norfolk), 1st November; South Landing, Flamborough (Humberside), 3rd-8th November; North Mainland (Shetland), 10th- 12th November. Isabelline Shrike Lanins isabel/inns Sandwich Bay, from at least 3 1 st October to 4th Novem- ber; Fife Ness (Fife), 5th-9th November. Siskin Carduelis spirals Widespread, with high numbers in many areas. Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus 12, Kearney (Co. Down), 31st October (highest- ever total for Northern Ireland). Rare Bird News supplies all its information free to ‘British Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (25p/min cheap rate; 39p/min other times; ind. VAT) 654 ^rril w^i ^ _ Sponsored by 1 he b amous Grouse’ Scotch whisky Christmas puzzle Spotted crakes This classic Bryan Bland drawing celebrates the Scilly autumn of 1979, when phantom crakes of all shapes and sizes were reported daily in Holy Vale (despite most careful observers seeing only one Water Rail Rallus aquaticus and one Spotted Crake Porzana porzana). We hope that it will bring back fond memories for birders of that vintage. But how many crakes (or rails) has Bryan depicted? The three entrants whose correct answers are picked in the draw on 15th January 1994 will each win a botde of The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky. Put your answer (and your name and address) on a postcard and send it (one entry only per subscriber), to arrive before 15th January 1994, to The Famous Grouse puzzle, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. XI Cygnus Wildlife 1994 programme of escorted birdwatching holidays DESTINATIONS JANUARY - JUNE INCLUDE: NORTHERN INDIA £1490 SRI LANKA £1790 TIGER SPECIAL £1690 TEXAS £1290 MAJORCA £625 POLAND £975 NETHERLANDS £580 CUBA £1790 HUNGARY £925 BOHEMIA £890 AUSTRIA £790 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO £1990 Other departures later in the year include Madagascar, Arizona and California, Washington, Gambia, Argentina, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands, Ethiopia, Southern India, Queensland and Nepal. ALSO FULL PROGRAMME OF RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS. Tour groups have a maximum of 18 participants, are escorted by experienced leaders and we cater for all levels of expertise. If you would like further information about any of these holidays, we will be delighted to receive your enquiry at the following address: CYGNUS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS, 57 Fore Street, Kingsbridge, . bta Devon TQ7 IPG 62948 Telephone: 0548 856178 Fax: 0548 857537 Our own Conservation Area makes us unique. 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BB537 WALKERS HUGE STOCKS - LOW PRICES HELPFUL & EFFICIENT SERVICE Binoculars — - telescopes — video cameras — lenses — tripod* — SLRs — compacts * ZEISS * KOWA * BUSHNELL * LEITZ * SWIFT * RUSSIAN ” PENTAX * BAUSCH & LOMB * MINOLTA * OPTOLYTH * ADLERBLICK Kowa TSN 1 & 2 £285 Kowa TSN 3 & 4 £565 20x60 x zoom £159 20xwa £105 25x40x £65 30xwa £129 77x £99 USED ZEISS Zeiss 15x60 GAT mint £950 Carl Zeiss 10x50 Porroprism £450 RUSSIAN INCL CASE 10x50 £34.00 12 x 40 £34.00 8x40 £34.00 15 x 50 £49.99 PRAKTICA “DISCOVERER’’ 15x - 60x 60 zoom SPECIAL Cl CO PRICE X. 1 END OF YEAR CLEARANCE LAST CHANCE AT THESE PRICES Leica 7x42 Leica 8x42 Leica 10x42 Leica 8x32 Audubon 8.5x44 £209 Zeiss 10x40 Audubon 10x50 £219 Zeiss 8x30 £649 B & Lomb 8x42 £500 £649 B & Lomb 8x42P £525 £649 B & Lomb 10x42P £525 £619 Zeiss 7x42 Phone Phone £550 LTD 70 ST THOMAS ST ' ' SCARBOROUGH YOU 1DU 0723 365024 FAX 0723 363334 British Birds Volume 86 Number 12 December 1993 ) M Introduced and escaped geese in Britain in summer 1991 Simon De/any ,)(KI Brown Shrike in Shetland: new to Britain and Ireland R. .!. Hume, on behalf oj the British Birds Rarities Committee Review of status and categorisation of feral birds on the British List heil/i \ imcombe, John Manhunt and Dr Alan Knox , on behalf of the British Ornithologists' t man Records Committee 614 Acknowledgments Obituaries h am is Raymond Smith 1 <>< )6- 1 <><»2 Robin Mum 6 1 7 Bm< t Camplx U OKI. PhD 1912-1993 Pm/mor ( M. Prrnm 619 I wenty-five years ago . . 620 Diary dates Mrs S. J). Cobban 62 1 Mystery photographs 192 Announcements 622 ■ I lie C arl Zeiss Award’ 622 Bird Photograph of the Year 622 Bird Illustrator of the Year 622 Binding your BB’ 622 Coining soon in 'BB' Requests 623 Colour-marked birds: a reminder 623 Mi|)|x> photos 623 British BirdShop’ subsidises BB' 623 Drawings of rare breeding birds 624 625 625 625 62( > 626 627 628 628 628 629 630 630 631 631 634 634 635 635 638 649 651 653 Monthly marathon Notes Common Buzzard taking Common Teal in (light I). home) Hobbies nesting on pylon Paul Trodd Common Coot eating its own egg th Humphry (4 t\ Crick Common Coot feeding eggshell to young Dr l). .7. C. Me.Xeil Juvenile Common Coot incubating eggs Ctoffrey Carr W himbrels perching on overhead electricity t ables Philip Palmer S|x>tt, d Santlpiper displaying to and mating with Common Sandpiper David Diureme daucous C ulls feeding at overturned icebergs Fulrw FradceUi and Alessandro Monlemamm Common 1 rrns feeding on fishermen's bait David Kramer Letters Damian Redstart in Scotland Bernard ^ nn/rilln and Keith Pmckie Song Thrushes feeding on periwinkles Dr CJais Red/em Song I h rushes feeding on periwinkles Eru Simms T reecreeper puzzle Alan Hams I he sparrow s (all Dau n Palmer and John Marchanl Reviews '(heat Auk Islands: a field biologis. in the Arctic' by Tim Birkhcad. Illustrated In Dadd Quinn Rare Birds in Britain 1992’ In I.. (,. R. Evans hath I imrmnbe I he Kestrel by Michael Shrubh Dr I. Xeirtan Short reviews Studies of West Palearctic birds 192 Bullfinch Dr lan .Xeicton News and comment Robin hytherch and Mike Everett Mystery photographs 192 The solution Dr Co/in Bradshaw Corrections Di Ma/m/m 654 Recent reports Barn . Vightinga/e and . 