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July 2008 • Vol. I 0 I • 339-392

^Herring Gull taxonomy
Recording areas of Great Britain

TRiMG U

ISSN 0007-0335

British Birds

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Volume 101* Number 7 • July 2008 TR1NG \ IBP— .Y

340 Species boundaries in the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull complex
/. Martin Collinson, David T. Parkin, Alan G. Knox, George Sangster and
Lars Svensson

364 Recording areas of Great Britain David K. Ballance and A. Judith Smith

Regular features

375 Short Reviews

376 Conservation research news

Will Peach and Len Campbell

378 Letters

Distribution and identification of
Iberian Chiffchaff Jose Luis Copete
Mixed-singing Iberian Chiffchaffs:
is it their ‘swan song’?

Philippe }. Dubois

Colour nomenclature Alan R. Dean
Past British birds and the Sherborne
Missal Norman McCanch,

Chris Smout

383 Notes

Brood amalgamation in Mute Swans
P. A. Stockton

Juvenile Common Kestrel diving at
female Darren Oakley-Martin
Peregrine Falcon defending prey
from flock of Carrion Crows
Pete Combridge

Blouse Martins eating elderberries
Bob Brookes

Eurasian Jay killing adult Common
Chaffinch and Greenfinch
Martin Woodcock
Common Crossbill flycatching
Pete Combridge

386 News and comment

Adrian Pitches

389 Recent reports

Barry Nightingale and
Eric Dempsey

Species boundaries
in the Herring and
Lesser Black-backed
Gull complex

J. Martin Collinson , David T. Parkin, Alan C. Knox,
George Songster and Lars Svensson

ABSTRACT The BOURC Taxonomic Sub-committee (TSC) recently
published recommendations for the taxonomy of the Herring Gull and
Lesser Black-backed Gull complex (Sangster et al. 2007). Six species were
recognised: Herring Gull Larus argentatus, Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus,
Caspian Gull L. cachinnans, Yellow-legged Gull L. michahellis , Armenian Gull
L. armenicus and American Herring Gull L. smithsonianus. This paper reviews
the evidence underlying these decisions and highlights some of the areas

of uncertainty.

340

Herring Gull taxonomy

We dedicate this paper to the memory of Andreas Helbig, our former colleague on the BOURC Taxonomic
Sub-committee. He was a fine scientist who, in addition to leading the development of the BOU's taxonomic
Guidelines, made significant contributions to our understanding of the evolutionary history of Palearctic birds,
especially chiffchaffs and Sylvia warblers. He directed one of the major research programmes into the evolution
of the Herring Gull complex. His tragic death, in 2005, leaves a gap in European ornithology that is hard to fill.

Introduction

Until recently, the Herring Gull Lams argentatus
was treated by BOU as a polytypic species, with
at least 12 subspecies: argentatus , argenteus,
heuglini, taimyrensis , vegae, smithsonianus,
atlantis, michahellis, armenicus, cachinnans,
barabensis and mongolicus (Vaurie 1965; BOU
1971; Grant 1986; fig. 1). Other subspecies have
been recognised, but are less widely accepted.
The Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus has also
been treated as a polytypic species by BOU,
with three subspecies: fuscus , graellsii and inter-
medins. Hereafter, we will refer to the various
races of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull
by their subspecific names, as outlined above,
e.g. graellsii for L. f. graellsii. In the case of
atlantis , we follow Dwight (1925) and Vaurie
(1965) by including the Herring Gulls breeding
along the coasts of northwest Africa, including
the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands, but
not the coasts of Iberia. The problematic taxon

taimyrensis is discussed in detail below, and the
name is used in this paper to describe the birds
breeding from the Ob River east to the
Khatanga (Vaurie 1965). There has been no
molecular work comparing the similar and
intergrading taxa argentatus and argenteus
directly and any reference to ‘ argentatus ’ in this
paper implies ‘ argentatus and argenteus'.

The Herring Gull/Lesser Black-backed Gull
complex has been cited as an example of a ring
species (e.g. Mayr 1940, 1963). Herring and
Lesser Black-backed Gull are treated as separate
species (Brown 1967), but there is an apparent
dine in mantle coloration from the darkest
Lesser Black-backed, eastwards through Siberia
( heuglini , taimyrensis, vegae), across North
America ( smithsonianus ) to the palest birds
[argenteus! argentatus), whose distribution over-
laps with that of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in
northern Europe. A ‘southern ring’ of poten-
tially interconnected forms, from atlantis

Fig. I. Distribution of large white-headed gull taxa, based on Mailing Olsen & Larsen (2003) and other data.The
map does not show the range of the American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus, or some of the other taxa within
the complex that are uncontroversially accepted as being separate species, such as Great Black-backed Gull
L marinus, Glaucous Gull L hyperboreus, Iceland Gull L glaucoides and other North American and Siberian species.

British Birds 101* July 2008 • 340-363

341

Fluke Art

Chris Gibbins

Herring Gull taxonomy

)

165. Adult European Herring Gull Larus argentatus, Fraserburgh, North-east Scotland, March 2005. Amid the
confusing and complicated taxonomic issues, and identification problems that are increasingly associated with
gulls at rubbish tips and in concrete environments, it is sometimes too easy to forget that we are dealing with
some very attractive birds. The argenteus subspecies of Herring Gull is at the pale end of the circumpolar
changes in mantle and wing colour, most famously formalised by Ernst Mayr, and ‘Silver Gull’ (Silbermowe)
is an appropriate vernacular name. In central Europe, argentatus hybridises with Caspian Gull L. cachinnans,
which is expanding its range. This may eventually complicate both identification and taxonomic issues.

Past episodes of hybridisation between these two taxa may explain why some Herring Gulls have
the ‘wrong’ mtDNA and lie with the Aralo-Caspian clade.

through michahellis , cachirmans , barabensis and
mongolicus , was also postulated (Mayr 1942;
Barth 1968). The species boundary between
Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull is not
universally agreed, and some authors (e.g.
Cramp & Simmons 1983) have treated heuglini
and taimyrensis as subspecies of the former,
whereas others (Vaurie 1965; Grant 1986) treat
them as races of the latter. Indeed, if one accepts
that they form a ring species, it is not entirely
clear why they are currently regarded as two
species at all, and not one, as with another ring
species, the Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus
trochiloides (Irwin 2002; Collinson et al. 2003;
Irwin et al. 2005).

Species Guidelines and gull taxonomy
The BOURC Taxonomic Sub-committee (TSC)
has published its own guidelines for assigning
species rank (Helbig et al. 2002; referred to
throughout this paper as the ‘Guidelines’).
These were developed initially as an internal
document, but they have now been adopted by
several other taxonomic committees, including

the Taxonomic Advisory Committee of the
Association of European Records and Rarities
Committees (AERC 2003). They attempt to set
practical criteria that may be used to delineate
species boundaries, broadly based upon a
General Lineage species concept (de Queiroz
1998). The Guidelines are, in general, rather
conservative. They demand that, for two taxa to
be regarded as separate species, they should first
be diagnosable at the taxon level: individuals
must be clearly identifiable as belonging to one
taxon or the other on the basis of genetically
determined characters. Second, the Guidelines
require that two taxa can be regarded as
separate species only if they are likely to retain
their separate genetic and phenotypic integrities
in the future, i.e. the evidence suggests that they
will not ultimately merge. The Guidelines also
express a strong preference that taxonomic
decisions be based on evidence published in
peer-reviewed scientific literature. Gulls present
particular problems for the delineation of
species under these Guidelines: most of the taxa
are very similar, yet all of them are rather

342

British Birds 101* July 2008 • 340-363

Herring Guli taxonomy

variable, which makes diagnosis difficult; much
of the identification literature has not been
published in peer-reviewed journals; gulls
frequently hybridise at low levels, and hybrid-
ising taxa are by definition never fully diagnos-
able with respect to each other; and finally,
many gull taxa show unstable, rapidly changing
ranges, which may bring distinctive taxa into
secondary contact and create the opportunity
for hybridisation.

Taxonomic decisions involving sympatric
species (those for which the breeding ranges
overlap significantly) are usually relatively easy
to resolve. If two diagnosably distinct taxa, such
as argentatus and michahellis, breed in sympatry
without merging (because hybridisation is
either very rare or absent), this is strong
evidence of reproductive isolation and the taxa
are best regarded as separate species (condition
1 of the Guidelines). Similar conclusions can be
drawn for parapatric taxa (those whose ranges
meet but do not overlap), and genuinely
parapatric taxa that are diagnosably distinct and
do not hybridise and merge are also best
regarded as separate species (condition 2 of the
Guidelines). This situation is rare among birds
in temperate environments. Hybridising taxa

are considered under condition 3 of the Guide-
lines: otherwise diagnosable taxa that hybridise
are most appropriately treated as separate
species if hybridisation is the product of recent
contact due to range expansion and there is
evidence that the taxa are sufficiently distinct
that they are unlikely to merge (condition 3.1).
They may also be treated as separate species
under condition 3.2 of the Guidelines if
hybridisation is limited to a narrow, stable
hybrid zone, indicating restrictions to free gene
flow, as with Hooded Corvus cornix and Carrion
Crows C. corone (Parkin et al. 2003).

Some taxonomic decisions concern
allopatric gulls (like mongolicus , whose breeding
range does not overlap with that of any other
large gull). Taxonomic decisions are often
controversial in the case of allopatric popula-
tions, because it is more difficult to infer repro-
ductive isolation between two or more taxa that
never get the opportunity to interbreed. The
best we can do is to look at the degree of differ-
ence between closely related allopatric taxa, and
assess whether this is similar to the degree of
difference between sympatric taxa that we know
are separate species. Under the Guidelines,
allopatric taxa should be treated as separate

1 66. First-winter American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, February 2007.
Given the similarity between adult American and European Herring Gulls L argentatus, it is counterintuitive to
believe the mtDNA genetic data which splits the two taxa. However, the rather uniform dusky underparts of
many first-year Americans, combined with the dark tail, was perhaps always a clue that smithsonianus had

some ‘Siberian’ input.

British Birds 101 ’July 2008 • 340-363

343

Chris Gibbins

Herring Gull taxonomy

species if they are diagnosably distinct on the
basis of one or more genetically determined
characters (conditions 4.1 and 4.2), or on the
basis of two or three characters in combination
when any one of those characters by itself does
not allow complete diagnosability (condition
4.3). However, in all ‘condition 4’ cases, the
allopatric taxa must approach a level of distinc-
tiveness seen in closely related sympatric taxa. It
is not our intention that very small genetic dif-
ferences between taxa should by themselves
justify recognition of species status. When
genetic differentiation is modest (e.g. Carrion
and Hooded Crows, Parrot Loxia pytyopsittacus
and Common Crossbills L. curvirostra), other
evidence of reproductive isolation is essential.
As will be seen later, there are cases where there
is very little genetic differentiation among gull
taxa that are widely accepted as ‘good’ species
(e.g. Iceland L. glaucoides, Slaty-backed L. schis-
tisagus. Glaucous-winged L. glaucescens and
smithsonianus Herring Gulls). Conversely, mor-
phologically well-differentiated taxa may show
no evidence of reproductive isolation. In situa-
tions such as these, decisions are not made on
genetic differentiation alone, but it has to be
recognised that small genetic distance and poor
phenotypic diagnosability may confuse the
evolutionary picture in large gulls.

In the last 15 years, a large amount of new
data relevant to gull taxonomy has become
available. Not least are the enormous advances
in identification, both in the field and in the
hand, which have catalysed taxonomic review
(for example, see Yesou 2002 for a summary of
the whole white-headed gull group and Jonsson
1998a for the Lesser Black-backed complex).
Other advances have taken place in the field of
molecular phylogeny, in particular the genetic
analysis of the relationships among gull taxa.
Both lines of evidence have indicated a need for
radical revisions of established gull taxonomy.
Molecular phylogenies are generally published
in peer-reviewed scientific journals, with a high
standard of rigour and objectivity. The same
cannot be said for advances in field identifica-
tion, which, with few exceptions, are published
in unrefereed magazines and books, on unmon-
itored websites, or are passed on by oral
tradition; furthermore, they often involve the
identification of (unverifiable) extralimital
individuals. Some gull identification texts, such
as Grant (1986) and Mailing Olsen & Larsson
(2004), are of a high standard, but many are

not. We do not ignore informal non-peer-
reviewed or anecdotal identification literature,
but we recognise that some of it has to be
treated with caution. Despite a growing confi-
dence among birders in their ability to identify
extralimital individuals, the evidence relating to
such birds can be difficult to evaluate objec-
tively. This in turn leads to the perception that
taxonomic authorities are lagging behind expe-
rienced field observers.

To set the scene for a revision of gull
taxonomy, we first review the genetic evidence
that shapes our understanding of gull evolu-
tion. On the basis of this, the ‘Herring/Lesser
Black-backed Gull’ complex is divided into
independently evolving populations or lineages,
among which taxonomic relationships are
defined by morphological and behavioural
characters. The result is a taxonomic arrange-
ment that we believe better reflects our current
understanding of the species limits within this
complex group of birds.

Genetic analyses of gull evolution and
species boundaries

Early attempts to unravel gull evolution using
biochemical or molecular data (Tegelstrom et
al. 1980; Ryttman et al. 1981; Johnson 1985;
Snell 1991) found very little difference among
the taxa, demonstrating that the currently
recognised ‘large white-headed gull’ taxa have
evolved so rapidly that it is not easy to deter-
mine their relationships (Wink et al. 1994;
Heidrich et al. 1996). The taxa are closely
related and (as with many northern hemisphere
birds) much of their evolutionary history has
probably been driven by the ebb and flow of
glaciations. Recent studies using rapidly
evolving genes have been more informative and
have clarified our understanding of the rela-
tionships among these gulls. Many of these
genes lie in small cellular structures called mito-
chondria, and evolve more rapidly than ‘con-
ventional’ genes in the cell nucleus. The DNA
sequence of the same gene is determined for
each taxon under investigation, and phylogenies
(or evolutionary trees) are generated, based
upon genetic similarity (see Maclean et al.
2005). Since the genetic difference between two
taxa depends upon how long they have been
evolving independently, individuals with similar
sequences are placed close together in a
phylogeny. Two parts of the mitochondrial
chromosome keep cropping up in gull genetics:

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Herring Gull taxonomy

these are the cytochrome-b gene ( cyt-b ) and the
stretch of DNA called the ‘control region’. The
latter is not a real gene, but is involved with
organising the way that the genes are read and
replicated; it does, however, evolve rapidly and
so is particularly useful for comparing closely
related, or recently diverged, taxa.

Although phylogenies based on mitochon-
drial-DNA (mtDNA) sequences are widely used
as a basis for taxonomic decisions, they are not
without their limitations, and sometimes give
an unrepresentative or misleading impression
of the relationships between the taxa under
review. It is well established that phylogenies
based on a single gene may not represent the
evolutionary history of a species accurately (this
is well described for birders in Alstrdm et al.
2003). The problems are exacerbated for taxa
that have diverged only recently and may still
hybridise or share genetic variations that were
present in their common ancestor. Because
mtDNA is transmitted through only the female
line, even species that are effectively reproduc-
tively isolated by the infertility of hybrids may
be able to share mtDNA lineages. Appendix 1
presents some examples that demonstrate the
problems with mtDNA-based phylogenies.

Rather than seek potential problems with
published phylogenies based on mtDNA,

however, a more pragmatic approach is to take
the most robust mtDNA phylogenies at face
value, and then consider any complications that
may arise when molecular and morphological
data disagree. With this in mind, the most
recent mtDNA studies make a lot of things
clear, albeit raising many new questions as well.
Broadly, the genetic results for many of the
large white-headed gulls are consistent with
rapid interglacial radiation from one of two
glacial refuges (areas of suitable habitat that
persisted during the ice ages). The following
points summarise key issues which have
emerged from the most recent genetic studies.

I. ‘Herring Gull’ should be split

Crochet et al. (2000, 2002) analysed the mito-
chondrial control region and cyt-b sequences of
large white-headed gull taxa. They showed that
these taxa form a monophyletic group (or
clade) of closely related species, indicating that
they have a recent common ancestor. Crochet
and his colleagues identified a ‘ fuscus’ clade that
included not only fuscus, argentatus and micha-
hellis, but also Great Black-backed Gull
L. marinus and a group of closely related Arctic
(Siberian and American) taxa: Slaty-backed,
Iceland and Californian Gulls L. californicus. In
a similar study, Gay et al. (2005) confirmed this

1 67. Third-winter Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides, Galway City, March 2007. Although plumage and structural
features make this species easy to identify, genetically it forms part of the ‘Siberian’ clade, and it would be
difficult, if not impossible, to try and identify one solely on the basis of a DNA sample.

British Birds 101* July 2008 • 340-363

345

Simon Stirrup

Herring Gull taxonomy

clade of closely related Arctic taxa, including
Glaucous-winged, Glaucous L. hyperboreus,
Iceland, Thayer’s L. glaucoides thayeri and Slaty-
backed Gulls. Interestingly, American Herring
Gull ( smithsonianus ) also grouped within this
Arctic/American/Siberian clade, rather than
being particularly closely related to European
Herring Gull ( argentatus ), suggesting that they
may be different species. Together, the data
suggest that at least one taxon ( smithsonianus )
currently included in the ‘Herring Gull’
complex should be treated as a separate species.
The currently recognised ‘Herring Gull’ is not a
homogeneous unit, but is paraphyletic in that
taxa such as Great Black-backed Gull and
Glaucous Gull, which are widely accepted to be
distinct species, are embedded within it. By
convention, paraphyletic species are not allowed
(Maclean et al. 2005), and the ‘Herring Gull’, on
the basis of genetic evidence, should be split
into more species.

2. Gulls hybridise

It is well known that mtDNA sequences (haplo-
types) that are characteristic of one taxon may
also occur within individuals of another. This
can be explained either by incomplete lineage
sorting or by hybridisation. The former occurs
where two taxa still possess one or more haplo-
types that were present within the gene pool of
their most recent common ancestor. This is
commonly seen when two separate species have
split from each other only recently, and analysis
of the patterns of genetic variation within large
gulls shows quite clearly that incomplete lineage
sorting is partly responsible for the sharing of
mtDNA sequences between recently evolved
gull taxa (P. de Knijff pers. comm.). However,
genetic sequences of one taxon can also be
transferred to another taxon when individuals
hybridise. Crochet et al. (2002) found genetic
evidence for low levels of hybridisation between
different gull taxa and concluded that the
sharing of DNA haplotypes between taxa is
partly due to hybridisation. There was no
evidence of any restriction of gene flow in
Lesser Black-backed Gulls between nominate
fuscus and graellsii , supporting their treatment
as conspecific. Indeed, there was evidence of
gene flow between fuscus and heuglini , and even
into East Siberian taxa such as vegae. Further-
more, perhaps due to their recent evolutionary
origins and episodes of hybridisation, none of
the American/Siberian taxa were genetically dis-

tinct, not even those that are morphologically
quite divergent and universally accepted as dif-
ferent species, e.g. Slaty-backed and Glaucous
Gulls.

Data from Crochet’s team suggest both
strong genetic differentiation within the large
white-headed gulls (revealing boundaries
between previously unrecognised species) and a
lack of genetic differentiation (so far discov-
ered) between taxa that are generally recognised
as ‘good’ species. These data are broadly com-
patible with those of an independent team, led
by Andreas Helbig, who used overlapping but
more extensive mtDNA sequences (including
part of the control region) to reveal a high-
definition picture of gull phylogeny. The study
by Liebers et al. (2004) built upon Liebers &
Helbig (1999) and Liebers et al. (2001, 2002) to
test directly the hypothesis that Herring Gulls
are a classic ring species.

3. Yellow-legged Gull (michahellis)
and Armenian Gull (armenicus) are
genetically distinct

Liebers & Helbig (1999) studied the relation-
ship between michahellis and armenicus.
Analysis of control-region sequences showed
that these are closely related but genetically dis-
tinct sister taxa, although hybridisation and
morphologically intermediate birds were found
at a mixed colony at Lake Beysehir, Turkey. In
spite of this, and the implied potential for free
genetic mixing, the mtDNA analysis revealed
only limited evidence of michahellis sequences
in the western armenicus populations, and none
in the other direction. This was surprising, but
suggested a degree of reproductive isolation
between the two forms.

4. Southern ‘yellow-legged’ taxa are not a
continuum of closely related forms

Helbig’s analysis was then extended to include
atlantis, cachinnans, barabensis , mongolicus ,
graellsii, heuglini and taimyrensis (Liebers et al.
2001). A related group was formed by micha-
hellis, atlantis and armenicus, but whereas
michahellis and armenicus were genetically dis-
tinct within this group, michahellis and atlantis
were not. In fact, michahellis mtDNA haplo-
types tended to be a subset of (or were recently
derived from) atlantis DNA haplotypes, sug-
gesting that atlantis was the ancestral form and
that michahellis resulted from colonisation of
the Mediterranean by birds from the current

346

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Herring Gull taxonomy

)

range of atlantis. Genetically, armenicus is rela-
tively old (certainly older than michahellis), and
it is likely that atlantis- like founders colonised
the Mediterranean twice - the first time giving
rise to armenicus, the second time (much later)
giving rise to michahellis.

A second group was formed by cachinnans,
barabensis, mongolicus and graellsii/heuglini/
taimyrensis, these being genetically distinct
from michahellis, atlantis and armenicus.
Helbig’s team found almost no evidence of gene
flow between these two groups, in spite of their
overlapping range (albeit at a low density and
involving relatively few individuals) and occa-
sional observations of hybridisation. In the
Black Sea area, michahellis breeds in close prox-
imity to cachinnans, while the range of graellsii
overlaps with that of both atlantis and micha-
hellis. The most genetically diverse taxon was
cachinnans and it was placed basally in the
phylogeny, suggesting that it was ancestral to
the Siberian/Arctic taxa and Lesser Black-
backed Gulls. Three taxa - heuglini, taimyrensis
and barabensis - were very closely related;
barabensis and heuglini were not distinguishable
genetically, and genetic variation within
barabensis was very small, suggesting that this
taxon was a recently derived southern offshoot
of heuglini and not, as had been previously
assumed (Johansen 1960; Jonsson 1998b), a
northern offshoot of cachinnans.

Reconstructing the evolution of these gulls

suggests that cachinnans was long-established in
a glacial refuge somewhere in the region of the
Aral and Caspian Seas. Presumably during an
interglacial, its range expanded northwards
forming a population of gulls that subsequently
evolved into heuglini/ taimyrensis. More recently,
birds from within the range of heuglini
expanded south, giving rise to barabensis, which
met cachinnans in secondary contact. There was
evidence of gene flow between barabensis and
cachinnans but, as with armenicus and micha-
hellis, it was primary unidirectional (from
barabensis into cachinnans, but not the other
way). This suggests that free genetic mixing was
not occurring, despite the lack of geographic
barriers between the taxa. Hence Mayr’s
‘southern ring’ of atlantis, michahellis, cachin-
nans, barabensis and mongolicus does not repre-
sent a valid taxonomic grouping, because
several of the taxa are not particularly closely
related to each other (de Knijff et al. 2005).

5. Lesser Black-backed Gulls are one or
two species, not four or five

Liebers & Helbig (2002) used the mitochondrial
control region to study the five northern taxa of
‘Lesser Black-backed Gulls’: graellsii, inter-
medius, fuscus, heuglini and birds that they
assigned to taimyrensis. They analysed birds
from the breeding grounds of each of these taxa
and found that they were only very weakly dif-
ferentiated, in general forming a single genetic

I 68. Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus graellsii, Tarragona, Spain, February 2006, with at least one L f.
intermedius (foreground). Identification of gulls is sometimes a process of iterative refinement. When a winter
flock of graellsii presents an almost uniform appearance, it is tempting, and probably correct, to pick on the darkest
bird and call it an intermedius. Such identifications are not usually independently verifiable, which does not mean
that they are wrong, but as there is free gene flow and intergradation between graellsii and intermedius in northern
Europe, assignment of an individual gull to subspecies depends more on where it breeds than what it looks like.

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347

Chris Gibbins

Herring Gull taxonomy

group dominated by two rntDNA sequences
that differed by only one DNA base pair. There
was some evidence of hybridisation with
cachinnans, and also with taxa from the Pacific,
though on a very limited scale. None of these
five taxa is genetically fully distinct from the
others, consistent with a relatively recent diver-
gence from a common ancestor and rapid range
expansion. Nevertheless, certain patterns were
evident: heuglini and taimyrensis were geneti-
cally more variable than the western taxa, of
which graellsii was particularly uniform. This
suggests that the eastern taxa are longer estab-
lished, and that range expansion from ancestral
populations of ‘pr e-heuglini’ in northwest
Siberia gave rise to fuscus, intermedius and
graellsii. Whether this was by progressive expan-
sion westwards, or by the separate evolution of
fuscus and graellsii and their subsequent contact
to produce intermedius, cannot presently be
resolved. Gene flow across the range of the five
subspecies is not completely unrestricted; there
is isolation by distance. At over 4,000 km, the
breeding range of the five taxa is much greater
than the dispersal distances of individual gulls,
so that birds at the extremes are geographically
too far apart to meet and hybridise. Further-
more, the data indicated a significant (though
incomplete) barrier to gene flow between fuscus
and heuglini. Because there is no obvious
environmental barrier to hybridisation between
these taxa, Liebers & Helbig speculated that the
boundary between fuscus and heuglini may
approach the species level. There was, however,
no genetic evidence for further splits within the
‘Lesser Black-backed’ grouping.

Yesou (2002) argued that the individuals of
taimyrensis sampled by Liebers & Helbig (2002)
were in fact taken from a location where many,
perhaps all individuals, were of the form
‘ birulai ’ (the characteristically yellow-legged
western population of vegae). The implications
of this will be discussed below.

6. The Herring Gull is not a ring species

The paradigm of the Herring Gull as a ring
species had already been questioned (Allano &
Clamens 2000; Yesou 2001a) by the time the
emerging genetic picture was being evaluated
and synthesised in Liebers et al. (2004). The last
authors analysed not only the control region,
but also the whole of the mitochondrial cyt-b
gene, and greatly increased both the number of
individuals and the number of taxa, to include

argentatus, smithsonianus and other (mostly
Pacific and Arctic) species. Their paper, boldly
titled ‘The Herring Gull is not a ring species’,
built on arguments put forward by Yesou
(2001, 2002) and confirmed the finding of
Crochet et al. (2002) that smithsonianus does
not appear to be closely related to argentatus
(which it would be if Herring Gull was really a
ring species). Using Western Gull L. occidentalis
as a more distantly related comparison (an out-
group), the deep genetic split between an
Atlantic/Mediterranean clade of gulls (‘Clade
1’) and an Aralo-Caspian/Siberian clade (‘Clade
2’) was confirmed (fig. 2). Clade 1 comprised
atlantis , tnichahellis and armenicus (as described
in Liebers et al. 2001), also argentatus, Great
Black-backed Gull and Palearctic individuals of
Glaucous Gull. Clade 2 included cachinnans,
barabensis, heuglini, fuscus, intermedius and
graellsii as described above, and also Kelp Gull
L. dominicanus and a mixed assemblage of
genetically very similar taxa including vegae,
smithsonianus, mongolicus. Slaty-backed,
Iceland and Glaucous-winged Gulls, Nearctic
individuals of Glaucous and some individuals
of argentatus. Within Clades 1 and 2, argentatus
and cachinnans were, respectively, the taxa with
the oldest and most diverse rntDNA lineages,
suggesting these to be the most direct
descendants of the ancestral Clade 1 (Atlantic)
and Clade 2 ( Aralo-Caspian) gulls. No
smithsonianus rntDNA sequences were found in
argentatus, and smithsonianus was placed
securely within a group of very closely related
East Siberian/Pacific/Nearctic species.
Mongolicus was shown to be closely related, not
to cachinnans, but to the Pacific coast taxa
(from whence its ancestors presumably
colonised Mongolia only recently). Kelp Gull
was shown to be a southern offshoot of the
Lesser Black-backed taxa fuscus/ heuglini/
taimyrensis. Leaving aside for the moment the
complication of two taxa ( argentatus and hyper-
boreus) that have individuals in both clades, a
putative evolutionary scenario for gulls was
confirmed. As described earlier, two ancient
glacial refuges are proposed - one in the North
Atlantic where the ancestors of argentatus lived,
and one in the Aralo-Caspian region that
harboured the ancestors of cachinnans. North
Atlantic ‘pre- argentatus’ gulls gave rise to two
apparently reproductively isolated species-:
Great Black-backed (possibly originating in
North America), and a yellow-legged ‘pre-

348

British Birds 101* July 2008 • 340-363

Herring Gull taxonomy

Fig. 2. Pictorial representation of the genetic relationships between large white-headed gulls. The lines
represent genetic distance, the lengths of the lines being roughly proportional to the number of DNA mutations
differentiating among the taxa.The filled circles represent a cluster of individual gulls with very similar or identical
mtDNA sequences. The orange circle representing ‘Siberian/American’ taxa contains individuals of Iceland Gull
Larus glaucoides, Glaucous-winged Gull L glaucescens, American individuals of Glaucous Gull L hyperboreus,
Slaty-backed Gull L schistisagus, as well as individuals of smithsonianus, taimyrensis, mongolicus, vegae and heuglini.
The figure is based on Liebers et al. (2004), but very much simplified and with several anomalies removed.

The occurrence of European and British Herring Gulls (argentatuslargenteus) with mtDNA sequences that
fall within either clade may be due either to past hybridisation or to retention of ancient DNA sequences

that were present in the ancestors of all the gulls.

atlantis’ in the south. From here, atlantis-Uke
birds colonised the eastern Mediterranean
evolving into armenicus, which presumably
became isolated during a subsequent glaciation.
A second colonisation of the Mediterranean by
atlantis gave rise to michahellis, which met
armenicus in secondary contact in the eastern
Mediterranean. From the Aralo-Caspian region,
a process of contiguous population expansion
driven by periodic climatic amelioration saw
cachinnans birds moving northwards, evolving
into heuglini, then west to become fuscus, and
east to become the East Siberian and North
American taxa vegae, mongolicus and smithsoni-
anus. Thus, the Herring Gull is not a ring
species.

The data suggest that ‘large white-headed
gull’ divergence has been driven relatively
recently by geographical separation, range
expansion, and occasional long-distance colon-
isations over the last 300,000 years or even
earlier (Crochet et al. 2002; de Knijff et al.
2005). Furthermore, for these gulls at least,
there would appear to be no close relationship

between genetic divergence and the evolution of
reproductive isolation.

There is also the complication of argentatus
and Glaucous Gull, which have individuals in
both major genetic clades. There are two alter-
native explanations for this: (i) the retention of
DNA variants that were present in a (presum-
ably long-established and genetically diverse)
common ancestor of Clade 1 and Clade 2 taxa,
or (ii) more recent hybridisation between Clade
1 and Clade 2. For argentatus, it is possible that
both have occurred. The Clade 1 mtDNA
haplotypes found in argentatus are varied and
basal to the phylogeny - suggesting that they are
ancient. In contrast, the Clade 2 mtDNA haplo-
types are more recent and less varied, and more
suggestive of fairly recent hybridisation between
argentatus and a Clade 2 taxon such as cachin-
nans or fuscus. Clade 1 DNA appears to be the
‘original’ for argentatus, hence the placing of
this taxon within the North Atlantic assem-
blage. Glaucous Gull is different because all the
Clade 1 mtDNA haplotypes came from the
Palearctic, and all the Clade 2 from the Nearctic,

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349

Herring Gull taxonomy

suggesting a geographical basis to the genetic
variation. Across its range, Glaucous Gull is
observed to hybridise frequently only with
argentatus in Iceland, and with smithsonianus in
Alaska. This hybridisation may have led to
Glaucous Gull acquiring the mtDNA of another
taxon at some point during its evolution. Hence
its molecular phylogeny is obscured because, in
some parts of the range, its own evolving
mtDNA sequences have been replaced by those
from another taxon.

7. Nuclear- and mitochondrial-DNA
comparisons

The occurrence of both Clade 1 and Clade 2
haplotypes in argentatus and hyperboreus has
important implications for the way gull phylo-
genies are interpreted. Over the course of time,
mtDNA lineages will be lost from the popula-
tion, more or less randomly, as females with
those mitochondrial sequences die without
leaving any offspring. If new sequences were not
created by mutation, all individuals within a
taxon would eventually share the same mtDNA
(see Maclean et al. 2005). Consequently, if we
came back in 50,000 years time, it is possible
that all Clade 1 haplotypes would have been lost
from argentatus, and we would resolve it,
entirely falsely, as a Clade 2 taxon. How do we
know that other gull taxa within the current
phylogeny have not been displaced by similar
random events? Furthermore, if gull taxa can
adopt, by hybridisation, the mtDNA sequences
of another taxon, how can we be certain about
the placement of any taxon? For example, is it
possible that smithsonianus is really a close rela-
tive of argentatus, but that it hybridised with a
North American taxon and adopted the
mtDNA of that taxon? Both of the North Amer-
ican marinus specimens examined by Crochet
et al. (2003) yielded ‘Siberian’ (possibly smithso-
nianus) mtDNA haplotypes (see also de Knijff
et al. 2005), presumably a result of past or cur-
rently observed hybridisation. These complica-
tions do not just make gull phylogenies
difficult: they may cause entirely false conclu-
sions to be drawn about species boundaries.
The problems are not insoluble, and they can be
partly resolved by the simultaneous analysis of
nuclear DNA and morphology. While mtDNA
sequences are driving our understanding of gull
evolution and are enormously informative, it
must be recognised that splits or lumps based
solely on mtDNA cannot be regarded as robust.

Nuclear genes evolve and diverge more
slowly than does mtDNA. Studies of the nuclear
DNA of gulls have been more limited in scope,
and the results are less informative because the
very recent radiation of this group has not
allowed much time for the genetic divergence of
nuclear genes. Two studies (Panov & Monzikov
1999 and de Knijff et al. 2001) did not directly
sequence nuclear genes, but drew up partial
phylogenies using a crude variant of genetic fin-
gerprinting. Panov & Monzikov limited their
analysis to the relationship between argentatus
and cachinnans as part of a broader behavioural
and morphological study, and revealed clear
evidence for regular hybridisation along a long,
but narrow, contact zone accounting for a small
part of the Russian populations of both taxa. In
particular, they found evidence in the Volga
basin for the introgression of argentatus genetic
fingerprints into cachinnans. De Knijff et al.
(2001) studied nuclear genes in cachinnans,
atlantis, michahellis, argentatus, fuscus, graellsii,
intermedius, heuglini and taimyrensis. Their
analysis did not really resolve any of the taxa as
being genetically distinct from the others
because the method is relatively insensitive,
although it has now been improved (P. de Knijff
pers. comm.). However, in common with other
studies, their results suggest rapid evolution of
gulls, and continued gene flow between taxa.
Their tentative phylogenetic tree put cachinnans
as a basal group, supporting the existence of the
ancestral Aralo-Caspian gull clade, and based
upon an entirely distinct set of genetic data. The
five ‘Lesser Black-backed’ taxa which they
examined also grouped together, as did
atlantis/ michahellis with argentatus. So although
the analysis did not radically alter our existing
understanding of gull phylogenetics, it was
broadly consistent with the mtDNA data for the
same taxa.

Crochet et al. (2003) used a different tech-
nology to examine nuclear DNA from marinus,
michahellis, fuscus, argentatus, hyperboreus and
smithsonianus. Again, they found only very low
levels of divergence among the taxa, which con-
trasted with the strongly structured phylogeny
based on mtDNA, and which did not provide a
solution to the smithsonianus problem. And
again, the low level of divergence is consistent
with the relatively recent radiation of the taxa
(they estimate speciation events occurring
100,000 to 500,000 years ago), combined with
ongoing hybridisation. In fact, they concluded

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Herring Gull taxonomy

that intraspecific genetic diversity is accounted
for almost entirely by hybridisation. This is not
to imply that hybridisation is out of control,
and that distinct gull taxa are currently
merging. A reasonable mathematical estimate
for gene flow between argentatus and fuscus ,
based on nuclear-DNA data, is that one hybrid
per year successfully breeds with each parental
species (Crochet et al. 2003). In the long term,
small amounts of hybridisation can
homogenise nuclear-DNA sequences across
taxa and there are other examples of distinct
species, such as crossbills and Galapagos ground
finches Geospiza , that maintain species bound-
aries with little genetic differentiation, in spite
of real or apparent hybridisation (Sato et al.
1999; Piertney et al. 2001). Furthermore, the
data in Crochet et al. (2003) strongly suggested
that the distinctiveness of the gull taxa was
being maintained through selection against
hybrids. In short, gull taxa are maintaining
distinct morphologies by natural selection, in
spite of the genetic ‘scars’ left by hybridisation,
an argument for the continued importance of
‘morphology-based’ taxonomy.

8. General conclusions about genetic data

The implications of these genetic analyses for
individual gull taxa will be discussed below. But
what are the general lessons? First, molecular
data reveal unsuspected examples of partial or
complete reproductive isolation between gull
taxa, and thereby provide strong evidence that
valid species boundaries have previously been
overlooked. Second, although molecular diver-
gence between taxa may imply reproductive
isolation, reproductive isolation does not neces-
sarily produce significant genetic divergence,
certainly not within the relatively short
timescale of the evolution of these birds (i.e.
good gull species may not have had time to
become totally genetically distinct). Third,
hybridisation between gulls is ongoing, and
may obscure phylogeny; hybridisation may also
make it difficult to define diagnostic characters
for some taxa, and this has to be borne in mind
when assessing potential species boundaries.

Taxonomic conclusions for the Herring Gull/
Lesser Black-backed Gull assemblage
Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls are
specifically distinct. They breed extensively in
sympatry without merging, demonstrating
effective reproductive isolation. On the occa-

)

sions where hybridisation has been observed,
the hybrids are fertile, though not necessarily as
fit as pure-bred birds. Reproductive isolation is
maintained largely by behavioural and mor-
phological factors influencing female mate
choice. There is an extensive range of species-
specific displays, and females choose a mate of
their own species on the basis of long-call
vocalisations and posture, and the colour of
bare parts, eye-ring and mantle (Tinbergen
1953; Brown 1967). Similar isolating factors
may operate between other gull taxa, and must
be considered when defining species bound-
aries. The ability of two closely related taxa to
interbreed is in some respects a retained ances-
tral character, and may not always be taxonomi-
cally informative. For gulls, it is important to
remember that failure or inability of two taxa to
interbreed does not correlate well with the
genetic difference between them (Liebers et al.
2004).

The Atlantic taxa - Herring Gull and
Mediterranean, Atlantic and Armenian
Yellow-legged Gulls

Mediterranean michahellis and Atlantic Yellow-
legged Gulls atlantis are fairly similar in struc-
ture and plumage, and appear to be closely
allied, a conclusion that was confirmed by
genetic analyses described above. Although
some atlantis may be identifiable in the field,
especially individuals from the distinctive
Azores population, the two taxa intergrade and
are not diagnosably distinct; at present there is
no evidence to support a species-level split
between them (de Knijff et al. 2001; Liebers et
al. 2001), although the continued recognition of
at least two subspecies is desirable. There is a
need for further research into the affinities of
birds breeding in coastal Morocco and on the
Atlantic coast of Portugal. Birds breeding along
the north coast of Spain, which can be distin-
guished on the basis of plumage, vocalisations
and structure (Teyssedre 1983; Carrera et al.
1987), may also merit subspecific recognition,
but are genetically very similar to michahellis
(Pons et al. 2005).

Northwards range expansion of michahellis
has brought it into limited contact with argen-
teus in northwest Europe (Nicolau-Guillaumet
1977; Marion 1985), and occasional hybridisa-
tion with both argenteus and graellsii has been
recorded (e.g. Yesou 1991). Hybridisation is not
unusual for individuals at the edge of their

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351

Chris Gibbins

Herring Gull taxonomy

)

range, where potential mates are scarce, and has
little taxonomic significance. However, on the
west coast of France, michahellis and argenteus
have bred in mixed colonies for nearly 30 years
and mating is strongly assortative, i.e. mixed
pairs are much rarer than would be expected if
mating were random (Yesou 1991). The two
taxa effectively ignore each other, and there is
little if any evidence of merging (Yesou 2002;
Pons et al. 2004). Criteria for separating micha-
hellis and atlantis from other gulls, in immature
and adult plumages, through bare-part col-
oration and vocalisations, have been well
described (Glutz & Bauer 1982; Teyssedre 1983,
1984; Dubois & Yesou 1984; Filchagov 1993,
1999; Garner & Quinn 1997; Klein & Buchheim
1997; Klein & Gruber 1997; Liebers & Helbig
1999; Dubois 2001).

As defined by Helbig et al. (2002), micha-
hellis/atlantis fulfils diagnosability and other
criteria for specific rank, separate from Herring
Gull. Together with the clear genetic differentia-
tion between michahellis/ atlantis and all other
taxa, these data indicate a prolonged period of
independent evolution that has led to a level of

reproductive isolation consistent with species
boundaries between michahellis/ atlantis and
both argentatus and fuscus/graellsii/intermedius.

Liebers & Helbig (1999) carefully analysed
the extent of morphological diagnosability in
Armenian Gull armenicus, finding small but sig-
nificant differences from michahellis in the
long-call vocalisations, and also in wing-tip
pattern. Other characters, such as wing and
head length, differ statistically, but there is con-
siderable overlap. Their molecular data showed
evidence of reproductive isolation, although
this is not complete because of limited maternal
gene flow from michahellis into armenicus pop-
ulations (although not in the opposite direc-
tion). So, although the breeding colonies of
armenicus are well within the dispersal distance
of michahellis in the eastern Mediterranean
(and hybridisation is known to occur), micha-
hellis and armenicus are genetically distinct and
there is no evidence of introgression on a scale
to suggest that the two taxa will merge. Thus,
michahellis and armenicus are diagnosable by a
combination of bill markings, wing-tip pattern,
biometrics and mtDNA; by treating them as

I 69. Adult Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Tarragona, Spain, February 2006. It is difficult to believe now that
this distinctive species was ever lumped with Herring Gull L. argentatus. The bright yellow legs, red-orange eye-ring
and stout bill are distinctive, and many individuals can be identified on voice alone. When michahellis and argentatus
breed in some of the same colonies in northwest Europe, they most often virtually ignore each other. Both <•
michahellis and the closely related Armenian Gull L armenicus appear to have evolved from founder populations
that colonised the Mediterranean region from ancestral ranges on the Atlantic coasts.

352

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 340-363

Herring Gull taxonomy

largely allopatric taxa with occasional hybridis-
ation, they fulfil species criteria 3 or 4.2 defined
by Helbig et al. (2002).

Previously, michahellis and atlantis have
been split by some authorities from Herring
Gull but lumped with cachinnans ; this was the
position previously adopted by British Birds
(Brit. Birds 86: 1-2) and is the current treat-
ment in Dickinson (2003). However, michahellis
and cachinnans are essentially parapatric, sepa-
rated by breeding habitat, although they breed
in near sympatry in Poland and Romania,
where hybridisation has been suspected, but not
proven (Klein & Buchheim 1997; Faber et al.
2001). Both morphological and behavioural
evidence suggest a high degree of reproductive
isolation (this is covered in more detail under
the section on cachinnans below), and the
genetic evidence confirms that michahellis and
cachinnans should not be treated as conspecific.

The TSC has recommended that Yellow-
legged Gull and Armenian Gull be treated
as separate species (Sangster et al. 2005) - a
recommendation which, of course, parallels

decisions made by other European taxonomic
committees.

• Yellow-legged Gull L. michahellis (polytypic,
inch subspecies michahellis, atlantis and pos-
sibly other populations that may deserve
subspecific recognition)

• Armenian Gull L. armenicus (monotypic)

Caspian (Pontic) Gull - cachinnans

Perhaps no taxon better demonstrates the con-
tribution that birders have made to gull identi-
fication than cachinnans (Yesou 2002). As
recently as 1995, few people were identifying
extralimital Caspian Gulls, yet a combination of
ringing data and careful field observation has
shown that this (sometimes) distinctive taxon is
not an uncommon visitor to northwest Europe
(Klein 1994; Gruber 1995; Garner & Quinn
1997).

Both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA
strongly suggest that cachinnans is conspecific
with neither argentatus nor michahellis/ atlantis.
However, cachinnans is morphologically variable,
and the problem for the assessment of diagnos-

I 70. Adult or near-adult Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans, Histria, Romania, August 2006. In the space of ten years
this species has gone from ‘first’ to ‘mega’ to ‘non-rarity’ status in Britain, thanks to a combination of ringing
studies that showed that the species was on the move into northwestern Europe and some very sharp birding.
It was previously considered to be closely related to the Yellow-legged Gull L. michahellis, but the genetic data
suggest that this species is more closely related, and possibly ancestral, to Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus.
Extensive white tongues to the inner webs of the outer primaries are characteristic of this species, and although
the iris colour is variable, many adult Caspian Gulls have striking dark eyes.The open-winged posture during
long-call display is characteristic of Caspian Gull, and the scientific name refers to its unusual dry ‘laughing’ call.

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Chris Gibbins

Herring Gull taxonomy

ability is that the full range of variation has
probably not been formally published (Liebers
& Dierschke 1997; Gibbins 2003). There is also
hybridisation with argentatus along a narrow
zone where the taxa meet in eastern and central
Europe, which makes it difficult to distinguish
the range of variation within pure cachinnans
from the variation that results from hybrids
(Panov & Monzikov 1999; Neubauer et al.
2006). Nevertheless, a substantial body of iden-
tification literature suggests multiple characters
by which many individuals can be recognised.
These will not be repeated in detail here (see,
for example, Panov et al. 1991a,b, Garner 8c
Quinn 1997, Klein 8c Gruber 1997, Liebers &
Dierschke 1997, Jonsson 1998b) but include:
distinctive structural features of the bill and
legs; wing and neck length and posture; an
apparently diagnostic pattern of white tongues
on the inner webs of the outer primaries of
adults; specific body-feather patterns on young
birds (especially first-winters); and character-
istic underwing and greater-covert patterns.
The voice is distinctive, as is the long-call
posture (though this may be cultural rather
than genetic; Tinbergen 1953). Clearly, cachin-
nans and argentatus fulfil diagnosability
requirements for species status.

Sometimes, cachinnans breeds in close
geographical proximity to michahellis with no
significant hybridisation, perhaps in part due to
differences in their preferred habitat. The taxa
are phenotypically distinct and there is no
evidence of gene flow, suggesting that they are
reproductively isolated. The range of cachinnans
also approaches that of barabensis, with which it
has previously been regarded as conspecific
(Johansen 1960). There is some evidence of
hybridisation between the two, but it is very
limited and unidirectional: barabensis- type
mtDNA has been found in individuals that are
phenotypically cachinnans, but not vice versa
(the implication being that barabensis females
are mating with cachinnans males and their
progeny are being incorporated into the cachin-
nans population, perhaps by the female off-
spring becoming imprinted upon their fathers).
This is a similar situation to that which exists
between armenicus and michahellis. A degree of
reproductive isolation is implied, though this
is possibly incomplete - individual gulls in
Kazakhstan (or wintering in Arabia) are some-
times of intermediate character between
barabensis and cachinnans, and may be impos-

sible to assign to either form (Johansen 1960).
Introgression of cachinnans into barabensis
populations has been inferred from morpho-
logical studies (Panov 8c Monzikov 2000),
although these authors showed only that some
barabensis individuals were dose to cachinnans
in some characters, which does not necessarily
imply intergradation. On all morphological,
behavioural and vocal criteria, barabensis is
much closer to heuglini than to cachinnans.
Thus, there is no compelling evidence to
suggest that barabensis and cachinnans should
be treated as conspecific, whereas there is con-
vincing evidence that, as the best description of
the relationship between the taxa, they should
be split.

The problem of cachinnans-argentatus
hybridisation

A broad zone of introgression was described by
Panov 8c Monzikov (1999) as a dine from the
Volga (pure cachinnans ) to eastern Scandinavia
(pure argentatus). In fact, what was described
was a broad zone in which individual gulls
often showed mixed characters of either taxon,
but there was limited genetic evidence of intro-
gression of argentatus genes into the Volga
basin. Hybridisation has been inferred in
expanding cachinnans colonies in eastern
Europe (Faber et al. 2000; Neubauer et al. 2006;
Yakovets 2006), and has probably been occur-
ring intermittently for some considerable time
where these two taxa meet. It was even
suggested that eastern ‘ omissus ' argentatus may
result from previous episodes of hybridisation
between argentatus and cachinnans. Although
the fitness of hybrids has never been formally
tested, true reproductive isolation between
cachinnans and argentatus probably does not
exist, and we have to consider whether the taxa
are merging. Neubauer et al. (2006) analysed
the situation in most detail in Poland, where
both argentatus and cachinnans have recently
expanded their numbers and range (argentatus
from the north, cachinnans from the south). In
central Poland, the two taxa have come into
contact and are breeding. Neubauer et al.
regarded argentatus and cachinnans as diagnos-
ably distinct, and confirmed the ecological
(habitat) differences between the two taxa.
Birds in central Poland that could not be identi-
fied because they fell outside the range of varia-
tion of their reference populations of argentatus
and cachinnans from Poland and elsewhere, or

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(

that showed mixed characters, were treated as
hybrids. Whether these really are hybrids or are
just unidentifiable is difficult to determine, but
two observations strongly support the hybrid
suggestion: 1) they occur predominantly in
central Poland where the two taxa coexist; and
2) pairings occur between the two taxa. There
are approximately 200 pairs of gulls each year
with some sort of hybrid argentatus/cachinnans
pairing/contribution, in a 300-km zone across
the middle of Poland. This is out of a popula-
tion of about 1,500 pairs of argentatus (a recent
colonist but its population is steady or
declining) and 500 of cachinnans (rapidly
expanding in numbers and range from the
south). The data are consistent with recent (20
years) secondary introgression driven by range
expansion, especially that of cachinnans from
the south. We cannot predict whether this
hybridisation might eventually lead to the
merging of the two taxa. There is a possibility
that as cachinnans continues to exploit refuse
tips across Europe, it will continue to spread
northwest, hybridising freely with argentatus to
form a hybrid swarm (a mixed population of
individuals with variably intermediate appear-
ances due to multi-generation interbreeding)
or a cline, and so would no longer fulfil the
Guidelines criteria for separate species (Helbig
et al. 2002). It is also possible that a stable
hybrid zone will develop (satisfying Guidelines
criterion 3.2), or that they will become sym-
patric and reproductively isolated like argen-
tatus and michahellis in western Europe
(satisfying criterion 1.2). The TSC cannot make
confident predictions about this, but to assert
that in future the taxa will merge and should
therefore remain lumped requires several
assumptions that cannot currently be sup-
ported by evidence, especially while we know
nothing about the long-term fitness of the
hybrids. The mtDNA evidence is unequivocal -
argentatus and cachinnans are quite
different evolutionary lineages, and cannot be
lumped - and the evidence for hybridisation
cannot be shown to be taxonomically any more
significant than hybridisation between White-
headed Oxyura leucocephala and Ruddy Ducks
O. jamaicensis, i.e. the result of range expansion
bringing divergent but reproductively compat-
ible taxa into contact. However, we recognise
that this is a situation that should be kept under
review, and we cannot discount the possibility
that cachinnans will begin to merge with

argentatus through hybridisation.

In the light of these data, we recognise that
cachinnans fulfils diagnosability criteria and has
maintained its identity over evolutionary time
despite close contact and proven hybridisation
with other gull taxa. It should therefore be
treated as a separate species:

• Caspian Gull L. cachinnans (monotypic)

There is variation within cachinnans, and
western birds (‘ ponticus’ from the Black Sea)
have been described as showing more white in
the primaries than eastern birds. It is not,
however, certain that this geographic variation
would withstand a critical examination, so for
now we treat Caspian Gull as monotypic, with
considerable individual variation. There is need
for a rigorous assessment of morphological
variation within and between populations of
cachinnans, to establish whether there is suffi-
cient differentiation to merit the recognition of
any subspecies.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls - L. fuse us
It has previously been proposed that the Baltic
Gull L. f. fuscus should be split from the other
subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull, on the
basis of plumage and structural characters,
moult cycle, foraging and migration strategies
(Sangster et al. 1999). However, mantle colour
varies clinally from graellsii through intermedins
to fuscus, and field identification of fuscus is
probably impossible, except on the basis of geo-
graphical location (Barth 1966, 1968; Jonsson
1998a; Gibbins 2004a; Muusse et al. 2005). ‘Soft’
characters such as foraging strategy and migra-
tion routes are likely to be environmentally
constrained, and not taxonomically informa-
tive. Using a long sequence of mtDNA, Liebers
& Helbig (2002) found a continuous gradation
from graellsii, through intermedins to nominate
fuscus, confirming genetic arguments presented
by Crochet (1998), suggesting little if any repro-
ductive isolation. This genetic cline more or less
parallels the changes in mantle colour across
the range. Under the Guidelines, we therefore
intend to continue to treat nominate fuscus,
intermedius and graellsii as subspecies within a
single species.

The systematics of the three west Siberian
taxa heuglini, taimyrensis and barabensis are
unclear. They have been poorly described in the
literature until quite recently, when more infor-
mation has become available (Filchagov et al.
1992b; Eskelin & Pursiainen 1998; Rauste 1999;

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Herring Gull taxonomy

)

Panov & Monzikov 2000; Buzun 2002).
Generally, taimyrensis, the name usually given
to the taxon breeding from the Ob to the
Khatanga (Vaurie 1965), has been regarded as
the pale end of a dine in mantle coloration
running from dark-mantled heuglini in the west
to paler-mantled taimyrensis in the east. Yesou
(2002) reported that birds now breeding within
the accepted range of taimyrensis are in fact
phenotypically identical to the generally yellow-
legged ‘ birulai ’ form of the East Siberian
‘Herring’ Gull vegae. There is a sharp divide in
average mantle colour between birds breeding
west of the Ob ( heuglini ) and those breeding
east of the Ob ( birulai = vegae) (Yesou 2001b).
A minority of intermediates occurring from the
Ob eastwards to southwestern Taimyr (not
farther east) are in some respects phenotypi-
cally intermediate and might be labelled
‘taimyrensis’, but Yesou suggested that if
taimyrensis ever existed as a valid taxon, it was
the result of hybridisation between western
vegae (‘birulai’) and eastern heuglini in some
sort of unstable hybrid zone. There is neverthe-
less a dine in heuglini mantle colour, getting

paler from west to east (Buzun 2002). It may be
sensible to recognise this differentiation taxo-
nomically, although the degree of difference is
very slight.

Liebers & Helbig (2002) showed genetically
that breeding birds from the ranges of heuglini,
taimyrensis and barabensis are very closely
related, and that barabensis is clearly related to
‘Heuglin’s’ rather than Caspian Gull. Generally,
barabensis is morphologically distinct from
Caspian Gull, but the limited introgression
detected by Liebers & Helbig (2002) is perhaps
reflected in the field. Studies of breeding
barabensis have demonstrated small popula-
tion-level differences from heuglini in plumage
pattern and biometrics (Panov & Monzikov
2000). It remains possible that, as more data
become available, barabensis will be recognised
as a separate monotypic species, but the current
uncertainty about the extent of intergradation
with heuglini leads us to retain it as part of the
heuglini group.

Any taxonomic decision on the relationship
of heuglini and barabensis with fuscus, inter-
medius and graellsii will be borderline. The latter

171. Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus, Tampera, Finland, August 2007. This is a ‘Baltic Gull' L f. fuscus.
Without its rings this would not normally be diagnosably distinguishable from L. f. intermedius as an extralimital
vagrant. However, the long-winged and slightly built appearance may be a clue to its identity, and moult-cycle
differences with respect to other Lesser Black-backed taxa may help to identify some individuals. There is no
substantial evidence to suggest that it should be split from L f. intermedius or L f. graellsii, but its relationship with-
L. f. heuglini is much more borderline, there being only restricted gene flow and very little if any observed mixed

pairing in spite of close contact between the taxa.

356

British Birds 1 0 1 • July 2008 • 340-363

Herring Gull taxonomy

group arose through rapid range expansion of
heuglini-like ancestors into northern Europe.
Although most heuglini are distinguishable from
nearly all fuscusl intermediusl graellsii on the basis
of mtDNA, the genetic differences are minimal
and there is considerable overlap, suggesting that
some introgression may still occur. This was the
conclusion reached by Liebers & Helbig (2002),
who suggested that their data were consistent
with a significant, though incomplete, barrier
to gene flow between fuscus and heuglini.
Behavioural data, on the other hand, indicated
no hybridisation between these taxa (Filchagov
et al. 1992a), in spite of their close geographical
contact around the Kola Peninsula and the
White Sea. The taxa are separated on the basis of
habitat preferences, heuglini nesting primarily
on inland tundra, and fuscus generally restricted
to the coast. Diagnosability is a problem. The
identification criteria for heuglini with respect
to the near- identical graellsii remain uncertain;
the proven occurrence of graellsii in Finnish
refuse tips, where many of the putative identifi-
cation criteria for (extralimital) heuglini have
been defined, makes the data very difficult

to interpret (Gibbins 2004a).

There is much work still to be done on
‘Heuglin’s Gulf. Genetic sampling of taimyrensis
is incomplete and the taxon itself may not be
valid. Diagnosability of heuglini has not been
confirmed with respect to fuscus/ intermediusl
graellsii. Although many gull workers recognise
Heuglin’s Gull L. heuglini as a distinct species,
until further genetic sampling has been under-
taken it is more defensible to recognise the five
(or six) subspecies - fuscus, intermedius,
graellsii, heuglini, ( taimyrensis ) and barabensis -
as members of a single clinal, polytypic species,
with a slight step between heuglini and fuscus.

It is probable that vegae is not a ‘Lesser
Black-backed Gulf. Although field impressions
of vegae suggest that it resembles a pale heuglini
(Yesou 2001, 2002), vegae genetically belongs to
the Siberian/Arctic group discussed below, and
Yesou argued convincingly that hybridisation is
limited and/or sporadic. The problem is the
genetic status of taimyrensis. Birds within the
historical range of this taxon are genetically part
of the heuglini group (Liebers & Helbig 2002;
Liebers et al. 2004) but phenotypically of the

I 72. Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull - presumed to be ‘Heuglin’s Gull' Larus f. heuglini. Khor Kalba, United Arab
Emirates, March 2006. Identification of adults of this taxon with respect to the virtually identical L f. graellsii is still
not fully resolved, although there may be population-level differences in average structure and primary pattern.

Tampere rubbish dump in southwest Finland has become the place to see this taxon in Europe, but the
occurrence of graellsii in Finland has confused the identification literature, and further work is ongoing. Taxonomy
of the ‘Siberian’ gull taxa heuglini, taimyrensis, barabensis, vegae and mongolicus remains controversial, and several
different arrangements would be defensible on current evidence, under slightly differing species concepts and

interpretations of the data.

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Herring Gull taxonomy

vegae group (Yesou 2002). It appears that there
is a sharp genetic divide between 'West Siberian
Gulls’ and 'East Siberian Gulls’, and a sharp (if
slight) morphological (phenotypic) divide, but
it is not clear that the phenotypic and genetic
divides coincide. This is explicable if it is
assumed that hybridisation is taking (or has
taken) place, as stated by Yesou (2002).

The recommendation is therefore to recognise:

• Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus (poly-
typic, with subspp. fuscus , intermedius,
graellsii, heuglini, taimyrensis, barabensis)
Although taimyrensis is included here, we
acknowledge that it may be best synonymised
with heuglini or be regarded as a transient
heuglini x vegae hybrid population.

The ‘Siberian’ grouping - vegae, mongolicus
and smithsonianus

Genetically, these three taxa lie within a
Siberian assemblage that also contains a
number of relatively uncontroversial and
(although hybridisation is not uncommon)
broadly reproductively isolated species such as
Slaty-backed and Glaucous-winged Gulls. These
are more closely related to Lesser Black-backed
than to argentatus, and, despite the fact that the
whole Siberian grouping is under-represented
in the genetic studies, it is unlikely that they are
members of L. argentatus.

The identification of American Herring Gull,
smithsonianus, has been discussed thoroughly in
Lonergan & Mullarney (2004) and Adriaens &
Mactavish (2004). Both of these papers were
written primarily as guides to the identification
of vagrant smithsonianus in western Europe, and
concluded that many individuals may be
separable from European Herring Gulls on
plumage characteristics. American smithsoni-
anus are more distinct from European birds in
first-winter plumage than as adults, although
there is much overlap; many individuals of each
age group are essentially unidentifiable and the
taxon has not been shown to be diagnosably dis-
tinct on the basis of plumage. However, to retain
smithsonianus as a subspecies of L. argentatus
would make that species paraphyletic ('Herring
Gull’ would then include the distantly related
smithsonianus but not the more closely related
taxa such as Great Black-backed Gull, etc.), a
situation we prefer to avoid. It has also been
reported that argentatus does not respond to
vocalisations of smithsonianus, and that this
underlies taxon recognition - the implication

being that a degree of reproductive isolation
may exist (Frings et al. 1958). On current
evidence, therefore, smithsonianus should be
recognised as distinct from L. argentatus. Geo-
graphic variation within smithsonianus exists,
but has not been fully documented, and there
may be a case for the recognition of subspecies
of L. smithsonianus in the Nearctic (Jonsson &
Mactavish 2001; de Knijff et al. 2005).

What of the relationship between smithsoni-
anus and vegad Although the genetic differ-
ences are minimal, about 90% of the
smithsonianus so far sampled carry mtDNA
haplotypes that are not found in vegae (Liebers
& Helbig 2004; de Knijff et al. 2005). There are
also structural differences (Chu 1998). On the
other hand, they are not 100% genetically
distinguishable, and vegae and smithsonianus
show some plumage similarities - there is, for
example, considerable overlap in the dark-
bodied, pale-headed appearance of first-winters
of both taxa (shown by representative photo-
graphs in Moores 2003). Although there is
overlap, adult vegae tend to be darker on the
mantle than smithsonianus and generally to
have more black pigmentation (as far as P3) on
the primaries (Gibbins 2004b). The black
subterminal primary markings of vegae gener-
ally lack the ‘W’ shape described for smithsoni-
anus, and features such as eye-ring colour, head
streaking, iris and leg pigmentation differ on
average too. However, the taxa are not 100%
diagnosably distinct on genetic or morpholog-
ical criteria and, at present, the evidence for
more than subspecific differentiation is not
overwhelming. There is at least as much
morphological difference between vegae and
smithsonianus as there is between smithsonianus
and argentatus, and many ornithologists regard
vegae and smithsonianus as specifically distinct.
They may well be right. However, under the
Guidelines they do not fulfil the criterion of
diagnosability and, in recognition of the uncer-
tain relationships between these taxa, we
recommend that vegae and smithsonianus con-
tinue to be treated as conspecific.

The relationship between mongolicus and
vegae is borderline, and its evaluation is made
difficult by geographical variation, which may
not yet be fully described within both taxa.
Genetically, it is impossible to say whether
mongolicus is derived from vegae or from Slaty-
backed Gull (Liebers et al. 2004; de Knijff et al.'
2005). Genetically, it is not a Caspian Gull, and

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)

1 73. Adult American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, February 2007.
The asymmetric ‘W’ of the black subterminal bands to the primaries, looking quite spikey on the outer webs,
is characteristic of this species. The AOU Committee on Classification and Nomenclature has considered and,
at the time of writing, rejected the split of smithsonianus from European argentatus (see http://www.aou.org/
committees/nacc/proposals/2007_B_votes_web.php3).That committee regards the genetic data as insufficient
to support a split, which shows how delicately balanced some of these taxonomic decisions are. Differences in
accepted species definitions and the perceived value of stability can lead to significant differences in opinion
between authorities. Indeed, one member of the American Committee confessed to having given up with large
white-headed gulls, which is an understandable but, in a Palearctic context, unsatisfactory standpoint.

there are marked plumage differences from this
species (Yesou 2001), with which it has previ-
ously been regarded as conspecific. Population-
level differences between mongolicus and vegae
include the greater extent of black pigmentation
in the primaries of adult mongolicus and that
taxon’s restricted head-streaking in winter
plumage (Yesou 2001; Moores 2003; Gibbins
2004b). Gulls wintering in Korea are thought to
be mongolicus on plumage characteristics and
habitat preferences (Moores 2003), but this
cannot be confirmed objectively. It cannot be
shown that diagnosability conditions can be
fulfilled and, although recognising that this is a
close call, the most defensible option is to
follow Yesou (2002) and recognise mongolicus
as conspecific with vegae. Further study may, of
course, change this position.

In summary, the recommendation is to
recognise:

• American Herring Gull L. smithsonianus

(polytypic, with subspp. smithsonianus,

vegae, mongolicus )

We accept that others may prefer to recog-
nise two or three species, although this would
not affect the British List.

Conclusions

There is still much to be learnt about what we
used to call simply Herring Gulls and Lesser
Black-backed Gulls before we can be confident
that we understand the relationships of the
component taxa. The biological relationships of
these gulls, their behaviour and even their
morphology may change more rapidly than tax-
onomists can keep pace with. It is clear that the
former ring-species arrangement that put three
taxa in L. fuscus, and at least 12 in L. argentatus,
while giving full species status to L. marinus and
several Siberian/Arctic gull species, does not
reflect the evolutionary or the biological rela-
tionships of the birds themselves. Under the
Guidelines, we recommend the following
taxonomy (Sangster et al. 2007):

• Caspian Gull L. cachinnans (monotypic)

• Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus (poly-
typic, with subspp. fuscus, intermedins,
graellsii, heuglini, taimyrensis, barabensis)

• American Herring Gull L. smithsonianus
(polytypic, with subspp. smithsonianus,
vegae, mongolicus )

• Herring Gull L. argentatus (polytypic, with
subspp. argentatus and argenteus)

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 340-363

359

Chris Gibbins

Herring Gull taxonomy

• Yellow-legged Gull L. michahellis (polytypic,
including subspecies michahellis , atlantis and
possibly other populations that may deserve
subspecific recognition)

• Armenian Gull L. armenicus (monotypic)
The taxonomy recommended above recog-
nises 20 years of new research into the evolution
and identification of Herring/Lesser Black-
backed Gulls. It accepts the genetic evidence
that the ‘Herring Gulf is not a ring species, and
that argentatus, michahellis, armenicus and
marinus form a group of reproductively isolated
species that are not closely related to the rest of
the complex. The taxonomy also recognises that
‘Lesser Black-backed Gulls’ evolved by a process
of contiguous range expansion from a refugial
population of ‘pr e-cachinnans' birds in the
Aralo-Caspian region. These populations
expanded north to west Siberia, then both west
into northern Europe ( fuscus , intermedius,
graellsii) and east into northern Siberia
( heuglini ). Defining species boundaries within
this group is always going to be difficult because
the taxa with contiguous ranges are in general
very closely related. Species boundaries here are
controversial, and a conservative arrangement is
recommended that is consistent with the
Guidelines (Helbig et al. 2002) but recognises
that there are other potential species boundaries
that must be kept under review.

In general, we are adopting a taxonomy that
assumes that the genetic groupings described by
Liebers et al. (2004) and summarised in simpli-
fied form in Maclean et al. (2005) (fig. 2) are
likely to delineate the species boundaries that,
on the basis of current evidence, are best
supported. In some cases, this assumption is
backed by strong morphological, plumage and
behavioural evidence for biological reproduc-
tive isolation. For example, the recognition of
Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed,
Yellow-legged and Armenian Gulls as specifi-
cally distinct from Herring Gull is generally
uncontroversial and could be supported on
morphological and behavioural grounds
without any genetic evidence. We have then
extrapolated the argument to use genetic differ-
entiation as a guide to other potential species
barriers, such as the separation of American
Herring Gull from Herring Gull, and of
Caspian Gull from all other taxa. We have
recognised, or continued to recognise, separate
species that fall within a single genetic grouping
if there is good evidence of strong reproductive

isolation and morphological divergence (such
as for Glaucous-winged, Iceland and Slaty-
backed Gulls). This approach has produced a
taxonomy that is similar to that proposed by
Yesou (2002) and others, but with some differ-
ences, most noticeably the retention of smithso-
nianus and vegae as conspecific. If vegae and
smithsonianus were formally shown to be diag-
nosable, either on the basis of morphology or
genetics, this decision would no longer be sup-
portable under the Guidelines, and we would
welcome further data to clarify this situation.

Acknowledgments

We extend grateful thanks to Dawn Balmer; Pierre-Andre
Crochet, Chris Gibbins, Jeff Higgott, Peter de Knijff, Dorit
Liebers, Keith Vinicombe and Pierre Yesou who provided
extensive comments and supplementary data for this text.

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Dr J. Martin Collinson, Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen,
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362

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■ Herring Gull taxonomy j

Appendix I . Discrepancies between nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.

Western Gull L. occidentalis and Glaucous-
winged Gull L. glaucescens hybridise commonly
along the west coast of the USA and Canada
and there is evidence of nuclear gene flow
between the two species across the hybrid zone
(Bell 1996). In contrast, there appears to be no
introgression of mitochondrial DNA, and the
genetic distance between the two species sug-
gests that they last shared a common ancestor
over one million years ago (this compares with
an estimate of 300,000 years for the evolution of
the whole Herring/Lesser Black-backed Gull
complex of which glaucescens is a part) (Liebers
et al. 2004; de Knijff et al. 2005). Assuming that
glaucescens has been adequately sampled, the
most likely explanation is perhaps that only the
male hybrids are fertile (in line with Haldane’s
Rule), so hybrid females (that alone are
ensuring that mtDNA is passed to the next
generation) never get the chance to introduce
the mtDNA of one species into the other. The
example also shows how very distantly related
gulls with very effective partial reproductive
isolation may nevertheless hybridise extensively
(de Knijff et al. 2005).

Recent studies of wagtails Motacilla based on
mtDNA suggested a deep genetic divide in both
Yellow Wagtails M. flava and Citrine Wagtails
M. citreola , with nominate Citrine Wagtails
within an ‘eastern’ yellow wagtail clade and
calcarata Citrine Wagtails within a ‘western’
yellow wagtail clade (Voelker 2002; Odeen &
Bjorklund 2003). If this represents the true
phylogeny of Citrine Wagtails, it would be very
strong evidence that Citrine Wagtail should be
split. However, Odeen & Bjorklund (2003) also
reported a separate phylogeny, based on a
nuclear DNA. It placed nominate and calcarata

Citrine Wagtails together, as members of a
single clade, in effect ‘repairing’ the phylogeny
produced by mtDNA, while maintaining the
separate (species-level) distinction of eastern
and western flava wagtails. This is not the place
for a detailed discussion of the problems
associated with these types of analyses, but it is
sufficient to state that caution is required when
building or interpreting phylogenies based on
mtDNA, especially when these conflict with
‘conventional’ morphology-based phylogenies.
This caution impacts on the conclusions we
can make on the basis of published gull
phylogenies.

Nor is it always the case that nuclear DNA
tells a conservative story that tempers the
excesses of mtDNA. Bensch et al. (2006)
showed that although Willow Warblers
P. trochilus show very little variation in their
mtDNA across the species (much less than the
variation seen in chiffchaffs ( sensu lato )
P. collybita/ibericus), they also harbour a rich
and relatively ancient pool of alleles at several
nuclear loci. It is suggested that the mtDNA
diversity seen in Willow Warblers is artificially
low as the result of strong selection in the past,
whereas the nuclear DNA accurately reflects a
complicated evolutionary history. There may
even have been introgression of nuclear alleles
from a (now extinct) diverged Phylloscopus
taxon. The paper highlights the fact that
phylogenetic trees based only on mtDNA may
be seriously biased, and not reflect the true
evolution of the species because its patterns of
inheritance do not fully reflect that of the
species involved (Hudson & Coyne 2002;
Ballard & Whitlock 2004).

Looking back

One hundred years ago:

‘COMMON TERNS ON THE HOLYHEAD
SKERRIES. It is generally supposed that these birds
do not breed on the Skerries, and that the rocks are
occupied during the breeding season exclusively by
Arctic Terns and a few Roseate Terns ( cf H. E. Forrest,
Vert. Fauna N. Wales , p. 375). That this is not the case

has recently been proved by her Grace the Duchess of
Bedford, who has been good enough to forward me a
Common Tern (Sterna fluviatilis), which killed itself
against the telephone wire whilst she was visiting the
colony. Her Grace added, “several were seen”.
HEATLEY NOBLE.’ (Brit. Birds 2: 64, July 1908)

British Birds 101* July 2008 • 340-363

363

Recording areas of
Great Britain

David K. Ballance and A. Judith Smith

Migrating Turnstones Arenaria interpres and a Dunlin Calidris alpina crossing an inland county boundary Alan Harris

It has recently become apparent that there
are some confusions and anomalies in the
way that national journals and organisa-
tions are reporting records received from
County Recorders or taken from published
sources. Examples of the problem can be seen
in a recent Ibis paper on the British List
(Dudley et al. 2006). We have, therefore,
attempted to produce a definitive list of
Recording Areas which will be acceptable to
national and local authorities and which can be
generally recognised. It is our intention to
describe current practice, not to suggest correc-
tions or improvements, except in some details
of presentation.

The list incorporates all Recording Areas and
relates them to old and new County, Regional
and Unitary Authority boundaries, and (except
in Scotland) to Watsonian Vice-counties. It is
important that any code of practice should
derive from County and Local Recorders them-
selves, and not be imposed upon them. In our
view, a lesson can be learnt here from the recent
attempt to establish vernacular names that
would be internationally acceptable; these have
been only partly adopted, and some have
already been abandoned. Local patriotism is

always stronger than bureaucrats assume, and
we have to recognise that some areas may for
years continue to be claimed by both new and
original ‘owners’, whatever centralisers may
propose.

The main problems are in the London area,
around the borders of Yorkshire, and in North
and South Wales. Others arise from the use of
the titles of Metropolitan Counties, Scottish
Regions and Districts, and other (often
ephemeral) creations, of which some actively
survive in ornithology (e.g. Avon, Greater
Manchester), while others have never been used
for recording or have not been universally
accepted (e.g. Tyne & Wear, North and South
Humberside, Strathclyde).

The system of Watsonian Vice-counties,
invented in 1852 for botanists and still widely
used outside ornithology, is of importance in
Wales (where it closely but not absolutely corre-
sponds with the pre-1974 county boundaries),
and also in Surrey, Suffolk and Yorkshire. In the
last two it gains support because county reports
have been produced by sections of general
natural history societies. Vice-counties have the
great drawback that their boundaries are not
marked on Ordnance Survey maps where they

The version published here is a much abbreviated version of the paper submitted originally by the authors. A full
version, which contains more details, especially with regard to historical boundary changes, county and local
reports and maritime problems, is available as a pdf at www.britishbirds.co.uk/recordingareas

364

Recording areas of Great Britain

differ from those currently determined by Gov-
ernment. Although in general they approximate
to the pre-1974 borders, familiar to older
observers, there were many minor changes
between 1852 and 1974, especially in the 1890s,
following the introduction of County Councils,
and in the early twentieth century, when cities
such as Sheffield, Bristol and Manchester were
expanding into neighbouring counties. The
ornithological interest of an area can affect
decisions on who is entitled to record it: the
most famously disputed site is the south side of
Breydon Water, which until 1889 was clearly in
Suffolk, and whose observers still retain it. In
Wales, some claims have recently been made to
small areas where the shift of a border had
passed unnoticed for more than a century.

Vice-counties have had no real effect on
Scottish recording. Here, most local reports did
not start until after 1974 and it was natural to
look back to the system of Faunal Areas master-
minded by Harvie-Brown before 1914. These
were determined by geographical features, espe-
cially river basins, and their influence can be
seen in the naming of central Scottish recording
areas; part of the Clyde/Upper Forth border is a
rare example of such a boundary not coinciding
with any past or current political line. The con-
trolling influence has been that of the Scottish
Ornithologists’ Club (SOC), founded in 1936,
which produces an excellent map to define areas
(www.the-soc.org.uk).

Occasions will arise when reference has to be
made to pre-1974 records which were originally
for counties that once had other names or
boundaries than those of today. It is suggested
that the standard form for this might be (for
example): ‘Chew Valley Lake (Avon; then [or
‘formerly’] Somerset)’. Or (perhaps in a more
strictly historical context): ‘Chew Valley Lake
(Somerset; now Avon)’.

There are some problems in marine
recording. Obviously, birds visible with a tele-
scope from the coast of a county can be safely
claimed, at least up to the mid-line of a strait or
estuary that marks the border with a neighbour.
In England, Wales and the Isle of Man, there is
no general policy on the inclusion within
county or area frontiers of offshore records
beyond these limits. Many such records used to
come from manned lighthouses and lightves-
sels; the former, because they are built on rocks,
can always be assigned to a Recording Area, but
the latter may present problems. They remain of

some historical importance, especially for
records published by the British Association
(1879-89, etc.) and by Eagle Clarke (1912). The
SOC map defines the allocation of remote
islands, including all lighthouses, and the divi-
sion of seas crossed by regular ferries; it also
establishes an offshore limit of three nautical
miles (5.5 km) for those stretches of north and
east Scotland where there are no complications
from ferry routes, islands or lighthouses. From
the Humber to the English Channel, the situa-
tion is more complicated, largely because of off-
shore sandbanks, many of which used to be
marked by manned lightvessels. Following
automation, some of these have been replaced
by floats or buoys, though a few survive and
may be visible from the coast in good condi-
tions, even if they are now visited only by
service vessels. The writers of local avifaunas for
coastal counties from Lincolnshire to Kent have
often thought that they should mention records
from such sites, which once included important
rarities, but they have sometimes hesitated to
accept them for a county list. It can be hard to
find the exact position of marine sites, since
land-based cartographers generally include as
little sea as they can get away with; we suggest
referring to the annual Admiralty List of Lights
and Fog Signals (UK Hydrographic Office). Oil
and gas platforms proliferate, especially in the
North Sea; some that are permanently manned
are regularly reported on by the North Sea Bird
Club, which also covers records from service
vessels. A few estuarine forts and other struc-
tures may attract breeding gulls (Laridae) and
must therefore be assigned to Recording Areas.

Estuaries can raise local difficulties, such as
those in the Tamar Complex (Devon and Corn-
wall). Boundaries are seldom mapped beyond
the mouths of rivers, and some are unclear
further upstream: the Lancashire & North
Merseyside/Cheshire & Wirral border along the
Mersey is marked as ‘undetermined’. In the list
below, the boundary should be assumed to be
the midway line unless otherwise specified.

In the English Channel and the Irish Sea, the
national boundaries are also normally assumed
to be the midway line, but it is not clear
whether such counties as the Isle of Wight,
Devon or Lancashire & North Merseyside
would actually claim records as far out as this,
or how the Isle of Man fits into the system. The
Isles of Scilly Bird Group has recently defined
its own pelagic limits in the form of a rectangle

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 364-375

365

Recording areas of Great Britain

around the islands. Many sightings from ferries
must go unrecorded, for want of knowing who
would deal with them, but they can be sent to
the Editor of Sea Swallow , the journal of the
Royal Naval Birdwatching Society. Beyond the
limit of any possible county attributions,
records within British waters should be assigned
to the appropriate Sea Area.

Reservoirs have often been created from
rivers that form county boundaries. Sometimes
the boundary has been diverted so as to place
the water wholly within one county, but more
often no change has been made, leaving an
invisible submarine frontier, as in King George’s
Reservoir (Greater London/Essex). Local
arrangements have sometimes been made for
the recording of such sites.

Institutions such as the BTO are naturally
eager to be given map references, which can be
plotted on a computerised database, yet they
must still be able to classify all entries by an
agreed system of Recording Areas. Very few
local observers use map references when sub-
mitting records, except perhaps for exact loca-
tions of breeding birds.

In order to compile a definitive list, we have
consulted all current County Recorders and
those national organisations that are most
closely concerned with local recording. We
received many replies, and corrections to a first
draft. There are probably still confusions, and
we should appreciate any suggestions, improve-
ments or corrections.

List of recording areas

The order is that of the Vice-counties (VC),
except for Scotland. There is no intention of
emphasising their importance or of suggesting
their general adoption, but they provide a con-
venient pattern and points of historical refer-
ence. In the Vice-county system, counties could
be subdivided or merged; detachments (of
which there were still many in 1852) were

included with the surrounding county.

Very small differences between old and new
borders are usually given only where an area is
of some importance. The many minor adjust-
ments and exchanges of parishes (especially in
the West Midland Bird Club area and in
Gloucestershire) are another argument against
the use of Vice-counties; for example, there
were about 35 such adjustments to Worcester-
shire between 1895 and 1995, many of which
have been long forgotten by its inhabitants.

The name in bold type is the Recording
Area. Vice-counties and Sea Areas (SA) are
given first, before the area is defined in relation
to current or past administrative boundaries;
most Unitary Authorities (UA) now functioning
are mentioned, though hardly any of the wholly
new ones have ornithological recognition. Some
explanatory comment may be added, including
a definition of any Areas of Double Recording
(ADR), i.e. areas of any importance which are at
present claimed by more than one county or
area and included regularly in their reports. We
suggest that, when records from these are pub-
lished in the national literature, both areas
might be given, the original county
being placed first, e.g. Breydon Wall
(Suffolk/Norfolk); Chingford (Essex/Greater
London).

‘Problem Areas’ are places along the borders
where records may be hard to assign definitively
to either side. Their mention does not neces-
sarily imply contentious claims; there are often
local arrangements to assign, or duplicate,
records. These may also concern river bound-
aries, which are far too common to mention
individually.

The entry finishes with the titles of (extant)
annual reports for the whole area and the
organisations responsible for their production.
In three counties where these reports are, or
have recently been, in abeyance, local reports
are mentioned.

England

1. Cornwall

VCs 1 (W) & 2 (E); SAs Plymouth, Lundy. Present
county, excluding Isles of Sc illy since 1969 but
including offshore lighthouses except the Eddystone
(see Devon).

Problem Areas: the Tamar Estuarine Complex below
the Tamar and Saltash Bridges is generally considered
as Cornwall, but above these is an ADR (with Devon).
Tamar Lakes are usually assigned to Devon, though
the west banks are in Cornwall.

Report: Birds in Cornwall (Cornwall Birdwatching &
Preservation Society).

2. Isles of Scilly

Part of VC 1. Scilly lies in NE corner of SA Sole; SA
Fastnet begins immediately to NW and SA Plymouth
immediately to east, boundary being 06°15’W line of
longitude. Pelagic area has recently been extended as <•
follows: 50°15’N to 49°35’N, 05°50’W to 06°50’W.
Report: Isles of Scilly Bird & Natural History Review
( Isles of Scilly Bird Group).

366

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 364-375

Recording areas of Great Britain

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 364—375

367

Recording areas of Great Britain

)

3. Devon

VCs 3 (S) & 4 (N); SAs Portland, Plymouth, Lundy.
Present county, including Lundy (3a) and the Eddy-
stone (3b - technically in Cornish waters and in VC
2), and incorporating UAs of Plymouth and Torbay.
Problem Areas: Tamar Estuary (see Cornwall).

Report: Devon Bird Report (Devon Bird Watching 8c
Preservation Society).

4. Somerset

VC 5 (S) 8c part of 6 (N). Post- 1974 county, excluding
UAs of North Somerset (with Steep Holm) and Bath
& NE Somerset (see Avon).

Problem Areas: Axe Estuary (with Avon).

Report: Somerset Birds (Somerset Ornithological
Society).

5. Avon

Part of VCs 6 (N Somerset) & 34 (S Gloucestershire).
1974-95 county, consisting of UAs of North Somerset
(including Steep Holm 5a), Bath 8c NE Somerset,
Bristol, and South Gloucestershire.

Problem Areas: Axe Estuary (with Somerset).

Report: Avon Bird Report (Avon Ornithological
Group).

6. Wiltshire

VCs 7 (N) 8c 8 (S). Present county, incorporating UA
of Swindon; see also Gloucestershire.

Problem Areas: Cotswold Water Park West (with
Gloucestershire).

Report: Hobby (Wiltshire Ornithological Society).

7. Dorset

VC 9 8c small part of 11 (S Hampshire); SAs Wight,
Portland. Post- 1974 county, incorporating UAs of
Bournemouth and Poole.

Problem Areas: for older records only, former Hamp-
shire areas (which included Christchurch &
Bournemouth).

Report: Dorset Bird Report (Dorset Bird Club).

8. Hampshire

VC 12 (N) 8c most of 11 (S); SA Wight. Post-1974
county, incorporating UAs of Southampton and
Portsmouth.

Problem Areas: see Dorset, above.

Report: The Hampshire Bird Report (Hampshire
Ornithological Society).

9. Isle of Wight

VC 10; SA Wight. Present county. Separately recorded
since 1977; three earlier avifaunas included it with
Llampshire.

Report: The Isle of Wight Bird Report (Isle of Wight
Natural History 8c Archaeological Society and Isle of
Wight Ornithological Group).

10/11. Sussex

10. West Sussex: VC 13 8c fragment of 17 (Surrey);
SAs Wight, Dover. 1 1. East Sussex: VC 14; SA Dover.
Generally recorded simply as Sussex, these two polit-
ical divisions (introduced in 1865 and not exactly
equivalent to the VCs) have sometimes been treated
separately, but that is not current practice. Present
counties, incorporating UA of Brighton & Hove. West
Sussex includes Gatwick Airport, formerly mostly
within Surrey and an ADR.

Report: Sussex Bird Report (Sussex Ornithological
Society).

12. Kent

VC 15 (E) 8c most of 16 (W); SAs Thames, Dover.
Post- 1965 county, excluding areas taken into London
in 1889 and into Greater London in 1965 (see
London); incorporating UA of Medway.

Problem Areas: parts of the present county within 20
miles (32 km) of central London (St Paul’s) are an
ADR, from the Thames at Northfleet SW to
Sevenoaks and Westerham.

Report: The Kent Bird Report ( Kent Orn. Soc.).

13. Surrey

VC 17. Surrey thus incorporates the Greater London
Boroughs of Richmond-upon-Thames, Kingston-
upon-Thames, Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton,
Lambeth, Croydon and Southwark, which are collec-
tively an ADR with Greater London, as are Walton-
on-Thames Reservoirs and some or all of the Surrey
Boroughs of Elmbridge, Epsom 8c Ewell, Reigate &
Banstead and Tandridge, where these fall within 20-
mile London circle. Part of site of Gatwick Airport
transferred to West Sussex in 1974, but remains an
ADR. For Spelthorne, see Greater London; see also
Wheatley (2007).

Report: Surrey Bird Report (Surrey Bird Club).

14. Essex

VCs 18 (S), 19 (N) 8c small part of 15 (Hertfordshire);
SA Thames. Pre-1965 county, thus incorporating
Greater London Boroughs of Waltham Forest,
Redbridge, Barking 8c Dagenham, Newham and
Havering, collectively an ADR, and UAs of Southend
and Thurrock. Other parts of W Essex are also
double-recorded within London circle, and are
known ornithologically as ‘Metropolitan Essex’.
Changes along Hertfordshire border in 1992, from
Bishops Stortford area south to Waltham Abbey, now
accepted by both counties.

Problem Areas: Suffolk border along R. Stour, which
now follows low-water mark on Suffolk side; any
problems easily resolved with Suffolk.

Report: The Essex Bird Report (Essex Birdwatching
Society).

15. Hertfordshire

VC 20, small parts of 18 (S Essex) 8< 21 (London).

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Recording areas of Great Britain

A: part of Hertfordshire; B: part of Middlesex (Potters Bar, etc.)
transferred to Hertfordshire, 1965; C: part of Hertfordshire (Barnet area)

transferred to Greater London, 1 965; D: former county of Middlesex,
now Greater London; E: part of Buckinghamshire; F: part of Berkshire;
G: district of Spelthorne, formerly Middlesex, now Surrey but generally
recorded by London; H: part of Surrey VC, now Greater London; I: part
of Surrey; J: Inner London; K: part of Kent; L: parts of Kent transferred
to London in 1889 & 1965; M: ‘Metropolitan Essex’; N: part of Essex;

O: various adjustments between Hertfordshire and Essex, 1965.

Post- 1965 county. Parts of S and
SW Hertfordshire (from Rye Meads
along south side of Ware and Hert-
ford to Hatfield, St Albans, King’s
Langley and Rickmansworth) are
an ADR with Greater London. See
also Essex.

Report: The Hertfordshire Bird
Report (Hertfordshire Bird Club).

16. Greater London

VC 21, parts of 16 (W Kent), 17
(Surrey), 18 (S Essex), 20 (Hert-
fordshire), 22 (Berkshire) & 24
(Buckinghamshire). Recording area
is a circle of 20 miles (32 km) from
St Paul’s; for most purposes now
converted to polygon of grid-
squares of slightly larger area. The
only parts now recorded solely in
the London Bird Report are the
former county of Middlesex,
including small additions made
from Hertfordshire to Greater
London in 1965 and Spelthorne,
ceded to Surrey in 1965 but not
recorded by that county (except in
Wheatley 2007); and the London
(post-1889 and post-1965) corner
of W Kent. Additions to Greater
London in 1965 within Surrey
(south of Thames) and Essex are
ADRs with those counties; as are
parts of Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hert-
fordshire, Buckinghamshire and
(present-day) Berkshire that fall outside Greater
London but inside the recording circle; for details see
those counties. In referring to surrounding counties,
London NHS has generally used VC boundaries
rather than later ones. Apart from Spelthorne, records
within the LNHS area, but outside Greater London,
are in national literature normally assigned only to
their current county, e.g. most of the Rainham
Marshes reserve is in Essex, not Greater London,
though it all lies within the LNHS circle. The map
(fig. 2) has been adapted from Hewlett (2002).
Problem Areas: Wraysbury Reservoir was in Bucking-
hamshire from 1971 to 1974, then was shared
between Berkshire and Greater London until 1991,
and is now recorded by Greater London.

Report: London Bird Report (London Natural History
Society).

17. Berkshire

Much of VC 22, parts of 24 (Buckinghamshire) 8c 21
(London). Post- 1974 county; in 1995, slight eastward
extension into Buckinghamshire, SW of the M25/M4
junction (around Colnbrook), brought county into
20-mile Greater London circuit.

Problem Areas: Wraysbury Reservoir (see

Greater London).

Report: The Birds of Berkshire (Berkshire Ornitholog-
ical Club).

18. Oxfordshire

VC 23 8c part of 22 (Berkshire). Post-1974 county.
Report: Birds of Oxfordshire (Oxford Ornithological
Society).

19. Buckinghamshire

Most of VC 24. Post-1974 county, incorporating UA
of Milton Keynes (but see Berkshire, above). A corner
of the SE, from Denham south to M4, is an ADR with
Greater London.

Problem Areas: Wraysbury Reservoir (see Greater
London).

Report: Buckinghamshire Bird Report (Bucking-
hamshire Bird Club).

20. Suffolk

VCs 25 (E) 8c 26 (W); SA Thames. The two vice-
counties. The Lothingland area was transferred to
Norfolk, partly in 1889 and more extensively in 1974,
thus (from 1889) the south shore of Breydon Water
was lost from Suffolk. This remains an ADR with

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 364-375

369

Recording areas of Great Britain

Norfolk, as does the SW edge of Thetford, ceded to
Norfolk in 1894.

Other Problem Areas: Stour Estuary (see Essex).
Report: Suffolk Birds (Suffolk Naturalists’ Society &
Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group).

21. Norfolk

VCs 27 (E) & 28 (W), small parts of 25 (E Suffolk) &
26 (W Suffolk); SAs Humber, Thames. Post- 1974
county.

Problem Areas: Ouse Washes (with Cambridgeshire),
where border was moved south in 1895. For ADRs
with Suffolk, see above. Birds at Wisbech Sewage-
farm, operational until the 1980s, were recorded
jointly by Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

Report: Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report (Norfolk &
Norwich Naturalists’ Society).

22. Cambridgeshire

VCs 29 (Cambridgeshire) & 31 (Huntingdonshire),
part of 32 (Northamptonshire). Post- 1974 county,
including Huntingdonshire and the Soke of Peterbor-
ough (this was recorded with Northamptonshire until
1974 and became a separate UA in 1997).

Problem Areas: Ouse Washes (see Norfolk).

Report: Cambridgeshire Bird Report (Cambridgeshire
Bird Club).

23. Bedfordshire

VC 30. Present county, incorporating UA of Luton.
Report: The Bedfordshire Bird Report in Trans.
Bedfordshire Natural History Society.

24. Northamptonshire

Most of VC 32. Post-1974 county (see also
Cambridgeshire).

Problem Areas: Stanford Reservoir (with Leicester-
shire).

Report: Northants Birds (Northamptonshire Bird
Club), in abeyance since 2001. The report of the
Banbury Orn. Soc. covers part of SW Northampton-
shire.

25. Gloucestershire

VCs 33 (N) & part of 34 (S). Post- 1974 county, thus
excluding Bristol and South Gloucestershire (see
Avon).

Problem Areas: Cotswold Water Park West (with
Wiltshire).

Report: Gloucestershire Bird Report (Gloucestershire
Ornithological Co-ordinating Committee).

26. Herefordshire

VC 36. Present county; merged with Worcestershire
from 1974 to 1998, but with no effect on recording.
Problem Areas: Malvern Hills (ridge forms part of
Worcestershire border).

Report: The Birds of Herefordshire (Herefordshire
Ornithological Club).

27. Worcestershire

Most of VC 37. Post- 1974 county, thus excluding
areas in NE transferred to Warwickshire in 1911 and
to West Midlands in 1974. See also Herefordshire.
Problem Areas: Malvern Hills (ridge forms part of
Herefordshire border).

Report: The Birds of Staffordshire, Warwickshire,
Worcestershire and the West Midlands (West Midland
Bird Club).

28. Warwickshire

Most of VC 38. Post-1974 county, thus excluding
areas in NW (some gained from Worcestershire)
which were then transferred to West Midlands.

Report: see Worcestershire.

29. West Midlands

Parts of VCs 37, 38 & 39. 1974-95 county, now dis-
solved for most purposes into its seven UAs:
Coventry, Solihull, Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell,
Wolverhampton and Dudley.

Report: see Worcestershire.

30. Staffordshire

Most of VC 39. Post- 1974 county, thus excluding
areas in SW then transferred to West Midlands, and
incorporating UA of Stoke-on-Trent.

Problem Areas: Chasewater was from 1974 to 1995
partly in West Midlands, now again wholly in
Staffordshire.

Report: see Worcestershire.

31. Shropshire

VC 40. Present county, incorporating UA of Telford &
Wrekin.

Report: The Shropshire Bird Report (Shropshire
Ornithological Society).

32. Lincolnshire

VCs 53 (S) & 54 (N); SA Humber. Present county,
incorporating UAs of North Lincolnshire and NE
Lincolnshire.

Problem Areas: former Wisbech Sewage-farm (see
Norfolk).

Report: Lincolnshire Bird Report (Lincolnshire Bird
Club), now in abeyance. Local reports are produced
by Gibraltar Point NNR and by Scunthorpe.

33. Leicestershire & Rutland

VC 55. Present counties, incorporating UA of
Leicester.

Problem Areas: Eye Brook Reservoir is shared
between the two counties, and Stanford Reservoir
with Northamptonshire. All records should be classed
as ‘Leicestershire & Rutland’.

Report: The Leicestershire and Rutland Bird Report
(Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society).

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British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 364-375

Recording areas of Great Britain

)

34. Nottinghamshire

VC 56. Present county, incorporating UA of
Nottingham City.

Report: The Birds of Nottinghamshire (Notting-
hamshire Birdwatchers).

35. Derbyshire

Most of VC 57 8c small part of 58 (Cheshire). Present
county, incorporating UA of Derby and excluding
some losses to Yorkshire in 1934 and 1968; see also
Cheshire & Wirral, below.

Report: The Derbyshire Bird Report (Derbyshire
Ornithological Society).

36. Cheshire 8c Wirral

Most of VC 58, parts of 57 (Derbyshire) & 59
(S Lancashire); SA Irish Sea. Post-1974 county,
incorporating UAs of Wirral (including Hilbre Island
36a), Halton and Warrington. Many small adjust-
ments along Lancashire/Greater Manchester and Der-
byshire borders from 1932 to 1974.

Problem Areas: on Dee border with Flintshire, border
does not follow mid-line, but includes, in Flint,
reclaimed land (Shotton Pools, etc.) on north bank;
up to 1960s this was recorded by Cheshire, and it was
included by Coward (1900) and Bell (1962). All
records should be classed as ‘Cheshire 8c Wirral’.
Report: Cheshire and Wirral Bird Report (Cheshire 8t
Wirral Ornithological Society).

Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield,
Rotherham, Doncaster, Redcar 8c Cleveland and
Middlesbrough. The last two (with part of Stockton-
on-Tees) form SE part of 1974-95 county of Cleve-
land (below), the whole of which forms two ADRs
with VCs 62 8c 66; see also Durham. The five
Recording Areas are the VCs, less their various 1974
excisions, but they include expansions of Yorkshire
into Derbyshire, south of Sheffield (1934 and 1968),
and into Lancashire, west of Todmorden (1889). The
ornithological world outside Yorkshire has tended to
reject its claim to Cleveland and to adopt the four
1974-95 divisions, which are still the Lord Lieutenan-
cies: East Yorkshire (‘North Humberside’, now again
substantially the East Riding, but including York and
Hull UAs); South Yorkshire (Barnsley, Doncaster,
Sheffield and Rotherham); West Yorkshire (Wake-
field, Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees); and
North Yorkshire (today’s county, including Selby
District). There is much to be said for continuing this
division, since VC boundaries cannot be found on OS
maps, although for rare and scarce breeders
‘Yorkshire’ may be more desirable.

Reports: Yorkshire Bird Report (Yorkshire Naturalists’
Union, Ornithological Section), 1940-1997, revived
2005-. In the absence of a county report, various local
reports have been important, notably Hull Valley,
York, Bradford, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Barnsley,
Sheffield, Halifax, Harrogate and Leeds.

37. Lancashire & North Merseyside

VC 60 (W), parts of 59 (S) 8c 64 (Mid-west York-
shire); SA Irish Sea. Present county of Lancashire and
UAs of Sefton, Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens, Black-
burn-with-Darwen and Blackpool. Furness has been
recorded with Cumbria since 1974. See also Cheshire.
All records should be classed as ‘Lancashire 8c North
Merseyside’.

Report: The Lancashire Bird Report (Lancashire 8c
Cheshire Fauna Society).

38. Greater Manchester

Parts of VCs 58 (Cheshire), 59 (S Lancashire) 8c 63
(SW Yorkshire). Metropolitan County of Greater
Manchester (1974-86), now UAs of Wigan, Bolton,
Salford, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham (including part of
pre-1974 Yorkshire), Tameside, Stockport, Manchester
and Trafford. See also Cheshire 8c Wirral.

Report: Birds in Greater Manchester (Greater
Manchester Bird Recording Group).

39. Yorkshire

VCs 61 (SE), 62 (NE), 63 (SW), 64 (Mid-west) and 65
(NW) - of which only the first remains complete
within post- 1974 borders - and parts of 57 (Derby-
shire) 8c 59 (S Lancashire); SAs Tyne, Humber.
Present counties of North Yorkshire and East Riding
of Yorkshire (incorporating UAs of Kingston-upon-
Hull), and UAs of York, Bradford, Calderdale,

40. Cleveland

Parts of VCs 62 (NE Yorkshire) 8c 66 (Durham); SA
Tyne. Recording Area since 1974, consisting of two
ADRs (see also Durham and Yorkshire), in both of
which, validation of rarity records lies with Cleveland.
Report: Cleveland Bird Report (Teesmouth Bird
Club).

41. Durham

VC 66 8c part of 65 (NW Yorkshire); SA Tyne. Present
county, incorporating UAs of Stockton-on-Tees (in
part) and Hartlepool (the NW parts of the former
county of Cleveland; see above), Darlington,
Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The
former county of Tyne 8c Wear (1974-95) has no
ornithological recognition.

Problem Areas: Derwent Reservoir (with Northum-
berland).

Report: Birds in Durham (Durham County Bird
Club).

42. Northumberland

VCs 67 (S) 8c 68 (N); SA Tyne. Present county, incor-
porating UAs of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and North
Tyneside and including Coquet Island (42a), the
Fame Islands (42b) and Holy Island (42c).

Problem Areas: Derwent Reservoir (with Durham).
Report: Birds in Northumbria (Northumberland 8c
Tyneside Bird Club).

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 364-375

371

Recording areas of Great Britain

43. Cumbria

VCs 69 (Westmorland) & 70 (Cumberland), with part
ot 65 (NW Yorkshire); SA Irish Sea. Post-1974 county.
Report: Birds and Wildlife in Cumbria (Cumbria Nat-
uralists’ Union).

Wales

In addition to coverage by individual county reports,
Wales has been covered by the annual Welsh Bird
Report! Welsh Ornithological Society) since 1998. The
following names should not be used in ornithological
recording: ‘Clwyd’ and ‘Dyfed’ (which are now obso-
lete); ‘Gwynedd’ and ‘Powys’ (still in administrative
use); ‘Conwy’ (created in 1995); or any of the post-
1974 subdivisions of Glamorgan and Gwent. Records
from these should be assigned to the appropriate VCs,
as given below. In general, Welsh Recording Areas are
the VCs, but some adjustments have been made. The
index numbers in the Area sections correspond to
those on the map; they indicate sites with problems,
mainly where the accepted boundaries differ from the
Watsonian ones.

W1 Gwent

Most of VC 35 & small part of 42 (Breconshire). Pre-
1974 county of Monmouthshire, known as Gwent
from 1974 to 1995, and now divided into UAs of
Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau-Gwent
and east part of Caerphilly. Includes Denny Island
and the former Breconshire areas of Trefil, Brynmawr
and Llanelly (8). The Glamorgan boundary is now
accepted to be the Rhymney River, but near its mouth
the area of Rumney and St Mellons (10), transferred
to Glamorgan in 1974, remains in that county (in UA
Cardiff).

Report: Gwent Bird Report (Gwent Ornithological
Society).

W2 Glamorgan

VC 41, small parts of 42 (Breconshire) & 35 (Gwent).
Divided into two Recording Areas (East Glamorgan
and Gower), but at a national scale all records are
simply for Glamorgan.

East Glamorgan (9a) incorporates UAs of Bridgend,
Rhondda/Cynon/Taff, Vale of Glamorgan, west part of
Caerphilly, Cardiff, and Merthyr Tydfil (including
Vaynor and Penderyn from Breconshire (7)). Includes
Flat Holm (W2a). For border with Gwent, see above.
Report: Eastern Glamorgan Bird Report (Glamorgan
Bird Club).

Gower (9b) incorporates UAs of City & County of
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Report: Gower Birds (Gower Ornithological Society).

W3 Breconshire

Most of VC 42. Pre-1974 county (now part of Powys),
apart from areas ceded in 1974 to Glamorgan and
Gwent (see above).

Report: Breconshire Birds (Brecknock Wildlife Trust).

W4 Radnorshire

VC 43. Pre-1974 county (now part of Powys). No
report since 1987.

W5 Montgomeryshire

VC 44 & part of 50. Pre-1974 county, now part of
Powys. Includes part of the Berwyn Mountains,
formerly in Denbighshire, but now in Powys and
considered an ADR with Denbighshire (6). No report
since 1998/99.

The next three counties, W6-W8, were combined as
Gwynedd during 1974-95. Anglesey was withdrawn
in 1995, but the other two remain as districts of
Gwynedd. They are all reported in The Cambrian Bird
Report (Cambrian Ornithological Society).

W6 Meirionnydd

Most of VC 48 & small part of 50 (Denbighshire); SA
Irish Sea. 1974 District, within Gwynedd, substan-
tially the historic county. The NE section (part of Dee
Valley and West Berwyns), ceded to Clwyd in 1974
and now in Denbighshire, is still included in the
Recording Area. The Nantmor section of the parish of
Beddgelert (1) was ceded to Caernarfon in 1895. The
Migneint (11), the SW ‘tongue’ of Denbighshire, is an
ADR with that county.

W7 Caernarfonshire

Most of VC 49 & small part of 48 (Meirionnydd); SA
Irish Sea. 1974 District of Arfon, in Gwynedd;
substantially the historic county, but excluding the
salient of Maenan (2) east of the Afon Conwy, now in
Denbighshire. The Ormes, Llandudno and Rhos Point
(4) remain in Caernarfon. Includes St Tudwal’s
Islands (W7a) and Bardsey (Ynys Enlli) (W7b). The
Conwy RSPB Reserve (3) is an ADR with
Denbighshire, to which it belonged before 1879. See
also Meirionnydd, above.

W8 Anglesey

VC 52; SA Irish Sea. Post-1995 county, including
Puffin Island (Ynys Seiriol) (W8a) and The Skerries
(Ynysoedd y Moelrhoniad) (W8b).

The next two counties, W9 8< W10, were combined as
Clwyd during 1974-95. Their subsequent revival has
different boundaries from the old VCs, which largely
remain the Recording Areas. They are reported in the
North-east Wales Bird Report (Clwyd Bird Recording
Group).

W9 Denbighshire

Most of VC 50 & small part of 49 (Caernarfon); SA
Irish Sea. Pre-1974 county, includes ADRs with Mont-
gomeryshire (6), Caernarfonshire (3) and Meirion-,
nydd (11); see these areas, above. Incorporates UA of
Wrexham, including the two pre-1974 detachments of
Flintshire (below). The Afon Conwy is now deemed

372

British Birds 101* July 2008 • 364-375

Recording areas of Great Britain

to be the Caernarfon border.

W10 Flintshire

VC 51; SA Irish Sea. Pre-1974 county, without the two
detachments that formed part of VC50 (see above;
Maelor Saesneg (5) was sometimes recorded by
Shropshire (Rutter et al. 1964), while Marford &
Hoseley was always recorded by Denbighshire).
Problem Areas: Dee Estuary; see Cheshire & Wirral.

The next three counties, W11-W13, were combined
as Dyfed during 1974-95.

Wll Carmarthenshire

VC 44; SA Lundy. Present county.

Report: Carmarthenshire Bird Report (Carmarthen-
shire Ornithological Recording Committee).

W12 Pembrokeshire

VC 45; SAs Lundy, Irish Sea. Present county, including
all islands: Caldey (W12a), Skokholm (W12b),
Skomer (W12c), Grassholm (W12d) and Ramsey
(W12e). Most of the former enclaves of Ceredigion
south of the Teifi Estuary (on either side of St
Dogmaels) have recently been absorbed into
Pembrokeshire, but remain in their original
Recording Area.

Report: Pembrokeshire Bird Report (Wildlife Trust for
South & West Wales).

W13 Ceredigion

VC 46; SA Irish Sea. Present county. For recent
administrative changes, see Pembrokeshire.

Report: Ceredigion Bird Report (Wildlife Trust for
South & West Wales).

Isle of Man

Now recorded as a separate unit from the UK, but still
included in BBRC and Rare Breeding Birds Panel
reports. VC 71; SA Irish Sea. Present area, including
the Calf of Man (Ma).

Report: in Peregrine (Manx Ornithological Society).

Scotland

In addition to area reports, Scotland is covered by the
annual Scottish Bird Report (not produced since 2001
report). The following regional terms, current from
1974 to 1995, should not now be used to define
records: ‘Strathclyde’, ‘Central’, ‘Tayside’, ‘Grampian’.
The Scottish Raptor Study Groups use the following
divisions (with approximate SOC equivalents in
brackets, where different): Dumfries & Galloway;
Lothian & Borders; South Strathclyde (=Clyde, Clyde
Islands and Ayrshire), Argyll, Central (=Upper Forth),
Tayside (=Perth & Kinross and Angus & Dundee),
North-east (including the eastern half of Moray &
Nairn), Highland (including the western half of
Moray & Nairn, and Caithness), Uists, and Orkney
(there are as yet no contributors from Lewis/Harris or

Shetland). For offshore and pelagic limits, see S21. All
Scottish Recording Areas bear numbers, as given
below. The pre-1974 counties are given but not the
VCs.

51 Shetland

Present UA, excluding Fair Isle.

Report: Shetland Bird Report (Shetland Bird Club).

52 Fair Isle

Administratively part of Shetland. Often treated
separately in avifaunas and has its own Recorder, but
included in Shetland by Pennington et al. (2004).
Report: Fair Isle Bird Report (Fair Isle Bird Observa-
tory Trust).

53 Orkney

Present UA; includes Pentland Skerries (which were
sometimes placed in Caithness), Sule Stack (S3a) and
Sule Skerry (S3b).

Report: Orkney Bird Report (Orkney Bird Report
Committee).

54 Outer Hebrides

Present UA of Western Isles. Includes Lewis (before
1974 in Ross & Cromarty), Harris, North and South
Uist, Benbecula and Barra (before 1974 in Inverness-
shire), St Kilda (S4a), the Flannans (S4b), Sula Sgeir
(S4c), North Rona (S4d), the Shiants (S4e), and
(theoretically) Rockall.

Report: Outer Hebrides Bird Report (Western Isles
Natural History Society).

55 Caithness

Pre-1974 county, now administered with Highland.
Includes Stroma, but not now the Pentland Skerries
(see Orkney).

No report since 1997, but records in separate section
of Highland Bird Report from 2004.

56 Highland

Inverness-shire, Ross & Cromarty and Sutherland.
Post-1974 UA, including all Inner Hebridean and
inshore islands from Muck to Eilean Roan, but
excluding pre-1974 Nairnshire and Caithness (but see
above). Some internal use is still made of Districts,
although they are not regarded as separate Recording
Areas: Lochaber (S6a), Badenoch & Strathspey (S6b),
Inverness District (S6c), Skye & Lochalsh (S6d), Ross
& Cromarty (S6e; most of the former county of that
name, apart from its Outer Hebridean component);
and Sutherland (S6f; a slight expansion of the former
county).

Report: Highland Bird Report (private & SOC).

57 Moray & Nairn

UA of Moray and former Nairnshire, since 1974 part
of Highland.

Report: Birds in Moray and Nairn (private).

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 364-375

373

Recording areas of Great Britain

58 North-east Scotland

Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire and part of Banff-
shire. Post-1995 Region, incorporating UAs of
Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.

Report: North-east Scotland Bird Report (North-east
Scotland Bird Club).

59 Angus & Dundee

Present Region, incorporating UAs of Angus and
Dundee City, and including Bell Rock.

Report: Angus & Dundee Bird Report (Angus &
Dundee Bird Club).

510 Perth & Kinross

Before 1988, Kinross was recorded with Fife.

Report: Perth 6- Kinross Bird Report (private).

511 Fife

Excludes Isle of May (below), Inchkeith and Inch-
colm; last two reported in both Forth Islands Bird
Report and Fife Bird Report.

Report: Fife Bird Report (Fife Bird Club).

51 2 Isle of May

Administratively part of Fife but has its own
Recorder; included in Elkins et al. (2003).

Report: Isle of May Bird Observatory Report (Isle of
May Bird Observatory and Field Station Trust).

513 Upper Forth

Now includes UAs of Clackmannanshire, Falkirk
(created from parts of Stirling and West Lothian) and
parts of Stirling within the Forth Basin. For ADR with
Clyde, see below.

Report: Forth Area Bird Report (in Forth Naturalist &
Historian).

514 Argyll

Post- 1995 UA of Argyll & Bute, but excluding the
Bute section (see Clyde Islands) and the area between
Loch Lomondside and Loch Long and north from
Arrochar over Ben Vane to Maol Breac and the Lairig
Arnan (formerly part of West Dunbartonshire) — see
Clyde. Includes lighthouses of Skerryvore (S 14a) and
Dubh Artach (SI 4b) .

Report: Argyll Bird Report (Argyll Bird Club).

515 Clyde Islands

The ‘Clyde Islands Report’ is a separate section within
Clyde Birds. Regarded by SOC as a separate Area, with
its own Recorder. Includes Bute section of UA of
Argyll & Bute (the Island of Bute, and Great and Little
Cumbrae) and the Isle of Arran.

51 6 Clyde

Now includes: UAs of East and West Dunbartonshire,
South and North Lanarkshire, Glasgow City, East
Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, and those
parts of Stirling and Argyll &. Bute that are in the

Clyde Basin. The Carron Valley Reservoir is some-
times considered an ADR with Upper Forth.

Report: Clyde Birds (SOC Clyde).

SI 7 Ayrshire

Most of UA of North Ayrshire, all of UAs of East and
South Ayrshire - except that in the last, an area south
of Ballantrae was ceded to Dumfries & Galloway in
1995, but is still recorded by Ayrshire. Also Horse
Island, Lady Isle and Ailsa Craig (S17a). Arran and the
Cumbraes, now in North Ayrshire, are recorded in
Clyde Islands (see above).

Report: Ayrshire Bird & Butterfly Report (SOC
Ayrshire).

518 Lothian

UAs of West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian and
City of Edinburgh. Monynut Water drainage area in
East Lothian ceded to Borders in 1995.

Report: Lothian Bird Report (SOC Lothian).

519 Borders

Mainly Peebles-shire, Selkirkshire, Roxburghshire and
Berwickshire. Since 1974, all Scottish Borders Region;
see also Lothian, above.

Report: Borders Bird Report (SOC Borders).

520 Dumfries & Galloway

Dumfries-shire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtown-
shire. Post- 1974 Region, including The Scares (Scar
Rocks). See also Ayrshire, above.

Report: Birds in Dumfries & Galloway (private &
SOC).

52 1 At Sea

The SOC map provides for records in this category in
Scotland: almost all of SAs Forth, Cromarty, Hebrides
and Fair Isle (which covers Orkney & Shetland and
should not be confused with S2); most of SA
Hebrides; the western parts of SAs Forties and Viking;
the northern parts of SAs Rockall and Malin; the
southern part of SA Bailey, and ‘Waters North of
Shetland’. Forrester et al. (2007) showed other marine
boundaries used for that book. In the North Sea Bird
Report , the North Sea Bird Club publishes records
from a number of platforms and vessels, at present
largely in SAs Forties, Viking, and North of Shetland;
see also Forrester et al.

This paper does not deal with Recording Areas in the
Channel Islands or Northern Ireland.

Acknowledgments

We are extremely grateful to Nick Scarle, Senior
Cartographer, Manchester University Cartographic Unit,
who kindly re-drew the maps for us. We are also indebted
to a large number of County Recorders, other
correspondents and librarians. Among those who were
particularly helpful are I. j. Andrews, J. Barnes, A. Blake,
J. Bowley, D. Clegg, D. L. Clugston, J. R Cullen, A, Davies,

374

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 364-375

(

Recording areas of Great Britain

R Daw, I. K. Dawson, G. E. Dobbs, R. M. Fray, L. Giddings,
J, J. D, Greenwood, A. Hogg, M. Holling, N. Hudson,
A. Mabbett, J. H. Marchant, A. McNee, C. W. Melgar,
R J. Reay, G. H. R Rees, H. Roderick, H, E. Rose, I. M. Spence,
D. W. Taylor, G. Thomas, H. Vaughan, J. J. Wheatley and
J. Wilson.

References

Bell.T H. 1 962. The Birds of Cheshire. Sherratt, Altrincham.
British Association. 1 879-89. Reports of the Committee
Appointed by the British Association for the Purpose of
Obtaining Observations on the Migration of Birds at
Lightships and Lighthouses. 2Vols. West, Newman,
London. [Subsequent Reports in Report of the British
Association 1 88 1 - 1 904]

Clarke, W. E. 1912. Studies in Bird Migration. 2 Vols. Gurney
& Jackson, Edinburgh.

Coward, T A. 1 900. The Birds of Cheshire. Sherratt &

Hughes, Manchester

Dudley, S. R, Gee, M„ Kehoe, C„ Melling.T M„ & the BOU
Records Committee. 2006.The British List: a checklist
of the birds of Britain (7th edn). Ibis 1 48: 526-563.

Elkins, N„ Reid, J. B„ Brown, A. W„ Robertson, D. G„ &
Smout, A.-M. 2003. The Fife Bird Atlas. Woodlands
Studios, Dunfermline.

Forrester R.W., Andrews, I. J., Mclnerny, C. j., Murray, R. D„
McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, B., Betts, M.W.,Jardine, D. C.,
& Grundy, D. S. 2007. The Birds of Scotland. SOC,
Aberlady.

Hewlett, J. (ed.) 2002. The Breeding Birds of the London
Area. London Natural History Society, London,

Pennington, M., Osborn, K., Harvey, R, Riddington, R„ Okill,
D„ Ellis, R, & Heubeck, M. 2004. The Birds of Shetland.
Christopher Helm, London.

Rutter E. M„ Gribble, F. C., & Pemberton, TW, 1 964, A
Handlist of the Birds of Shropshire. Shropshire
Ornithological Society, Stafford.

Wheatley, J. J. 2007. Birds of Surrey. Surrey Bird Club.

David K. Ballance, Flat Two, Dunboyne, Bratton Lane, Minehead, Somerset TA24 8SQ
A. Judith Smith, 12 Edge Green Street, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan WN4 8SL

TWO CENTURIES OF CROYDON’S BIRDS:
BIRDS OF THE CROYDON AREA 1800-2000

By John Birkett. Croydon RSPB Group, Croydon,
2007. 125 pages; many drawings, maps and diagrams.
No ISBN. Paperback, £14.00 inc. p8<p from author,
24 Briton Hill Road, Sanderstead, Surrey CR2 0JL.
The area covered is the Greater London Borough. This
is a highly competent local avifauna, with distribution
maps for the commoner species and coloured site
maps for places of birding interest (which include the
tower blocks now colonised by Peregrine Falcons Falco
peregrinus) . There is a good bibliography.

THE BIRDS OF RATCLIFFE-ON-THE-WREAKE
GRAVEL-PITS, LEICESTERSHIRE, 1974-80

Loughborough Naturalists’ Club, Loughborough,
2007. Paperback, £6.00 inc. p8cp from
Mrs M. Gamble, 96 Meeting Street, Quorn,
Leicestershire LEI 2 8EX.

This is largely the historical record of a ringing station.

THE BIRDS OF THE CAERPHILLY BASIN:

A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

By Neville J. Davies. Glamorgan Bird Club, 2008.

48 pages, line-drawings, maps, colour photographs.
ISBN 978-0-9554483-3-1.

A full account of the birds in about 15 km2 around
Caerphilly, an area once studied by the late Bruce
Campbell during his wartime teaching stint.

WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN NORTH WEST
ENGLAND AND THE ISLE OF MAN

By Allan Conlin, J. P. Cullen, Pete Marsh, Tristan Reid,
Chris Sharpe, Judith Smith and Stephen Williams.
Christopher Helm, A8cC Black, London, 2008.

287 pages; many maps and line-drawings.

ISBN 978-0-7136-6421-8. Paperback, £16.99.
Third edition, fully revised and updated, with over 30
new sites added; covers over 90 sites or areas in detail.

WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN WALES

By David Saunders and Jon Green.
Christopher Helm, A&C Black, London, 2008.

352 pages; many maps and line-drawings.

ISBN 978-0-7136-7484-2. Paperback, £16.99.
Fourth edition, fully revised and updated, with 40
new sites added; covers 108 sites in detail.

WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN SOUTHERN
AND WESTERN SPAIN

By Ernest Garcia and Andrew Patterson. Christopher
Helm, A8cC Black, London, 2008. 400 pages; many
maps and line-drawings. ISBN 978-0-7136-8315-8.
Paperback, £16.99.

Third edition of this guide to Andaluda, Extremadura
and Gibraltar. Completely revised and updated, with
nine major new sites described. Detailed coverage of
all major sites in all ten provinces, over 200 sites
covered in total, with new updated maps for all sites.

375

Conservation research news

Compiled by Will Peach and Len Campbell

Effects of Magpie removal on Parisian songbirds

The role of avian predators in limiting the
numbers of their songbird prey has been a
controversial subject for many years. Some
argue that the large declines in many songbird
populations have been caused by increased
numbers of nest predators like Magpies Pica
pica and other corvids, while others stress the
importance of depleted food resources and
declining habitat quality. While there is some
evidence that a higher proportion of songbird
nests are predated in areas of high corvid
density, there is little indication that this causes
declines in songbird populations.

The possible influence of Magpies on song-
birds has recently been addressed in an
intriguing experiment conducted in Paris,
France. As in many other European cities,
Magpie numbers have increased markedly in
the parks and gardens of suburban Paris, raising
concerns about the possible impact on song-
birds. The study (reported in Chiron & Julliard
2007) was conducted by researchers from the
Natural History Museum in Paris, who trapped
Magpies in cages and released them far away, in
the surrounding countryside. A sustained trap-
ping effort resulted in 93 Magpies being
removed from the city, which reduced
breeding-season densities by about 60%.

The team then used constant effort mist-
netting to measure changes in the abundance of
recently fledged songbirds at sites with and
without Magpie removal. Following the

removal of Magpies, there were no overall
changes in the catch of young songbirds,
implying that Magpies had no general impact
on nesting success. In the case of Blackbird
Turdus merula, one of the species most heavily
predated by Magpies, far fewer young were
caught at netting sites in suburban Paris
compared with rural sites, which implies lower
nesting success in Paris, where Magpies are
most abundant. But despite potentially high
rates of nest predation in the Parisian suburbs,
breeding Blackbirds were more abundant in the
city than in the surrounding countryside.

The failure of this study to detect an impact
of Magpies on the songbirds of Paris is unlikely
to end the debate surrounding this contentious
issue. Critics might question the reliability of
mist-netting as a method to measure local
songbird breeding success, especially as young
passerines are known to be highly dispersive.

Of the three common songbirds that have
shown marked population declines in UK
gardens, two - House Sparrow Passer domesticus
and Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris - nest
mainly in cavities and are therefore protected
from any possible impact of corvids. Only in
the case of the Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
could corvid predation be a potential cause of
population decline.

Chiron, F„ & Julliard, R. 2007. Responses of songbirds to
Magpie reduction in an urban habitat
J. Wild Management 7 1 : 2624-263 1 .

Pipefish - no substitute for sandeels if you are

a hungry seabird

It is now generally agreed that changes to the wildlife in general and seabirds in particular*
world’s oceans and their effects on fish stocks Flowever, it is possible that changes in the

are likely to have a major impact on marine relative abundance of one particular prey

376

Conservation research news

species may be offset by changes in another - so
that, if these are of equal food value, there may
be little or no impact on the predators which
have traditionally relied on the declining
species. Recent work has thrown some impor-
tant light on this issue and hints that a more
pessimistic outcome may be equally likely,
however.

For reasons as yet unknown, the Snake
Pipefish Entelurus aequoreus has, since 2003,
shown a very considerable expansion in the
northeast Atlantic and North Sea and has
started to appear regularly in the diets of both
adult and young seabirds. At the same time, at
some key seabird colonies at least, there has
been evidence of a shortage of Lesser Sandeel
Ammodytes marinus , an established and pre-
ferred prey species. To broaden our under-
standing of the importance of pipefish as food
for seabirds, Mike Harris and his team collected
samples of pipefish and other seabird food,
including sandeels and sprats Sprattus , from
around the Isle of May and adjacent waters in
which seabirds are known to feed. Energy levels
of these samples were analysed and compared.
The mean energy density of pipefish was shown
to be significantly lower than that of the other
species, particularly medium and large sandeels
and sprats, which are known to be eaten by
Puffins Fratercula arctica and Common Guille-
mots Uria aalge in the area. Other published
data show that pipefish have the lowest energy
values of almost 50 species of fish eaten by
seabirds. Conversely, pipefish have a much

higher mineral content than the other species in
this study and, compared with other published
data, the highest mineral content of 17 fish
species analysed.

Earlier work by Mike Harris’s team and
others have shown clearly that seabirds breed
most successfully when fed on fish with a high
oil content such as sprat and herring Clupea
and less so on less oily fish such as whiting
Menticirrhus. Pipefish were recorded in the diet
at some but not all seabird colonies with recent
breeding failures, and there is good evidence at
some of these that they are becoming increas-
ingly common in the diet. Observations from
various localities have suggested that the adult
birds of several species, including Common
Eider Somateria mollissima , Northern Gannet
Morns bassanus, Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
and Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus ,
have difficulty swallowing even quite small
pipefish, whose rigid and armoured body is dif-
ficult to bend or break apart. Starvation of
seabird chicks sitting on uneaten piles of
pipefish and death by choking of tern Sterna
chicks are further evidence that, both nutrition-
ally and structurally, pipefish are unlikely to fill
any gap left by decreasing stocks or availability
of sprats and sandeels. This is a worrying sign
of further pressure on our breeding seabirds.

Harris, M. R, Newell, M„ Daunt, E, Speakman.J. R., &

Wanless, S. 2007. Snake Pipefish Entelurus aequoreus

are poor food for seabirds. Ibis

doi: 1 0.1 I I I /j. 1 474-9 1 9x.2007.00780.x

174. Even birds as large as Northern Gannets Morus bassanus have trouble dealing with the rigid and armoured

body of Snake Pipefish Entelurus aequoreus.

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 376-377

377

Hugh Harrop

Letters

Distribution and identification of Iberian Chiffchaff

Collinson & Melling (2008) discussed the
potential pitfalls of identifying vagrant Iberian
Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus ibericus {Brit. Birds 101:
174-188). Some of their statements prompt a
correction and a discussion.

Their paper showing the breeding range of
the Iberian Chiffchaff (fig. 1, p. 175) is inaccu-
rate. Rather than being widely spread over the
entire Iberian Peninsula, Iberian Chiffchaff is
confined largely to the westernmost Pyrenees
and to western parts of the peninsula; away
from this stronghold there are just isolated
occurrences. A more accurate map is presented
here (fig. 1), which has been prepared by Lars
Svensson for a forthcoming revision of the
Collins Bird Guide and is based mainly on infor-
mation provided by myself and modern field-
work by Spanish and Portuguese ornithologists.
Collinson & Melling cited Marti & del Moral
(2003) as a source for their map, but the latter
showed both Iberian and Common Chiffchaffs
P. collybita on the same map (owing to difficul-
ties in separating the two species at the time).
However, the text of the atlas is clear in men-
tioning the exclusive presence of collybita in
Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Albacete and most
of Soria, as well as in the Pyrenees in Huesca
province.

Another point to discuss is the claimed
validity of the subspecies biscayensis, described
by Salomon et al. (2003). The type description
mentions the allopatric distribution of a
northern population ( biscayensis ) and a
southern one {ibericus), differences in habitat
selection between the two, and statistical differ-
ences in some morphological characters
(including length of wing, tarsus and bill).
However, Elias (2004) drew attention to the
continuous rather than allopatric distribution
of ibericus in western Iberia, based on several
sources and good field knowledge (the contin-
uous breeding range is conveniently supported
by the map presented by Collinson & Melling
themselves - and fig. 1 here). The claimed
habitat preferences might simply be the product
of different habitat availability in northern and
southern parts of the Iberian Peninsula. In fact,
riverine forests, one of the habitats preferred by
Iberian Chiffchaffs, are occupied continuously
from north to south (Elias 2004; pers. obs.). In

addition, Salomon et al. (2003) found an
average difference in wing length of only 1.28
mm between males of biscayensis and ibericus -
by itself a very minor difference on which to
base a new taxon, and one that is most likely to
reflect simply a somewhat longer migration dis-
tance for northern Iberian birds to their winter
quarters in Africa. Similar clinal differences
probably exist within many taxa. Furthermore,
Lars Svensson (pers. comm.) analysed his
dataset of measurements of ibericus of known
provenance and found that wing, tarsus, and
bill co-varied geographically, all being a trifle
larger in the north than in the south. This is in
contrast to the data presented by Salomon et al.
(2003), who found shorter tarsus and bill length
for males in the north, but longer wing length.
Svensson’s dataset is limited (n=49), but it
offers a different interpretation of the variation.
Until other and more tangible differences are
presented, it seems advisable to continue to
treat P. ibericus as monotypic.

Collinson & Melling stated that Iberian and
Common Chiffchaffs have virtually identical
bill length, or that Iberian, if anything, has a
shorter bill than Common Chiffchaff (based on
unspecified biometrics). According to Svensson
(pers. comm.), the bill of Iberian is fractionally
longer on average, although the difference is
very small (1.7% longer; ibericus 10.4-13.3 mm,
mean 12.0, n=49; collybita 10.4-12.7, mean
11.8, n=122).

Collinson & Melling discussed identification
pitfalls linked to the above-mentioned varia-
tion, postulating that Iberian Chiffchaffs from
southern Iberia might be more difficult to sepa-
rate on morphology from Common Chiffchaffs
than northern ones. I have already pointed out
that geographical variation in size is marginal,
and that existing biometrics do not support the
existence of a separate taxon. However, sexual
dimorphism is a more significant problem,
females being more similar between the two
species than males (females of both species
having shorter and more rounded wings and
being less distinct). This was not discussed by
Collinson & Melling.

1 would advise ringers who catch a potential -
Iberian Chiffchaff in Britain to refer to the dis-
criminant formula worked out by Svensson

378

Letters

(

(2001) (the multiple character value or'MCV’).
At a symposium in Riello, Leon, in May 2007,
devoted solely to the identification of Iberian
Chiffchaff and related subjects, it was agreed
that this formula worked best of those available.
The formula, used in combination with the col-
oration of certain feather tracts (ear-coverts,
hind neck, breast, and mantle), has been tested
in field conditions by Onrubia & Arroyo (2003)
on a large sample of ringed birds (>400), in
northern and southern Spain. More than 80%
of the birds could be identified using the
formula and the plumage characters in combi-
nation. Most ringers with experience of the
species in Iberia agree that this MCV is a useful
method by which to discriminate a majority of
Iberian Chiffchaffs.

Finally, the moult status should be consid-
ered when handling a possible Iberian Chiff-
chaff. Monteagudo et al. (2003) found that all of
a sample of 12 second-calendar-year birds had
eccentric (partial) primary moult, all or most of
P1-P6 (counted from the outside inwards)
being renewed during an extensive post-
juvenile winter moult. They confirmed the age
of these birds as first-year birds after retrapping
several birds ringed locally the previous year.
Moult of the outer primaries by Common Chiff-
chaff in winter/spring is extremely rare. Out of
several thousand birds checked in spring in
Spain, very few cases of replaced primaries have
been encountered (<1%; Gargallo & Clarabuch
1995; pers. obs.). It may thus be useful to note
the moult of a suspected Iberian Chiffchaff and
look for two generations of primaries. The two
generations of feathers are easiest to detect in
early spring (March-April) and become less
obvious through wear in mid May.

)

Fig. I. Distribution of Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus
ibericus (dark orange shows breeding range,
abandoned in winter, pale orange shows
distribution on migration).

References

Collinson.J. M„ & Melling.T. 2008. Identification of vagrant
Iberian Chiffchaffs - pointers, pitfalls and problem birds.
Brit. Birds 101:1 74- 1 88.

Elias, G. 2004, Aspects of Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus
ibericus distribution in Spain and Portugal. Ibis 146:
685-686.

Gargallo, G., & Clarabuch, O. 1 995. Extensive moult and
ageing in six species of passerines. Ringing & Migration
16: 178-179.

Marti, R., & del Moral, J. C. (eds.) 2003. Atlas de lasAves
Reproductoras de Espaha. Direccion General de
Conservation de la Naturaleza-Sociedad Espanola de
Ornitologia, Madrid.

Monteagudo, A., Rodriguez, J„ Carregal, X. M., Fernandez,

G., & Pombo, A. 2003. Aportaciones al estudio de la
muda en el mosquitero iberico (Phylloscopus ibericus ).
Revista de Anillamiento 12: 14—17.

Onrubia, A., & Arroyo, J. L. 2003. El mosquitero iberico
(Phylloscopus ibericus ): identification, biometn'a y apuntes
sobre su migratologfa. Revista de Anillamiento 12: 18-29.

Salomon, M.,Voisin, J. F„ & Bried, j. 2003. On the taxonomic
status and denomination of the Iberian Chiffchaff. Ibis
145:87-97.

Svensson, L. 200 1 .The correct name of the Iberian
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus Ticehurst 1937, its
identification, and new evidence on its winter grounds.
Bull. B.O.C. 121:281-296.

Jose Luis Copete

Lepant 291 lr 2a, 08224 Terrassa, Spain; e-mail jlcopete@telefonica.net

Mixed-singing Iberian Chiffchaffs: is it their ‘ swan song ?

The map in the recent paper on Iberian Chiff-
chaff Phylloscopus ibericus (Collinson & Melling
2008) is not really right from a French point of
view. The most up-to-date information (Dubois
et al. in press) suggests (approximately) that
Iberian Chiffchaff breeds only in the orange-
shaded area of the map shown by Collinson &
Melling - i.e. the area where they suggested that
this species hybridises with Common Chiffchaff
P. collybita.

During the past 10-15 years, the breeding
range of Iberian Chiffchaff in France has been
greatly reduced, leaving just a very small area in
the extreme southwest. From the limited infor-
mation available, it is clear that this is now a
severely declining species in France. In many
places, it has disappeared and been superseded
by Common Chiffchaff. For example, in an area
above Biarritz, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, there is
now no Iberian where, about 15-20 years ago

British Birds 101 * July 2008 • 378-382

379

Lars Svensson

Letters

)

there were some 20 singing birds (J. F. Terrasse
pers. comm.). Common Chiffchaff is now a
widespread species there. There are other exam-
ples where Common Chiffchaff has taken over
areas formerly occupied by Iberian. In other
places where Iberian was heard several years
ago, only mixed singers are now heard in spring
(J.-L. Grange in lift.). During the 1990s, the
French population was estimated to be
10,000-30,000 pairs (Dubois et al. 2000). Now,
the population probably barely exceeds 5,000
pairs (Dubois et al. in press). Over the same
period, there has been an upsurge of extra-
limital records in France, with 20 records up to
2007, most of them since the 1980s.

Hybridisation is perhaps the most logical
explanation for mixed songs. Flowever, a pure
Iberian could perfectly well incorporate some
Common Chiffchaff phrases in its song, in a situ-
ation either where there is a shortage of partners
or where it is far away from traditional breeding

Dr Philippe J. Dubois

104 rue Saint-Jean, 95300 Pontoise, France

areas. It would be difficult to establish whether
such mixed song is simply a ‘conflict song’ or if
the advertising song includes some Common
Chiffchaff elements to improve the chances of
finding a partner in a non-assortative mating
system. There is no direct evidence for the latter
hypothesis, but a shortage of partners in the core
breeding area might conceivably be one factor in
the recent upsurge of extralimital singing males
in France (and elsewhere in northwestern
Europe). In short, all ‘mixed’ singers are not
inevitably hybrids but could include true Iberian
Chiffchaffs in search of a mate.

References

Collinson, J. M„ & Melling.T 2008. Identification of vagrant
Iberian Chiffchaffs - pointers, pitfalls and problem birds.
Brit. Birds 101: 174-188.

Dubois R-J., Le Marechal, R, Olioso, G., & Yesou, R 2000.
Inventaire des Oiseaux de France: avifaune de la France
metropolitaine. Nathan, Paris.

— , — , — & — . In press. Nouvel Inventaire des Oiseaux de
France. Delachaux & Niestle, Paris.

Colour nomenclature

Martin Woodcock’s reflections upon ‘colour
nomenclature’ {Brit. Birds 101: 259) confirm the
importance of the topic but I think that he is a
little pessimistic in his conclusions. While the
editors of British Birds undoubtedly try to
ensure the accuracy of graphics appearing in
the journal, I am sure they would acknowledge
that its colour reproduction does not adhere to
any precise colour standard, and that economic
constraints preclude such close colour-control.
Unfortunately, the printed versions of the
colour swatches in my letter (Colour nomencla-
ture and Siberian Chiffchaffs, Brit Birds 101:
146-149) have been impaired by an overall
green bias and the RGB values of several of the
individual hues are significantly different from
the originals. However, the annotated colour
swatch was intended to illustrate a point (or
technique) and not of itself to provide a
standard reference for the colours cited. Indeed,
as my letter emphasised, publication of a new
and readily accessible reference for ‘colour
standards’ is a pre-requisite for consistent
colour nomenclature. In practice, colour

citations would be based upon closely
controlled swatches in such a guide and
certainly not upon less precise graphics
appearing in journals and magazines. When
cited hues are accompanied by their associated
numerical parameters (including RGB or
CMYK values among others), then they do con-
stitute an objective standard.

Martin Woodcock is right to highlight the
difficulties which beset accurate colour repro-
duction but, when colour fidelity is set as a
priority, then a high degree of accuracy is
achievable using modern colour-printing tech-
niques - though at a cost. Martin’s comments
upon the subjectivity of colour naming and
colour perception simply echo the fourth and
fifth paragraphs of my letter and are, of course,
the very reasons why I have advocated a new
and readily available colour standard. Although
absolute terminology will remain elusive, an
accessible ‘colour standard’ would provide a
consistent point of reference and would be
immeasurably preferable to the ambiguity that
currently besets colour nomenclature.

Alan R. Dean

2 Charingworth Road, Solihull, West Midlands B92 SHT

380

British Birds 101* July 2008 • 378-382

Letters

Past British birds and the Sherborne Missal

Bill Bourne’s letter (Brit. Birds 101: 214)
provides further information on possible past
British breeding birds but my own research into
the bird portraits in the fifteenth-century
Sherborne Missal suggests some alternative
interpretations, which may affect their value as
evidence for past populations.

For example, I disagree that the Missal shows
‘a young Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax ’.
The image shows a pale brown bird covered
with distinct black streaks, many showing
transverse dark bars, and appears more likely to
be a Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris. I agree
that the ‘Waryghanger’ shows enough characters
to be reasonably considered a Southern Grey
Shrike Lanius meridionalis, but the ‘Viuene Cok’
is altogether less satisfactory. It does have the
characteristic head pattern of a Woodchat
Shrike Lanius senator but, given the accuracy of
that depiction, it is surprising that the body
lacks obvious field marks, notably the white
scapular patches, while it has an atypically
spotted and barred tail.

The images of birds in the Sherborne Missal
fall into three distinct groups. The first is of
species that are instantly recognisable and
acutely observed. This group seems to be made
up predominantly of species of culinary
significance and includes Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus, Common Snipe Gallinago
gallinago and Woodcock Scolopax rusticola. The
second group is predominantly of passerines or
smaller non-passerines which, like the ‘Viuene
Cok’, frequently show extraordinary
inconsistencies of plumage. Among these is a
‘Mose Cok’ which, given the constraints of the
medium, is a fair likeness of a Great Tit Parus
major, but with the wing of a Bullfinch Pyrrhula
pyrrhula. The third group is described by
Backhouse (2001) and Yapp (1982) as being of
‘imaginary birds’, many of them bizarre in form
but still with some recognisable parts.

Dr Norman McCanch

23 New Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT3 2BH

These plumage discrepancies could be
explained if, among the copy books used for
reference by scribes and illuminators, some held
a stock of dried fragments of birds; it is a simple
matter to preserve wings, tails, legs and even
heads of small birds in this way. They are easily
portable and would provide a useful source of
true colour and pattern in an age before field
guides or even effective taxidermy. Given that
the first group of illustrations demonstrate
considerable familiarity with the species in
question, the discrepancies in the other two
groups could result from reliance on this sort of
fragmentary reference by someone unfamiliar
with the species. Stylistically, there is evidence
of French influence in the Sherborne Missal
(Yapp 1982) and a tradition of bird images in
contemporary French manuscripts. Both ideas
and reference material might have been shared
or traded between France and England and the
origins of relatively inert material such as dried
wings and tails could have been even farther
away.

This is merely a hypothesis but it suggests an
alternative explanation for the apparent
presence of southern species in fifteenth-
century Dorset. The Sherborne Missal also
contains convincing illustrations of an apparent
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri.
Peacock (Indian Peafowl) Pavo cristatus and
even an Ostrich Struthio camelus ; the last
probably derived from an earlier bestiary. We
have no difficulty in rejecting the notion that
these were part of the avian community of
medieval Dorset and we should exercise caution
in interpreting manuscript images as evidence
of the former status of unusual species.

References

Backhouse, J. 200 1 . Medieval Birds in the Sherborne Missal.

British Library, London.

Yapp, W. B. 1 982.The Birds of the Sherborne Missal. Proc.

Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society 1 04: 5- 1 5.

Bill Bourne’s suggestion (Brit. Birds 101: 214)
that the birds reported nesting on St Giles’ in
Edinburgh in 1416 might have been Grey
Herons Ardea cinerea and not White Storks
Ciconia ciconia is not very convincing. The
report originates with Walter Bower, abbot of

Inchcolm Abbey in the Firth of Forth, who had
some passing interest in natural history and
would have known the heron very well as a
shore bird, no doubt visible daily from his
study. He wrote Scotichronicon as a record of
remarkable events. This is exactly what he said,

British Birds 101 ‘July 2008 • 378—382

381

Letters

in the most recent translation (Watt 1998): ‘In
the same year a pair of birds called storks
[ ciconiarium } came to Scotland and nested on
the church of St Giles in Edinburgh. They
stayed there for part of the year, but where they
went afterwards is unknown. They give the
greatest care to their offspring, as Pliny says, to
the extent that while they are carefully looking
after their nests, they continuously cast their
soft feathers while lying down. But no less
extraordinary devotion is shown by the chicks
to their mothers, for however long the mothers
have spent on the training of their young, they
are supported by the chicks for as long. Hence
the stork is called the affectionate bird.’

The point is not whether the comment
attributed to Pliny is correct or not (it was
actually by the third-century AD naturalist
Solinus, who added among other things that
storks were migratory, ate serpents and were
held in high regard). Rather, it emphasises how
Bower is reporting on something remarkable
and unfamiliar, and that he explicitly relates it
to the storks upon which the classical naturalist
had commented. In context, the evidence that
White Stork and not Grey Heron was intended
by Bower seems strong.

Bill’s comment that in a ‘deforested
Edinburgh’ Grey Herons might have nested on
St Giles’ overlooks the fact that the first plan of
Edinburgh, from the English siege of 1544,
shows some trees within the city, and the
second, of 1573, shows stylised clumps of trees
to the north and south of the city walls. There is
no reason to think that these were a new
feature. Herons in any case very seldom nest on
buildings and perhaps have never been
recorded doing so on an occupied building; the
only reference I can find anywhere of a Grey
Heron breeding on a man-made construction
of any sort is one on the wall of a ruined croft
on Oronsay, Argyll (Forrester et al. 2007).

The main reason adduced for supposing that
the reference may be to Grey Herons is the fact
that the court accounts of James V in the early
sixteenth century refer to the provision of both
storks ( ciconii ) and herons ( ardeae ) for the royal

Chris Srnout

Chesterhill, Shore Road, Anstruther, Fife KY10 3DZ

table. Some of the references to ciconii were in
winter. As White Storks were unlikely to have
been residents in Scotland at that time, the
conclusion is drawn that the clerks who drew
up the accounts used both Latin terms
interchangeably for Grey Herons, and that if
they had done so in 1530, the term ciconii could
also have meant ‘heron’ in 1416. Perhaps indeed
these particular clerks were so careless, though
that is no reason to assume that Bower was also.
But another explanation could be that the two
terms were not interchangeable at all, and that
storks were imported for food, as Bill says they
apparently were in sixteenth-century England.
Scotland, no less than England, had vibrant and
immediate cultural and commercial contact
with the south of Europe. Syphilis, for instance,
was first reported in Europe in 1495 and in
Edinburgh in 1497 - if bacilli could be
instantaneously imported, so could storks. Kept
in cages, as was common with large birds reared
for food at the time, the storks could have been
eaten at feasts in summer or winter.

In the same letter, Bill proposed that on the
basis of the Sherborne Missal we should
consider the Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax,
the Southern Grey Shrike Lanins meridionalis
and the Woodchat Shrike L. senator as possible
English breeding birds but, as he himself has
observed elsewhere (Bourne 2007), the missal
artistically shows strong continental influence,
possibly French, and is perhaps of little value
for English ornithological history. Many
Englishmen of the age of Henry V would have
been well acquainted with France and could
perhaps have given the birds which they saw in
the fields and vineyards English names.

References

Bourne, W. R, R 2007. South European birds in the
Sherborne Missal ( 1 396- 1415). Arch. Nat Hist. 34:
354-357.

Forrester; R.W., Andrews, I.J., Mclnerny, C. J., Murray, R. D.,
McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, B„ Betts, M. W„ Jardine, D. C.,

& Grundy D. S. 2007. The Birds of Scotland. SOC,
Aberlady.

Watt, D. E. R. 1 998. A History Book for Scots: selections from
Scotichronicon. Mercat Press, Edinburgh.

382

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 378-382

All Notes submitted to British Birds are subject to independent review, either by the Notes Panel or
by the 88 Editorial Board. Those considered appropriate for 88 will be published either here or
on our website (www.britishbirds.co.uk) subject to the availability of space.

Brood amalgamation in Mute Swans

The disused Grantham Canal in West Bridg-
ford, Nottingham, is split into many sections by
old locks, which help to define territory bound-
aries between several breeding pairs of Mute
Swans Cygnus olor. In early May 2007, one
family with eight small cygnets was at the edge
of their territory, which was adjacent to another
territory at a higher water level on the other
side of the lock. The male and six of the seven
cygnets from the upper territory had strayed to
the lower level, while the remaining youngster
and the female remained in their own territory.

As I approached, a battle started between the
two males; the remaining ‘upper’ cygnet joined

P. A. Stockton

1 Martindale Close, Garmston, Nottingham NG2 6PN

its siblings at this point, and all seemed in
danger of being swamped by the fracas between
the males.

After about 30 minutes, the ‘lower’ female
rounded up all the cygnets, and all 15 joined her
at the lower nest, some 400 m away. Meanwhile,
the battle continued, with the upper female
joining in with the two males. For several days
afterwards, all 15 cygnets lived on the nest with
the lower parents. After seeing all 15 one
evening, I was surprised to find only nine
cygnets the following morning, there being no
evidence of predation - and they were never
seen again.

EDITORIAL COMMENT Brood amalgamation is well known among waterfowl, but appears to be
genuinely rare in Mute Swans.

Juvenile Common Kestrel diving at female

On 8th August 2007, at a quarry in Sandy, Bed-
fordshire, I witnessed a fascinating interaction
among a family party of Common Kestrels
Falco tinnunculus : a male, female and a juvenile.
While the male soared high above the quarry,
the juvenile hovered above the female, who was
perched on the quarry face. With wings pinned
back in the manner of a Peregrine Falcon F.
peregrinus, the juvenile dived onto the perched
female, pulling up shortly before making
contact. The female flew off a short distance

Darren Oakley-Martin

RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG 19 2DL

and perched on a tree guard. The juvenile flew
towards the female, swept up above her some
6-7 m, hovered again, and dived once more
onto the clearly agitated female. This behaviour
lasted some 20 minutes and was repeated on a
further two occasions, interspersed with short
chases, the juvenile calling noisily in pursuit of
the female.

1 can find no reference to this behaviour in
BWP or in The Kestrel (Andrew Village, 1990,
Poyser).

Peregrine Falcon defending prey from flock of Carrion Crows

Mark Cocker’s interesting account of a con-
frontation over food between an immature
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus and a flock of
18 Carrion Crows Corvus corone (Brit. Birds
100: 307) reminded me of a similar incident
that, long after the event, now seems worth
putting on record given the late Derek Rat-

cliffe’s quoted comment ‘that he had never
encountered a comparable example of this
behaviour’.

On 8th December 1979, at Black Rock,
Cornwall, the late Mike Combridge and I saw a
Peregrine strike down and begin to pluck a
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus.

383

Bob Brookes Bob Brookes

Notes

(

A group of 12 Carrion Crows quickly assembled
and surrounded the falcon in an irregular circle,
from which at intervals one or more would
swiftly hop forwards and attempt to seize the
gull, aim a peck at the falcon or, on three occa-
sions, smartly tug the falcon’s tail. None of these
strategies resulted in the Peregrine relinquishing
a firm grip on its prey, and unlike Cocker’s

Pete Combridge

16 Green Close, Whiteparish, Salisbury SP5 2SB

)

immature bird, which appeared ‘stressed’, the
Cornish falcon (perhaps because it was a more
experienced adult?) never seemed to us in
serious danger of losing its meal. After about 15
minutes, the Peregrine flew off with the remains
of the gull, followed in a straggling line by five
of the crows.

House Martins eating elderberries

175 & 176. Juvenile House Martins Delichon urbicum feeding on
elderberries S ambucus nigra, Gloucestershire. August 2007.

On 10th August 2007, I
noticed a flock of House
Martins Delichon urbicum
lined up on some overhead
wires near my home in the
north Cotswolds. On closer
inspection, I saw that
10-12 birds were landing
in a small Elder Sambucus
nigra bush just below the
wires and it soon became
obvious that they were
pecking at and pulling off
berries in various stages of
ripeness. Initially, most of
the birds on the bush were
juveniles but subsequently
a number of adults joined
in, although they took only
ripe berries. I watched
them for around 30
minutes and the birds were
still feeding as I left.

The weather that day
was warm, dry and calm
and there were many other
hirundines and a few
Common Swifts Apus apus
feeding high overhead.
BWP lists just one other
record of House Martins
eating plant material, that
being hawthorn Crataegus
berries.

Bob Brookes
7 Ganborough Road,
Longborough,
Moreton-in-Marsh,
Gloucestershire GL56 ORE

384

British Birds 101* July 2008 • 383-385

Notes

Eurasian Jay killing adult Common Chaffinch and Greenfinch

Eurasian Jays Garrulus glandarius regularly
come to take peanuts from a feeder in our
garden in Norfolk, and in spring 2007 a pair
visited particularly frequently. At around 08.00
hrs on 17th May, I noticed a Jay fly from the
peanut feeder to a nearby birch Betula tree with
something hanging from its bill. I was surprised
to see that this was an adult male Common
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs , which the Jay
spread-eagled across a horizontal branch, belly
up, holding it down with one foot. It pecked
hard and repeatedly, sending clouds of feathers
down and, after about ten minutes, had con-
sumed the Chaffinch apart from a few wing
feathers. Just a few days later, what was presum-
ably the same Jay (or possibly the other member
of the pair) despatched an adult Greenfinch
Carduelis Moris, which it dealt with on the

Martin Woodcock

Furlongs, Long Lane, Wiveton, Norfolk NR25 7DD

ground below the feeder, plucking it as clean as
the unfortunate Chaffinch.

BWP gives only one instance of a Jay killing an
adult bird, in an extremely extensive account of
feeding habits. However, Seebohm (1883) quoted
Charles Dixon as having seen a Jay in close pursuit
of a Great Tit Parus major, which escaped only by
taking refuge in a thick bush; and on another
occasion had seen one strike at small birds, being
deterred only by the presence of a human being.
Macgillivray (1837) also mentioned that Jays will
'pounce on mice, and sometimes birds’.

References

Macgillivray, W. 1 837 A History of British Birds, indigenous
and Migratory.Vol. I . Scott, Webster and Geary London.
Seebohm, H. 1 883 A History of British Birds, with Coloured
Illustrations of their Eggs.Vol. I . Porter and Dulau,

London.

Common Crossbill flycatching

Michal Ciach’s note on a Common Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra flycatching in Poland {Brit.
Birds 100: 507) prompts me to record the fol-
lowing. The late Mike Combridge and I spent
1st April 1991 watching Common Crossbills in
the New Forest, Hampshire, finding two nests
and many non-breeding flocks (which in total
amounted to some 300-350 birds). While
watching one of these groups (of 30-40 birds),
we saw a male Common Crossbill make several
brief aerial forays in pursuit of insects from
near the top of a Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris. As
described by Ciach, these forays were somewhat
reminiscent of a clumsy Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata.

During my period watching Common
Crossbills in the New Forest (a span of 25 years
1975-99), this was the only time that I recorded
this species flycatching, on which basis I am

tempted to suggest that it may be an infre-
quently used and perhaps opportunistic feeding
technique. In this connection, it is worth noting
that invertebrates form a part of the diet of
several crossbill species; I have occasionally seen
Common Crossbills pick off and eat small items
which I strongly suspected were insects from
the boles and branches of conifer trees, while
Nethersole-Thompson (1975) reported that
Parrot Crossbills L. pytyopsittacus have been
recorded feeding insect larvae to ‘grown young’,
also noting that brooding females (these pre-
sumably Scottish Crossbills L. scotica ) ‘fre-
quently snap at, and eat, any small flies that they
can catch’, and also eat ectoparasites from their
bodies and the nest lining.

Reference

Nethersole-Thompson, D. 1 975. Pine Crossbills. Poyser
Berkhamsted.

Pete Combridge

16 Green Close, Wltiteparish, Salisbury SP5 2SB

British Birds 101 ‘July 2008 • 383-385

385

Mark us Varesvuo

News and comment

Compiled by Adrian Pitches

Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of British Birds

Greenland’s seabird slaughter

An international campaign has
been launched to halt the slaughter
of Greenland’s nesting seabirds.
Thousands of birds have been
killed this spring after Greenland’s
government caved in to hunters
and allowed an extra month of
shooting.

The RSPB, Audubon in the
USA - each with more than one
million backers - and two Cana-
dian conservation groups have
appealed to Greenland to restore
the ban on hunting in March -
imposed by law in 2001 - to give
birds such as Kittiwake Rissa tri-
dactyla, Common Eider Somateria
mollissima and Briinnich’s
Guillemot Uria lomvia a chance to
recover their numbers.

Greenland’s 100,000-strong
seabird colonies of 40 years ago
now total just a few thousand birds
because of intensive hunting and
egg-collecting. In Iceland, Briin-
nich’s Guillemot is now endan-
gered, its decline blamed on

Greenland’s hunters.

Among those calling for
hunting restrictions to be restored
is Graham Wynne, Chief Executive
of the RSPB. In a letter to Green-
land’s Cabinet, he said: ‘Indigenous
peoples worldwide pride them-
selves on their ability to live
sustainably with nature and I see
your Government’s aim is sustain-
ability. But I am afraid that the
record of seabird protection in
Greenland shows a very different
story. It is a story of the destruction
of nature through an unwillingness
to manage hunting, resulting in
seriously damaged populations of
many seabird species.’

Hunting between 15th Feb-
ruary and the autumn was banned
under Greenland’s 2001 Bird Pro-
tection Act, the country’s first legis-
lation promoting the sustainable
use of wildlife. Common Eiders
have declined by 80% in 40 years
and the 150,000 Briinnich’s Guille-
mots seen at a breeding colony in

Uummannaq, northern Greenland,
60 years ago have gone completely.

But in each of the seven years
since restrictions were imposed,
hunters have lobbied for restric-
tions to be relaxed. Politicians
relented in 2004 and did so again
this year, rushing through their
decision on 29th February and
allowing the hunting of Kittiwakes
and Eiders throughout March.
Greenland’s government claimed
that the birds’ numbers had risen
sufficiently to withstand the
extended onslaught. About 2,000 of
Greenland’s 10,000 hunters (out of
a total population of 56,000)
depend on sales of seabird meat at
town and city markets. The rest
hunt for pleasure alone, using pow-
erful speedboats and semi-auto-
matic guns.

Hasse Hedemand, of the
Greenland conservation group
Timmiaq, said: ‘Seabird numbers
are nowhere near the level you
could call sustainable and the deci-
sion this year to allow
more birds to be killed is
a tragedy. Our interna-
tional reputation is being
tarnished by this unsus-
tainable hunting. Most of
the shooting is recre-
ational. There is a long
tradition of hunting in
Greenland, but with
increasing numbers of
people, fast boats and
firearms, it is the politi-
cians’ responsibility to
ensure that the hunting is
sustainable. Our wildlife
is in a sorry state com-
pared to 50 years ago.
This shouldn’t have been
allowed to happen.’

* A special report on the
wintering seabirds of
southwest Greenland
appeared in BB in 2006:
Brit. Birds 99: 282-298.

1 77. Briinnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia.

386

{ News and comment )—

British island holds a quarter of new Critically Endangered species

Eight species have joined the ranks
of the world’s 190 Critically
Endangered birds in the latest
revision of the IUCN Red List - and
two of those are from just one tiny
island belonging to the UK.

The Gough Island Finch
Rowettia goughensis and Tristan
Albatross Diomedea dabbenena are
both restricted to Gough Island, in
the South Atlantic, and now face a
very high chance of extinction in
the wild following predation by
introduced House Mice Mus
domesticus and, in the case of the
albatross, longline fishing too. The
island also supports another five
bird species facing a high or very
high risk of global extinction.

Gough Island, which is smaller
than Guernsey and is a UK World
Heritage Site, is part of the Tristan
da Cunha group, a UK Overseas
Territory. The House Mice, which
were accidentally released on the
island in the nineteenth century, are
predators on the chicks of both the
finch and the albatross and literally
eat them alive (see Brit. Birds 98:
504-505). The rodents also compete
with the buntings for food.

Dr Geoff Hilton, an RSPB
scientist who has been researching
conservation problems in UK
Overseas Territories for some time,
said: ‘In the presence of House
Mice, the albatross and the bunting
have no chance of survival. Things
are getting worse and the only hope

for these threatened birds is
complete eradication of the mice.’

The Overseas Territories
Environment Programme - a joint
programme of the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office and the
Department for International
Development - has paid for a
provisional study, which suggests
that the mice could be eradicated
by dropping poison bait from
helicopters. Other governments are
already funding full rodent
eradication programmes on much
larger islands.

Dr Hilton added: ‘The big
question is whether the
UK Government will take
their international commitments
seriously and do what the
governments of New Zealand and
Australia have done, and provide
the big money needed to actually
do the mouse eradication. If they
don’t, we won’t be able to give two
critically threatened species the
lifeline they need. The world’s
greatest seabird island is being
eaten alive, as the mice are likely to
be affecting the fortunes of many
seabirds on the island. Without
help, Gough Island will be likely to
lose the majority of seabirds, not
just those that are confined to the
island.’

Gough Island, which features in
a forthcoming paper in BB and has
been described as the most
important seabird colony in the

world, supports millions of pairs of
seabirds of several species. Apart
from Tristan Albatross, the island
also supports the entire world
population of the rapidly declining
Atlantic Petrel Pterodroma incerta
and a significant proportion of the
recently split Northern Rockhopper
Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi ; both of
these are listed as Endangered in
this year’s Red List revision.