1 nthony Mc(, return Line-drawings: 591 Canada Geese Ruth (.reoeaek, 600 Brown Shrike Killian MuHamn ■ tforrou i, b.M Bullfinches . Man / /arris > B.n -hr.ulrd ( ices, \it Front cover: Grey Herons (Robert Gillmor ): the « design, measuring 12.5 X 13.9 cm, is for sale in a issue for procedure) •riginal drawing o( this month's cover postal auction sec page 28 in Januarv IS. 1 2_ British Birds Index to volume 86 1993 Binding Volumes for binding should be sent not to the publishers but direct to the binders, London Journal Bindery. The charge is £18.48 per volume, which includes the cost ol packing and return postage (UK only). The binding will be in the same style as in previous years, with the volume number blocked in Arabic numerals; earlier volumes can also be bound at this rate. Please complete the form on the back cover and send it with all the parts and the correct money to: London Journal Bindery Roslin Road London W3 bdi i Telephone: 081-752 0552 Please complete the binding form on the back cover and note that orders for binding are not to be sent to the publishers List of line-drawings PAGES 6 Long-billed Pipit (Rob Hume) 49 Peregrine Falcon (E. J. Steele) 57 Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dave Numey) 62 Avocet (Mike -Pollard) 68 Garganey (Dan Powell ) 70 Common Goldeneye (Dan Powell) Marsh Harrier (Alan Harris) 74 Osprey (Phil Jones) 76 Com Crake (Richard Fowling) 79 Ruffs John Wright) 80 Red-necked Phalarope (Alan Harris) 84 Cetti’s Warbler (Alan Harris) 88 Golden Oriole (Dave Numey) 1 03 Black-headed Gulls ( Nicholas Pike) 1 15 Oriental Pratincole (Alan Harris) 1 2 1 Hoopoe wing-stretching (C. H. Fry) 1 5 1 Northern Pintails (Dan Powell) 166 Shags (D. S. Flumm) 201 Great Black-headed Gull with other gulls (Norman Arlott) 210 Common Tern (R. A. Hume) 23 1 Hong Kong waders (Robert Gillmor) 253 Ring Ouzel (Dan Powell) 295 Red Kite (John Gale) 303 Baillori’s Crake (Ren Hathaway) 323 Black Tern (Dan Powell) 324 Pectoral Sandpiper (P. Jones) 325 Little Egrets (Dan Powell) 326 Aquatic Warbler (Dan Powell) 327 Arctic Skua (Dan Powell) 332 Wryneck (Dan Powell) 333 • Horned Larks (Dan Powell) 336 Northern Parula (Dan Powell) 342 Ivel Valley (Phillip Dodshon) 347 Richard Richardson (Bryan Bland) 347-5 1 BIRD ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR 1993: Canada Geese; Red-backed Shrike (Richard Allert)\ Northern Lapwings; Homed Lark (Ren Hathwayp Common Eiders; Great Ringed Plovers and Common Tern (Dan Powell ); Goldfinches and teasels (Peter M. Leonard ); Meadow Pipits (John M. Walters) 352 Bearded Tits (Ernie Leahy) 359 Daurian Redstart (Keith Brockie) 378 Buntings (Martin Eccles) 397 little Gulls (Dan Powell) 407 Little Gull (Dave Numey) 423 ‘the BOURC at work’ (M. J. Everett) 429 Banded Kingfisher (Katnol Komolphalin) 550 Armenian Gull (R. A. Hume) 56 1 Rose-ringed Parakeets (N. V. McCanch) 577 Kittiwakes (Phil Jones) 578 White-fronted Geese (George B. Brown ) 58 1 Smew (Phil Brown) 582 Great Grey Shrike (Dan Powell) 582 Homed Lark (Mike Pollard) 591 Canada Geese (Ruth Grewcock) 600 Brown Shrike (Killian Mullamey) 605 Bar-headed Geese (Nik Borrow) 638 Bullfinches (Alan Harris) Index to volume 86 Compiled by M. A. Ogihie Entries are in single list with reference to: (1) every significant mention of each species, not only in titles, but also within the text of papers, notes and letters, including all those appearing in such lists as the ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1991’, major mentions of those in ‘News and comment’, but excluding those in ‘Recent reports’, requests and reviews; (2) scientific nomenclature under generic names only and following The ‘British Birds’ List of English names of Western Palearctic Birds ( 1 993); (3) authors of all papers, notes, reviews and letters, and photographers; papers are referred to by their titles, other contributions as ‘note on’, ‘review of, etc.; (4) a few subject headings, e.g. ‘Announcements’, ‘Breeding’, ‘Display’, ‘Editorial’, ‘Field characters’, ‘Food and feeding behaviour’, ‘News and comment’, ‘Rarities Committee’, ‘Recent reports’, ‘Requests’, ‘Roosting’ and ‘Voice’; (5) ‘Reviews’ and ‘Short reviews’, which are fisted together in alphabetical order of authors reviewed. Accentor, Fledge, European news, 287; autumn 1992, 335; feeding from suspended nut containers, 57 1 , Siberian, European news, 287 Accipiter gentilis, see Goshawk, Northern nisus, see Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Acosta, Pedro F., see Silverio, Felipe Acrocephalus agrieola, see Warbler, Paddyfield arundinaceus, see Warbler, Great Reed — dumetorum, see Warbler, Blyth’s Reed griseldis, see Warbler, Basra Reed melanopogon, see Warbler, Moustached paludicola, see Warbler, Aquatic - schoenobaenus, see Warbler, Sedge scirpaceus, see Warbler, Reed Actitis hypoleucos, see Sandpiper, Common macularia, see Sandpiper, Spotted Aegolius funereus, see Owl, Tengmalm’s Aegyprus monachus, see Vulture, Monk Aix galenculata, see Duck, Mandarin sponsa, see Duck, Wood Albatross, accepted record 1991, 453 — , Black-browed, European news, 36; accepted records 1990-92, 452 Alcedo attJiis, see Kingfisher, Common Alectons chukar , see Partridge, Chukar Alexander, S. M. D., photograph of Red- footed Falcon, 473, plate 153 Alker, Peter J., note on young Moorhen 656 repeatedly carrying food from adult to younger chicks, 181 AlU alle, see Auk, Little Allen, Richard, Bird Illustrator of the Year 1993, 347-51 Allport, Gary, ICBP news, 33 Allsopp, Keith, and Nightingale, Barry, seasonal reports: winter 1992/93, 577-82, plates 218-22 - — — , , sec Nightingale, Barry Alopochen aegyptiacus, see Goose, Egyptian Amandava amandava, see Avadavat Ammomanes cincturus , see Lark, Bar-tailed Desert Anas acuta, see Pintail, Northern amencana, see Wigeon, American clypeata, see Shoveler, Northern crecca, see Teal, Common diicors, see Teal, Blue-winged — fakata, see Duck, Falcated formosa, see l eal, Baikal platyrhynchos, see Mallard querquedula, see Garganey rubripes , sec Duck, American Black strepera, see Gadwall Andrew, Dougal G., note on House Martins taking over Bam Swallows’ nest, 184-5 Announcements: two new British birds, free subscriptions for County/Regional Recorders, ‘The Carl Zeiss Award’, Bird Index to volume 86 Photograph of the Year, Bird Illustrator of the Year, The PJC Award, The Richard Richardson Award, front-cover designs for sale, photographs and drawings may be for sale, payments to photographers and artists, 26-8, Carl Zeiss award, an unacceptable Norfolk record of Baird’s Sandpiper, 199; Red Grouse ‘BB’ ties, 294; rarities descriptions, 345; The ‘BB’ Award for the Best Annual Bird Report, tee-shirts and sweat-shirts, ‘BB’ ties, 583; ‘The Carl Zeiss Award’, Bird Photograph of the Year, Birc Illustrator of the Year, 622 Anser albifrons , see Goose, White-fronted - anser, see Goose, Greylag - brachyrhynchus, see Goose, Pink-footed caerulescens, see Goose, Snow canagica, see Goose, Emperor cygnoides, see Goose, Swan erythropus, see Goose, Lesser White- fronted - fabalis, , see Goose, Bean - indicus, see Goose, Bar-headed rossii, see Goose, Ross’s Anthropoides virgo, see Crane, Demoiselle Anthus campestris, see Pipit, Tawny - cewinus, see Pipit, Red-throated - gustavi, see Pipit, Pechora - hodgsoni, see Pipit, Olive-backed novaeseelandiae, see Pipit, Richard’s petrosus, see Pipit, Rock - pratensis, see Pipit, Meadow - similis, see Pipit, Long-billed - spinoletta, see Pipit, Water Irimalis, see Pipit, Tree Apus affinis, see Swift, Little — apus, see Swift, Common melba, see Swift, Alpine - pallidus, see Swift, Pallid Aquila nipalensis, see Eagle, Steppe - pomarina, see Eagle, Lesser Spotted Arbon, Mary, photographs of Northern Lapwing and Oystercatcher, 18, plates 6-7 Ardea cinerea, see Heron, Grey purpurea, see Heron, Purple Ardeola ralLoides, see Heron, Squacco Arenana inlerpres, see Turnstone Arevalo, J. E., note on apparent interruption of incubation by Eurasian Treecreeper, 371-2 Asm capensis, see Owl, Marsh jlammeus, see Owl, Short-eared otus, see Owl, Long-eared Aspinall, S. J., Taverner, J. H., and Wiseman, E. J., history of Black-headed Gull colonies in Hampshire and neighbouring counties, 103-14 Athene noclua, see Owl, Little Atkins, Roy, see Roberts, Jeremy Auk, Little, European news, 284; winter 1992/93, 581 Avadavat, European news, 292 657 Avocet, European news, 40; autumn 1992 328 Axell, H. E., review of Hume: The Common Tem, 575 Aythya affinis, see Scaup, Lesser - collaris, see Duck, Ring-necked ferina, see Pochard, Common fuhgula, see Duck, Tufted ~ nyroca, see Duck, Ferruginous Baha el Din, Sherif, and Baha el Din, Mindy, European news, 36-47, 278-93 B aimer, Dawn, and Marchant, John, letter on status of House Sparrows, 63 1 -3 Bakewell, J. D., photograph of Great Northern Diver, 34, plate 9 Barratt, Kathleen I., note on Blackbird hanging upside-down from twies to feed 571 Barthel, Peter H., Bison, Pieter, and Wilds, Claudia, guidelines for rarities committees, 301-2 Bartramia longicauda, see Sandpiper, Upland Batt, L., note on Hawfinches feeding like crossbills on Scots pine, 133 Baumanis, Janis, European news, 36-47, 278- 93 Bean, Nigel, photograph of Rustic Bunting, 533, plate 206 Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked, photograph, 247, plate 66 , European, European news, 43; accepted record 1989, 500 , Little Green, European news, 285 Belaoussoff, Svenja, note on Northern Gannet and Common Guillemot nesting on Rockall, 16, 320, plates 99-102 Belsey, John T., photograph of Oriental Pratincole, 1 18, plate 22 Bennett, C.J. L., European news, 36-47 Berg, Hans-Martin, European news, 36-47, 278-93 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs, 430-2, plates 132-5 Bibby, Colin J., review of Ferguson-Lees: Endangered Birds, 191; short review 193-4; review of Lundberg & Alatalo: The Pied Flycatcher, 387 Bird, Eric, photograph of Pine Bunting, 380, plate 127 Bird Illustrator of the Year 1993, 347-51 BirdLife International news: Polish promise, 199; hydrological scheme threatens Ramsar site, 205 Bird Photograph of the Year 1993, 245-51, plates 65-71; award, 545, plate 210 Bison, Pieter, see Barthel, Peter H. Bittern, Great, European news, 37, 278; winter 1992/93, 578-81 — , Little, European news, 37; autumn 1992, 324; accepted record 1992, 454 Blackbird catching mayflies in air from perch, 658 Index to volume 86 96; hanging upside-down from twigs to feed, 571 — , Yellow-headed, European news, 47 Blackcap, autumn 1992, 335 Blake, A. E., photograph of Black Kite, 465, plate 144 Blattner, M. H., photographs of Trumpeter Finch, 529, plates 198-9 Bluetail, Red-flanked, European news, 44, 287 Bluethroat, autumn 1992, 333 Bloomfield, Andrew, note on Moorhen feeding from, and in association with, a hedgehog, 181-2 Boardman, P. R., photographs of Red-footed Falcon, 468, plates 146-7; of Black-winged Stilt, 475, plate 154 Bobolink, autumn 1992, 333; accepted record 1992, 536-7, plate 207 Bombycilla cedrorum, see Waxwing, Cedar garrulus, see W axwing, Bohemian Bond, Tony, photograph of Great Crested Grebe, 250, plate 70 Book, the smallest on ornithology, 574 Botaurus stellaris, see Bittern, Great Bottomley, Roy, note on Sand Martin catching fish, 1 84 BOU Records Committee, through a newcomer’s eyes, 423-9 Bourne, W. R. P., note on birds breeding on Rockall, 16-17; letter on Red Grouse, wagtails, and the classification and English names of birds, 437-8 Box, T., photograph of Baillon’s Crake, 309, plate 95 Bradshaw, Colin, mystery photograph 185, 53- 6, plate 12; photographs of Chestnut-sided Warbler, 59, plates 15-16; review' of Cramp et at.: Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. VI: warblers, 127-8; separating juvenile Little and Baillon’s Crakes in the field, 303-11, plates 92-7; comments on 1992 rarities, 447-540; mystery photograph 192, 621, 651-3, plate 229 , and Gray, Martin, identification of Pine Buntings, 378-86, plates 123-7 Brambling, autumn 1992, 335; winter 1992/93, 582 Branla bemicla, see Goose, Brent canadensis, see Goose, Canada leucopsis, see Goose, Barnacle ruficollis , see Goose, Red-breasted Brazier, David, note on Kingfisher apparently feeding on berries, 376 Breeding: Shelduck, 434-5, plate 137; Hobby, 625; Common Coot, 626-7; Oystercatcher, 17-19, plates 6-7; Common Gull, 182; House Martin, 184-5; Blue Tit, 572; Eurasian Treecreeper, 20-1, 371-2; Short- toed Treecreeper, 371; House Sparrow, 435-6; Bullfinch, 98 Brewer, A. D., photograph of Chesmut-sided Warbler, 59, plate 17 ‘British Birds’ Best Annual Bird Report Award, 163-5 ‘British Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year 1993, 569 Brockie, Keith, see Zonfrillo, Bernard Brown, Alan, review of Hoyo et al.: Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. I: Ostrich to ducks, 190-1 Bubo bubo , see Owl, Eagle Bubukus ibis , see Egret, Cattle Bucanetes githagineus, see Finch, Trumpeter Bucephala albeola, see Bufflehead clangula , see Goldeneye, Common islandica, see Goldeneye, Barrow’s Bufflehead, European news, 38, 280 Bulbul, Garden, European news, 287 Bullfinch, extended fledging period, 98; European news, 292; studies of West Palearctic birds 192, 638-48, plates 232-6 Bulu Wilson’s, European news, 41, 283; autumn 1992, 326; accepted records 1 988 92, 485 Phalaropus Julicanus, see Phalarope, Grey - bbatus, see Phalarope, Red-necked tricolor, see Phalarope, Wilson’s Phoebe, Eastern, accepted record 1987, 500-1 Phoenicopterus minor, see Flamingo, Lesser - ruber, see Flamingo, Greater Phoenicurus aunreus, see Redstart, Daurian PhotoSpot: 34: Desert Sparrow, 433, plate 136 Phylbscopus bonelli, see Warbler, Bonelli’s borealis, see Warbler, Arctic - collybita , see Chiffchaff - juscatus, see Warbler, Dusky - inomatus, see Warbler, Yellow-browed - negkctus, see Warbler, Plain Leaf - plumbeitarsus, see Warbler, Two-barred - proregulus, see Warbler, Pallas’s Leaf - schwarzi , see Warbler, Radde’s - trochiloides, see Warbler, Greenish - trochilus , see Warbler, Willow Pica pica, see Magpie Pick, Jeff, photograph of Lark Sparrow, 531, plate 201 Pigeon, Wood, European news, 285 Pinicob enuc/cator, see Grosbeak, Pine Pintail, Northern, presumed hybrid with Red- crested Pochard, 130-1; history of breeding in Britain and Ireland, 151-62, plate 83 Pipit, Long-billed, field identification in the West Palearctic, 6-15, plates 1-5 — , Meadow, autumn 1992, 333, 335 , Olive-backed, European news, 43, 285; autumn 1992, 335-6; accepted records 1988-92, 498, 504, plate 177 — , Pechora, European news, 287; accepted record 1992, 498, 504, plate 176 , Red-throated, European news, 43; autumn 1992, 333-4, 336, plate 112; accepted records 1988-92, 504-5 — , Richard’s, European news, 43, 285; autumn 1992, 333, 336-7 , Rock, European news, 43 Tawny, autumn 1992, 