The new Red List shows that
there are now 1,226 species of bird
facing global extinction and 190 of
those are Critically Endangered.
Also upgraded to Critically
Endangered is the Spoon-billed
Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus

pygmeus, while Gurney’s Pitta Pitta
gurneyi has been downgraded
from Critically Endangered to
Endangered.

Perhaps surprisingly, there are
two Red List revisions that affect
British birds, suggesting that they
might have started on the slide
towards extinction. Eurasian
Curlew Numenius arquata and
Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata
have both been listed as Near
Threatened, only one step below
those species facing global
extinction. That takes the number
of Near Threatened birds that breed
in the UK to five; the others are Red
Kite Milvus milvus, Corn Crake
Crex crex and Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa.

Swannery bounces back from bird flu

A record number of cygnets have
hatched at Abbotsbury swannery in
Dorset despite the bird flu out-
break earlier this year. Ten wild
Mute Swans Cygnus olor and a
Greater Canada Goose Branta
canadensis tested positive for the
virulent H5N1 strain of the disease
at Abbotsbury during the January
outbreak (Brit. Birds 101: 105). Six
months later, the swannery is
having one of its busiest breeding

seasons after reopening to the
public in March; it is home to a
herd of 800 wild swans, and more
than 600 cygnets are expected this
season.

The bird flu outbreak was
probably caused by an infected
migratory bird, according to Defra.
An epidemiology report found the
strain of the virus was similar to
that found in Europe in the latter
part of 2007. Swan herder David

Wheeler said: ‘It was a grim time,
we were very worried. We half
expected to lose a lot of swans but
it just seemed to be one or two
birds over the whole of the lagoon.’
Vets believe that the Abbotsbury
swans may have developed some
kind of immunity to the disease,
which prevented it from spreading
much further. They claim that it
also explains why the new cygnets
have been protected.

British Birds 101 ‘July 2008 • 386-388

387

Stef McElwee

News and comment

)

Good news and bad for nesting Peregrines

This spring has been notable for the number of Peregrine Falcons Falco
peregrinus colonising urban areas and nesting on prominent historic - and
not so historic - buildings, much to the delight of city dwellers. Peregrines
have nested on cathedrals in Chichester and Lincoln, churches in Exeter
and Worcester, Cardiff City Hall, the A14 bridge over the River Orwell in
Suffolk (the county’s tallest structure) and in the centre of Birmingham,
Manchester and London.

But despite the delight they bring to hundreds of thousands of people
in Britain, there remain a minority of idiots who still attempt to kill or
maim Peregrines and destroy their nests. There were two shocking
incidents in the West Midlands in May. On 13th, the RSPB received reports
of traps being set on a Peregrine nest ledge at a quarry near Kingswinford;
when officers went to investigate, they found three steel spring traps set
around a Peregrine nest, which also contained two smashed eggs. Then on
22nd, volunteers watching a nest at a quarry near Cannock in Staffordshire
spotted a male Peregrine caught in one of five spring traps which had also
been set on a nest ledge. The volunteers, who are licensed raptor workers,
managed to reach the nest and rescued the bird, along with two chicks,
which were close to starvation. The male later had to be put down. Raptor
Rescue, an organisation that cares for injured birds of prey, is now looking
after the chicks, while it is believed that the female may have died too.

Mark Thomas, RSPB investigations officer, said: ‘These are sickening
incidents. The fear now is that those responsible may be planning to target
more nests in the area. Someone must know who has been setting these
traps and why. I urge anyone with information to come forward and help
to make sure that no more Peregrines suffer in this way. We are offering a
reward of up to £1,000 if the information we receive leads to a conviction.’

Anyone with information on the Kingswinford incident can call West
Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000, while the Staffordshire Police
information line is 0845 330 2010. People can also call Crimestoppers
anonymously about either incident on 0800 555 111.

178. British Birds and the British Birds Rarities Committee have marked
the retirement of long-serving BBRC Chairman Colin Bradshaw (right)
with the presentation of an original Ian Lewington painting.The painting
shows a Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea that Colin found on his home
patch in Tynemouth on 2nd May 1997 - a rosy bird on a rosy dawn for
New Labour. On present form, the odds of him finding another Ross’s in
Tynemouth are probably far greater than another new dawn for New
Labour... The painting was presented by fellow BBRC stalwart and
Northumberland birder Jimmy Steele.

Patchworkers notch
up 3,000th day
on the trot

Birders that regularly work a local
patch certainly try to get out there
at least once or twice a week. The
more dedicated may manage nearly
seven days a week - but how many
local patches have been watched for
3,000 consecutive days?! N&c
readers may recall a reference to the
Carr Vale Nature Reserve in
northeast Derbyshire in March
2003 (Brit. Birds 96: 148), reporting
on the team of patchworkers there
who had notched up their 1,000th
consecutive daily visit on 17th
December 2002. The 2,000th
consecutive daily visit was
celebrated on 14th September 2005,
and this marathon of dedicated
patchworking reached the 3,000th
consecutive daily visit on 10th June
this year. The team of regular
observers (Mark Beevers, Richard
Box, Dave and Sue Came, Tony
Irons, Kevin Navin and Ian Swain)
last missed a day on 22nd March
2000!

Mark Beevers describes it as a
‘mad quest’, and said: ‘since 1st
January 1997 we have missed only
34 dates. This is an incredible run
given that all the observers work
and have families.’ He is rightly
proud of the latest milestone, and
of what has been achieved at the
site, which until 1998 was mainly
farmland. The site list has now
increased to 203, and the year-list
record of 148 was set in 2007. Of
those species recorded, some of the
more notable (for Derbyshire) have
been Ring-necked Duck Aythya
collaris, Northern Gannet Morus
bassanus. Shag Phalacrocorax
aristotelis, Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos, and Yellow-
browed Warbler Phylloscopus
inornatus. Mark admits that the list
of species recorded is not remark-
able - ‘but this is rarity-starved
Derbyshire!’ These folk have clearly
set the benchmark for dedication
to local patching...

388

British Birds 101 ‘July 2008 • 386-388

Recent reports

Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Eric Dempsey

This summary of unchecked reports covers
mainly new arrivals between early May and
early June 2008.

Black Duck Anas rubripes Butter’s Tor Moor
(Cornwall), 23rd May. Blue-winged Teal Anas
discors Lough Beg (Co. Derry), 13th May. Lesser
Scaup Aythya affinis St John’s Loch (Highland),
1 3th— 1 5th May. King Eider Somateria spectabilis
Fair Isle, 18th-22nd May, presumed same Sum-
burgh 25th May and Virkie (all Shetland), 27th;
Tacumshin Lake (Co. Wexford), 25th May.

White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Gruinard Bay
(Highland), 13th May; Lewis (Outer Hebrides),
14th May; Sound of Harris (Outer Hebrides),
17th May; Uyea (Shetland), 18th May; Dunnet
Bay (Highland), 20th May; Scourie (Highland),
27th May; Out Skerries (Shetland), 30th May to
6th June; Cape Clear (Co. Cork), 3rd June. Black-
browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris At
sea, west of Galway Bay, 4th-5th June.

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus Lodmoor
(Dorset), 1 7th— 20th May. Cattle Egret Bubulcus
ibis Reports, mainly involving long-stayers from
the earlier influx, received from Co. Cork,
Devon (including a juvenile at Braunton Marsh,
30th May), Dorset, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire,
Greater Manchester,

Hampshire, Kent, Co.

Kerry, Norfolk, East
Sussex and West
Sussex. No reports
from Cornwall, their
first blank month since
October 2007. Great
White Egret Ardea alba
Westleton Heath, 11th
May, perhaps same
Brampton and North
Warren (all Suffolk),

17th May and 4th-8th
June; Garretstown (Co.

Cork), 12th- 19th May;

Pennington Flash
(Greater Manchester),

14th May; Blithfield
Reservoir (Stafford-
shire), 17th May;

Radipole Lake (Dorset), 17th May; Cantref
Reservoir (Breconshire), 18th May to 1st June;
Farmoor Reservoir (Oxfordshire), 21st May;
Horse Eye Level (East Sussex), 21st-22nd May;
Land’s End (Cornwall), 22nd May; Abbotsbury
(Dorset), 2nd June; Southrop (Gloucestershire),
2nd June; Ham Wall (Somerset), 3rd June;
Rainham Marshes (Greater London), 4th-7th
June, then two on 8th; Ogston Reservoir (Der-
byshire), 4th June; Stodmarsh (Kent), 6th June;
Slimbridge (Gloucestershire), 6th June. Black
Stork Ciconia nigra Cuckmere Valley, 18th May,
perhaps same Eastbourne (both East Sussex),
28th May, and perhaps same East Grinstead
(West Sussex), 5th June; in Orkney, various
locations 23rd-26th May, then presumed same
at various locations in Shetland 28th May to 1st
June; North Warren, 8th June. Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus Shapwick Heath (Somerset),
16th May, presumed same Ferrybridge (Dorset),
17th May and Keyhaven Marshes (Hampshire),
17th-18th May; Marshside RSPB (Lancashire &
N Merseyside), long-stayer to 30th May, joined
by another on 27th May.

Black Kite Milvus migrans Sculthorpe (Norfolk),
11th May; Fair Isle 7th— 10th May; Paxton
(Cambridgeshire), 10th May; Wearde Quay
(Cornwall), 13th May; Earls Barton

1 79. Long-staying drake King Eider Somateria spectabilis, Girvan, Ayrshire, May 2008.

389

Brian Egan

Steve Voung/Birdwatch Rob Fray

Recent reports

180. First-summer female Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, Bixter,
Shetland, June 2008, part of a widespread influx in spring 2008.

GP (Berkshire), 5th June. White-
tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Silver
End (Essex), 20th May. Red-footed
Falcon Falco vespertinus The influx
continued, with about 60 in this
period. About 20 arrived between
9th and 15th May, about another 17
between 16th and 22nd May,
another 14 between 23rd and 31st
May and up to eight in June; some
duplication in these records invari-
ably occurred. There were up to six
in Cambridgeshire, five in Kent and
Dorset, four in Bedfordshire and
Essex, Hampshire, Suffolk, Norfolk
and Cornwall, three in South York-
shire, two in Berkshire and Glouces-
tershire and singles in Berkshire,
Derbyshire, Devon, Co. Dublin,
Glamorgan, Greater London,
Lothian, Northamptonshire, Not-
tinghamshire, Perth & Kinross,
Shetland, Somerset, Surrey, East
Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

(Northamptonshire), 14th May; Yatton, Steart
and then Taunton, 17th May, presumed same
Priddy (all Somerset), 21st May; Wisley
Common (Surrey), 19th May; Pevensey,
perhaps same Brighton (both East Sussex), 20th
May; Beaulieu Road Station and Old Basing
(both Hampshire), 24th May; Littlehampton
(West Sussex), 24th May; Udimore, 26th May,
Forest Row and Ringmer (all East Sussex), 29th
May; Warham Greens (Norfolk), 31st May;
Westhay (Somerset), 31st May; Woolhampton

181. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor, Seaforth, Lancashire &
N Merseyside, June 2008.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Neumann’s Flash (Cheshire), long-staying
breeding pair, plus one young, to 8th June;
Blashford Lakes (Hampshire), 10th May; Lough
Eurna (Co. Tipperary), 27th May; Little Island,
(Co. Cork), 27th May; Dungeness (Kent),
28th-30th May. American Golden Plover Pluvi-
alis dominica Newcastle (Co. Wicklow), 22nd
May; Cemlyn Bay (Anglesey), 30th May to 3rd
June; Annagh Marsh (Co. Mayo), 31st May to
5th June; Pegwell Bay
(Kent), 1 st— 5 th June.
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris
himantopus Rutland
Water (Leicestershire &
Rutland), 27th May.
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Limicola falcinellus Spurn
(East Yorkshire),
24th-26th May. Great
Snipe Gallinago media
Holy Island (Northum-
berland), 31st May to
2nd June. Terek Sand-
piper Xenus cinereus Rye
Harbour, 31st May, then
The Midrips (both East
Sussex), 1st and 8th June.
Spotted Sandpiper Actitte

390

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 389-392

Recent reports

(

macularius Broad Lough (Co. Wicklow), 18th
May; Ringabella (Co. Cork), 22nd May. Lesser
Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Lough Beg, 3rd May;
Hauxley 10th May, then Druridge Pools (both
Northumberland), 1 1th— 15th May. Marsh Sand-
piper Tringa stagnates Rutland Water, 27th-30th
May. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
North Uist, 29th May; Seaforth (Lancashire & N
Merseyside), 3rd-4th June.

Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan Stithian’s Reservoir
(Cornwall), 11th May. Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia
rosea Lytham St Anne’s and the Ribble Estuary
area (Lancashire & N Merseyside), long-stayer
to 16th May, when found dead. Bonaparte’s
Gull Chroicocephalus Philadelphia Stocks Reser-
voir (Lancashire & N Merseyside), 1 0th— 1 1 th
May; Bowling Green Marsh (Devon), 20th— 2 1 st
May; Loch Ruthven (Highland), 3rd-6th June.

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Slimbridge
(Gloucestershire), 1 0th— 1 3th May; Sennybridge,
23rd May, then Llangorse Lake (both Powys),
27th-30th May; Grove Ferry, 31st May, then
Stodmarsh/Collard’s Lake (all Kent), 31st May
to 5th June; Loch of Strathbeg (North-east
Scotland), 5th-8th June; Barton-on-Humber
(Lincolnshire), 7th June; Ouse Washes and Fen
Drayton (both Cambridgeshire), 8th June.
White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Draycote Water (Warwickshire), 10th May;
Hiclding Broad (Norfolk), 22nd May; Lodmoor,
27th May; Bray (Co. Wicklow), 4th June.
Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri Tacumshin, 17th
May to 5th June.

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus North Uist, two,
10th May, one to 23rd; Fewis, 15th May. Alpine
Swift Apus melba Newbiggin (Northumberland),
23rd May; Lewes (East Suffolk), 28th-30th May;
Pegwell Bay 8th June. European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster Influx, with up to 47 recorded in
the period, of which about 19 arriving between
10th and 15th May, another six between 17th
and 21st May, another 15 between 23rd and 31st
May and seven in June. There were up to six in
Cornwall, Hampshire and Kent, up to five in
Norfolk, up to four in West Sussex, up to three
in Highland and Suffolk, probably two in Scilly,
two in Dorset, Outer Hebrides, East Sussex and
East Yorkshire and singles in Devon, Greater
London, Somerset and Staffordshire. European
Roller Coracias garrulus Howden’s Pullover
(Lincolnshire), 28th May.

182. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida,
Radipole Lake, Dorset, May 2008.

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Saltee
Island (Co. Wexford), 12th— 14th May; St Agnes
(Scilly), 13th-23rd May; Lodmoor, 1 7th— 1 9th
May; Leasowe (Cheshire & Wirral), 18th May;
Maldon (Essex), 21st May; Lizard (Cornwall),
30th May; Beachy Head (East Sussex), 31st May;
Portland (Dorset), 31st May; Whalsay (Shet-
land), 5th June; North Uist, 6th June. Red-
throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Isle of May, 10th
May; Handa (Highland), 12th May; Burnham
(Norfolk), 15th May; Pabbey (Outer Hebrides),
24th May; Blakeney Point, 27th May, and
Holme (both Norfolk), 28th May; Dorman’s
Pool (Cleveland), 30th May. Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola Spurn, 10th May; Fair Isle,
1 1 th— 1 3th May; Titchwell (Norfolk), 27th-29th
May; Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway), 4th
June; Brecon (Breconshire), 5th June. Thrush
Nightingale Luscinia luscinia Portland, 18th May;
Kilnsea (East Yorkshire), 28th May; Spurn, 29th
May to 1st June; Grutness, 30th May, Unst, 30th
May, and Foula (all Shetland), 4th June; Mins-
mere (Suffolk), 5th— 8th June.

River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis Beachy Head,
30th May. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 389-392

391

Kit Day

Mark Breaks John Malloy

Recent reports

1 83. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanlus minor, Long Nanny,
Northumberland, June 2008.

dumetorum Tiree (Argyll), 3rd June. Great
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Laken-
heath Fen (Suffolk), 11th May and 8th June; Seil
Island (Argyll), 1 1 th— 12th May; Chew Valley
Lake (Avon), 12th May; Minsmere 1 7th— 1 8th
and 29th-30th May; Amwell GP (Hertford-
shire), 20th-21st May; Cley (Norfolk), 21st
May; Flamborough Head (East Yorkshire), 29th
May. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais

pallida Portland, 17th May.
Booted Warbler Hippolais
caligata South Gare (Cleveland),
29th May. Spectacled Warbler
Sylvia conspicillata Westleton
Heath, 10th May. Subalpine
Warbler Sylvia cantillans In Shet-
land, one on Fair Isle to 18th
May, another 1 7th— 1 8th, one of
these to 20th; also Hoswick
14th, Foula 14th, Wester Quarff
20th, Scatness and Sumburgh,
26th and Unst 29th-30th May.
Elsewhere, Bardsey (Caernar-
fonshire), 13th and 27th May;
Calf of Man (Isle of Man), 14th
May; Mullet Peninsula (Co.
Mayo), 14th May; Dursey Island
(Co. Cork), 15th May; Ramsey
(Pembrokeshire), 15th May;
Skomer (Pembrokeshire), 19th
May; Gorran Haven (Cornwall),
20th May; St Kilda (Outer
Hebrides), 22nd May; North
Uist, 23rd May; Hartlepool
(Cleveland), 28th May; Filey (North Yorkshire),
28th May; Warham Greens and another Blak-
eney Point, both 29th May; Landguard,
29th-30th May; St Margaret’s at Cliffe (Kent),
31st May; Saltee Island, 2nd June. Greenish
Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Wells-next-the-
Sea, 30th May; Noss (Shetland), 3rd June.
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Blakeney
Point, 4th June.

I 84. Male Citril Finch Serinus citrinella, Fair Isle, Shetland, June 2008;
this will be the first for Britain if accepted.

Collared Flycatcher Ficedula
albicollis Lundy (Devon), 12th
May; North Ronaldsay, 24th May.
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor
Long Nanny (Northumberland),
3rd-8th June. Citril Finch Serinus
citrinella Fair Isle, 6th-8th June.
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes
githagineus North Rona (Outer
Hebrides), 25th May; Blakeney
Point, 31st May to 4th June;
Telescombe Cliffs (East Sussex),
4th-6th June. White-crowned
Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys nr
Leuchars (Fife), 17th May. Black-
headed Bunting Emberiza
melanocephala Robin Hood’s Bay
(North Yorkshire), 28th May;
Fetlar (Shetland), 4th-7th June. ^

392

British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 389-392

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JMD SURVEYORS NEEDED

SRAEL NORTHERN VALLEYS MIGRATION SURVEY - AUTUMN 2008

ie Israeli Ornithological center (IOC) is looking for experienced raptor enthusiasts for a
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will be happy to help with any details or questions regarding the position, or anything else.

iathan Meyrav, Dan Alon and the survey team

more information
I details you can also contact

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call Jonathan- +972 523689774 y 3 u n nnn) n i i n n

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ar’s Yearbook and Diary 2008 #169193
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Photograph
of the Year

Breeding

seabirds

ISSN 0007-0335

British Birds

Established 1907, incorporating The Zoologist, established 1843

Published by BB 2000 Limited, trading as ‘British Birds’

Registered Office: 4 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8SF

British Birds aims to be the leading journal for the modern birder in the Western Palearctic

We aim to: »J» provide a forum for contributions of interest to all birdwatchers in the Western Palearctic;

«> publish material on behaviour, conservation, distribution, ecology, identification, movements, status and taxonomy;

•> embrace new ideas and research; maintain our position as the respected journal of record; and
♦> interpret good scientific research on birds for the interested non-scientist.

British Birds

Editor Roger Riddington
Assistant Editors Caroline Dudley 8c Peter Kennerley
Editorial Board Dawn Balmer, Ian Carter,
Richard Chandler, Martin Collinson, Chris Kehoe,
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Photographic Consultants Robin Chittenden

8c David Tipling

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I MBTOFiY MUcrt'

British Birds 7 * "

Volume 1 0 1 • Number 8 • August 200&

PRESEN itO

• v*-

394 SS From the Rarities Committee’s files: ‘Northern Harrier’ on Scilly:
new to Britain John P. Martin

408 Bird Photograph of the Year 2008 Richard Chandler, Tim Appleton,
Robin Chittenden, David Hosking, Peter Kennerley and David Tipling

4 1 8 Important Bird Areas: Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly
Vickie Heaney, Leigh Lock, Paul St Pierre and Andy Brown

Regular features

439 Letter

Recent records of southern skuas in
Britain Dick Newell

442 Notes

Common Eiders attacked and killed
by Harbour Seal Philip Kirkham
The Ebro Delta Audouin’s Gull
colony and vagrancy potential to
northwest Europe Ricard Gutierrez
and Emma Guinart
Rooks killing adult Black-tailed
Godwit Johannes Kamp and
Kseniya Vi Grishina

448 Reviews

Birds of Surrey

Birds of Argyll

Collins Birds of Prey

New Holland European Bird Guide

The Ornithologist’s Guide to the

Islands of Orkney and Shetland

National Geographic Birding Essentials

45 1 News and comment

Adrian Pitches

455 Recent reports

Barry Nightingale and
Eric Dempsey

From the Rarities Committee’s files

‘Northern Harrier’
on Scilly: new to Britain

John P. Martin

Juvenile 'Northern Harrier’ Circus cyaneus hudsonius, incoming, off Scilly, October 1982. D. I. M. Wallace

ABSTRACT A juvenile harrier on Scilly from 22nd October 1982 until 8th June
1983 has now been accepted as Britain’s first Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus of
the Nearctic race hudsonius, or ‘Northern Harrier’. This article describes the
occurrence and presents criteria that distinguish hudsonius from the
nominate form of Hen Harrier in juvenile plumage.

ZEISS

October 1982 was a classic month on
Scilly, with an array of rarities that even
today looks impressive. The second half
of the month was dominated by westerly winds
and several Nearctic species arrived in quick
succession. Following an Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda on St Agnes on 19th, a
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor was seen
there the next day, preceding a Black-billed
Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus on St Mary’s
and a Killdeer Charadrius vociferus on St
Martin’s on 21st. The following day, a ringtail

harrier appeared, seen initially around Porth-
ellick Down, St Mary’s, but later wandering
widely round this and various other islands
(and ultimately remaining on Scilly until 8th
June 1983). It was a particularly striking bird,
with uniform orange underparts and a dark
brown ‘hood’. Having seen it just before leaving
Scilly, I was interested to hear later that it had
been identified as a ‘Marsh Hawk’, the name
then favoured for the North American race of
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus hudsonius (hereafter
referred to as hudsonius). Many people saw the

394

'Northern Harrier’ on Scilly: new to Britain

(

bird but, with all the other exciting birds on the
islands at the time, plus Britain’s first Chimney
Swifts Chaetura pelagica in Cornwall, it perhaps
did not receive the attention it deserved.

Descriptions of the bird were submitted to
BBRC by R. ). Raines and Peter Basterfield,
while Barrie Widden provided a good-quality
colour slide. Further notes and sketches were
received from Chris Heard and Keith Vini-
combe in response to a request in the Isles of
Scilly Bird Report. Mike Rogers, in his astute
introductory notes accompanying the first cir-
culation of the record in late 1983, remarked
that the slide in particular offered hope of
making progress with the identification of a
form that had long troubled British observers.

A chequered history

The famous ‘Cley harrier’, present from October
1957 until April 1958, was identified as hudso-
nius at the time (Wallace 1971) but remained
controversial as the identification criteria were,
to some extent, uncertain. Initially, unstreaked
warm orangey or rufous underparts and a
darker hood were thought to be key characters
that distinguished juvenile hudsonius from the
nominate form in Europe (hereafter referred to
as cyaneus). Grant ( 1983) set out the findings of
a review that concentrated on these features and
tried to obtain firm evidence of immature
cyaneus v/ith unstreaked rufous underparts. He
noted that many typical young cyaneus are buff
or rufous below with dark or rufous-brown
streaks that might give a false impression of
uniformly rufous underparts at a distance. He
listed 12 Palearctic observations of ‘Hen Har-
riers’ with ‘uniformly or faintly streaked rufous
underparts’. Two related to specimens, although
one of these, from Japan and held in the
Natural History Museum (NHM), Tring, had
narrowish streaking described as ‘not faint’ on
the whole of the underparts, which seems per-
fectly normal for juvenile cyaneus. Moreover, of
the 12 records, eight could conceivably have
been vagrant hudsonius anyway (indeed two
were submitted as hudsonius and are discussed
below), so do not contribute to our knowledge
of the variation in juvenile cyaneus.

Grant (1983) also listed stronger and more
contrasting head markings; rufous markings
pervading the whole of the upperparts and
upperwing; and a dark underside to the second-
aries as possible additional features. He con-
cluded that what he called ‘rufous phase

)

cyaneus ’, although thought to be rare, was a real
stumbling block when it came to identification
of vagrant hudsonius in Europe. Against this
background it was not surprising that opinion
on the Scilly record within BBRC was divided,
and it spent the next 18 years in limbo. During
this period, Thorpe (1988) reported a brood of
unstreaked juvenile cyaneus on the Isle of Man,
further adding to the uncertainty. Without pho-
tographs or contemporary field notes, however,
it is not possible to know exactly what these
birds looked like.

The identification of raptors, including ring-
tail harriers, has subsequently made great
progress, marked by the publication of Wheeler
& Clark (1995) and, in particular, Forsman
(1999), who showed how important primary
patterns and facial markings are in distin-
guishing juvenile Montagu’s C. pygargus and
Pallid Harriers C. macrourus. Wallace (1998)
had also suggested primary and secondary
patterns as potentially useful features for
separating ringtail hudsonius from cyaneus.

With this additional information available, I
rashly asked to review the ‘Marsh Hawk file’ in
late 2002, which, besides the 1982-83 Scilly
record, contained details of three other pending
claims: Hengistbury Head, Dorset (on 22nd
October 1983); Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire
(from 29th October to 18th November 1972);
and Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire (from 18th
November 1973 to mid March 1974). Mean-
while, Keith Vinicombe (2003) discussed the
identification of hudsonius and its potential as a
likely vagrant, and included a ‘new’ photograph
of the 1982 Scilly bird. Keith put me in touch
with the photographer, Barrie Widden, who
kindly sent two additional slides of the bird,
which had not previously been seen by BBRC. It
was clear, however, that progress would be
made only by further refinement of the identifi-
cation criteria; this is described below.

Identification criteria for vagrant juvenile
hudsonius

Only juveniles are considered in this review as, at
the time of writing, all British claims of
hudsonius have been juveniles. Moreover, this is
the most likely age class for vagrants, and birds
in this plumage are much more distinctive than
adult females. Adult males are also rather
distinctive but are not discussed here.

Most of the potentially useful plumage
features could be checked against museum

British Birds 101 'August 2008 • 394-407

395

J. P. Martin © NHM.Tring

'Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

specimens. Brian Small provided colour photos,
sketches and notes of head and body patterns
from the skin collection at NHM, Tring, and 1
later examined all the skins of juveniles of the
two forms in this collection. Primary patterns
are, at best, difficult to see on skins but many
excellent photographs of both forms were
examined.

In autumn, juvenile ringtail harriers are in
fresh plumage with no signs of moult. Adult
females are superficially similar to juveniles in
terms of plumage pattern but by September and
October are nearing the end of their complete
moult, and may show gaps or moult limits in
the primaries and secondaries. The primaries of
juvenile hudsonius and cyaneus are somewhat
narrower and more pointed at the tips than the
broad, rather square-ended ‘fingers’ of adult
females; adult females also have slightly broader
wings, especially the inner hand. Juveniles also
differ from adult females in certain plumage
details. They show largely dusky secondaries,
contrasting with the paler primaries (this
feature is age related, rather than indicative of

■ /

hudsonius as suggested by Grant 1983); darker
brown upperparts (lacking grey tones) with
warm feather edging; and a more strongly con-
trasting head pattern. Any ringtail harrier in
autumn with distinctly orange-toned under-
parts will be a juvenile, adults having creamy or
whitish underparts with distinct dark streaking.
Juvenile cyaneus often shows rich ochre or
rufous tones to the distinctly streaked breast
and belly (though some individuals are more
cream- or buff-toned here), while juvenile hud-
sonius, and juvenile Pallid and Montagu’s Har-
riers share a largely unstreaked cinnamon to
deep orange breast and belly.

For observers in western Europe, ringtail
harriers are a difficult group of birds to identify
but effectively fall into two pairs in terms of
size, build and, in particular, wing structure.
Montagu’s and Pallid harriers are the smaller,
‘slim-winged’ harriers (with four fingers
forming the wing-point, and a lighter, more
buoyant flight action), while hudsonius and the
closely related cyaneus comprise the other pair.
Structurally, hudsonius is very similar to
cyaneus, with relatively
broad wings and five
fingers at the tip,
contributing to a heavier
flight than that of the two
smaller species. The
identification of the three
European breeding species
is particularly well covered
in Forsman ( 1999).

A bird showing the
broad wings and five-fin-
gered primaries of Hen
Harrier, in combination
with apparently unstreaked,
orange-toned breast and
belly, is well worth careful
scrutiny but other features
need to be considered, as
set out below and in
appendix 1.

Plumage features
Overall, hudsonius has
darker brown plumage with
the paler areas distinctly
rufous; while cyaneus is

I 85. Underparts of juvenile Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus cyaneus (lower two
birds) and juvenile ‘Northern Harrier' C. c. hudsonius (upper two). Typically,
hudsonius shows mostly plain, rufous-orange underparts and fine, darker streaks
restricted to the sides of the upper breast and across the lower throat, just
below the dark ‘boa’ In contrast, the paler, buff ground colour of cyaneus is
heavily marked with extensive bold, dark brown streaking.

1 There seems to be no proper name for the dark half- (or complete) band on the neck sides but it has been referred
to elsewhere as a ‘boa’. I have therefore used this term to distinguish it from the paler band behind the ear-coverts,
which 1 have termed the ‘collar’. I use ‘hood’ to refer to the boa plus the rest of the head.

396

British Birds 101 'August 2008 • 394-407

Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

lighter brown with the paler areas often colder
buff or cream. The upperparts of hudsonius are
dark chocolate brown with rich rufous fringes,
at least when fresh; while cyaneus is typically
paler, mid brown above with paler rufous tones
to feather edgings and often a paler, buffy nape-
patch. There seems to be little or no overlap in
plumage tones between the two forms when a
series of skins is compared, but accurate judge-
ment on a lone bird in the field would be much
more difficult.

Underparts

The birds depicted in plate 185 are considered
to be typical, though some hudsonius may have
paler cinnamon underparts, including birds in
fresh plumage (i.e. not just bleached and faded
birds later in the season). Richer, orangey-toned
cyaneus are frequent but they always show
larger, bolder and more extensive streaking than
hudsonius. While cyaneus is never as deep
rufous-orange on the breast and belly as the
darkest hudsonius, there is overlap in back-
ground colour. There is little overlap in terms of
the extent and boldness of the streaking,
although the most heavily marked hudsonius
might conceivably overlap with the most lightly
streaked cyaneus. Accurate evaluation of the
strength and extent of any streaking on the
underparts is vital and requires good views.

Harriers. The pale collar is also present in
cyaneus but tends to be less contrasting as the
boa is not so dark.

Almost all hudsonius show a solidly dark
chocolate crown with a warmer pale super-
cilium over the eye, which is separated from a
shorter pale crescent below it by a dark line
through the eye. The ear-coverts are usually
solidly blackish or dark chocolate, like the
crown. On cyaneus the crown and ear-coverts
are usually somewhat paler and more obviously
streaky, although the ear-coverts in particular
often form a solid-looking dark block. The
supercilium is typically longer and broader,
sometimes reaching the forehead and joining
the (often larger) pale crescent below the eye.
Juvenile cyaneus may show a reduced super-
cilium and a small pale crescent below the eye,
much like hudsonius, but the latter rarely seems
to have as much white around the eye as shown
by some cyaneus. The head patterns do vary but
the better-marked birds are distinctive.

The largely dark head and solid dark boa of
hudsonius contrasts with the largely unstreaked
orange-toned body to give many individuals a
strikingly hooded appearance. A minority are
less well marked and might be hard to tell from
the most rufous and least streaked cyaneus,
particularly if the latter also happens to be one
of the few with a shadowy boa.

Head and neck pattern

The head and neck pattern is a useful feature
for identifying ringtail harriers in general and
this includes hudsonius, which shows more or
less solid dark brown or blackish neck sides,
creating a dark boa recalling that of juvenile
Pallid Harrier. On weakly marked individuals,
this area is less solidly dark, consisting of
blotchy dark chocolate streaks on a dark rufous
background, but still forms a strong boa. On
many but not all individuals, the boa meets
across the breast. On all hudsonius, however, it
is separated from the dark ear-coverts by a more
or less prominent narrow pale band or collar
that can extend to the nape and across the
breast on some. Some cyaneus can show a faint
or shadowy dark boa but it comprises a patch of
dark streaking over a paler ground colour -
either matching or just slightly darker than the
rest of the underparts. It is never as contrasting
as on a well-marked hudsonius; the difference
between the two is similar to that between
typical Pallid and heavily marked Montagu’s

Underside of primaries

The pattern of the underside of the primaries is
a useful and well-known feature for identifying
juvenile ringtail harriers in Europe, and it can
also be useful when identifying hudsonius. In
hudsonius, P10 (the outermost primary) shows
three or four, or sometimes even five, blackish
bars in addition to the black tip. Most usefully,
P8 and P9, the longest primaries, show five or
six blackish bars plus the dark tip. In cyaneus,
P10 normally shows three blackish bars plus the
black tip, while P8 and P9 have three or four
(but sometimes five) blackish bars plus the dark
tip. There also appears to be a difference in the
pattern to the trailing edge of the inner pri-
maries. Although both races show a darker
trailing edge to the inner hand, on hudsonius
this tends to be paler and less contrasting than
on many cyaneus. Some cyaneus, perhaps espe-
cially males, can have a poorly marked trailing
edge but these tend to be individuals with very

continued on page 402

British Birds 101 'August 2008 • 394-H07

397

Steve Baranoff Steve Baranoff

'Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

186. Juvenile ‘Northern Harrier’ Circus cyaneus hudsonius. New Mexico, USA, November 2005. A beautiful and
distinctive individual. The pale cinnamon-washed body is almost unmarked, apart from the flanks. The strong head
pattern and boa are typical, as is the underwing pattern of six dark bars (excluding the dark tip), the innermost

very thin, on the longest primaries.

1 87. Juvenile male ‘Northern Harrier’ Circus cyaneus hudsonius, Texas, USA, September 2006. Note the typical head
and neck pattern, as well as the warm fringes to the median upperwing-coverts. The cinnamon-washed underparts
are typical, although the (characteristically fine) darker streaking is more extensive than on most hudsonius. „

398

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 394-407

'Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

188. Juvenile ‘Northern
Harrier’ Circus cyaneus
hudsonius. North America,
November 2005. Another
striking juvenile. This bird
typically has a limited area of
bold streaking on the flanks,
and some very fine streaks
(which would be hard to see in
the field) towards the breast
sides. There are five dark bars
on the longest primaries,
although the outermost
contrasts less with the darker
background colour of the
feather and is difficult to see.
The head pattern is typical,
though with a small pale buff
patch below the eye eating into
otherwise solidly chocolate-
coloured ear-coverts.

189. Juvenile ‘Northern
Harrier’ Circus cyaneus
hudsonius, British Columbia,
Canada, February 2006. The
head pattern is typical - mostly
solidly dark chocolate with
restricted pale feathering
around the eye. The boa
comprises blotchy dark
markings dominating a paler
warm brown background on
this individual, and is at the
less-well-marked end of the
spectrum. Note the warm buff
tones to the pale fringing on
the upperparts, probably
somewhat faded by this date.

British Birds 101 ‘August 2008 • 394-^t07

399

Bob Steele Bill Schmoker

Bob Steele Richard Chandler

'Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

190. Juvenile ‘Northern Harrier’ Circus cyaneus hudsonius, California, USA, November 2007. Another striking bird,
with typical, virtually unstreaked orange-brown underparts and six bars on the longest primaries. The darker boa
is present but is rather shadowy and poorly marked on this individual, overlapping with many cyaneus in this respect.

191. Juvenile ‘Northern Harrier’ Circus cyaneus hudsonius, California, USA, December 2005. Note the darkness of

the upperparts as well as the typical head pattern. ,

400

British Birds 101 'August 2008 • 394-407

'Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

1 92. Juvenile Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus cyaneus , Pisek, Czech Republic, December 2007.

A rather pale bird, with extensive brown streaking on the body, four dark bars on the
longest primaries, lots of white around the eye and only a faint suggestion of a dark boa.

1 93. Juvenile Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus cyaneus, Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, August.This bird has a head
pattern much like that of many hudsonius, the boa is well defined and the whole plumage is suffused with warm
orangey-buff tones. The body is rather lightly streaked, although this is more extensive and stronger than on the
majority of hudsonius (but it might overlap with some). The longest primary (P8) shows five bars (excluding the
dark tip), although the basal bar is very faint and so close to the primary coverts that it could easily be missed;
while P9 has only four. A small minority of hudsonius might look much like this but they would clearly not be
within the ‘comfort zone’ for identification in a vagrancy context.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 394—407

401

Steve Round Josef Hlasek

Hugh Harrop Ian Fulton

'Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

(

194. Juvenile Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus cyaneus. North Ronaldsay, Orkney,
October 2006. This photo shows the key features of Hen Harrier nicely:
rufous-toned but extensively streaked body, a good deal of white round the
eye and a fairly weak face pattern, an indistinct shadowy boa, and five dark
bars (the basal one very faint, narrow and easily missed so appearing more
like four in all but the best views) on the longest primaries.

lightly marked primaries.
Another possible feature is a
tendency for hudsonius to
show a more conspicuous
pale crescent at the base of
the outer primaries because
the dark bars here are nar-
rower than they are on
cyaneus.

Underside of secondaries

The underside of the sec-
ondaries is dusky/dark
overall on juveniles of both
forms. In hudsonius, there
are three clear dark bands:
typically a broad and diffuse
terminal band, the middle
band narrower than the
other two, and the basal
band the broadest. Sugges-
tions of a fourth band are
visible on the outer second-
aries of most. Many cyaneus

I 95. Juvenile ringtail harrier Circus, with Hooded Crow Corvus cornix, Shetland, March 2008. While searching for
photographs to illustrate this article, I discovered images of an extremely distinctive juvenile harrier in Shetland.
The bird shows what look like unstreaked brown underparts and a fairly well-marked dark boa.These aspects
recall hudsonius, although the primary markings (with only four dark bars on the longest primaries) are typical of
cyaneus, while the amount of pale feathering around the eye also points in that direction. Furthermore, the body
colour appears to be a muddy brown rather than showing orange or cinnamon tones, while the boa is rather
‘shadowy’. Nonetheless it is an unusual bird and, while pondering how to deal with it, I was directed to Forsman &
Peltomaki (2007), which documents the first case of hybridisation between Hen Circus cyaneus and Pallid Harriers
C. macrourus, in Finland. The Shetland bird does share some features with the juvenile hybrid illustrated in Forsman
& Peltomaki, although this is not the place to go into great detail about this particular individual. Regardless of its
true identity, one can easily imagine a Hen x Pallid juvenile showing a combination of features similar to hudsonius,
perhaps sharing the unstreaked underparts and strong dark boa of Pallid with a more Hen-like structure. Such
hybrids are clearly rare, but are perhaps likely to be increasing as the range of Pallid expands into that of Hen. They
might now be at least as likely to occur in Britain as hudsonius so do need to be taken into account.

As ever, vagrants should be identified using a full range of features.

402

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 394M07

'Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

(

show a similar pattern; although perhaps fewer
have a fourth band on the outer secondaries
and the subterminal dark band noticeably
narrow, there seems to be too much overlap to
make this a useful feature.

Summary and conclusions

In summary, most juvenile hudsonius should be
identifiable using a combination of the strong
contrast between the orange hue to the more or
less unstreaked underparts and the solidly dark
boa and largely dark head markings. The
underparts are warm-toned, appearing pale cin-
namon in some but rich orange or rufous in
others. They are typically streaked only on the
flanksfwing pit’ and close to the lower border
of the ‘hood’, but some individuals appear
almost unstreaked.

A minority of juvenile cyaneus can be just
as rufous as hudsonius (many are warm-
toned) but are always streaked. Even the
most poorly marked cyaneus have darker
streaking in the middle of the breast. Excep-
tional cyaneus , with the most rufous and
least streaked underparts, together with the
darkest shadowy hoods, can be problematic,
appearing very close to the most heavily
streaked minority of hudsonius. There are
occasional reports of juvenile cyaneus with
unstreaked rufous underparts (e.g. Thorpe
1988); since hudsonius is rarely or never
completely unstreaked on the underparts, it
seems doubtful that such cyaneus are ever
truly unmarked, though presumably they
showed reduced or rather light streaking
(though see plate 195). Although this varia-
tion has in the past contributed to the view
that the two forms cannot be reliably sepa-
rated, this is really not the case. Most hudso-
nius are identifiable on body and head
markings alone. For the small proportion of
birds in the overlap zone with respect to
underpart and head plumage, the primary
pattern and upperpart coloration are also
helpful.

While hudsonius typically shows five or
six dark bars on the longest primaries
(excluding the dark tip), cyaneus usually
shows three or four bars, though a (small?)
minority show five. The other, more subtle,
differences in primary and secondary pattern
are probably supportive but require more
study. Other differences are difficult to
discern in field conditions, although the dark

upperpart tone and rufous fringing should be
apparent with good views.

The majority of hudsonius should be identi-
fiable, if well documented, using a combination
of the features described above, and indeed the
majority should appear rather striking. Of
course, photographic evidence always helps to
clinch the final identification, as in the case of
the Scilly bird, discussed below.

The Scilly bird
Description

The following account is based on the four
descriptions held in the BBRC ‘Marsh Hawk’
file, from Peter Basterfield (PB), Chris Heard
(CDRH), R. J. Raines (RJR) and Keith Vini-
combe (KEV), plus Barrie Widden’s (BW)
colour slides.

196 & 197. Juvenile ‘Northern Harrier’ Circus cyaneus
hudsonius, Bryher, Scilly, October 1 982. This bird, like the
majority of hudsonius, is a striking individual with a solidly
dark hood contrasting with the mainly plain orange or
cinnamon body. The head pattern, with restricted pale
areas around the eye, is typical of hudsonius while the
longest primaries have five dark bars and PIO has four.
Note also the pale crescent at the base of the primaries
and the barely darker tips to the inner primaries.

British Birds 101 'August 2008 • 394—407

403

Barrie Widden Barrie Widden

Northern Harrier’ on Sciliy: new to Britain

Size, shape and jizz

A ringtail harrier with five-fingered primaries,
and shape much as cyaneus. PB and RJR com-
mented that it appeared larger and bulkier than
cyaneus but CDRH described it as ‘not espe-
cially large but with substantial/stocky wings’.

Underpans

The underparts were variously described as
‘incredibly rufous’ (PB), ‘deep chestnut brown’
(RJR), ‘orangey, strikingly so’ (KEV) and
‘cinnamon’ (CDRH). There was agreement that
they were basically unmarked, though RJR
noted streaks ‘towards the axillaries’. The colour
slides confirm the underparts as rather pale
orangey or cinnamon with some light streaking
confined to the flanks.

Head

All observers noted the darkness of much of the
head and three mentioned that this produced a
hooded effect. CDRH, who watched the bird
through a telescope as it sat on a post, had the
best views and provided the most detailed
description. He noted the large dark patches at
the chest sides, with rufous fringes to the
feathers, joined across the mid breast by a
brown wash; this being the boa referred to
above (footnote, p. 396). He also noted the dark
brown crown, ear-coverts and hind neck, the
pale crescent below and behind the eye, and
slight supercilium. BW’s photographs confirm
the striking, solid-dark-brown appearance of
the hood, which contrasts strongly with the
body plumage. The rather short pale crescent
below the eye and short supercilium above it,
forming a rather restricted pale area around the
eye, are also visible.

Underwing

The underwing colour and pattern was vari-
ously described and was clearly difficult to
observe in the field. CDRH probably had the
best views of the bird and his account describes
pale cinnamon underwing-coverts, unmarked
apart from a few spots on the outermost
primary coverts, and mentions the dark under-
side to the secondaries with two or three visible
bars. More detail is discernible in the photo-
graphs, where the outer primary can be seen to
show four dark bars in addition to the dark tip,
and the longest two primaries (P8 and P9) to
show five dark bars. There is an unmarked,
paler crescent at the base of the primaries. The

secondaries form a darker block, having three
blackish bands on a dusky grey background, the
middle dark band being narrower than the
terminal band. The underwing-coverts are
similar in tone to the body and generally plain
but there are some darker streaks and spots.

Upperparts

All observers commented on the darkness of
the upperparts and two described rufous tones
here. All also noted that the rump was conspic-
uously white and unmarked, some considering
it to be larger or broader and more obvious
than that of cyaneus.

Bare parts

PB noted that the bill was blue with a dark tip.
He described the iris as yellow and KEV noted it
as pale, indicating that it was a young male.

Discussion

Though the field descriptions are helpful in
confirming some features such as plumage
tones, BW’s colour slides proved critical in the
identification of the bird. They show rich pale
orangey-buff and largely unstreaked under-
parts, with some light streaking confined to the
breast sides. This pattern alone is at least a very
strong pointer to hudsonius. This bird lies at the
paler end of the spectrum of variation but is
entirely typical in terms of the extent of the
streaking. Juvenile cyaneus can be approxi-
mately this colour but is almost always more
extensively streaked.

The boa on this bird is very dark and solid,
going right across the upper breast and con-
trasting sharply with the lower breast and upper
flanks. The rest of the head appears solidly dark
brown apart from the short crescent below the
eye and the supercilium above. This head and
boa pattern is entirely typical of hudsonius, as is
the contrast with the unmarked body; the result
is a very characteristic appearance not matched
by any cyaneus.

The dark upperparts with rufous fringes are
again typical of hudsonius. Whether the striking
white rump is actually larger than that of
cyaneus or just appears more obvious as it con-
trasts more with the darker upperparts is
unclear. Many specimens of juvenile cyaneus
have dark spots within the white rump, while
the rump on all hudsonius examined was
unmarked white. This could perhaps be another
minor supportive feature.

404

British Birds 1 0 1 • August 2008 • 394—407

Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

The photographs show clearly the five dark
bars on the underside of P8 and P9, and four
bars on the underside of the outermost primary
(P10). There is an unmarked pale crescent at
the base of the primaries, and the inner pri-
maries seem rather indistinctly darker-tipped.
The pattern is typical of hudsonius, though a
minority of cyaneus show the same number of
bars. The barring on the longest primaries sup-
ports the identification while the paler crescent
and paler inner primary tips are possibly also
supportive but require further study. The darker
secondaries are typical of juveniles of both
forms. The narrower central dark band might
be weakly supportive of hudsonius but, in my
view, this feature is of little use because indi-
vidual variation seems quite large and it is also
difficult to observe in the field.

Stepping back from the detail of the descrip-
tions and photographs, this bird is actually par-
ticularly distinctive and the combination of
features allows it to be confidently identified as
hudsonius.

Range and vagrancy potential
Northern Harrier breeds widely in North
America from Alaska east to Newfoundland,
Canada, and south to 30°N in Baja California,
Mexico, in the west and Pennsylvania, USA, in
the east. It winters from southern Canada south
to northern South America, a proportion of the
population comprising long-distance migrants.
It is declining across much of its range, though
remains locally common.

Long-distance flights over water by broad-
winged raptors were once considered to be
impossible. However, a juvenile Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorus that was radio-tracked as it flew
for at least four days over the Atlantic
(www.roydennis.org) has shown that such birds
are in fact capable of remarkable feats of
endurance. Other raptors of Nearctic origin
that have reached Europe include plausible
records of Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus,
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis and Bald
Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus as well as both
American Kestrel Falco sparverius and Merlin F.
columbarius. Further records of hudsonius
might be expected but it is likely to remain an
extremely rare vagrant.

Other claims

Of the three other recent claims of hudsonius
held in the BBRC archives, none was considered

to be acceptable. They are discussed briefly
here.

Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire,

29th October to 18th November 1972

This ringtail harrier was described as having
rufous underparts, a solidly dark hood and dark
upperparts. The account lacks critical detail,
however, such as the primary pattern. There is
no mention of streaking in the underparts but
there would almost certainly have been at least
some, which suggests that views were not
optimal. The submission compared the Cam-
bridgeshire bird with the one at Cley in
1957-58, although the published colour
drawing of the Cley bird (Wallace 1971) shows
a lot of white around the eye and the lack of a
dark boa, neither feature being typical of hudso-
nius. The Wicken Fen bird was simply not
described in sufficient detail to establish the
identification.

Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire,

18th November 1973 to mid March 1974

This bird showed rufous underparts; dark head
markings including solidly dark ear-coverts;
and dark chocolate upperparts (though there
was no mention of rufous fringes in the
description). The pale underside to the pri-
maries suggested a juvenile male but detail of
the pattern was not reported. As with the Cam-
bridgeshire bird, some aspects of the descrip-
tion sound promising but the identification
could not be established owing to a lack of
crucial detail.

Hengistbury Head, Dorset,

22nd October 1 983

This bird was present for a few minutes only
but one of the observers managed to obtain a
useful series of colour photographs. They show
orange-toned underparts and a darker boa. On
closer examination, the boa appears to be too
pale and shadowy for a well-marked hudsonius,
while there is a good deal of white around the
eye. The underparts are warm orangey-brown
with apparently little streaking but the shots are
not quite sharp enough to be sure about its
extent, and a lightly marked cyaneus could not
be excluded on this evidence. The written
description described the underparts as
‘unstreaked’ but this would be at best excep-
tional for either form and, in fact, one image
does appear to show streaking that extends to

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 394—407

405

D. /. M. Wallace

'Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

the middle of the breast. It is interesting to note
that a bird perceived in the field as being
unstreaked on the underparts might in fact be
reasonably well streaked! The pattern of P9 is
just discernible in one image and shows only
four dark bars. Using this combination of fea-
tures, the Dorset bird can be identified as a
lightly marked, but distinctly rufous cyaneus
with a shadowy hood.

Taxonomy

Both Ferguson-Lees & Christie (2001) and
Simmons (2002) treated hudsonius as a sepa-
rate species, distinct from both cyaneus and
Cinereous Harrier C. cinereus of South
America. Simmons considered the three forms
as an allospecies and reported DNA evidence
to suggest that hudsonius has been isolated
from cyaneus for over 400,000 years. Fer-
guson-Lees & Christie also mentioned differ-
ences in juvenile plumage as a significant
distinction between cyaneus and hudsonius.
Their treatment of harrier taxonomy may be
worthy of review by the BOURC’s Taxonomic
Sub-committee.

Acknowledgments

Graham Etherington provided useful flight images and
discussion of hudsonius. Keith Vinicombe kindly provided a
copy of his field notes and put me in touch with Barrie
Widden, who in turn provided the three excellent colour
slides that enabled the identification of the Scilly bird to be
clinched. Andrew Harrop and Chris Kehoe (BOURC), Ian
Wallace, and various members of BBRC, in particular Brian
Small and Reg Thorpe, helped in refining the identification
criteria. Mark Adams, curator at NHM.Tring, kindly
provided access to skins.

References

Ferguson-Lees, J„ & Christie, D. A. 200 1 . Raptors of the
World. Helm, London.

Forsman, D. 1 999. The Raptors of Europe and the Middle
East. A Handbook of Field Identification. Poyser, London.

— & Peltomaki.J. 2007. Hybrids between Pallid and Hen
Harrier - a new headache for birders? Alula 1 3: 178-182.

Grant, R J. 1 983. The 'Marsh Hawk' problem. Brit. Birds 76:
373-376.

Simmons, R. E. 2002. Harriers of the World. OUR Oxford.
Thorpe, J. R 1 988. Juvenile Hen Harriers showing 'Marsh
Hawk' characters. Brit. Birds 8 1 : 377-382.

Vinicombe, K. E. 2003. Travelling Circus. Birdwatch 1 35:
24-27.

Wallace, D. I. M. 1 971. American Marsh Hawk in Norfolk.
Brit. Birds 64: 537-542.

— 1 998. Identification forum: Marsh Hawk - the end of a
4 1 -year hunt? Birding World I 1 : 454-457.

Wheeler B. K„ & Clark, W. S. 1995. A Photographic Guide to
North American Raptors. Christopher Helm, London.

John P. Martin

34 Cranmoor Green, Pilning, Bristol BS35 4QF

Juvenile ‘Northern Harrier’ Circus cyaneus hudsonius, outgoing, over the Bronx, New York, November 1983.

406

British Birds 101 ‘August 2008 • 394-407

Northern Harrier' on Scilly: new to Britain

Appendix 1 . Comparison of plumage features of juvenile Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus of Eurasian race cyaneus,
and juvenile North American ‘Northern Harrier’ C. c. hudsonius.

Northern Harrier

Hen Harrier

Comments

Body/underwing-

coverts

Deep rufous-orange to paler
cinnamon, with variable, but
rather narrow dark streaking
usually confined to Hanks and
sometimes breast sides;
unmarked in middle of breast
apart from immediately below
dark boa.

Usually paler, creamy or buff
ground colour; rufous-toned
individuals are not infrequent,
though rarely matching the
orange or cinnamon tones of
Northern. Streaking stronger
and more extensive than on
Northern, extending right
across the breast and often
onto the belly.

A very lightly streaked and
rufous-toned Hen would be
very close to the most heavily
marked Northern but most
individuals are outside the
overlap zone.

Hood/neck (‘boa’)

More or less solidly dark
brown or almost blackish ‘boa’
(though occasionally slightly
more streaky/blotchy), thus
recalling juvenile Pallid Harrier
C. macrourus- but often meets
across breast, sometimes as a
series of broad, blotchy streaks;
separated from dark ear-
coverts by a more or less
prominent narrow pale band
(collar).

Can sometimes show a
shadowy, darker ‘boa’ but this
is always streaky, with a rather
pale ground colour similar to
rest of underparts and not as
contrasting as on Northern
(like comparing heavily
marked Montagu’s Harrier
C. pygargus with Pallid).

Pale surround to facial disc
(collar) present.

In combination with
unstreaked, orange-toned
body, the dark hood and boa
gives Northerns a striking
appearance. Some are less well-
marked and might be hard to
tell from a rufous-toned,
lightly streaked Hen, especially
if latter also has a shadowy
boa. Well-marked Northerns
(majority) are distinctive and
not approached by any Hen.

Head pattern

Overall more solidly dark
chocolate, with more
contrasting and warmer pale
supercilium, separated from
shorter, thicker pale crescent
below eye by eye-stripe. Solidly
blackish-brown ear-coverts
(tone as crown).

Overall paler and streakier,
with more white round the eye.
Often lacks dark line behind
the eye and has pale lores.
Brown ear-coverts much as
crown and usually paler and
streakier than Northern’s, but
can be similarly solidly dark.

A little variable, with some
Hens quite like typical
Northern but latter rarely
(or never?) as pale as typical
Hen.

Upperparts

Distinctly darker chocolate
brown than Hen and with
rich/warm pale fringes (at least
when fresh).

Mid brown, paler than
Northern, with paler buff tones
to feather edgings. Nape area
paler owing to pale buffy
fringes.

No overlap apparent when a
series of skins compared but
would not be easy to judge on
a lone bird. Rufous fringes
(of Northern) a more useful
feature.

Underside of
primaries

Five ‘fingers’. P10 (outermost)
with 3-4 (rarely 5) blackish
bars plus the black tip. P8-P9
with 5-6 blackish bars plus the
dark tip. Inners with only two
blackish bars and indistinctly
dark at tip.

Five ‘fingers’. P10 with three
blackish bars plus the black tip.
P8-P9 with (5) blackish

bars plus the dark tip. Inners
with only two blackish bars
and on average more distinctly
dark at tip. Barring may be
very weak on some males.

Based on photos, as impossible
to see on most skins.

Underside of
secondaries

Typically has a diffuse, broad
dark trailing band.
Subterminal band is usually
narrower than those on either
side. Inner band is broadest.
Hints of a fourth band visible
on outers on most. Often
dark/dusky overall (age
related not species-specific).

Can be similar on at least some
individuals. Fewer have the
fourth band on the outers.

Appears to be of little use as a
feature.

Overall plumage
tones

Overall darker brown with
paler areas more rufous.

Overall paler brown with paler
areas colder huffish.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 394-^07

407

Bird Photograph
of the Year 2008

The judging of ‘BPY’ is always one of the
highlights of the BB year. With more
entries this year, and a clutch of unfa-
miliar names on the leader board, it is satisfying
to know that this competition continues to go
from strength to strength. This does not make
the judging any easier, though; in fact, with so
many top-class entries to choose from, judging
this year was perhaps the closest for many years.

A concern voiced by the judges in recent
competitions was the relative lack of routine
post-processing carried out by photographers,

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perhaps owing to a misunderstanding of the
rules. On behalf of the judges, David Tipling
prepared a short article on digital manipulation
techniques (Brit. Birds 101: 39-42), suggesting
some of the simpler techniques that can be
employed to improve images, and which would
be appropriate if carried out on entries for this
competition. One of the characteristics of
digital photography is that the initial results
tend not to be as crisp and contrasting as their
conventional counterparts. This is readily over-
come by using a digital manipulation program,
such as Photoshop, which modifies brightness,
contrast and sharpness and allows the photo-
grapher to crop an image to bring out the best
composition. David’s article has undoubtedly
resulted in improvements in the quality of the
images we received.

A total of five slide images were received for
the 2008 competition but we have decided that,
from 2009, only digital images will be accepted.
We are also investigating means by which
images can be submitted via our website
www.britishbirds.co.uk in order to simplify the
entry process. Details will be announced in the
January 2009 issue.

In previous years, this competition has
encouraged and promoted digiscoping as a
means of documenting interesting aspects of
bird behaviour, beyond that possible using a
conventional lens. Our 2007 winner, depicting
the unusual begging behaviour of juvenile
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus,
illustrates exactly what is achievable. And to
encourage digiscopers to submit their best work
for judging, The Eric Hosking Charitable Trust
has made a generous cash prize available. In
2008, however, the judges felt that although the
images entered included several extremely
attractive portraits, none met the aims and
goals set for this award. Consequently, and with
the agreement of The Eric Hosking Charitable
Trust, the judges decided not to award the
digiscoping prize this year.

As in previous years, the judging procedure
followed the traditional format. Each image was
viewed twice, and a shortlist of 20 images was

408

Bird Photograph of the Year 2008

British Birds 101 “August 2008 • 408-417

409

I 98. BIRD PHOTOGRAPH OFTHEYEAR 2007 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus, near Aviemore, Scotland, April 2007
(Canon EOS I D3; Canon 300-mm lens; 1/3200, f3.5, ISO 125). Philip Newman

Bird Photograph of the Year 2008

1st

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

(plate 198)

Philip Newman

2nd

Little Stint Caliciris minuta

(plate 199)

Harri Taavetti

3rd

Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis

(plate 200)

Ernie Janes

4th=

Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius

(plate 201)

Bill Baston

4th=

Wryneck Jynx torquilla

(plate 202)

Philip Mugridge

6th

Sooty Falcon Falco concolor

(plate 203)

Jens Eriksen

7th

Common Eider Somateria mollissima , King Eider S. spectabilis,
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis and Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri

(plate 204)

Harri Taavetti

8th

Steller’s Eiders Polysticta stelleri

(plate 205)

Bill Coster

9th

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

(plate 206)

Hugh Harrop

10th

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

(plate 207)

Roger Tidman

11th

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

Steve Young

12th

Great Tit Parus major

Philip Newman

13th=

Sanderling Calidris alba

Richard Steel

13th=

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni

David Edge

15th=

Willow Grouse Lagopus lagopus

Markus Varesvuo

15th=

Puffin Fratercula arctica

Rebecca Nason

15th=

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla and Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Mike Lane

18th

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

Markus Varesvuo

19th

Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta

Roger Tidman

20th

Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Tom Wylie

(eventually) selected. At this point, the photo-
graphs were examined even more closely, the
judges looking for sharpness and clarity of
reproduction, as well as any telltale indications
of over-sharpening or other signs of excessive
digital manipulation. Because there were so
many outstanding images, judging was excep-
tionally difficult this year and there was no clear
contender for first prize. But after spending a
total of five hours pouring over some wonderful
images of both common and widespread and
rare and exotic species, the votes were cast to
produce the results shown above.

First place this year goes to Philip Newman,
who produced this outstanding image of a cock
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus in full
display. When seen like this, with the soft
morning light highlighting the iridescence of
the greens, bronzes and purples, you realise just
what an attractive bird the Pheasant really is.
Philip commented that he had previously noted
that Pheasants were quite common in the High-
land Wildlife Park near Aviemore, where they
can regularly be seen displaying among attrac-
tive open birch woodland. With this very image
in mind, he returned in April 2007. ‘For once I
was in the right place at the right time because
the first Pheasant I slowly drove up to immedi-
ately walked onto a nearby mound and started
to display, giving me just enough time to rattle
off a few images. I did not have any time to

adjust camera settings and consequently the
RAW file is a little dark and this has been recov-
ered in Photoshop.’ The judges felt that
although Philip had frozen the movement of
the body to reveal the plumage to perfection,
the slight blurring of the wing-tips enhanced
the sense of action within the image, and said so
much more, as this frisky male demanded to be
noticed by his females. This is the first occasion
that Philip has won this competition, but we
hope that it will not be the last. Philip will
receive a telescope from Zeiss, books of his
choice from Collins and A&C Black and a cash
prize, as well as the traditional inscribed salver
for the competition’s overall winner.

Northern Norway is a wonderful destination
and, as no fewer than four of this year’s top ten
images were taken here, it is clear to see why:
exciting birds, breathtaking scenery, superb
light, obliging birds and always the opportunity
for that unexpected bonus shot. Our second
prize this year goes to Harri Taavetti, who took
this unusual picture of a Little Stint Caliciris
minuta at Hoyholmen, Tana River delta, on 4th
June 2007, which embodies much of the
urgency of the brief Arctic summer. Harri com-
mented that ‘on the site there were many
shallow, sandy pools with insects forming a
mattress around the water. A flock of Little
Stints was feeding on the insects, and when the
stints ran along, the insects took off making a

410

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 408-4 1 7

Bird Photograph of the Year 2008

)

41 I

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 408—4 1 7

199. SECOND Little Stint Calidris minuta, Tana River delta, Norway, June 2007 (Canon EOS 20D; Canon 300-mm f2.8 lens + 2.0x converter; 1/1250, f5.6, ISO 200). HarriTaavetti

Bird Photograph of the Year 2008

412

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 408-4 1 7

200. THIRD Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis, Salthouse, Norfolk, February 2008
(Canon EOS I D Mark II; Canon 1 6-35-mm lens set at 29 mm; I / 1 000, f8, ISO 320, remote exposure). Ernie Janes

Bird Photograph of the Year 2008

“clear” area around the birds.’ The judges felt
that this picture told a fascinating story: the
dashing behaviour of the newly arrived Little
Stint eager to stock up on depleted fat reserves
before heading east to breed in Arctic Russia,
and the innate behaviour of the insects, keeping
just out of harm’s way and re-settling behind
the bird when the danger had passed. As our
second-placed winner, Harri will receive an
outdoor jacket from Sprayway, a selection of
books from Collins and A&C Black, and a cash
prize.

Just occasionally, the BPY judges say that
they wished they had thought of that. In this
particular case, both the location and the birds
were very familiar to the judging panel, most of
whom had visited Salthouse, Norfolk, and come
away with pleasing shots of the wintering Snow
Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis. But Ernie Janes
looked at the photographic possibilities from a
different angle (literally) and came up with this
unique shot. To achieve this striking image, he
set up his camera with a 16— 35-mm wide-angle
zoom lens, and used a remote shutter release. By
using a short-focal-length lens, Ernie has not
only achieved a considerable depth of field,
freezing the birds as they descended to feed, but
has also managed to include an attractive sky-
scape and the well-known shingle bank behind.
While perhaps this technique may not be to
everyone’s taste, the judges felt that the com-
bined artistic and technical aspects of the pho-
tograph merited a well-deserved third place.
Ernie will receive a selection of books from
Collins and A&C Black, and a cash prize.

Bill Baston’s delightful picture of a family of
Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius has it
all and fully deserves its fourth-placed position.
This is a crisp portrait in superb light with an
appealing youngster that almost seems to be
pleading with its parent to be ‘let in’, plus the
novelty of a ‘six-legged’ adult! Bill commented
that ‘this family of Little Ringed Plovers was
feeding on the edge of the Alikes saltpans on the
Greek island of Zakynthos. Being in a rather
exposed area, prone to disturbance from locals,
tourists and the local dog and cat population,
the chicks would run to the calling adult birds
and seek sanctuary under their feathers. In this
photo, two chicks have already disappeared,
leaving just their legs showing, and a third chick
looks as if it is asking if there is room for one
more!’

Also in fourth (equal) position comes Philip

Mugridge’s shot of a Wryneck Jynx torquilla at
its nest in Bulgaria. Usually, a photograph of a
bird at the nest would not make the top ten in
this competition, as these tend to be repeating
what has gone before, when nest photography
was often the only means of obtaining a good-
quality photograph of many species. In this
case, though, the judges felt that the Wryneck’s
cryptic plumage blended so well with the
gnarled and cracked bark on its nest tree that it
has become difficult to see where the bird ends
and the tree begins, particularly towards the
tail-tip. As the nest was in shade, Philip has used
fill flash to bring out the plumage detail to good
effect, as well as capturing a highlight in the
bird’s eye, and illuminating one of its favourite
foods: ant pupae.

In sixth place, Jens Eriksen’s action-packed
shot of a Sooty Falcon Falco concolor scything
through the air evokes both the power and the
beauty of this rare falcon. As the bird looks
directly into the lens, enhancing the drama of
the moment which Jens’s chance shot has
frozen, it is almost possible to feel the fear
which this bird would instil into a hapless
migrant passerine about to make landfall.

Seventh place goes to Harri Taavetti for his
attractive portrait of four of northern Norway’s
most colourful sea ducks, which he has entitled
‘the Arctic handsomes’: Common Eider Soma-
teria mollissima. King Eider S. spectabilis , Long-
tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis and Steller’s
Eider Polysticta stelleri. Harri commented:
‘While I was sitting on a floating pontoon,
many King, Steller’s and Common Eiders and
Long-tailed Ducks were swimming around at
close range. As this flock swam past the
pontoon, I realised the unique situation and I
set a small aperture to get a decent depth of
field with all the birds as sharp as possible.’ The
result was this stunning, well-composed image,
which the judges felt fully deserved a place in
the top ten.

Sticking with the Norwegian seaduck theme,
Bill Coster successfully captured a remarkable
aspect of Steller’s Eider behaviour when he
came across this tightly knit group of wintering
birds at Varanger Fjord in early April 2007.
Documenting unusual behaviour as well as pro-
ducing an artistic image will never fail to
impress the judges. In this shot, Bill has cap-
tured the contrast between the brightly pat-
terned males and duller females, which adds to
this attractive portrait; this image may have

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 408-4 1 7

413

201. FOURTH equal Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius, Alikes saltpans, Zakynthos, Greece, May 2007
(Canon EOS I D Mark II; Canon 500-mm lens + l.4x extender; 1/320, f9, ISO 200). Bill Boston

202. FOURTH equal Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Bulgaria, May 2007
(Canon EOS I D Mark II; 500-mm lens + 1 ,4x extender; I /80, f5.6, ISO 400 with fill flash). Philip Mugridge

KMmm

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achieved an even higher place if the right-hand-
most male had not been cropped. Bill com-
mented that this flock of eiders crowded
together on the sea to form a densely packed
group, quite unlike the behaviour of other
duck; a truly remarkable sight. The judges
thought the same and awarded Bill’s superb
image eighth place.

Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus
are always delightful birds to photograph, being
both approachable and highly photogenic. So for
an image of this species to make the top ten, it
really needs to be something special. We felt that
Hugh Harrop had achieved this with his action
shot of a male in flight at Batsfjord Fjellen in
northern Norway, which takes ninth position.
Hugh commented that he came across a party of
incredibly active Red-necked Phalaropes on a
roadside pool, constantly chasing each other in
flight and on the water. With so many opportu-
nities, he spent several hours working with these
delightful birds, concentrating on trying to
capture a sharp in-flight image. Hand-holding a
heavy 500-mm lens and camera combo amidst
armies of mosquitoes was not easy but persist-

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 408-4 1 7

Bird Photograph of the Year 2008

ence paid off and as this bird flew up off the
water directly towards him, he captured this
stunning image, the subject being enhanced by
the softness of the late evening light.

Last year, Roger Tidman won this competi-
tion with his image of a Common Swift Apus
apus drinking. This year, he returns in tenth
position with his crisp image of a Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica frozen in flight, complete with a
mouthful of mud. This is behaviour we observe
routinely, but which is rarely captured so well. It
also makes one wonder how the poor bird ever
gets the taste of mud out of its mouth! Roger’s
efforts to obtain this image seemed all the more
outstanding when we realised (after the
judging) that he had a badly dislocated knuckle
and his arm in a sling, preventing him from
wielding his camera for this action shot, and so
he had to achieve it by resting the lens on his
car window and waiting!

As mentioned above, the judges were again
disappointed that relatively few images were
submitted for the digiscoping prize. For this
year’s competition, the images received failed to
convey the benefits which digiscoping holds
over conventional photography, and which this

category is hoping to promote. We know that
there are many avid digiscopers out there who
produce some outstanding work and we
encourage them to enter this competition next
year. Many birders routinely carry a small
camera and opportunistically take ‘digiscoped’
and ‘digibinned’ images, many of which are of
high quality and depict interesting behaviour. It
is these images, some of which appear on web-
sites such as BirdGuides (www.birdguides.com),
that we are hoping to attract. This competition
remains committed to promoting and
extending the benefits of digiscoping.

The prizes for the overall winner, second and
third places will be presented at this year’s
British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water, in
August. We wish to take this opportunity to
thank our sponsors, Zeiss (www.zeiss.co.uk),
A&C Black (www.acblack.com), Collins
(www.collins.co.uk), Sprayway (www. spray way.
com) and The Eric Hosking Charitable Trust,
once again for their support, without which this
competition would not continue. The rules for
next year’s competition will be announced in
the January 2009 issue of BB , and on our
website www.britishbirds.co.uk.

Richard Chandler, Tim Appleton, Robin Chittenden, David Hosking, Peter Ketinerley
and David Tipling, do 4 Kings Road, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4AX

203. SIXTH Sooty Falcon Falco concolor, Ras As Sawadi, Oman, September 2007
(Canon EOS 5D; Canon 500-mm lens; 1/4000, f4, ISO 200). Jens Eriksen

204. SEVENTH Common Eider Somateria mollissima, King Eider S. spectabilis, Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis and Steller’s Eit
Polysticta stelleri, Batsfjord, Norway, March 2007. (Canon 20D; Canon 300-mm f2.8 lens + 2. Ox converter; 1/250, f22, ISO 400). Harri'

205. EIGHTH Steller’s Eiders Polysticta stelleri, Varanger Fjord, Norway, April 2007.

(Canon EOS I D; Canon 400-mm lens with I 4x converter; 1/500, fl 6, ISO 400). Bill Coster

206. NINTH Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus, Batsfjord Fjellen, Norway, July 2007
(Canon EOS ID Mark ll;500-mm lens; 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 200). Hugh Harrop

207. TENTH Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, Spain, May 2007
(Canon EOS ID Mark IIN; Canon 500-mm f4 lens; 1/1600, f7. 1, ISO 320). RogerTidman

Important Bird Areas:

Breeding seabirds
on the Isles of Scilly

Vickie Heaney , Leigh Lock , Paul St Pierre
and Andy Brown

Razorbills Alca torda Ren Hathway

ABSTRACT The Isles of Scilly are long famous for attracting rare migrant birds,
and much-visited in spring and autumn by those in search of them, but it is
much less widely appreciated that the islands also support an outstanding
and internationally important assemblage of breeding seabirds. We document
the present status and distribution of seabirds on the islands, set populations
in their regional, national and international contexts, and review recent and
historical changes in numbers. In the light of some alarming population trends,
we discuss the possible roles of persecution, disturbance, predation, habitat
change, waste and fisheries management, climate change and pollution in
bringing about these changes. Finally, we identify a range of actions that
we believe will do much to improve the fortunes of the seabirds breeding

in the archipelago.

418

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly are situated some 45 km
to the west of the southwest tip of the
British mainland. Five inhabited islands
and at least 300 smaller, uninhabited islands,
islets and rocks cover a total area of 16 km2.
Composed primarily of granite, the island
group is perhaps best visualised as an island
Dartmoor or Bodmin Moor, with the lowest
levels now flooded by the sea. The open
landscape is a result of forest clearance for
arable cultivation, which commenced with the
settlement of Scilly in the early Bronze Age, just
over 4,000 years ago (Ratcliffe & Straker 1996).
The islands are dominated by grass and
heathland species, while the littoral fringe varies
from low cliffs and rugged rock exposures to
sheltered bays and sandflats. Technically, the
islands are the sole European example of a
Lusitanian1 semi-oceanic archipelago (UK
Biodiversity Steering Group 1995). A modern
account of the archipelago’s natural history is
provided by Parlsow (2007).

The islands support a greater diversity of
breeding seabirds than any other island group
or mainland site in England, with over 9,100
pairs of up to 14 species. They support
internationally important populations of
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
[hereafter ‘Storm-petrel’] and Lesser Black-
backed Gull Larus fuscus and nationally
important populations of Shag Phalacrocorax
aristotelis and Great Black-backed Gull L.
marinus. The populations of a further six
species (seven if Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii is
included) are regarded as important in a
southwest regional context. The greater part of
the seabird interest is contained within 14 Sites
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)2, the Isles of
Scilly Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar
Site, and the Isles of Scilly Important Bird Area
(IBA)3. Much of the area is also a Special Area
of Conservation (SAC).

A history of seabird censusing on the islands

As this archipelago is of such considerable

seabird interest, it is not surprising that many of
the older county avifaunas refer to the presence
of seabirds in some numbers. However, few of
the references are quantitative and information
on the size of seabird colonies on Scilly prior to
the Operation Seafarer surveys of 1969-70 is
scant. We have gathered information from all
published (and some unpublished) sources
known to us (see reference list), with
Penhallurick (1969), Allen (1976), Chown &
Lock (2002), Robinson (2003) and Flood et al.
(2007) providing particularly useful overviews
of historical information.

The most recent survey took place in 2006
and formed part of the Action for Birds in
England programme, a partnership between
Natural England and the RSPB, and was
conducted in collaboration with the Isles of
Scilly Wildlife Trust (IOSWT) and the Isles of
Scilly Bird Group. All islands believed to be
capable of supporting breeding seabirds were
searched during the survey using standard
methods (see Gilbert et al. 1998). The actual
count units used varied between species in strict
accordance with these methods. For simplicity,
however, all are expressed here as ‘pairs’,
including uncorrected counts of individual
auks. The two most recent surveys (2006 and
the 1998-2002 Seabird 2000 surveys) used
identical methods, were organised by the same
team and many of the surveyors, including the
authors, were involved in both surveys. The
results are thus directly comparable.

The status of seabirds on Scilly in 2006
A total of 9,161 pairs of 14 species of seabird were
recorded from 58 islands in 2006 (see table 1).

The seabird assemblage is dominated
numerically by gulls, which are also among the
most widespread seabirds in the islands.
Numbers of both Lesser Black-backed and
Great Black-backed Gulls exceed 1% of the
national total. Furthermore, since Lesser Black-
backed Gulls breeding in Britain constitute
about 65% of the global population of the sub-

' Denoting flora or fauna characteristically found only in the warm, moist, west-facing coastal regions of Portugal,
Spain, France, and the west and southwest coasts of Great Britain and Ireland.

2 Not all SSSIs in the archipelago support breeding seabirds and an additional three SSSIs between them support
ten pairs of Herring Gulls L. argentatus.

3 The population of wintering Turnstones Arenaria interpres additionally forms part of the qualifying interest of
the Isles of Scilly IBA (Heath et al. 2000). Numbers were estimated at 940 individuals in winter 1984/85, but had
fallen to some 330 individuals by winter 1997/98 (Rehfisch et al. 2003). As there has been no more recent census,
the focus of this paper is on the IBA’s seabirds.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8—438

419

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

species graellsii, the Scilly population is
regarded as internationally important. Lesser
Black-backed Gull is thus a key species for
which the SPA has been designated. Its overall
numbers in the archipelago represent some
36% of the total numbers of birds in the assem-
blage. The regional significance of the Scilly
populations of both these species is exceptional.

Numbers of two other species exceed 1,000
pairs. The archipelago is the only place in
England where Storm-petrels breed; the
population of this Annex 1 species exceeds 1%
of the national total and is thus of international
importance. The number of breeding Shags
represents half the southwest total, a third of
the English total and is also of national
significance, there being nearly 5% of the
British total in the islands; the Scilly colony is
the third-largest in Britain, after Foula
(Shetland) and the Fame Islands
(Northumberland).

The remaining species are much less
numerous but nonetheless important: the
islands are one of only two nesting stations for
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus in England
(the other being Lundy, Devon). Numbers of
both Razorbill Alca torda and Common Tern
Sterna hirundo are large in a regional context,
the tern population being one of only three in
southwest England. The Fulmar Fulmarus
glacialis population is of some regional

importance but is expanding rapidly and may
assume greater significance in the future. The
Puffin Fratercula arctica population is of great
regional importance and, along with colonies in
the Channel Islands and Co. Kerry, marks the
southwestern limits of the species’ Eurasian
breeding range.

The current distribution of seabirds within the
archipelago

Scilly’s breeding seabirds are not evenly
distributed: many islands are too small or low-
lying to offer shelter from Atlantic storms and
even some relatively sheltered islands are
regularly washed over on spring tides. The
inhabited islands are also scarcely used by
breeding seabirds. For example, in 2006, the
only species to nest on St Mary’s (the largest
island, with a coastline of more than 15 km)
was Fleming Gull, three pairs nesting on
rooftops in Hugh Town. This is by far the most
widespread species on the inhabited islands,
and a further 87 pairs bred on Tresco, 25 on
Bryher, 15 on St Agnes and 13 on St Martin’s.
The remaining seabird interest on the
inhabited islands is focused on four areas
(figures in parentheses refer to number of
pairs nesting in 2006): the Daymark, St
Martin’s (46 Fulmar, 15 Kittiwake Rissa
tridactyla, four Lesser Black-backed Gull, three
Great Black-backed and 12 Herring Gull);

Table I . Seabirds on the Isles of Scilly, ranked by their abundance in 2006, and showing regional, national
and international importance. For scientific names of species, see text. The highest level at which numbers
are significant is indicated in bold; an asterisk denotes numbers of international importance.

no. pairs

no. occupied

no. pairs

islands

as % of SW

as % of

regional total

English total

British total

Lesser Black-backed Gull

3,335

44.6

4.7

2.7*

European Storm-petrel

1,398

100

5.5*

Shag

1,296

51.3

33.6

4.9

Great Black-backed Gull

901

62.7

58.9

5.4

Herring Gull

715

4.2

1.2

Razorbill

342

Fulmar

279

11.4

4.4

Kittiwake

266

7.7

Puffin

174

90.2

Manx Shearwater

171

46.6

Common Guillemot

155

Common Tern

21.6

1.6

Great Cormorant

3.7

1.2

Sandwich Tern

Total

9,161

420

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8-438

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

Wingletang Down, St Agnes (eight Manx
Shearwater and four Herring Gull); Shipman
Head/Shipman Head Down, Bryher (13
Fulmar, 13 Manx Shearwater, four Shag, six of
both Great and Lesser Black-backed Gull, and
11 Herring Gull); and Gimble Porth, Tresco
(37 Kittiwake, four Lesser Black-backed Gull
and 54 Herring Gull). All four areas are within
SSSIs and, with the exception of Wingletang
Down, are part of the SPA.