326; accepted records 1968 now rejected, 504 — , Tree, autumn 1992, 332 , Water, winter 1992/93, 582 Platalea alba, see Spoonbill, African leucorodia, see Spoonbill, Eurasian Plegadis falcinellus, see Ibis, Glossy Plover, American Golden, European news, 40, 282; accepted records 1990-92, 477 — , American or Pacific Golden, accepted record 1989, 477-8 — , Great Ringed, autumn 1992, 328 — , Greater Sand, European news, 40; photograph, 232, plate 52; autumn 1992, 325; accepted record 1992, 475, 477, plates 155-6 Grey, autumn 1992, 328, 335 , Kentish, European news, 282; autumn 1992, 335; winter 1992/93, 581 , Killdeer, European news, 282; accepted records 1990-91, 476 , Kittlitz’s, European news, 40 j Lesser Sand, European news, 40; photograph, 232, plate 53 , Pacific Golden, European news, 40, 282; photographs, 233, plates 54-5 ; autumn 1992, 324-6; accepted records 1990-92, 477, 483, plate 163 -, Semipalmated, European news, 40 Pluvialis dominica, see Plover, American Golden — dominica/ P. Juba, see Plover, American or Pacific Golden —Juba, see Plover, Pacific Golden squabrob, see Plover, Grey Pochard, Common, European news, 280; autumn 1992, 325 , Red-crested, presumed hybrid with Northern Pintail, 130-1; European news, 38, 280; hybrids with other ducks, 573; review of status and categorisation of feral birds, 608 Podiceps cristatus, see Grebe, Great Crested grisegena, see Grebe, Red-necked njgricollis, see Grebe, Black-necked Podilymbus podiceps, see Grebe, Pied-billed Porphyrio porphyria, see Swamp-hen, Purple Porphyrub alleni, see Gallinule, Allen’s marhnica, see Gallinule, American Purple Porter, R. F., photograph of Baillon’s Crake, 309, plate 94 Porzana parva, see Crake, Litde — porzana, see Crake, Spotted — pusilb, see Crake, Baillon’s Potts, Peter, see Riddiford, Nick Pouteau, Christian, photograph of Desert Sparrow, 433, plate 136 Powell, Dan, 2nd place, Bird Illustrator of the Year 1992, 347-51 Pratincole, Black-winged, European news, 282; accepted record 1992, 476 — , Collared, European new's, 40, 282; accepted record 1992, 476 -, Oriental, new to the Western Palearctic, 115-20, plates 20-3; photograph, 240, plate 60 Product reports: Leica 7 X 42BA binocular, 125-6; rare bird alert pager, 178-9 Prowse, Alan, letter on identification of Tennessee Warbler, 541 Prunella modubris, see Accentor, Hedge — montanella, see Accentor, Siberian Prytherch, Robin, mystery photograph 187, 174-5, plate 35; review of Hammond & Pearson: Birds of Prey, 442 — , , and Everett, Mike, news and comment, see News and comment Psittacub krameri, see Parakeet, Rose-ringed Pterodroma, see Petrel 670 Index to volume 86 feae, see Petrel, Cape Verde madeira, see Petrel, Madeira mollis, see Petrel, Soft-plumaged - mollis/ madeira/ feae , see Petrel, Soft- plumaged superspecies Ptyonoprogne rupestris, see Martin, Crag Puffin, news item, 143 Puffinus assimilis, see Shearwater, Little — gravis, see Shearwater, Great griseus, see Shearwater, Sooty puffinus, see Shearwater, Manx yelkouan, see Shearwater, Mediterranean Pycnonotus barbatus, see Bulbul, Garden Pyrrhocorax graculus, see Chough, Yellow-billed pynhocorax, see Chough, Red-billed Pyrrhula pyrrhula, see Bullfinch Radford, A. P., note on Coal Tits feeding on yew fruits, 98; on Mistle Thrush placing faecal pellets of rabbit on body and also eating them, 27 1 Rail, Water, European news, 39, 282 Rallus aquaticus, see Rail, Water Rare-bird recording and the Rarities Committee, 417-22 Rare Breeding Birds Panel, rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1990, 62-90 Rarities Committee, news and announce- ments: 299-300, 415-6, plates 89-91; report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1992, 447- 540, plates 139-208 Rarities committees guidelines, 301-2 Rasmussen, Brian, European news, 36-47, 278-93 Recent reports: 48; 102; 150; 200; 244; 294; 346; 396; 446; 548; 590; 654 Recurvirostra avosetta, see Avocet Redfern, Chris, letter on Song Thrushes feeding on periwinkles, 630 Redman, Nigel, short review, 24, 636; note on female plumage of Desert Sparrow, 131-3; review of Roberts: The Birds of Pakistan, vol. 2: pittas to buntings, 1 92 Redpoll, Arctic, European news, 46, 292; in Kent, 135-8, 311; autumn 1992, 337; accepted records 1982-92, 525-6 , Common, European news, 292 Redshank, Spotted, European news, 283 Redstart, Daurian, in Scotland: captive origin and the British List, 359-66, plates 116-9; letter, 629-30 Redwing, feeding on periwinkles, 134; autumn 1992', 335 Regulus ignicapillus, see Firecrest regains, see Goldcrcst Remii pendulinus, see Tit, Penduline Requests: rare breeding birds, photographs needed please, 48; Blue Tits and flowering currants, 102; colour-marked birds: a reminder, 623 Reviews: Axell: Of Birds and Men, 23 Birkhead: Great Auk Islands: a field biologist in the Arctic, 6*34 Bibby el al.: Putting Biodiversity on the Map: priority areas for global conservation, 243 Bibby et al.: Bird Census Techniques, 543 Cook: The Birds of Moray and Naim, 387 Cramp et al.: Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. VI: warblers, 127-8 Cramp & Perrins: Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. VII: flycatchers to shrikes, 441-2 Da\ies: Dunnock Behaviour and Social Evolution, 128 Dubois & Yesou: Les Oiseaux Rares en France, 243 Erskine: Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Maritime Provinces, 388 Evans: Rare Birds in Britain 1992, 634-5 Ferns: Bird Life of Coasts and Estuaries, 344 Ferguson-Lees: Endangered Birds, 1 9 1 Giles: Wildlife after Gravel: twenty years of practical research by The Game Conservancy and ARC, 388 Hammond & Pearson: Birds of Prey, 442 Hancock et al.: Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World, 243-4 Hoyo et al.: Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. I: Ostrich to ducks, 1 90- 1 Hume: The Common Tern, 575 Hudson: Grouse in Space and Tone, 91 Jonsson: Birds of Europe: with North Africa and the Middle East, 23-4 Keidi et al.: The Birds of Africa, vol. IV, 128 La Ligue Franyaise pour la Protection des Oiseaux: Where to Watch Birds in Eraru:e, 191-2 Lack & Ferguson: The Birds of Bucking- hamshire, 575-6 LeFranc: Les Pies-Grieches d’Europe, d’Afrique du Nord et du Moyen-Onent, 576 Lorenz: Here 1 Am — Where Are You, 9 1 Lundberg & Alatalo: The Pied Flycatcher, 387 Monk: Avian Systematics and Taxonomy, 389 Mundy et al.: The Vultures of Africa, 344 Proctor & Lynch: Manual of Ornithology: avian structure & Junction, 576 Roberts: The Birds of Pakistan, vol. 2: pittas to buntings, 192 Shrubb: The Kestrel, 635 Snow: Birds, Discovery and Conservation: 100 years of the 'Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club’, 192 Strange & Jeyarajasingam: Birds: a photographic guide to the birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, 389 Svensson: Identification Guide to European Passerines, 4th edn, 1 29 Short reviews: Armstrong, 390; Barrington, 390; Bent, 390; Boot & Franks, 390; Brooks & Gibbs, 390; Burton, J., 193; Burton, R., 24; Butler & Merton, 635; Ciochia, 390; Index to volume 86 671 Dalton, 129; Dennis, 442; Dubois & Duquet, 129: Ferrari, 635; {French, 129; Finlayson, 635; Fioratti, 390; Harris & Harris, 129; Hoskin el at., 390; Jackman, 193; Jackson, 193; Jonsson & Tysse, 24; Lack, 636; Lambert, 193; Lewington & Streeter, 636; MacKinnon & Phillips, 636; Martin, 193; May, 442; Meams & Mearns' 390-1; Muller, 391; Nielsen, 24; Orchel, 193-4; Pemberton, 24; Pernin, 194; Piersma & Davidson, 194; Pillaway, 636; RatclifFe, 636-7, Read et at., 194; Sibley & Moore, 637; Straneck, 391; Taylor, 637; Tostain et a/., 194; Ullman, 391; Wiencke, 637; Williams, 391; Young & Franks, 194 Rhodostethia rosea, see Gull, Ross’s Richard Richardson Award 1992, The, 347-51 Richardson, W., photograph oF Woodcock, 249, plate 68 RiddiFord, Nick, and Potts, Peter, note on exceptional claw-wear oF Great Reed Warbler, 572 Rimes, David, photograph oF Citrine Wagtail, 499, plate 179 Riparia riparia, see Martin, Sand Rissa tridactyla, see Kittiwake Roberts, Jeremy, and Atkins, Roy, note on eye-colour oF birds in dim light, 186 Roberts, Peter, short review, 39 1 Roberts, Steve, and Lewis, Jerry, note on canopy display by Hawfinch, 187 Robin, autumn 1992, 335; killed by Great Spotted Woodpecker, 570 Robinson, Ian, photograph oF Red-Footed Falcon, 471, plate 152 Rogers, Michael J., report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1992, 447-540, plates 1 39- 208; letter on the smallest book on ornithology, 574 — , , see Lansdown, Peter Roller, European, European news, 285; accepted records 1991-92, 495, 500, plate 175 Rook, European news, 46 Rooke, Steve, review oF Bibby et at:. Putting Biodiversity on the Map: priority areas for global conservation, 243; short review, 391 Roosting: Peregrine Falcon, 49-52; Marsh Owls, 131; Common SwiFt, 368-9, plate 121; Barn Swallow, 95-6; Wryneck, 20; Short-toed Treecreeper, 369-70, plate 122 Rosefinch, Common, European news, 46, 292; autumn 1992, 328, 333, 335-6 — , Long-tailed, European news, 46 — , Pallas’s, mystery photograph, 53-6, plate 1 2 Roser, Mike, see Cantelo, John Rubythroat, Siberian, European news, 44 Russell, Francis J., see Hampshire, John S. Rutdedge, R. F., note on prolonged song of Collared Dove, 570 Sanderling, mystery photograph 190, 312-3, plate 98 Sandgrouse, Pallas’s, European news, 42, 285 Sandpiper, Baird’s, unacceptable NorFolk record, 22, 199; European news, 40, 282; autumn 1992, 326, 333; accepted records 1989-92, 478-80, plate 159 j Broad-billed, European news, 41; photograph, 236, plate 56; autumn 1992, 324; accepted records 1991-92, 480 — > BufF-breasted, European news, 41, 283; autumn 1992, 330-1, 333, 336, plates 106^ 109; accepted record 1979, 481 — , Common, autumn 1992, 325; mated by Spotted Sandpiper, 628 — , Curlew, autumn 1992, 328 > Green, European news, 283; autumn 1992, 326-7 ~ - Least, European news, 40, 282 — , Marsh, European news, 41; autumn 1992, 324; accepted records 1990-92, 481-4 — , Pectoral, European news, 40-1, 282-3; autumn 1992, 324, 326, 330, 333, plate 106 — , Purple, autumn 1992, 337 — , Semipalmated, accepted record 1992, 478-9, plate 157 , Sharp-tailed, European news, 41; mystery photograph, 566, 584, plate 2 1 7 , Solitary, autumn 1992, 333; accepted record 1992, 484, 479, plate 158 , Spotted, European news, 41, 283; accepted records 1990-92, 482, 484-5, plate 162; winter 1992/93, 581; displaying to and mating with Common Sandpiper, 628 — , Stilt, accepted records 1989-92, 480 — , Terek, photograph, 288, plate 82; accepted records 1990-92, 484 — , Upland, accepted records 1988-91, 481; accepted record 1973 now rejected, 481 — , Western, autumn 1992, 323, 332; accepted record 1992, 478 — , White-rumped, European news, 40, 282; autumn 1992, 326, 332; accepted records 1989-92, 478 Satat, Noah, photograph oF I x>ng- billed Pipit, 13, plate 5 Satterthwaite, David, photograph of Greenish Warbler, 519, plate 190 Saxicola rubetra, see Whinchat - torquata, see Stonechat, Common Saunders, David, short review, 637 Sayomis phoebe, see Phoebe, Eastern Scaup, Lesser, accepted records 1991-93, 463-4 Schouten, Hans, photograph of Oystercatcher, 249, plate 69; note on Short-toed Treecreepers roosting in tree crevice, 369- 70, plate 122 Scolopax rushcola , see Woodcock Scoter, Common, autumn 1992, 325, 328 — , Surf, European news, 38, 280; autumn 1992, 324-5; accepted records 1982-90, 465; accepted record 1982 now rejected, 465; winter 1992/93, 581 672 Index to volume 86 — , Velvet, autumn 1992, 325 Scott, Bob, review of Axell: Of Birds and Men, 23; letter on Red-crested Pochard hybrids, 573 Scrub-robin, Rufous-tailed, European news, 287; autumn 1992, 323, 327 Seago, Michael J., letter on unacceptable Norfolk record of Baird’s Sandpiper, 22 Seasonal reports: autumn 1992, 323-37, plates 103-13; winter 1992/93, 577-82, plates 218-22 Serin, European, autumn 1992, 325 , Red-fronted, European news, 46 Serinus pusillus, see Serin, Red-fronted serinus, see Serin, European Shackleton, Keith, see Sharrock, J. T. R., et at. Shag, do birds of Mediterranean race desmarestii occur in southwest England?, 166- 73, plate 34; European news, 278; autumn 1992, 327; winter 1992/93, 578 Sharrock, J. T. R., short reviews, 24, 129, 194, 390-1, 636-8; review of Svensson: Identification Guide to European Passerines, 4th edn, 129; of Dubois & Yesou: Les Oiseaux Rares en France, 243; photographs of Rarities Committee, 300, plates 89-91; note on Mistle Thrush alarm-call terrorising cat, 314; review of Strange & Jeyarajasingam: Birds: a photographic guide to the birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, 389; letter on English name changes, 438; review of Lack & Ferguson: The Birds of Buckinghamshire, 575-6 , , et ai. Bird Illustrator of the Year and The Richard Richardson Award 1992, 347-51 — , , see Chandler, R. J., et al. , , see Hume, R. A. Shaw, Stephen H., and McKenzie, Shirley, note on Hedge Accentors feeding from suspended nut containers, 57 1 Shearwater, Cory’s, photograph, 36, plate 1 1 ; European news, 36; autumn 1992, 324, 325-6, 332; winter 1992/93, 578 , Great, autumn 1992, 324, 326 , Little, European news, 278; autumn 1992, 326, 332; accepted records 1988-92, 453 , Manx, autumn 1992, 327 — , Mediterranean, European news, 37, 278; autumn 1992, 324, 326, 328, 332 — , Sooty, autumn 1992, 326, 328, 332; winter 1992/93, 578 , Streaked, European news, 36-7, plate 1 1 Shelduck, Common, European news, 279; nesting in open position in barn, 434-5, plate 137 , Ruddy, European news, 279; review of status and categorisation on the British List, 61 1 Shepherd, K. B., and Votier, S. C., note on Common Gull showing characteristics apparently consistent with North American race, 220-3 Shirihai, Hadoram, European news, 36-47, 278-93; photograph of Cory’s and Streaked Shearwaters, 36, plate 11; note on separation of Striated Scops Owl from Eurasian Scops Owl, 286-7, plates 77-80; photograph of Paddyfield Warbler, 288, plate 83 Shoveler, Nordiem, European news, 279-80; autumn 1992, 336 Shrike, Brown, new to Britain and Ireland, 600-4, plates 224-6 — , Great Grey, autumn 1992, 335; accepted records of L. e. palidirostris 1989-92, 524, 527, plates 196-7; winter 1992/93, 582 — , Isabelline, European news, 292; accepted record 1991, 524 — , Lesser Grey, autumn 1992, 324; accepted records 1991-92, 524 , Masked, European news, 292 , Red-backed, autumn 1992, 328, 333. 