The principal seabird interest of the
archipelago is, however, largely concentrated
within six key islands or island groups:

Annet

This small island is of outstanding importance
for breeding seabirds, supporting 1,638 pairs of
ten species in 2006, some 18% of the total in the
archipelago. It is low-lying and of gentle relief
throughout, and is covered by large expanses of
maritime grassland, a prominent element of the
sward being either Thrift Armeria marithna or
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum. The grassland
supports the bulk of the gulls and burrow-
nesting Manx Shearwaters and Puffins.
Impressive storm beaches provide nesting
grounds for many of the island’s Storm-petrels,

Round Island

White Island

Shipman

Mead

Gwe

‘ * S

Rocks

Mincarlo

Hanjague

Great
Ganilly '

_ _

# Eastern Isles innisvouls

Northern (Norrard) North ' Puf,in),sllnd

White Island

Menawethan

Stony Island

f *

Green Island

P* Western Rocks

Fig. I. The Isles of Scilly.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8-438

421

RSPB

Andy Brown

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

208. The Eastern Approaches, a familiar site to those who travel to Scilly by air. Seen here are Menawethan
(foreground), Great Innisvouls (middle distance) and Great Gannilly (far left) in the Eastern Isles, with
Chapel Down and the Daymark, St Martin’s, in the background;July 2000.

Table 2. A summary of the status of the seabirds breeding on Scilly.This shows the number of breeding
pairs in 2006, the % change since 1 999-2000, when the SPA was classified, and longer-term trends.

2006

change since
1999-2000

longer-term trends

Fulmar

279

+52%

Rapid increase in numbers continues since first breeding
in 1951

Shag

1,296'

+ 17%

Apparent stability

Razorbill

342

+ 16%

Recent increase after earlier massive decline

Great Black-backed Gull

901

+ 12%

Recent upturn after a general decline
(down 43% since the mid 1970s)

Puffin

174

+4%

Recent increase since the 1980s, following earlier
massive decline

Sandwich Tern

n/a

An occasional breeder for much of the time since 1880

European Storm-petrel

1,398'

-5%

Numbers appear relatively stable, though possibly a
slight decrease2

Kittiwake

266

-5%

Rapid decline continues, by 70% since 1983

Lesser Black-backed Gull

3,335'

-8%

Slow decline continues, by 18% since peak of 4,050 pairs
in 1983

Great Cormorant

-11%

Apparent stability

Manx Shearwater

171

-15%

Apparent recent decrease2

Common Tern

-19%

A regular breeder since the 1940s at least; numbers peaked
1983 with steady decline since

Common Guillemot

155

-21%

Recent decrease following a steady rise in numbers
(numbers have tripled since 1969) after an earlier
massive decline

Herring Gull

715

-21%

Steep decline continues - by 68% since 1974

1 Represents >10% of overall breeding assemblage (Great Black-backed Gull now 9.8%).

2 Long-term trends not known with certainty as earlier surveys used methods which are not comparable or no
surveys conducted.

422

British Birds 101 'August 2008 • 418—438

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

while the fringe of low cliffs supports most of
the remaining birds. The island’s populations of
Manx Shearwater (89 pairs) and Storm-petrel
(788 pairs) each exceed just over half the
archipelago total, while the populations of
Great Black-backed Gull (187 pairs, 21% of the
archipelago total) and Puffin (50 pairs, 29% of
the archipelago total) are also notable. There are
also large numbers of Shag (177 pairs) and
Lesser Black-backed Gull (281 pairs) and small
numbers of Fulmar (37 pairs), Herring Gull (24
pairs) and Razorbill (four pairs). Terns nest
here occasionally, and one pair of Common
Terns did so in 2006. The island is an SSSI in its
own right and lies within the SPA.

Samson

Samson consists of two rounded granite hills
(South Hill towering to 42 m asl), which sweep
up from the shoreline, sandy to the east and with
low cliffs to the west. A narrow neck of sand
separates the two hills. Samson’s near neighbours
- White, Puffin, Green, and Stony Islands - are
low-lying, the last two frequently inundated by
high spring tides. There tends to be much
interchange of birds between them and so the
islands are treated as one unit here. Although the
greater part of the islands is covered with bramble
Rubus fructicosns agg. and Bracken scrub, which
can be quite dense in parts, the main seabird
interest of Samson itself is found on the Bracken-
covered heath and grassland flanks of South Hill
and on the low cliffs which fringe the western
coastline. Gulls and terns are numerically
dominant, there being 1,223 pairs of Lesser
Black-backed, 73 of Great Black-backed and 189
of Herring Gull and 47 pairs
of Kittiwake (respectively,

37%, 8%, 26% and 18% of
the archipelago totals). Fifty-
nine pairs of Common Terns
nested in 2006 (76% of the
archipelago total), all but
three of which were on
Green Island, and a single
pair of Sandwich Terns
S. sandvicensis. Small
numbers of Fulmar (five
pairs), Great Cormorant P.
carbo [hereafter ‘Cormorant’]

(nine pairs) and Shag (35
pairs) are also present. All the
islands are within the
Samson SSSI and the SPA.

The Norrard and Western Rocks

The many small islands which, along with
Annet, guard the western approaches to Scilly,
face deep Atlantic water and their rugged form,
practically devoid of vegetation, bears witness
to the powerful seas that wash over them during
winter storms. The breeding bird assemblage, of
ten species, is numerically dominated by those
nesting on the ledges and crevices of the islands’
cliffs, on the buttresses and in the few sheltered
hollows between them. The islands are
important for Storm-petrel (339 pairs, 24% of
the archipelago total), Cormorant (31, 62%),
Shag (588, 45%) and Great Black-backed Gull
(213, 24%) but they are of particular interest in
that they hold the bulk of the archipelago’s
breeding auks: Common Guillemot Uria aalge
[hereafter ‘Guillemot’] (60 pairs, 39% of the
total), Razorbill (236, 69%) and Puffin (105,
60%). All sites are within either the Norrard
Rocks or Western Rocks SSSIs and the SPA.

The Eastern Isles

Far less rugged than the westernmost islands,
the Eastern Isles are rather similar in form to
Samson, consisting of tall hills sweeping gently
from the sea, flanked by numerous sandy
beaches and isthmuses. There are some rocky
beaches and numerous rocky outcrops,
however, and some islands are flanked by tall,
well-creviced cliffs. The vegetation is lush
compared with that on the western islands,
often consisting of a dense, even impenetrable
sward of tall grass, honeysuckle Lonicera and
bramble, particularly on Great Ganilly and
Little Ganinick. A total of seven breeding

209. Annet, viewed from St Agnes in May 2006. The most important seabird
island in the archipelago, with some 1 ,600 pairs of ten species, including over
half the archipelago’s total of European Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus
and Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8-438

423

Andy Brown

Bryan Thomas

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

seabird species were found in 2006, including
Shag (330 pairs, 26% of the archipelago total)
and Great Black-backed Gull (265, 29%). Also
of note were Cormorant (10, 20%) and Fulmar
(77, 28%). All the islands are within the Eastern
Isles SSSI and the SPA.

Gugh

This large, domed island is separated from St
Agnes by a sandbar, submerged by each high
tide. The island is covered by grassland that, over
most of its area, has been invaded by a dense
sward of Bracken and gorse Ulex. Other areas
are quite sparsely vegetated. It is flanked, for the
most part, by low cliffs. The area includes The
Bow, Cow and Calf and Kittern Rock, which are
immediately offshore. It supports six species,
including very small numbers of Fulmar (three
pairs), Manx Shearwater (nine pairs), Great
Black-backed (four pairs) and Herring Gull (69
pairs). The large colony of Lesser Black-backed
Gulls (875 pairs, 26% of the archipelago total)
and 131 pairs (49%) of Kittiwakes nesting on
the island’s low cliffs are the main interest. All
areas except Kittern Rock are within Gugh SSSI
and all lie within the SPA.

weather-beaten and sea-pummelled group of
three rocks; Round Island is gently profiled,
rising to 44 m asl and with large areas covered
by a thick mat of introduced Hottentot-fig
Carpobrotus edulis ; while St Helen’s is a relatively
large, steep-sided yet fairly flat-topped island
rising to a similar height. St Helen’s is richly
vegetated, largely with an impenetrable thicket
of bramble and honeysuckle. The islands
support 1 1 breeding seabird species. Of the four
species of nesting gulls, there are 687 pairs of
Lesser Black-backed (21% of the archipelago
total), 14 of Great Black-backed and 84 of
Herring Gull, and 36 pairs of Kittiwake. A
substantial population of Storm-petrels (271
pairs, 19%) and Manx Shearwaters (52 pairs)
inhabit the islands, nearly all among the Thrift,
Sea Campion Silene uniflora and Hottentot-figs
of Round Island. Auks are represented by 95
pairs of Guillemot (61%), 90 of Razorbill and 19
of Puffin, while 45 pairs of Shag and 49 of
Fulmar are also of interest. Round Island lies
within the Pentle Bay, Merrick and Round
Islands SSSI and St Helen’s and Men-a-vaur
within the St Helen’s (with Northwethel and
Men-a-vaur) SSSI; all three are within the SPA.

St Helen’s, Round Island and Men-a-vaur

These adjacent islands mark the northernmost
edge of the archipelago. Each has a distinct
character, however: Men-a-vaur is a rugged,

Other islands with 20 or more breeding
seabird pairs

Just four other islands support 20 or more pairs
of breeding seabird: Tean, with five Lesser
Black-backed and 49
Herring Gull; Northwethel,
with 36 Lesser Black-
backed, 15 Great Black-
backed and 32 Herring
Gull; Guther’s Island, with
two Lesser Black-backed, 25
Great Black-backed and 13
Herring Gull and one Shag;
and White Island, with 187
Lesser Black-backed, six
Great Black-backed, 32
Herring Gull and six
Fulmar. All lie off St
Martin’s or between this
island and Tresco.
Northwethel is within the
St Helen’s (with North-
wethel and Men-a-vaur)
SSSI, Tean is part of the
Tean SSSI (which includes
Pednbrose and Old Man),
and White Island is an SSSI

2 1 0. Manx Shearwater Puffin us puffinus, off Scilly, August 2004. The Scilly
archipelago is one of just two areas supporting breeding Manx Shearwaters in
England. Though currently small, it is hoped that the population of this species
will increase considerably following the removal of rats Rattus norvegicus from
several islands, each with the potential to support substantial numbers.

424

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8M38

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

211. Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis on the Western Rocks, together with the
Bishop Rock lighthouse, guard the nation’s Southwestern Approaches in July 2000.

in its own right; and
these three are within
the SPA. Guther’s Island
is not an SSSI and is not
part of the SPA.

The former status of
seabirds on Scilly and
recent changes
While there is
considerable evidence
that seabirds have long
bred on the islands, with
archaeological remains
of Manx Shearwater,

Cormorant and all three
auk species having been
unearthed at Neolithic
sites on Nornour (Turk
1971, 1984), the lack of systematic counts
before 1970 makes assessing and interpreting
overall population trends far from
straightforward. Fig. 2 brings together data
from all the comprehensive counts for the
archipelago and shows that, although the total
number of breeding seabirds has decreased only
slightly in the past seven years (by 2.4%, to
9,161 pairs in 2006), this is part of a longer-
term trend which has seen at least a 24%
decrease since the peak of 12,063 pairs in 1983
(just prior to SSSI designation in 1986).
However, if we correct for the number of
unused (i.e. empty) Lesser Black-backed Gull
nests, which are currently included within the
total count for this species (by applying the
standard correction factor of 0.61; O’Connell et
al. 1997), the overall decline in numbers since
1999-2000 would be a more alarming 9.4%,
to 8,821 pairs (see dotted
line in fig. 2). Moreover,
comparable counts for
breeding Storm-petrel and
Manx Shearwater are not
available before 2000, so we
have assumed that they were
stable between 1983 and
2000. As past counts, in fact,
suggest a higher population
(see below), it is likely that
we have underestimated the
overall rate of decline.

The Isles of Scilly SPA
does not cover the entire
land area of the islands and

108 and 96 seabird territories, of five species,
were recorded outside the SPA in 1999 and
2006, respectively. Thirteen species have bred
regularly on Scilly since the SPA was classified,
and all were found in 2006, though eight of
them in smaller numbers. The following
sections explore the changes for each species in
turn.

Cormorant and Shag: apparent stability

The evidence from written historical accounts
and from recent surveys is that relatively few
species have maintained their present status,
but these are two exceptions. Censused on at
least 1 1 occasions, Cormorant numbers have
varied between 49 and 61 pairs since at least
1945, although the exact locations of the small
colonies have varied between years. Shags are
much more numerous, but the population

Fig. 2. Species assemblage total, 1969-2006.

British Birds 101 ’August 2008 • 4 1 8 — 438

425

Andy Brown

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

2 1 2. A Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus guards its nest on Pednbrose
in May 2006, with White Island, St Martin’s, in the background.

trend is essentially similar; birds were
reportedly numerous ‘on all the islands’ in the
early twentieth century and there have usually
been some 1,000-1,500 pairs since the late
1960s, though there was a low count of 809
pairs in 1974. Stability on Scilly is in line with
regional trends.

Manx Shearwater and Storm-petrel:
uncertain trends

Shearwaters have long been associated with
Scilly. Their remains have been found in
prehistoric sites and medieval records suggest the
use of ‘puffins’ (a term generally referring to
young shearwaters; Lockwood 1984) to pay land
rents as far back as 1337 (Turk 1971). Estimates
of shearwater numbers in the nineteenth century
range from 200 to 150,000 pairs. Current

estimates establish that
either there has been a
huge decline or past
estimates were grossly
inaccurate. Estimates of
900-1,000 pairs in 1974
and 850-1,000 pairs
in 1977 are still
considerably greater than
counts from 2000 and
2006, the first to use
diurnal playback to elicit
responses from birds in
occupied burrows. All
previous estimates were
based on counts of
rafting birds around the
islands, counts of birds
calling at night or catch
rates in mistnets. These
are not directly
comparable and we have only a limited
appreciation of how estimates made using such
techniques relate to the size of the breeding
population. Nonetheless, there is a strong
suggestion that numbers are now much lower
than formerly; indeed, numbers may still be
falling, as they declined by 15%, to 171 pairs,
between 2000 and 2006. Furthermore, although
shearwaters occupied the same six sites (Annet;
Round Island; Shipman Head/Shipman Head
Down, Bryher; Gugh; St Helen’s; and Wingletang
Down, St Agnes) in both the recent censuses, we
found none on the many islands from which
breeding has been reported in the more distant
past (including Tresco, Menawethan, St Martin’s
Daymark, Gweal, Giant’s Castle on St Mary’s and
Great Innisvouls).

Perhaps overlooked because of their small
size and nocturnal habits,
Storm-petrels were not
reported from Scilly before
the mid nineteenth century
but the species then
reportedly bred in
‘thousands’. Birds apparently
continued to breed in some
numbers until the first
systematic counts were
made using playback to
identify occupied burrows.
An estimated 1,398 pairs in
2006 is a slight decline (5%)
on the numbers recorded

year of survey

Fig. 3. Number of breeding Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis (pairs), 1969-2006.

426

British Birds 101 • August 2008 • 4 1 8—438

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

Fig. 4. Numbers of breeding auks, 1969-2006.

during the 2000 survey.

There are no comparable
previous estimates, either
from Scilly or elsewhere, as
this census technique was
not used in the UK prior to
1999-2000.

Fulmar: rapid increase of
a recent colonist

Fulmars first bred on Scilly
in 1944 (Penhallurick 1969)
and numbers have steadily
increased since. Both
colonisation and growth
have been in line with
national trends, although growth between the
1999-2000 and 2006 surveys of 52% (a rate
which shows no sign of slowing, see fig. 3)
bucks the most recent trends at many mainland
colonies (Mitchell etal. 2004).

Auks: apparent former abundance and
current relative scarcity

There is archaeological evidence of Guillemot
and Razorbill from several sites on Scilly and of
Puffin from Nornour (Turk 1971, 1984).
Guillemots reportedly once ‘nested in great
profusion’ (Clark & Rodd 1906), had become
scarce by the late nineteenth century, yet
apparently nested in numbers too large to
estimate in 1946 (Penhallurick 1969). Razorbills
were apparently nesting in ‘extraordinary’ and
‘countless’ numbers by the late nineteenth and
early twentieth centuries but appear also to
have declined thereafter (see Robinson 2003),
while Puffins reportedly bred in ‘thousands’
early in the twentieth century - there is a
report of 100,000 pairs on
Annet alone in 1908. A
huge decline in numbers
has apparently thus ensued.

Given the apparent scale of
change, it is unfortunate that
we have no comprehensive
counts before 1970. Trends
in numbers since then are
shown in fig. 4, revealing
that all three (despite a
worrying and recent decline
of Guillemots) have
increased substantially since
the early 1970s, in line with
national trends and even, in

the case of Puffin, bucking regional trends
(Mitchell et al. 2004).

Terns: three species lost, one gained
Terns have long been known as breeding birds on
Scilly. Interestingly, the three species which no
longer breed regularly appear to have been the
most numerous in earlier times. Sandwich Tern
reportedly bred in reasonable numbers in the
nineteenth century, there being at least a
hundred pairs in 1841 (Clark & Rodd 1906). By
the 1880s, however, breeding had become
occasional and from 1911 to 1978 (when 6-7
pairs again nested on the islands; Birkin & Smith
1987) there were no recorded breeding attempts.
Small numbers bred annually from 1978 to 1993,
with a maximum of 18-22 pairs in 1987, and
single pairs have attempted to breed in 1998,
2004, 2005 and 2006. Roseate Tern was ‘tolerably
common’ in 1840 but there were just two pairs in
1854, none recorded between 1867 and 1920,
and no more than five pairs breeding in any one

JZL

■ Common

□ Roseate

□ Sandwich

1983 1985-87 1992

year of survey

1 999 2006

Fig. 5. Number of breeding terns (pairs), 1969-2006.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8—438

427

Vickie Heaney Andy Brown

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

2 1 3. A storm beach on Annet, site of Scilly’s largest European Storm-petrel
Hydrobates peiagicus colony, in July 2000. Scilly supports the only nesting
Storm-petrels in England.

year between then and 1950. An estimated 12
pairs bred in 1959, 20 in 1969, 8-12 in 1979 and
6 in 1989 (Robinson 2003). There were still 6-8
pairs as recently as 1992 but despite extensive
searching there has been no proof of breeding
since 1995. The loss, recolonisation and
subsequent decline of Roseate Tern on Scilly
mirrors national and European trends. Arctic
Tern also once bred on the islands in some
numbers but by the beginning of the twentieth
century was much reduced and had almost

certainly disappeared by
the late 1920s. The few
available records suggest
that there were at least
occasional breeding
attempts in later years: 30
pairs reportedly bred on
Annet in 1945, and there
were ‘a few’ there in 1948,
12 in 1963 and 40-60 in
1964; and birds were
reported nesting on
Tresco in 1973 and 1977.
More recently, a single
bird was recorded among
nesting Common Terns
on Samson in 1995 (see
Robinson 2003). The only
species to nest regularly
today is Common Tern,
which has bred since at
least the 1940s, in which
decade there were 150 pairs on Green Island,
Samson, in 1943 and 150 pairs on Annet in 1946
(Chown 8c Lock 2002). The first comprehensive
counts revealed 150 pairs in the archipelago in
1969. Numbers peaked at 210 pairs in 1983 and
have fallen steadily since (fig. 5).

Gulls: apparent former scarcity, recent relative
abundance and worrying decline

Four species of gull breed on Scilly. Historical
accounts suggest that both Lesser Black-backed
and Herring Gull nested
in large numbers early in
the twentieth century,
with Herring Gull then
probably the most
numerous of the large
gulls. Owing to
considerable persecution
elsewhere in the
nineteenth century, the
islands were then also the
sole breeding station of
Great Black-backed Gull
in England, though
estimates suggest as few
as 200 pairs in the 1920s,
rising to 700 pairs by
1933. Kittiwakes bred
on Menawethan and
Gorregan in the
nineteenth century but

2 1 4. One of the lesser joys of seabird censusing: using playback of calls to
elicit a response from European Storm-petrels Hydrobates peiagicus nesting
on Annet in July 2006.

428

British Birds 101 * August 2008 • 4 1 8-438

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

l Kittiwake
■ Herring Gull
D Great Black-backed Gull
E Lesser Black-backed Gull

3,000 ■

1983 1985-87

year of survey

1999

2006

Fig. 6. Numbers of breeding gulls (pairs), 1969-2006.

numbers fell and the species
did not breed on Scilly
between 1901 (Clark &

Rodd 1906) and 1938.

Following recolonisation,
numbers increased, peaking
at 861 pairs in 1983 (Harvey
1983) but declined rapidly
towards the late 1990s, since
when they appear to have
been relatively stable, with
266 pairs in 2006.

The first comprehensive
counts of gulls took place in
1969-70. The three large
gulls appear to have
increased from this time, to a
peak sometime between
1974 and 1983, and then fallen to a low in 1999
or 2006, which, other than for Lesser Black-
backed, is lower than the 1969-70 count (fig. 6).
While trends in Herring Gull, Great Black-
backed Gull and Kittiwake reflect national
trends, the decline in numbers of Lesser Black-
backed Gidl is in contrast to regional trends,
since populations on mainland southwest Britain
are increasing and overall UK numbers are as
high as they have ever been (Mitchell et al. 2004).

Discussion
Key concerns

Among the complexity of changes in the
seabird populations on Scilly, it is possible to
discern some
worrying trends - in
overall numbers, in
the numbers of
individual species
and in the numbers
on individual
islands or island
groups. We have
particular concern
over the following:

• The overall
number of
seabirds breeding
on Scilly has
declined by at
least 24%, from
c. 12,063 pairs in
1983 to 9,161
pairs in 2006.

There is a strong

suggestion that, if comparable counts for
Storm-petrel and Manx Shearwater were
available prior to 2000, our assessment of the
scale of decline would be worse still.

Four species have declined by over 25% in
the last 25 years: Herring Gull (down by
64%), Kittiwake (69%), Great Black-backed
Gull (39%) and Common Tern (63%).
Numbers on four of the eight SSSIs with a
qualifying seabird interest have fallen by
37% or more since designation (using
information on bird numbers from 1983):
Eastern Isles (decreased by 45%), Shipman
Head (43% in the last seven years alone),
Samson group (41%) and Annet (37%).

2 1 5. Round Island, at the northern fringe of the archipelago, May 2006. This island
supports important numbers of Manx Shearwaters Puffmus puffinus and European
Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus, many of which nest beneath dense mats of the
introduced Hottentot-fig Carpobrotus edulis.

British Birds 101 'August 2008 • 418—438

429

Andy Brown

8 ryan Thomas

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

(

2 1 6. A juvenile Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla from the Gimble Porth colony, on the
eastern side ofTresco.The low cliffs which fringe Gimble Porth support one of
the few remaining Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla colonies on Scilly. Long known as
breeding birds in the archipelago, Kittiwakes were absent between 1901 and
1938 but following recolonisation increased to a population of over 800 pairs
in the early 1 980s. There has since been a 70% decline in numbers and there
was complete breeding failure in both 2006 and 2007.

Most of the losses are accounted for by the
loss of gulls.

• Numbers of eight of the 13 species which
breed regularly on Scilly fell between
1999-2000 and 2006, Herring Gull and
Guillemot numbers declining by 21% in this
brief period.

• The Kittiwake population has fallen by 5%
over the last seven years and the species
fledged no young on the islands in at least
2006 and 2007.

• The overall number of seabirds breeding on
Annet, the most important of the seabird
islands, has fallen by 20% over the last seven
years.

• The numbers of seabirds nesting on the
inhabited islands of Tresco, St Martin’s,
Bryher and St Agnes have fallen by up to
70% in the last seven years, these losses
relating mainly to gulls.

Factors affecting seabirds on Scilly

I . Persecution and disturbance

Seabirds on Scilly appear to be rarely

persecuted. The Nature Conservancy Council

culled Great Black-backed
Gulls on Annet in 1978,
reducing the island
population by 35%, and it
is thought that other,
unofficial culls have taken
place on occasion. These
culls have usually been
associated with efforts to
conserve other seabird
species. More recently,
Lesser Black-backed and
Herring Gulls have been
dissuaded from nesting
close to the terneries on
Samson, to try to keep these
areas, which are safe from
tidal inundation, available
for nesting terns. The
number of nests destroyed
has not exceeded 20 in any
one year and many of the
birds affected are likely to
have re-nested elsewhere
on the island. There are
occasional reports of gulls
being shot on the inhabited
islands, presumably to
prevent them nesting on
buildings. However, surprisingly few gulls nest
on the rooftops of St Mary’s and gulls are
declining on the other inhabited islands (in
contrast, roof-nesting is now commonplace
elsewhere in the UK - in Cornwall, for example,
this habit increased by nearly 900% between
1976 and 1998-2002, when almost 1,500 pairs
nested on buildings at 35 sites; Mitchell et al.
2004).

Tourism is a vital part of the economy of the
islands, accounting for 85% of the local
economic revenue of Scilly. The requirement
for visitor management is widely recognised, so
the activities of those with an interest in wildlife
and wild places are closely but discreetly
controlled. The most important seabird islands
are permanently closed to visitors (many are
also extremely dangerous islands on which to
land, so access is effectively impossible anyway):
Men-a-vaur, Hanjague, Great Ganilly, Great and
Little Innisvouls, Menawethan, the Western
Rocks, Annet, Melledgan, Mincarlo, the
Norrard Rocks and Scilly Rock. Furthermore,
some islands are closed during the breeding
season, while access to others is permitted only

430

British Birds 101 'August 2008 • 418—438

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

along well-defined routes which avoid the most
important seabird areas. Notices, temporary
fences and visiting wardens help to manage
visitor access and regulate disturbance.
However, provision for visitors to witness the
Scilly seabird spectacle is still considerable: a
plethora of boat operators offer visits to the
waters around the seabird islands, some guided
by expert local ornithologists, while there are
late-evening visits to witness rafting shearwaters
and pelagic trips to search for petrels and the
rarer seabirds of the Southwestern Approaches.
This suite of measures appears to be effective in
keeping seabirds and visitors separated by an
appropriate distance. We do not believe that
either persecution or recreational disturbance
influences recent seabird population trends
significantly.

2. Mammalian predators

Scilly supports just one native land mammal,
the endemic Scilly race of the Lesser White-
toothed Shrew Crocidura suaveolens
cassiteridum. It is not known as a predator of
seabirds, their eggs or young. In contrast,
introduced Brown Rats Rattus norvegicus (now
widespread throughout the archipelago), cats
and dogs (found mainly on the inhabited

islands) and Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus
(found only on St Mary’s) are rapacious
predators of seabirds worldwide (Atkinson
1985; Jackson & Green 2000). On Scilly, as
elsewhere in the UK (e.g. Brooke 1990,
Thompson et al. 1997, 1998, Swann 2000,
Upton et al. 2000), they have done much to
reduce the suitability of offshore islands for
nesting seabirds.

The effects of mammalian predators are
clearly apparent in the distribution of seabirds
within the archipelago. For example, all 11
Storm-petrel colonies are located on islands
which have long been known to be rat-free
(though Annet was occupied by rats for a brief
period in the mid 2000s). A similar pattern is
evident in Orkney and Shetland, where the
presence or absence of rats was found to be the
single most important factor in explaining the
breeding distribution of Storm-petrels (de Leon
et al. 2006). Several islands in the Scilly
archipelago, including Gweal and Menawethan,
have large areas of apparently suitable habitat
for other species but the current absence of
former breeders such as Puffin and Manx
Shearwater is believed to be due to the presence
of rats. A number of small, uninhabited islands,
notably those forming the Western and Norrard

2 1 7. European Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus photographed in July 2005 from one of the summer-evening
pelagic trips which operate regularly from St Mary’s; just part of the seabird spectacle awaiting visitors to the

Scilly archipelago.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8 — 438

431

Bryan Thomas

Andy Brown

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

Rocks, have never been known to support rats:
they are regularly battered by storms and
washed over by winter tides, and food
availability outside the seabird breeding season
must be scarce. Other uninhabited islands
support thriving populations of rats, and feral
cats are established on Gugh.

There have been numerous attempts to
control rats on Scilly, but these have tended to
provide only temporary benefit as rats have
quickly recolonised cleared islands from
adjacent islands, accessible on the lowest of
spring tides. The concerted programme of rat
control instigated recently by the IOSWT, with
support from Natural England and the RSPB,
has used a different approach, and has
eradicated rats from groups of adjacent islands
and from any parts of inhabited islands likely to
be a source of new colonists. There have now
been apparently successful eradications from
Samson, St Helen’s, Tean, Northwethel,
Menawethan and the Eastern Isles (Mawer &
Williams 2007). Monitoring is an essential part
of the programme and relies on regular
inspection of baited monitoring stations, in
turn allowing immediate action to remove rats
as soon as they are found. The lack of such
routine monitoring on Annet, long known to be
rat-free, prevented early detection of the recent
incursion. Once discovered, the rats were found
to be numerous and although an immediate
and apparently successful eradication ensued,

the rats had dearly been active for at least one
and perhaps several breeding seasons. Their
activities may go a long way to explain the large
decline in breeding seabirds on Annet between
1999 and 2006, particularly Storm-petrels,
which decreased by some 16%.

The rat populations on St Mary’s, Tresco, St
Martin’s, Bryher and St Agnes are likely to be
responsible for the current small size of seabird
populations on these large and otherwise
apparently suitable islands; unless rats are
eradicated, it is unlikely that this situation will
improve. Moreover, these islands will always act
as a source of rats capable of colonising
adjacent islands, moving between them on
boats or when tides are exceptionally low. The
eradication of rats from the entire archipelago
is likely to be the most effective long-term
solution, not only to seabird predation, but also
to the other public health risks posed by rat
infestation (Battersby & Webster 2001).
Furthermore, initiatives should be taken
immediately to control feral cats (especially
those on Gugh) and to prevent the spread of
Hedgehogs from St Mary’s to other islands.

3. Avian predators

The role of native avian predators in the
dynamics of seabird populations on Scilly is, as
elsewhere, much less clear-cut. Raptors, herons
(Ardeidae), large gulls, corvids and some
waders may opportunistically take seabird eggs
or young. Numbers of
many such predators are
low but Scilly does
support Herring, Lesser
Black-backed and Great
Black-backed Gulls in
large numbers, such that
they are regarded as of
conservation importance
in their own right (see
above). Great Black-
backed Gulls in particular
are often reported as
predators of seabirds. It is
interesting to note that
Shag numbers have
recently increased where
the numbers of large gulls
have decreased, for
example on Menawethan
and Great Innisvouls; and
have declined where

2 1 8. Poisoned bait in place on Tean in May 2006, with warning and information
signs (for humans) placed by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust as part of the
successful eradication programme supported by RSPB and Natural England.

432

British Birds 101 • August 2008 • 418—438

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

Great Black-backed Gulls have increased, such
as on White Island, Samson. On Annet, the
increase in Great Black-backed Gull numbers in
the last seven years has coincided with a
decrease in the numbers of most other species.
Examination of pellets and predated carcases
also confirms that these gulls take seabirds,
notably adult petrels and shearwaters, although
for two reasons it is not necessarily the case that
they have a population-level effect on their prey.
Firstly, predation by gulls on burrow-nesters
such as petrels and shearwaters focuses mainly
on prospecting non-breeders and fledglings,
these birds being taken in the air or on the
ground. Breeding adults tend to fly quickly to
and from colonies and spend little time on the
ground (Brooke 1990). Secondly, predation on
other birds tends to be carried out by only a
proportion of gulls, which seem to specialise in
such behaviour; since it is behaviour rather
than abundance which is important, levels of
predation may not vary directly with the size of
the predator colony (Furness 2003; Votier et al.
2004; Oro et al. 2005).

We believe it is unlikely that the recent
decline in breeding seabirds on Scilly can be
attributed to Great Black-backed Gull
predation. First, the number of Great Black-
backed Gulls on Annet and in the archipelago as
a whole is much lower now than in the early
1970s, when detailed studies concluded that
levels of predation did not have a significant
impact on the populations of shearwaters,
petrels or Shags (Allen 1974). Second, large
increases in the number of pairs of Puffin (3 to
14), Storm-petrel (57 to 129) and Shag (117 to
137) on Rosevear, site of the second-largest
Great Black-backed Gull colony in 2006, have
been coincident with a small increase in the
gulls from 95 to 109 pairs between 1999/2000
and 2006. We also know that the large decline in
seabird numbers on Annet was coincident not
only with an increase in Great Black-backed
Gull numbers but also with an incursion of
Brown Rats.

Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus occur on
Annet and a number of other islands and there
may be an interaction between their numbers
and levels of both gull and rat predation on
seabirds, the intensity of predation being related
to the availability of alternative food sources
(Uttley et al. 1989; Furness et al. 1997;
Robertson & Colombe 2001). For example,
recent losses at a French Storm-petrel colony

have been linked to predation by Great Black-
backed Gulls, which has increased since the
gulls’ alternative food supplies, mostly rabbits,
have disappeared (B. Cadiou pers. comm.). In
contrast, on an island in New Zealand where rat
predation was suppressing petrel breeding
success, the problem was exacerbated by the
introduction of rabbits, a food source through
the winter when the petrels were absent,
allowing the island to support a larger rat
population (Imber et al. 2000). The mainly
nocturnal habits of the rabbits on Annet
suggest that their predation by gulls is
significant and it would be interesting to
explore this relationship further.

Large gulls are also capable of displacing
other breeding seabirds, including Puffin
(Finney et al. 2003; Soanes et al. 2006). The
majority of Puffins on Scilly nest on islands
where there are few large gulls but it is possible
that gulls may influence Puffin recruitment on
Annet and St Helen’s, where they co-exist. A
study of gull and Puffin nest-site proximity and
of interactions between the two species would
be useful for the management of this iconic and
economically important species.

4. Habitat change

Invasive non-native plants are widespread on
Scilly. Together with changes in the relative
abundance of native plant species through
human management, they can influence
breeding seabirds directly (by reducing the
amount of suitable nesting habitat) or
indirectly (by providing habitat for predators).
The long-term decline in the numbers of
Puffins on Annet, for example, has been
attributed by some to vegetation change,
specifically the development of a tussocky
sward, which favours breeding gulls over
Puffins (Allen 1974).

On Scilly, the species most obviously affected
by vegetation is the Lesser Black-backed Gull.
The majority nesting in the four main colonies
do so among dense ground cover and the
species appears better able to maintain numbers
on islands with greater vegetation cover (e.g.
Samson and St Helen’s) than where vegetation
is less dense (e.g. Annet and Gugh) or
suppressed (e.g. after winter salt damage or dry
summers) (Robinson 1993, 2003). Tall
vegetation around gull nests has been shown to
reduce predation rates (Brouwer & Spaans
1994), provide a sheltered microclimate

British Birds 101 • August 2008 • 4 1 8—438

433

Andy Brown

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

(Calladine 1997; Kim & Monaghan 2005) and
reduce conspecific aggression (Bukacinska &
Bukacinski 1993; Gotmark et al. 1995; Ellis &
Good 2006). There is, however, a trade-off
between nest-site concealment and predator
visibility (sparse cover allows early detection of
predators but the nest itself is more visible;
Gotmark et al. 1995, Borboroglu & Yorio 2004)
and while dense vegetation may also deter
human visitors, reducing disturbance, it may
eventually hamper chick manoeuvrability and
access by adults. Given the continued decline of
Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Scilly, a study of
the effect of vegetation cover on gull
distribution would be invaluable; it should
incorporate a review of the historical balance of
the main vegetation types, particularly on
Annet, Samson, St Helen’s and various Eastern
Isles, as large areas on these islands are
dominated by dense stands of Bracken,
honeysuckle and bramble.

5. Changes in fisheries discards, agriculture and the
management of waste

Changes in the abundance of breeding seabirds
on Scilly may relate to wider regional, national
or global factors, including changes in the
management of fisheries discards and of human
waste. Commercial fisheries produce enormous
volumes of unwanted fish and offal that are
often discarded overboard, thus providing food
for scavenging seabirds such as Fulmar and
gulls (Hamer et al. 1997; Reeves & Furness

2002). It is widely accepted that the huge
increase in fishing activity during the twentieth
century fuelled burgeoning Fulmar and gull
populations, at least until the 1980s. In
addition, new feeding opportunities at large
rubbish dumps and landfill sites have benefited
gulls since at least the 1970s (Grieg et al. 1986).
More recently, with fishing effort curbed to
protect fish populations, offal retained for
conversion to fish meal and changes in the
management of refuse (with more being
incinerated or buried), the availability of food
for scavenging seabirds has declined (Reeves 8c
Furness 2002). This may have led to falling
productivity of large gulls (Pons 8c Migot 1995;
Perrins 8c Smith 2000), while the calamitous
decline in nesting Herring Gulls in Britain, by
as much as 57% since 1969, is often attributed
to changes in fisheries and waste management
practices. In line with this national trend,
Herring Gulls on Scilly have declined
precipitously, to just 32% of the 1974 peak of
2,249 pairs. The Scillonian fishery has never
been large, takes mainly shellfish, and does not
involve the landing of any commercial fish.
However, the large fishing fleet based at
Newlyn, Cornwall, often operates within the
foraging range of Herring Gulls from Scilly and
thus its activities may have influenced seabird
trends on the islands. Although the human
population of Scilly is small (2,100 in winter, up
to 5,000 in summer) and there are few waste-
disposal sites, it is plausible that improvements
in waste management on
Scilly (the majority of
waste is now incinerated)
may have contributed to
the Herring Gull’s decline.
Interestingly, the other
large gulls have not
declined so precipitously
and tend to be less reliant
on man-made food
sources.

6. Climate change

Since the 1970s, global
warming has increased
the frequency of severe
weather events around the
world (Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
2001). Warming may also
cause greater fluctuation

219. A tranquil scene in May 2006: a Herring Gull L arus argentatus nesting
among boulders, lichens and Hottentot-figs Carpobrotus edulis on St Agnes.

434

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8-438

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a
measure of the pressure differential between
tropical and polar air masses, tending to
produce more warm, wet and stormy weather in
northern Europe. Under such conditions, the
abundance of zooplankton and the recruitment
of sandeels Ammodytes in the northeast Atlantic
and North Sea are low (Planque & Taylor 1998;
Arnott & Ruxton 2002). It is not clear whether
food availability for seabirds in Scillonian
waters is, or has been, similarly affected.
Surface-feeders and those with short foraging
ranges, inflexible time budgets or restricted
diets are likely to be adversely affected by
reduced food availability before those which
can alter their behaviour, foraging areas or diet
(Furness & Tasker 2000). Kittiwakes are small-
bodied surface feeders, with a relatively
restricted foraging range and are strongly
affected by local changes in prey abundance or
availability (Hamer et al. 1993; Furness 1997;
Regher & Montevecchi 1997; Lewis et al. 2001;
Daunt et al. 2002). Kittiwake numbers across
the south of England fell by about 40% between
1985 and 2000 (Mitchell et al. 2004); those on
Scilly have declined by 70% since 1983.
Monitoring work on Scilly and at other sites in
southwestern England showed complete
breeding failure in both 2006 and 2007 (H.
Booker pers. comm.). On Scilly, most nests were
lost when chicks were between two and three
weeks old, which supports the idea that failure
was down to poor food supply; chicks may
either starve or suffer
predation, as food-
stressed parents spend
longer foraging away from
the colony and their nests
are exposed to predators
for longer (Bukacinska et
al. 1996, 1998; Perrins &

Smith 2000). Monitoring
Kittiwake productivity on
Scilly thus provides a
sensitive measure of food
availability in surface
waters around the islands.

The tendency of
climatic change to result
in stormier weather,
particularly at unusual
times of year, may also
adversely affect seabirds,
for example by nest

inundation, chick mortality and mass-kills of
vulnerable species (Robinson et al 2002). Bad
weather has affected seabirds in several parts of
the UK in recent years, and there are reports of
terns being buried in blown sand in Norfolk
and of storms washing eggs and young from
exposed cliffs (Ratcliffe 2004). On Scilly,
Common Terns repeatedly choose to nest on
low-lying sites which are already frequently
inundated by sea water, despite human attempts
to lure birds to safe, alternative nest-sites nearby
(plate 220). Any increase in storminess can only
exacerbate the problem and since the return of
former breeders such as Roseate Tern probably
depends on the maintenance of a strong tern
colony in the archipelago, prospects for that
happening are not bright. A feature of the 2006
breeding season on Scilly was the apparent
abandonment of nesting attempts, after scrapes
had been made but before eggs were laid,
among Lesser Black-backed Gulls (up to 30% of
attempts were abandoned at some sites). This
habit is well-known in other colonies and is
thought to be due to poor weather In May
(Calladine & Harris 1997; O’Connell et al.
1997). It seems likely that weather-related
breeding interruptions will increase and we
have great concern for the future effects of
climate change on Scilly ’s seabirds.

7. Pollution, disease and fisheries bycatches

A number of diseases and natural toxins can
affect seabirds. Avian botulism in gulls (Lloyd et

220. Decoys and tern calls broadcast from a CD player have been used during
attempts to lure Common Terns Sterna hirundo to their traditional nesting site
on North Hill, Samson, and away from low-lying beaches regularly washed over
by spring tides. Photo taken in July 2000.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8—438

435

Andy Brown

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

al. 1976), puffinosis in Manx Shearwater chicks
(Brooke 1990) and 'red tide’ toxins in Shags and
Kittiwakes (Potts et al. 1980; Coulson &
Strowger 1999) can all cause significant
mortality. However, none of these are known to
have affected birds on Scilly. Exposure to oil can
be fatal owing to the fouling of feathers and the
pathological effects of oil ingestion (Leighton
1991; Briggs et al. 1997). However, apart from
large disasters such as the wreck of the Torrey
Canyon oil tanker in 1969, which may have
affected auk populations on Scilly, this also does
not appear to be a significant problem on Scilly
(though oil pollution may have wide-reaching
impacts on some seabird populations; Votier et
al. 2005). Inshore fixed gill-nets can be a source
of considerable mortality for pursuit-diving
seabirds, especially if set close to large breeding
colonies (Piatt & Nettleship 1987), but the locai
Scilly fishery is small and unlikely to cause
change at the population level.

Key actions for recovery

Birds, and seabirds in particular, are an
important attraction for visitors to Scilly and, as
much of the islands’ economy is founded on
tourism, the conservation of seabirds must be
of central concern to all those with interests in
the archipelago. A detailed plan of action - the
Isles of Scilly Seabird Conservation Strategy
(Lock et al. 2006) - has been drawn up by the
organisations with responsibilities and interests
in conserving seabirds on Scilly. The essential
elements of the plan are to:

• Continue the non-native mammal
monitoring and control programme to
ensure that islands currently without rats
remain rat-free.

• Extend the control programme to remove
feral cats from Gugh.

• Maintain localised control of rats in the
vicinity of important colonies where
eradication is not currently feasible and at
points most likely to be used by rats when
they move to rat-free islands.

• Consider eradication of rats from the entire
archipelago as a more cost-effective long-
term solution to rat predation and other rat-
related problems.

• Ensure that steps are taken to prevent
further introductions of Hedgehogs to the
archipelago and to ensure that the mammals
do not spread from St Mary’s.

• Extend the SSSI and/or SPA boundary to

include the significant seabird colonies on
Wingletang Down SSSI and on Plumb,
Guther’s and Pernagie Islands off St
Martin’s.

• Advise extension of the seaward boundary of
the SPA to include marine features
important in supporting the SPA seabird
assemblage.

• Increase public awareness of the importance
of the islands for seabirds and especially of
human impacts on breeding seabirds,
notably through recreational disturbance
and the introduction of non-native
predators.

• Maintain the programme of restricted access
to important/sensitive seabird colonies.

• Review patterns of historical vegetation
change on key islands and conduct field
trials into the effects of vegetation patch
clearance on densely vegetated islands on
seabird (especially gull and tern) numbers
and breeding success.

• Ensure that areas of suitable habitat for
nesting terns are maintained on predator-
free islands away from areas subject to tidal
inundation.

• Repeat all-island seabird surveys at six-yearly
intervals and establish an annual
productivity monitoring programme
encompassing key species on selected islands
which informs the requirements for, and
success of, the above measures. This may act
as a ‘quality of life’ indicator for Scilly and
will contribute directly to the national
seabird monitoring programme.

Acknowledgments

We thank all the staff and volunteers who helped to
conduct the 1 998-2002 and 2006 surveys. Dave Mawer
gave us permission to land on the islands managed by the
IOSWT and Tamara Weeks helped to co-ordinate the
2006 fieldwork. Helen Booker, Jeremy Clitherow, Jen
Dunster Helene Jessop, Dave Mawer Peter Robinson and
Will Wagstaff provided helpful comments on early drafts
and Roddy Mavor at JNCC helped us in comparing our
information with previous counts. Norman Ratcliffe
advised on survey methods and on the interpretation of
the results for Storm-petrels and Manx Shearwaters and
Bernard Cadiou provided information on Storm-petrel
breeding phenology on the Channel Islands. Martin Jenkins
provided the all-important inter-island transport,
frequently demonstrating his considerable boat-handling
skills whilst landing us on some rarely visited islands.

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438

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 4 1 8-438

Recent records of southern skuas in Britain

It is now over a decade since the first of three
recent controversial large skuas turned up in
Britain, and the debate on their identity con-
tinues to ebb and flow. Jiguet (2007) was among
the more recent to discuss the three birds - in
Dorset, in January 1996 (Millington 2000); on
the Isles of Scilly, in October 2001 (Scott 2002);
and in Glamorgan, in February 2002 (Moon &
Carrington 2002) - and commented that the
Scilly and Glamorgan birds resembled South
Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki.

Suspicion that the Scilly and Glamorgan
birds were not Great Skuas S. skua, but more
likely South Polar Skuas, led to DNA samples
being taken. These samples confirmed that the
birds were certainly not Great Skuas. However,
their initial identification as Brown Skuas
S. antarcticus (Votier et al. 2004) was not satis-
factory; it was based on a reference DNA
sample from a single South Polar Skua used in
an earlier study (Cohen et al. 1997) that differed
in just a single base from other southern skua
DNA samples, including other South Polar
Skuas analysed later (Votier et al. 2007).

After that initial identification as Brown
Skua, other evidence, that might have con-
flicted, was quietly overlooked. Who was going
to argue with a DNA test? Instead, a ‘wild skua
chase’ to test other specimens, some labelled as
South Polar Skuas, from the North Atlantic
ensued. All turned out to have mitochondrial-
DNA sequences that eliminated Great Skua, dif-
fered from the South Polar used in Cohen et al.
(1997) and were actually more similar to those
of the two disputed British birds. This led to
further tests of known South Polars, from King
George Island, courtesy of Markus Ritz. Subse-
quently, Votier et al. (2007) considered that the
DNA samples of the two disputed British birds
could not distinguish between South Polar and
Brown Skua, or any other southern skua for
that matter. However, fig. 1 in Votier et al.
(2007) showed that the Scilly and Glamorgan
birds clustered more closely with South Polar
specimens from King George Island than with
any other skuas. While the differences involved
are small and not sufficient to identify the birds
conclusively, at the very least the DNA evidence
should not sway the identification away from
South Polar.

Status of southern skuas in the northern
hemisphere

To date, there are no confirmed records of
Brown Skua in the North Atlantic, and there is
only a handful from anywhere else in the
northern hemisphere, in the Indian Ocean,
though none farther north than Oman (~22°N)
(Mailing Olsen & Larsson 1997). There is a
report of a possible Brown Skua in the North
Pacific, among the many South Polars that
occur there (Howell 2005), as well as a bird (not
accepted) showing the characters of Brown
Skua off North Carolina in May 1993 (Mike
Tove pers. comm.). A German researcher,
Mathias Kopp, fitted Global Location Sensing
loggers to 11 breeding Brown Skuas on the
Antarctic Peninsula, but none was recorded
north of 25°S (Markus Ritz in lift.). Of course,
younger birds may well disperse farther north.
In contrast, South Polar Skua appears to be a
regular migrant to both the North Atlantic and
the North Pacific.

Biometrics and structure

Unfortunately, the Scilly bird was not measured,
and the Dorset bird was not trapped, but the
measurements of the Glamorgan bird exclude
everything apart from ‘Falkland’ Brown Skua
S. a. antarcticus and South Polar Skua. ‘Falkland
Skua’ has a high mass to wing-area ratio and,
with Tristan Skua S. a. hamiltoni, is the least
likely long-distance migrant of all the southern
skuas (Furness 1987, pp. 34-37). Moreover,
Devillers (1977) claimed that a bill to tarsus
ratio greater than 0.7 separates a high propor-
tion of South Polars from Falkland Skuas
(though based on a small sample). The
Glamorgan bird has a ratio of at least 0.72.

A provisional analysis of bill shape (bill
length to depth ratio) of full-grown birds shows
a complete separation between (small samples
of) Antarctic Peninsula South Polars and
Falkland Skuas (Peter Hayman pers. comm,
plus my own work based on measurements
from photographs). All three of the UK birds
were full-grown - the Glamorgan bird was
about one year old; the Scilly bird was at least
19 months and probably at least 31 months old;
and the Dorset bird was judged to be in its third
or fourth calendar-year (Millington 2000;

439

Dave Hatton Dave Hatton

Letter

)

Markus Ritz pers. comm.) - and all three had a
length to depth ratio well within the range of
South Polar and outside the range of Falkland
Skua. This analysis would benefit from a larger
sample of measurements, and there is also the
possibility that bill shape may be age-related,
with younger birds having a more slender bill.

Photographs suggest that South Polar has a
longer primary projection than Brown Skua
(Steve Votier pers. comm.) although, like all

structural features, this must be assessed with
care. The Scilly skua has three primary tips well
clear of the tail and five primaries visible
beyond the tertials, thus suggesting South Polar
rather than Falkland. Both of these extensions
are notably longer than a series of measure-
ments made of specimens of both Falkland
Skua and the subantarctic Brown Skua S. a.
lonnbergi by Peter Flayman (pers. comm.). This
feature is difficult to assess on photographs of
either the Dorset or the Glamorgan skua, espe-
cially as both have worn outer primaries. Wing-
width to tail-length ratio can sometimes be
judged from photographs. South Polars have a
relatively shorter tail and photographs of the
Dorset skua fall within the range of South Polar
(Peter Hayman pers. comm.).

Plumage

The plumage of both the Glamorgan and the
Scilly skua is consistent with South Polars that
appear on the west coast of North America
(Howell 2004; Steve Howell pers. comm.). The
fine neck-hackles of the Scilly bird are entirely
consistent with South Polar and unlike Brown
Skua. Some images of the Dorset skua exhibit a
frosty bloom typical of South Polar Skua,
though the photographic record is ambiguous as
to its actual plumage tones (Millington 2000).
The neck-streaking on this bird is also rather
fine, again indicating South Polar Skua (Markus
Ritz pers. comm.). Interestingly, the Scilly bird is
closely matched in appear-
ance by a skua taken at
Yarmouth, Norfolk, in
October 1869, the specimen
now in the Castle Museum,
Norwich. This was identified
by Bill Bourne as a South
Polar and has since been
confirmed by DNA as not a
Great Skua (Martyn
Kennedy pers. comm.), but
it was not accepted as the
former, perhaps wrongly, on
the grounds of provenance
(Bourne & Curtis 1994;
Bourne & Lee 1994).

Moult

Both the Dorset and the
Glamorgan bird were in
wing moult, both having
almost completed their

22 1 & 222. The Scilly skua (see text), in care, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly,
October 2001. Plate 222 shows the long primary projection of this
individual, with three primary tips well beyond the tail tip; this supports
its identification as South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki rather
than Brown Skua S. antarcticus.

440

British Birds 101 • August 2008 • 439-44 1

Letter

primary moult. Jiguet (2007) claimed that the
state of moult of both birds eliminates South
Polar Skua. Although there are few data on
South Polar Skua moult after October (e.g.
Howell 2004), of two immatures in the Balleny
Islands (66°50’S 163°30’E) in February, one was
beginning and the other finishing its primary
moult (James 1996) and therefore consistent
with the Dorset and Glamorgan birds. More
recently, Howell (2008) also showed that the
primary moult stage of the Dorset bird (and
therefore also the Glamorgan bird) is not
inconsistent with South Polar Skua. The Scilly
bird was not moulting.

Hybrids

Of course, the question of hybrids is bound to
arise. Mixed pairs occur at a frequency of around
15% at Potter Peninsula, King George Island
(Ritz et al. 2005), and ringing recoveries demon-
strate that hybrids may migrate north, including
a South Polar x Chilean Skua S. chilensis
(3A South Polar), in the western North Atlantic
(Koeppen & Scheil 2001 ). The wing-length of the
Glamorgan Skua is below the minimum for
South Polar given in James (1996), although
within the range given by Ritz et al. (2005). DNA
confirmed that it was a female (which tend to be
larger than males), so a very small bird indeed.
Given that hybrids between South Polar and the
usually larger Brown Skua are intermediate in
size (Hemmings 1984; Parmalee 1988; Jiguet et
al. 1999), this points to a pure South Polar. As for
the Scilly skua, seasoned observers, looking at the
bird in a box, debated whether it was a Great or a
Pomarine Skua S. pomarinus , suggesting that it
was neither large nor heavy (Martin Scott pers.
comm.). This bird showed no structural or
plumage features, including its cold plumage
tones, near to Brown Skua, so it is probably pure
too.

Whether the points highlighted above, some
of which need more data to be fully corrob-
orated, are sufficient for any of the three to be
accepted onto the British List as South Polar
Skua is a matter for BBRC and BOURC.
Personally, I see no evidence to argue against all
three being South Polar Skuas and the evidence
for the Scilly and Glamorgan birds is especially
compelling.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Peter Hayman, Steve Howell, Frederic

Jiguet, Richard Porter, Markus Ritz, Alan Rogers, Martin

Scott and Angus Wilson for helpful comments on an early

draft of this letter

References

Bourne, W. R. R, & Curtis, W. F. 1 994. Bonxies, barnacles
and bleached blondes. Brit. Birds 87: 289-298.

— & Lee, D. S. 1 994.The first record of McCormick's (or
South Polar) Skua for Europe and the Northern
Hemisphere. Sea Swallow 43: 74-76.

Cohen, B. L„ Baker, A. J„ Blechschmidt, K., Dittman, D. L,
Furness, R.W., Gerwin.J. A., Helbig, A.J., de Korte.J.,
Marshall, H. D., Palma, R. L„ Peter, H.-U., Ramli, R.,

Siebold, I., Willcox, M. S., Wilson, R. H., & Zink, R. M.

1997. Enigmatic phylogeny of skuas (Aves:
Stercorariidae). Proc. Roy. Soc. L ond. B 264: 181-190.

Devillers, R 1 977,The skuas of the North American Pacific
coast. Auk 94: 4 1 7-429.

Furness, R. W. 1 987. The Skuas. Poyser Calton.

Hemmings, A. D. 1 984. Aspects of the breeding biology of
McCormick's Skua Catharacta maccormicki at Signy
Island, South Orkney Islands. Brit. Antarctic Survey Bull.

65: 65-79.

Howell, S. 2004. South Polar Skuas off California. Birding
World 17:288-297.

— 2005. Revisiting an old question: how many species of
skua occur in the North Pacific? Western Birds 36: 71-73.

— 2008. Moult of southern skuas. Birding World 2J : 28.

James, D. 1996. In: Higgins, RJ„ & Davies, S.J.J. F. (eds.),

Handbook of Australian, New Zealand, and Antarctic Birds,
Vol. 3, pp. 4 1 2-438. OUR Melbourne.

Jiguet, F. 2007. Brown Skua in the North Atlantic. Birding
World 20: 327-333.

— , Chastei, O., & Barbraud, C. 1999. A hybrid South Polar
x Brown Skua. Birding World 12: I 18-1 22.

Koeppen, U., & Scheil, S. 200 1 . Beringungsbericht der
Vogelwarte Hiddensee 1 999/2000: Skua hybrid
Catharacta maccormicki x (C. maccormicki x C. chilensis ).
Berichte der Vogelwarte Hiddensee 1 6: 26-27.

Mailing Olsen, K., & Larsson, H. 1 997. Skuas and Jaegers: a
guide to the skuas and jaegers of the world. Pica Press,
Robertsbridge.

Millington, R. 2000. An interesting skua in Dorset. Birding
World I 3: 336-339.

Moon, S„ & Carrington, D. 2002. A Brown Skua in
Glamorgan. Birding World 1 5: 387-389.

Parmalee, D. F. 1 988. The hybrid skua: a southern ocean
enigma. Wilson Bull. 100: 345-356.

Ritz, M. S., Hahn, S„ Janicke.T., & Peter H.-U. 2005.
Hybridisation between South Polar Skua (Catharacta
maccormicki) and Brown Skua (C. antarctica lonnbergi ) in
the Antarctic Peninsula region. Polar Biol. 29: 153-159.

Scott, M. 2002. A Brown Skua on the Isles of Scilly - the
first for Europe? Birding World 1 5: 383-386.

Votier S. C., Bearhop, S., Newell, R G„ Orr, K„ Furness,

R. W„ & Kennedy, M. 2004a.The first record of Brown
Skua Catharacta antarctica in Europe. Ibis 1 46: 95-102.

— , Kennedy, M„ Bearhop, S., Newell, R G„ Griffiths, K.,
Whitaker H„ Ritz, M. S„ & Furness, R. W. 2007.
Supplementary DNA evidence fails to confirm presence
of Brown Skuas Stercorarius antarctica in Europe: a
retraction of Votier et al. (2004). Ibis 1 49: 6 1 9-62 1 .

Dick Newell

Old Beach Farm, Green End, Landbeach, Cambridge CB25 9FD

British Birds 101 ’August 2008 • 439—441

441

Philip Kirkham Philip Kirkham Philip Kirkham

Notes

Common Eiders attacked and killed by Harbour Seal

The accompanying images (plates 223-225)
illustrate some remarkable behaviour that 1
have photographed recently on the Isle of Bute:
a Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina killing and eating
drake Common Eiders Somateria mollissima at
various sites along the coast.

The behaviour was first brought to my atten-
tion by a neighbour, who witnessed it at
Kerrycroy in November 2006. Shortly after-

wards, 1 obtained my first images there. During
winter 2006/07, I saw what I presume was the
same seal attacking and killing eiders on
numerous occasions, and I also found several
carcases along the shoreline. Interestingly, as far
as I can ascertain, all the birds attacked have
been drakes. The behaviour has been witnessed
by several other islanders, including Ian
Hopkins, a keen ornithologist. I have seen this
seal most commonly around
Ascog and Kerrycroy, and
also Rothesay Bay and
Ardbeg Point, a stretch of
coastline some 5 km in
length. When attacks are
observed in one area, they
are not seen in the others,
lending support to the idea
that just one seal may be
involved. I am not aware of
any reports of the behaviour
during the summer of 2007,
but the attacks began again
in winter 2007/08, contin-
uing up to late March 2008.
It seems possible that the
attacks are related to
declining fish supplies
during the winter compared
with plentiful supplies of
mackerel (Scombridae)
during the summer.

Typically, the seal would
approach its victim under-
water and take the bird from
underneath as it sat on the
water. On several occasions,
the seal appeared to play
with the duck, much as a cat
plays with a mouse, some-
times for up to 15 minutes,
before eventually skinning it
by vigorous shaking and
eventually consuming the
bird. My attention was often
drawn to the occurrence by
the number of gulls

223-225. Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina chasing, killing and eating drake
Common Eiders Somateria mollissima, Isle of Bute, Clyde Islands, March 2007.

442

Notes

(Laridae) hovering overhead, waiting for a
morsel of flesh.

There are other published records of seals
taking waterbirds, although this behaviour is
clearly uncommon (or at least rarely wit-
nessed). Harbour Seals have previously been
recorded predating a Harlequin Duck Histrion-
icus histrionicus (Tallman & Sullivan 2004) and
also catching a Little Grebe Tachybaptus rufi-
collis (Boekema 1984). There are several notes
in BB concerning Grey Seals Halichoerus grypus
attacking/catching birds, including Eurasian
Wigeon Anas penelope (Barnes 1986), Common
Eider (Morgan 1986), Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus (McCanch 1981) and Razor-
bill Alca torda (del Nevo 1986). An editorial
comment in Handbook of British Mammals
(2nd edn, 1977), notes that Grey Seals ‘occa-
sionally take birds swimming on surface of sea’.
More recently, the devastating effects that Killer
Whales Orcinus orca may have on groups of

Philip Kirkham

Crofton Cottage, Ascog, Isle of Bute, Argyll PA20 9LN

moulting eiders was described by Smith (2006).
Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Ian Hopkins for his observations of
this behaviour on Bute; Prof Geoff Moore for confirming
the identity of the seal; and Ian Dawson and Richard Sabin
for locating the published references of seals attacking
waterbirds cited above.

References

Barnes, J. 1 986. Wigeon falling prey to Grey Seal, Brit Birds
79; 338-339.

Boekema, E.J. 1984. Seal seen catching a Little Grebe.
Vogeljaar 32 (4): 2 1 0.

del Nevo, A. 1986. Grey Seal apparently taking Razorbill.

Brit. Birds 79: 338-339.

McCanch, N.V. 1981. Predation on Manx Shearwaters by
Grey Seals. Brit. Birds 74: 348.

Morgan, R. 1 986. Eider attacked by Grey Seal. Brit Birds 79:
338-339.

Smith, W. E. 2006. Moulting Common Eiders devoured by
Killer Whales. Brit. Birds 99: 264.

Tallman, J„ & Sullivan, C, 2004. Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
predation on a male Harlequin Duck ( Histrionicus
histrionicus). Northwestern Naturalist 85 ( I ): 3 1 -32.

The Ebro Delta Audouin’s Gull colony and vagrancy potential to

northwest Europe

In their commentary on Britain’s second record
of Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii, a second-
summer at Beacon Ponds, Kilnsea, East York-
shire, on 1st June 2005, Fraser & Rogers (2007)
discussed its possible origin and mentioned the
expanding colony at the Ebro Delta, in north-
east Spain, as a potential source for vagrants to
northwest Europe. We wish to clarify some of
the points relating to the Ebro Delta colony, and
suggest an alternative hypothesis for the origin
of vagrant Audouin’s Gulls along the Atlantic
coastline of western Europe.

With over 20,000
breeding pairs, Spain
supports almost 93% of the
world’s Audouin’s Gull
population, a species which
is still categorised as
‘Vulnerable’ (MMA 2004;

Minguez 2006; table 1). The
Ebro Delta colony is by far
the largest in Spain, with
14,177 pairs in 2007
(IMEDEA/Ebro Delta
Natural Park in litt.);

Audouin’s Gulls first bred

there in 1981, and the population has increased
spectacularly since then (fig. 1). The early
growth of this colony, which occupies a long,
sandy peninsula rather than the rocky island
habitats typical of most other colonies, can be
attributed to a rich supply of discards from the
local fishing industry (Oro et al. 1996a; Oro &
Ruxton 2001). However, a moratorium
established in 1991, to curb overexploitation of
fish stocks around the delta, seriously affected
the breeding success of Audouin’s Gulls

Fig. I. Number of breeding pairs of Audouin’s Gulls Larus audouinii at
the Ebro Delta colony, northeast Spain, 1981-2007.

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 442—447

443

Ricard Gutierrez

Notes

Fig. 2. Number of inland and north-coast records
of Audouin’s Gulls Larus audouinii in Spain, by
province. The country’s main river systems are also
marked. Records in coastal Mediterranean provinces
have not been included. Given that the main colony
is at the Ebro Delta, it is interesting to note the low
number of records along that river’s inner course
(map compiled from data in www.seo.org/media/
docs/BoletinGI AM28_2007.pdf).

(although the population still continued to
increase), with knock-on effects on various
breeding parameters and phenology (e.g. Oro &
Martinez 1992, Oro et al. 1996a, b, 1997, 1999).
In particular, the gulls were forced to seek
alternative food sources. Foraging birds began
to range more widely along the coast, finding a
readily available food supply at rubbish dumps;
they also began to exploit introduced North
American Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus

Migration and dispersal

In early spring, northbound adult Audouin’s
Gulls pass through the Strait of Gibraltar from
early February onwards, though mostly in
March with a secondary peak in April; the main
arrival at the Ebro Delta is in mid March. In
autumn, breeders begin to leave the Mediter-
ranean in early July; numbers passing through
the Strait of Gibraltar peak in August, after
which there is a steady decline (Garcia 2004,
2006). In recent years, a few have remained in
the Ebro Delta throughout the winter, with an
average of c. 90 wintering
birds during the period
1996-2008, but occasionally
up to 300.

Despite its abundance
along the Atlantic coastline
of Morocco, Audouin’s Gull
remains extremely rare
along the north coast of
Spain. For example, from
February to October 2006,
during surveys conducted
by the Spanish Seabird
Monitoring Network, which
monitors seabird passage
past up to 15 capes and
headlands along the Atlantic
coastline of northwest
Spain, not a single
Audouin’s Gull was noted

226. Adult Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii at the nest, Ebro Delta, Spain, June 2007.

J I individual
2-9 individuals
[ 1 0 or more individuals

Ebro Delta
colony

clarkii, which are abundant in the extensive rice
paddies close to the breeding colony, and which
became an important food source. In the Ebro
Delta, Audouin’s Gull has thus developed from
a chiefly pelagic gull into a mainly coastal-
foraging, even scavenging species (e.g. Oro et al.
1996a, Oro 1999, Pedrocchi et al. 2002). The
fishing moratorium was relaxed in 2000 so that
fishing could continue during the gulls’
breeding season; as discards became available
again, now supplemented by crayfish, the
population was clearly boosted, and reached a
peak of 15,396 breeding pairs in 2006 (Oro
2006). This increase has fuelled the
establishment of satellite colonies to the south,
also in ‘flat’ habitats, including the Torrevieja
lagoon, Alicante, where 31 pairs nested for the
first time in 2005 and increased to 298
pairs in 2006 (Saez & Arroyo 2005,
www.naturalicante.com/noticias/
Noti-jun-2005/noticias-junio-05.htm).

444

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 442—447

Notes

among 65,770 seabirds counted. From
November 2006 to October 2007, an expanded
monitoring programme along the Mediter-
ranean seaboard and Portuguese coasts once
again failed to record any Audouin’s Gulls off
northern Spain and Portugal, among 132,640
birds counted (see www.telefonica.net/
web2/redavesmarinas). This puts into context
the species’ great rarity farther north in Europe.

Away from breeding sites along the Mediter-
ranean coast of Spain, second-summer birds are
invariably the most abun-
dant age class recorded.

For example, at the Llo-
bregat Delta (immediately
south of Barcelona, 180
km north of the Ebro
Delta and an important
roost site for subadults),
observations show that
72% of birds at this site
between May and July
were second-summers;
only 6% were first-
summers, 15% were third-
summers and 7% were
adults (Pedrocchi 2005).

This reflects the dispersal
strategy of immatures: the
vast majority of young
birds remain along the
African coast in their first-
summer, while most third-
summers attend the
breeding colony as non-
breeders. This leaves
second-summer birds,
which migrate to the
Mediterranean but which
do not join breeding
colonies, to form these
large gatherings, often far
from colonies (de Juana et
al. 1987; Hoogendoorn &

Mackrill 1987; Mackrill
1989; Oro & Martinez
1994).

The first two British
records of Audouin’s Gull,
in 2003 and 2005, were
both aged as second-
summer birds (Walker
2004; Fraser & Rogers
2007) and support the idea

that this age group is the most likely to return
to the Mediterranean from the wintering areas
and then wander far from the breeding
colonies. Dispersal of these second-summer
birds presents the most likely source of vagrants
to northwest Europe, although not necessarily
from the Spanish population (see below).

Given that the Spanish Audouin’s Gull popu-
lation is doing so well, why has there been no
corresponding increase in sightings along the
Atlantic coast of Spain and beyond? It is inter-

Table I. Number of breeding pairs of Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii
and overall significance in 2007 (data supplied by the various autonomous
communities in Spain and Minguez 2006).

* Denotes approximate count according to latest data available.

no. breeding

% Spanish

% world

pairs

population

Ebro Delta1

14,177

72.6

67.0

Valencian community2

618

3.2

2.9

Columbretes islets

0.4

Albufera de Valencia

0.5

Islote de Benidorm

La Mata-Torrevieja

450

2.3

Murcia region3

785

4.0

3.7

Isla Grosa

583

3.0

Parque Regional de Salinas y arenales 1 3

0.1

de San Pedro del Pinatar

Espigon de Puerto Mayor, La Manga 189

1.0

del Mar Menor

Balearic islands4

1,474

7.6

7.0

Mallorca

366

1.9

Menorca

164

0.8

Archipielago de Cabrera

0.2

Ibiza and Formentera

905

4.6

Isla de Alboran5

526

2.7

2.5

Islas Chafarinas6

1,937

9.9

9.2

Spanish total

19,517

France *

100

0.5

Italy *

500

2.4

Croatia

0.3

Greece

700-900

3.8

Turkey

60-90

0.4

Cyprus

15-20

0.1

Lebanon

0.1

Portugal

0.1

Tunisia

0.3

world total

21,161

1 IMEDEA/Parc Natural Delta de l’Ebre

2 Generalitat Valenciana

3 Gobierno de Murcia

4 Govern de les Illes Balears

5 Junta de Andaluda

6 2006 data (Minguez 2006)

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 442-447

445

Notes

esting to compare the migration and post-
breeding dispersal patterns of this species with
those of Yellow-legged Gull L. michahellis. Both
gulls breed in the Ebro Delta, there being 9,744
pairs of Yellow-legged Gulls in 2007 (authors’
own data). The latter species is well-known as
an inland coloniser, however, spreading along
major river networks such as the Rhone, Aude
and Garona, connecting the Mediterranean to
the Atlantic and providing a route into north-
west Spain and northwest Europe. This link was
initially established for the Catalan population
in the 1980s (Carrera et al. 1981) and remains
an important post-breeding conduit to the
Atlantic coasts of western Europe (Cadiou
2004). However, only small numbers of
Audouin’s Gulls disperse to the north of the
Ebro Delta along the Mediterranean coastline,
and it is rare from Blanes to the French border
and exceptionally rare inland in Catalonia. It
seems clear that Audouin’s Gull largely avoids
overland dispersal.

Between 1973 and 2004, 38,485 Audouin’s
Gulls were ringed in Spain, resulting in 9,405
recoveries; no fewer than 5,754 of these recov-
eries came from within 10 km of the ringing
site. Since 1988, chicks of Audouin’s Gulls
breeding in the Ebro Delta have been fitted with
a metal ring and a white plastic ring; 6,350 pulli
were fitted with plastic rings during 2003-2006.
At the time of writing, four colour-ringed indi-
viduals have been observed in Guipiizcoa,
Euskadi, on the Atlantic coastline of northwest
Spain, but only two of these came from the
Ebro Delta: one was from a small colony in
Croatia, and another was from Livorno, Italy.
This provides direct evidence that at least some
of the Audouin’s Gulls that reach the west coast
of Europe are derived from the much smaller
populations breeding in the central and eastern
Mediterranean. Furthermore, a pullus ringed at
Pianosa Island, Tuscany, Italy, in June 2001 was
seen at Margencel, Haute-Savoie, France, on
16th August 2001, and again near Allaman,
Switzerland, on 18th August 2001 (Gantlett
2002).

Although the central and eastern
Mediterranean populations of Audouin’s Gull
are much smaller, the occurrence of three
colour-ringed birds from colonies in this region
in western Europe suggests that for some reason
these may be more pre-disposed to westward
vagrancy than their Spanish counterparts. Many
of these colonies remain small and show no

sign of the extraordinary rates of population
growth experienced by Spanish colonies
(BirdLife International 2004; Minguez 2006).
While this remains the case, future records of
Audouin’s Gull in western Europe may remain
nothing more than erratic and occasional. If
these populations do start to increase, however,
it is possible that this species may become more
familiar in northwest Europe.

Acknowledgments

We thank Antoni Curco, Fernando Escribano, Jordi
Muntaner, Mariano Paracuellos and Blanca Sarzo for
supplying the updated 2007 Audouin's Gull breeding
counts from their respective areas.

References

BirdLife International. 2004. birds in Europe: population
estimates, trends and conservation status. BirdLife
Conservation Series No. 1 2, Cambridge.

Cadiou, B. 2004. Oiseaux marins nicheurs de France
metropolitaine (1960-2000). Parthenope Collection,
Biotope, Paris.

Carrera, E., Monbailliu, X., & Torre, A. 1981. Ringing
recoveries ofYellow-legged Gulls in northern Europe.

In: Aguilar; J. S.t Monbailliu, X., & Paterson, A. M. (eds.),
Estatus y Conservation de Aves Marinas, Actas del II
Simposio Medmaravis: 181-194. SEO/BirdLife,
Medmaravis, Madrid.

de Juana. E„ Bradley, R, Varela, J„ & Witt, H. 1987. Sobre los
movimientos migratorios de la Gaviota de Audouin
Larus audouinii. Ardeola 34: 1 5-24.

Fraser; RA„ Rogers, M.J., & the Rarities Committee. 2007.
Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2005. Part I :
non-passerines. Brit. Birds 1 00: 1 6-6 1 .

Gantlett, S. 2002. 200 1 : the Western Palearctic Year. Birding
World 15: 13-34.

Garcia, E. F.J. (ed.). 2004. Birds in Gibraltar 2002. Gibraltar
Bird Report 2002: 8-39.

— 2006. Birds in Gibraltar 2005. Gibraltar Bird Report 2005:
9-M5.

Hoogendoorn.W., & Mackrill, E.J. 1 987. Audouin's Gull in
southwestern Palearctic. Dutch Birding 9: 99- 1 07.

Mackrill, E.J. 1989. Audouin's Gull in Senegal in January
1989 .Dutch Birding I I: 122-123.

Minguez, E. 2006. 'Proceedings of the International
Workshop on Audouin's Gull Conservation in the
Mediterranean.' Unpublished report. Altea, Alicante.

MM A. 2004. Criterios Orientadores para la catalogacion de
taxones. Comision Nacional de Proteccion de la
Naturaleza. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Madrid.

Oro, D. 1 999. Trawler discards: a threat or a resource, for
opportunistic seabirds? In: Adams, N. j„ & Slotow, R. H.
(eds.), Proceedings, 22nd International Ornithological
Congress, Durban : 7 1 7-730. BirdLife South Africa,
Johannesburg.

— 2006,'Seguiment cientific de la colonia de la gavina
corsa Larus audouinii a la reserva natural parcial de la
Punta de la Banya, Parc Natural del delta de I'Ebre.'
Unpublished report, IMEDEA- Generalitat de
Catalunya.

— & Ruxton, G. D. 200 1 .The formation and growth of
seabird colonies: Audouin's Gull as a case study.

J.Anim. Ecol. 70:527-535.

— , Jovei; L., & Ruiz, X. 1 996a. Influence of trawling activity*
on the breeding ecology of a threatened seabird.

446

British Birds 101 ‘August 2008 • 442-447

Notes

)

Audouin's Gull L arus audouinii. Marine Ecology Progress
Series 1 39: 1 9-29,

— , Genovart, X., Ruiz, X., Jimenez, J„ & Garcia-Gans, J.

1 996b. Differences in diet, population increase and
breeding performance between two colonies of
Audouin’s Gulls Larus audouinii during breeding seasons
affected by a trawling moratorium.]. Avian Biol. 27:
245-25 1 .

— & Martinez, A. 1 992.The Audouin's Gull (Larus
audouinii ) colony at the Ebro Delta. Avocetta 1 6: 98- 101.

— & — 1 994. Migration and dispersal of Audouin's Gull
Larus audouinii from the Ebro Delta colony. Ostrich 65:
225-230.

— , Pradel, R., & Lebreton,J.-D. 1 999. The effects of nest
predation and food availability on life history traits in
Audouin's Gull. Oecologia I 1 8: 438-445.

— , Ruiz, X.Jover L., Pedrocchi.V.. & Gonzalez-Solis, J. 1 997.
Audouin's Gull diet and adult time budget responses on
changes in food availability induced by commercial

fisheries. Ibis 1 39: 63 1 -637.

Pedrocchi.V. 2005,'Proyecto LIFE de la Gaviota de
Audouin (Larus audouinii ) en el delta del Llobregat.
Seguimiento correspondiente al ano 2005. Accion F5:
Papel del delta del Llobregat como zona de
alimentacion/dispersion.’ Unpublished report.
Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Generalitat
de Catalunya.

— , Oro, D., Gonzalez-Solfs, J., Ruiz, X., & Jover L. 2002.
Differences in feeding ecology between the two largest
breeding colonies of Audouin's Gulls: the effects of
fishery activities. Scientia Marina 66: 3 1 3-320.

Saez, A., & Arroyo, S. 2005. La Gaviota de Audouin cria en el
PN de Torrevieja-La Mata. Noticias Naturalicante Junio
2005. Retrieved from www.naturalicante.com/noticias/
Noti-jun-2005/noticias-junio-05.htm

Walker; D. 2004. Audouin's Gull: new to Britain. Brit. Birds
97:537-541.

Ricard Gutierrez and Emma Guinart

Servei de Proteccid de la Fauna, Flora i Animals de Companyia, Generalitat de Catalunya,
Dr Roux 80 5th 08017, Barcelona, Spain; e-mail rgutierrez@gencat.cat

Rooks killing adult Black-tailed Godwit

On 18th May 2007, at Zhaskairat, in the
Pavlodar region of northeast Kazakhstan, we
became aware of two Rooks Corvus frugilegus
being mobbed by a nesting male Black-tailed
Godwit Limosa limosa. This bird and its female
partner had been driving away the numerous
Rooks feeding at this site for some time, so we
did not pay much attention initially. At one
point, however, we noticed that the Rooks did
not fly away as usual but, together with a third
bird, attacked the godwit from three sides and
tried to pin it to the ground. Several times the
godwit landed and the Rooks tried to cover it
with their wings, but it escaped. After at least
ten such attacks, the wader stayed on the
ground, clearly exhausted, and the Rooks
started to stab it with their bills, finally opening
the main neck artery. Tasks were obviously
divided: two of the corvids kept the godwit
down on the ground by wing pressure, the third
bird stabbed with its bill. The godwit soon
■stopped defending itself and died; the fight had
lasted about seven minutes. When we

approached the area to photograph the scene,
the Rooks flew off but soon returned after we
retreated and began to eat small parts of the
godwit’s body. When inspecting the dead
godwit, we confirmed our suspicions that it had
a recently broken leg, which had restricted its
mobility on the ground (though it had seemed
unaffected by this in flight).