336 — , Woodchat, flocking in Portugal, 21; autumn 1992, 325, 328, 335; accepted record 1990, 524 Shrubb, Mike, short review, 636 Silverio, Felipe, and Acosta, Pedro F., note on aggressive display by Long-eared Owl towards Common Buzzard, 183 Simmons, K. E. L., product report: Leica 7 X 42BA binocular, 125-6; review of Davies: Durmock Behaviour and Social Evolution, 1 28; of Snow: Birds, Discovery and Conservation: 100 years of the ‘ Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ ' Club ’, 192 — , , and Simmons, M., note on Coal Tit hiding yew berries, 98 Simms, Eric, letter on Song Thrushes feeding on periwinkles, 630-1 Siskin, European news, 46, 292 Sitters, Humphrey, short review, 390 Skua, Arctic, European news, 283; autumn 1992, 326, 327, 328, 332, 336 — , Great, separation from South Polar Skua, 176-7; mystery photograph 188, 218- 9, plates 43-4; European news, 283 — , Long-tailed, European news, 283; autumn 1992, 324, 328, 332 , Pomarine, European news, 283; autumn 1992, 324, 326, 328, 332, 336-7; winter 1992/93, 581 , South Polar, European news, 41; sep- aration from Great Skua, 176-7 Slade, B. E., photograph of Bobolink 537, plate 207 Smew, winter 1992/93, 581 Smith, Bobby, photograph of Common Swift, 431, plate 132; of European Nightjar, 431, plate 133 Smith, Don, see Chandler, R. J., et al. Smith, F. R., obituary, 615-6, plate 227 Index to volume 86 673 Smith, Ken, review of Giles: Wildlife after Gravel: twenty years of practical research by The Game Conservancy and ARC, 388 Smith, Peter, review of Erskine: Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Maritime Provinces, 388 Smith, R. E., note on Eurasian Jay apparently attempting to extract House Martins from nest, 315 Smith, Richard G., photograph of Olivaceous ^ arbler, 140, plate 30; of White-winged Black Tern, 487, plate 168 Snipe, Great autumn 1992, 328; accepted record 1992, 481 Snook, A. M., note on Blackbird catching mayflies in air from perch, 96 Somateria mollissima, see Eider, Common - spectabilis, see Eider, King Sorensen, Soren, European news, 36-47, 278 93 Sorensen, Life Gjol, see Meininger, Peter L. Sparrow, Desert, female plumage, 131-3; PhotoSpot, 433, plate 136 , Golden, European news, 292 — , House, European news, 46; news item, 275; nesting in cliffs in Scilly, 435-6; letter on stams, 631-3 , Lark, accepted record 1991, 530-1, plate 201 , ‘Italian’, in Corsica, 573-4 , Spanish, European news, 292 — , White-throated, accepted record 1992, 530-2, plates 202-4; winter 1992/93, 582 Sparrowhawk, Eurasian, European news, 28 1 Spencer, Robert, and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1990, 62-90 Spoonbill, African, European new's, 279 , Eurasian, European news, 37; autumn 1992, 324; winter 1992/93, 581 Starling, Common, prolonged fighting between, 21; using wet food to collect powdery food, 372-3 ~ , Rosy, European news, 46; autumn 1992, 326, 336; accepted records 1987-92, 524-5 , White-shouldered, European news, 46 Sfastny, Karel, European news, 36-47, 278-93 Stawarczyk, Tadeusz, European news, 36-47, 278-93 Stercorarius longicaudus, see Skua, Long-tailed — maccomicki, see Skua, South Polar parasiticus, see Skua, Arctic — pomarinus, see Skua, Pomarine skua, see Skua, Great Sterna albifrons , see Tern, Little - anaethetus, see Tern, Bridled antillarum, see Tern, Least balaenarum, see Tern, Damara — bengalensis, see Tern, Lesser Crested — caspia, see Tern, Caspian dougallii, see Tern, Roseate forsteri, see Tern, Forster’s fuscata, see Tern, Sooty ~~ tiirundo, see Tern, Common — paradisaea, see Tern, Arctic - sandvicensis, see Tern, Sandwich Stewart-Smith, John, note on Turnstones feeding at Kittiwake nests, 270; on Eurasian Curlews thermalling, 314 Stilt, Black-winged, European news, 40; accepted records 1989-92, 475-6, plate 154 Stint, Little, autumn 1992, 335 > Long-toed, photograph, 240, plate 61 > Red-necked, European news, 40; photograph, 240, plate 62; autumn 1992, 323, 325; accepted record 1992, 478 Stone-curlew, photograph, 248, plate 67; European news, 282 Stonechat, Common, European news, 44, 287; associating with Dartford Warbler, 188-9; autumn 1992, 336; accepted records of S. t. maura/ stejnegeri 1989-92, 507-9 Stork, Black, European news, 37, 279; accepted records 1991-92, 457 Storm-petrel, European, European news, 37; autumn 1992, 327 , Leach’s, autumn 1992, 328, 332 , Madeiran, European news, 278 , Wilson’s, accepted record 1990, 453 Strangeman, P. J., extended fledging period of Bullfinch, 98 Streptopelia decaocto, see Dove, Collared — orientalis, see Dove, Oriental Turtle — roseogrisea, see Dove, African Collared — senegalensis, see Dove, Laughing Strix aluco, see Owl, Tawny — nebulosa , see Owl, Great Grey uralensis, see Owl, Ural Stumus roseus, see Starling, Rosy — sinensis, see Starling, White-shouldered — vulgaris, see Starling, Common Sultana, Joe, and Gauci, Charles, European news, 36-47, 278-93 Summers-Smith, J. D., PhotoSpot 34: Desert Sparrow, 433, plate 136 Svensson, Lars, letter on sacrosanct names, 440 Swallow, Barn, roosting in maize, 95-6; nest taken over by House Martins, 184-5; autumn 1992, 325 — , Red-rumped, autumn 1992, 327, 333, 336, 337; accepted records 1988-92, 502-3 — , Tree, records in Britain, 188 Swamp-hen, Purple, European news, 39-40, 282 Swan, Mute, European news, 279; autumn 1992, 325 — , Tundra, accepted records of C. c. columbianus 1991-92, 458; winter 1992/93 581 — , Whooper, European news, 37, 279; autumn 1992, 332; winter 1992/93, 581; review of status and categorisation on the British List, 610 674 Index to volume 86 Swift, Alpine, European news, 43; autumn 1992, 325, 327, 336; aggressive behaviour at nest, 570; accepted records 1988-92, 497- 500 — , Chimney, accepted record 1991, 497, 501, plates 180-1 — , Common, autumn 1992, 325; young roosting in foliage of trees, 368-9, plate 121; photograph, 431, plate 132 — , Litde, European news, 43 — , Pallid, European news, 285; autumn 1992, 325 Sylvia atricapilla , see Blackcap barm, see Warbler, Garden — cantillaris, see Warbler, Subalpine - communis , see Whitethroat, Common curruca, see Whitethroat, Lesser hortensis, see Warbler, Orphean melanocephala, see Warbler, Sardinian nana , see Warbler, Desert nisoria, see Warbler, Barred rueppelli, see Warbler, Riippell’s