Rooks have been considered responsible for
predation of eggs and chicks of ground-
breeding waders in Kazakhstan (e.g. Belik
2005). They feed mainly on invertebrates, but
regularly take carrion and occasionally eggs and
chicks. However, we can find no published cases
of Rooks killing adult birds.

Our observations were made during field research on
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius, partly funded by
the UK Darwin Initiative.

Reference

Belik, V. R 2005. The Sociable Lapwing in Eurasia: what does
the future hold? Brit. Birds 98: 476-M85.

Johannes Kamp

Hindenburgstrasse 3, D-26122 Oldenburg, Germany; e-mail johannes.kamp@uni-oldenburg.de
Kseniya V. Grishina

ul. R. Madina 22/1, kv. 3, p. Korgalzhyn, Akmolinskaya oblast’, 474210 Kazakhstan

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 442-447

447

Reviews

BIRDS OF SURREY

By Jeffery J. Wheatley. Surrey
Bird Club, 2007. 696 pages; 1 1
colour plates; 57 line-drawings;
36 colour photographs;
numerous maps and tables.
ISBN 978-0-901363-08-6.
Hardback, £35.00.

This book has been a long time
coming, but it really has been
worth the wait! It was originally
conceived as a successor to Parr’s
Birds in Surrey 1900-1970, which
would incorporate the results of
the county tetrad breeding atlas
carried out from 1988 to 1994
(later extended to 1997). However,
the work became a labour of love
for the sole author, Jeff Wheatley,
and he broadened his researches to
include much pre-twentieth
century information and even evi-
dence from the fossil record.

The book is in two main parts: a
lengthy introduction and the system-
atic list. The former is a pleasure to
delve into and comprises seven sec-
tions, including ‘Geology, climate,
weather and land use’, ‘The develop-
ment of the landscape’, and ‘The
history of bird recording in Surrey’.
There is a wealth of interesting infor-
mation here, including a summary of
the documented climatic events for
the last 300 years; the spread of
urbanisation and resultant loss of
heathland (Surrey’s key habitat); and
a summary of other important habi-
tats and main ornithological sites.
The introduction is followed by a
brief section summarising informa-
tion about the changing population
of various species, migratory move-
ments and roosts.

The systematic list covers all 339
species reliably recorded in the vice-
county of Surrey (VC 17) and
Spelthorne district. The latter,
although outside the vice-county, is
within the present administrative
county and includes important sites
such as Staines, King George VI and
Queen Mary Reservoirs, Perry Oaks
Sewage Farm (now obliterated by
Terminal Five at Heathrow airport)

and Staines Moor. This somewhat
pragmatic approach is surprising
given that Surrey Bird Club still
sticks rigidly to VC 17 as its
recording area; no doubt the first
authoritative summary for the
Spelthorne sites since the publica-
tion of a revised edition of Birds of
the London Area in 1964 will result
in further sales, and rightly so! The
Surrey list by region and month,
which follows the systematic list,
shows that the inclusion of
Spelthorne adds six waders and two
terns (Sternidae) to the county list.

The species accounts are partic-
ularly detailed; for example, that for
House Martin Delichon urbicum has
15 sections, including early Surrey
history, nest-sites, large counts,
visible migration, movements,
longevity, parasites and plumage
variations. This gives an indication
of the subject matter that has been
researched exhaustively. Despite the
detail, much of the text is easy to
read, although there are too many
lengthy lists of locations and incon-
sistencies between the accounts. It is
not always clear exactly what period
is covered; a clearly stated cut-off
date with an appendix of note-
worthy later records up to the date
of publication would have been
preferable. The arrival of summer
visitors is well analysed, with bar
charts showing average arrival dates
by ten-year periods and a discussion
of any trends for each species. A
mass of other data is presented in
tabular form - wildfowl counts, ter-
ritory counts of key breeding
species and bird-month totals for
scarcer visitors.

The tetrad breeding maps are
presented clearly, with two sizes of
green circle to represent breeding
and presence in suitable habitat.
Comments on the atlas results vary;
consistent coverage for every species
including a population estimate at
the end of the atlas period and an
indication of trends since then, espe-
cially given that the atlas was fin-
ished over a decade ago, would have
been useful. It is surprising that very
little comment has been made on

the methodology and overall results
of the atlas. There are three para-
graphs at the end of the introduc-
tion but no information about the
total number of species found
breeding in the county is given, nor
is there a map showing the numbers
of species recorded in each tetrad.

The book concludes with several
short chapters, including hybrids;
escapes, introductions and birds of
unknown origin; other published
records (not admitted to the main
list); plus an extensive bibliography
and a gazetteer. It is superbly pro-
duced. One is immediately struck
by the dust jacket, with its wonder-
fully evocative painting, by John
Davis, of Thursley Common, fea-
turing a heathland scene with two
Hobbies Falco subbuteo mobbing a
Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus.
Davis is the principal artist, and has
contributed a further ten superb
full- or double-page paintings of
Surrey locations and their birds.
Seven artists, including Davis, have
contributed 57 line-drawings, which
appear throughout the text. The
introduction also contains 24 excel-
lent colour photographs of prime
habitats.

This is an excellent county avi-
fauna, essential for anyone with an
interest in Surrey birds, their
history, patterns of occurrence and
conservation. It charts the
improving fortunes of internation-
ally important populations of Euro-
pean Nightjar Caprimulgus
europaeus, Wood Lark Lullula
arborea and Dartford Warbler Sylvia
undata, and the extremely vulner-
able heathlands which they inhabit.
This book reveals the history of
Surrey’s birds and shows that many
of them are in a healthier position
than they were a century ago; only
some farmland and woodland birds
have declined to a parlous state but
that is being addressed on a wider
scale. Jeff Wheatley is to be highly
congratulated on a job well done;
despite my few niggles, this is a
magnificent book.

lolm Clark

448

Reviews

(

BIRDS OF ARGYLL

Edited by Tristan ap Rheinallt,
Clive Craik, Paul Daw, Bob
Furness, Steve Petty and David
Wood. Argyll Bird Club,
Lochgilphead, Argyll, 2007.
424 pages; numerous maps,
photographs and drawings.
ISBN: 978-0-9557777-0-7.

Hardback, £45.00;
post-free to UK addresses.

Argyll is a largely rural and remote
area of Scotland with many varied
islands and as such holds a great
appeal to those who are privileged
to know it. A few may have visited
just one part (probably Islay or
Mull) but are ignorant of the rest
of the region. Argyll includes not
only Islay and Mull but also Coll
and Tiree, Colonsay and Jura,
many smaller islands, and the
mainland with its extensive coast-
line stretching from north of Oban
south to the Mull of Kintyre and
right the way back north up the
spectacular Loch Fyne to Inveraray
and the Cowal Peninsula. Inland,
several mountains rise to over
3,000 feet. Some 29% of the land
area is afforested, mostly with non-
native conifers. Significant birds of
the area include Greenland White-
fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavi-
rostris , White-tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla, Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos and Red-billed
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
but there are 328 species on the
Argyll list, including Britain’s only
Snowy Egret Egretta thula, identi-
fied in November 2001.

This new avifauna should
appeal to all with an interest in
Argyll, for it is an informative yet

COLLINS BIRDS OF PREY

By Benny Gensbol, illustrated
by Bjarne Bertel. Collins,
London, 2008.

414 pages; numerous colour
photos and plates;
distribution maps.

ISBN 978-0-00-724814-8.
Hardback, £30.00.

concise summary of the birds of
this area and contains much to
entice the reader to book their next
visit. Those who already live in
Argyll should without doubt own a
copy, since it is the only definitive
record for the whole area of Argyll.
The last equivalent was Harvie-
Brown & Buckley’s A Vertebrate
Fauna of Argyll and the Inner
Hebrides published in 1892.

This is a large-format, hardback
book with both colour photographs
and line-drawings of most of the
species listed. Many of the photos
are of the birds in local habitat
rather than portraits and this adds
to the local feel. But it is the superb
photographs of Argyll itself which
makes this book special to me.
They really capture the atmosphere
and the space of Argyll. The aerial
images by John Anderson are espe-
cially evocative. If you pick up a
copy of this book, a glimpse of
these will, at the very least,
encourage you to go there, see the
place for yourself, and go birding!

There are plenty of sites to visit,
and so it is most useful to have a
section on where to watch birds in
Argyll, featuring 75 sites with grid
references, habitats and species to
be expected there. You will need to
read the species accounts to check
which might be present in the
season you are there, but this
important point is clearly stated in
the introduction to this chapter.
There is a comprehensive gazetteer
with four-figure grid references of
over 700 sites.

The book begins with introduc-
tory chapters which set the scene,
describing the background to the
book, past and present ornitholog-
ical work in Argyll, climate,

geology and habitats. These are
well written and informative. Then
it’s the job of the species accounts
to describe the avifauna of Argyll
and these are comprehensive,
detailed yet readable accounts.
Information is up to date to the
end of 2003, but some records up
to 2006 have been included where
they add something extra. Rarer
species have all records tabulated
for easy reference. A wide range of
authors have been involved and the
accounts are well referenced.
Editorial control has been tight.

There are graphs for seasonal or
annual occurrences for some
species, and maps for breeding
seabirds (only). This is one area that
could perhaps have been improved
on: to provide more scientific data,
visually. However, I know that many
areas of Argyll suffer from poor
coverage and recording effort so it is
possible that the data are just not
there to support better analysis.
Population estimates are available
for some species but they are buried
in the text of the species accounts. I
would like to have seen numerical
information such as this included in
the Appendix ‘Status of Argyll bird
species’, which really is just a check-
list with notes on national conser-
vation and BAP status, and Gaelic
names.

With the publication of Birds of
Scotland (Forrester et al. , 2007) at
about the same time as this book,
the Argyll enthusiast is now well
served with both this avifauna and
the broader Scottish perspective. I
would recommend Birds of Argyll
to anyone with an interest in Scot-
tish birds and Argyll in particular.

Mark Holling

Many BB readers will be familiar
with the general layout of this
colourfully illustrated book, as it is
the fourth edition of a work that
was first published (under a
slightly different title) in 1984.
Coverage has been expanded to
include no fewer than 49 of the
nearly 60 species of diurnal raptor
(Falconiformes) that have occurred
in the Western Palearctic, excluding

irregular vagrants such as Amer-
ican Kestrel Falco sparverius but
usefully including Oriental Honey-
buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus and
Ruppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppellii.
The book is divided into three
main parts, the first of which
briefly considers important back-
ground information on various
subjects, for example the special
adaptations of raptor bills and feet,

British Birds 101 • August 2008 • 448^45 1

449

Reviews

and threats from environmental
poisoning and direct persecution.

The introductory section is fol-
lowed by a series of individual
species accounts, each of which is
enlivened by colour photos. These
accounts are short and concise when
discussing rarities such as Shikra
Accipiter badius, but more expansive
and accompanied by a map and a
table of population estimates when
dealing with species that are
common in the region (for example,
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus) .
The maps (which helpfully show
political boundaries) are very clear
and of decent size, but my initial
enthusiasm for them waned as
closer inspection revealed a few too
many inaccuracies (among the most
glaring, from a British perspective,
being the inexplicable failure to
show breeding ranges - however
sketchily - of Honey-buzzard P.
apivorus, Montagu’s Harrier C.
pygcirgus and Hobby F. subbuteo in
Britain). The lifestyle and status of

each species is well summarised in
the texts, though there are a small
number of instances where the
meaning of certain statements could
have been made clearer (but this
could be a fault of translation rather
than authorship). For example,
when discussing Peregrine Falcon F.
peregrinus it is stated that, ‘The
[population] figures for Russia and
Morocco... are estimates, partly
because of possible confusion with
Barbary Falcon [F. pelegrinoides]', a
statement which, because the latter
species does not breed in Russia, is
in obvious need of reworking. In
short, the species accounts, though
still useful and packed with infor-
mation, would have benefited from
the services of someone with an
ornithological background to edit
them.

The remaining part of the book
deals with identification, and will
be, I suspect, the main reason why
many birders will be unable to
resist buying a copy. Compared

with the first edition, this section is
now considerably longer (166
pages against 96 in the original),
while the black-and-white draw-
ings of previous editions have been
replaced by a series of informative
colour plates. The strength of this
section lies not so much with
species posing few identification
problems (such as Dark Chanting-
goshawk Melierax metabates), but
rather with the trickier challenges
set by, for example, the buzzards
Buteo, which are considered in
greater depth and depicted in a
wider range of plumages than is
possible in a general field guide.

This volume can be recom-
mended as a handy and reasonably
up-to-date distillation of facts
about these magnificent birds. The
impressive identification section
makes it an essential reference for
ardent raptor watchers visiting bird
of prey ‘hotspots’ in Europe.

Pete Combridge

NEW HOLLAND
EUROPEAN BIRD GUIDE

By Peter H. Barthel and
Paschalis Dougalis. New
Holland, London, 2008.
192 pages, 1,752 colour
illustrations.

ISBN 978-1-84773-110-4.
Paperback, £10.99.

Selling field guides to the British is
like preaching to the converted,
and it is no surprise that New
Holland has introduced yet
another to the market. Rather than
commission a new work, they have
taken a shortcut by translating a
guide that was published in
German in 2006 (and was itself a
complete overhaul, in both text
and illustrations, of a book which
first appeared as long ago as 1936).

The book is designed to be
small and light enough to carry in
the field, and to that end only those

species occurring regularly in
Europe, plus a selection of vagrants
and established feral species, are
included. The overall standard of
artwork is very good (and much of
it is excellent), but the artist
appears to have been let down on
certain of the plates by colour
reproduction; for example, the bill
of the eastern race rubrirostris of
Greylag Goose Anser anser does
not appear pink enough in com-
parison with that of western nomi-
nate anser. The accompanying texts
are both clear and concise, concen-
trating only on key points. Just
occasionally, I felt that some
accounts were slightly ambiguous
or in need of clarification, but in
those (very few) cases it is likely
that this minor niggle is the result
of editing subsequent to transla-
tion. The maps are tiny (9 mm x 9
mm) and show only breeding dis-
tributions. Despite these limita-
tions, they seem mostly accurate
and helpful; among my very few

gripes is that the breeding presence
of Little Crake Porzana parva in the
Baltic States and Finland is not
mapped, while for clarity it would
have been better had there been
separate maps for Common Car-
duelis flammea and Lesser Redpolls
C. cabaret. The guide contains a
number of recently ‘split’ species;
some of these splits - including the
aforementioned redpolls - are
familiar and widely accepted, while
others (such as the treatment of the
Iberian race of Green Woodpecker
Picus viridis as ‘Iberian Wood-
pecker P. sharped) are as yet less so.

In summary, this is an inexpen-
sive guide with useful texts and
reliable illustrations. Not the least
of its charms is that it is small and
slim enough to fit easily into a
jacket pocket, or into airline hand
baggage on a flight to continental
Europe.

Pete Combridge

450

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 448-45 1

Reviews

THE ORNITHOLOGIST’S GUIDE TO THE
ISLANDS OF ORKNEY AND SHETLAND

By Robert Dunn. Facsimile edn. Peregrine Books,
Leeds, 2007 (published originally in 1837).

170 pages; contemporary illustrations and maps.

No ISBN. Hardback, £30.00.

Robert Dunn was a Hull taxonomist and natural
history dealer who made four visits to the Northern
Isles between 1831 and 1842, when he settled in
Shetland, later moving to Orkney. This is a well-
produced facsimile edition of his 1837 book, which
describes his visits north between 1831 and 1835 and
includes a descriptive list of birds and mammals
recorded from the archipelagos. It is a compelling
account of his travels through the islands and of his
often ruthless quest for specimens. This book has long
been virtually unobtainable. It will not suddenly
become a best-seller overnight either, but for residents
of and regular visitors to the Northern Isles it is a
fascinating glimpse of the islands in the early to mid
nineteenth century.

Roger Riddington

)

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BIRDING ESSENTIALS

By Jonathan Alderfer and Jon L. Dunn.

National Geographic, Washington DC, 2007.

224 pages; many colour photographs; figures and
maps. ISBN 978-1-4262-0135-6. Paperback, £9.99.

An introduction to birding and birding skills. Nine
chapters cover most of what a relatively new birder needs
to know, including the obvious advice on choosing and
using binoculars and scopes, describing birds (including
topography) and fieldcraft. There is a discussion of the
different forms of variation in birds, migration strategies,
a very brief section on taxonomy, and a few examples of
identification challenges. This is quite a useful and
helpful book, with loads of handy tips and reminders,
but viewed entirely from a North American perspective.
This could be potentially confusing, as references to 'the
west’ and 'the east’ refer to the coasts of the USA and
Canada, and identification issues are covered exclusively
from the North American perspective. This book is
clearly aimed at the North American market, but might
be a good present for a new birder Stateside.

Martin Collinson

News and comment

Compiled by Adrian Pitches

Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of British Birds

Four years after the ‘meltdown’
headlines of 2004 [Brit. Birds 97:
425), the seabird situation in our
northernmost archipelago again
looks bleak. On Fair Isle, warden
Deryk Shaw spoke gloomily of the
situation in mid July. By then it was
already quite clear that there would
be no Arctic Skua Stercorarius para-
siticus;, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla or
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
chicks fledging in 2008. These three
key species are perhaps the most
‘predictable’ victims of a bad
season - more worryingly, Fair
Isle’s Shags Phalacrocorax
aristotelis , Common Guillemots
Uria aalge and Razorbills Alca torda
have also suffered almost complete
breeding failure. Many Shags and
Guillemots simply elected not to
breed; Razorbills have carried on
regardless, yet for all three species
virtually no chicks will fledge.

Seabird woes I

Needless to say, food availability is
the key factor. A record count of
Great Skua Stercorarius skua occu-
pied territories (294) is scant con-
solation in another desperately
depressing season. In late June,
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
launched a public consultation on
behalf of the Scottish Government
on the proposal to extend 31
existing land-based Special Protec-
tion Areas (including Fair Isle) up
to 4 km out to sea. Although this is
a welcome and long-overdue
acknowledgment of the impor-
tance of Scotland’s seabird
colonies, it will not be a magic
wand.

Elsewhere in Shetland, Martin
Heubeck reports a less uniformly
grim situation, although Arctic
Tern failures are widespread. At
Sumburgh Head, just 40 km north
of Fair Isle and monitored by

SOTEAG (Shetland Oil Terminal
Environmental Advisory Group),
Guillemot and Razorbill numbers
remain low (39% and 27% of
counts in 2000, respectively), with
extensive non-breeding suspected.
Hatching success of Guillemots
was low (49% cf. 77% in 2000, the
last ‘good’ year), as the stress of
very long incubation shifts caused
many birds to put their own
survival first, and abandon their
egg in situ. However, surprisingly
high site attendance of failed
breeders helped to reduce chick
predation and, despite low feeding
rates (of a diet including c. 50%
sandeels Ammodytes and 45%
small gadoids), chick survival was
reasonable and breeding success
was 0.25 chicks fledged per egg-
laying pair - half of that in 2007
and a third of that in a ‘good’ year.
In marked contrast to the situation

451

on Fair Isle, Shags at Sumburgh
are having a reasonable, if
somewhat late season. The number
of nests is similar to that in 2007
and, by mid July, of the breeding
attempts that hatched, over a third
hatched broods of three or four
chicks. Kittiwakes are clearly
struggling, however. Only 60% of
pairs beginning nests at Sumburgh
went on to lay and by mid July
95% had failed. This pattern is
mirrored at five other Kittiwake
colonies monitored by SOTEAG,
with failure rates by mid July
ranging from 69% to 100%, with a
few remaining nests yet to hatch.

News and comment

The decline mapped out in
Martin’s 2002 paper (Brit. Birds 95:
118-122) continues. Farther afield,
the RSPB revealed early indications
of poor seabird breeding success
on many of its reserves this
summer, particularly in Scotland
and Wales (though with Orkney
and Shetland apparently worst
hit). Mark Avery, the RSPB’s
Conservation Director, said:
‘Regrettably, the poor breeding
performance of our internationally
important seabird colonies is now
an annual theme - [these] declines
are a serious cause for concern.’
Back on Fair Isle, news of two

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
chicks fledging successfully in mid
July provides a more positive note
on which to finish. Peregrines last
attempted to breed on Fair Isle in
1973 and were last successful in
doing so in 1969. Despite the ups
and downs of its seabirds, the
island continues to attract record
numbers of human visitors (helped
by rarities such as the Citril Finch
Serinus citrinella in June) - good
news for Fair Isle Bird Observatory
Trust, which hopes that its planned
new £4-miilion bird observatory
will be ready for visitors sometime
in 2010.

The RSPB believes that hundreds
of seabirds have died so far this
summer after becoming entangled
in fishing nets set for salmon Salmo
salar and sea trout S. trutta in Filey
Bay, North Yorkshire. In response
to the high numbers of casualties
reported by the RSPB, the Environ-
ment Agency - the licensing
authority - closed the fishery for
two weeks in a voluntary agree-
ment with the fishermen.

Kate Tanner, RSPB marine
policy officer, said that observers:

Seabird Woes II

‘have witnessed horrific scenes of
scores of seabirds floundering and
drowning in nets set by the fish-
ermen just offshore. We welcomed
the temporary voluntary closure of
the fishery, but we now have to
work with all those involved to find
a long-term solution to this terrible
situation.’

The RSPB wants to support a
sustainable fishery in Filey Bay, but
is concerned that the future of any
such fishery would be compro-
mised if the large-scale death of

seabirds cannot be prevented. So
far the majority of the seabirds
caught have been Razorbills, but it
is possible that other locally
nesting seabirds, such as Guille-
mots and Puffins Fratercula arctica ,
may be caught up in the nets too. It
is almost certain that the seabirds
being caught by this fishery have
come from colonies in the nearby
Flamborough Flead protected sites,
including the RSPB’s Bempton
Cliffs reserve.

But one Razorbill has
cause to celebrate

What do Nicole Kidman and a
Welsh Razorbill have in common?
They’ve both recently celebrated
their 41st birthdays! That might
not be such a major milestone for
Ms Kidman, but Razorbill M23170
has just become the oldest of its
kind in Britain. Ringed as a chick
on Bardsey, Caernarfonshire, it was
reported back on the island for its
41st summer in 2008. The latest
BTO Ringing Report, in the journal
Ringing & Migration , lists 1 1 other
record breakers, including a
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
at 31 years, a Turnstone Arenaria
interpres at 20 years and a Barn
Owl Tyto alba at the ripe old age of
13.

Orphan Peregrines adopted

Two Peregrine chicks left orphaned after their parents were killed in illegal
traps near Cannock, Staffordshire, have been placed with foster parents in
the wild. RSPB officers managed to put the chicks in two separate nests
away from the Birmingham area, where traps were found near two nests in
May (Brit. Birds 101: 388). Peregrines often rear 3-4 chicks; the adoption
sites selected had only two chicks in the nest, making them ideal new
homes. At both sites, the two resident chicks immediately accepted their
new sibling.

Also in May, three Peregrine chicks were stolen from a well-known nest
at Beeston Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire & Wirral. Under the present Defra
registration scheme, falconers find it difficult to ‘launder’ such illegally
obtained birds because they have to prove that the birds are captive-bred.
But Defra plans to remove Peregrine from the captive-bird register, making
it difficult to trace wild birds stolen from their nests. In its defence, a Defra
spokeswoman said: ‘Trade in Peregrine Falcons is restricted under the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and
this protection would continue regardless of status on the bird registration
scheme. Anyone wishing to sell a Peregrine would need to demonstrate it
was legally acquired to obtain a CITES certificate. Inspections or DNA
testing of a bird can take place to investigate captive-breeding claims.’

452

British Birds 101 ‘August 2008 • 451—455

News and comment

Golden Eagles under threat

It’s the iconic image of wild Scotland
but the magnificent Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos is facing relentless
persecution in its UK stronghold. A
new report by Scottish Natural Her-
itage (SNH), 'The Golden Eagle
Framework’ shows that illegal perse-
cution is thwarting the raptor’s
recovery in Scotland (and thus its
return to northern England).

Currently, there are 440
breeding pairs of Golden Eagle in
the UK, all in Scotland. None has
nested successfully in England
since 1996; there is currently one
lone male in the Lake District and,
until persecution halts in Scotland,
there is little chance of the species
re-establishing in England. The
report found that the most serious
problems were in the central and

eastern Highlands, where less than
half of all known territories were
occupied and existing populations
continue to decline. ‘The main land
use in these regions is grouse moor
management. These results are
consistent with several other
studies showing that eagles have
been subjected to illegal persecu-
tion in parts of these areas.’

RSPB Conservation Director
Mark Avery acknowledged 'a com-
pelling report [which] provides
strong evidence that illegal perse-
cution of Golden Eagles has been
the major factor in limiting their
recovery and spread across what
should be prime available habitat
in some parts of Scotland.’

There was justifiable public
outrage in August 2007 when the

female of the only breeding pair of
Golden Eagles in the Borders was
found poisoned on a grouse moor
near Peebles, leaving the male bird
to rear their newly fledged chick.
The chances of another female dis-
persing so far southeast seemed
remote. But, amazingly, a new
female did arrive in the area, and
paired with the male bird in 2008.
Reportedly, they have had a suc-
cessful season, producing at least
one chick. However, the RSPB
believes that the Borders could
comfortably support at least ten
pairs of Golden Eagles, yet this
remains the only breeding pair.
Golden Eagle Framework:
www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/
publications/commissioned_
reports/Report%20No 1 93.pdf

20th Bird fair to support Spoon-billed Sandpiper

...and Sociable Lapwing Vanellus
gregarius, Azores Bullfinch
Pyrrhula murina , Tuamotu King-
fisher Todiramphus gambieri ,
Dwarf Olive Ibis Bostrychia bocagei
and Araripe Manakin Antilophia
bokermanni, as BirdLife’s Pre-
venting Extinctions programme
continues its three-year sponsor-
ship by the Rutland Water Birdfair.

BirdLife could receive up to
£750,000 from the 2007-2009
Birdfairs for its targeted schedule
of conservation action for the
world’s 190 Critically Endangered
species. The 2007 Birdfair donated
a record £226,000 to BirdLife and
this year’s fair, and the 2009 event,
will hopefully exceed that. So
come and do your bit to Save
Our Spoon-billed Sandpipers
Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, whose
global population may now
number fewer than 250 birds.

The event at Rutland Water on
1 5th— 1 7th August will be the usual
heady mix of marquees full to
bursting with birding trade stands
and conservation charities, talks,
workshops, celebrities - and panel
games! The BB stand is in Marquee
3, nos 24-25. Do come and say
hello! And Simon King will again

be presenting the awards for Bird Next year’s dates for your diary

Photograph of the Year (pp. are 21 st-23rd August 2009.

408-417), in the Events Marquee www.birdfair.org.uk
on Friday 15th at 2.45 pm.

227. Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus,
Saemangeum, South Korea, May 2008.

British Birds 101 ’August 2008 • 451-455

453

Richard Chandler

News and comment

Cattle Egret - the new Little Egret?

In 1989, Little Egret Egretta garzetta was still a BBRC rarity, albeit with only
one more year to go before it was ‘dropped’ from the BBRC list. At the end
of the entry in the 1989 BBRC report, which described no fewer than 122
records and ran to more than three pages, the question was posed ‘will this
boom year be a “one-off” or will global warming inspire flocks of egrets to
come here and settle?’ {Brit. Birds 83: 446). The recently published RBBP
report for 2005 listed 391-433 breeding pairs in Britain - so it looks as
though they are here to stay. Now, following an unprecedented influx of
Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis , comes news of this species of egret nesting
successfully in at least one and possibly two Somerset heronries, with a
chick hatching not long before we went to press this month. Could this be
the start of another colonisation? Watch this space. . .

Bitterns go west

Not to be outdone, Eurasian Bitterns Botaurus stellaris have also nested in
Somerset, for the first time in 40 years, with two nests discovered by staff at
Ham Wall RSPB reserve. In 1997, the UK Bittern population was down to
just 11 males, principally in East Anglia, fuelling fears that Bitterns might
become extinct in the UK. In 2007, a minimum of 51 males were recorded
at 33 sites in the UK, although birds nested successfully at only 12. That
dramatic turnaround reflects an intensive rescue package that improved the
quality of reedbed habitat at core sites. However, being concentrated in
freshwater wetlands along East Anglia’s low-lying coast, the bulk of the UK
population is still at risk from rising sea levels.

Request

Colour-ringed wagtails

Following an earlier request in BB {Brit. Birds 99: 446), it is planned to
individually colour-ring a further 500 Pied/White Wagtails Motacilla alba
at Slapton Ley, Devon, in autumn 2008. After five years’ intensive study
and some 3,000 birds ringed, it is now clear that some 50-65% of birds
caught at Slapton during September are Icelandic White Wagtails AT a.
alba en route to their winter quarters in Senegal/Gambia. Over 60% of
recoveries to date result from colour-ringed resights and it is hoped that a
higher percentage will be achieved in 2008/09. Wagtail colour-ringing will
also continue at Abbotsbury (Dorset) and East Kilbride (Clyde).

There is growing evidence that White Wagtails (which comprise
c. 15-20% of catches between November and February) regularly over-
winter in southwest England and the Channel Isles, and a bird ringed at
East Kilbride was resighted in Somerset early in 2008. It is thought that
these birds may move south with Scottish and upland Pied Wagtails AT
a. yarrelli, which regularly peak at 1,000 or more at Slapton in the
second week of October (2,000 in 2005). It appears that this is a south-
western phenomenon which does not occur east of Poole Harbour
(Dorset). What are thought to be Pied x White hybrids are also regularly
being caught during this period.

The colour coding will consist of a single ‘year code’ (colour over
metal) on one leg, which may be the left (Abbotsbury) or the right
(Slapton & East Kilbride), and three colour rings - striped (Abbotsbury
& East Kilbride) or plain (Slapton) - on the other leg. If you see colour-
ringed alba wagtails anywhere between Iceland and The Gambia, please
send details to either the BTO (colourringing@bto.org) or Dennis
Elphick, 2 Somerye, Chillington, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 2JU; e-mail
dennis.elphick@tiscali.co.uk; tel. (01548) 580323.

600th
British bird

The sweepstake to predict the
600th species admitted to the
British List continues. Following
the BOURC’s elevation of Hooded
Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus (a
female or immature on North Uist,
Outer Hebrides, in autumn 2000)
and Great Blue Heron Ardea hero-
dias (a juvenile on St Mary’s, Isles
of Scilly, in December 2007) to
Category A, the official British List
now stands at 580. The Citril Finch
Serinus citrinella on Fair Isle in
June, and other potential ‘firsts’ in
2007 still under consideration,
could push the list nearer to 590.

So what will be number 600?
Let N&c know your predictions by
e-mail at the usual address.

Where to Watch
Birds in Britain:
an appeal for
help

A fully revised version of the
definitive guide to the best birding
sites in Britain, Where to Watch
Birds in Britain, by Simon Harrap
and Nigel Redman, is scheduled for
2009. New sites will be added (and
others deleted) to reflect the ever-
changing environment for birders
in Britain. As before, each of the
entries will be refereed for
accuracy, but the authors would
welcome any feedback on the
current edition. If you have any
comments on the information for
sites you know well, or consider
that new sites should be added,
please contact Nigel Redman
(e-mail nredman@acblack.com).
All contributions will be fully
acknowledged, and major
contributors will earn a free copy
of the new edition (at the authors’
discretion!).

Correction The full version of
the paper ‘Recording areas of
Great Britain’ {Brit. Birds 101:
364-375) is now available online
at www.britishbirds.co.uk/
recordingareas.pdf

454

British Birds 101 ‘August 2008 • 451—455

News and comment

Wicket i Fen ringers notch up 40 years

It’s the National Trust’s oldest
nature reserve, dating back to 1899,
and now it’s marked another mile-
stone: 40 years of bird ringing. And
the ringers at Wicken Fen, in Cam-
bridgeshire, have notched up a
further statistic too: they’ve just
ringed their 100th species - a Grey
Heron Ardea cinerea.

Of the 82,000 birds ringed at
Wicken Fen since 1968, 429 have

been retrapped elsewhere including
64 foreign recoveries, the most
distant being a Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica in South Africa,
9,664 km from Wicken Fen. Other
distant recoveries include a
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
in Russia, a Marsh Harrier Circus
aeruginosus in Mauretania and a
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur in
Mali. Rarities ringed include a

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus
arundinaceus in 1971 and a Barred
Warbler Sylvia nisoria in 1979. The
40-year study has confirmed the
dramatic decline of a number of
farmland species, particularly Tree
Sparrow Passer montanus (170
were ringed in 1973 but only one
in 2007), although others
(including Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter tiisus) have increased.

Recent reports

Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Eric Dempsey

This summary of unchecked reports covers mainly new arrivals between early June and early July 2008.

Headlines Terek Sandpiper in Cleveland, some remarkable swift activity in Yorkshire, River
Warbler in Orkney, Lesser Grey Shrike in Norfolk and a small influx of Rose-coloured Starlings,
mainly in Scotland. An unseasonal Arctic Redpoll in Shetland and, perhaps connected, a handful
ofWaxwings 8 ombycilla garrulus and an influx of Common Crossbills Loxia curvi rostra, with
widespread flocks of up to 30 from early June. Disappointing news regarding the breeding
Black-winged Stilts in Cheshire &Wirral and, after impressive numbers of Cattle Egrets and
Red-footed Falcons recently, reports of these two species finally tailed off.

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Oxford Island (Co.
Armagh), 22nd June. White-billed Diver Gavia
adamsii South Ronaldsay (Orkney), 2nd-9th
July. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
From pelagic trips off Scilly, two on 30th June.

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Minsmere
(Suffolk), 1 1 th— 12th June; Earith, 1 5th— 1 6th
and 23rd June, presumed same Chain Corner
(both Cambridgeshire), 18th June. Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis Near Bridgwater (Somerset), three,
11th June; Earith/Sutton Gault (Cam-
bridgeshire), two, 1 5th— 16th June; Cley
(Norfolk), 25th June; Leighton Moss (Lan-
cashire & N Merseyside), 28th June; Goldcliffe
Pools NR (Gwent), 6th July. Great White Egret
Ardea alba Denge Marshes (Kent), 10th June;
Cotswold Water Park (Gloucestershire), 10th
June; Swords Estuary (Co. Dublin), 11th June;
Hatfield Moors (South Yorkshire), 11th and
20th June; Grove Ferry (Kent), 12th June; Rye
Harbour (East Sussex), 13th June; Holme
(Norfolk), 14th June; Harewood Moor (Der-
byshire), 14th June; Lurgangreen (Co. Louth),
29th June; Brantham (Suffolk), 4th July. Black

Stork Ciconia nigra Nether Winchendon,
9th June, presumed same Dancersend (both
Buckinghamshire), 23rd June; Stow Longa
(Cambridgeshire), 2nd July.

Black Kite Milvus migrans Wykeham Forest, 10th
and 29th June, Laskill, 21st June, near Knares-
borough (all North Yorkshire), 25th June and
Grimston (East Yorkshire), 25th June, all pre-
sumed same; Exminster Marshes (Devon), 12th
June; Heversham Moss (Cumbria), 15th June;
Langham, 18th June, Dersingham, 1st July and
Fakenham (all Norfolk), 8th July; Chatteris
(Cambridgeshire), 24th June; Overton (Hamp-
shire), 26th June; Old Basing (Hampshire), 27th
June. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus New
arrivals during the period at Upton Broad
(Norfolk), 9th June; Little Witcombe (Glouces-
tershire), 19th June; Derwent Reservoir (Der-
byshire), 26th June; Panfield (Essex), 27th June;
Stronsay (Orkney), 1st July; Sculthorpe
(Norfolk), 4th July.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus At

Neumann’s Flash, long-staying breeding pair

455

Gary Jenkins

Recent reports

and one young, to 19th June, when young was
predated; adults to 21st, when relocated to
Ashton’s Flash (both Cheshire 8c Wirral),
27th-29th June; possibly same Beaulieu
(Hampshire), two, 30th June. American Golden
Plover Pluvialis dominica Alaw Estuary
(Anglesey), 25th— 27th June. White-rumped
Sandpiper Calidris fuscicotlis Grove Ferry,
1 9th— 20th June. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Saltholme Pools (Cleveland), 5th— 10th July.
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Minsmere, 15th
and 27th— 28th June; Cley, 24th June to 7th July.

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla , Mullet Peninsula
(Co. Mayo), 22nd June. Gull-billed Tern Geloche-
lidon nilotica Morfa Madryn (Caernarfonshire),
27th June.

June. Elsewhere, Minsmere, 14th June; Win-
terton Dunes (Norfolk), 16th June; Belton
Common (Norfolk), 22nd June; Ramsey (Pem-
brokeshire), 24th June; Boyton Marshes, 8th July
and Landguard NR (both Suffolk), 9th July.

River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis Evie (Orkney),
9th— 1 8th June. Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantil-
lans Portland (Dorset), 26th June. Sardinian
Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Flamborough
Head (East Yorkshire), 23rd June.

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor Hickling
(Norfolk), 1 9th— 24th June. Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senator Nr Minehead (Somerset),
29th-30th June; Saltfleet Haven (Lincolnshire),
30th June.

Alpine Swift Apus melba Oakham (Leicestershire
8c Rutland), 17th June; Brandon Point (Co.
Kerry), 28th June. Common Swift Apus apus A
southerly passage of 1 1,500 at Spurn (East York-
shire) on 25th June. Pacific Swift Apus pacificus
Kilnsea (East Yorkshire), 22nd June, presumed
same Spurn, 26th June. Little Swift Apus affinis
Spurn, 26th June, and presumed same Old Moor
RSPB (South Yorkshire), 2nd July. European
Bee-eater Merops apiaster In Cornwall, singles at
Truro and Penzance on 13th June, Cape Corn-
wall/Cot Valley on 15th June, and probably one
of same Polgigga on 15th, Land’s End on 16th,
and St Just on 17th June. In Warwickshire, at
Long Lawford, 10th June, with perhaps same
Brandon Marsh, 22nd June and Radford, 25th

Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus North
Uist (Outer Hebrides), 9th June; Stoke Fleming
(Devon), 10th June; Bardsey (Caernarfonshire),
10th June; Inskip, 1 1 th— 1 2th June, possibly
same Lytham St Anne’s, 23rd-29th June, and
another at Thornton (all Lancashire 8c N
Merseyside), 29th June; King’s Lynn (Norfolk),
14th— 1 7th June; Holyhead, 16th June, possibly
same Rhosneigr (both Anglesey), 20th June. In
Orkney, at Evie on 1 7th — 18th June and 4th July,
presumed same Stromness, 24th-26th June, nr
Finstown, 26th, Deerness, 27th and Kirkwall,
28th June to 2nd July; others Stronsay, 1st July
and South Ronaldsay, 25th June to 9th July.
Elsewhere from mid June, Greenock (Clyde),
18th June; Newburgh (North-east Scotland),
19th June to 2nd July; Canna
(Highland), 27th June to 2nd
July; Mablethorpe (Lincoln-
shire), 28th-29th June; Harris
(Outer Hebrides), 28th June;
Earsham (Norfolk), 29th June;
Lossiemouth (Moray 8c Nairn), c.
24th June, to 3rd July; Portsoy
(North-east Scotland), 4th— 6th
July; St Ives (Cornwall), 9th July;
Lewis (Outer Hebrides), 9th July.

Citril Finch Ser/nus citrinella Fair
Isle, long-stayer to 1 1th June.
Arctic Redpoll Carduelis
hornemanni Unst (Shetland),
1 2th— 17th June. Black-headed
Bunting Emberiza melanocephala
Fetlar (Shetland), long-stayer to
29th June.

228. Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus, Inskip,
Lancashire & N Merseyside, June 2008.

456

British Birds 101* August 2008 • 455-456

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Kay Optical (1962)

UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE

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Location: Southern edge of Greoter London. 15 mins drive from M25.

(for example via the A3, then take the A298 Wimbledon/Merton slip-rood) or
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Parking: 50 yards post our premises - first left

Alternative venues to Morden at which you can try and buy our equipment
in the field are given below. We aim to show our full range of equipment
but it helps us to help you if you let us know your interests before each
Field Day. Repairs can also be handed in/collected. 1 0.00am to 4.00pm usually.

Sevenoaks
Wildfowl Reserve

On the A25 between Riverhead
and Sevenoaks - Bat and Boll
Station

3 August, 7 Sept,

5 October

Pagham Harbour
LNR

On the B2145 into Selsey,

West Sussex

31 August

College Lake
Wildlife Centre

On the B488 near Bulbourne,
Tring, Herts.

1 0 August

Dinton Pastures
Country Park

Near Reoding (M4, A329(M)
Woodley turnoff) then A329 to
Winnersh and Winnersh Station
(B3030)

14 September

Canon, Helios,
Kowa, Leica,
Manfrotto,
Miyauchi,
Nikon,

Bough Beech
Nature Reserve/
Reservoir

About 4 miles south of the
A25/A21 junction (occess from
82042 or B2027) neorlde Hill,
Kent. Info centre north of
reservoir.

17 August, 14 Sept,
19 October

Opticron,
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Zeiss, etc.

Used items also
on our web site.

WANTED!

• Tour Leaders

For the
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( REPAIRS & SERVICING Ol
BINOCULARS & TELESCOPI

Optrep Optical Repai

www.opticalrepairs.com

01243 601365

E-mail: info@opticalrepairs.com

Optrep (Ref: BB), 16 Wheatfield Road,
Selsey, West Sussex PO20 0NY
c (5 minutes from Pagham HLNR)'

For subsequent Field Day dates, phone or see our website

oticron

>culars, Telescopes & Accessories

AURORA BGA

Designed and manufactured to be smaller, lighter, sharper
with a wider field of view and better close focus compared to
svious Opticron BGA model, the new Aurora BGA delivers the
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urrently attainable from this roof prism format.

ale in 8x42 Field 7.2° and 10x42 Field 6.5“ with
d weights of under 670g and a choice of finishes,
ire information visit www.opticron.co.uk

739, 10x42 £739

mmm

SLR TELEPHOTOGRAPHY

Taking photographs through your telescope is now
easier than ever with our extensive range of telephoto
and photoadapters. For more information see our
TELEPFtOTOGRAPHY page at www.opticron.co.uk

HR ED FIELDSCOPES

Re-designed and re-engineered without compromise, the new
HR ED deliver truly exceptional optical performance combined
blime handling and total reliability. Features include:
v twin ED APO lens design

v lightweight nitrogen gas filled magnesium body, fully protected in
touch textured rubber armour

lated N-type coating throughout for maximum brightness and contrast
le wheel focusing, retractable lens hood with integrated objective
cover

■;e footprint +/- 90° rotating tripod sleeve
/ compatible with Opticron SDL, HDF & HR eyepieces
photo option for SLR photography
-'ear guarantee

GA ED or HR 66 GA ED/45 body £649
GA ED or HR 80 GA ED/45 body £799

es: HDF T 20xWW/27xWW £129, HDF T 28xWW/38xWW £149,
-54x/24-72x £229, Telephoto HDF £149

INK

Green

Black/gunmetal

For more information on the complete range of Opticron equipment and
a copy of our current Catalogue call 01 582 726522 or visit our on-line
Catalogue at www.opticron.co.uk

PO Box 370, Unit 21, Titan Court, Laporle Way, Luton, Beds, LU4 8YR, UK Fax: 01582 723559 E-mail: salesC" opticron.co.uk

Nikon

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Now you can use Nikon spotting scopes
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Nikon makes it all easy for you with your choice of portable,
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NEW

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0800 230 220

Nikon Sport Opt

ISSN 0007-0335

Established 1907, incorporating The Zoologist, established 1843
Published by BB 2000 Limited, trading as ‘British Birds’

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British Birds

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British Birds

Volume 101 • Number 9 • September

BfSTOHY

1 1 SEP 2003

200*fRESB4

mm ubb* ft /

458 Further thoughts on the transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds to Britain &
Ireland Norman Elkins

478 The Eagle Owl in Britain Tim Melling, Steve Dudley and Paul Doherty

49 1 Unusual nest-site of Lammergeier in Sardinia Marcello Grussu

493 Q From the Rarities Committee’s files: October Greenish Warblers
Andy Stoddart

Regular features

477 gg Rarities Committee news

‘Siberian Chiffchaffs’ in 2008

496 Notes

Mute Swans eating carrion
Chris Durdin

Hobby taking fish from Common
Tern Tim Earl

Moorhen exploiting bird feeders
R. Colin Welch

Common Kingfisher catching and
attempting to eat a shrew
Tristan Bantock

House Martins destroying Spotted
Flycatcher nest David Hosking
Grey Wagtail catching minnows
Mark Hope

498 Letters

Rare seabirds W. R. P. Bourne
Predictions of future vagrants
D. I. M. Wallace

500 Obituaries

David Lewis Davenport (1946-2008)
Richard Patrick (Derek) Goodwin
(1920-2008)

503 Reviews

Wye Valley

Birdsounds of Northern Siberia
The Birds of Zambia
A Photographic Guide to the Birds of
Japan and North-East Asia
A Field Guide to the Bird Songs and
Calls of Britain and Northern Europe
The Birds of Alderney
Short reviews

508 News and comment

Adrian Pitches

5 1 2 Recent reports

Barry Nightingale and
Eric Dempsey

Further thoughts
on the transatlantic
vagrancy of landbirds
to Britain & Ireland

Norman Elkins

Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca Richard Johnson

ABSTRACT This paper gives an overview of transatlantic landbird vagrancy to
Britain & Ireland during 1 997-2006, and also examines the meteorological
context of such vagrants more widely along the NE Atlantic seaboard in this
period. The number of Nearctic landbirds recorded in Britain & Ireland
continues to fluctuate, being related to atmospheric variability across the
North Atlantic and population trends in North America. It seems likely that
some vagrants in northern Britain in autumn take a higher-latitude route than
originally believed, as their arrival patterns often match those of vagrants to
Iceland. Tropical storms play an indirect role in initiating vagrancy in autumn,
but spring vagrants are unaffected by these and almost certainly include birds
undertaking northward migration on the ‘wrong’ side of the Atlantic. The
possibility of spring vagrants, particularly sparrows and buntings (Emberizidae),
overshooting from North America is belied by the general lack of suitable
wind conditions, and ship-assistance may play a significant role.

458

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

The appearance of North American
landbirds in western Europe continues to
excite birders. Many of these vagrants are
carried across the North Atlantic by the
powerful, low-level airflows in mobile weather
systems (Elkins 1979, 1988, 1999), although
others may be ship-assisted. Two categories of
Nearctic landbirds are involved in transatlantic
crossings, particularly in autumn. The first
includes migrants from Canada and NE USA
that overfly the western Atlantic, using strong
tailwinds to assist passage to the West Indies and
beyond. The second group comprises southern
breeders which have a tendency to ‘reverse’
migrate NE in warm autumn airflows (the term
‘reverse’ migration used here encompasses all
movements in a direction opposite to that of
normal migration and may include involuntary
movements in strong winds). Some species may
occur in both groups and both include
individuals that become entrained in developing
weather systems that deflect them across the
North Atlantic. I have widened the scope of this
analysis by including Icelandic records, in view
of the increase in records of Nearctic vagrants
there during recent years. There is emerging
evidence that some vagrants to northern Britain
may arrive via the Icelandic region and possibly
even vice versa. The increase in Icelandic records

is certainly due to a growth in observer
awareness, as is the increase in records from
newly ‘discovered’ migrant hotspots in western
Scotland and the islands of Macaronesia.

Methods

Ornithological data

All Nearctic vagrant landbird records for Britain
& Ireland were sourced from the reports on rare
birds published annually in BB (Rogers et al.
1998-2005, Fraser et al. 2007a, b) and Irish
Birds, and Icelandic records from annual
reports in the Icelandic journal Bliki. Unpub-
lished accepted records from Ireland and
Iceland were provided by rarity authorities in
the two countries. Unpublished and unverified
records published elsewhere are not used
although a few are quoted, including those of
ship-assisted individuals. Only Category A
species (those recorded in an apparently natural
state and therefore excluding proven ship-
assisted birds) were used in the numerical
analyses.

Meteorological data

Twelve-hourly synoptic weather charts (six-
hourly until 2000) of the North Atlantic and
North America were scrutinised. Charts for the
former were derived from UK Meteorological

229. Of the eight Nearctic passerines that first appeared during winter (December to February) in the decade
under discussion, four were American Robins Turdus migratorius, including this first-winter female at Godrevy,

Cornwall, in December 2003.

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458-477

459

Nigel Blake

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

(

Office unpublished data and Wetterzentrale
(2007), while those for the latter were obtained
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA 2007a) and Unisys
(2007). Calculation of trajectories was
attempted for many records using the method-
ology described in Elkins (1979) and Draxler &

Rolph (2003). For the North Atlantic, trajecto-
ries were estimated using air speeds added to
wind speeds. NOAA provided air-mass trajecto-
ries only but gave more precise tracks based on
archived meteorological data, which allowed an
individual vagrant’s tracks to be assessed more
realistically. Monthly mean sea-level pressure

Table 1. Accepted records of Nearctic landbirds

in Britain & Ireland in

spring (March to June), 1997-

-2006.

00 01

Total

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus

Veery Catharus fuscescens

American Robin Turdus migratorius

Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata

Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas

White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

1 1

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus

Annual totals

4 1

Table 2. Accepted records of Nearctic landbirds in

Britain & Ireland

in autumn

(August to November),

1997-2006.

97 98

Total

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus

Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

Purple Martin Progne subis

Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus

Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus

Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus

Veery Catharus fuscescens

American Robin Turdus migratorius

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus

Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus

Northern Parula Parula americana

Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia

Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata

Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla

Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus

Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula

Annual totals

2 10

142

460

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 458-477

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

(

Fig. I. Synoptic chart for 12.00 hrs on 30th September 1997,
showing SW airstreams between eastern North America and Iceland.

patterns were obtained from the
‘Weather Log’, published in the Royal
Meteorological Society’s journal
Weather.

Although tropical storms
(including hurricanes - the most
powerful stage of these) are confined
to the western North Atlantic and
therefore unable to carry birds on a
transatlantic journey, their extra-
tropical stages can do so if they
affect normal migration routes in
autumn. Tropical storm tracks were
also therefore scrutinised, obtained
from NOAA (2007b). The analysis
below refers only to those storms
crossing migrant routes over the western
Atlantic in September and October. Meteoro-
logical terminology has been kept to a
minimum but clarification of any unfamiliar
terms can be found in Elkins (2004).

vaceus) were discovered between 30th Sep-
tember and 7th October (fig. 1). This period of
higher-latitude winds may have also been
responsible for a Swainson’s Thrush Catharus
ustulatus in Norway on 30th September.

Results

Tables 1 and 2 show the annual totals of each
species for both spring and autumn.

There were also eight winter records of birds
first observed between December and February,
of which four were American Robins Turdus
migratorius. The more significant events in each
year are described below.

1997 No vagrants were reported in Britain &
Ireland in September and only two in October.
No tropical storms crossed migration routes
and the atmospheric circulation was anomalous
in both months. Persistent high pressure in the
NE Atlantic steered developing depressions
farther north than normal and a succession of
such depressions ran NE
towards Iceland in late Sep-
tember and early October,
when eight Nearctic song-
birds arrived in Iceland. Of
these, a Common Yel-
lowthroat Geothlypis trichas
on 26th September followed
a strengthening warm sector
that departed E Canada on
24th. Another surge of
strong, warm SW winds
originated in Canada on
28th and the remaining
seven birds (including five
Red-eyed Vireos Vireo oli-

1998 Several sparrows, including two Dark-
eyed Juncos Junco hyemalis and three White-
throated Sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis , were
found aboard a ship off Newfoundland in a
fresh southwesterly on 1st May. Two White-
throated Sparrows remained on board as the
vessel passed through Sea Area Hebrides on
10th May, and one was still alive at Kiel,
Germany, on 14th May (Cook 1998). The only
spring records in Britain were a Hermit Thrush
C. guttatus on 30th April and a White-throated
Sparrow on 8th June, both in Shetland. No suit-
able transatlantic weather patterns were
evident, and both birds may have been spring
migrants moving north in the Palearctic or even
ship-assisted. Two Belted Kingfishers Mega-

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458-477

461

Ren Hathway

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

Fig. 2. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on 22nd October 1998,
showing a waving front at lower latitudes with a strong WSW
flow to the south.

ceryle alcyon in Iceland, on 17th May and 18th
June, could similarly have been moving north
(as did the British bird in 2005; see below).

The mean low-pressure area in September
was well south of its normal position near
Iceland, with weaker westerlies than usual on its
southern flank. A Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor on Scilly on 9th coincided
with the first of several Green Darner Anax
junius dragonflies in Scilly and Cornwall, a
North American species not recorded
previously in the Western Palearctic. Davey
(1999) suggested that these insects arrived in
the strong transatlantic wind flow associated
with the remnants of hurricane ‘Earl’ in its
extra-tropical stage. Latterly, this system was
absorbed by ex-hurricane ‘Danielle’ off western
Scotland. It seems probable that the nighthawk
also arrived in this flow, followed by a second
nighthawk on Scilly on 12th and one in France
on 17th. Atmospheric pressure in October was
below normal off North America and also in
northern Europe, creating a weaker, more
southwesterly airflow than usual over the mid
Atlantic. A frontal wave formed off eastern USA
on 20th and ran quickly across the North
Atlantic without developing, bringing SW gales
to the Southwest Approaches on 22nd (fig. 2).
The first arrival in Britain & Ireland (apart from
a ship-assisted Grey Catbird Dumetella
carolinensis in Southampton on 21st) was a Grey-
cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus in Cornwall
on 23rd, one of three thrushes in four days.

oceanic airflow was more
northwesterly than average and,
following a Baltimore Oriole Icterus
galbula in Scilly on 27th September
after a run of transatlantic westerlies,
there were no further records until
10th October. A significant influx of
Monarch Danaus plexippus
butterflies from mid September
(Tunmore 2000; see Discussion) did
not coincide with the arrival of any
transatlantic landbirds. However,
with the October pressure pattern
near normal, a secondary influx of
butterflies coincided with a small
influx of birds into SW England and
Ireland: two Yellow-billed Cuckoos
Coccyzus americanus on 10th and
12th, a Swainson’s Thrush on 11th and single
Veery Catharus fuscescens and Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus on 13th. These arrivals
occurred in a near-classic weather situation,
with a strong, warm WSW airstream across the
Atlantic during 5th— 1 0th October. Anticyclonic
weather over eastern Canada and USA on
7th-8th gave a NW airstream suitable for
migration (see Elkins 1979), conveying birds
out to sea and into warm southwesterlies with
subsequent downwind flight. The next wave of
Nearctic arrivals began on 22nd October, with a
remarkable influx of Chimney Swifts Chaetura
pelagica in SW England and Ireland: seven
during 22nd-25th (see fig. 3), and another on
30th (and one in Sweden on 6th November).

1999 In September, with pressure higher than
normal over the western North Atlantic, the

23 I . Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica, St Mary’s,
Isles of Scilly, October 1 999.

462

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 458—477

Tony Collinson

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

Fig. 3. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on 2 1 st October 1 999
At this time, the Chimney Swifts Chaetura pelagica would
have been about 800 km south of the depression centre.

The weather situation appears to have given rise
to an uncharacteristic transatlantic crossing.
Hurricane ‘Irene’, moving NE off the eastern
seaboard of the USA, became extra-tropical SE
of Newfoundland on 19th and moved out into
the Atlantic, where it re-intensified rapidly into
a deep depression. Migrating Chimney Swifts
may have been following the NW winds to the
rear of the depression, but these proved to be
still of hurricane force, with reported sustained
surface winds of up to 100 kph round the
centre. As this storm moved steadily towards
Britain (fig. 3), the birds would have been swept
rapidly SE then east
until they arrived on
southwesterlies on 22nd.

At all times, the birds
would have remained
in the cold air mass,
which is unusual for
transatlantic vagrants
but supported by air-
mass trajectories. A fast-
moving frontal wave
crossed the Atlantic
between 21st and 24th,
possibly bringing the
later birds.

2000 A Chimney Swift
on 6th August could
have been a bird still in
the Palearctic from the
1999 fall (as might one
in Norway on 25th

May). The North Atlantic atmos-
phere in September was close to
normal, except that winds near
Britain were more westerly than
southwesterly. Three tropical storms
were relevant during September,
although only one is considered to
have affected oversea migrants. A fall
in SW Britain & Ireland between
26th September and 1st October
included at least six Red-eyed Vireos
and two Cliff Swallows Petrochelidon
pyrrhonota, with another Cliff
Swallow in France. Trajectories
suggest that post-frontal northwest-
erlies over the western Atlantic stim-
ulated initial movements on 22nd
and 25th. As there is also a tenuous
link with the warm air thrown up by
tropical storm ‘Helene’ lying off Cape Hatteras
on 24th, the initial movements may have been
of birds reorienting after ‘reverse’ migration.

In October, the strength of the westerly flow
across the North Atlantic in mid latitudes was
notable, squeezed between an intense Azores
anticyclone and a deep Icelandic low-pressure
area, and transatlantic vagrancy was higher than
average. An increase in tropical storm activity
also affected the normal passage routes of
Nearctic autumn migrants, perhaps leading to
the surges of warm air that stimulated Red-eyed
Vireos to ‘reverse’ migrate. One had even made

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463

R. Thompson

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

Fig. 4. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on 9th October 2000.
Complex frontal waves moving rapidly eastwards.

it to Poland by 17th and 16 were recorded in
Britain & Ireland in the autumn. A small fall on
4th-6th October produced a Blue-winged
Warbler Vermivora pinus in Co. Cork on 4th,
four Red-eyed Vireos in the southwest on 5th
and a Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata in
Co. Galway on 6th. Backtracking suggests a
northern origin for these birds - eastern
Canada, where a warm WSW wind flow associ-
ated with a developing depression moved east,
to arrive in Britain & Ireland on 4th. The vireos
and the Blue-winged Warbler may have already
been displaced NE in an earlier movement -
such October arrivals of Red-eyed Vireos were
noted in Newfoundland in 1989 (Mactavish
1990; Elkins 1999). After a brief lull, another
strong westerly became established on 8th, with
frontal waves running rapidly east into the
Southwest Approaches on 9th— 1 0th (fig. 4),
associated with the remains of tropical storm

‘Leslie’. Curiously, the next fall
occurred on 12th, after winds had
veered NW. The reason for this delay
is not clear, but the birds included a
Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Cornwall
and single Swainson’s Thrushes in
Scilly, Shetland and NW France,
where there was also a Scarlet
Tanager Piranga olivacea. Elowever,
westerlies soon returned, bringing
four more Red-eyed Vireos during
1 5th— 1 8th and another on 21st.

2001 Most depressions in October
followed a southern track, with
westerlies stronger than normal to
the SW of Britain. After a blank September,
eight records during 2nd-9th October included
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata on
Cape Clear on 2nd, another in Co. Kerry on
4th, Grey Catbird (see Croft 2004) and Red-
eyed Vireo on Anglesey on 4th and Rose-
breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus in
Devon on 6th. While the first bird almost
certainly originated in northwesterlies across
eastern Canada on 30th September, the next
three, sharing the same range, had probably
taken a more southern track in the warm sector
of a wave originating off eastern USA on 30th
and 1st October. This ran rapidly ENE to arrive
in Britain & Ireland on 4th. Another wave
moving from eastern Canada on 5th arrived on
7th, with Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall and Balti-
more Oriole in Co. Cork; while a Bobolink in
Devon on 9th possibly arrived in the next wave.
A fast-moving system in northern latitudes on
1 2th— 13th may have brought an
American Robin to Iceland on 13th
and a Grey-cheeked Thrush to
Orkney on 14th (fig. 5).

Single Cliff Swallow on 26th and
Chimney Swift on 28th, both on
Scilly, probably resulted from a fast-
moving system arriving on
24th— 25th; this may also have
carried the long-staying Snowy Egret
Egretta thula, first recorded in Argyll
at the end of the month.

Perhaps the most intriguing
event of autumn 2001 was the erup-
tion of Snowy Owls Bubo scandiacus
in Canada early in October, some of
which reached Europe aboard ships.
Although precise details of the

Fig. 5. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on I 3th October 2001 .
Strong SW winds over the North Atlantic associated with
fast-moving frontal systems.

464

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 458-477

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

Fig. 6. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on I st October 2003.
The warm sector SW of Iceland was one of a succession
to bring vagrants across at high latitudes.

Fig. 7. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on 3rd October 2003.
One of several early October occluded fronts crossing Scotland
bringing vagrants via a northern route, with another warm sector
moving NE in the western Atlantic.

routes and timing of the various
vessels is lacking, it seems that a
number of birds boarded ships in
Newfoundland and Greenland
waters during violent storms, mainly
between 11th and 13th (D. Verbelen
pers. comm.). The second week of
October was characterised by a high
frequency of WNW storms over the
Labrador Sea and surrounding
regions and clearly coincided with a
major eruption of owls. A soiled
individual was found in Suffolk on
24th and several others landed in the
Low Countries.

2002 May records included a White-
throated Sparrow in Sea Area
Dogger on 20th, a Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor in Shetland on
29th and a White-crowned Sparrow
Z. leucophrys in Iceland on 28th. The
atmosphere was abnormally vig-
orous in late May, with a succession
of weather systems crossing the
North Atlantic; had it been autumn,
ideal transatlantic conditions would
have been in place. The Icelandic
bird could potentially have arrived
via Britain as E/SE winds prevailed
over Iceland during 1 6th — 29th. Air-
mass trajectories support this move-
ment. September and October 2002
were anomalous months with fre-
quent easterlies across the North
Atlantic and there were just four autumn
records.

2003 The normal westerly belt was displaced
northwards in September, with higher pressure
than normal to the south. This reduced the
vagrancy risk and the first autumn vagrants
were single Swainson’s and Grey-cheeked
Thrushes, both in Shetland on 27th. This coin-
cided with the start of a large fall of Eurasian
vagrants, when a slow-moving depression lan-
guished west of the Azores and maintained a
NE flow over the western Atlantic; the proven-
ance of the two Catharus thrushes was thus
obscure. October also proved to be something
of an enigma. Only one tropical storm came
close to migrant routes and depression tracks
remained farther west than normal. A Common
Yellowthroat in Co. Clare on 3rd was followed

on 5th by a Northern Parula Parula americana
in Co. Waterford and a Red-eyed Vireo on Barra
in the Outer Hebrides. These birds were all
recorded in strong NW winds associated with
depressions moving east across Iceland round a
persistent anticyclone in mid Atlantic (figs. 6 &
7). It is tempting to think that the birds took a
northern route, and Icelandic records of Amer-
ican Robin and Least Flycatcher Empidonax
minimus on 6th and Baltimore Oriole on 7th
support this. However, trajectories suggest that
the British and Irish vagrants were routed south
of latitude 60°N. As depressions continued to
move from North America to Iceland, that
island recorded Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla
cedrorum on 8th, followed on 10th by Belted
Kingfisher, Alder Flycatcher E. alnorum and
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia. This partic-
ular fall could be linked to an intense depres-

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458-477

465

George Reszeter

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

Fig. 8. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on 9th October 2003.
Intense depression (ex-hurricane ‘Kate’), with track and
previous midnight positions shown.

sion that originated as ex-hurricane ‘Kate’,
which became extra-tropical on 7th (see fig. 8)
and is an example of a fast-moving system that
could carry vagrants without circumnavigation
of the centre. Indeed, backtracking calculations
show a direct air-mass trajectory from NE USA
and Newfoundland. Wind speeds on the
system’s southern flank as it approached Iceland
reached 130 kph. A Bobolink in Co. Cork on
10th and Red-eyed Vireo and Grey-cheeked
Thrush on Scilly on 11th were perhaps too far

south for this Icelandic route, but
the trailing cold front south of the
ex-hurricane may well have brought
them on its forward edge early on
10th.

The weather pattern then
changed as an anticyclone became
established over the North Sea and
southern Scandinavia. With depres-
sions blocked farther south and
west, a SE airstream covered Britain
on 1 2th— 17th, backing NE until
23rd. This stimulated a second wave
of eastern vagrants, with record
numbers of Pallas’s Leaf Phylloscopus
proregulus and Yellow-browed War-
blers P. inornatus from 12th but with
further Nearctic vagrants too. Of six
birds between 13th and 21st, Swainson’s Thrush
and Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sand-
wichensis were on Shetland, Blackpoll Warbler
was on the Outer Hebrides, while Red-eyed
Vireo, Bobolink and another Swainson’s Thrush
were on Scilly. All these could have been earlier
arrivals wandering within Britain or western
Europe. Even more astonishing in such a situa-
tion was an American Painted Lady Vanessa vir-
giniensis butterfly on Scilly on 18th (Headon
2004).

Late in the year came
American Robins on Bardsey
on 11th November and in
Cornwall on 14th December,
and a Baltimore Oriole in
Oxford on 10th December
(the December birds over-
wintered). The American
Robins are thought to have
been linked to a massive east-
ward movement across the
USA in mid November. The
species is known to make
hard-weather movements
and, with an area of heavy
snow moving north in NE
USA on 6th— 8th December,
such a movement could have
driven the second bird east-
wards into a strong WSW
airstream that arrived in
Britain on 11th. A third
American Robin was discov-
ered in Lincolnshire on 1st
January 2004.

466

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 458—477

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

234. First-winter Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis,
Fair Isle, October 2003.

2004 The North Atlantic atmosphere in
September was more active than normal, but
only two birds were reported, both on 5th: a
Red-eyed Vireo in Co. Cork and a Purple
Martin Progne subis in the Outer Hebrides. The
latter is an August migrant in North America,
and those over eastern USA in late August
would have been affected by hurricane ‘Gaston’
as it moved north. This storm delayed the
southward movement of a cold front and main-
tained warm humid weather across easternmost
states. By 31st August, the front was clearing the
land and was preceded by strong, warm SW
winds. As the storm was absorbed into a devel-
oping depression over Newfoundland on 1st
September, this powerful system
intensified and moved rapidly across
the Atlantic to reach Ireland and
western Scotland on 3rd. The British
Purple Martin would have been
swept eastwards in this 100-kph
wind flow, probably within 36 hours
(fig. 9), and air-mass trajectories
support this. Another Purple
Martin, on the Azores on 6th, may
have departed the USA on a more
southern track to be able to reorient
into the lighter winds and broken
cloud of a slow-moving anticyclone
over the Azores region.

October brought just one rele-
vant tropical storm and a mean low-

pressure centre off western
Scotland. East to NE winds
over the ocean were much
more frequent than normal,
meaning few periods of suit-
able Nearctic vagrancy
weather. One such occurred
when warm-sector south-
westerlies took a northern
route from North America
to Scotland between 29th
September and 1st October,
bringing a Yellow Warbler to
Barra on 2nd. Two Buff-
bellied Pipits Anthus
rubescens appeared in
Iceland on 7th and 9th as
warm SSW winds spread NE
on the western flank of an
anticyclone over Scotland,
followed by two Cliff
Swallows on the next warm
sector. A cold front cleared Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland early on 19th October, but the
associated small and weak depression became
reinvigorated on 20th before accelerating across
the Atlantic at 40°N to arrive on 24th. An Oven-
bird Seiurus aurocapilla and a Swainson’s
Thrush were found on Scilly on 25th-26th,
followed by Red-eyed Vireos in Co. Durham on
27th and Co. Cork on 30th.

2005 A Belted Kingfisher on 1st April in
Staffordshire provided a welcome insight to the
movement of spring vagrants in Britain. It was
recorded in Yorkshire on 2nd and then
appeared in Aberdeen on 4th, where it spent

Fig. 9. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on 2nd September 2004: a
situation conducive to Purple Martin Progne subis vagrancy.

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 458—477

467

George Reszeter Hugh Harrop

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

)

235. First-winter male Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia, Garths Ness, Mainland, Shetland, September 2005.

five days. As there had been no suitable transat-
lantic weather pattern prior to its arrival, it is
possible that this bird was following a normal
northward spring passage after spending the
winter in southern Europe or North Africa.

The September pressure pattern over the

North Atlantic was close to the long-term
mean. The first vagrant was a Yellow Warbler in
Shetland on 15th; an apparently suitable strong
southwesterly had arrived in northern Scotland
on 13th but its origins lay in mid Atlantic so
could not be linked to this record unless an off-

468

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458-477

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

shoot of hurricane ‘Maria’ had initially dis-
placed the bird to the Azores. A Veery on 22nd,
also in Shetland, was a more likely candidate for
a recent transatlantic crossing. The strong
southwesterly associated with this bird had
originated in a developing depression off Nova
Scotia on 18th. A subsequent succession of
strong, warm airflows during 24th-30th coin-
cided with Blackpoll Warblers on Scilly on 27th
and the Outer Hebrides on 29th, a Bobolink in
Shetland on 30th and Red-eyed Vireos on
Lundy on 29th and the Outer Hebrides on 30th.

Weather systems in October were anom-
alous, with a mean low-pressure area well south
of normal creating a strong cyclonic flow over
the mid-ocean region south of 50°N. The North
American tropical storm season was one of the
most active on record, but most of those
crossing migrant tracks were early. Only one
(‘Wilma’) had any significant effect. An anticy-
clone over mid Atlantic at the beginning of the
month drifted over southern Britain, forcing
deep depressions NW: a Blackpoll Warbler on
Skye on 4th, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Barra
and a Grey-cheeked Thrush in Co. Cork, both
on 8th, were consistent with this northerly
track. A significant fall in Iceland during
1 6th— 1 8th produced four Blackpoll Warblers,
Yellow-rumped Warbler and Grey-cheeked
Thrush; these may have been associated with
strong southerlies that arrived in Iceland on
14th ahead of a rapidly deepening depression
that left Newfoundland late on 1 1th.

The next episode was a significant one.
Developments in eastern North America during
late October heralded a major catastrophe for
Nearctic migrants as hurricane
‘Wilma’ and its successors moved
out into the Atlantic. ‘Wilma’ pro-
gressed north off the east coast to be
absorbed into an extra-tropical
depression, reaching NE USA from
26th October and depositing
unprecedented numbers of migrants
in eastern Canada. Several of the
species involved had departed on
normal autumn migration many
weeks before and other species were
rarities to the region. ‘Hundreds’ of
Chimney Swifts, Tree Swallows and
Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica had
been displaced northwards to Cape
Breton Island, while in Nova Scotia
there were 500 Yellow-billed

Cuckoos and thousands of Chimney Swifts,
most of which died (Dinsmore 2006; R Alfrey in
lift.). Possibly, some of these birds had been dis-
placed earlier, prior to ‘Wilma’, during a colossal
fall of migrants in NE USA in mid October
(Dinsmore 2006). Both cuckoos and swifts were
also abundant on Bermuda, although this island
was probably too far south to act as a source of
transatlantic vagrants. The atmospheric pattern
in mid and late October had therefore concen-
trated large numbers of displaced migrants in
NE USA and eastern Canada. Those survivors
ready to reorient and return southwards thus
provided a source that contributed towards a
major eastward displacement of Nearctic
vagrants. A succession of active, low-latitude
depressions crossed the North Atlantic after
‘Wilma’, affecting the Azores in the first
instance, where large numbers of Nearctic
vagrants were recorded, including more than
130 Chimney Swifts (P. Alfrey in lift.).

The vigour of the depressions and their NE
route across the eastern Atlantic after following
such a low-latitude track meant a reduced like-
lihood of a direct transatlantic crossing to
Britain & Ireland. Birds in the Azores had
already flown 3,000 km and many were dying.
However, an influx of over 18 Chimney Swifts
into Britain & Ireland from 29th October was
undoubtedly associated with this movement
(fig. 10). Birds were first recorded in SW Ireland
and Scilly, with subsequent records NE to
Northumberland. Grey-cheeked Thrush and
Yellow-rumped Warbler appeared in Ireland on
29th-30th, while unprecedented numbers of
Laughing Gulls Larus atricilla appeared from

Fig. 1 0. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hrs on 29th October 2005.
Influx of Chimney Swifts Chaetura pelagica from the Azores.

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458-M77

469

Kit Day www.irishbirdimages.com

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

237. Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus, Cape Clear Island,
Co. Cork, October 2006.

238. First-winter Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis,
Kilbaha, Co. Clare, October 2006.

2nd November, doubtless reflecting an
influx in the Azores from 30th October.
The gulls’ arrival in Britain & Ireland coin-
cided with a deep depression, which had
developed off eastern USA on 29th
October and almost certainly entrained
birds already displaced by earlier storms.

2006 The arrival of the first autumn
vagrant, a Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall on
2nd October, was perhaps a consequence
of ex-hurricane ‘Helene’, which arrived on
27th September. Two other vireos, in
Ireland on 5th and 7th, preceded a Canada
Warbler Wilsonia canadensis in Co. Clare
on 8th, American Robin on Scilly and
Blackpoll Warbler in Co. Cork on 10th,
and a Baltimore Oriole in Co. Cork on
12th. These birds occurred in a period of
vigorous activity over the Atlantic, as fast-
moving warm sectors brought frequent
SW airflows into Britain & Ireland. Anticy-
clonic weather with a succession of south-
moving cold fronts over eastern Canada
presented good conditions for the initia-
tion of migration during this period with
ideal air-mass trajectories for transatlantic
vagrancy.

Discussion

Routes

There is perennial debate about the routes
of migrant birds and it seems opportune
to restate the basic principles concerning
transatlantic vagrancy.

A great-circle route is the shortest dis-
tance between two points on the earth’s
surface and such a route from eastern
North America to Britain would pass over
relatively high latitudes, e.g. north to 55°N
in mid Atlantic. However, the trajectories
of most autumn landbird vagrants are
much farther south (Elkins 1979). Most
are unlikely to follow a great circle since
they are normally subject to the wind and
weather conditions that have displaced
them in the first place. Thus SW Britain
and Ireland see the largest numbers, while
the smaller numbers arriving in northern
Britain and Iceland may take a variety of
more northern routes, but are nearly
always influenced by strong wind regimes
as described above. Some of these would,
by default, appear to follow a great circle.

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British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458 — 477

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

Low-altitude weather systems involved in
transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds are unlikely
to be directly responsible for Nearctic shorebird
vagrancy, since the higher altitude flight of most
of the latter often takes them into different
wind regimes (Elkins 1988). The arrival dates of
waders cover a much wider period than those of
landbirds, chiefly from July to November, with
the peak in mid September. Thus vagrancy in
landbirds and shorebirds does not necessarily
coincide. Nearctic seabirds and wildfowl can be
drifted by strong low-level winds but, because
of their ability to rest on the sea, their track and
passage duration is impossible to calculate.

Tropical storms, including hurricanes, are
slow-moving, so that migrants flying in their
circulation would circumnavigate the centre for
long periods and probably succumb in the
severe conditions if over the sea. The same
applies to deep, slow-moving depressions
within which a bird’s trajectory would be exces-
sive. The worst-case scenario means that a bird
could be over the ocean for several days,
including the flight from and to the nearest
land, which is beyond the survival capabilities
of most small migrants. The massive falls of
migrants on vessels and islands during hurri-
canes are especially noteworthy, but only when
a tropical storm becomes extra-tropical
(engages a cold air mass and begins to accel-
erate over cooler waters at higher latitudes)
does it acquire the attributes suitable for
transatlantic vagrancy. Tropical storms can
affect migration indirectly, however: surges of
warm air from such storms can and do stimu-
late passage in an inappropriate direction;
storms may also convey migrants to areas where
suitable conditions exist to further displace
them eastwards, as happened in late October
2005 (see above).

Some records are due
to ship-assistance. There
are many migrant falls
on shipping in the
western North Atlantic
and some of these birds
are carried towards
Europe (though not
necessarily all the way).

Most accounts empha-
sise that the majority die
before reaching Europe.

For those surviving a
full transatlantic on-

board passage, the duration would be an ordeal,
especially for small insectivores. Although a few
records each year may be the result of ship-
assistance, especially in spring (see below), the
more significant autumn falls in Europe are
meteorologically induced, as is the occurrence
of live North American butterflies, moths and
dragonflies.

Atmospheric circulation

The vigour of the atmosphere over the North
Atlantic clearly has a bearing on the number of
Nearctic vagrants in Britain & Ireland. There
has been considerable interest in recent years in
the effect that the North Atlantic Oscillation
(NAO) has on migratory birds, in the context of
climate change. The NAO is a measure of the
strength of the atmospheric circulation over the
North Atlantic (see Appendix 1) and a positive
NAO index represents a vigorous circulation in
which westerly winds are frequent and strong. A
strongly negative index denotes blocking of
westerlies. The October indices for 1987-2006
revealed an apparent relationship to vagrant
numbers in that month (fig. 11). In the
autumns of 1992, 1997 and 2002, strongly nega-
tive indices reflected the high incidence of anti-
cyclonic conditions over the northern and
western North Atlantic, thus reducing move-
ment of weather systems along their normal
track and coinciding with low numbers of
vagrants. Positive, or weakly negative, indices in
1987, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001
corresponded with higher numbers of vagrants.
However, in other years, notably 1989 and 1998,
the link was poor. There was also a negative
relationship between the strength of ENSO (the
El Nino/Southern Oscillation over the Pacific
Ocean; see Appendix 1) and the number of

Fig. I I. Relationship between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index and
the number of Nearctic landbird vagrants first recorded in October in Britain &
Ireland, 1 987-2006. This relationship is highly significant (P<0.0l).

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458—477

471

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

autumn vagrants. During years with a strong
ENSO, the incidence of tropical storms in the
North Atlantic is low (Gray 1984) and this may
have a bearing on transatlantic vagrancy. Cer-
tainly, the autumns with the fewest vagrants
(1997 and 2002) were also those with the
strongest ENSO episodes but, as discussed, only
a small number of tropical storms affect
migrants in a location where they are likely to
be subjected to vagrancy.

A weak positive correlation is apparent
between NAO and number of vagrants in May
(fig. 12) but any such correlation remains
doubtful given the small sample size (24) and
the possibility of birds moving within the
Western Palearctic. No correlation was found
between the NAO in the previous autumn and
the number of vagrants in spring, which might
have been the case if birds in spring had over-
wintered following an autumn arrival. It must
also be emphasised that the NAO index is most
valid in winter and less useful in other seasons.

The surge of vagrants noted in the Azores in
October 2005, and its subsequent ‘overspill’
further east, in the Canary Islands and Iberia,

was extraordinary. Although that month was
also exceptional in a meteorological context,
such an atypical atmospheric pattern has
become more frequent recently. Such low-lati-
tude depression tracks were almost unknown
before 1996, but similar ones have been seen in
four Octobers (1997, 2002, 2005 and 2006) in
the last decade. Indeed, during the past three
decades, the mean October position of the
North Atlantic low-pressure area has shifted SE
by as much as 5°, accompanied latterly by a
weakening of the circulation. This has been
most marked during the period under study,
especially since 2001. The numbers of Nearctic
vagrants are, of course, also dependent on suit-
able conditions occurring in eastern North
America at the same time. When vagrants are
displaced as far south as the Azores, as they
were in 2005, it is not surprising that relatively
few reach Britain & Ireland, since this entails a
flight of 5,300 km.