sarda, see Warbler, Marmora’s undata, see Warbler, Dartford Synthliboramphus antiquus, see Murrelet, Ancient Syrrhaptes paradoxus , see Sandgrouse, Pallas’s Tachycineta bicolor, see Swallow, Tree Tadoma ferruginea, see Shelduck, Ruddy tadoma, see Shelduck, Common Tarsiger cyanurus, see Bluetail, Red-flanked Taverner, J. H., see Aspinall, S. J. Taylor, Don, short review, 193 Taylor, P. B., photograph of Baillon’s Crake, 310, plate 97 Teal, Baikal, European news, 279 — , Blue-winged, European news, 38, 279; autumn 1992, 324, 332; accepted records 1988-92, 462 — , Common, European news, 38, 279; accepted records of A. c. carolinensis 1989-90, 460-2; winter 1992/93, 581; taken by Common Buzzard, 625 Tern, Arctic, identification review, 210-7; European news, 284; autumn 1992, 328 — , Black, European news, 42; autumn 1992, 323, 327-8, 332 , Bridled, autumn 1992, 323, 327 — , Caspian, European news, 42; autumn 1992, 326, 333; accepted records 1989-92, 490-2, plates 170-2 — , Common, European news, 42; identification review, 210-7; autumn 1992, 327-8; feeding on fishermen’s bait, 628 , Damara, European news, 42 — , Forster’s, autumn 1992, 332; accepted records 1991-93, 492 , Gull-billed, European news, 42, 284; autumn 1992, 327; accepted records 1989- 92, 490; accepted records 1960-73 now rejected, 490 , IiCast, autumn 1992, 324 — , Lesser Crested, autumn 1992, 324; accepted Records 1991-92, 486, 492, plate 167 — , Litde, autumn 1992, 333 — , Roseate, identification review, 210-7; autumn 1992, 324 — , Sandwich, European news, 42, 284; autumn 1992, 335 — , Sooty, European news, 42 — , Whiskered, European news, 42, 284; feeding behind plough, 95; accepted records 1964 now rejected, 492 — , White-winged Black, European news, 42; autumn 1992, 326, 333; accepted records 1989-92, 486-7, 493-4, plates 166, 168-9 Tetrao tetrix, see Grouse, Black Thevenot, Michel, European news, 36-47, 278-93 Thornett, Roger, letter on Dartford Warblers associating with Common Stonechat, 1 88-9 Thorpe, J. P., see Kelly, G. M. Thrush, Blue Rock, accepted records 1985-87, 509-11 , Dark-throated, European news, 44, 289; autumn 1992, 511; accepted record 1992, 511 , Dusky, European news, 289 — , Eyebrowed, European news, 289; autumn 1992, 511; accepted record 1992, 506, 511, plate 182 — , Grey-cheeked, accepted record 1991, 511 — , Hermit, European news, 287-9 , Mistle, placing faecal pellets of rabbit on body and also eating them, 271; alarm-call terrorising cat, 3 1 4 — , Siberian, autumn 1992, 323, 336; accepted record 1992, 510-1, plate 184 — , Song, feeding on periwinkles, 134; using wet food to collect powdery food, 372-3; letters on feeding on periwinkles, 630-1 — , White’s, accepted record 1991, 51 1 Tlchodroma muraria, see Wallcreeper Tidman, Roger, photograph of Bird Photograph of the Year 1993 awards, 545, plate 210 — , , see Chandler, R. J., et al Tipling, David, photograph of Caspian Tern, 491, plate 170; of Yellow-breasted Bunting, 329, plate 105; of Brown Shrike, 601, plate 226 Tipper, Ray, waders in Hong Kong, 231-42, plates 52-64 "Lit, Azure, European news, 291 — , Bearded, European news, 45; autumn 1992, 337; colonisation of Leighton Moss, Lancashire, 352-8 , Blue, at least three adults feeding young in same nest, 572 , Coal, feeding on yew fruits, 98; hiding yew berries, 98 Index to volume 86 675 , Penduline, European news, 45, 292; autumn 1992, 335; accepted records 1988- 92, 523-4, 527, plate 195 Tits, do British species drink milk or only skim the cream?, 321-2; opening milk bottles, 573 I omiafojc, Ludwik, review of Bibby et al.: Bird Census Techniques, 543 1 omlinson, David, review of Keith et al. : The Birds of Africa, vol. IV, 128; of La Ligue f i angaise pour la Protection des Oiseaux: Where to Watch Birds in France, 191-2; note on Oystercatcher chick probably killed by rival adult, 224-5, plates 46-50; review of Mundy et al.: The Vultures of Africa, 344 Tonge, S. J., see Young, H. G. I reecreeper, Eurasian, nest-site fidelity, 20-1; European news, 45; apparent interruption of incubation, 371-2 , Short-toed, roosting in tree crevice, 369- 70, plate 122; simultaneous bigyny, 371; accepted records 1979-90, 523; letter on roosting in tree crevice, 63 1 Tringa eiythropus, see Redshank, Spotted flcwipes, see Yellowlegs, Lesser - guttfer, see Greenshank, Nordmann’s nebukrk, see Greenshank, Common - ochropus , see Sandpiper, Green - solikria, see Sandpiper, Solitary stagnatilis, see Sandpiper, Marsh I rodd, Paul, Hobbies nesting on pylon, 625 Tryngites subruficollis, see Sandpiper, Buff- breasted Turdus iliacus, see Redwing — meruk, see Blackbird - naumanni, see Thrush, Dusky - obscurus, see Thrush, Eyebrowed - pikris, see Fieldfare - philamelos, see Thrush, Song - ruficollis, see Thrush, Dark-throated - torquatus, see Ouzel, Ring - memories, see Thrush, Mistle Turnstone, feeding at Kittiwake nest, 270 Twenty-five years ago: 15; 56; 142; 177; 209; 266; 313; 358; 406; 548; 568; 619 Twite, European news, 292 Tyrberg, Tommy, European news, 36-47, 278-93 Tyto alba, see Owl, Bam UUman, Magnus, identification of Black-eared Wheatear, 185 Upupa epops, see Hoopoe Uragus sibincus, see Rosefinch, Long-tailed Uria aalge, see Guillemot, Common - kmvk, see Guillemot, Briinnich’s van den Berg, Amoud B., European news, 36- 47, 278-93; photographs of Pied Wheatear, 290, plates 86, 88 Vanellus vanellus, see Lapwing, Northern Vaughan, Howard, predatory behaviour by Kittiwakes, 182-3 Vermwora peregrina, see Warbler, Tennessee Vernon, J. D. Rae, Magpies and milk bottles, 315 Vimcombe, Keith, review of Evans: Rare Birds in Bnkin 1992, 634-5 > ancl Hopkin, Peter J., the Great Black-headed Gull in Britain, 201-5, plates 40-1 ~V > Marchant, John, and Knox, Alan, review of status and categorisation of feral birds on the British List, 605-14 l ireo olivaceus, see Vireo, Red-eyed Philadelphia^, see Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Philadelphia, mystery photograph, 62 1 651-3, plate 229 , Red-eyed, European news, 46, 292; autumn 1992, 336; accepted records 1988- 92, 525 Voice: Collared Dove, 570; Eurasian Scops Owl, 271; Mistle Thrush, 314; Grasshopper Warbler, 20; Chaffmch, 376-7 Wrier, S. C., see Shepherd, K. B. Vulture, Griffon, letter on possible occurrence at Cape Clear, 92 , Monk, European news, 28 1 ; accepted as Category D species, 538 , Riippell’s Griffon, European news, 281 Wagtail, Citrine, European news, 43-4, 287; autumn 1992, 332; accepted record 1992, 499, 505, plate 179 , Grey, autumn 1992, 335 — , Pied, European news, 44; English name, 436-7 — , Yellow, photograph, 250, plate 71; European news, 287; autumn 1992, 332; English name, 436-7 Waliczky, Zoltan, European news, 36-47, 278- 93 Wall, N. E., photograph of Red-footed Falcon, 47 1 , plates 1 50- 1 Wallcreeper, European news, 45, 292 Warbler, Aquatic, European news, 289; autumn 1992, 326 — , Arctic, autumn 1992, 327-8, 