Spring vagrancy

The occurrence of Nearctic landbirds in Britain
& Ireland in spring has always been difficult to
explain. Overwintering
has been proven in some
cases, including shore-
birds (e.g. Elkins 1988)
and gulls (e.g. Elkins
2005), so that northward
movement of birds
carried across the pre-
vious autumn almost
certainly occurs. The
Belted Kingfisher in
April 2005 (see above) is
probably the first
Nearctic landbird that
has been tracked north-
wards in spring in
western Europe. Simi-
larly, spring vagrants in
Iceland may represent
onward movements
from NW Europe. The
high proportion of
Nearctic sparrows and
buntings in spring sug-
gests that many may
have been in western
Europe for some time,
particularly as graniv-
orous species are more

Fig. I 2. Relationship between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index and
the number of Nearctic landbird vagrants first recorded in May in Britain &
Ireland, 1 987-2006. This relationship is not significant (P>0.05).

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

Fig. I 3. Percentage of Nearctic landbird vagrants discovered north of 55°N in
Britain & Ireland, 1987-2006.

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British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458M77

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

239. This first-summer male Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon was
tracked northwards through Britain in early April 2005, being seen in
Staffordshire on I st, Yorkshire on 2nd and finally Peterculter, North-east
Scotland, on 4th-8th. (Photographed here at the last site.)

able to survive the winter than
insectivorous ones. However,
most of these rarely appear in
autumn. The two most fre-
quent spring vagrants, Dark-
eyed Junco and White-throated
Sparrow, account for 35 spring
records between 1967 and 2006
compared with only seven in
autumn. The mean arrival dates
of these two species in spring
were 9th and 24th May respec-
tively; for all spring vagrants it
was 17th May. When all records
in Britain & Ireland during
1987-2006 are considered, 46%
of spring records were in
northern Britain, particularly
the Northern Isles, compared
with only 9% of autumn
records (fig. 13). The sugges-
tion that such birds are over-
shooting from North America
on a great-circle route (Vini-
combe & Cottridge 1997) may be credible, as
orientation is on the correct heading to bring
them into northern Britain. Both Dark-eyed
Junco and White-throated Sparrow are
common migrant breeders in the Canadian
Maritime Provinces, arriving as late as mid May.

Compared with the situation in autumn, a
far greater proportion of spring Nearctic
vagrants arrive in anticyclonic situations, analo-
gous to the overshooting of spring migrants
into Britain from southern Europe. Indeed, a
number of records have coincided with high-
pressure zones extending across the North
Atlantic between 50°N and 60°N. Although this
would allow fine-weather passage, the shortest
crossing between eastern Canada and Britain
would still be over 3,000 km - beyond the cap-
abilities of passerines in light anticyclonic
winds. Ship-assistance has been proved on
several occasions and may be the logical expla-
nation for transatlantic vagrancy in spring,
when North American granivores overshoot in
fine weather and alight on ships. This could
explain both species composition and the more
northern landfall in Britain.

Autumn vagrancy

The juxtaposition of Nearctic and Eastern
Palearctic vagrants in autumn is encountered
more frequently in Britain than anywhere else

(see Elkins 1986). The migration strategies of
the two groups are broadly similar - their main
aim is to vacate the increasingly hostile environ-
ment of the non-breeding season. Both groups
undertake ‘normal’ migration - which for some
Nearctic species includes transoceanic flight
southwards - as well as frequent movements on
inappropriate headings, variously described as
overshooting, ‘reverse’ migration, misorienta-
tion, dispersal and exploration. However,
atmospheric conditions over the breeding
ranges are quite different in the two regions.
Eastern Palearctic vagrants normally migrate
south or southeast from a landlocked region
where the autumn atmosphere is relatively inac-
tive. Most Nearctic vagrants have wintering
ranges to the south or southwest and migrate
over regions with an often vigorous atmos-
phere, especially those undertaking an oceanic
crossing. Of course, some migrants from the
northern Nearctic winter in Europe and Africa
and it has been suggested that Northern
Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe passing through
the Canary Islands might have flown 4,000 km
directly from northern Canada and western
Greenland to North Africa (Thorup et al. 2006),
albeit with wind assistance from northwester-
lies. For Eastern Palearctic vagrants, there is
often a substantial lag between their normal
departure date and records in western Europe,

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 458-477

473

Steve Young/Birdwatch

George Reszeter

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

(

suggesting a leisurely movement over land. For
Nearctic vagrants, movements become involun-
tary when overwhelmed by severe winds and
weather, with ensuing vagrancy for the few and
fatality for the majority. Reorientation is impos-
sible when physical conditions in strong winds
and dense cloud cover overcome the migrants’
capabilities. However, a migrant that success-
fully negotiates adverse winds and weather may
then find itself in a suitable environment in
which reorientation is possible. The possible
degree of reorientation is unknown, but almost
certainly this must be the case for many
migrants. Their location will govern the likeli-
hood of reaching land, and weaker birds will
doubtless succumb to lower thresholds of wind
and weather. Most vagrants that do not appear
to be immediately associated with transatlantic
weather systems could comprise such wan-
dering individuals, as well as those that have
escaped detection for some time and the occa-
sional ship-assisted bird.

The peak arrival time of Nearctic landbirds
in Britain 8c Ireland between 1967 and 2006 was
the second week of October; both mean and
median dates were 11th October, with decadal
means ranging from 10th to 13th. Peak
numbers of autumn vagrants occurred in the
mid 1980s, with an annual mean of 30 between
1985 and 1989. The best autumn was 1985, with
42 birds in October alone. Despite 37 vagrants
in October 1995, numbers generally declined in

the 1990s. During 1997-2006, there were
25-30% fewer October vagrants than in the
previous two decades, possibly related to the
redistribution of low pressure across the North
Atlantic (see above). In the past two decades,
the mean October atmospheric pressure in SW
Britain has been lower than the long-term mean
in all but five of the years. The presence of
anomalously low pressure significantly farther
south or southeast than the mean ‘Icelandic’
low position in 1 1 of these Octobers implies
that depressions are taking a more southerly
track (e.g. Hulme et al. 2002); recent events in
the Azores support this. At the same time, the
proportion of vagrants in northern Britain has
increased slightly (despite the blank years of
1997 and 2006; fig. 13). This may be at least
partly attributable to increased observer cov-
erage there (e.g. Rivers 2004), since no climato-
logical relationship is evident.

As described elsewhere (Nisbet 1963; Elkins
1979), arrival dates in Europe are significantly
later than normal passage along the eastern
seaboard of the USA. This timing has been
associated with the rapidly waning tropical
storm season; many of the species involved are
late migrants that cross the western Atlantic and
therefore have a greater chance of avoiding such
storms at that time (Elkins 1979). Indeed, since
many transatlantic vagrants appear well after
their peak passage in North America, it is con-
ceivable that late migrants might be more pre-
disposed to displacement or
that they are less well oriented;
this might also apply to Eastern
Palearctic vagrants. McLaren et
al. (2006) found that October
counts of migrant landbirds in
eastern North America, espe-
cially of the larger, longer-dis-
tance species, best represented
those reaching Britain and
Ireland. Their analysis also
upheld the concept of down-
wind displacement of Nearctic
vagrants across the North
Atlantic originating from
migratory flights off the eastern
seaboard of the USA, but con-
cluded that extralimital indi-
viduals in NE USA and eastern
Canada were unlikely to be
further displaced to Britain &
Ireland.

240. Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus (here on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly,
October 2003) is the most numerically abundant Nearctic landbird
recorded in Britain & Ireland.

474

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458—477

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

As suggested above, some Nearctic vagrants
in NW Europe may have passed through
Iceland. The occurrence of Swainson’s Thrushes
in Norway in September 1997 and October
1999 followed vagrant records in Iceland and it
is not inconceivable that vagrants arriving in
northern Scotland in easterlies, as in October
2003, were originally displaced to Scandinavia
via Iceland. Reorientation would therefore
bring them into situations coinciding with
Palearctic vagrants. In view of some of the
astonishing vagrants that have been found over
the years, this possibility cannot be excluded.

Changes in numbers and composition of
vagrants to Britain & Ireland have been tenta-
tively related to breeding populations in North
America (e.g. Elkins 1999). Butler (2000)
hypothesised that breeding populations of
long-distance migrants in eastern North
America may be affected by the increased
severity and frequency of tropical storms
(including hurricanes) over the western Atlantic
and the Gulf of Mexico. He found that fewer
western breeders had declined and suggested
that length of oceanic passage during autumn
migration is important, with migrants on such
routes becoming exposed to severe storms more
frequently. Since 1995, every tropical storm
season, with the exception of those in 1997,
2002 and 2006 (coincidentally the poorest
recent autumns for Nearctic vagrants in Britain
& Ireland), has experienced above-normal
activity.

Several transatlantic vagrant species have
shown declines here that have mirrored those
observed by the North American Breeding Bird
Survey (Sauer et al. 2005), particularly for
Black-billed Coccyzus erythrophthalmus and
Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Blackpoll and Black-
and-white Warblers Mniotilta varia and Rose-
breasted Grosbeak. Anders & Post (2006)
related the decline in some Yellow-billed
Cuckoo populations to rising temperatures.
Other species, such as Common Nighthawk,
Chimney Swift, Common Yellowthroat, White-
throated Sparrow, and Baltimore Oriole, have
also decreased in North America but have either
not declined or become more frequent as
vagrants. Both Red-eyed Vireo and Northern
Parula have increased significantly in North
America, which is not reflected here, e.g. Red-
eyed Vireos were recorded in every autumn
during 1987-1996 (76 individuals), but only in
seven autumns during 1997-2006 (36 individ-

uals). Red-eyed Vireo nonetheless remains the
most numerically abundant Nearctic landbird
recorded in Britain & Ireland since records
began, followed by Grey-cheeked Thrush. Fol-
lowing the two influxes in 1999 and 2005,
Chimney Swiff has become the fifth most abun-
dant, with 27 accepted records in 1997-2006.
There were only five records before 1997, of a
species declining in its native range. The dates
of the two falls were only a week apart and both
were associated initially with similar hurricane
tracks off eastern North America.

Nearctic insects

The timing of arrival of vagrant Nearctic but-
terflies and dragonflies rarely coincides with
that of vagrant landbirds. However, the 1999
Monarch influx was from 22nd September, with
peaks on 25th September, 4th-5th October and
1 1 th— 1 2th October (Tunmore 2000), well
within the envelope of bird vagrants. These
peaks were probably genuine since, apart from
25th September, they occurred on weekdays
(weekends are notable for artificially increasing
number of records). There were few vagrant
landbirds during this butterfly influx, or
another in late September 2005, and it is prob-
able that the timing of, and initiating conditions
for, migration of the two groups in North
America may differ somewhat. Certainly, insects
have a minimal capability for correcting any
deflection due to the wind. It has been sug-
gested that a Blue Dasher Pachydiplax
longipennis dragonfly on an oil rig off Shetland
on 6th September 1999 might have been linked
to a large influx of Nearctic shorebirds in Scot-
land (Parr 2000). The first three weeks of Sep-
tember 1999 brought a Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus, an unprecedented 12
Semipalmated Sandpipers Calidris pusilla and a
multiplicity of Pectoral Sandpipers C. melanotos
(Rogers et al. 2000; Fraser & Rogers 2001;
Pullan 2006). However, transatlantic shorebirds
are more closely associated with higher altitude
winds (Elkins 1988) than insects and it is
unlikely that the two events were connected.

The future

It seems likely that patterns may continue to
vary as climate change continues. Changes in
sea-surface temperatures and salinity could
conceivably alter ocean currents and the forma-
tion, intensity and tracks of frontal depressions
(e.g. Santer et al. 2006, Singarayer et al. 2006)

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458M77

475

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

)

and therefore affect vagrancy. However, it is
likely that other factors do, and will continue to,
play a much greater role in the dynamics of the
migration of North American landbirds and it
is these that will determine future vagrancy
patterns.

Acknowledgments

Internet websites now prove to be a valuable source of
information and I am grateful to the responsible
authorities, particularly the NOAA Air Resources
Laboratory (ARL) for the provision of the HYSPLIT
transport and dispersion model (www.arl.noaa.gov/
ready.html) used in researching trajectories. I am also
grateful to the Met Office for the provision of appropriate
weather charts. Thanks are due to Paul Milne, and
Gunnlaugur Petursson and Yann Kolbeinsson for currently
unpublished data on Irish and Icelandic rarities respectively
and Peter Alfrey for details of the 2005 Azores event. Prof.
David Parkin kindly read an earlier draft and provided
many constructive comments.

References

Anders, A. D„ & Post, E. 2006. Distribution-wide effects of
climate on population densities of a declining migratory
landbird.J. Anim. Ecol. 75: 221-227.

Butler R. W. 2000. Stormy seas for some North American
songbirds: are declines related to severe storms during
migration? Auk I 17:518-522.

Cook, S. 1 998. White-throated Sparrows at sea. Birding
World I 1 : 269-270.

Croft, K. 2004. Grey Catbird on Anglesey. Brit. Birds 97:
630-632.

Davey, R 1 999. Weather conditions leading to the 1 998
Green Darner Anax junius (Drury) influx. Atropos 6:
8-12.

Dinsmore, S. J. 2006.The Changing Seasons: Weatherbirds.
N.Amer. Birds 60: 14-26.

Draxler R. R., & Rolph, G. D. 2003. HYSPLIT (HYbrid
Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) Model
access via NOAA ARL READY website
(www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/hysplit4.html). NOAA Air
Resources Laboratory, Silver Spring, MD.

Elkins, N. 1979. Nearctic landbirds in Britain and Ireland: a
meteorological analysis. Brit. Birds 72: 4 1 7^-33.

— 1 986. East is east, and west is west, and oft the twain
shall meet (with apologies to Kipling). Brit. Birds 79:
302-304.

— 1 988. Recent transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds and
shorebirds. Brit. Birds 8 1 : 484-49 1 .

— 1 999. Recent records of Nearctic landbirds in Britain
and Ireland. Brit. Birds 92: 83-95.

— 2004. Weather and Bird Behaviour. 3rd edn. Poyser
London.

— 2005. Ring-billed Gull passage in spring. Birding Scotland
8: 75-76.

Fraser R A., & Rogers, M. J. 200 1 . Report on scarce migrant
birds in Britain in 1 999. Brit. Birds 94: 560-589.

— , — , & the Rarities Committee. 2007a. Report on rare
birds in Great Britain in 2005. Brit Birds 1 00: I 6-6 1 ,
72-104.

— & the Rarities Committee. 2007b. Report on rare birds
in Great Britain in 2006. Brit. Birds 1 00: 694-754.

Gray.W. M. 1 984, Atlantic seasonal hurricane frequency:

Part I: El Nino and 30-mb quasi-biennial oscillation

influences. Mon.Wea. Rev. I 12: 1649-1668.

Headon, J. 2004. American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis
(Drury) on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, October 2003.
Atropos 23: 18-19.

Hulme, M„ Jenkins, G.J., Lu, X., Turnpenny, J. R„ Mitchell, T D.,
Jones, R. G., Lowe, J., Murphy, J. M„ Hassell, D„ Boorman,
R, McDonald, R., & Hill, S. 2002. Climate Change
Scenarios for the United Kingdom: the UKCIP02 scientific
report. The Tyndall Centre, UEA, Norwich.

Mactavish, B. 1 990.The autumn migration, August
I -November 30, 1 989: Atlantic Provinces Region.

Amer. Birds 44: 45-5 1 .

McLaren, I. A., Lees, A. C., Field, C„ & Collins, K. J. 2006.
Origins and characteristics of Nearctic landbirds in
Britain and Ireland in autumn: a statistical analysis.

Ibis 1 48: 707-726.

Nisbet, I. C.T 1963. American passerines in western
Europe, 1 95 1 -62. Br/t. Birds 56: 204-2 1 7.

NOAA. 2007a. Daily Weather Maps.

www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/dailywxmap/index.html

— 2007b. NHC/TPC Archive of Hurricane Seasons.
www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastall.shtml

— 2007c. Northern Hemisphere Teleconnection Patterns
- North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/teledoc/nao.shtml

Osborn, T 2006. North Atlantic Oscillation index data.

www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~timo/projpages/nao_update.htm
Parr; A. 2000. Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis
(Burmeister) on an oil rig in the North Sea.

Atropos 1 0: 3-5.

Pullan, D. 2006. Short-billed Dowitcher in Northeast
Scotland: new to Britain. Brit. Birds 99: 354-360.

Rivers, S. L. 2004. Yellow Warbler on Barra - the third
Scottish record. Birding Scotland 7: 1 95- 1 98.

Rogers, M. J„ & the Rarities Committee. 1 998-2005.
Reports on rare birds in Great Britain. 1997-2004.

Brit Birds 9 1 : 455-5 1 7, 92: 554-609, 93: 5 1 2-567, 94:
452-504, 95: 476-528, 96: 542-609, 97: 558-625, 98:
628-694.

Santer B. D.,Wigley,T M. L, Gleckler R J., Bonfils, C„

Wehner; M. F„ AchutaRao, K., Barnett, T. P, Boyle, J, S.,
Bruggemann.W., Fiorino, M., Gillett, N., Hansen, J. E.,
Jones, R D., Klein, S. A,, Meehl, G. A., Rapen S. C. B.,
Reynolds, R.W., Taylor; K. E., & Washington, W. M. 2006.
Forced and unforced ocean temperature changes in
Atlantic and Pacific tropical cyclogenesis regions.

PNAS 103: 1 3905- 1 39 10.

Sauer, J. R„ Hines, J. E„ & Fallon, j. 2005. The North American
Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1 966-2005.
Version 6.2.200 6. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center Laurel, MD.

SingarayerJ. S„ Bamber J. L, & Valdes, RJ. 2006.Twenty-first-
century climate impacts from a declining Arctic sea ice
cover J.CIim. 19: I 109-1 125.

Thorup, K., Ortvard.T. E., & Rabol, J. 2006. Do Nearctic
Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa)
migrate non-stop to Africa? Condor 1 08: 446-45 I .
Tunmore, M. 2000.The 1 999 Monarch Danaus plexippus
(Linn.) influx into the British Isles. Atropos 9:4-16.

Unisys. 2007. Image and map archive.

http://weather.unisys.com/archive/sfc_map/

Vinicombe, K„ & Cottridge, D. 1 997 Rare Birds in Britain
and Ireland: a photographic record. HarperCollins,

London.

Wetterzentrale, 2007. [Synoptic weather charts]

www.wetterzentrale.de/topkarten/tkfaxbraar.htm and
www.wetterzentrale.de/topkarten/fsavneur.html

Norman Elkins, 18 Scotstarvit View, Cupar, Fife KYI 5 5DX

476

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 458-477

Transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds

Appendix I . The NAO index used most frequently in Britain is calculated from the mean atmospheric sea-level
pressure difference across the eastern North Atlantic, normally between Iceland and either the Azores or Gibraltar
(Osborn 2006). As this index is valid only for the eastern North Atlantic, 1 used a more sophisticated set of indices
from NOAA (2007c). These are constructed from anomalies of the 500 hPa height levels (the altitude at which the
atmospheric pressure falls to 500 hPa, approximately 5.4 km). As these values are associated with changes in the
intensity and location of the North Atlantic jet stream and storm track, 1 consider that they represent a more
appropriate measure when considering transatlantic vagrancy. The positive phase of the NAO reflects below-
normal heights and pressure across the high latitudes of the North Atlantic and above-normal heights and pressure
over the central North Atlantic, the eastern USA and western Europe, signifying strong transatlantic westerlies. The
negative phase reflects an opposite pattern of height and pressure anomalies over these regions. Atmospheric
variability in the Pacific Ocean is normally measured by the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), an index
dependent mainly on sea-surface temperatures across the ocean and linked to tropical storm frequency across
Central America and the Caribbean Sea as well as weather patterns over much of the Americas and beyond.

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis.

Rarities Committee news

* Siberian Chiffchaffs’ in 2008

As reported previously {Brit. Birds
101: 165-166), BBRC has desig-
nated 2008 as a ‘trial year’ in which
to seek a deeper understanding of
the British status of ‘Siberian
Chiffchaff’ Phylloscopus collybita
tristis. The earlier request asked for
record submissions of all
Chiffchaffs in 2008 which are
considered to be tristis and
summarised the criteria previously
set out by Dean 8< Svensson (Brit.
Birds 98: 396-410).

It is pleasing to note that a
number of submissions from the
early part of 2008 have been made
already and these are now being

reviewed by the ‘tristis panel’.
However, we are aware of a number
of other individuals which have yet
to be reported; and of course most
2008 reports will doubtless come
from the late-autumn period. It
therefore seems timely to remind
observers and county recorders that
submissions of all tristis Chiffchaffs
in 2008 are still sought and will be
gratefully received.

Individual submissions may
comprise any combination of field
descriptions, photographs and/or
sound recordings but should in all
cases be as detailed as possible,
particularly in respect of precise

plumage hues. We would still like
counties to seek all claims of tristis
that meet, or come close to
meeting, the Dean & Svensson
criteria and submit them to Nigel
Hudson, BBRC Secretary. We also
ask counties to provide summary
details of any claims which are
assessed locally as falling clearly
outside the criteria.

Andy Stoddart, on behalf of BBRC

ZEISS

The British Birds Rarities Committee is sponsored by Carl Zeiss Ltd.

Chairman: Adam Rowlands, East Walks Bungalow, Minsmere RSPB Reserve, Westleton, Suffolk IP 1 7 3BY
Secretary: Nigel Hudson, Post Office Flat, St Mary's, Scilly TR2 1 0LL; e-mail: secretary@bbrc.org.uk

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 458-477

477

Brian Small

The Eagle Owl in Britain

Tim Mel ling, Steve Dudley and Paul Doherty

Richard Allen

ABSTRACT Interest in the Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in Britain has increased during
the past decade, particularly in relation to two well-known breeding pairs in
northern England. An increase in the numbers being reported has led to calls
for Eagle Owl to be re-admitted to the British List.This paper examines the
BOURC’s previous reviews, which led to the species’ removal from the British
List in 1996, the historical status of Eagle Owl in captivity, and other data
relating to this species, in order to assess the likelihood of natural vagrancy.

The Eagle Owl Bubo bubo is a widespread
and ecologically adaptable species,
occupying a range of habitats in Europe,
from the mountains of southern Spain to the
forests of northern Scandinavia. It is therefore
difficult to explain why the species apparently
did not persist in Britain beyond the Mesolithic
(c. 9,000-10,000 years bp; Stewart 2007). One
possible explanation is that it was exterminated
by humans (Mikkola 1983), although this seems
unlikely given that more conspicuous predators,
such as Wolf Canis lupus and Brown Bear Ursus
arctos, survived until relatively recent times.
Bears certainly persisted until Roman times in
Britain (c. 2,000 years bp), and possibly later,
whereas Wolves hung on until the seventeenth

century (Yalden 1999). It is also surprising that,
for an obvious and revered species, there are no
lingering tales, legends, myths or folklore
relating to Eagle Owls in British literature
(Harrison & Reid-Henry 1988).

Recent historical status and BOURC reviews
Eagle Owl was included in all the BOU lists
published before 1992. In the first (BOU 1883)
and second (BOU 1915) it was described as a
scarce/occasional visitor, the latter stating also
that specimens were ‘taken in the Shetland and
Orkney Islands, Argyllshire, and in many coun-
ties of England. It is possible that some of those
recorded may have escaped from captivity.’ By
1952, it was listed as a ‘probably irregular

478

The Eagle Owl in Britain

visitor’ (BOU 1952), while the 1971 list (BOU
1971) stated: 'about 20 records in the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries, mostly poorly docu-
mented and rather vague, and some at least
referring to escapes from captivity; birds in
Orkney (1830), Shetland (autumn 1863, March
1871) and Argyll (February 1883) seem the
most likely to have been genuine vagrants,
correctly identified. In the twentieth century
noted in the Outer Hebrides (November 1931),
Devon (April 1933), Yorkshire (December
1943) and Shropshire (April 1954), but none of
these records [are] entirely satisfactory.’ With-
erby et al. (1938-41) included Eagle Owl as a
very rare vagrant but ‘being frequently kept in
captivity, suspicion rests upon a good many
recorded occurrences’. So, as understanding of
the species’ vagrancy potential has developed
and record assessment improved, the status of
Eagle Owl as a British bird became increasingly
questioned.

In 1972, BOURC reviewed Eagle Owl claims
from 1931, 1933, 1941, 1943 and 1954. The
1941 and 1954 records were considered to be
misidentified, and in the case of the other three
the identification was considered not proven. A
further review, in 1982-85, assessed four earlier
records listed in BOU (1971): Orkney c. 1830,
Shetland in autumn 1863 and March 1871, and
Argyll in February 1883. These records were
selected because of their remote locations,
which were farthest from likely sources of cap-
tivity, and, in the case of the Orkney and Shet-
land records, because of their proximity to
Norway. All four were considered to be insuffi-
ciently well documented. The 1871 record from
Shetland was seen by an apparently reliable
observer, but no description was available.

In 1994, an extensive literature search
located at least 79 claims of Eagle Owl in Britain
between ‘some time prior to 1684’ (Orkney)
and the (then) most recent record in 1990
(West Midlands) (see Appendix 1). BOURC
assessed these records (BOU 1997) and found
that they fell into three groups: 1) misidentified,
2) insufficiently documented to confirm identi-
fication, and 3) identification confirmed but
escape from captivity could not be eliminated.
During this review, one BOURC member com-
mented that on several occasions he had gone
to investigate convincing reports of Snowy Owls
B. scandiacus by crofters in Shetland yet all had
turned out to be Short-eared Owls Asio flam-
tneus - illustrating how easily and frequently

people misjudge the size of birds. This experi-
ence was echoed more recently by an Orkney-
based member. Many of the early descriptions
of Eagle Owl do not rule out either Short-eared
or Long-eared Owl A. otus.

The specimen of an ‘eagle owl’ shot by a
gamekeeper in Shropshire in 1954 was traced
and proved to be an American Great Horned
Owl B. virginiartus, undoubtedly of captive
origin. Borrer (1891) referred to an 1813 publi-
cation that mentioned ‘North American Eagle
Owls’ held in captivity at Arundel, Sussex, at
this time. One record concerned an Eagle Owl
seen flying low down the back streets of Scar-
borough, Yorkshire, in autumn 1879, which is
an unlikely location for a wild bird, even
though it appeared after northeasterly winds.
The majority of records that were reviewed in
1994 were insufficiently documented to
confirm identification. However, even if these
records had been confirmed, captive origin
would be difficult to eliminate given the long
history of captive Eagle Owls in Britain.

Fisher ( 1966) suggested that Eagle Owls were
‘possibly native [from the] eighth to eleventh
centuries’. However, literature searches have
failed to substantiate this. The only reference to
Eagle Owl from this period comes from
mentions in Old Latin and Old English
glossaries from the eighth century (www.tha-
engliscan-gesithas.org.uk/birdlore/fugellar.html).

Eagle Owls and humans
Behaviour towards humans

Eagle Owls are known to be wary, especially at
or near the nest-site. Mikkola ( 1983) stated that
they are extremely sensitive and prone to aban-
doning eggs and/or small young; he remarked
that, during visits to many nests in Finland, it
was often difficult even to catch sight of the
adult birds. His experience matched that of
renowned owl researcher Prof. Merikallio, who
knew of only one instance of aggression by
Eagle Owls towards humans in many decades of
research in Finland (Mikkola 1983). This
behaviour seems at odds with that of those
nesting in Britain, where people close to the
nest have been attacked (e.g. http://news.bbc.
co.uk/ 1 /hi/england/lancashire/6698873. st).

Historical accounts of Eagle Owls in captivity

Ray (1678) included an account of two Eagle
Owls in ‘His Majesty’s Park of St James’s near
Westminster’, plus another captive bird seen in

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479

The Eagle Owl in Britain

France at the King’s Palace of Bois de Vin-
cennes. Clearly, the species was held in captivity
in western Europe at this time. Edward Foun-
taine bred Eagle Owls in his aviary at Easton,
Norfolk, for the first time in 1849 and con-
tinued to do so almost annually until at least
1875. According to Gurney ( 1849a, b), this was
apparently the first account of captive breeding
in Britain; he commented that after only five
weeks, the young were ‘in the same stage as
specimens usually [our italics] imported from
Norway at this time of year by the London bird-
dealers’. The key point here is that as far back as
1849, Eagle Owls were being imported with suf-
ficient frequency for Gurney to use the term
‘usually’.

Knox (1850) mentioned an unrivalled col-
lection of these magnificent birds at Arundel
Castle that apparently lived in a semi-wild state,
in fissures in the ivy-covered rocks of the old
dungeon keep, and occasionally reared young.
These may have been the ‘North American
Eagle Owls’ (i.e. Great Horned Owl) referred to
by Borrer (1891). Lilford (1891-97) com-
mented that he successfully bred Eagle Owls in
captivity, and that other English possessors of
these owls met with (even) greater success.
Trevor-Battye (1903) quoted the following
correspondence between Lilford and E. B. G.
Meade-Waldo, dated 24th June 1887, con-
cerning the latter’s desire to dispose of some
young Eagle Owls: ‘I am much obliged for your
offer of the young eagle owls, but I have no
room for them. I will try to place them for you
if you wish to dispose of them. I should think
that the Duke of W — , who encourages eagles
and almost all wild birds on his forest, would
like to try the experiment of turning out these
grand birds.’ The unnamed duke is most likely
the first Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor
(1825-1899), who had extensive landholdings,
including an estate close to one of Lord Lilford’s
estates. This correspondence indicates that
releasing unwanted young Eagle Owls into the
wild was being considered, and perhaps already
practised, as long ago as 1887. Lord Lilford was
responsible for introducing Little Owl Athene
noctua to Britain and held collections of live
birds, which included two free-flying
Lammergeiers Gypaetus barbatus.

Current situation and likelihood of escape

Eagle Owls (including the Indian form B. b.
bengalensis) are commonly held in captivity in

Britain and there is no formal requirement to
register captive Eagle Owls. However, an Article
10 certificate is required by the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) to permit any commercial use (chiefly
sale, advertisement, import and display). These
certificates are normally issued just once for
each bird, and will cover all transactions
involving that individual (even after its death in
the case of taxidermy specimens). In the ten-
year period prior to June 2007, a total of 3,370
certificates were issued by Defra for Eagle Owls
held in Britain, while a further 158 certificates
were refused. The majority of Article 10 certifi-
cates issued relate to the sale of young, captive-
bred Eagle Owls so it is likely that the actual
number in captivity is considerably higher than
this (in captivity the species is long-
lived, perhaps up to 60 years; www.
raptorfoundation.org.uk). In addition, there are
likely to be imported Eagle Owls in Britain that
will be covered by Article 10 certificates issued
in another EU member state and so will not
appear in the above figures.

Eagle Owls continue to be imported to
Britain in surprisingly large numbers. CITES
figures reveal that during 1983-89, a total of
380 European Eagle Owls were imported
(Thomsen et al. 1992). Since 1997, however,
certificates have not been required for move-
ments between EU member states, and since 1st
July 2007 the importation of wild-caught birds
into the EU has been banned.

The Independent Bird Register (IBR) was
established in 1994, primarily to reunite owners
with lost birds of prey. By 2007, the IBR had
over 56,000 rings in circulation, including 440
fitted to Eagle Owls, at which time it estimated
the number of captive Eagle Owls in Britain to
be 3,000-4,000 (N. Fowler pers. comm.); this
seems compatible with the statistics on Article
10 certificates discussed above.

Since the IBR was established, there have
been 73 reports of registered Eagle Owls that
were lost but not subsequently (reported as)
recovered, while a further 50 registered birds
escaped and were recovered. A total of 123 reg-
istered escapees over 13 years equates to 9-10
per annum and to 28% of the 440 total. This
seems particularly high, but is probably due to
many having been flown for falconry. If the
same escape rate applied to all captive British
Eagle Owls over the same 13-year period, that
would translate to over 800 escapes or around

480

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 478—490

The Eagle Owl in Britain

Table 1. Summary of Independent Bird Register
(IBR) Eagle Owl Bubo bubo data for 1994—2007.

IBR lowest estimate of British captive
population

3,000

Number of birds registered with IBR

440

Number of registered birds that escaped
and were not refound, in 13 years

Number of registered birds that escaped
and were refound, in 13 years

Number of unregistered birds reported
to IBR in 13 years

Total number of registered birds
escaping in 13 years

123

Percentage of registered birds escaping
in 1 3 years

28%

(28% of the estimated captive population
in Britain)

(839)

65 per year. There are clearly numbers of unreg-
istered captive birds in Britain escaping or being
deliberately released as, since 1994, 83 unregis-
tered Eagle Owls were found and reported to
the IBR (table 1).

European population estimates
Hagemeijer & Blair (1997) estimated the Euro-
pean (wild) population at 10,353-12,926
(11,308) breeding pairs in 32 countries, but
excluding the Russian population of

2.000- 20,000 (6,325) pairs. They stated that
‘Altogether, some 60% of the European popula-
tion is in decline.’ More recently, BirdLife Inter-
national (2004) put the European total at

19.000- 38,000 pairs (but including Russia and
Turkey). Its estimates for individual countries
varied considerably, e.g. Spain 2,500- 10,000
pairs, emphasising the difficulty of establishing
population totals for this species. For the coun-
tries we consider as potential source popula-
tions for naturally occurring Eagle Owls in
Britain (those bordering the North Sea), the
BirdLife estimates (pairs) are as follows:
Norway (1,000-2,000), Denmark (22), The
Netherlands (1-2), Belgium (25-30) and France
(1,000-1,200). There are other important popu-
lations in Fennoscandia, in Sweden (500-1,000)
and Finland (2,000-3,000).

Eagle Owls have benefited from large-scale
reintroduction or reinforcement programmes
in Europe. In Germany, Eagle Owls were
restricted to four mountainous areas during the
1960s. During the 1970s and 1980s, 1,500 birds

were released and the species is now a wide-
spread breeder in Mittelgebirge and Schleswig-
Holstein (Radler & Bergerhausen 1988). The
breeding populations in Belgium and The
Netherlands are believed to originate from this
source, while the breeding population in
Sweden is thought to be derived largely from
releases of captive-bred birds (Snow & Perrins
1998).

Eagle Owls breeding in the wild in Britain
Scotland

In Orkney, Baikie & Heddle (1848) stated: ‘Is
now extremely rare. Low (1813), though he
speaks of it, never himself saw a specimen. Since
then, however, one was killed in Sanday, by Mr
Strang, in 1830. It is said to be occasionally seen
in Rousay, and is believed still to breed in the
Hammers of Birsay.’ Low’s earlier work (pub-
lished posthumously, Anderson 1879) made no
reference to breeding Eagle Owls in Orkney.
Moreover, Low (1813), having never seen an
Eagle Owl, published a description from
Pennant (1761-66), which incorrectly stated
that the eyes were bright yellow, and also failed
to mention ear tufts: ‘In size it is almost equal to
the eagle; ir ides bright yellow; the head and
whole body finely varied with lines, spots, and
specks of black, brown, ash-colour, and ferrugi-
nous; the wings long; the tail short, marked
with dusky bars; the legs thick, covered to the
ends of the toes with a close and full down, of a
pale yellowish brown; the claws great, much
hooked, and dusky.’ There are no further details
about any of these Orkney records. It seems
likely that these rumours were confusing Eagle
Owl with another species, possibly Long-eared
or even Short-eared Owl (the latter is a rela-
tively common breeder), particularly in the
light of Low’s misleading description.

Reports from Shetland are equally uncon-
vincing. Edmondston (1809) stated that the
‘Great Horned Owl’ was formerly common and
may have bred, but that it was now very scarce,
although he had ‘repeatedly seen five or six
together’. Saxby (1874) believed that Edmond-
ston had been deceived, although Saxby himself
saw the 1871 record (Balta and Huney, Unst, in
March), but did not give any description.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Drummond-Hay
(1886) stated that: ‘One was also shot at
Faskally, Perthshire, a few years ago, but this
bird was ascertained to have escaped from con-
finement; indeed, it is not unlikely that the

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481

Paul Doherty

The Eagle Owl in Britain

Aberdeen bird may also have been an escape, as
Mr Harvie-Brown in a note to me says it occurs
in a semi-wild and domesticated state in Glen-
shee, at Mr Paterson’s, Dalnaglar; and any shot
or reported are probably escapes, whether in
Braemar, Forfar, or Perth.’ Breeding in the wild
occurred in Moray & Nairn in 1984 and 1985. A
single egg failed to hatch in 1984, but one chick
was reared in 1985 (Cook 1992; Holling et al.
2007). These breeding birds were thought to
originate from a deliberate but unofficial intro-
duction attempt.

England

In May 1993, a local raptor worker was shown
an Eagle Owl nest by a gamekeeper in the north
Peak District moorlands of Derbyshire. The
nest was already abandoned, containing four
cold eggs, but there were several subsequent
Eagle Owl sightings in this general area during
the same season. Pellets collected near the nest
showed that the bird(s) had fed on Mountain
Hare Lepus timidus. Rabbit Oryctolagus
cuniculus. Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus , Red
Grouse Lagopus lagopus and Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus. There have been a number
of Eagle Owl sightings in the Peak District
moorlands since 1993, including two owls
together in 2006, close to the original nest-site.
However, there was no further evidence of
nesting and one bird was picked up injured in
2006, and subsequently died (W. Underwood
pers. comm.).

In North Yorkshire, a pair has bred success-
fully since 1997 (Holling et al. 2007), the birds
having been present from at least 1996, and the
female initially having the remains of jesses,
which were later lost. Between 1997 and 2005 a

total of 23 young were raised by this pair, all of
which were ringed. Two of these, both fledged
in 2004, have been recovered: one found dead in
Shropshire in 2005, the other found dead in
Borders in 2006. This pair suffered persecution,
the eggs being deliberately smashed on three
occasions. In December 2005, the female was
found dead; it had been shot, although this was
not thought to be the ultimate cause of death.
This female was replaced by another (ringed)
female in 2006, which was subsequently seen
with the male, but no eggs were found; the male
was still at this site into 2007.

In the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire &
North Merseyside, a single Eagle Owl wearing
jesses was reported in October 2005. In 2006,
another appeared and a nest was found con-
taining four eggs, which failed to hatch. The
pair nested again in 2007, more than 1 km from
the 2006 nest-site, and raised three chicks. This
breeding attempt was widely publicised and the
pair watched by many observers (plates 241 &
242). Analysis of the prey remains revealed that
the diet was almost entirely of Rabbit, with
much smaller numbers of Hedgehog, Red
Grouse and Common Pheasant. The remains of
a breeding female Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
were also found near the nest, although feathers
reported to be those of an adult male Hen
Harrier proved to be from a Common Gull
Larus canus (Brit. Birds 100: 629; Peter Grice
pers. comm.). These birds moved to a less acces-
sible nest-site elsewhere in the Forest of
Bowland in 2008, laying three eggs and rearing
two chicks. In 2003, another pair bred in
northern England but the eggs were infertile;
only one bird was recorded in 2004 and there
were no further reports (Holling et al. 2007).

24 1 & 242. These Eagle Owls Bubo bubo bred successfully in the Forest of Bowland,
Lancashire & North Merseyside, June 2007.

482

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Paul Doherty

The Eagle Owl in Britain

(

Away from northern England, a pair appeared
in southern England in 2004 and successfully
reared three young in 2005 (B. O’Dowd pers.
comm.). There have been no reports of
breeding at this site since, although at least one
bird was still present in 2007.

Holling et al. (2007) tabulated other records
during 1996-2005, all of which were of single
birds. Although not representing the total
number of birds present, these figures make
clear the increase in birds being reported in
1996, and then again from 2004 onwards.

Other reports

During our research, we came across numerous
reports of individual birds, and several pairs, at
large in the British countryside. Some were said
to have survived for a number of years, but no
formal details were forthcoming and we could
find no further evidence of breeding. Formal
reporting and recording of all known birds is
essential for assessing the species’ true status
accurately. For details of BOURC’s rationale for
determining population sustainability and
admissibility to Category C, see Dudley (2005).

Eagle Owls in falconry

Armstrong (1975) provided evidence that, as
early as the sixteenth century, raptors were
being imported into Britain for falconry,
although we have found no specific reference to
Eagle Owls being brought in for this purpose.
Harting (1898) mentioned that Eagle Owls were
used by falconers in France, at least in the mid
eighteenth century. Eagle Owls are powerful
raptors that can be trained to hunt a range of
prey, and are particularly effective at dusk and
at night. A small number of modern falconers
use Eagle Owls in this way and, since 2004,
some hunts in Britain have begun to use them
for taking foxes Vulpes vulpes driven by hounds
(e.g. www.owlpages.com/news.php?article=35 I ).
It is also well-established that hunters may use a
tethered or disabled Eagle Owl to lure other
large birds of prey to the ground, where they
can be captured or killed (Zuberogoita et al.
2008). The medieval trade links between Britain
and the Middle East make it possible that Eagle
Owls were imported into Britain, perhaps for
falconry, at a much earlier date than the first
documented reference by Ray (1678).

Eagle Owl in the archaeological record

Stewart (2007) summarised the known archae-

ological record for the species in Britain and
reviewed 13 fossil records claimed to be Eagle
Owl. He noted that separation of Eagle Owl and
Snowy Owl remains can be extremely difficult
and concluded that four (of the 13) specimens
were Eagle Owl or ‘a species of the genus Bubo
very closely allied with modern Eagle Owl Bubo
bubo... present in Britain for up to 700,000
years, through to the end of the last ice age
some 10,000 years ago and into the Holocene’.
The most recent seems to be Mesolithic in age,
or about 10,000 years bp, from Demen’s Dale,
Derbyshire.

Discussion

If Eagle Owls had been present in Britain up to
around 10,000 years bp, what caused their
demise? Mikkola (1983) suggested that persecu-
tion was responsible for their absence during
the last 1,000-2,000 years, but offered no expla-
nation for their absence between 2,000 and
10,000 years bp. The following would seem a
more plausible theory. After the last ice age and
up to around 9,000 years ago, Britain was still
connected to mainland Europe, until rising sea
levels engulfed the land bridge (http://en.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_bridge). Until that
point, humans and other terrestrial animals
used the land bridge to recolonise land revealed
by the retreating ice sheet. Eagle Owls would
have been driven southwards by the glaciers of
the last ice age, and some birds would have re-
colonised Britain across the land bridge as the
ice retreated. Recent and historical evidence
suggests that Eagle Owls are relatively slow in
expanding their range (often the case for large,
relatively sedentary predators), and the species
is known to be reluctant to cross large stretches
of water (see below). It is possible that, by the
time the land bridge with Europe was lost, only
a small population of Eagle Owls had re-estab-
lished in Britain and that further colonisation
was perhaps hampered by low density on the
mainland and certainly by the necessity for a sea
crossing.

Likelihood of natural vagrancy

Long-eared and Short-eared Owls are regular
winter migrants to Britain from Scandinavia,
while Snowy Owl, Hawk Owl Surnia ulula and
Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus are irruptive
species that have reached Britain, although the
last two are extremely rare. Great Grey Owl
Strix nebulosa, Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passer -

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 478—490

483

The Eagle Owl in Britain

inum, Ural Owl S. uralensis and Eagle Owl are
by comparison sedentary, non-irruptive species
that would be no more likely to turn up in
Britain than would a Tawny Owl S. aluco in
Ireland. These species clearly find sea crossings
a significant barrier to dispersal.

Ringing recoveries confirm that Eagle Owl is
largely sedentary in Europe, and that move-
ments are associated mainly with post-juvenile
dispersal and altitudinal shift. Cramp (1985)
listed known movements of ringed birds as
follows:

• 12 recoveries of Norwegian-ringed birds,
8-220 km (mean 95 km) from ringing site,
with a tendency to head towards the coast;

• 75% of recoveries of chicks ringed in
Sweden were within 50 km of the nest, with
none farther than 86 km (Olsson 1979);

• recoveries of birds from west-central Europe
with similar recorded movements to those of
Scandinavian birds, range 1 1-205 km;

• 52 captive-bred birds released into the wild
dispersed 0-110 km.

More recent data from the ringing schemes
in Finland and Sweden provide valuable
insights into Eagle Owl dispersal. In Finland, an
average of 342 Eagle Owls have been ringed
each year in the seven years to 2007 (Johanna
Oja pers. comm.). One Finnish-ringed bird has
been recovered in Estonia; a crossing of the Gulf
of Finland would involve at least 30 km over the
sea but this bird may have travelled round the
eastern end of the Gulf of Finland, rather than
across it. One ringed in southwest Finland in
1986 was recovered near Stockholm, Sweden, in
2000. Elowever, 14 years between ringing and
recovery is a long time and it could conceivably
have avoided a sea crossing and gone round the
northern end of the Gulf of Bothnia. A more
likely possibility is that it used the numerous
islands in the Aland archipelago and island-
hopped across to Sweden, thus avoiding sea
crossings of more than 20 km.

By 2003, 6,663 Eagle Owls had been ringed
in Sweden and there had been 1 ,805 recoveries,
giving a 27% recovery rate (Thord Fransson
pers. comm.). One hatched in central Sweden in
1977 was found in western Finland in 1985; like
the Finnish bird mentioned above, it may well
have travelled via the Aland archipelago. There
is also one record of a bird ringed in central
Sweden being recovered on the island of
Gotland in the Baltic, involving a sea crossing of
at least 40 km. The median distance travelled

from hatching place for birds recovered during
summer (May to August), at least one summer
after ringing, is 52 km (range 0-528 km, n=66).
It is also notable that there are no recoveries of
Swedish-ringed Eagle Owls in Denmark, despite
the short distance and minimal sea crossing
involved.

Elsewhere in Europe, Glutz von Blotzheim &
Bauer (1985) noted a bird in the Alps moving
400 km. Other work in the Alps using satellite-
tracking found that, in Switzerland, Eagle Owls
in their first winter covered distances of 4-35
km per night and crossed mountain ranges up
to 3,000 m high. These birds ‘settled’ between
10 km and 100 km from their place of origin
(Aebischer et al. 2005).

It has often been suggested that records of
Eagle Owl from the east coast and from North
Sea oil installations are proof that the species
crosses the North Sea. The North Sea Bird Club
(NSBC) monitors birds on oil platforms and
associated structures/vessels in the North Sea.
Migrants from Scandinavia are recorded regu-
larly, including many vagrant species; owls are
recorded regularly (between January 1979 and
February 2006, NSBC recorded 406 Long-eared
Owls, 426 Short-eared Owls and four Snowy
Owls), yet it has no records of Eagle Owl. Some
of the 79 records assessed by BOURC were on
the east coast during autumn, and these are
arguably more likely to involve natural vagrants
than records from elsewhere in the country.
Despite the declines in many European popula-
tions, Hagemeijer & Blair (1997) reported some
evidence of a resurgence in western Europe
since 1970, linked to reintroduction pro-
grammes but also exploitation of new habitats
(e.g. clear-fells) and food sources (e.g. rats
Rattus associated with rubbish dumps). If these
trends continue, the likelihood of wild birds
reaching Britain will increase. However, the
number in captivity, the frequency of escapes
and the limited evidence of sea crossings
support the view that current British records
are most likely due to escapes, illegal releases (it
is illegal to release into the wild any bird which
is not normally resident in, or a regular visitor
to, Britain), or their offspring; there is currently
no clear evidence that wild birds are involved.

The BOU must have a very strong case for
adding any species to the British List. In the case
of Eagle Owl, there are two potential routes: 1 )
admission to Category C, based on the criteria
of a self-sustaining population (originating

484

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 478—490

The Eagle Owl in Britain

(

from a captive source) being determined, or 2)
natural occurrence (with strong supporting evi-
dence, e.g. ringing recovery or stable-isotope
analysis). Any such record must reach a balance
of probability which is overwhelmingly in
favour of natural vagrancy. Currently, the
known records do not meet either of these
criteria.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Stuart Benn, Ian Carter; Martin
Collinson, Ian Dawson, Brian Etheridge Nadine Farnan-
Beck (Defra), Peter Grice, Andrew Harrop, Paul Harvey,
Mark Moiling (RBBP), Julian Hughes, Tim Inskipp, Chris
Kehoe, Bob McGowan, Duncan McNiven, Eric Meek, Barry
O'Dowd, Roy Pitt, Chris Rollie, Guy Shorrock, Andy
Stanbury, Roy Taylor, Adrian Thomas, Mark Thomas, Bill
Underwood, Roger Wilkinson, Pete Wilson and Derek
Yalden. We are particularly grateful to Neil Fowler for
providing data from the Independent Bird Register, to
Johanna Oja (Finnish ringing scheme) and Thord Fransson
(Swedish ringing scheme) for supplying ringing data from
their respective countries, and to Per Smitterberg for
providing information from Gotland, Sweden. Andy Thorpe
supplied North Sea Bird Club data. Lynn Giddings at the
RSPB Library helped with providing references.

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Calvo, j. F„ Azkona, A., & Pagan, 1. 2008. The dho-gaza
and mist net with Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo ) lure:
effectiveness in capturing thirteen species of European
raptors.). Raptor Res. 42: 48-5 1 .

Tim Melting, do RSPB, Westleigh Mews, Wakefield Road, Denby Dale, West Yorkshire HD8 8QD
Steve Dudley, British Ornithologists’ Union, PO Box 417, Peterborough PE7 3FX
Paul Doherty, 28 Carousel Walk, Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire LS25 6LP

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 478—490

485

The Eagle Owl in Britain

Appendix I. Summary of all historical occurrences of Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in Britain 1678-1990,
with BOURC comments on acceptability following review.

Date

Location

Comment

BOURC view
(see key)

Reference

1678

St James’s Park,
London

First record in captivity in Britain
(and known in captivity in
France in same year)

125

Pre-1684

Orkney

Report

136, 117, 149, 10, 113,
107, 54, 115, 133, 11,
128

Pre-1752

Sussex

Report

86, 153

Pre-1768

Yorkshire

Report

117, 92,57, 102,80,31,
133, 83, 114, 130,9, 100

Spring 1770

Kent

Report

92, 120, 157, 115,80,
133, 111,81,8, 147, 78

Pre- 1772

Fife

Killed

118, 119, 92, 57, 120,
65, 115, 80, 1 11,82,
126, 139

Pre-1774

Shetland

Report

2, 50,51,41,80, 133,
129, 52, 155, 11,9

29th December
1782 or 1784

Herstmonceaux,
East Sussex

Shot

93, 120, 59, 102, 115,

80, 133, 19, 157, 111,

81, 155, 130, 152, 9, 47,
135, 53

Pre- 18 13

Orkneys

Report

98, 102,80

1813

Shetland

Report

130, 11,9, 146

1820

Honiton, Devon

Report

108, 109, 102, 157, 115,
80, 133, 121,44, 111,
81, 155

c. 1824

Horton, near
Bradford, Yorkshire

Shot

31,72, 111,81, 114, 28,
100

1828

Shardlow, Derbyshire

Report

63, 20, 115,80, 133,
153, 111,81,89, 155,
130,9

1830

Sanday, Orkney

Killed

7,65, 115, 80,71,23,
18, 130, 11,9, 22, 146

Summer 1832

Near Harrogate,
Yorkshire

Taken alive; considered an escape

71,31, 111, 114, 28,
100

Pre-1833

Durham

Report

134, 102,71, 133, 145

Winter 1833

Near Oxford,
Oxfordshire

Shot

101, 115,80, 133,6,
111,81,90, 155, 124

1836?

Swansea, Glamorgan

Report

115, 80, 133, 111,27

1837

Off Flamborough
Head, Yorkshire

Captured on board ship

84,71,31,81, 114

Spring 1841

Hornsey, Middlesex

Specimen

18, 62

1842

Scotland

Report

Autumn 1843

Near Goring,
Berkshire

Report (seen from train)

101,80, 6,81,90, 124

Pre- 1844

Derbyshire?

Specimen (unlabelled)

c. 1845

Handley Common,
Dorset/Wiltshire

Report

137, 155, 130, 122

March 1845

Clifton Castle,
Yorkshire

Report

110,71,31, 111, 114,
100

3rd November
1845

Hampstead,

Middlesex

Report

74, 79, 115,80, 133,
111,81,62

486

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 478-490

The Eagle Owl in Britain

Date

Location

Comment

BOURC view
(see key)

Reference

November 1845

Greetland, Yorkshire

Report

71,31,81, 114, 100

1848

Stainton le Vale,
Lincolnshire

Report

71,36, 1 1 1, 155, 138

Pre-1849

Near Melbourne,
Derbyshire

Report

21,80, 153, 111,81

1849

Easton, Norfolk

First known captive breeding in Britain -

1853

Norfolk

Taken alive, considered an escape

88, 115, 24, 151,71,
133, 111

1855

New Forest

Report

91, 155, 130, 9, 32,33

December 1859

Embleton Beach,
Durham

Obtained

111, 15, 16, 60

Pre-1863

Brodie, Morayshire

Report

141,83,34

Autumn 1863

Near Haroldswick,
Shetland

Report

131,80, 132,71,52, 11,
22, 146

November 1863 Near Llanidloes,
Montgomeryshire

Report

12, 56

1864

Somerton, Norfolk

Shot

February 1866

Methlick,

Aberdeenshire

Seen on 2nd February 1866, but
was later ‘collected’

65, 115,80, 133, 85,
111,81,9

c. 1868

Steventon,

Herefordshire

Caught; kept alive for three years,
taken to Ludlow Museum

1869

Northrepps, Norfolk

Report; tame

c. 1871

Near Harpenden,
Hertfordshire

Report

45, 148

March 1871

Balta and Huney,
Shetland

Report

132,71,52,81, 130,
11,9, 22

October 1872

North Sutherland

Report

75,71,81, 15,60

17th January
1873

River Tummel near
Pitlochry, Perthshire

Report

66,71,81,82

Autumn 1873

Near Bridgnorth,
Shropshire

Killed

35,71,55,81, 130,
155,9

5th November
1875

Hummersea,

Yorkshire

Shot

103, 114, 28, 100

Pre-1876

Seaton Carew,
Durham

Report

71, 145

July 1876

Rombolds Moor,
Ilkley, Yorkshire

Report

25,31,81, 114, 28, 100

12th April 1879

Near Stamford,
Lincolnshire

Shot; female

42, 129, 130, 73,9, 138,
96

30th October
1879

Scarborough,

Yorkshire

Report

30,31,36,81, 114, 130,
28, 100

Winter 1879-80 Easington,
Yorkshire

Report

37,38, 114, 130, 28, 9,
100

1880-1900

Near Blackpool,
Lancashire

Shot; known locally in captivity

23rd December
1881

Bayfordbury Estate,
Near Hertford,
Hertfordshire

Report; one escaped locally three
months earlier

95, 127

February 1883

Duntroon Hill,
Kilmartin, Argyllshire

Caught in rabbit trap

83, 155, 130, 11,9,22,
146

1st January 1885 Fixby, nr Hudders-
field, Yorkshire

Report

72, 76, 114, 28, 100

1887

Near Onslow,
Shropshire

Report

British Birds IOI* September 2008 • 478—490

487

The Eagle Owl In Britain

)

Date

Location

Comment

BOURC view
(see key)

Reference

October 1888

Spurn, Yorkshire

Report

36,37, 38, 114, 28, 10i

May and Borders of Essex

October pre-1890

Report

c. 1890

Kincardineshire

Shot

142, 9,40

Winter 1891

Paultons, near
Romsey, Hampshire

Report

112,91, 156, 155, 130,
9, 32,33

1908

Nottinghamshire

Report; birds known to have been 3

released in the county about same time

October 1915

Near Redcar,
Cleveland

Report

1,28, 143

26th November
1931

Newton Lodge,
North Uist, Hebrides

Report

4, 142, 11,9, 22, 43

23rd April 1933

Morchard Bishop,
Devon

Shot; abraded tail and primaries

26, 22

Autumn 1938

Kintyre

Report; pair; tame

61,9

13th January
1939

Near Cuckfield,
Sussex

Shot

47, 135

21st April to
mid July 1941

Newton Stewart,
Kircudbrightshire

Report; displaying; Short-eared Owl 1

not eliminated

13, 11,9

1941

Fannyside Moor,
Dumbartonshire

Report

1942

Fannyside Moor,
Dumbartonshire

Report

17th December
1943

Yarker Bank Report

plantation,

Wensleydale, Yorkshire

5, 150,28, 9,22, 100

February 1947

Fannyside Moor,
Dumbartonshire

Report

1949

Fannyside Moor,
Dumbartonshire

Report

14th April 1954

Shropshire

Killed; specimen;
Great Horned Owl

154, 22

1975-85

Scotland

Report; several escaped or
deliberately released

146

14th March
1981

Near Windsor Great
Park, Berkshire

Report

per BBRC

10 th- 12 th
September 1981

North Warnborough,
Hampshire

Report; tame

per BBRC

27th July 1982

Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Report; same as Little Wakering below 2

5th August 1982

Little Wakering, Essex Report; same as Leigh-on-Sea above 2

1983-84

Kent

Report; six birds

2 or released
individuals

per R J. Grant

1984 onwards

Moray

Report

2 or released
individuals

16th October Chichester, Sussex
1987 to May 1989

Report; known escape

per J. T. R. Sharrock

9th December
1990

Willenhall,
West Midlands

Report

per BBRC

BOURC view

1 Insufficiently documented/identification unconfirmed

2 Identification confirmed; presumed escape

3 Contemporary doubt; presumed escape

4 Identification incorrect

5 Insufficiently documented/identification confirmed

488

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 478—490

The Eagle Owl in Britain

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490

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Short papers

Unusual nest-site of Lammergeier

in Sardinia

Although the Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus
usually nests in high, inaccessible mountain
areas, it is not exclusively a bird of such remote
environments, and nest-sites may be located
between 700 and 4,500 m asl (Glutz von
Blotzheim et al. 1971; Hiraldo et al. 1979).
Habitat selection in the Western Palearctic was
discussed by Glutz von Blotzheim et al., Hiraldo
et al.. Cramp & Simmons (1980) and Terrasse
(2001), but little has been published on nest-site
selection. Donazar et al. (1993) examined the
influence of habitat type on population density
and reproductive success, but did not describe
nest-site preferences.

Nest-site selection in Sardinia
The Lammergeier was exterminated as a
breeding bird in Sardinia during 1968-70
(Grussu 2001). Before this, the Swiss naturalist
Carl Stemmier visited an occupied Lam-
mergeier’s nest containing a single chick in the
Urzulei region, in June 1926. Stemmier (1932)
described the species’ reproductive biology and
photographed the pair with the chick (plate
243). Stemmler’s notes and photographs were
used recently to relocate this old nest-site. The
nest-site lies in the
deepest part of the valley
of the Codula di Luna,
among jagged crags and
surrounded by open areas
with scattered woodland.

The nest-site itself is
located in a recess in a cal-
careous cliff, the cliff
being c. 25 m high. Below
this lies a steep, rock-
covered slope with scat-
tered trees including
Holm Oak Quercus ilex
and Prickly Juniper
Juniperus oxycedrus. The
nest recess is situated c.

4.5 m above the base of
the cliff and faces SSW.

Stemmier noted that the
nest measured 2 x 3 m,

with a depth of c. 20 cm. It was constructed
from branches and thinner twigs, and the nest
cup was lined with hair from goat and sheep.

Despite the availability of other apparently
suitable nest-sites on adjacent cliff-faces, this

243. Adult and well-grown juvenile Lammergeier
Gypaetus barbatus at nest in Codula di Luna valley,
Urzulei, Sardinia, June 1926.

244. The breeding site in the Codula di Luna valley, Urzulei, Sardinia, where
Carl Stemmier photographed breeding Lammergeiers Gypaetus barbatus in 1926.
Some large branches from the old nest of 1926 are still present.

491

Antonio Fadda & Maurizio Medda Carl Stemmier

Short papers

recess was clearly preferred; possibly as it
offered better protection against bad weather.
Human disturbance at this remote site is only
occasional and would probably have been less
so when the site was occupied. In May 2005, we
noted that the nest-site still contained small
branches from the old nest (plate 244),
suggesting that it had been used subsequently,
either by Lammergeier or by one of the other
large predators still present in this valley;
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus (present until c.
1990), Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos ,
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo or Common
Raven Corvus corax.

Nest-site selection at other sites
In the Pyrenees, R. Heredia (unpublished data)
noted that some Lammergeier nests are situated
8-10 m above the ground, and also described a
site that was readily accessible on foot, although
the nest itself was in a cave at the foot of a 50-m
cliff. J.-F. Terrasse (unpublished data)
commented on a nest in the Navarra region,
situated 7-10 m from the ground and built on a
small crag adjacent to a higher cliff of c. 30-40
m. In addition, at a site near Pamplona, a nest is
located 12-15 m above the ground on a crag
adjacent to an asphalt road. This nest was
occupied but unsuccessful in 1986; the adults
returned and possibly nested again in 1987,
although the outcome was unknown (J.
Elosegui Aldasoro unpublished data).

In nearby Corsica, Lammergeier nests are
usually located on high cliffs, mostly 15-200 m
above ground, although one nest is just 10 m
above the ground; but all these nests are
inaccessible to humans (G. Faggio & J.-F. Seguin
unpublished data). Glutz von Blotzheim et al.
(1971) observed that nest-sites in central Asia
may also be sited in low rocks and easily
accessible, while Hiraldo et al. (1979) described
a tree nest in Kashmir just 4 m above ground.

Discussion

The nest-site at Codula di Luna is unusual in
several respects. It is situated on the lower third
of the cliff-face and, at just 4.5 m above the
ground, is exceptionally low. Owing to the
particular configuration of the rock around the
nest recess, it is accessible to mammalian

Marcello Grussu

Gruppo Ornitologico Sardo, C.P. 209/ C, 09045 Quartu

predators including Red Fox Vulpes vulpes and
Wild Cat Felis silvestris , as well as to human
disturbance. At just 600 m asl, the breeding site
is exceptionally low.

Donazar et al. (1993) found that, in the
Spanish Pyrenees, most nests are located close
to the midpoint of the cliff-face. Here,
Lammergeiers appear to be particularly
selective in their choice of breeding cliff. In
particular, they show a preference for nest-sites
in the most inaccessible part of the highest
available cliff; pairs with such nest-sites were
more productive than those nesting in more
accessible locations, presumably owing to lack
of disturbance.

The accessibility of the nest-site at Codula di
Luna left it open to disturbance and predation,
but its attraction must have outweighed these
potential threats. Whether disturbance resulted
in repeated nest failure or whether other factors
were involved is not known.

Acknowledgments

Vittorio Asuni, Antonio Fadda, Maurizio Medda and Mario
Pappacoda provided great help and support during my
research in Sardinia. I thank also Dr Gret Lutz-Stemmler
for collaboration and granting permission to publish
photographs taken by her father; Maurizio Azzolini for
translating texts from German; and Raymond Galea and
Edward Bonavia for translating this note into English. Gilles
Faggio and Miguel Delibes helped search for references
and provided unpublished data from their studies. Rafael
Heredia, Grzegorz Kopij, Sonia Krueger, Martine Razin,
Jean-Frangois Seguin and Michel Terrasse provided valuable
discussion and unpublished data.

References

Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1 980. The Birds of the
Western Palearctic.Vol. 2. OUR Oxford.

Donazar; J. A., Hiraldo, F„ & Bustamante, j. 1993. Factors
influencing nest site selection, breeding density and
breeding success in the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus
barbatus).J.Appl. Ecol. 30: 504-5 1 4.

Glutz von Blotzheim, U. N., Bauer; K. M„ & Bezzel, E. 1971.
Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas. Band 4. Akademische
Verlagsgesellaschaft. Frankfurt am Main.

Grussu, M. 200 1 . Checklist of the birds of Sardinia. Aves
Ichnusae 4: 2-55.

Hiraldo, F., Delibes, M„ & Calderon, J. 1979. El

Quebrantahuesos Gypaetus barbatus (L.). Sistematica,
Taxonomfa, Biologia, Distribucion y Proteccion. Monografias
22, ICONA. Madrid.

Stemmier; C. 1 932. Die Adler der Schweiz. Grethleing,

Zurich.

Terrasse, J.-F. 200 1 . Le Gypaete barbu. Delachaux et Niestle,
Geneva.

Sant' Elena , Cagliari , Italy

492

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 49 1 —495

Short papers

}

From the Rarities Committee’s files:

October Greenish Warblers

Prior to 1990, Greenish Warblers Phylloscopus
trochiloides of the western form P. t. viridanus
occurred rarely but regularly in Britain in
October, and records in that month appeared to
be increasing in line with observer numbers.
October records totalled one in the 1950s, two
in the 1960s, four in the 1970s and five in the
1980s. However, after 1990 (when two October
records were accepted), only one further
October Greenish was recorded in the subse-
quent decade, despite the species occurring
more frequently in Britain. In the present
decade, there are just two records, both in 2005
(Fraser et al. 2007).

By 1990, however, the much rarer East Asian
form ‘Two-barred Greenish Warbler’ P. t.
plumbeitarsus had been found in Britain. The
first for Britain was on Gugh, Isles of Scilly, on
2 1 st — 27th October 1987 (Bradshaw 2001), and
subsequent accepted records were at Wells,
Norfolk, on 1 5th — 1 6th October 1996 (Kemp
1996), on Bryher, Scilly, on 27th-28th Sep-
tember 2003 (Dodgson 2003) and at Filey, York-
shire, on 1 6th — 1 8th October 2006 (Thomas
2006). In addition, a Greenish Warbler at
Holme, Norfolk, on 1 4th— 1 9th October 1976,

previously accepted as an Arctic Warbler P.
borealis, is now considered likely to have also
been a ‘Two-barred Greenish’ (Stoddart 2003),
although the standard of its documentation
falls short of that necessary for it to be accepted
as a first for Britain. These British records show
a strong (but not exclusive) cluster in the third
week of October. However, a further four Euro-
pean records since 1990 - in The Netherlands
on 17th September 1990 and 2nd October 1996,
in Sweden on 5th July 1991 and in Finland on
lst-2nd October 2002 - indicate a wider spread
of possible dates. Clearly, plumbeitarsus is
emerging as a regular, though still very rare,
vagrant to Britain and northwest Europe.

Are these two trends related? In other words,
could there be any more plumbeitarsus among
those pre-1990 Greenish Warblers currently
accepted by BBRC, particularly among the
October records? If not, and given the species’
apparent rarity in October now, could any of
these earlier records have been misidentified?

Methods and results

A review of all accepted October records of
Greenish Warbler was undertaken by AS at the

245. First-winter Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis, Bressay, Shetland, September 2005. Important components
of the face pattern are the solid dark loral line and the dark-mottled ear-coverts. In addition, the supercilium does
not reach the forehead and is narrow both above and behind the eye. Also easily seen are the grey-sullied breast-
sides and flanks, indistinct double wing-bars, long primary projection and pale, orange-toned legs.

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 491—495

493

Hugh Harrop

Short papers

request of the BBRC Chairman. Given the ten-
dency of plumbeitarsus to show Arctic Warbler-
like characters (including mottled ear-coverts,
two greater-covert wing-bars and a supercilium
that does not reach the forehead), it was also nec-
essary to include Arctic Warblers in the review;
any misidentified plumbeitarsus is perhaps more
likely to have been called an Arctic Warbler than a
Greenish. The review sought to establish whether,
based on the evidence available, any previously
accepted Greenish or Arctic in October might
warrant recirculation to BBRC, either as a puta-
tive ‘Two-barred Greenish Warbler’ or as another
species. BBRC has previously undertaken major
reviews of both Greenish and Arctic Warbler
records, focused largely (in the former case) on
distinguishing records of Greenish Warbler from
those of eastern Chiffchaffs P collybita tristis/abi-
etinus and (in the latter case) distinguishing
records of Arctic Warbler from those of Greenish.
The current review did not seek to re-open these
deliberations, but to see whether any further light
could be shed on an emerging pattern of wing-
barred Phylloscopus warbler records in October.

Modern record assessment is greatly assisted
by photographic evidence in many cases. This
was rarely so before 1990, however, even with
trapped birds. In some cases, field descriptions
may be a less reliable source of detailed evi-
dence than photographs and it was clear that

this review was unlikely to highlight any ‘diffi-
culties’ with a record unless either a photograph
or a full set of reliable biometric data existed.

All available post-1957 records were
reviewed, amounting to 13 October records of
Greenish and 32 of Arctic Warbler (which occur
later in the autumn, on average). Of these, files
for six Greenish and 1 1 Arctic Warbler records
included photographs or biometrics (though
none had both) and these were prioritised for
review. Each record was assessed against the
characters now widely understood for sepa-
rating Greenish (of both the forms viridanus
and plumbeitarsus) and Arctic Warbler (e.g.
Svensson 1992, van derVliet et al. 2001).

From the available evidence, there is no sug-
gestion that ‘Two-barred Greenish Warblers’
have been overlooked among the records cur-
rently accepted as either Greenish or Arctic
Warbler. Apart from the bird at Holme in
October 1976 (see above), this can be said
definitively for all records accompanied by
photographs. The extent to which previous
plumbeitarsus may have been overlooked as
Yellow-browed Warbler P. inornatus is, however,
unknown. For example, the first British
plumbeitarsus (Gugh 1987) masqueraded briefly
as a Yellow-browed (Bradshaw 2001 ).

The evidence is less conclusive in terms of
whether other species can be eliminated from

246. First-winter Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus. Wester Quarff, Shetland, October 2005.

Note the weak smudgy loral line, the broad supercilium above and behind the eye and the pale, relatively
unmarked ear-coverts. On many individuals, the supercilia continue further onto the forehead than seen here and
appear to meet above the bill, although (as this bird demonstrates) this feature is not absolute. Also visible here
are a subtle lemon wash to the underparts, a single ‘wispy’ wing-bar on the outer greater coverts only, medium-

length primary projection and dull-coloured legs.

494

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 491-495

Short papers

247. ‘Two-barred Greenish Warbler’ Phylloscopus trochiloides plumbeitarsus , Filey, Yorkshire, October 2006.
Though resembling viridanus Greenish Warbler in structure, leg colour and breadth of supercilium, this form
shows a strong double wing-bar, that on the greater coverts being bold and straight. It also generally shows
a stronger loral line and more well-marked ear-coverts, and the supercilia do not reach the forehead
- all features more reminiscent of Arctic Warbler P. borealis.

the October Greenish Warbler records as a
whole. The level of documentation of older
records is, by modern standards, thin. Nonethe-
less, there is no definitive evidence that any
were misidentified and, in line with wider
BBRC policy on historical reviews, the identifi-
cations should therefore stand.

Discussion

It seems that the pattern of increased occur-
rence in Britain and northwest Europe of ‘Two-
barred Greenish Warbler’ may be genuine. Such
an increase would be in line with the recent
(albeit very modest) increases in northwest
Europe of a number of other partly sympatric
Siberian species such as Siberian Rubythroat
Luscinia calliope , Siberian Blue Robin L. cyane ,
Rufous-tailed Robin L. sibilans and Eastern
Crowned Warbler P. coronatus (Harrop 2007).
Possible mechanisms for this phenomenon have
been widely discussed (e.g. Gilroy & Lees 2003).

With such a small sample size, the apparent
dearth of October Greenish Warblers after 1990
may well be statistically insignificant. Moreover,
if one or two of the pre-1990 birds were
misidentified, the apparent decline in the graph
of occurrences would disappear! Overall, the
October status of viridanus Greenish Warblers
seems reasonably well established — they are

rare in late autumn, rarer than Arctic Warbler
and almost as rare as plumbeitarsus. The task of
identifying one of the larger wing-barred Phyl-
loscopus warblers in mid to late autumn is
clearly not a task to be undertaken lightly!

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Steve Preddy for raising some of
these issues with BBRC, and Colin Bradshaw and John
Marchant for their considerable help with this review.

References

Bradshaw, C. 200 1 .'Two-barred Greenish Warbler' on
Scilly: new to Britain and Ireland. Brit Birds 94: 284-288.
Dodgson, S. 2003. The Two-barred Greenish Warbler on
Scilly. Birding World 1 6: 422.

Fraser PA., Rogers, M.J., & the Rarities Committee. 2007.
Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2005 - Part 2:
passerines. Brit. Birds 1 00: 72- 1 04.

Gilroy, J. J., & Lees, A. C. 2003. Vagrancy theories: are autumn
vagrants really reverse migrants? Brit. Birds 96: 427-438.
Harrop, A. H. J. 2007. Eastern promise: the arrival of far-
eastern vagrants in autumn. Brit. Birds 1 00: 1 05- III.
Kemp.J. 1 996.The Two-barred Greenish Warbler at Wells.
Birding World 9: 396-397.

Stoddart, A. 2003 From the Rarities Committee's files: the
Holme wing-barred Phylloscopus warbler Brit Birds 96:
74-78.

Svensson, L. 1 992. Identification Guide to European
Passerines. 4th edn. Privately published, Stockholm.
Thomas, C. 2006.The Two-barred Greenish Warbler in
North Yorkshire. Birding World 1 9: 435-436.
van derVliet, R., Kennerley, R, & Small, B. 200 1 . Identification
ofTwo-barred, Greenish, Bright-green and Arctic
Warblers. Dutch Birding 23: 175-191.

Andy Stoddart

7 Elsden Close, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6JW

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 491-495

495

Tom Tams

Notes

Mute Swans eating carrion

On 12th September 2007, 1 watched three Mute
Swans Cygnus olor eating from the carcase of a
Feral Pigeon Columba livia. The corpse, floating
in the River Wensum in central Norwich, was
identified by its wings and size, despite having
no head or feathers remaining on its body. Ini-
tially, just one swan was pecking away at the
body but it was soon joined by two more. This
was no idle pecking, either: they were really
having a go at the corpse and twice I saw a swan

raise its head with a long thin piece of meat,
roughly 20 cm long, perhaps a piece of intes-
tine, which was then swallowed.

Even though BVYP states that small
animals also occasionally but regularly taken,
including frogs, toads, tadpoles, molluscs,
worms, insects and larvae’ and among a wide
range of items occasionally taken ‘whole fish . . .
and raw meat’, I found this incident surprising.

Chris Durdin

RSPB Eastern England office, 65 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1 UD

Hobby taking fish from Common Tern

At dusk on 5th August 2007, at the edge of the
Taukum desert, c. 200 km north of Almaty,
Kazakhstan, I saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo
chasing a Common Tern Sterna hirundo. About
10 m from contact, the tern called, jinked in
flight and dropped a small fish that it was car-
rying. The Hobby immediately swooped down,
caught the fish in a talon and flew off with the
catch. Hobbies were common in the area, with

several pairs seen feeding fledged young.
Common Terns were also present in good
numbers, feeding in small rivers and a nearby
lake. I could not identify the fish, except that it
was a freshwater species (I was 2,500 km from
the nearest ocean).

I was amazed to witness kleptoparasitism in
the Hobby and the fact that a fish was the stolen
item made the event even more interesting.

Tim Earl

Les Landes Cottage, Rue des Landes, St Pierre du Bois, Guernsey GY7 9SH

EDITORIAL COMMENT Kleptoparasitism has been recorded before in the Hobby (e.g. BWP states that
small mammals are part of the Hobby’s diet, often as a result of food-piracy on Common Kestrel F.
tinnunculus ; and Ornithos 13: 385-387 mentions kleptoparasitism by Hobby on Hen Harrier Circus
cyaneus), but the event and especially the prey type recorded here are interesting.

Moorhen exploiting bird feeders

For many years, I have put out food for
Moorhens Gallinula chloropus nesting on a
pond in my Northamptonshire garden. In
winter 2006/07, a multipurpose feeding station
was set up in the garden, following which both
adult Moorhens were soon observed flying up
onto the open seed tray to feed. They quickly
learnt to reach from this tray to peck at peanuts
in a wire-mesh feeder, and to stand on the water
bowl and reach a plastic cylindrical seed feeder.
In an attempt to restrict their use of the latter

feeder, it was moved out of their reach - suc-
cessfully at first, as both birds would overbal-
ance when trying to reach it. However, in late
July 2007, one of the pair learnt to grip the
plastic lower perch and surround to the feeder,
and pull it. This would set the feeder swinging,
and the Moorhen was able to feed intermit-
tently as it swung within reach! Typically, this
procedure would be repeated several times
before the bird flew down to feed its young
(plate 247). This learnt behaviour appeared to

496

Notes

be restricted to just one member of
the pair; the technique was not
adopted by the other bird,
although it continued to try
(unsuccessfully) to reach the
feeder. Moreover, during winter
2007/08, as up to ten Moorhens
(the two adults plus offspring from
two 2007 broods) gathered around
the feeding station, only one adult
remained capable of this extraordi-
nary feeding technique.

Dr R. Colin Welch

The Mathom House, Hemington,
Oundle, Northamptonshire PE8 5QJ

248. Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
exploiting ‘swinging’ bird feeder,

Northamptonshire, August 2007.

Common Kingfisher catching and attempting to eat a shrew

On 6th October 2007, while watching a
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis feeding along
a flood relief channel at King George V Reser-
voir, Essex, I was surprised to see the bird return
to the concrete bank carrying a small mammal.
The body size of the prey slightly exceeded the
length of the kingfisher’s bill, while its tail
length was roughly equivalent to it. These com-
parisons, together with the pointed head shape,

Tristan Bantock

101 Crouch Hill, London N8 9RD

suggest its likely identity as a Pygmy Shrew
Sorex minutus. Having beaten the prey against
the perch several times, holding it by the tail,
the kingfisher spent several minutes juggling
and attempting to swallow it, before carrying it
further down the channel and out of sight. To
my knowledge, mammals have not been previ-
ously recorded in the diet of this species.

House Martins destroying Spotted Flycatcher nest

Over the past few years, the number of House
Martin Delichon urbicum nests in my Suffolk
garden has increased from one to three in
summer 2007, in which year a pair of Spotted
Flycatchers Muscicapa striata also nested. Soon
after the flycatchers had completed their clutch,
on a small ledge of the office wall, I discovered
that the nest had been pulled out and lay on the
ground. 1 blamed the local Magpies Pica pica.
The flycatchers rebuilt on a ledge on another

west-facing wall but this nest disappeared too.
Then one day, while working in the garden, I
noticed a Spotted Flycatcher mobbing a House
Martin that appeared to be pulling a nest off the
second nesting ledge. Subsequently, I also
observed a House Martin pulling nesting
material off the office ledge. To my knowledge,
no Spotted Flycatchers were raised in the
garden in 2007, but the House Martins each
raised two broods.

David Hosking

Pages Green House, Wetheringsett, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP 14 5QA

EDITORIAL COMMENT Angela Turner has commented that House Martins often steal nest-lining
material (e.g. BWP ) and that this may have been the case here.

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 496M98

497

Colin Welch

Notes

Grey Wagtail catching minnows

In early May 2007, I had
erected a hide overlooking the
nest of a Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea in Ayrshire.

The nest, hidden in a deep
recess of a wall immediately
above the River Garnock, con-
tained large young and I
noticed that the female occa-
sionally brought in a minnow
Phoxinus phoxinus. The female
was ‘fishing’ in shallow water
in the river and bringing a
mixture of minnows and
insects to the young. The river
was very low at the time and
minnows were stranded in
pools only 5-7 cm deep.

Wagtail chicks do not stay
in the nest for long (the chicks
fledged two days after plate
248 was taken) and, since
small fish will presumably be
fed only to large chicks, there
is only a short window of
opportunity (perhaps 4-5
days) for such a photograph.

Mark Hope

3 Grahamston Avenue, Glengarnock, Ayrshire KA14 3AF

Female Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea delivering a minnow Phoxinus
phoxinus to nestlings, Ayrshire, May 2007.

Letters

Rare seabirds

Seabirds have vast powers of endurance,
enabling them to cope with uncertain weather
and food supplies, and when they go astray it is
liable to be a very long way. Some species may
travel on inland until they drop in places where
observers are scarce, and it becomes a matter of
chance whether they are picked up and eaten,
fed to livestock, or taken to the local landowner,
market, taxidermist or ornithologist with no
information where they came from. There is
plenty of proof that this happens, ranging from
ancient cave deposits to recent invasions of
common species such as Little Auk Alle alle and
Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa.

Mike Imber pointed out to me that the main
inland concentrations during the latest invasion
of the latter (Gantlett 2006) occurred inland
from the estuaries of the Dee and Severn, in
areas that also produced not only the Kermadec
Petrel Pterodroma neglecta in Cheshire that has
been discussed recently, but also a Red-billed
Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus near Malvern,
Worcestershire (Gurney 1894).

I contend that the current level of proof
demanded of both the origin and the identity of
such records is leading to a bias in knowledge
about seabird distribution. In consequence, what
appear likely records of, for example, Red-billed

498

Mark Hope

Letters

(

Tropicbird, Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche
chlororhynchos, and Audouin’s Gull Earns
audouinii (Bourne 1992) have been struck from
the record when these past reports should at least
have been mentioned. Another example is that,
until recently, the only record away from breeding
islands of any member of the widespread genus
Pterodroma (which are now reported several
times a year) to appear on the European List was
a Black-capped Petrel P. hasitata that came down
in rural Norfolk near the greatest ornithologist of
his day, Alfred Newton (1852), and nobody dared
to challenge him.

Records committees must be aware not only
of the credibility of records, but also of that of
their own committees. We have now reached a
situation where some of those interested in
seabird distribution regard such lists as
prejudiced sources. Whereas they previously
contained many dubious records from ports,
taxidermists and collectors, they now seem
increasingly incomplete, with growing numbers
of suppressed reports - not only of sight records
but from such places as markets, which may
once have provided the best indication of what
was really present (Gurney 1870; Stubbs 1913;

Dr W. R. P. Bourne

Ardgath, Station Road, Dufftown, Moray AB55 4AX

Raven 1929). These markets have produced not
only a Trindade Petrel Pterodroma arminjoniana
but also South Polar Skuas Stercorarius
maccormicki (Bourne 8c Lee 1994) from
Leadenhall Market in London, which seem more
likely to have come from Britain than anywhere
else. While such records may not be as complete
as one would wish, it also seriously falsifies the
record to ignore them completely.

References

Bourne, W. R. R 1992. Debatable British and Irish seabirds.
Binding World 5: 382-390.

— & Lee, D. S. 1 994.The first record of McCormick’s (or
the South Polar) Skua for Europe and the Northern
Hemisphere. Sea Swallow 43: 74—76.

Gantlett, S. 2006,The Leach's Petrels in December 2006.
Birding World 19:497-498.

Gurney, J. H. 1870. Leadenhall Market. Zoologist 1870:
2393-2394.

— 1 894. Occurrence of the Tropicbird in England. Trans.
Norfolk Nat. Soc. 5: 659-660.

Newton, A. 1 852. Some account of a petrel, killed at
Southacre, Norfolk, with a description and synonymy.
Zoologist 10:3691-3698.

Raven, C. E. 1 929. Bird Haunts and Bird Behaviour. Martin
Hopkinson, London.

Stubbs, F.J. 19 1 3. Asiatic Birds in Leadenhall Market.
Zoologist 17: 156-157.

Predictions of future vagrants

Most authors of accounts of new Palearctic
passerine vagrants mention my 1980 predictions
(Brit. Birds 73: 388-397). Their origin was an
overlay of sympatric breeding ranges,
particularly as mapped in Plint et al. (1968),
pored over in my personal belief that,
particularly in years of high productivity, species
would in part disperse so as to achieve new
distribution or to recover ground lost in the last
ice age. My forecasts of Siberian birds and other
groups were revised in popular articles and
lectures up to 1996. However, none was updated
by the full catalogue of European rarities of
Mitchell 8c Young (1999) or illuminated by the
arguments for ‘reversed migration’ and ‘pseudo-
vagrancy’ made, respectively, by Vinicombe 8c
Cottridge (1996) and Gilroy 8c Lees (2003).

Authors who now address the approach
vectors of new British birds ought to give the

more recent reviews due credits. I particularly
commend the work of Keith Vinicombe. He does
not explain every stream of rarities and agrees
with me that the arrivals of central Asian species
virtually at ‘right angles’ to their standard
directions is a tough nut. Nevertheless, his studied
forecasts outclass my adventurous thoughts.

References

Flint, V. E., Boehme, R. L„ Kostin, YV„ & Kuznetsov, A. A.

1 968. Ptitsy SSSR [ Birds of the USSR]. Nauka, Moscow.

(In Russian) [English edition: 1984. A Field Guide to the
Birds of the USSR. Princeton University Press,

Princeton.].

Gilroy, J. J., & Lees, A. C. 2003. Vagrancy theories: are autumn
vagrants really reverse migrants? Brit Birds 96: 427-438.
Mitchell, D., &Young, S. 1 999. Photographic Handbook of the
Rare Birds of Britain and Europe. 2nd edn. New Holland,
London.

Vinicombe, K. E., & Cottridge, D. 1996. Rare Birds in Britain
and Ireland: a photographic record. HarperCollins, London.

D. I. M. Wallace

Mount Pleasant Farm, Main Road, Anslow, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire DE13 9QE

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 498—499

499

Jeffrey Davenport

Obituaries

David Lewis Davenport (1946-2008)

If weather conditions indicated that it was likely
to be a good year for spring passage of Pomarine
Stercorarius pomarinus or Long-tailed Skuas S.
longicaudus past Balranald, North Uist (Outer
Hebrides), the chances were that one of the
people watching and recording these often
impressive movements would have been David
Davenport. That was no accident, for, almost
single-handedly, David identified and elucidated
the spring movements of these species along the
west coasts of Britain & Ireland and, in the case
of Pomarine Skua, eastwards up the English
Channel. What is now recognised as the norm
was simply unknown before David got to work
on it.

David Davenport was born in Gillingham,
Kent, on 16th October 1946, the middle of three
brothers, all of whom, from their school days,
developed a keen and lifelong interest in
birdwatching. David cut his birdwatching teeth
on the North Kent Marshes and displayed an
early interest in migration and the link between

bird movements and weather conditions. In
December 1964, at Stodmarsh, Kent, and with
his elder brother, Llew, and Chris Wheeler, he
had the remarkably good fortune to see Britain’s
first Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus
since the last ‘invasion’, in 1908 (Brit. Birds 60:
416-419). It was David who first spotted the
bird. It was not long before he gravitated to
Dungeness, where he began to spend time
seawatching and quickly realised that this
activity had tended to stop too early in the
season to give a full picture of spring migration.
When he began to watch later in the season, this
revealed, among other things, the regular
passage of small numbers of Pomarine Skuas
flying up-Channel. He ultimately reported his
findings in BB in 1975 (Brit. Birds 68: 456-462),
reviewing all available records from the
southern coasts of Britain & Ireland.

That paper in BB also referred to a record of
Pomarine Skuas off Balranald in 1971 and, in a
prescient comment, he noted that better
coverage might lead to the discovery
of a regular passage off the west
coasts of Ireland and Scotland.
Rather than waiting for local
observers to take the hint and go and
look, the next year he headed north
to North Uist and, during a couple of
weeks camping there, he revealed just
such a passage. This was the first of
many visits to Balranald but he also
checked out Ireland, spending two
weeks at Slyne Head (Co. Galway)
and confirming that skua migration
could indeed be witnessed off
western Ireland. Subsequently, many
of his spring visits to Balranald also
revealed a similar passage of Long-
tailed Skuas and all these findings
were published in Irish Birds in 1981
(Irish Birds 2: 73-79) and in Scottish
Birds ten years later (Scott. Birds 16:
85-89). These two papers, together
with his original BB paper, continue
to be the standard references for this
aspect of skua migration and he was
the author for these two species in
The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al.,
2007, SOC). By good fortune, he was

250. David Davenport, Kent, 2007.

500

Obituaries

able to see a copy just before he died. In the
course of these observations, David developed a
remarkable ability to predict exactly when good
skua passage was likely to occur and, by
carefully studying the daily weather maps,
timed his departure from Kent to a nicety, such
that he would set off on the long drive north,
catch the ferry from Oban and arrive at
Balranald just before the movement
commenced! He eschewed modern
communications (no e-mail, no mobile phone),
but he was an active correspondent with skua
aficionados both home and abroad.

David lived the whole of his life in or near the
Medway towns and, apart from skuas, his main
birding focus was always on Kent, where his
contribution to the Kent Ornithological Society
was immense - in many roles in relation to the
Kent Bird Report and as a co-author of the Birds
of Kent published by the Society in 1981. He was
a prolific author and, apart from papers on
skuas, published many others, often relating to
seabirds, which appeared in the Kent Bird Report
and elsewhere. At the time of his death he had
drafted many species accounts for the

forthcoming new Birds of Kent. He had
outstanding eyesight and never found it
necessary to use a telescope - indeed, he could
often pick things up at sea with the naked eye
that most people could find only with the aid of
binoculars. He had hearing to match and once
he had heard a bird call or song it was then
seemingly permanently etched in his memory
for instant recall. His memory for facts and dates
was also prodigious and that undoubtedly
helped him in analysing weather conditions and
relating them to what had happened previously.
David was a wonderful companion and
seawatching with him was always hugely
enjoyable, not just because you always saw more
when he was around but because there was
always a light-hearted atmosphere - David
could be provoked into laughter by almost
anything and his laughter was extraordinarily
infectious! He never married and died on 27th
April 2008, aged just 61, shortly after it was
discovered that he was suffering from prostate
cancer.

Peter Oliver

Richard Patrick (Derek) Goodwin (1920-2008)

With the death of Derek Goodwin on 1 5th May
2008, we have lost a most remarkable
ornithologist, who certainly knew more about
birds in general, and especially bird behaviour,
than any of his countrymen, and probably more
than anyone else in the world. This was the
result of keeping and breeding birds from a very
early age; extreme acuteness of observation of
birds in the field; 34 years on the staff of the Bird
Room at the Natural History Museum; a deep
knowledge of the literature, ancient and
modern; and an extraordinary memory which
lasted until old age.

He was born in Woking on 26th February
1920, and was an only child, his mother dying
when he was in his teens. On leaving school,
needing to make money, he took an
uninteresting clerical job, but the war started
soon after. He joined the army and, as a private
in the 149th Anti-tank Regiment, arrived in
Egypt in June 1941. He survived the siege of
Tobruk (1941-42) and was involved in the 1942
advance that followed the Alamein success in the
Western Desert. For rescuing a wounded
comrade under fire his colonel recommended
him for a MM or DCM (Military Medal,

Distinguished Conduct Medal); but apparently
because there had been so many recommen-
dations for bravery in that particular engage-
ment, he did not receive the medal. (He told me
this in one of the last letters I had from him.)

Early in 1943, his great knowledge of pigeons
having become known to the army authorities,
he was transferred to the Middle East Pigeon
Service, based at Maadi near the Nile, where ‘I
exchanged the risks and rigours of a gunner’s life
in the desert for the safety and relative luxury of
a “loftman” in the MEPS, a change that may well
have saved my life.’ His observations of birds in
Egypt and Libya were vividly recalled in two
articles in Essex Birds (autumn/winter 1989 and
spring/summer 1990).

In August 1945 he returned home. Here one
of those chance events took place that set the
future course of one’s life. He visited the
zoological department of Gamages, the big
London store, and saw some old copies (from
the 1920s) of the Avicultural Magazine for sale,
one of which contained an article on
bronzewing pigeons {Henicophapsl Phaps),
which he bought. Some months later, after
demobilisation, he wrote to Phyllis Barclay-

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 500-502

501

Obituaries

Smith, editor of Avic. Mag., who had a room at
the NHM. She suggested that he should visit her;
he did so, and she introduced him to J. D.
Macdonald, who was in charge of the Bird
Room. To Derek’s great surprise, Macdonald
offered him a job as a ‘temporary assistant’. In
those days, the lack of paper qualifications was
no bar to getting a permanent job at the
museum, if one proved to be competent and
suitable. Of course Derek was, and he ended his
professional career as a Principal Scientific
Officer. The Avicultural Magazine remained his
favourite bird journal throughout his life, and he
contributed many papers of great interest.

When I visited him at his home in 1950, soon
after getting to know him at the Bird Room, he
was living at Virginia Water with his father, a
retired Regimental Sergeant Major (from the
First World War). He had pigeons of several
kinds in his aviaries in the garden, also Golden
Pheasants Chrysolophus pictus and Black-headed
Jays Garrulus lanceolatus, which he successfully
bred for the first time, and was making a
detailed study of the native Eurasian Jays G.
glandarius in the neighbouring woodland. I was
impressed by how he swarmed up a
honeysuckle-tangled tree trunk to check the
contents of one of his Jay nests, and later learnt
that he had been an intrepid tree and rock
climber when he wanted young Stock Doves
Columba oenas, or young Rock Doves C. livia
from Scottish coastal cliffs.

His many years at the museum led to his
becoming familiar, as preserved specimens, with
the world’s birds; and to his writing, in addition
to taxonomic papers, monographs on three of
his favourite families: Pigeons and Doves of the
World (1967), Crows of the World (1976) and
Estrildid Finches of the World (1984). He
produced two other notable books on birds, Bird
Behaviour (1961) and Birds of Man’s World
(1978). At the same time, he was the member of
staff at the museum who most often answered
the calls of visitors. Several people have told me
how helpful he was with information or advice
when they had called in there. As well as his
books, he contributed many articles to British
Birds, which included ‘Notes and display of the
Magpie’ in 1952 {Brit. Birds 45: 1 13-122, notable
also for some very early Robert Gillmor
illustrations) and ‘The problem of birds
escaping from captivity’ in 1956 {Brit. Birds 49:
339-349). A formal association with BB, as a
founder member of what became the Behaviour

Notes Panel, began in January 1960. He
remained a member of the Notes Panel until
early in 2000, at which point he became one of
BB’ s few Honorary Subscribers.

His knowledge of the bird literature was deep
and wide-ranging. He taught himself German,
necessary then because so much of the
important literature, especially on bird
behaviour, was in German; corresponded for
many years with German ornithologists with
interests similar to his; and became very fond of
German poetry. He was in fact a most prolific
letter-writer, with pen friends at home and
abroad, some of whom he had never met. His
phenomenal memory was often apparent in his
letters. At the age of 80, for instance, in a letter
discussing how to sex pigeons (not always easy),
he wrote: ‘So clearly did the first pigeons that I
had when aged from 10 to 20 years impress
themselves on me that some, whose sex I never
knew at the time, I now see clearly, from
memory of their heads and expression, which
sex they were.’

His deep appreciation of the beauty of birds
- and of butterflies, an important secondary
interest - was one of the main things that
sustained him throughout a long and far from
easy life. It was also a factor in his passionate
disagreement with some organisations involved
in bird conservation that clouded his last years.
He could not accept that the beauty of a bird
should not be taken into account, and argued
that three of the most beautiful of the world’s
birds - Golden Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s
Pheasant C. amherstiae and Mandarin Aix
galericulata - all of which are to a greater or
lesser degree threatened in their native
countries, should be cherished and helped in
this country as much as any of our native
species, and are much more desirable than the
very widespread, unthreatened White-tailed
Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and Northern
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis. His ‘self-portrait at
76’, which he wrote for his entry in Who’s Who in
Ornithology (light verse was another of his
talents), makes the point more light-heartedly:

There was an old man who said: ‘My!

What a beautiful bird I espy.’

When they asked: ‘Is it rare?’

He replied: ‘I don’t care,

So long as it pleases my eye.’

David Snow

502

British Birds 101 * September 2008 • 500-502

Reviews

WYE VALLEY

By George Peterken.
HarperCollins, New Naturalist
Series 105, London, 2008.
466 pages; numerous colour
photographs and other
illustrations.

Hardback: ISBN 978-0-00-
716068-6, £44.99.
Paperback: ISBN 978-0-00-
716069-3, £24.99.

This is the fourth book in the series
to deal with an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty (or its Scottish
equivalent). In fact, it goes well
beyond the strict boundaries of the
AONB by including most of the
Forest of Dean to the east, a
considerable area to the west
(around and to the north of the
Monnow catchment) and the
interesting foreshore of the Severn,
from Lydney down to Caldicot. It
deals only incidentally with the
Wye above Hereford.

This is an extraordinary area,
famed by poets and topographers
since the eighteenth century.
Wordsworth’s ‘wreaths of smoke’
did not, as he allowed himself to
fancy, come from hermits in the
gorge, but from forges or charcoal
burners, whose industry was part of
the scene to which tourists were
drawn in their search for the
picturesque, or even the sublime.
Almost all our rivers lose their
excitement as they approach the

sea, but just as the Wye seems to
follow this pattern in the placid
country below Hereford, it plunges
like some Cretan torrent into a
savage gorge, to emerge under
Chepstow Castle into the mudflats.

The author of this enthralling
study, a well-known forester, has
the many-dimensional task of
presenting the Wye as it now is and
as it has developed over eons of
time. He moves easily from geology
and the prehistoric family whose
footsteps have been found below
the ooze, to the Cistercians of
Tintern and the problems of
twentieth-century development in
agriculture, plantation, tourism
and urban sprawl. Before the
Severn was bridged, this was a
remoter place, even after the arrival
of the railways; now Chepstow can
be two hours from London.

The trees, flowers and fungi
have long been studied, most
notably by the famous Woolhope
Club, one of whose jokey menu
cards is illustrated. Many inter-
esting plants have been saved only
by the reserves which have been
developed from small, unworkable
fields. In the woods, now little
managed, there are famous trees,
such as the Service-tree Sorbus
domestica which was first noticed
by a ninth-century Welsh monk.

As a recording area for natural
history, this is particularly
complicated, as two countries and
three counties are concerned. For
birds, despite the famous Peregrine

Falcons Falco peregrinus of
Symonds Yat and the newly arrived
Goosanders Mergus merganser ,
much of the interest is
concentrated in the Forest of Dean,
with its Northern Goshawks
Accipiter gentilis and Pied
Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca.
There are two main sections on
ornithology.

This is a very readable work,
even for those who may be inclined
to skip chapters where background
knowledge and training are needed.
Among its various delights are the
Lesser Horseshoe Bats Rhinolophus
hipposideros of St Briavel’s
Common, the ‘tsunami’ of 1607
and the huge caverns beneath the
hooves of the Chepstow racehorses.

There are perhaps more general
questions on the present purpose of
the series, which was launched on a
post-war flood of natural history
interest, especially among the
young. It has, unfortunately,
become a matter of investment
rather than practical use; one hears
of bookcases full of reversed spines
lest they fade in the sunlight. This
cannot have been intended, though
it has been encouraged by the
publishers for many years. I cannot
imagine what induced them to
abandon right-hand justification or
to adopt the odd, indented
subheading, both of which, to my
thinking, spoil one’s enjoyment of
the text.

David Ballance

BIRDSOUNDS OF
NORTHERN SIBERIA

By Christoph Zockler.
BirdSounds.nl, 2007. MP3-CD
of 97 species. Product Code
1 1 1047. €29.95. Available from
www.birdsounds.nl

This recording covers 97 species
that breed in the most remote
northern regions of Arctic Siberia,
from the Taimyr Peninsula in the
west to Chukotka in the east.
Christoph Zockler, who compiled

this selection and, indeed, made the
majority of the recordings featured,
is no stranger to the region, having
participated in no fewer than eight
expeditions to it.

Northern Siberia and the birds
that breed there hold a special place
in the imagination of many western
ornithologists. Eagerly I placed the
disc in my CD player only to realise
that this is an MP3-CD. Reluctantly
leaving the comfort of the sitting
room, 1 listened to it on a computer.
Within moments, any discomfort
was forgotten and I was

transported to the open tundra,
frozen lakes, upland and mountain
tundra and northern limits of the
taiga forest.

The recording begins with some
beautiful, eerie calls of divers
(Gaviidae) and ends with the songs
of many exciting passerines,
including Pechora Pipit Anthus
gustavi, Siberian Rubythroat
Luscinia calliope and Pallas’s Reed
Bunting Emberiza pallasi. For me,
however, it was the evocative songs
of the waders that stole the show.
Some of these familiar to British

503

Reviews

birders were rendered exotic by
their strange and wonderful songs.
Others, such as the mysterious
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura,
became even more wondrous as I
listened, trying to imagine how
they behaved and what their
summer homes must be like.

Technically, the quality of the
recording varies from species to
species. On a few tracks there is
some background noise, such as
light wind on the microphone, but
this is hardly surprising on the
exposed open tundra. In others,
additional species are audible in the
background, but these are clearly
described in the accompanying

booklet. In some cases, the
background noise has been edited
but fortunately this does not affect
the sound or tone of the species in
question. Personally, I like the
background accompaniment of
other species, insects and even the
occasional gust of wind, as they add
to the feeling of being in the open
tundra. Some of the less successful
recordings are of species that are
more widely known, such as
Bluethroat L. svecica , Redwing
Turdus iliacus and even Eurasian
Bittern Botaurus stellaris, which
seem to have been added for the
sake of completeness.

At the end of the disc are four

longer sequences entitled ‘Sound-
scapes’. These help to capture the
essence of various habitats and are
particularly enjoyable. In stark
contrast are the fascinating but
increasingly frightening recordings
of mosquito (Culicidae) intensity
from level 1 to level 5.

In short, this is a superb
collection of songs and calls of
birds nesting in northern Siberia.
For most western observers, many
of the species’ vocalisations were
previously unknown, unavailable
or represented only in the form of
their non-breeding calls.

James McCallum

THE BIRDS OF ZAMBIA

By Robert J. Dowsett, Dylan R.
Aspinwall and Franchise
Dowsett-Lemaire.
Tauraco Press, 2008.

606 pages; 38 colour and
19 black-and-white
photographs; 720 maps.
ISBN 978-2-87225-005-9.
Paperback, £29.99.

Following on from their impressive
Birds of Malawi (Tauraco Press,
2006), this is another fine work
from the formidable Dowsetts that
advances our knowledge of the
African avifauna. It is, in fact, the
sixth account of the birds of
Zambia in about 70 years but goes
far beyond its predecessors in
describing and mapping the
distribution of over 750 species.
The work on the distribution maps
started in the early 1970s, when the
late Dylan Aspinwall was a major
driving force behind Zambian
ornithology. An atlas project was
started in 1975 and records were
included up to 2007. Over time,
these records have been added by a
succession of ornithologists, many
of whom have been posted to the
country for professional reasons —
not least the Dowsetts. The result is
a particularly extensive assessment
of status and distribution which

benefits from being very up to date,
particularly through an upsurge in
local activity in the late 1990s.

Accounts are given for all
known species on the Zambian list
and colour maps are provided for
all 626 known breeders and around
100 migrants. Vagrants are included
but do not benefit from a map.
Each account covers distribution,
ecology, status, breeding dates, and
taxonomy. But the maps are the real
prize, with 303 squares covering 30
x 30 minutes each (about 53 km x
55 km).

Zambia is a large country and is
three times the size of the UK,
although at 750,000 km2 it is still
only a third of the size of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Despite a reasonable road network,
much of it is remote and difficult to
visit. Many of the 19 national parks
are quite isolated, and in total they
cover 8.5% of the country and
around 95% of the bird species.

The species overlap between
Zambia and other neighbouring
countries (particularly Angola and
the Democratic Republic of the
Congo) is considerable, but by
comparison it is a relatively safe
destination. Of particular interest
are 64 species that are confined to
the Zambezian region of
endemism - 57 of which occur
in Zambia itself, within its

woodlands, dry forests and flooded
dambos. Sixteen pages of colour
photographs illustrate the habitats
of some of the country’s key
species, including its only endemic,
the near-threatened Chaplin’s
Barbet Lybius chaplini, and also
Africa’s most localised parrot, the
vulnerable Black-cheeked Lovebird
Agapornis nigrigenis.

An extensive introduction
describes all of the main habitat
types and climatic considerations.
There is also a great deal of
information on the pioneers of
Zambian ornithology, including
those who have achieved so much
in the last decade. As might be
expected from the authors, this
book is authoritative and clear,
providing concise information in a
way that allows it to be interpreted
quickly. A gazetteer of around 800
sites is included together with
references from over 900 sources.

To date, relatively few bird-tour
companies have given much
prominence to Zambia - perhaps
because of the lack of endemics.
Those choosing to organise their
own visits have been looking for
detailed distributional data. Now
they have it in a book that is a great
example of comprehensive but
efficient coverage.

Keith Betton

504

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 503-507

Reviews

}

A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE
TO THE BIRDS OF JAPAN
AND NORTH-EAST ASIA

By Tadao Shimba.
Christopher Helm, A&C Black,
London, 2007. 504 pages;
colour photographs;
distribution maps.

ISBN 978-0-7136-7439-2.
Paperback, £24.99.

This is the first book to cover the
Japanese avifauna in English for
over 25 years, but, just like Siberian
Blue Robins Luscinia cyane in
Britain, the second will soon follow
the first: Birds of East Asia by Mark
Brazil is due to appear this winter
(from the same publisher).

I’m not a huge fan of photo-
graphic guides, but this compact
book crams an awful lot of photos
and information into its 500 pages.
Not only does it cover all the species
likely to be seen in Japan, but it also
incorporates the Korean Peninsula,
northeastern China and the Russian

Far East. Nearly 600 species are repre-
sented by over 1,500 colour photos.
There are generally several photos of
each species, and a helpful feature is
that all are labelled with age/sex, date
and location, and with the race
depicted where appropriate. The vast
majority were taken within Japan.

The photos are very good, but
given that this is a ‘pocket guide’ the
small page size does not do the
photos justice. The bird is often rela-
tively small in the image, and the
design looks cramped. Additional
detail for each species includes a
brief identification summary,
description of voice and a helpful
pointer to similar species, usually
with separating features to look for.
There are also distribution maps,
which, although not precise, given
the huge area covered, do give a good
indication of ranges, and a short
summary of the species’ status in
Japan - just in case you think you’ve
found a first! So, the plus points are
superb photographs, small size and
the fact that it’s in English (though a

table listing the Japanese names next
to the English names is also
included), but those wanting to
drool over the pictures or who need
detailed ID notes will probably be
left feeling short-changed.

The best for 25 years, this will
be an automatic buy for those vis-
iting the region shortly, or those
who live there, but I suspect that it
will probably be quickly relegated
to second best when a true ID
guide is published in the winter.
Nevertheless, this book represents
good value for money, so most
birders will probably opt to have
both - just in case! Even if you
have not visited the areas covered,
the array of mouth-watering ‘Sibes’
might make it a useful photo-refer-
ence for European birders, but at a
time when the internet is becoming
THE reference tool for birders
seeking out photos, how long will
photographic guides such as these
retain a place in their libraries?

Russell Slack

A FIELD GUIDE TO THE
BIRD SONGS AND CALLS
OF BRITAIN AND
NORTHERN EUROPE

By Dave Farrow. Carlton
Books, London, 2008.
224 pages; many colour
illustrations; two CDs.
ISBN 978-1-84442-042-1.
Hardback, £19.99.

Space was made available by the
publisher for just 200 species, so it
must have been hard to decide
which birds to omit, particularly
when northern Europe had to be
covered in addition to Britain. Those
selected for this guide are generally
those with distinctive songs and
calls, but the restriction of numbers
has resulted in some surprising
omissions. No Canada geese Branta
canadensis! hutchinsii, no Barnacle
Goose B. leucopsis and, more impor-
tantly, no White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons. Although restricted
as a breeding bird to Iceland, Great
Northern Diver Gavia immer is
included, and yet Red-throated G.

stellata and Black-throated Divers G.
arctica are not. The decision to leave
out Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis is odd
when birds like Kittiwake Rissa tri-
dactyla are included. And where is
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilisl
Coverage of passerines is, however,
much more comprehensive and
includes Parrot Loxia pytyopsittacus
and Scottish Crossbill L. scotica.

The recordings have been
acoustically cleaned up to maximise
their effectiveness in aiding identifi-
cation. A total of 100 species is
included on each disc. Mostly they
are in stereo, although not to the
extent that you would particularly
notice. Dave Farrow contributed just
over a third of the tracks, while Jan-
Erik Bruun and Hannu Jannes pro-
vided most of the remainder. An
index to the recordings is given in
the order they are played. As a sound
enthusiast, I would have liked some
information on where and when
they were made, although perhaps
not many users would look for that
level of detail.

The book contains information
on the species featured, with a page

on each one, including a colour
illustration by either Brin Edwards
or Mike Langman. Information is
given on identification and habitat,
together with a description of the
song and/or call. An introductory
section gives tips on fieldcraft,
together with an overview of bird
sounds and how they are used by
birds. Explanations of acoustical
terms are given too.

For anyone looking for a basic,
introductory set of recordings, this
provides much of what is needed at
an attractive price. It does, however,
include a number of northern
species that have never appeared in
Britain while ignoring several that
breed here regularly. This guide is
small enough to carry around in the
field. By comparison, the new
Mitchell Beazley guide is far too
hefty for that - but for an extra
£5.00 that gives you recordings of a
further 50 species and is more useful
if visiting southern Europe. Neither
book is comprehensive in its
coverage.

Keith Betton

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 503-507

505

Reviews

THE BIRDS OF A LDERNEY

By Jeremy G. Sanders. The
Press at St Anne, Alderney,
2007. 320 pages; numerous
line-drawings; three maps.
ISBN 978-0-946760-61-9.
Hardback, £25.00.

This is the first-ever avifauna of
Alderney, the smallest of the three
main Channel Islands. It covers
more than 130 years of recording,
from published and unpublished
sources, including contributions
from over 100 amateur observers.
The author has made the biggest
contribution to this, having made
records almost daily over the last
quarter of a century.

The book opens with a general
description of the island, including
a succinct account of the changes
in land use over the last two cen-
turies. This is nicely illustrated by
Carmen Watson’s sketches, which
are liberally sprinkled throughout
the book. Next follows a chapter
entitled ‘The Birds’, which contains
a brief review of various categories
such as seabirds, coastal wading
birds, inland breeding birds (of
which there are few) and migrants.
Emphasis is rightly put on the
important seabird populations,
with the dramatic expansion of the
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
colony, from one pair in 1940 to
over 7,400 at the time of writing,
and the equally dramatic decline of
the Puffin Fratercula arctica , from
an estimated 100,000 individuals in
1949 to about 250 today, discussed

at length. The introductory sec-
tions are completed with a review
of ornithology on Alderney. A
number of eminent ornithologists
have visited the island, often on
several occasions or at length,
including William Eagle Clarke in
1898, and Peter Conder regularly
from 1950 until 1993.

The systematic list comprises
230 pages and 2 77 species, although
the total is given as 273 on the dust
jacket. Entries vary from a few lines
for vagrants to detailed accounts
for various seabirds, including
almost ten and 17 pages respec-
tively for Gannet and Puffin. Many
of the records included are cited to
the observers responsible. Most
accounts for the scarcer migrants
and winter visitors consist of a nar-
rative of all the available records,
although they lack analysis and are
often vague, e.g. for Garden
Warbler Sylvia borin we are told
that spring migrants are normally
recorded in April and May, and
autumn migrants in September and
early October. There is a good
selection of records of vagrants,
including species common in
southern England, e.g. Green
Woodpecker Picus viridis (one
undated record for 1961 and one in
May 1969), and three not on the
British List. The author attempts to
clarify the criteria for the inclusion
of records of rarities, some of
which have been submitted to
various bodies since the 1950s. He
states that he has particularly taken
into account the opinions of the
Alderney County Bird Recorders,

and that records that he does not
consider reliable have not been
included. Interestingly, he has
included two spring records of
Booted Eagle Aquila pennata seen
by the author - full descriptions
were taken but we are not told what
phase they were, and no informa-
tion is given about whether the
records were assessed by a com-
mittee; a hearsay record of a Dipper
Cinclus cinclus referring to the
winter of 1861/62; a record of an
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
in October 1998 said to be ‘uncon-
firmed’; and two recent records of
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza
bruniceps. As these examples show,
the author has missed the opportu-
nity to create a definitive list of
species reliably recorded on the
island, although that was probably
not his intention when he set out to
write the book. The final section,
entitled sketches of Alderney’s
birds, consists of series of illustra-
tions of various species with brief
text, largely a repetition of the other
parts of the book. This confirms
the author’s dilemma - whether to
compile an authoritative book on
the birds reliably recorded on the
island, or to write a volume
appealing to a wider, less-spe-
cialised audience. Unfortunately, he
has fallen between the two stools.

For anyone interested in the
birds of Alderney, this is an essen-
tial reference, but I await the publi-
cation of a definitive Birds of the
Channel Islands with interest!

John Clark

Short reviews

A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF ANGUILLA

By Steve H. Holliday, Karim V. D. Hodge and
Damien E. Hughes. RSPB, Sandy, 2007.

122 pages; many colour photographs, maps.

ISBN 978-1-905601-10-3. Paperback, £19.50.

This guide is an introduction to the birds of this UK
Overseas Territory. Sandwiched between an introduc-
tory section and a checklist of the birds of the archi-
pelago are species descriptions - though only 60 of the
132 species in the checklist are treated in any detail -
and 21 pages of site descriptions, with maps. All pro-
ceeds from the sale of the guide will support the work
of the Anguilla National Trust.

BIRDWATCHING GUIDE TO OMAN

By Dave E. Sargeant, Hanne 8c lens Eriksen.

A1 Roya Publishing, Muscat, Oman, 2008.

256 pages; 64 maps and 135 colour photographs.

ISBN 978-9948-03-643-2. Paperback, £22.99.
Second edition of this guide (for review of first edition
see Brit. Birds 95: 33), which is completely revised and
updated in the light of large-scale changes to Oman’s
infrastructure and tourism facilities since 2001. All
maps have been re-drawn and incorporate GPS
co-ordinates. Some birding sites covered in the first
edition have disappeared but new ones have been added;
species status and site lists are updated to include
observations to the end of 2007.

506

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 503-507

Short reviews

SUSSEX WILDLIFE

By David Mortimer.

Snake River Press, Alfriston, Sussex, 2008.

96 pages; few illustrations and a stylised map.

ISBN 978-1-906022-09-9. Hardback, £8.99.
Recalling the King Penguins of the 1950s, although with
illustrations more akin to Thomas Bewick’s woodcuts of
150 years earlier, this compact book is part of the
‘Sussex Guide’ series by Snake River Press, which
includes such titles as 20 Sussex Gardens and 20 Sussex
Walks. Four pages are devoted to each of the author’s 20
favourite wildlife reserves, although this rigid format is
sometimes restrictive. The accounts are perhaps best
described as guided commentaries and, with no site
maps and only one or two lines of directions, those after
a ‘where to watch’ guide should look elsewhere.

All aspects of wildlife are covered, with perhaps
most emphasis given to flowers and insects, while the
birds mentioned are sometimes inaccurate or rather
optimistic. For example, Little Terns Sternula albifrons
no longer breed at Pagham Harbour, and have not
done so since 1990, while Wood Warblers Phylloscopus
sibilatrix are only likely to be encountered with consid-
erable good fortune on passage at Park Corner Heath.
The use of scientific names is erratic and the redstarts
referred to as breeding on the cliffs at Hastings County
Park would be Black Phoenicurus ochruros, these having
done so there sporadically in the past. Despite these
shortcomings, most readers should find something of
interest in each account, even if the reserve is already
well known to them. I found the brief histories of some
sites particularly educational.

Richard Fairbank

GUIDE TO BRITISH OWLS AND OWL PELLETS

By Leanne Thomas, illustrated by Chris Shields. FSC
Publications, Shrewsbury, 2008. Fold-out laminated
brochure, colour illustrations, black-and-white line
drawings. ISBN 978-1-85153-235-3. £2.75.
Produced by the Field Studies Council in co-operation
with the Hawk & Owl Trust, this well-designed fold-out
brochure is a simple introduction to the five species of
owls breeding regularly in Britain (Barn Tyto alba , Little
Athene noctua , Tawny Strix aluco, Long-eared Asio otus
and Short-eared A. flammeus) and their pellets. There
are brief but useful discussions on such matters as
hunting methods, population status, conservation and
the dissection of pellets. Typical examples of owl pellets,
and other pellets with which they may be confused
(such as those cast by Common Kestrels Falco
tinnunculus and Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter
nisus), are illustrated, as well as a selection of whole
skulls, jaws, teeth and other assorted remains. This
inexpensive, clearly written and nicely illustrated work
will undoubtedly be of great assistance to its main target
audience of students and their teachers.

Pete Combridge

)

HOBBIES AND OTHER FALCONS...

NEAR MY HOUSE

By Brian L. Kington. Published privately, Coleshill,
2007. Many colour photos and line-drawings.

No ISBN. Paperback, £10.99 inc. p8cp from the author,
22 Burman Drive, Coleshill, B46 3NB.

Brian Kington is a raptor enthusiast, and this slim
paperback tells the story of his quest for insights into
the lives of three species of falcon which occur close to
his home in the English Midlands. Most of the booklet
(roughly 80%) is devoted to the Hobby Falco subbuteo,
while the ‘other falcons’ given less space are Merlin F.
columbarius and Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus. This is
no scientific treatise, and I suspect that not everyone
will necessarily agree with some of the author’s views
and ideas, but many raptorphiles, especially those
interested in Hobbies, will find this booklet both
interesting and enjoyable.

Pete Combridge

BIRDWATCHER’S POCKET COMPANION

By Malcolm Tait. Pavilion Books, London. 2008.

143 pages. ISBN 978-1-862057-97-5.
Hardback, £6.99.

This is a small (9 cm x 14 cm) gift book that you can
give to a friend for a birthday or Christmas. It is full of
questions, answers, unusual facts and quirky lists. For
instance, which birds should you look out for when
thirsty? Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti and
Claret-breasted Fruit-dove Ptilinopus viridis are two
suggestions, although I was surprised that there was no
mention of the pint-sized Stout Cisticola Cisticola
robustus. . . Apart from the zany entries, there are facts
such as the UK birds that are declining fastest. But the
funny entries win - including a list of songs such as
Be My Plover by Alice Cooper!

Keith Betton

BIRDS

Edited by Mavis Pilbeam. The British Museum Press,
London, 2008. 96 pages; colour illustrations. ISBN 978-
0-7141-5063-5. Hardback, £9.99.

This attractively presented anthology takes images of
birds from the collections of the British Museum
(ranging from those of Thomas Bewick to the Japanese
artist Kitagawa Utamaro) and matches them with a
poem about the species illustrated; the writers chosen
include Shakespeare, Tennyson and John Clare.

IDENTIFYING BIRDS BY COLOUR

By Moss Taylor and Norman Arlott. Collins, London,
2008. 224 pages, one or two colour paintings per
species. ISBN 978-0-00-720679-7. Paperback, £12.99.
Over 250 species covered, grouped according to colour,
claiming to be the easiest way for beginners to identify
birds. Maybe. . .

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 503-507

507

News and comment

Compiled by Adrian Pitches

Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of British Birds

Surprise crash in Fame Islands’ Puffin population

The population has been
increasing for 60 years - and has a
plentiful supply of sandeels
Ammodytes - but England’s largest
Puffin Fratercula arctica colony has
declined by a third since 2003.
Results from a three-month survey
of Puffins on the Fame Islands, off
Northumberland, have shown that
the number of breeding pairs has
fallen by 34%, from 55,674 to
36,500 pairs. The Fames has the
largest Puffin colony in England
and the fourth-largest in the UK.

David Steel, National Trust
Head Warden on the Fames, said:
‘The results from this survey have
completely surprised us as we were
predicting another rise in the
numbers of breeding pairs. Stocks
of sandeels, the staple food of
Puffins in the summer, are in good
supply around the Fames, and
there is a lack of ground predators.

creating a good environment for
Puffins to breed.’

All eight islands surveyed
showed a decrease in population,
with four islands showing a dra-
matic decrease of up to 50%. Mon-
itoring work shows that good
numbers of young Puffins are
fledging successfully each year but
are not coming back to the islands
in subsequent years. Presumably,
fewer birds are surviving the winter
than are needed to maintain
current numbers.

Staple and Brownsman Islands,
where the majority of Puffins can
be found, have seen the numbers of
breeding pairs fall by more than
30% since 2003. Possible factors
behind the decline are not yet
properly understood but factors at
sea during the winter are impli-
cated, for example an intensifica-
tion of storms, which could affect

the foraging ability of Puffins.

Prof. Mike Harris, Emeritus
Research Fellow at the Centre for
Ecology & Hydrology, who has
studied Puffins for 36 years on the
Isle of May, said: ‘The dramatic
decline on the Fames, along with
that found earlier this year on the
Isle of May, leaves no doubt that
the North Sea has lost a substantial
proportion of its Puffins. With
poor survival of adult birds a likely
factor in the decline, we urgently
need to know more about Puffins
during the eight months of the
year that they spend in the open
sea.’

Results from the survey carried
out on the Isle of May showed that
Puffins had declined from 69,300
to 41,000 pairs. For more informa-
tion see: www.ceh.ac.uk/news/
news_archive/2008_news_item_l 6
.html

Bird crime figures continue to soar

Reported crimes against birds of
prey reached an all-time high in
2007, increasing by a massive 40%
on the previous year. As a result,
the RSPB is urging the Govern-
ment to make wildlife crime a
higher priority for the UK’s police
forces.

In its annual Birdcrime report,
the RSPB revealed that it received
262 reports of incidents of illegal
shooting, trapping and nest
destruction of birds of prey during
the course of 2007. This compared
with 185 reports in 2006, a figure
which prompted the Society to
launch a campaign calling for an
end to the illegal killing of birds of

prey. There were also 49 reports of
raptors being poisoned, including
17 Red Kites Milvus rnilvus - the
highest number recorded in a
single year - and one-half of the
only breeding pair of Golden
Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in the
Scottish Borders.

Data from the report identifies
four counties that were the worst
in England for reported persecu-
tion of raptors: North Yorkshire,
with 78 reports, Northumberland
(22) and Shropshire and Cumbria
(both with 16). Reports of crimes
against all wild birds were at record
levels for the second year running,
with 1,208 separate incidents

reported. Part of the reason for the
dramatic rise in reported crimes
may be improved sharing of data
between the RSPB, the police,
RSPCA and the newly formed
National Wildlife Crime Unit, but
the RSPB believes that the true
figure is much higher still, with
many undetected and unreported
crimes in remote areas.

Ian West, Head of Investiga-
tions at the RSPB, said that the
number of reports are ‘still only...
the tip of the iceberg’ and he urged
the Home Office to make it clear to
police forces that wildlife crime
needed to be given a higher
priority.

World Heritage status for Socotra and Kazakhstan

UNESCO has recognised two
important biodiversity hotspots on
the fringe of the Western Palearctic
for inclusion in its list of World
Heritage Natural Sites.

The Socotra Archipelago, in the
Indian Ocean off Yemen, was cited
for its rich and distinct flora and
fauna and high level of endemism.
More than a third of Socotra’s 825

plant species, 90% of its reptile
species and 95% of its land-snail
species do not occur anywhere else
in the world. The site also supports
globally significant populations of

508

News and comment

^ » "Vf ^ ^

25 I . Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius is a key species forTengiz-
Korgalzhyn, one of Kazakhstan's newly designated World Heritage Sites.

land- and seabirds (192 bird
species, 44 of which breed on the
islands while 85 are regular
migrants), including a number of
threatened species.

Globally threatened species
include Socotra Cormorant Pha-
lacrocorax nigrogularis. Bird species
restricted to Socotra include the
Near Threatened Island Cisticola
Cisticola haesitata, Socotra Warbler
lncana incana , Socotra Starling
Onychognathus frater , Socotra
Sunbird Nectarinia balfouri and the
Vulnerable Socotra Bunting
Emberiza socotrana. Also restricted
to the island is the Socotra Gros-
beak Rhynchostruthus socotranus,
part of the complex of species
which Yemen recently appointed as
its national bird, the Golden-
winged Grosbeak. A further 11
subspecies are endemic to the
island. Surveys by BirdLife have
shown that all have healthy popu-
lations.

‘This is an important step on
the way to developing Socotra sus-
tainably, with benefits for both the
population of the island and its
biodiversity,’ said Yemen’s Environ-
ment Minister Abdul-Rahman al-
Iryani, who opposes plans by other
ministries for damaging road
developments on the island. The
minister believes that ecotourism
will make an important contribu-
tion to Socotra’s economy.

Meanwhile, two of Kazakhstan’s
most important steppe-wetland

Important Bird Areas (IBAs),
Naurzum and Tengiz- Korgalzhyn,
have been designated as Central
Asia’s first natural World Heritage
Sites.

The two sites, listed as ‘Saryaka
- Steppe and Lakes of Northern
Kazakhstan’, are located in the
steppe zone of Kazakhstan and are
two of the most important IBAs in
Central Asia. Both are crucial
migration stopover sites for several
million birds each year on the
African-Eurasian flyway. They also
hold large breeding populations of
many globally threatened species.

Naurzum is particularly impor-
tant for Lesser White-fronted
Goose Anser erythropus (Vulner-
able), Red-breasted Goose Branta
ruficollis (Endangered) and the
Critically Endangered Siberian
Crane Grus leucogeranus. The
Tengiz-Korgalzhyn is used by an

estimated two million waterbirds
during migration, and is also a key
site for global breeding populations
of Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus
crispus (Vulnerable), Black-winged
Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
(Near Threatened) and Sociable
Lapwing Vanellus gregarius (Criti-
cally Endangered).

‘Tengiz-Korgalzhyn is under
threat because of a need for fresh
water for the growing capital city
[Astana], as well as for waste-water
dumping. This nomination marks
a great and important day for con-
servation in Kazakhstan and will
help to protect these globally sig-
nificant wetlands and threatened
steppe habitat,’ said Vitaliy
Gromov, Director of the Associa-
tion for the Conservation of Bio-
diversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK),
BirdLife’s project partner in
Kazakhstan.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper joins Champions League

WildSounds, the wildlife book and
sound guide supplier, has become
the latest Species Champion to join
BirdLife’s Preventing Extinctions
Programme; the company will
sponsor the charismatic Spoon-
billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus
pygmeus , one of six Critically
Endangered species highlighted at
last month’s Birdfair. Populations
of this wader have crashed over the
last decade, and recent surveys of
its breeding grounds in the remote
Russian province of Chukotka
suggest that the situation is now
absolutely critical.

BirdLife launched the Pre-

venting Extinctions Programme at
the 2007 Birdfair in an attempt to
save all 190 of the world’s Critically
Endangered birds from extinction.
To do this, BirdLife is appointing
individuals and organisations best
placed to carry out the recovery of
threatened species as official
Species Guardians, at the same
time as recruiting companies, insti-
tutions and individuals as Species
Champions to provide the funds
necessary to pay for this urgent
work.

Another of the six species
showcased at this year’s Birdfair -
Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula murina

- gained its Species Champion in
January when it was adopted by
Birdwatch magazine. Birdwatch
readers are now being urged to
fund the conservation of Europe’s
rarest songbird (which is also
known as the Priolo) via the online
donation site www.justgiving.com/
priolo. But even before this addi-
tional assistance is forthcoming,
the Priolo appears to have turned
the corner on the only island on
which it is found - Sao Miguel, in
the Azores. An EU-funded project
on the island over the past five
years, by the RSPB and SPEA
(BirdLife in Portugal), has yielded

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 508-5 I I

509

Markus Varesvuo

encouraging results by clearing
invasive alien plants - and by
planting native trees that provide
the food that the birds depend on.
A new survey of Sao Miguel, in
which 200 1-km squares were
checked, logged 78 Azores
Bullfinches, which should result in
a final estimate of several hundred
birds: a marked increase on the 200
individuals estimated five years
ago.

And the other Palearctic species
highlighted at the Birdfair -
Sociable Lapwing - has also
secured Species Champions.
Swarovski Optik and the RSPB
have become joint sponsors of
work to protect and track the bird
on its breeding grounds in Kaza-
khstan and during its annual

News and comment

migration. Sociable Lapwing was
listed as Critically Endangered by
Bi rd Life in 2003 after numbers
plunged by 95%. This was attrib-
uted mainly to the trampling of
nests by cattle and the decline of
the Saiga Antelope Saiga tatarica,
which grazed breeding areas and
kept vegetation in check.

Since then, Sociable Lapwings
have been seen in Turkey, Syria and
Sudan, including a flock of 3,200
birds in southeast Turkey last
October. The species became one
of the smallest birds to carry a
satellite-tracking device and indi-
viduals were subsequently recorded
flying 8,000 km to Sudan and back
on migration. The tags weighed
just 9.5 g. Each tag costs £1,500 and
data collection costs another £50

per month. Swarovski and the
RSPB will help to pay for research
and tracking work and comple-
ment earlier funding from the UK
Government’s Darwin Initiative.
Scientists hope to find more
nesting sites in Kazakhstan, safe-
guard those areas and find ways of
protecting the birds on migration.

Dr Rob Sheldon, the RSPB’s
Sociable Lapwing Project Leader,
said: ‘The bird’s problems seem to
be linked more to its migration
and wintering grounds than to its
breeding sites, and this new
funding means we can step up our
monitoring work to find out more
about where these birds go and the
problems they face on their migra-
tion routes.’

As reported in last month’s N&c
(p. 452), a new bird observatory for
Fair Isle is in the offing. An appeal
for funds was launched jointly by
long-time Fair Isle devotee Bill
Oddie and current FIBOT
chairman Roy Dennis at last
month’s Rutland Birdfair, and it is
hoped that work on the project will
start next spring. The first job will
be to pull down the old observa-
tory, which dates back to 1968 -
after much deliberation, the FIBO
directors decided that the present
site was significantly better than all
the alternatives. The observatory
will be closed to visitors for a
period while the building work is
under way, although wardening
staff will maintain the daily census
and seabird studies and researchers

The new obs is coming

will be found alternative accom-
modation. A completely new, eco-
friendly and modern design will
replace the ailing 60’s-style mono-
lith. Gone will be the cramped
dorms and communal showers,
although the staff and directors
will be at pains to transfer the
friendly atmosphere and warm
welcome to the new building.

Roy Dennis said: ‘The Observa-
tory has a crucial role to play in
bringing people to Fair Isle and
providing a base for birdwatching
and scientific research. We believe
that the time is ripe for a new and
exciting ecofriendly building suited
to the 21st century. We recognise
that raising the funds will be a
challenge for a small trust, but we
are certain that it is not only pos-

sible but also essential for the
economic well-being of the Fair
Islanders.’

A majority of the funding will
come from public bodies, with
Shetland Islands Council already
having pledged over a quarter of
the £4-million cost. Flowever, the
Trust, which is an independent
charitable body and totally self-
funded, is also relying on the
support of the army of birders who
have visited Fair Isle in the 60 years
since George Waterston founded
the observatory in 1948. This
support is vital to the project and
Fair Isle devotees are urged to get
involved - visit the FIBO website
www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk and find
out more.

Breeding Hen Harriers and waders can co-exist

In a timely publication to coincide
with the opening of the grouse-
shooting season, RSPB Scotland
researchers have shown that
breeding Hen Harriers Circus
cyaneus on heather moorland do
not have an impact on upland
waders. Instead it’s the Meadow
Pipit Anthus pratensis population
that suffers.

Numbers of Eurasian Curlews

Numenius arquatus and Northern
Lapwings Vanellus vanellus actually
increased at the same time as Hen
Harriers flourished in the absence
of illegal persecution during a
study on a grouse moor in south-
west Scotland during the 1990s.
The new research ‘The impact of
raptors on the abundance of
upland passerines and waders’ was
published in the August edition of

Oikos. The paper examines the
populations of Hen Harriers on
Langholm Moor between 1992 and
1999, alongside five potential prey
species including Curlew, Lapwing,
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis
apricaria , Meadow Pipit and Sky
Lark Alauda arvensis. During that
time there was no illegal killing of
Hen Harriers and other birds of
prey at Langholm, under the aus-

510

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 508-5 1 i

News and comment

}

pices of the Joint Raptor Study, in
order to investigate the impact that
raptors had on the number of Red
Grouse Lagopus lagopus.

Hen Harriers increased from
two breeding females in 1992 to a
maximum of 20 in 1997 (and 13 in
1999). Peregrine Falcons Falco
peregrinus also increased, from
three to six breeding pairs, during
the same period. By 1999, autumn
Red Grouse stocks fell to a level
where grouse shooting was consid-
ered economically unviable and
ceased. Since then, several com-
mentators have speculated or
claimed relationships between
numbers of raptors and other bird
species. Curlew and Lapwing
numbers actually increased during
this period, rising by 106% and
66%, respectively. Between 1994
and 1999, Golden Plovers declined

by 47% at Langholm, but there was
an 89% decline at nearby sites
where raptors had not increased.

None of these population
changes are believed to have been
caused by harriers. Indeed, they
strongly suggest that harriers are
not a problem for upland waders.
However, numbers of Meadow
Pipits and Sky Larks declined at
Langholm by 61% and 51%,
respectively, during the study.
These declines were greater than
on nearby moorland areas where
raptor numbers had not increased.
This evidence, together with
observed predation rates, suggests
that harriers limited the abundance
of Meadow Pipits, their principal
prey.

Dr Arjun Amar, Research Biol-
ogist with RSPB Scotland and lead
author of the study, said: ‘These

analyses lay to rest the idea that
letting Hen Harrier numbers
increase at Langholm meant that
other species like Curlew, Lapwing
and Golden Plover were wiped out.
On the contrary, populations of
some of these species actually rose.’
The publication of this research
is timely, with the second phase of
work at Langholm now under way.
The Langholm Moor Demonstra-
tion Project has now begun, with
the backing of Scottish Natural
Heritage, RSPB, GWCT, Natural
England and Buccleuch Estates.
The hope is that by using tech-
niques such as diversionary
feeding, a way can be found to
allow birds of prey to flourish on
the moor, whilst at the same time
running an economically viable
grouse shoot.

Italian hunters to target protected songbirds

The northern Italian regions of
Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and
Veneto have announced the
hunting regulations for autumn
2008 and have widened the scope
of quarry species substantially. In
addition to those species which
may be hunted throughout Italy
(Sky Lark, Blackbird Turdus
tnerula, Fieldfare T. pilaris, Song
Thrush T. philornelos and Redwing
T. ilacus), these regions have
announced the lifting of the ban
on hunting bird species which are
afforded protection throughout
Europe.

Lombardy has said that it will
permit the shooting of hundreds of
thousands of Italian (House) Spar-
rows Passer domesticus italiae, Tree
Sparrows P. montanus. Common

Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs and
Bramblings F. montifringilla. In
addition, from 21st September
onwards, Common Starlings
Sturnus vulgaris, which are a hunt-
able species under EU law but are
on the Italian list of protected
species, may also be shot. In
Emilia-Romagna, Starlings, Italian
and Tree Sparrows may also be
shot from the end of September
onwards, while hunting of Great
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
and Collared Dove Streptopelia
decaocto will also be permitted.
Veneto surpasses all other regions
with its liberal regulations. Besides
Starling, Chaffinch and Brambling,
Meadow Pipit - a species which
has suffered large population
declines - may also be hunted.

Each region has different regu-
lations with regard to the numbers
of birds that may be killed. On
average, each of the 150,000
hunters in the three affected
regions is permitted to shoot three
individuals of every species on
each of the 55 days of the hunting
season. Theoretically, this amounts
to almost 25-million protected
birds! The German Committee
Against Bird Slaughter (CABS,
www.komitee.de/en/), together
with its Italian partner organisa-
tion Lega Abolizione Caccia (LAC),
is examining what legal steps are
necessary in the individual regions.
The first legal complaints against
the relaxation of the hunting laws
in Lombardy are in preparation.

RSPB teaches a lesson about the birds and the bees

RSPB Scotland and the Bumblebee
Conservation Trust (BBCT, www.
bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk)
have joined forces to create the
world’s first bumblebee sanctuary.
The flower meadow was created by
BBCT on RSPB Scotland’s Vane
Farm nature reserve, beside Loch
Leven in Perth & Kinross. Many
visitors have seen the rare and

beautiful Blaeberry Bumblebee
Bombus monticola, lured down
from nearby hills, and it is hoped
that one day the critically endan-
gered Great Yellow Bumblebee B.
distinguendus will also return.

Dr Dave Beaumont, Head of
Reserves Ecology for RSPB Scot-
land, said: “Bumblebees are often
referred to as keystone species,

because the loss of their pollination
services could have a devastating
impact on the whole ecosystem.
By ensuring we have healthy
bumblebee populations on our
reserves, we ensure that the habitat
itself is healthy, which in turn is
good for the birds.’

51 I

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 508-5 1 I

Richard Stonier

Recent reports

Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Eric Dempsey

This summary of unchecked reports covers mainly new arrivals between early July and early August 2008.

Headlines An unprecedented influx ofTwo-barred Crossbills into the Northern Isles; elsewhere,
up to three Black Storks, three Pacific Golden Plovers, a good spread of American waders and two
Lesser Grey Shrikes were notable. Seabird passage was light, apart from reasonable numbers of
Cory’s Shearwaters in late July/early August, and tern movements included a light overland passage
of Black Terns Chlidonias niger in late July, 1,270 Common Terns Sterna hirundo off Dungeness (Kent)
on 3rd August and 5,100 Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) on
1 0th August. Two pairs of Cattle Egrets bred successfully in Somerset, while juvenile Great Spotted
Woodpeckers Dendrocopos major in Co. Dublin and Co. Wicklow in late July or early August
represent the first confirmed breeding records for this species in the Republic of Ireland.

American Wigeon Anas americana Loch of
Strathbeg (North-east Scotland), lst-2nd
August. Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Cainhoe Lakes (Bedfordshire), 15th July; Chew
Valley Lake (Avon), 21st July to 10th August.
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Balgray Reservoir
(Clyde), 2 1 st — 29th July and 5th— 8th August.

Zino’s/Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira/feae At

sea, off Slyne Head (Co. Galway), 28th July.
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea In
Ireland, high counts included 750 off Galley
Head on 1st August and 141 off Cape Clear
Island (both Co. Cork) on 2nd. In Cornwall, 205
were seen off Porthgwarra in 13 hours on 29th
July and 170 in 11.5 hours on 30th July; and at
least 710 were seen off Lizard Point on the latter
date. In Devon, 102 off Berry Head on 30th July

and 205 off Prawle Point the same day. Great
Shearwater Puffinus gravis Recorded in small
numbers off Co. Cork, with eight off Galley
Head on 1st August the highest count. Wilson’s
Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus From pelagic
trips off Scilly, at least three on 10th July, two on
21st July, singles 2nd, 3rd and 10th August; 18
km northwest of Padstow (Cornwall), two, 27th
July.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis In Somerset, two pairs
have successfully bred (www.somersetbirds.net).
Elsewhere, presumed long-stayers were at
Goldcliff Pools NR (Gwent), 11th July; West
Bexington (Dorset), 12th July; Lodmoor, 17th
July, then Radipole Lake (both Dorset), 18th
July; Sidlesham Ferry, 19th July, presumed
same as Pagham Harbour (both West Sussex),
23rd July; Oare Marshes (Kent),
26th July; Earls Barton GP
(Northamptonshire), 30th July;
Godmanchester (Cambridgeshire),
31st July; Poole Harbour (Dorset),
10th August. Great White Egret Ardea
alba Rainham Marshes (Greater
London), 14th July; Coombe Hill
Meadows (Gloucestershire), 14th July;
Pennington Marsh (Hampshire), 16th
July; Portland Bill (Dorset), two, 23rd
July; Cresswell Pond (Northumber-
land), 26th July; Trimley Marshes
(Suffolk), 27th July; Loughor
(Glamorgan), 27th July; Fota Island
(Co. Cork), 28th July; Reculver (Kent),
1st August. Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Various localities in Kent between
Chartham and Sandwich, 1 8th — 1 9th
July, presumed same as Bocking

252. Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis, off Scilly, mid August 2008.

512

Recent reports

253. Juvenile Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Clara Vale, Durham, August 2008.

Churchstreet, 21st July and Shoebury (both
Essex), 23rd July; Witcham (Cambridgeshire),
26th July; Cramlington (Northumberland),
31st July, presumed same nr Greenside
(Durham), 8th-9th August, and Blayney Row
(Northumberland), 10th August. Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus Marshside RSPB reserve
(Lancashire & N Merseyside), long-stayer to
26th July, also visiting Inner Marsh Farm
(Cheshire & Wirral), 1 6th— 17th July and
Martin Mere (Lancashire & N Merseyside),
18th July with presumably the same Spurn/
Patrington Haven area (East Yorkshire), 27th
July. In Ireland, one, Ennis (Co. Clare),
23rd-27th July; two, Garristown (Co. Meath),
5th August.

Black Kite Milvus migrans Ewhurst Park
(Hampshire), 14th July; Rainham Marshes 31st
July. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus Steep
Down (West Sussex), 21st July; Queensferry
(Lothian), 26th July; Glen Moriston (Highland),
9th August.

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica Add
Estuary (Argyll), 21st July; Elmley Marshes
(Kent), 30th July and 7th— 1 0th August. Pacific
Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva North Ronaldsay
(Orkney), 27th July to 6th August; Aberlady Bay
(Lothian), 2nd August; Havergate Island
(Suffolk), 3rd August. Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla Minsmere (Suffolk), 18th July;
North Uist (Outer Hebrides), 20th July. White-
rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis Minsmere,
13th-20th July; Tacumshin Lake (Co. Wexford),
1 6th — 19th July; Cley (Norfolk), 22nd-27th July
and 4th August; Cresswell Pond, 28th July and
3rd August; Wyre Estuary (Lancashire & N
Merseyside), 31st July to 1st August; Spurn, 2nd
August. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Ballycotton (Co. Cork), lst-2nd August. Buff-
breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis
Alkborough Flats (Lincolnshire), 15th and 19th

254. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor, Middlebere,
Dorset, August 2008.

British Birds 101 • September 2008 • 512-514

513

GaryThoburn Stef McElwee

Hugh Harrop

Recent reports

July; Doonfoot (Ayrshire), 6th-9th August;
North Ronaldsay, 6th— 8th August. Long-billed
Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Shannon
Lagoons (Co. Clare), 26th July. Spotted
Sandpiper Actitis macularius Amble Dam
(Cornwall), 6th— 7th August. Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes Southwold (Suffolk), 1 2th— 1 3th
July.

Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus Philadelphia
Castlemaine Harbour (Co. Kerry), 30th July to
3rd August. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Old
Moor RSPB reserve (South Yorkshire), 15th July;
Collingham Pits (Nottinghamshire), 23rd July;
Kirkby-on-Bain GP (Lincolnshire), 25th July;
Formby Point (Lancashire & N Merseyside), 4th
August. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
Sizewell (Suffolk), 27th July. White-winged
Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Rye Harbour
(East Sussex), 14th-20th July; Crosby Marine
Park (Lancashire & N Merseyside), 7th August;
Slapton Ley (Devon), 9th August.

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus One on St Kilda
(Outer Hebrides) throughout. Alpine Swift Apus
melba Kilcoole (Co. Wicklow), 31st July.
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Witham
(Essex), 22nd July; Rose Hill (Oxfordshire), two,
28th July; Stromness, 29th July, presumed same
Shapinsay (both Orkney), 1st August; Sourton
Cross (Devon), 6th August. Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola North Ronaldsay, 2nd- 10th
August.

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor Middlebere
(Dorset), 2nd-10th August; Tiree (Argyll), 6th
August. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Two
Tree Island (Essex), 13th July; Soyland (West
Yorkshire), 24th July. Rose-coloured Starling
Sturnus roseus Hayle (Cornwall), 8th— 1 0th and
21st July; Mull Head (Orkney), 14th July; Alness
(Highland), 15th July; Arklow (Co. Wicklow),
16th July; Wester Quarff (Shetland), 20th July;
Scarfskerry (Highland), 22nd July; Brough of
Deerness (Orkney), 28th July; Mull (Argyll),
30th— 3 1st July and 6th-8th August. European
Serin Serinus serinus Pegwell Bay (Kent), 27th
July. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera In
Orkney: Evie, 20th July; Mull Head, 28th July;
Stenness, 29th July; Rendall, 29th-31st July;
Crafty, 30th July to 1st August; Stronsay, 3rd
August; North Ronaldsay, two, 6th-8th August;
South Ronaldsay, four, 7th August. On Fair Isle:
27th July, two 28th-30th July, four 1st August,
one 2nd, two 5th, nine 6th-9th August. In
Shetland: Sandgarth, 28th-29th July; Esha Ness,
30th July to 3rd August; Scalloway, 30th July;
Unst, 5th and 10th August; Fetlar, 6th August;
Sumburgh Head, six, 6th August, eight on 7th,
13 on 8th, 18 on 9th and two on 10th August;
Yell, 9th August. In the Outer Hebrides: St Kiida,
2nd-7th August; Harris, 7th— 8th August.

514

British Birds 101* September 2008 • 5 1 2-5 1 4

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British Birds

Volume 101 • Number 10 • October 2008

516 S3 Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007
Nigel Hudson and the Rarities Committee

iWv.

H155TQHV Ml }?

3 0 SEP 2008

PRESidN 1

TRING r?v

ar*«Ki*as<*T«Ti7 .• <•*- v-

Regular features

578 News and comment

58 1 Recent reports

Adrian Pitches

Barry Nightingale and

Eric Dempsey

ZEISS

Report on
rare birds in
Great Britain in 2007

Nigel Hudson and the Rarities Committee

This is the fiftieth annual report of the
British Birds Rarities Committee. This is
not an insignificant milestone and, as last
year’s introduction alluded, there are a number
of changes in personnel responsible for the pro-
duction of this report. After eight years as a
voting member, this is my first report as
Chairman. It is a tall order to follow Colin
Bradshaw, the longest-serving Chair in BBRC’s
history, who was at the helm for nearly 1 1 years.
Colin’s efforts to move the Committee forward
should not be underestimated. He has been
instrumental in co-ordinating the transition
from a paper-based to an electronic system and
he endeavoured to ensure that the Committee’s
processes and procedures were made more pub-
licly available. Although his efforts did not
always meet with universal approval, they were
always well intentioned and his legacy is a
stronger Committee, more able to cope with
rare-bird recording in the twenty-first century.
Colin also worked closely with Pete Fraser to
allow a relatively smooth transition in per-
sonnel from the late Mike Rogers, BBRC Secre-
tary for more than 25 years, to our new
permanent Secretary, Nigel Hudson. Pete con-
tinued to assist with data collation this year and
we are extremely grateful for the significant
work he has done in his role as Statistician and
temporary Secretary. Nigel has continued the
process of transforming the Committee’s assess-
ment procedures and the switch to an electronic
system and has made significant progress in
terms of the reliability of our statistics. Sharp-
eyed readers will notice some important differ-
ences from last year’s report in some of the
figures given in the individual species accounts
as a consequence. The work done by Colin, Pete
and Nigel over the last year has been out-
standing and this report reflects the benefit of

their collective efforts.

The improvements in our procedures for
electronic circulation of records have certainly
paid dividends, helping to ensure that the 2007
series of records were processed at least one
month earlier than in recent years. Improved
systems to generate the report, which Nigel has
developed, have been instrumental in enabling
the report to be published in the October issue
of BB. We are also confident in the accuracy of
the data published here, owing to improved
efficiency at acknowledging receipt of records
(including a request to clarify dates, observers
and other details), along with the opportunity
for records to be checked via the widely
publicised Work in Progress files uploaded to
the BBRC website (www.bbrc.org.uk) and
a draft of the report circulated to all County
Recorders in July. Once again, the BirdGuides
team (www.birdguides.com) were extremely
helpful in providing links to photographs that
had been uploaded to their site with permission
to circulate around BBRC, and with providing
details of rare bird occurrences and various
other requests. We welcome the interest of other
birding websites in supporting the work of the
Committee and anticipate this becoming an
even more valuable resource for the 2008
report. The BBRC website now includes an
online submission form to accompany records
supported by photographs and we are working
to provide a similar form to enable the online
submission of non-photographed rarities. We
would remind observers that if you are submit-
ting a photographed rarity but using the tradi-
tional recording form, it assists us greatly if the
photographs are submitted separately and not
embedded in the recording form or Word oj
other documents.

We have been receiving a steady flow of

516

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

formal and informal submissions of rare races
that are now considered by BBRC (see Brit.
Birds 99: 619-645 and the BBRC website
www.bbrc.org.uk). A few appear for the first
time in this report (e.g. ‘Baltic’ Lesser Black-
backed Gull Larus fuscus fuscus and ‘Black-
bellied Dipper’ Cinclus cinclus cinclus) or as
entries in their own right for the first time
(‘Eastern Subalpine Warbler’ Sylvia cantillans
albistriata and ‘Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll’
Carduelis hornemanni hornemanni). We also
reiterate our requests for 2008 records of
‘Siberian Chiffchaffs’ Phylloscopus collybita
tristis {Brit. Birds 101: 165-166, 477). All post-
2007 records will be reviewed against criteria set
out in the original request in an effort to estab-
lish whether records attributable to this race are
statistically rare enough to be considered by
BBRC. The results will be published in due
course, but our analysis can only be as complete
as the data provided, so we encourage formal
submissions of any outstanding or forthcoming
claims for 2008. We also thank those observers
who have submitted records from previous
years. Although these will not be considered as
part of the formal exercise, they have provided
useful reference material for the panel to con-
sider.

Decisions are still awaited on a number of
other races while acceptance criteria are clari-
fied. This can be a time-consuming process,
incorporating skin searches and analysis of
images of birds of known taxa, but we intend to
publish this research in BB in due course. Elec-
tronic communications have assisted us greatly
here also, and permit more efficient interaction
with BOURC members, where appropriate. In
relation to the latter aspect of BBRC’s work, a
number of files have been passed on to BOURC
this year, including those for the following
records: the Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalas-
sarche chlororhynchos at various sites in
June-July 2007; the Madeiran Petrel Ocean-
odroma castro from Scilly in July 2007; the
Pacific Divers Gavia pacifica from 2007; the
Glaucous-winged Gull L. glaucescens from
winter 2006/07; the Chinese race of Pied
Wagtail Motacilla alba leucopsis in Durham
from 2005; and the Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa
dauurica in Yorkshire in October 2007.

To add to this impressive selection of
pending potential firsts for Britain, Great Blue
Heron Ardea herodias appears in this report for
the first time; ‘Wilson’s Snipe’ Gallinago galli-

nago delicata is now formally accepted following
a revised decision on the Scilly bird of winter
1998/99, which was previously regarded as not
proven {Brit. Birds 98: 630 & 692) but has been
accepted after review and valuable input from
Killian Mullarney and Ian Lewington; and
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
returns to Category A, following a spell in Cate-
gories E and D. The last species illustrates the
value of documenting records of potential
vagrants currently placed in Category D, to
allow BBRC to review the identification and
BOURC to consider origins. Despite the request
in last year’s introduction {Brit. Birds 100: 694),
many Category D records are still not being
documented. As indicated last year, BOURC has
recently established a programme of reviewing
all Category D species {Ibis 150: 219-220) and
this process is made significantly easier if there
is formal documentation to support the claims.
Once again, we request that observers submit
all Category D records and would ask observers
or County Recorders to flag up records to the
BBRC Secretary of known or suspected escaped
individuals of Category D species, as this will
assist further with assessing the patterns of
occurrence of such species.

Some assessments and reviews are still
taking place. You can view progress on many of
these files on the Work in Progress section of
the BBRC website, but some reviews have not
yet been reported through that forum. These
include that of the ‘orange-billed’ and Elegant
Tern Sterna elegans records during 2002-05.
That assessment is still ongoing, following
research by BBRC members investigating the
appearance and identification of similar birds
elsewhere in Europe. Reviews of the British
records of Redhead Aythya americana , the
Druridge Bay Slender-billed Curlew Numenius
tenuirostris, the ‘southern skuas’ Stercorarius
and Royal Terns Sterna maxima (following the
removal of the 1965 Kent record - see Brit.
Birds 100: 694-695) are now under way. One
significant obstacle here has been the transfer of
detailed and complex paper files, with associ-
ated images and reference material, to elec-
tronic format, but this has now been achieved.
Jimmy Steele has prepared assessment criteria
for the review of North Atlantic Little Shearwa-
ters Puffinus baroli and we are currently con-
templating the logistics of completing this
mammoth task. Jimmy has also presented cri-
teria for assessment of Iberian Chiffchaffs Phyl-

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

517

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

loscopus ibericus, to establish whether sound
recordings of the song remain a prerequisite for
acceptance. Provisional conclusions are that in
some cases it may be possible to consider
accepting a bird (preferably in spring) that has
merely been heard calling (rather than in song),
but sound recordings would still prove invalu-
able to support the identification. For the time
being, however, BBRC considers the acceptance
of silent Iberian Chiffchaff unlikely. We are also
revisiting the identification criteria for Black-
headed Emberiza melanocephala and Red-
headed Buntings E. bruniceps in non-adult male
plumages and autumn records of ‘Eastern’
Black-eared Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca
and Pied Wheatears O. pleschanka ; several 2007
records are pending the outcome of this
analysis.

Finally, we are endeavouring to catch up on a
number of pended records from previous years
to ensure that an outcome is achieved. We apol-
ogise to those observers and County Recorders
who may have been exasperated by the apparent
delay in decisions in these cases, but are confi-
dent that we can resolve the majority of them in
the coming months.

So, to this year’s report. We have processed c.
700 submissions this year, almost 20% up on
2006, showing that our almost total conversion
to electronic procedures is having a positive
effect. The following box gives a breakdown of
these submissions.

2007

2006

Acceptances: current year

527

362

Not proven: current year

Acceptances: previous years

107

Not proven: previous years

TOTAL

697

585

Updates & corrections

The number of taxa represented in the
accepted records was 130, very similar to last
year’s 128. We have included this analysis for
the first time to enable an assessment of the
number of records processed by the Committee
and to allow comparisons in future years to
establish whether our modified procedures con-
tinue to deliver improvement.

Currently, we have another 70 submissions
for 2007, split 50/50 between those which are
proving difficult to assess and those received
too late for inclusion in this report. We again
urge that records are submitted as soon as

possible after the sighting to ensure inclusion in
the BBRC report for the year in question. Some
significant 2007 records that have not been
reported include a Short-toed Eagle Circaetus
gallicus in Somerset in May, an American
Herring Gull L. smithsonianus in Cornwall in
April and the photographed ‘Balearic’ Wood-
chat Shrike Lanins senator badius in Cornwall in
May.

We are also aware of c. 60 records in 2007
that have been reported but for which we have
received no submission. Many of these were
seen only briefly and we can fully appreciate
why observers might choose to report such
sightings to the bird information services, in the
hope that the bird is relocated, while not feeling
that they saw enough to confirm the identifica-
tion to a standard acceptable to BBRC. This will
always cause some discrepancy between those
records reported and those actually considered
by the Committee.

If we take 50% of these non-reported
sightings to be genuine records, that means that
there should have been about 800 submissions
in total for 2007. Since almost 700 records have
been processed by BBRC and 70 more are being
processed, this leaves just 30 that have not been
received. In other words, BBRC is assessing
more than 95% of national rarities. We are of
course looking to improve this proportion still
further, but suggest that those who continue to
question the relevance of BBRC might
reconsider their views in the light of these
numbers.

As ever, the report does contain a number of
mouth-watering rarities, including the first
Great Blue Heron, second ‘Baltic’ Lesser Black-
backed Gull, third Mourning Dove Zenaida
macroura, third and fourth Audouin’s Gulls
L. audouinii , fourth and fifth ‘Hudsonian’
Whimbrels N. phaeopus hudsonicus , fifth White-
tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, sixth Blue
Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius and seventh
Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope and
Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica ; as well as an
influx of Buff-bellied Pipits Anthus rubescens
and invasions of both Glossy Ibises Plegadis
falcinellus and Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis. Given
the recent confirmation that Cattle Egrets bred
successfully in Somerset in 2008, it will be
interesting to see how this species fares in the
coming years, and whether its stay on the BBRC
list is nearing an end.

518

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Acknowledgments

Once again, we wish to thank all the observers and
photographers who sent details of their rarity
observations to BBRC, either directly or via County
Recorders and BirdGuides. We also continue to express a
significant amount of gratitude to county and regional
recorders and their records committees for the invaluable
work that they undertake in supporting the BBRC
function. Thanks also to all those individuals who updated
information on earlier sightings through correspondence
following the posting of Work in Progress files throughout
the year. While they may not be acknowledged in the
report, their contribution remains very significant for
improving the accuracy of the information provided. BBRC
continues to be supported financially by Carl Zeiss Ltd,

Adam Rowlands

and has done so now for 27 years - more than half the
Committees history. BirdGuides has continued to assist,
particularly by enabling the submission of photographs for
consideration by BBRC. We would also like to thank the
following for their help in various ways this year: David
Allan, James Dean, Dick Forsman, Steve Heinl, Steve
Howell, Peter Kennerley, Nils Kjellen.Yann Kolbeinsson, Ian
Lewington, Killian Mullarney, Pete Ryan and Jean-Claude
Stahl. Previous BBRC members have assisted the
Committee with a number of duties during the course of
the year, including Alan Dean, John Martin, Jimmy Steele,
Andy Stoddart and Grahame Walbridge. John Marchant
continued in his role as Archivist and Reg Thorpe in his
role as Summariser

Systematic list of accepted records

The principles and procedures followed in considering records were explained in the 1958 report (Brit.
Buds 53: 155-158). The systematic list is set out in the same way as in the 2006 report (Brit. Birds 100:
694-754). The following points show the basis on which the list has been compiled:

1. The details included for each record are (1) 4.

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 sound-
recorded (and this evidence assessed by the
Committee); (5) if trapped or found dead
and where specimen is stored, if known; (6)
dates(s); and (7) observer(s), in alphabetical
order.

2. In general, this report is confined to records
which are regarded as certain, and
'probables’ are not included. In cases of the
very similar Eastern Phylloscopus orientalis
and Western Bonelli’s Warblers Ph. bonelli,
however, we publish indeterminate records,

and this also applies to those of frigatebirds 5.
Fregata, Zino’s/Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma
madeira/feae and Booted Hippolais caligata
and Sykes’s Warblers H. rama (see also Brit. 6.
Birds 94: 395).