332; accepted records 1991-92, 517, 519, plate 191 , Barred, European news, 44, 291; autumn 1992, 326, 333, 335-6; winter 1992/93, 582 — , Basra Reed, European news, 289 , Blackpoll, in Shetland, 206-9, plate 42 — , Blyth’s Reed, European news, 44; accepted record 1991, 512, 518, plate 188 — , Bonelli’s, autumn 1992, 333-7, plate 111; accepted records 1989-92, 521-3; accepted record 1972 now rejected, 521 — , Booted, European news, 44; autumn 1992, 332, 336; accepted record 1992, 513, 522, plate 193 — , Cetti’s, European news, 289; flycatching, 676 Index to volume 86 571 — , Chestnut-sided, new to Western Palearctic, 57-61, plates 14-17 , Dartford, feeding habits, 185-6; associating with Common Stonechat, 188-9; autumn 1992, 335, 337; winter 1992/93, 582 — , Desert, eye-colour in dim light, 186; autumn 1992, 323, 329, 337, plate 103; accepted records 1991-92, 516 — , Dusky, European news, 45, 291; autumn 1992, 336-7; accepted records 1988-92, 520-1; winter 1992/93, 582 , Garden, autumn 1992, 332 — , Grasshopper, reeling in response to electric drill, 20 — , Great Reed, accepted records 1990-92, 513; exceptional claw-wear, 572 — , Greenish, European news, 45, 291; autumn 1992, 323, 326, 328, 332; accepted records 1983-92, 516-7, 519, plate 190 — , Hooded, autumn 1992, 323, 333; accepted record 1992, 530 , Icterine, photograph, 140, plate 29; autumn 1992, 326, 333 — , Lanceolated, European news, 44, 288-9, plate 84; autumn 1992, 333; accepted record 1992, 512 — , Marmora’s, accepted record 1992, 513 — , Melodious, European news, 44; mystery photograph, 139-42, plate 28; autumn 1992, 325-6, 333 , Moustached, European news, 44, 289 — , Olivaceous, photographs, 140, 432, plates 30, 135 — , Orphean, European news, 289-91 , Paddyfield, European news, 44, 288-9, plate 83; autumn 1992, 335; accepted record 1992, 512 — , Pallas’s Grasshopper, European news, 289; autumn 1992, 335; accepted record 1992, 506, 510, 512, plates 183, 185 — , Pallas’s Leaf, European news, 45, 291; autumn 1992, 335-7; accepted records 1982-92, 520 — , Plain Leaf, European news, 45, 291 — , Radde’s, European news, 45, 290-1, plate 87; autumn 1992, 335-6; accepted records 1988-92, 520, 522, plate 194 — , Reed, European news, 289; autumn 1992, 332 — , River, European news, 44, 289; autumn 1992, 335; accepted record 1992, 512 — , Ruppell’s, autumn 1992, 323, 329, 332, plate 104; accepted record 1992, 515 — , Sardinian, European news, 44; accepted record 1992, 514-5, 518, plates 186, 189 , Savi’s, European news, 44 — , Sedge, European news, 289 , Subalpine, accepted records 1991-92, 513-5, plate 187 — , Tennessee, identification, 541 — , Two-barred, European news, 291 , Willowy autumn 1992, 327 — , Yellow, autumn 1992, 323, 328; accepted records 1990-92, 530 — , Yellow-browed, European news, 45, 291; autumn 1992, 333, 336-7; winter 1992/93, 582 Warner, J. J., note on Common Starling and Song Thrush using wet food to collect powdery food, 372-3 Watson, Adam, note on Dotterels evading Peregrine Falcon by settling near human being, 131 Waxwing, Bohemian, European news, 44; winter 1992/93, 582 — , Cedar, accepted as Category D species, 538 Webb, Andy, photographs of Great Skua, 2 1 8, plates 43-4 Wheatear, Black, identification in flight, 185 — , Black-eared, European news, 44; autumn 1992, 335; accepted record 1992, 509 , Cyprus Pied, European news, 287 , Desert, European news, 287, 290, plate 85; accepted record 1988, 509 , Isabelline, in Scilly, 3-5; European news, 44; accepted records 1991-92, 499, 509, plate 178 , Northern, autumn 1992, 327 — , Pied, European news, 44, 287, 290, plates 86, 88; autumn 1992, 333; accepted record 1992, 509 Whimbrel, autumn 1992, 326, 332; perching on overhead electricity cables, 627, plate 231 Whitethroat, Common, autumn 1992, 327; photograph, 432, plate 1 34 , Lesser, autumn 1992, 327 Wigeon, American, European news, 38, 279; autumn 1992, 326, 333, 336; accepted records 1991-92, 460; winter 1992/93, 581 Wilds, Claudia, see Barthel, Peter H. Wilson, D., see Young, H. G. Willet, European news, 283, 288. plates 76, 81 Williams, Alan, Bird Photograph of the Year 1993, of Hoopoe, 247, plate 65; award, 545, plate 210 Williams, J. M., letter on mimicry by Chaffinches, 376-7 Williams, L. P., letter on Tree Swallow records in Britain, 188 Wilson, John, colonisation by Bearded Tits of Leighton Moss, Lancashire, 352-8 Wilson, R. C., photograph of Cattle Egret, 455, plate 141; of Greater Sand Plover, 475, plate 156; of Caspian Tern, 491, plates 171-2; of Booted Warbler, 522, plate 193 Wilsonia citrina , see Warbler, Hooded Wiseman, E. J., see Aspinall, S. J. Wood, J. Duncan, letter on English names of Western Palearctic birds, 438-40 Index to volume 86 677 Woodcock, photograph, 249, plate 68; autumn 1992, 336 Woodpecker, Great Spotted, killing Robin 571 ’ , Middle Spotted, European news, 285 Wryneck, roosting in reeds while on passage, 20; autumn 1992, 327, 332-3, 336 Wyllie, I., photographs of Bullfinch, 641 644 plates 232, 234-5 Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, see Blackbird, Yellow-headed Xenus cinereus, see Sandpiper, Terek Y ellowhammer, European news, 292 Yellowlegs, Lesser, European news, 41; autumn 1992, 324, 336; accepted records 1986-92, 482, 484, plate 161; winter 1992/93, 581 Young, H. G., note on prey and prey-capture techniques of Herring Gull, 19-20 ~ » Tonge, S. J., and Wilson, D., note on Wryneck on passage roosting in reeds, 20 Young, Steve, monthly marathon photograph credit, 180; photograph of Bonelli’s Warbler, 334, plate 111; of Red-throated Pipit, 334, plate 112; of Litde Gull, 401, plates 128-31; of Ring-necked Duck, 461, plate 143; of Red-footed Falcon, 470, plates 148-9; of Lesser Yellowlegs, 482, plate 161; of Marsh Sandpiper, 483, plate 1 64; of White-throated Sparrow, 532, plate 204; of Ross’s Gull, 579, plates 218-9 Youngs, J. M., photograph of Ross’s Gull, 482 plate 160 Zenaida macroura, see Dove, Mourning Zonfrillo, B., photograph of Daurian Redstart, 36 1 , plate 1 1 6 > » and Brockie, Keith, letter on ^ occurrence of Daurian Redstart, 629-30 Zonotrichia albicollis, see Sparrow, White- throated Zoothera dauma, see Thrush, White’s sibirica, see Thrush, Siberian BOOKS — Handle with Care II undelivered, please return to London Journal Bindery Roslin Road, London W3 sdh To London Journal Bindery Roslin Road, London W3 8DH I enclose checjue/P.O. for for binding ' {The rate for binding is £18.48 per volume) Please fill in your name and address in both spaces on this page Please protect your issues and pack carefully when posting II you require an acknowledgment, please enclose an SAE and also fill in your name and address in the space below; the lower half of this sheet will then be sent back to you as a receipt; the upper is the label for the return of your bound volume. Name . Address P.T.O. 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