3. The sequence of species, English names and
scientific nomenclature follow The British
Birds List of Birds of the Western Palearctic,
see www.britishbirds.co.uk/bblist.htm

The three numbers in parentheses after each
species name refer specifically to the total
number of individuals recorded in Britain
(i) to the end of 1949, (ii) for the period
since 1950, but excluding (iii) those listed
here for the current year. The decision as to
how many individuals were involved is often
difficult, but a consensus view is represented
by ‘possibly same’ (counted as different in
the totals) or ‘probably/presumed same’
(counted as the same in the totals). An
identical approach is applied to records of a
particular species recurring at the same, or a
nearby, locality after a lapse of time. In
considering claims of more than one
individual at the same or adjacent localities,
the Committee requires firm evidence before
more than one is accepted.

The breeding and wintering ranges for each
species are given in parentheses at the end of
each species account.

The following abbreviations have been used
in the main text of the report: CP = Country
Park, GP = Gravel-pit, NMS = National
Museums of Scotland, NR = Nature Reserve,
Resr = Reservoir, SF = Sewage-farm.

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

519

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis (9, 64, 2)

Cumbria Newton Marsh, adult, 1 3th— 16th December, photo (per www.birdguides.com); see also
Dumfries & Galloway.

Dorset Poole Harbour area, adult, 18th November 2006 to 25th January, photo (Brit. Birds 100: 696);
presumed same Ferrybridge, 15th February, photo; see also Hampshire/Sussex.

Dumfries & Galloway Caerlaverock WWT reserve, adult, 13th— 25th November (B. Morrell et al. per
P. N. Collin); presumed same Cummertrees and Caerlaverock WWT reserve, 23rd December (per
www.birdguides.com) and Caerlaverock WWT reserve, 26th December to 6th February 2008, photo
(A. W. Reid et al.); see also Cumbria.

Hampshire Keyhaven, adult, 26th— 3 1 st January (R. Cook et al); presumed same Needs Ore, 31st
January to 13th February (M. Rafter et al.), Sinah, Langstone Harbour, 1 6th— 1 7th February
(D. Cooper, G. Madison, P. Spencer et al), Black Point, Chichester Harbour, 21st — 27th February, photo
(K. Crisp, A. C. Johnson), and Warblington and Black Point, Chichester Harbour, 10th November to
6th March 2008, photo (M. Gillingham, C. L. Stares et al.); see also Dorset/Sussex.

Lincolnshire Saltfleet/Donna Nook area, two, adults, 13th October 2006 to 23rd January, photo (Brit.
Birds 99: plate 358; 100: 696, plates 49, 333); note extended dates; see also Norfolk.

Norfolk Warham Greens, two adults, 10th March, photo (per G. Dunmore); presumed same Wells,
1 1 th— 2 1st March, photo (Brit. Birds 100: plate 138), Lynn Point, 25th-28th March, photo, and
Snettisham RSPB reserve, 30th March to 2nd April, photo; see also Lincolnshire.

Sussex West Wittering and East Head, Chichester Harbour, adult, 24th February to 7th March, photo
(D. I. Smith et al.); presumed same 30th November to 5th March 2008, photo (per C. Melgar); see also
Dorset/Hampshire.

Upper Forth Haugh of Blackgrange, adult, 3rd-12th February, photo (J. B. Bell, R. Dawson et al);
presumed same 15th April (per C. Henty).

2006 Lincolnshire Covenham, two, adults, 12th October, photo (G. M. Orton, J. R. Walker); earlier
sighting for Saltfleet birds (Brit. Birds 100: 696).

2002 Perth & Kinross Powmill, adult, 1 6th— 1 8th February (J. S. Nadin et al.); presumed same as
Findatie, etc. (Brit. Birds 96: 555).

(Breeds Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia. Migrates SW to winter in coastal regions of W Black Sea in Romania & N
Bulgaria. Small numbers regularly winter in The Netherlands, Greece & Turkey. Some may still use former
wintering areas along Caspian Sea.)

Black Duck Anas rubripes (0, 3 I , I )

Cornwall Colliford Resr, adult male, 23rd May, photo (S. C. Votier); presumed returning bird from

2003 and other years (Brit. Birds 97: 563).

Highland Loch Sunart, adult male, 16th— 17th June, photo (D. & J. Wozencroft).

(Breeds E North America from Labrador S to North Carolina & W to Manitoba. Most are resident or dispersive but
N breeders migrate to winter in coastal SE USA.)

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors ( 1 0, 223, 0)

2006 Essex Hanningfield Resr, adult, 20th August, photo (Brit. Birds 100: 697); note revised ageing.

(Breeds from S Alaska, across much of temperate Canada to SC USA. Migratory, wintering in S USA, Mexico,
Caribbean & N South America.)

Lesser Scaup Aythya afpnis (0, 102, 25)

Avon Blagdon Lake, adult male, 1 1 th— 20th March, photo (R. Mielcarek, N. Milbourne et al); see also
Somerset. Blagdon Lake, adult male, 30th September to 21st November, photo (R. Mielcarek,
N. Milbourne et al).

Berkshire Woolhampton GP, adult male, 28th October to 15th November, photo (C. D. R. Heard, K. E.
Moore et al).

Caithness Toftingall Loch, adult male, 1 2th— 1 3th May, photo (1. Outlaw, J. Smith et al). St John’s Loch,
two adult males, 7th— 8th October ( ). Smith et al).

Dumfries & Galloway Caerlaverock WWT reserve, adult female, 27th November 2006 to 13th March,

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photo (B. Monell pei P. N. Collin) (Brit. Birds 100: 698, plate 51). Caerlaverock WWT reserve, adult
male, 12th March, photo (B. Morrell per P. N. Collin).

Fife Loch Geliy, adult female, 28th-29th May, photo (W. McBay, J. S. Nadin).

Gloucestershire Cotswold Water Park, male, 19th-20th February, photo (K. Milsom, P. J. Taylor et al);
see also Wiltshire.

Greater Manchester Heaton Park, adult male, 9th June to 3rd September, photo (R. & S. Adderley
et al); presumed returning bird from 2006 (Brit. Birds 100: 698).

Leicestershire 8t Rutland Eyebrook Resr, first-summer male, 24th April intermittently to 3rd May,
photo (K. Earnshaw, D. Gray, S. M. Lister et al.). Rutland Water, adult male, 16th-22nd September,
photo (R. G. Bayldon, M. G. Berriman et al.).

Lothian St Margaret’s Loch, Edinburgh, first-winter male, 30th March to 16th April, photo (K. Gillon
et al.).

Noithumberland Linton Pond, two, male & female, 26th May, photo (G. Bowman, M. Lowther, L. A.
Robson etal.) (plate 256).

Outer Hebrides Loch Sandary, North Uist, first-winter male, 17th November 2006 to 9th January,
photo (Brit. Birds 100: 698); presumed same 30th April, photo (S. E. Duffield). Coot Loch, Benbecula,
male, 16th January to 19th April, photo (S. E. Duffield, J. Kemp et al.); presumed same Loch Fada,
Benbecula, 21st January, and Loch Mor, Benbecula, 25th January. Coot Loch, Benbecula, adult male,
4th February to 19th April and 21st December to 18th March 2008, photo (S. E. Duffield et al);
presumed same Loch Bailfinlay, Benbecula, 15th April, photo.

Oxfordshire Sonning Eye GP, male, 3rd January to 26th February, photo (H. Netley et al). Appleford,
first-winter male, 30th December to 17th February 2008, photo (A. H. J. Harrop, I. Lewington etal.).
Perth 8c Kinross St Serf’s Island, Loch Leven, first-winter male, 14th February to 6th March (K. D.
Shaw, J. J. Squire et al.). Findatie, Loch Leven, adult male, 25th February to 8th March, photo
(C. Pendlebury, K. D. Shaw et al). Vane Farm, Loch Leven, first-summer male, 22nd-30th April, photo
(J. S. Nadin, K. D. Shaw, J. J. Squire et al). Burleigh Sands, Loch Leven, adult male, 8th December
(K. D. Shaw).

Shetland Loch of Funzie and Papil Water, Fetlar, female, 11th November to 7th January 2008, photo
(B. H. Thomason et al).

Somerset Cheddar Resr, adult male, 24th— 3 1st March, photo (N. Milbourne et al.) (Brit. Birds 100:
plate 141); presumed same Burtle Road Fishery, 2nd-7th April, photo (J. J. Packer et al); see also Avon.
Torr Resr, adult male, 12th October, photo (A. 8c B. A. Taylor, J. Vickers); presumed same 10th
November, photo; see also Wiltshire.

Warwickshire Draycote Water, first-winter male, 26th November to 5th March 2008, photo
(T. Marlow, R. C. Mays etal.) (Brit. Birds 101: plate 61).

Wiltshire Cotswold Water Park, male, 13th— 25th February, photo (S. B. Edwards, R. Turner et al); see
also Gloucestershire. Stourton, adult male, 20th October intermittently to 1st March 2008, photo (J. P.
Martin et al); see also Somerset.

2006 Cambridgeshire Ouse Washes, first-winter male, 29th January to 12th March, photo ( Brit. Birds
100: 698); note revised dates.

2006 Outer Hebrides Loch Sandary, North Uist, first-winter male, 26th November, photo (J. Kemp,
B. Rabbitts et al); presumed same Loch Hosta, North Uist, 14th— 18th December, photo, and Baleshare,
30th December to 26th February 2007, photo.

2006 Staffordshire Tittesworth Resr, adult male, 1st July, photo (P. G. Barratt, W. J. Low, N. Smith
et al) (Brit. Birds 100: 698); note revised observers.

2005 Devon Roadford, first-winter male, 1 9th— 29th November, photo (D. Churchill, J. Tidball et al);
earlier sighting for 2006 Devon bird (Brit. Birds 100: 698).

The year 2007 marked the twentieth anniversary of the first Lesser Scaup in Britain, a first-winter male
at Chasewater, West Midlands, in 1987, which ended a somewhat tortuous period of uncertainty in
terms of identifying this species as a vagrant. The following decade produced a steady trickle of
records, with a notable surge in 1996 when seven were recorded and the first accepted female in 1997.

The increase in records of this species has continued unabated to an impressive 25 for 2007, with a
strong showing of first-winter birds, particularly males. This clearly indicates that genuine new
arrivals, combined with increasing observer awareness, are fuelling the growth in records. It should be

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521

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

256. Male and female Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis, Linton Pond, Northumberland, May 2007.

axiomatic that the fullest possible documentation remains essential because of the ever-present
problem of hybrids.

Occasional multiple arrivals (including pairs), coupled with the appearance of some Aythya
hybrids, has raised the question of whether Lesser Scaup has already bred in the Western Palearctic.
The returning adult female Lesser Scaup at Caerlaverock was part of a small flock which included one
possible hybrid offspring. Others have been suspected elsewhere.

Inevitably some have (already) begun to question how long this species will remain on the BBRC
list. There are simple rules governing this. For a species to be considered for removal, there must be at
least 150 records in the last ten years, with ten or more records in at least eight of those years.
Conceivably, that point could be reached as early as 2010.

So, for those keen on adding it to their self-found list before then, or those searching for Norfolk’s
first, the peak season is unsurprisingly December to March, although the species has occurred in all
months and an increasing number are being found in autumn. The geographic spread indicates that
almost any eutrophic lake or pond with a few other Aythya ducks will always be worth a second look.

(Breeds from C Alaska through Canada to Hudson Bay & S to Washington & South Dakota. Isolated populations E
of Great Lakes. Winters along both coastlines of USA, in E from New Jersey to Mexico, W Indies, C America to N
Colombia.)

King Eider Somateria spectabilis (58, 130, 7)

Argyll Ormsary, adult male, 1st April, photo (A. & S. Smout), presumed same Machrihanish, 12th
May, 7th— 1 2th June, 7th July, photo (E. Maguire, C. Mathew et al.), and Rhunahaorine Point, 24th
May, photo (T. Charmin, E. Maguire).

Fife Leven, first-winter male, 29th December, photo (M. A. Wilkinson).

Highland Clachtoll, adult male, 7th February, photo (A. & D. Haines); presumed same 12th February,
photo (A. Summers).

Moray & Nairn Burghead, first-winter male, 7th April to 23rd May, photo (S. M. Lister, J. Jennings et al).
North-east Scotland Peterhead, adult male, 28th October 2006 to 22nd April (Brit. Birds 100: 699);
note revised dates; presumed same 26th October (M. Innes). Girdle Ness, Aberdeen, female, 23rd
November to 30th December, photo (H. Addlesee et al.). Girdle Ness, Aberdeen, first-winter male, 1st
December to 28th March 2008, photo (R. King, A. Whitehouse et al).

Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter male, 3rd— 1 4th April, photo (P. A. Brown et al.).

Shetland Symbister, Whalsay, adult male, 1st January, presumed same 17th March (J. Dunn,
B. Marshall); presumed returning bird from Dales Voe, Mainland in 2006 (Brit. Birds 100: 699). Mousa
Sound, adult male, 2nd January to 25th February, presumed same 10th November to 23rd March 2008
(P. M. Ellis et al); presumed returning bird (Brit. Birds 100: 699). Tresta Voe, Mainland, adult male, 7th
April (H. R. Harrop, R. A. Haywood); presumed returning bird from 2006 (Brit. Birds 100: 699);
presumed same Walls, Mainland, 28th April (B. H. Thomason), and Tresta Voe, Mainland, 6th June,
photo (A., ). & N. Moncrieff). Wester Quarff, Mainland, adult male, 7 th— 27th April and 25th August to
11th October (R. A. Haywood et al); presumed returning bird from Clift Sound in 2006 (Brit. Birds
100: 699).

2006 North-east Scotland Blackdog, Aberdeen, adult female, 27th May, photo (A. Webb et al).

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2°05 Dorset Portland Bill and Chesil Beach, first-winter male, 27th March (J. Down, P. Harris
C. White).

1955 Kent Shellness, Sheppey, first-winter male, 27th December; previously accepted (Naylor) but now
reviewed by BBRC and considered not proven.

An average year for this species with the usual scatter of records from Scotland, plus some returning
birds and leftovers from 2006. More unusual is the belated 2005 record from Portland Bill and Chesil
Beach. With accepted records for Cornwall in previous years, and one from Devon in 2008 under
consideration, it is perhaps surprising that it took so long for this species to be added to the Dorset list.
King Eider has been recorded several times even farther south than this, and also inland in Europe. To
the end of 2003 there were three records from Spain, six from the English Channel and Atlantic coasts
of France and one from the French Mediterranean coast off the Camargue in 1999. It has also been
recorded inland in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland and Austria, while the most southerly
European sightings are from Italy, where it has appeared on six occasions. Farther west there are one or
two records from the Azores, highlighting the species’ vagrancy potential to all areas of Europe.

(Breeds from Kanin Peninsula E across Arctic Siberia, including Novaya Zemlya & W Svalbard, Arctic Alaska, N
Canada & N Greenland. European population winters along ice-free coasts of White Sea, N Norway & Iceland
Pacific population winters in Bering Sea.)

Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus (6, 10, I)

Outer Hebrides St Kilda, adult male, 18th June, photo (W. T. S. Miles, S. Money, I. Win) (pi. 257 & 258).
This brief visit by a stunning drake to one of the most remote parts of Scotland represents the first
June record for Britain. Prior to this, none had arrived between 18th April and 15th October and the
latest sighting in spring was of the female that lingered on Lewis, Outer Hebrides, until 20th May 2004.
Adult males typically leave the breeding areas to moult on the coast from mid June to mid July ( BWP ),
so this may well have been a lost individual searching for a moulting flock. It maintains Scotland’s
monopoly of accepted records during BBRC’s recording period, the majority along the west coast or in
the Northern and Western Isles. There are three historical records from England between 1862 and
1915 oi 1916, and an accessible bird south of the border would prove immensely popular. Although
the photographic evidence was of record shots only, this was clearly a stunning adult male, the first
record in this plumage for at least 42 years, females having accounted for 60% of sightings since 1950.
Harlequin Ducks have become slightly more frequent in recent years, with 73% of the post-1950 total
occurring within the last 20 years.

The source of our Harlequin Ducks remains unknown; the largely resident Iceland population is
the closest, but those from Greenland and eastern Canada migrate to moult off the coast of southwest
Greenland. Boertmann et al. (2006) estimated a moulting population of 5,000-10,000 males in the
waters around southwest Greenland in July 1999 and suggested that the (unknown) wintering
population here may be significant. This supports the idea that the British vagrants may originate
fiom southwest Greenland, rather than the less migratory Icelandic population as suggested previously
(Brit. Birds 98: 637).

(Atlantic population breeds Iceland, S Greenland, & E Canada from S Ellesmere Island to Labrador & Gulf of St
Lawrence. Pacific population breeds NE Russia from Lake Baikal E to Kamchatka & S Sakhalin, Alaska & W Canada
south to Oregon, USA. Resident Iceland. Other populations disperse to coasts S of breeding range.)

257 & 258. Adult male Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus. St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, June 2007.

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

523

Ilka Win

James Beattie

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Black Scoter Melanitta americana (0, 7, I)

Caernarfonshire Llanfairfechan, adult male, 24th September 2006 to 9th April {Brit. Birds 100: 700);
note extended dates.

Lancashire & North Merseyside Leighton Moss, male, 16th May, found exhausted and later released at
Jenny Brown’s Point, photo (J. Beattie, K. Kellett, T. Wheeler et al .) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 184; plate
259).

This, the eighth British and first English record of a species that remains a true mega-rarity, is one of
the more bizarre records of the year. Railway workers found the bird on a railway line adjacent to the
Eric Morecambe Pool at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve and some 1.5 km from the sea. We can only
imagine how it arrived in such an incongruous setting. Its true identity was not realised immediately
as it travelled, via staff at Leighton Moss, to a local vet, where reference to the Collins Bird Guide
suggested that it might indeed be a rare bird. The decision was made for it to be released back at sea.
Unfortunately, Morecambe Bay (which has one of the largest tidal ranges in Britain) was in the midst
of a spring tide and, once the bird headed away from Jenny Brown’s Point on the outgoing tide, its

chances of being seen again were
pretty slim.

Speculation as to whether this
may have been the bird seen in
recent winters off the North Wales
coast is understandable, if a little
tenuous (and it is treated in our
statistics as a new bird). In excess of
50,000 Common Scoters M. nigra
winter between North Wales and
Morecambe Bay, most of which
never come within telescope viewing
range. This situation is replicated off
some other British coastlines, and
clearly suggests that there may be
more Black Scoters 'out there’ than
we are recording. All records in the
Western Palearctic have so far been
of adult males (Britain 8, The
Netherlands 3, Denmark 1,
Germany 1, Spain 1). Some females
and immatures may, however, be
more readily identifiable than
generally realised, though the features are particularly subtle. Garner (2008) highlighted a number of
features (the shape and pattern of colour on the bill and pattern of dark on the nape may provide key
clues), but these are only for those expectant and prepared.

(Breeds on Siberian tundra from Yana River E to Alaska, & N Canada to Newfoundland. In N Atlantic, winters
along coasts of E USA, N to South Carolina, & inland on Great Lakes. Elsewhere, winters in ice-free seas along both
coasts of N Pacific Ocean, S to N Japan & California.)

Bufflehead Bucephala albeola (1,11,1)

Highland Glenbeg, Ardnamurchan, 7th June, photo (M. Hows, A. Jenkins); see also Outer Hebrides.
Outer Hebrides Loch na Muilne, Isle of Lewis, 8th— 9th June, photo (M. S. Scott, J. Walsh); see also
Highland.

Shetland Loch of Snarravoe, Unst, adult male, 12th November 2006 to 20th January, photo {Brit. Birds
100: 700, plate 335).

(Forested regions of North America from C Alaska throughout W & C Canada to Hudson Bay, S to Montana & NE
California. Winters throughout North America, from Aleutian Islands & coastal Alaska S along both seaboards to N
Mexico, with small numbers wintering inland.)

■

259. Male Black Scoter Melanitta americana, Jenny Brown’s Point,
Lancashire & North Merseyside, May 2007.

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Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica (0, 3, 0)

Upper Forth Callander and Loch Venachar, adult male, 19th November 2006 to 27th April, photo
(Brit. Birds 100: 701, plates 52, 336).

(Resident W Pal. population breeds Iceland. Two North American populations: larger breeds S Alaska & W Canada,
to N California, wintering on adjacent coastal lowlands; smaller breeds Labrador, winters along coast S to New

Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus (0, 3, 0)

2006 Shetland Haroldswick and Burrafirth, Unst, adult male, 15th April to 2nd May, photo (Brit. Birds
99: plate 161; 100: plate 364); previously included in Category D (Brit. Birds 100: 752) but now
accepted into Category A of the British List.

2002 Northumberland Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, first-winter, 7th-25th March, photo (M. A. Maher, S. J.
McElwee, A. Priest et al. ); previously included in Category D (Brit. Birds 96: 606) but now accepted
into Category A of the British List; note also revised observers.

2000 Outer Hebrides Oban Trumisgarry, North Uist, first-winter or female, 23rd October to 1st
November, photo; previously included in Category D (Brit. Birds 95: 524) but after assessment by
BOURC now accepted into Category A of the British List. This becomes the first British record and full
details will appear in BB shortly.

Hooded Mergansei has had a rather difficult relationship with the British List. Originally in Category
B on the basis of an old record from 1830-31, it was temporarily elevated to A in 1987-92 (on the
basis of a record from Buckinghamshire in 1983), then moved back to B before being removed
completely in 1999 and placed in Category E. It was subsequently admitted to Category D in 2001, on
the basis of the Outer Hebrides record reported here. Two more records were accepted by BBRC into
Category D, those in Northumberland in March 2002 (Brit. Birds 96: 606) and Shetland in 2006 (Brit.
Birds 100: 752), before the species was finally admitted to Category A by BOURC earlier this year -
again on the basis of the Outer Hebrides record, but also with the knowledge of the other two and
aided by an accumulating body of circumstantial evidence.

This saga is a good illustration of the appropriate use of Category D. ‘D’ does not stand for ‘Dodgy’!
It is a holding category for potential admission to Category A of species for which there is a record but
also significant doubt about natural vagrancy. Such records can be reviewed and elevated to Category
A if further supporting data are forthcoming or if a pattern emerges that confirms the natural
vagrancy potential. In this case, multiple records from the Azores and Iceland since 2000 and an
increasing population wintering on the eastern seaboard of North America strengthened the case for
genuine vagrancy substantially. The circumstances of the three British candidates also helped. The
arrival of the Outer Hebrides female/immature coincided with an influx of Nearctic ducks. The first-
winter in Northumberland in early March 2002 coincided with the arrival of four other first-winter
Hooded Mergansers, all on Atlantic islands in the preceding four months (two on Iceland, and singles
on Tenerife, Canary Islands, and Flores, Azores). This was a unique event and these were the first
confirmed first-winters recorded in Europe. The stunning adult male in Shetland in 2006 also
conformed to a recent pattern of overshoot vagrancy of adult birds to Iceland in spring.

The problem for BBRC in years to come will be to distinguish between vagrants and escapes.
Hooded Merganser is still relatively common in captivity in Britain, but making judgements about
origins is an imperfect science. Just because a species is in Category A does not mean that every
subsequent record is acceptable as a vagrant. BBRC needs to judge each record on an individual basis.
This is a familiar situation, faced in every cycle of record assessment for a range of rare wildfowl. For
this particular species, establishing the absence of a ring with certainty (photographs of the legs would
help) and accurate ageing of female-type birds (best done by accurate assessment of the tertials) may
both be helpful, though neither guarantees vagrancy by any means. Ultimately every decision will be
somewhat subjective, but hopefully informed by a detailed body of evidence.

(Breeds S Alaska, E across S Canada & N USA to Newfoundland, & S to Oregon, Virginia & locally almost to Gulf
coast. Winters coastally, from S limit of breeding range to California & Florida.)

British Birds 101* October 2008 • 5 1 6-577

525

Stewart Sexton

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

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Fig. I. White-billed Diver Gov/o adamsii, Boulmer, Northumberland, I Ith November 2007.

White-billed Diver Gov/o adamsii (7, 305, 27)

Borders St Abb’s Head, juvenile, 1 1th November (F. Evans, D. K. Graham); see also Northumberland.
Cleveland Hartlepool Headland, adult, 13th October (C. Dodsworth, G. Iceton, G. Lawler ef «/.); see
also Durham.

Cornwall Hayle Estuary, adult, 25th February to 27th March, photo (N. Casburn ef al.) {Brit. Birds
100: plates 114, 140 & 141).

Durham Whitburn Coastal Park, two single adults north, 13th October, photo (P. Hindess,
M. Newsome eft?/.); see also Cleveland.

Norfolk Eccles on Sea, Walcott and Sheringham, second-winter, 6th November (P. J. Heath, A. J. Kane,
A. J. L. Smith et al.); presumed same Cley, 9th November (R. Millington, D. Wileman).
Northumberland Boulmer, 11th November (T. Cadwallender, S. Sexton) (fig. 1); presumed same
Cullernose Point, 1 1th November (T. Farooqi); see also Borders.

Orkney North Ronaldsay, adult, 26th-27th April (J. K. Batten, P. A. Brown, R. J. Simpson). North
Ronaldsay, adult, 27th April (J. K. Batten, P. A. Brown).

Outer Hebrides Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis, two, 25th February, photo (T. ap Rheinallt); presumed
same 27th April, photo (T. ap Rheinallt). Skigersta, Isle of Lewis, three, adults, 13th— 1 4th April, photo
(B. Doe, ). Regan). Aird an Runair, North Uist, adult, 6th May (S. E. Duffield, B. Rabbitts).

Shetland Kirkabister, Mainland, adult, 2 1 st — 3 1 st January, 1 st— 3rd May and 14th November (per P. V.
Harvey); presumed returning bird {Brit. Birds 100: 701). Kirkabister, Mainland (second bird), 31st
January (R. A. Haywood); presumed same 10th November (M. S. Chapman). Dury Voe, Mainland,
adult, 17th March to 29th April, photo (M. S. Chapman et al.); possibly one of Kirkabister birds. Skuda
Sound, Unst, juvenile, 1 8th— 25th February (P. V. Harvey, M. Heubeck, R. M. Tallack et al). Burrafirth,
Unst, adult, 1 3th— 1 4th April, photo (R. M. Tallack et al.). Burrafirth, Unst, adult, 30th April to 1st May,
photo (R. M. Tallack et al.). Norwick, Unst, 21st May, photo (R. Coomber et al.). Sound Gruney, Fetlar,
adult, 30th April, photo (B. H. Thomason). Sand of Sand, Fetlar, adult, 1st May, photo (B. H.
Thomason). Hamars Ness and Sound Gruney, Fetlar, adult, 14th November to 5th February 2008,
photo (G. F. Bell, R. M. Fray, D. P Hall et al); presumed same as one of previous two. Symbister,
Whalsay, adult female, 1 1 th— 29th March, died and skin now at NMS, photo (C. Hutchison, B. Marshall
et al). Kettla Ness, Burra, juvenile, 26th April (R. A. Haywood). Kettla Ness, Burra, adult, 28th April

526

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

(R. A. Haywood); presumed same 30th April, photo. Mousa Sound, 27th April (M. Heubeck, R M
Mellor).

Sussex Selsey Bill, adult, 30th September to 17th November, photo (C. Fentiman et al).

Yorkshire Flamborough Head, adult, 10th November (R. Harrington, A. Malley, B. Richards).

2006 Outer Hebrides Skigersta, Isle of Lewis, four adults, 24th March intermittently to 29th April,
photo {Brit. Birds 100: 701); note revised dates; presumed same as Cellar Head, Isle of Lewis, four
adults, 16th April (S. D. Housden, M. S. Scott, K. D. Shaw).

2006 Shetland Kirkabister, Mainland, adult, 23rd-25th October 2006 {Brit. Birds 100: 701); note
revised dates.

2005 Moray & Nairn Cummingston, adult, 3rd-7th May {Brit. Birds 100: 701); note revised dates.

(In W Pal rare & sporadic breeder along Arctic coasts of European Russia, E from Yamal Peninsula & Novaya
Zemlya. Also breeds in coastal regions of Siberia, N Alaska & Canada E to Mackenzie River & Baffin Island. Winters
at sea, in E Atlantic, S to S Norway, but distribution poorly known.)

Black-browed Albatross Thalossarche melanophris (1,22,0)

Outer Hebrides Sula Sgeir, adult, 8th-10th May, photo (M. S. Scott et al.); presumed returning bird
from 2005 & 2006 {Brit. Birds 100: 25, 702).

(Breeds on islands in S South Atlantic & Indian Oceans. In non-breeding season, disperses N throughout southern
oceans as far as Tropic of Capricorn.)

Zino’s/Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira/feae (0, 31, I)

Durham Whitburn Coastal Park, 1 1th September (R. Ahmed, P. Hindess, T. I. Mills et al).

2005 Yorkshire Flamborough Head, 23rd October (A. M. Clewes, A. Malley, B. Richards et al).

(Zmo’s confined to central mountains of Madeira where entire world population is c. 65-80 pairs; non-breeding
range unknown. Fea s breeds in Madeira archipelago (Bugio) & Cape Verde Islands. In non-breeding season
disperses throughout N Atlantic. )

North Atlantic Little Shearwater Puffmus baroli (3, 58, I)

Cornwall St Ives, 15th August (P. A. J. Morris, N. R. Stocks et al).

(N Atlantic range restricted to warmer waters of Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands & possibly the
Azores. Outside the breeding season found at sea near breeding sites within N Atlantic.)

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus (26 1 , 2 1 9, 3)

Devon Yelland, adult male, 12th May, found dead, photo (R. Jefferey etal).

Norfolk Titchwell RSPB reserve, male in song, 18th— 27th June, photo (J. & S. Jex et al). Titchwell
RSPB reserve, juvenile, 19th-20th October (A. Saunders etal).

(Widespread, patchy and declining in Europe N to 53°N. To E, breeds to 60°N in Russia, & E to Kazakhstan & NW
China. W Pal. population migratory, wintering mainly in E Africa, S from Sudan & Ethiopia. Other populations
largely resident or dispersive in N Indian subcontinent, sub-Saharan Africa & Australia.)

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (69, 62, 8)

Cambridgeshire Ouse Washes, adult, 11th August, photo (J. Bird, B. Lascelles et al); presumed same
Earith GP, 1 1th— 20th August, photo {Brit. Birds 100: plate 285; plate 260).

Dorset Lodmoor RSPB reserve, adult, 28th May (D. Foot, M. Forster); presumed same Radipole,
6th-7th June, 30th June to 3rd July, photo (per J. A. Lidster), and Abbotsbury, 27th June, photo (S. A.
Groves).

Greater London Crossness Southern Marsh, Thamesmead, adult, 29th May to 8th June, photo (D. T.
McKenzie et al).

Isles of Scilly Porth Hellick, St Mary’s, first-summer, 13th— 30th May, photo (R. Mawer, K. Webb etal.)
{Brit. Birds 100: plate 185).

Kent Palmarsh GP, Hythe, first-summer, 2nd June (I. A. Roberts); presumed same Oare Marshes,
3rd-5th June, photo (C. & M. Perkins et al), and Ham Marsh, 16th— 18th June, photo (G. J. A. Burton
per B. & M. Wright). Dungeness, adult, 9th June, photo (R. Butcher etal. per J. M. Warne).

Suffolk Minsmere RSPB reserve, adult, 13th July, photo (J. A. Rowlands etal).

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

260. Adult Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Earith Gravel-pits, Cambridgeshire, August 2007.

Worcestershire Upton-on-Severn, 15th June, photo (C. Morgan per M. Wilmott); presumed same 25th
June, photo.

The eight accepted records here make 2007 the best year ever, and there may possibly be others not yet
submitted. The Worcestershire bird was the first for that county, with the majority being found during
the peak period of mid to late spring.

A large population decline in Europe during 1970-90 (BirdLife International 2004) was responsible
for a noticeable dip in British records during the 1980s. Since 1989 the species has been a more regular
vagrant, with just two blank years (1991 and 1993) and with the best four years on record all since
then. Expanding populations in Spain and southern France in particular have been linked with the
increases here, but greater observer coverage is also a factor. Flowever, in common with the situation
with other southern herons, our warming climate should ensure that this species continues to feature
in BBRC reports.

(W Pal. breeding population small and fragmented, centred on Mediterranean basin, from S Spain to Black Sea & E
to Kazakhstan, with large population in Danube Delta. Northern populations migratory, wintering in N tropical
Africa. African population largely resident.)

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (3, 169,90)

Avon Chew Valley Lake, 1 1th— 13th October, photo (R. M. Andrews, R. Mielcarek et al).

Berkshire Lower Farm GP, 14th October, photo (S. Graham et al.).

Caithness Scrabster Mains, 22nd September to 3rd October, photo (S. Laybourne et al.).
Cambridgeshire St Neots and Abbotsley, 26th-29th December, photo (S. L. Bain et al. per M. L.
Hawkes).

Cheshire & Wirral Stapley, 13th December, photo (P. Arrowsmith, C. Hull); presumed same Poynton,
22nd December to 12th April 2008, photo (C. R. Linfoot, J. W. Rayner, C. Wallwoth et al.). Neston,
23rd December to 10th January 2008, photo (A. H. Pulsford, P. Woollen et al.).

Cornwall Sancreed and Drift, 18, 20th November to 31st December, photo (D. S. Flumm et al.).
Siblyback Resr, four, 4th-12th December, photo (S. C. Votier et al). Halsetown, St Ives, five, 22nd
December to 17th January 2008, photo (C. Buckland, P. Freestone, M. Hall iday et al.) (plate 261).
Gannell Estuary, Crantock, Newquay, eight, 27th December to 6th January 2008 (S. G. Rowe et al).
Treator, Padstow, two, 27th December, photo (S. G. Rowe et al).

Devon Otter Estuary, 23rd October 2006 to 19th April (Brit. Birds 100: 704); note revised dates. Seaton
Marshes, 1 4th— 2 1 st October, photo (G. Haig, J. McCarthy et al). Teigngrace, 6th-23rd December,
photo (M. R. A. Bailey et al). Dishcombe, 24th December (S. Hatch). Powderham, Exe estuary, 26th
December to 27th January 2008, photo (L. Lock et al). Bideford, 29th December, photo (D. Churchill
et al).

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Dorset Radipole, two, adults, 15th April, photo (C. Courtaux, A. Taylor). Arne Moors, three, 2nd-12th
November (M. Singleton et al); presumed same Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour, when total of four birds,
3rd November (M. Gould, S. Robson et al.), Radipole, 4th November (P. Baker), and Bestwall,
Wareham Moors and Poole Harbour, 4th-12th November (B. Spencer et al.). Upwey and Buckland
Ripers, six, 24th November to 20th March 2008 (J. Lowther et al. per K. Lane). Upton CP, Poole, 27th
November to 6th December (L. Kirton et al. per K. Lane). Abbotsbury, 13th December (S. A. Groves).
Dumfries & Galloway Cardoness, 24th December to 11th January 2008, photo (P. N. Collin,
M. Hannay, F. Simpson) {Brit. Birds 101: plate 62).

East Glamorgan Kenfig, 5th November, photo (D. G. Carrington, N. Donaghy et al.)-, see also Gower.
Essex Great Bentley, 18th December (P. Brayshaw).

Gloucestershire Saul Warth and Frampton-on-Severn, 9th December to 22nd June 2008, photo
(G. Hodgson et al.).

Gower Eglwys Nunydd Resr, 6th-7th November, photo (P. Bristow, M. C. Powell et al.)-, see also East
Glamorgan.

Greater London/Essex Rainham Marshes, adult, 20th-21st May, photo (M. Dent et al.). Rainham
Marshes, 17th-23rd October, photo (D. Smith etal.).

Greater Manchester Pennington Flash, 2nd December, photo (P. Alker, N. Dowson et al).

Hampshire Harbridge, 27th December to 27th March 2008, photo (N. R. & S. Jones etal.).

Isles of Scilly Porth Hellick, St Mary’s, 18th-22nd November (N. Hudson etal.). Old Town and Higher
Moors, St Mary’s, 1 8th— 24th December, photo (M. Goodey et al.). Old Grimsby, Tresco, three,

1 8th— 2 1 st December, photo (A. White et al.)-, presumed same Pig Field, St Martin’s, 18th December
(V. Jackson per N. Hudson), Old Town and Higher Moors, St Mary’s, 18th— 19th December, photo
( W. Scott et al.), and Garrison, St Mary s, 22nd December (perwww.birdguides.com).

Kent Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, 31st January (M. Coath). Grove Ferry, two, adult & juvenile,
21st— 24th July, photo (M. Wilson etal.) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 240).

Lancashire 8c North Merseyside Martin Mere WWT reserve , 14th December, photo (A. Bunting).
Outer Hebrides Steinish and Laxdale, Isle of Lewis, 13th-14th August, photo (T. ap Rheinallt, M. S.
Scott, R. D. Wemyss).

Somerset Holywell Lake, 1 1th— 14th December, photo (B. Gibbs et al.). Wet Moor, 29th December to
11th February 2008, photo (D. J. Chown, B. Gibbs etal).

Suffolk North Warren, adult, 26th-30th July, photo (J. A. Rowlands, D. Thurlow et al.).

Sussex Pulborough, adult, 26th May (G. 1. Beck, A. Cook). Lewes Brooks, three, adults, 29th May
(A. Parker). East Lavant and Chichester GP, two, 7th December to 24th March 2008, photo (M. Collins
et al.); presumed same Combe Haven, 3 1st December to 20th January 2008 (S. J. Message et al).
Yorkshire Spurn, 25th November, photo (J. M. Turton et al.).

2006 Dorset Stanpit Marsh, two, 9th— 1 7th September, photo (A. Hayden et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: 705);
note revised observer. Christchurch Harbour, 23rd December (M. S. Andrews).

2006 Essex Abberton, 29th October, photo (R. Coote, R. Palmer, K. Rees et al).

2006 Sussex Pagham Harbour, three, 6th January to 6th April (B. F. Forbes, D. I. Smith etal).

2006 Yorkshire Fairburn Ings, 15th October, photo (J. Glendinning etal).

2005 Kent Elmley RSPB reserve, 22nd September to 22nd November, photo (C. Drake per B. E.
Wright).

The unprecedented influx of Cattle Egrets in late 2007 was one of the major events of the year,
breaking all previous records for this species. Following a scatter of records in October, the main influx
into the southwest began in early November, with arrivals continuing throughout December and into
2008. The arrival was centred on Cornwall, with over 40% (37/90) of all birds recorded there; Devon
and Dorset together accounted for a further 21% of records (fig. 2).

Away from the southwest, most sightings came from the western counties of England with just a
few birds making it to the eastern side of the country and (surprisingly) only one in Wales. These
included the first records for both Greater Manchester and Glamorgan. There have been flocks of
Cattle Egrets recorded in Britain before, with eight in Hertfordshire in May 1992 and again in Sussex
in the early part of 2006; nonetheless, the group of 18 together in Cornwall is particularly noteworthy.

There had been just three previous records in Scotland, so the birds in Caithness, Dumfries &
Galloway and the Outer Hebrides swiftly doubled that country’s tally. Also interesting was the juvenile,

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

26 1 . Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, St Ives, Cornwall, December 2007.

together with an
adult, in Kent in
late July. The
juvenile sported
a dark bill, a
character that is
gradually lost at
an age of 2-3
months as the
yellow bill colour
is acquired, and
perhaps suggests
that it had not
travelled far
since leaving the
nest. Even if
this bird had
not fledged in
Britain, the
successful breed-
ing by two pairs
in Somerset
during 2008
emphasises the

Fig. 2. Distribution of Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis in Britain in 2007.

comment in last year’s report that
this species may soon become a
more regular feature of the British
avifauna.

Although it is difficult to know
precisely what factors may have
influenced this arrival, meteoro-
logical events in the western
Mediterranean seem likely to have
played a part, as with the influx of
Glossy Ibises earlier in the year.
Cattle Egrets are highly adaptable
and well known for their ability to
colonise new regions and the
increasing records in Britain reflect
flourishing breeding populations in
the Iberian Peninsula. A large
increase in that region during
1970-90 was followed by continued
growth to 2000 (BirdLife
International 2004).

(In Europe, common and widespread in
S Spain & Portugal with small,
expanding populations in France & Italy.
N populations disperse outside breeding
season, mostly into Africa. Widespread
resident throughout much of Africa, S
USA, N & C South America. Distinctive
race, coromandus , sometimes treated as a
full species, breeds S & SE Asia N to Sr
China & Japan, Australia.)

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Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias (0, 0, I)

Isles ot Sally Lower Moors, St Mary’s, juvenile, 7th December, photo (E. A. Fisher et al.) {Brit. Birds
101: plate 33; plate 262).

The identification ot Great Blue Heron in a vagrancy context has been well covered previously
(Gantlett 1998) and the species’ occurrence in the UK has long been anticipated. Nonetheless, Ashley
Fisher still deserves great credit for pulling this one out of the bag as the tail-end of autumn edged into
winter. He clearly had an active ‘search image’ for this species and was able to confirm the
identification and spread the news very quickly, allowing most of the resident Scilly birders to catch up
with this individual. Despite the bird being a one-day wonder, the finder also submitted excellent
documentation in support of the claim. Foul weather could not prevent several dozen would-be
observers reaching St Mary’s the following day but all were to be disappointed as, to most people’s
surprise, it was never seen again.

Cueat Blue Herons have reached British waters on at least two previous occasions but each was fed
aboard ship and thereby fell foul of ship-assistance rules. One was transported to Avonmouth in
November 1968 and another died within 250 km of the Isles of Scilly in May 1982. Both were arguably
no less wild for accepting human assistance in a presumably desperate situation, but this is not the
place tor a discussion of the philosophy of ship-assisted vagrancy. Records from France, the Canary
Islands, the Cape Verde Islands, and the Azores (about 23 in total) suggest that unassisted vagrants do
reach the Western Palearctic. There was no reason to believe that the 2007 Scilly bird had been aboard
ship; indeed, the prevailing weather conditions (a near-continuous southwesterly airflow across the
Atlantic created by two low-pressure systems) would have been very helpful for an unassisted crossing.

Most Great Blue Herons breeding in the northern parts of their range vacate the breeding areas
during September and October and, although their movements are not well understood, ringing has
shown that many winter as far south as the Caribbean. In contrast, a few are recorded annually in
December in Canada and they winter farther north than any other North American heron. The
northern limits of the regular winter range extend along the Pacific coast to southeast Alaska, into
Massachusetts on the Atlantic coast and inland as far as southern Montana. They can suffer high
mortality during severe winter weather and presumably move to avoid it when possible (Blus 8( Henny
1981 ). Might the late date of the Scilly bird suggest that it was dodging severe weather rather than
being simply a late migrant? The first major winter storm of the season struck the northern third of

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

North America over the first weekend of December 2007, bringing a combination of snow, freezing
rain, and rain to everywhere from Washington State to New York (and into Canada) as a low-pressure
system combined with cold Arctic air moved across the country. Portions of Michigan reported up to
25 cm of snow on 2nd December, so it is tempting to suggest that the Scilly bird was escaping from
this weather system when it went off course.

Historically, populations were adversely affected by shooting (mainly for plumage) and egg-
collecting early in the twentieth century, then latterly by loss of wetland habitat and pollution (Bent
1926; DeGraaf & Yamasaki 2001). Better protection of the birds and their habitats has allowed the
species to recover throughout much of its range. The North American Breeding Bird Survey indicates
that the population has been increasing significantly (at about 2% per annum for the Eastern Region
and at 1.3% survey- wide) since the mid to late 1960s. Further vagrancy might well be as likely now as
at any time in the past century.

(Breeds S Canada from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, S through USA to C America, & West Indies to N
Venezuela. Northern populations migratory, wintering to S of breeding range.)

Black Stork Ciconia nigra (23, 140, 9)

Anglesey Alaw Estuary, adult, 31st July to 31st August, photo (K. G. Croft et al).

Cornwall Redruth, St Just, Penzance and Sennen, 8th August (D. S. & G. H. Flumm, B. K. Mellow,
J. Parker, D. Pointon).

Devon Colyton, adult, 8th-9th June, photo (S. Waite et al.); presumed same Holsworthy, 9th June,
photo (R. Kirkwood), and Northam and Northam Burrows, 10th-12th June, photo (C. & D. Churchill,

D. Pauli et al).

Dorset Abbotsbury and Burton Bradstock, adult or near adult, 7th August (S. A. Groves); presumed
same The Fleet area, 8th— 1 0th August (D. & G. Walbridge et al).

Hampshire Steep Marsh, adult, 12th July (D. Offer).

Isle of Wight Arreton, adult, 13th June (D. T. Biggs, J. M. Cheverton).

Kent Sandwich, adult, 4th July (I. & S. Hunter).

Lancashire & North Merseyside Leyland, 2nd May, photo (J. Clarke).

Wiltshire Liddington, adult, 6th August (S. B. Edwards).

2006 Yorkshire Wykeham, adult, 23rd May (A. Ashworth); presumed same Filey, 23rd May {Brit. Birds
100: 706), which also should have read ‘see also Durham, Highland, Moray & Nairn, Northumberland,
Orkney.’

(Breeds from C Iberia & E France through C Europe to Russia and, in small numbers, into N Greece & Turkey. To

E, breeds widely in small numbers in forested temperate regions of Russia & Siberia to Russian Far East. Most are
migratory, wintering in Africa, S & SE Asia.)

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (341, 92, 29)

Avon Chew Valley Lake, first-winter, 2nd-3rd November, photo (A. H. Davis, G. Thoburn et al); see
also Devon, Somerset.

Cheshire & Wirral Neumann’s Flash, seven, 5th May (A. P. Josephs); see also Cornwall.

Cornwall Helford Passage, 17, 20th April (per www.birdguides.com); see also Gloucestershire. Lizard,
seven, 21st April to 3rd May (W. R. Wilkins, L. P. Williams et al); presumed same Hayle, Kimbro Pool,
24th April (W. R. Wilkins, L. P. Williams); see also Cheshire & Wirral.

Devon West Alvington, 22nd April to 1st May, photo (M. Foss, D. Horton et al). Braunton Burrows,
adult, 29th April (I. K. Moore). West Alvington, first-winter, 1 8th— 2 1 st November, photo (D. Horton
et al.); see also Avon, Somerset.

Gloucestershire Frampton-on-Severn and Slimbridge, 17, 20th April to 15th May, photo (R. G.
Baatsen, J. Overfield et al.) (plate 263); see also Cornwall.

Kent Dungeness RSPB reserve, adult, 9th May, photo (R. Turley, D. Walker et al).

Lancashire & North Merseyside Lytham, Warton Bank, Marshside RSPB reserve and area, 14th
October 2006 to 5th July 2008, first-winter to second-summer, photo {Brit. Birds 100: 706, plate 241).
Somerset Catcott Lows and Greylake RSPB reserve, first-winter, 3 rd— 16th November, photo (B. Gibbs,
M. Jackson et al) {Brit. Birds 101: plate 34); see also Avon, Devon.

Sussex Breach Pool, Pagham Harbour and Ferry Pool, Sidlesham, 30th April to 1st May (1. Lang,

532

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

263. Glossy Ibises Plegadis falcinellus, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, April 2007,

S. Ricks et al); presumed same Pannel Valley, Icklesham, 3rd May (P. Jones).

A recoid-breaking annual total of at least 29 individuals. Most arrived in the southwest during late
April and some of these may then have dispersed as far north as Cheshire & Wirral. Since they arrived
in the same year as an equally unprecedented 90 Cattle Egrets, it may be that weather conditions
stimulated numbers ot both species to stray northwards out of the Mediterranean basin during 2007,
even though annual totals of the two species are not closely correlated (fig. 3). Since 1980, there have
been more-than-average numbers of Cattle Egrets in seven years but only in two of those years (1986
and 2007) were the numbers of Glossy Ibises above average. Although populations in southeast Europe
have been undergoing a slow decline in recent years (BirdLife International 2004), colonies in the
western Mediterranean have been stable or (notably in Spain) expanding, so perhaps the numbers
seen in Britain are simply a reflection of these trends. This suggestion is supported by a bird ringed as
a chick in the Coto Donana, Spain, which spent two months in Lincolnshire in early 2008, having
arrived via Co. Wexford.

Glossy Ibis has certainly been commoner in recent decades, with three in the 1960s, 15 in the 1970s,
28 in the 1980s and 20 in the 1990s. Going even further back, however, double-figure influxes are not

Fig. 3. Accepted records of Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis in Britain since 1980.

British Birds 101* October 2008 • 5 1 6-577

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Steve Seal

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

unprecedented. At least 12 such influxes occurred between 1900 and 1945, and a minimum of 80 birds
appeared between 1906 and 1909. Glossy Ibis is doubtless being recorded more effectively now, by
mobile birders with good optics and via a well-oiled recording system, than in the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries, so there may have been even more birds reaching Britain 100-200 years ago.
Whatever the long-term trend, it is certainly welcome to see more of these odd, somewhat prehistoric-
looking birds roaming around the country at the moment.

(Regularly breeds France & Spain; otherwise, European breeding range centred N & W of Black Sea in Ukraine &
Romania, with small, declining population in Balkans. To E, breeds from Volga River to Kazakhstan. Palearctic
population migratory, most wintering in E Africa, but W European population wintering Morocco &
Mediterranean basin. Resident or dispersive populations occur in Africa, S Asia, Australia, E USA & the Caribbean.)

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (2,22, I)

Shetland Loch of Spiggie, Mainland, juvenile, 23rd August to 8th September, photo (R. M. Mellor
et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plates 288 & 289).

(Fragmented range on steppe grasslands from Ukraine E through Russia to 100°E & S to Kazakhstan 8c NW China.
Occasionally breeds to W of main range in Europe. Migratory, wintering throughout much of E 8c C Africa 8c the
Indian subcontinent.)

Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus (0, 153, 3)

Cornwall Stepper Point, juvenile white-morph, 16th January to 12th March, photo (A. Davies,
C. Selway et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 115; plate 264); presumed same Pentire Point, Wadebridge,
1 3th— 2 1 st March (per www.birdguides.com).

Outer Hebrides St Kilda, adult white-morph, 17th February, photo (S. Money et al). St Kilda, white-
morph, 20th May, found dead, photo (S. Bain, J. Harden, W. T. S. Miles et al).

2006 Durham Barnard’s Castle, adult white-morph, 12th January, photo (per M. Newsome).

2006 Shetland Fetlar, white-morph, 27th December to 21st January 2007 (N. Coutts, B. Thomason
et al).

2002 Isles of Scilly St Martin’s and St Mary’s, juvenile white-morph, 15th-23rd December (M. S. Scott
et al).

Gyr Falcons are monotypic but polymorphic. White-morph birds breed in the high Arctic, dark-
morph birds breed in Canada and do not occur in Europe, while grey-morph birds breed closest to
Britain, in Fennoscandia and Iceland (where many birds are intermediate between grey and white
morphs) (Forsman 1999). Non-white morphs have occurred in Britain since at least the nineteenth
century (when they were referred to as ‘Iceland Falcon’, as opposed to the white-morph ‘Greenland
Falcon’) but are surprisingly rare, with only 1 1 records published in BBRC reports (note that the

Fig. 4. Accepted records of Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus in Britain since 1950 by month of discovery,
showing those in Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides separately from those at other sites.

534

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

plumage phase has not
always been published along-
side records and at least one
other grey-morph bird has
occurred, but not been
published as such).

Being more difficult to
identify, non-white morphs
tend to be controversial,
perhaps especially since all
the twitchable birds have
been white morphs, but two
grey-morph Gyrs have been
found dead: in Anglesey in
1972 and Orkney in 1999.

Recently, identification has
become even more difficult,
since eliminating falconer’s
hybrids has become a very
real problem. Saker F. cherrug
x Gyr hybrids appear to be
quite frequent in captivity
and birds do escape - one
which escaped in southern
Scotland spent several
months in Shetland in 2004
( Shetland Bird Report 2004).

What appears to be a

good-candidate grey-morph bird was photographed in the Outer Hebrides in November 2007. Initial
investigations suggest that it resembled birds of the Icelandic population but the record was submitted
only shortly before this report went to press.

However, even white-morph birds may not be straightforward. Although some are conspicuous,
even reported by members of the public, not all of them are finally tracked down to a roost site like the
Cornish bird in 2007. For example, the Shetland bird above was seen only briefly on five occasions
during a month, and descriptions of birds like these are often necessarily brief. These elusive individ-
uals do, however, tend to occur at times and in places where Gyr Falcons may be expected.

Since 1950, just over 150 Gyr Falcons have been seen in Britain. Almost exactly half of these have
been in the Scottish archipelagos of Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. Of the remainder, 30
have been seen in the rest of Scotland, 20 in southwest England between Devon and Scilly, 20 else-
where in England and just four in Wales. Perhaps surprisingly, the pattern of occurrence of these two
groups is remarkably similar, suggesting that birds away from the Scottish islands are probably also
wild birds; even the bird in Durham in 2006, which hit a window in a garden in the Pennines, circum-
stances that led to some debate about its provenance. What is also noticeable is the clear spring
passage, peaking in April in Britain as a whole, but extending into May in the Scottish islands (fig. 4).
Overall, more than a third of all records are in March and April.

(In Europe, most numerous in Iceland & Norway, smaller populations breeding N Sweden, Finland & Arctic Russia.
To E, breeds across Arctic Siberia, Alaska, N Canada & Greenland. European birds mostly resident but high Arctic
breeders from N Canada & Greenland migratory, occasionally wintering S to NW Europe.)

264. Juvenile white-morph Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus, Stepper Point,
Cornwall, March 2007.

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John Carter

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265. Male Little Crake Porzana parva, Burrafirth, Unst, Shetland, June 2007.

Little Crake Porzana parva (63, 36, I)

Shetland Burrafirth, Unst, male, 29th May to 19th June, photo (A. I. & S. J. McElwee et al.) {Brit. Birds
100: plates 186, 219; plate 265).

(Fragmented distribution across temperate steppe of W Pal., from Austria through Ukraine & European Russia to
W Siberia, C Kazakhstan & NW China. Small numbers occasionally breed to N & W, reaching The Netherlands,
Finland & Spain. Most winter in NE & E Africa, although some W to Senegal.)

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (130,241, I)

Sussex Pannel Valley, Icklesham, 4th June, photo (P. Jones et al.).

2005 Essex Old Hall Marshes, two, 31st May {Brit. Birds 100: 709); published as new birds but should
be presumed same as 11th May {Brit. Birds 100: 35).

2005 Suffolk Orfordness, two, male & female, 1 6th— 30th May, photo; revised dates, mating seen and
empty nest found {Brit. Birds 100: 35).

(Breeds along Atlantic coast of France & locally throughout Mediterranean basin to Black Sea. To E, breeds from S
Siberia & C Asia to NW China & S to Hong Kong. Most European birds winter in sub-Saharan Africa and,
increasingly, in SW Iberia. Asian breeders winter across S & SE Asia & S China. Other distinctive races occur in
Australasia, the Americas & Hawaii.)

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus (4,45, I)

Shetland Bannamin, West Burra, first-summer female, 6th April to 5th May, photo (R. A. Haywood et
al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 142; plate 266); presumed same Exnaboe and Virkie, Mainland, 14th May to
19th November, photo (R. Riddington et al.).

The only record for the year seemed typical at first; found in early April by Russ Haywood on his local
patch at Banna Minn, it had apparently gone the next day. However, it was relocated just over a week
later, when it seemed to be paired up with a male Ringed Plover C. hiaticula , and it remained in the
area for almost a month. It was then relocated some 19 km SSE in south Mainland Shetland (this time

found by the BB editor while out jogging!). Yet again, it was apparently paired with a male Ringed
Plover (the same one?), and was observed in a broken-wing distraction display on more than one

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Bannamin.West Burra, Shetland, April 2007.

occasion. It remained in the area until November, although from mid June it was increasingly to be
found at the Pool of Virkie, the nearest thing in Shetland to an estuary.

Even more incredibly, it reappeared in the Virkie area on 6th March 2008, just under four months
after it had last been seen there. It was more wide-ranging after its return, however, and was recorded
on the islands of Mousa and Noss in April.

In 2007, the bird spent 227 days in Shetland, an unprecedented stay for this species in Britain,
although some autumn or winter arrivals have been present for up to two months. There are no other
summering records and all previous sightings have been between late September and early May. This
was only the second for Shetland and, apart from twelve in Scilly and five in the Outer Hebrides, the 50
British records are surprisingly widespread geographically.

(Breeds S Alaska, S Canada & throughout USA to Mexico. Northern breeders migratory, wintering S USA & Mexico
to Columbia. Other races resident in Caribbean & South America.)

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva (2, 60, I)

Yorkshire Spurn, 17th July, adult, photo (A. A. Hutt, I. Smith et al.).

(Breeds across Siberian tundra from Yamal Peninsula E to Chukotskiy Peninsula, including New Siberian islands, &
W Alaska. Small numbers winter regularly Kenya & Persian Gulf, main wintering range from Indian subcontinent
to S China & S Japan, S through SE Asia to Australia, New Zealand & islands in C Pacific.)

White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus (0,4, I)

Dumfries & Galloway Caerlaverock WWT reserve, adult, 6th-8th June, photo (R. Hesketh et al. per
R N. Collin) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 187; plate 267); see also Lancashire & North Merseyside.

Lancashire & North Merseyside Leighton Moss, adult, 10th— 17th June, photo (E. & J. McLachlan et al.
per S. J. White); see also Dumfries & Galloway.

This striking lapwing, with its long yellow legs, black-and-white wings and lilac-tinged, grey-brown
body, is not easily overlooked, so with only five records ever it remains a genuine rarity. This is also the
case throughout continental Europe, where it remains an extreme vagrant to the west of its mostly
Central Asian breeding haunts. Isolated records in Europe predominate but a pattern of occasional
influxes is starting to form. The first British record, at Packington, Warwickshire, in July 1975, formed
part of such an incursion into Europe, involving eight birds from no fewer than seven European coun-
tries, as far apart as Sicily in the south and Finland in the north. A more recent influx, which brought
about 50 individuals to the Black Sea coast of Romania between 30th April and 16th July 2000,
resulted in breeding by seven pairs at three sites in that country in 2000, with further attempts in the
two subsequent years. Sadly, no birds were found in Britain that year, though one did venture as close
as The Netherlands. Observers who have witnessed the rather catholic nesting requirements in

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Romania will appreciate that lack of habitat
is not a limiting factor in any potential
westwards spread.

This year’s bird, the first for 23 years,
reinforced the belief that late spring and
summer is the time to look for this species.

(Occasionally breeds along Black Sea coast of
Romania. To E, main breeding range from
Armenia & E Caspian Sea, E along Syr Darya &
Amu Darya through Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
to S Kazakhstan, & S to Iraq & N Iran. Resident
in Iraq & S Iran, but N populations winter
Pakistan to N/C India, & also S Egypt & N
Sudan.)

Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla (0, 82, 3)

Cambridgeshire Ouse Fen, 19th May, photo (I. D. Ellis, R. M. Patient, R. Thomas et al).

Isles of Scilly Porth Hellick, St Mary’s, adult, 1 5th— 1 8th August, photo (B. Geldenhuis, R. Mawer,
K. Webb et al).

Pembrokeshire Gann Estuary, juvenile, 14th-27th October, photo (D. Astins, P. Grennard et al).

2006 Cleveland Saltholme Pools, adult, 5th— 1 1th July, photo (C. Sharp et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: 711);
note revised observers.

(Breeds on tundra of W Alaska, E across Arctic Canada to S Baffin Island & coastal Labrador. Has bred extreme NE
Siberia. Migrates across Great Plains & E seaboard of USA to winter in C America & coasts of tropical South
America to Brazil & Peru.)

Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
(4,28, I)

Outer Hebrides Butt of Lewis,
Isle of Lewis, juvenile, 12th
October, photo (A. & J. Drake)
(plate 268).

(Breeds in C & S Alaska, E across N
Canada to Labrador & New-
foundland. Winters in S USA, C
America, the Caribbean & South
America, S to Brazil & N Chile.)

Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii (I, 199,8)

Argyll Loch a’ Phuill, Tiree, first-summer, 30th — 3 1 st May, photo (J. Bowler).

North-east Scotland Ythan Estuary, juvenile, 30th September (H. E. Maggs et al).

Outer Hebrides Butt of Lewis, Isle of Lewis, juvenile, 10th September (M. S. Scott). Loch Paible, North
Uist, juvenile, 18th September, photo (B. Rabbitts et al), presumed same 24th-25th September, photo
(R. Baynes, D. Henshilwood).

Perth & Kinross Loch Leven, juvenile, 12th— 1 7th October, photo (|. J. Squire etal).

Shetland Pool of Virkie, Mainland, adult, 21st Inly, photo (T. Habermann, R. Riddington et al). Sand-
wick, Mainland, juvenile, 8th September, photo (R. A. Haywood et al.). Eshaness, Mainland, juvenile,

1 0th— 17th September, photo (M. S. Chapman, R. W. Tait etal.) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 290).

(Breeds in extreme NE Siberia on Chukotskiy Peninsula & Wrangel Island, E across N Alaska & Arctic Canada to N-
Baffin Island & NW Greenland. Migrates through North American interior to winter in South American Andes,
from S Ecuador to Tierra del Fuego.)

268. Juvenile Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla,
Butt of Lewis, Lewis, Outer Hebrides, October 2007.

267. Adult White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus,
Caerlaverock WWT reserve, Dumfries & Galloway, June 2007.

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Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata (4, 22, 2)

Kent Oare Marshes, adult, 10th— 11th August, photo (T. P. Laws, M. A. Warburton et al.) ( Brit Birds
100: plate 291).

Yorkshire Sammy’s Point, adult, 8th September, photo (J. Grist etal).

These two records, the first since 2004, are typical of this species’ appearances in Britain, both being
adults and turning up during the well-established peak period. Over 80% of all records have been of
adults and the shortage of juveniles is mirrored by a number of other East Asian wader species. The
reasons why juveniles are quite so rare remain unclear. Similarly, almost 80% of all records have been
in August-September, with just three in October and single birds in July, April and, more surprisingly,
January. Apart from 1985, with three, and 1973, with two, 2007 is the only other year to produce more
than a single record. These two bring the total to five since 2000, a slightly better showing than the
three during the 1990s.

Prior to 1985, Kent had not recorded this species, but since then it has become established as the
joint-best county, the Oare Marshes bird being its fourth. Norfolk can match this total but the last
lecord was in 1892, so the county is surely overdue a visit! There are three records from Cleveland but
the general spread ol records shows a distinctly southern bias, plus an interesting cluster in North
Wales and just four records from Scotland.

1 he relatively small population size and primarily north-south track of the species’ migration route

probably accounts for its continued rarity here and it remains a highly desirable find for wader
watchers.

(Breeding range restricted to Siberian tundra from Yana River to Kolyma River delta, possibly further E. Migrant
through coastal Alaska, China & Japan to winter New Guinea, Australia & New Zealand.)

Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus (15, 206, 2)

Cleveland Saltholme Pools, adult, 27th May to 1st June, photo (C. Bielby et al).

Norfolk Breydon Water, 21st-22nd May, photo (I. N. Smith et al).

2006 Lothian Aberlady Bay, juvenile, 19th-20th August, photo (K. Gillon, E. Ogston, I. Thomson
et al).

(Nominate European race breeds in boreal forest bogs of N Norway, Sweden & Finland, and into Arctic Russia,
where distribution uncertain. It migrates through E Mediterranean, Black & Caspian Seas to winter in Persian Gulf,
W India & Sri Lanka, with small numbers in coastal E Africa. E race sibirica breeds from Taimyr Peninsula to
Kolyma River delta, and winters from Bay of Bengal through coastal SE Asia to Australia.)

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

North American race G.g. delicata, ‘Wilson’s Snipe’ (0, 1,0)

1998 Isles of Scilly Lower Moors, St Mary’s, 9th October to 7th April 1999, photo (B. Bland et al).

The tortuous journey of Wilson’s Snipe onto the British List has been relatively well documented. This
bird was initially reported as a Wilson’s Snipe in Birding World and Birdwatch but BBRC was
concerned that some of the key identification features (axillary pattern, width of white tips of second-
aries, outer-tail-feather pattern) were in the overlap zone between delicata and nominate gallinago. We
were then left with the task of examining the shape and measurements of the outer-tail feather from
the published photographs. Our initial analysis, based on museum specimens at the Natural History
Museum, suggested that the shape was also in the overlap zone. BBRC felt that, for the first record of
Wilson’s Snipe, it had to be 100% and that this fell just short of the mark. It was thus published as
unacceptable in our report of 2004 (Brit. Birds 98: 692).

Killian Mullarney subsequently suggested a new way of interpreting the photographs and Ian
Lewington modelled this methodology with specimens, again at the NHM. This analysis was strongly
in favour of the identification of the Scilly bird as delicata and it has subsequently been accepted as
such by both BBRC and BOURC. Although the process of acceptance has been arduous, it has allowed
us to be fairly confident about the way we should proceed with such records in the future and we have
devised the following list of statements to sum up the current situation:

• owing to the variability of gallinago, there is overlap in most identification features of delicata ;

• safe identification is only possible for those delicata whose plumage lies outside this overlap zone;

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

• some delicata will not be safely identifiable in the field in Britain;

• any record of delicata in Britain would require prolonged views and high-quality photographs;

• if delicata proves to be a regular vagrant in Britain, it is possible that, in future, identification may be
possible using a suite of ‘soft’ features’ (as our understanding of identification criteria improves).

AOU considers delicata and gallinago to be separate species because of differences in winnowing
display sounds and morphology. These represent two of a significant number of Nearctic/Palearctic
sister taxa that are worthy of consideration by BOURC’s Taxonomic Sub-committee. A paper
discussing the separation of delicata from gallinago recently appeared in British Birds (Reid 2008).

(Breeds throughout North America from N Alaska & N Canada S to N California & North Carolina. Winters SW
Canada & throughout USA & C America to N South America.)

Great Snipe Gallinago media (562, 150, I)

Norfolk Blakeney Point, 21st August (J. R. McCallum et al).

(Scarce & local breeder in Norway & Sweden, which hold most of declining European population. Smaller and
fragmented population breeds from Poland to Estonia. Also breeds E through European Russia, W & N Siberia to
Yenisey River. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa.)

Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus (6, 179,6)

Anglesey Alaw Estuary and Inland Sea, first-winter, 28th November 2006 to 1st April, photo {Brit.
Birds 100: 715, plate 116).

Cornwall Hayle Estuary, adult, 1 4th— 1 7th July, photo (P. Freestone, M. Halliday, J. H. Johns).

Devon Bowling Green Marsh, juvenile/first-winter, 1st October to 29th March 2008, photo (M. Knott
et al.).

Essex Stour Estuary, Mistley and Manningtree, 9th March to 15th April, photo (T. Nicholson,
M. Nowers et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 143; plate 269); see also Suffolk.

Kent Oare Marshes, juvenile/first-winter, 2nd October 2006 to 12th April, photo {Brit. Birds 100: 715).
Bough Beech Resr, juvenile, 29th September to 2nd October, photo (per www.birdguides.com); pre-
sumed same Minnis Bay, 3rd October (T. Hodge, D. Smith), and Oare Marshes and Elmley, 5th— 1 6th
October, photo (C. D. Abrams et al).

Lincolnshire Branston Fen, juvenile, 24th September to 14th October, photo (per
www.birdguides.com).

Norfolk Titchwell RSPB
reserve, juvenile,

21st— 25th September,
photo (B. Lewis et al.);
presumed same Salt-
house, 2nd October (A. J.
Gardiner).

Suffolk Stour Estuary,
Brantham, 9th March to
15th April, photo
(T. Nicholson, M. Nowers
et al.); see also Essex.

2006 Essex Old Hall
Marshes and Alresford
Creek, 31st March to
30th April (J. Dean, H.
Vaughan et al.); presumed
returning bird from 2005
{Brit. Birds 100: 42).

2006 Yorkshire Noster-
field, 1st May, photo

269. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus. with Black-tailed Godwits 1 lanby, G. Rickers

Limosa limosa, Mistley, Essex, March 2007. et al).

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r^rirtH?maril! Sih<^T owhere, breedinS range expanding W to Lena River delta. North American range

to N/C America* ^ °f W & N A a$ka’ E t0 Mackenzie River- Migrates through USA to winter coastal S USA

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

North American race N. p. hudsonicus/ Hudsonian Whimbrel’ (0,3,2)

Cumbria Walney Island, first-summer, 14th June to 19th August, photo (T. Phizacklea, C. Raven et al )
(plates 270 & 271).

Fair Isle Buness, adult, 29th— 3 1st August, photo (D. N. Shaw et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plates 292 & 293).
This is one of the rarest North American waders to reach Europe. These two individuals are only the
fourth and fifth British records of this highly distinctive race of Whimbrel, following two in Shetland
(Fair Isle, May 1955, Out Skerries, July to August 1974) and one in Gwent (Goldcliff Pools, May 2000).

The only other European records come from Ireland, in Co. Kerry in October 1957 and Co. Wexford in
September 1980.

The South Walney bird, aged as a first-summer based upon the timing and extent of wing moult,
occurred at a time when young birds of both N. p. hudsonicus and European N. p. phaeopus would
normally remain in their tropical wintering grounds. Quite why it took up residence in northern
England for two months remains a mystery, but the fact that it was in primary moult might explain
the missing migratory urge to continue on further north. The Fair Isle bird was a worn adult, perhaps

on its way back south after spending the summer on the breeding grounds of phaeopus in northern
Europe.

Not th American hudsonicus exhibits a range of morphological differences from the European form,
making it rather more than just a Whimbrel with a brown rump. Although the dark rump may be the
most eye-catching feature, the combination of tawny-brown underwings, blacker coronal bands
standing out starkly within a more contrasting face pattern, buff-washed underbody (indeed a virtual
absence of pure white anywhere), and an obviously pale base to the lower mandible create a very dif-
ferent appearance from European phaeopus. In addition, some observers commented on the propor-
tionately longer bills that these two birds showed when seen alongside their European counterparts.
These differences in appearance, together with significant differences between the mitochondrial
DNA-sequences of hudsonicus and the East Asian form N. p. variegatus , led Zink et al. (1995) to
suggest strongly that the three forms might best be considered as sister species. Such a split is currently
being considered by BOU’s Taxonomic Sub-committee.

(Breeds on tundra of W & N Alaska & N Canada E to Hudson Bay & Greenland. Migrates through Canada & USA
to winter in coastal regions of S USA, S to Chile & Brazil.)

270 & 271. First-summer ‘Hudsonian Whimbrel’ Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus, Walney Island.

Cumbria, July 2007.

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Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus (0, 66, I)

Fair Isle South Harbour, 1 3th June, photo (P. A. A. Baxter, P. J. Marsh, D. N. Shaw et al.) (Brit. Birds
100: plate 221).

(European range restricted to small population in N Gulf of Bothnia, Finland, & Belarus. To E, breeds widely but
locally throughout N Russia to E Siberia. Winters widely along coasts of S & E Africa to Persian Gulf, Indian
subcontinent, SE Asia & Australasia.)

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius (I, 136, I I)

Avon Chew

Valley Lake,

adult, 7th-9th
August, photo
(K. E. Vinicombe
et al.).

Cornwall Hayle
Estuary, juven-
ile/first-winter to
first-summer, 5th
October 2006 to
3rd May, photo
(Brit. Birds 100:
716, plate 1 1 7;
101: plate 160).
East Glamorgan
Lisvane Resr,
Cardiff, juvenile/
first -winter to
first summer,
20th October to
28th April 2008,
photo (P. Bristow
et al.).

Isles of Scilly

Porth Hellick, St Mary’s, juvenile, 27th August to 25th September, photo (B. Thomas, W. H. Wagstaff
et al.) (plate 272).

Lincolnshire Messingham Sand Quarry, adult, 31st May, photo (D. Nicholson et al.).

Outer Hebrides Loch Ordais and Bragar, Isle of Lewis, first-winter, 27th September, photo (M. S.
Scott).

Shetland Lamba Ness, Unst, juvenile, 21st September to 4th October, photo (H. Moncrieff, M. G.
Pennington, K. D. Shaw et al.). Burravoe, Yell, juvenile, 25th September to 11th October, photo
(D. Preston et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 321).

Upper Forth Kinneil Lagoon, adult, 24th December to 14th April 2008, photo (G. Owens, R. Shand
et al).

Warwickshire Draycote Water, adult, 20th July, photo (R. Norris et al).

Yorkshire Skelton Lake, New Swillington Ings, adult, 26th May, photo (P. R. Morris et al). Wykeham
Lakes, 6th — 1 9th July, photo (N. W. Addey, J. Harwood, D. Mansell et al).

(Breeds over much of North America from W Alaska to Newfoundland & S to California, Texas & North Carolina.
Some winter in coastal USA to S of breeding range but most winter in C America, Caribbean & N South America, S
to N Argentina & Chile.)

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria (6, 25, I)

Outer Hebrides St Kilda, 27th— 3 1 st August, photo (S. E. Duffiield et al).

(Breeds C & S Alaska through subarctic Canada to Quebec tk Labrador. Migrates throughout USA and winters
Caribbean & C America, S to Argentina.)

272. Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius, Porth Hellick, St Mary’s,
Isles of Scilly, August 2007.

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Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca (6, 19, 3)

Hampshire Farlington Marshes, 26th-27th September, photo (K. Crisp, J. Crook etai).

Lincolnshire FriestorrShore RSPB reserve, adult, 9th April and 19th May, photo (S. Keightley et al .);

presumed same Gibraltar Point, 30th-31st May, photo (E. J. Mackrill, J. P. Shaughnessy, K. M. Wilson
et al.).

Shetland Foula, juvenile, 1 1th October, photo (M. A. Maher, B. H. Thomason, M. A. Wilkinson et al.).
The three here make 2007 the joint-best year ever for this rare Tringa (there were also three in 1985)
and, with only 28 records to date, it remains one of the rarest of American waders to reach Britain. The
pattern of occurrence, as shown in fig. 5, is revealing. The graph shows the month of first arrival and,
while May is clearly the peak month to be checking all fly-over Greenshanks T. nebularia , the spread of
19 new arrivals in autumn as opposed to just nine in spring suggests that some individuals at least are
capable of a direct transatlantic crossing.

Offshore autumn migration of a proportion of southbound Greater Yellowlegs was described by
Brady (1990-1991), and some individuals may therefore be vulnerable to displacement by fast-moving
Atlantic depressions. Three previous records, from Scilly in August and September and Cornwall in
October, support this hypothesis, as do five Irish records: from Co. Cork in August, Antrim, Kerry and
Londonderry in September and Donegal in October. However, McNeil & Cadieux (1972) found that
Greater Yellowlegs do not generally store enough fat for long transatlantic flights, which leads to the
idea that British and Irish birds may be arriving via Greenland and perhaps Iceland, as described by
Vinicombe & Cottridge (1996). In this way, overshooting spring birds may account for records on the
Outei Hebrides in April and Argyll and Highland in May, while reverse migrants in the autumn could
account for records from Argyll, North-east Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and Shetland. The Cum-
brian bird of October-November 1994 was thought to be the same individual seen later in Belgium
and perhaps provides the best evidence to date of this theory. Drawing a line back from Belgium and
thiough Cumbria leads to the Hudson Bay area, via Greenland, on a great-circle route.

The spread of remaining records in Britain serves only to confuse the picture, and is perhaps best
explained by birds that have arrived on this side of the Atlantic in previous years and are now
migrating along the East Atlantic Flyway. Four midwinter records from Ireland suggest that this may
be a good time to check for this species among Greenshanks in the sheltered estuaries of the south-
west. An accessible, long-staying Greater Yellowlegs would certainly be welcomed by many birders, as
this year’s trio put in typically brief appearances.

1 he identification of Greater Yellowlegs has been well-served in the literature, but can still be sur-
prisingly tricky on lone individuals where the crucial differences in size and structure are more diffi-
cult to evaluate accurately. In breeding plumage, Greater shows heavier black barring on the
underparts than Lesser Yellowlegs T. flavipes, and sometimes barring extending across the belly. In
non-breeding plumage, a good starting point is the size and structure of the bill and whether it shows
a distinctly paler base. Lesser \ellowlegs has an attenuated rear end, while that of Greater is blunter,
owing to relatively shorter primaries. Vocalisations are usually distinctive, with Greater Yellowlegs
having a clearer, more ringing ‘dee-dee-dee’ flight call compared to the sharper, more clipped double
tu-tu ot Lesser Yellowlegs. The number of notes is not diagnostic, however, and observers should pay
close attention to the exact tone, as well as the more easily assessed number of notes.

(Breeds from S Alaska across subarctic Canada E to Labrador 8t Newfoundland. Migrates throughout USA to
winter in coastal S USA, C America, Caribbean & South America.)

8 -r

Fig. 5. Accepted records of Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca in Britain by month.

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

273. First-winter Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes, Thornham, Norfolk, January 2007.

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes (19, 256, 10)

Angus & Dundee Montrose Basin, first-winter, 10th November to 9th March 2008, photo (N. Mitchell
et al).

Argyll Loch Gruinart, Islay, 6th— 1 4th May, photo (J. Armitage, I. Brooke, J. How per J. Dickson).

Essex Hanningfield Resr, juvenile, 22nd September, photo (D. Acfield et al.).

Herefordshire Stretton Sugwas, 28th April to 5th May, photo (S. P. Coney, P. H. Downes et al.).

Isles of Scilly Porth Hellick, St Mary’s, 15th October (T. Francis).

274. Juvenile Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis, Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, August 2007.

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Lancashire & North Merseyside Leighton Moss, adult, 24th-27th July, photo (J. Fenton et al. per S. J
White).

Norfolk Thornham, first-winter, 13th January to 10th February, photo (J. Bhalerao, A. Morgen et al)
{Brit. Birds 100: plate 81; plate 273).

Orkney Loch of Tankerness, Mainland, juvenile, 19th and 28th September, photo (K. E. Hague);
presumed same Shapinsay, 6th-8th October, photo (P. Hollinrake, S. J. Williams et al.).

Outer Hebrides Peninerine, South Uist, juvenile, 1st September, photo (S. E. Duffield, T. Fountain).
Suffolk Tinker’s Marshes, juvenile, 25th-26th September (P. Hobbs et al); presumed same Minsmere
RSPB reserve, 30th October to 9th November, photo (B. Buffery et al); and Southwold Town Marsh,
21st December to 9th February 2008, photo (B. J. Small etal).

(Breeds throughout much of subarctic Alaska & Canada, east to James Bay. Migrates through USA, where some
overwinter, but majority winter from Caribbean & C America to Chile & Argentina.)

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (6, 122, 2)

Oxfordshire Abingdon SF, juvenile, 3rd-4th August, photo (R. Burgess, N. J. Hallam et al); presumed
same Farrnoor Resr, 5th August, photo (G. Soden et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 246; plate 274).

Suffolk Trimley Marshes, 31st August, photo (P. Oldfield).

(Occasionally breeds Finland & Baltic countries to Ukraine & W Russia. To E, breeds commonly in forest-steppe
region of Siberia to Mongolia & NE China. Winters throughout sub-Saharan Africa, especially E Africa, & Indian
subcontinent E to S China & SE Asia; also Australia.)

Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor (0, 2 1 6, 4)

Buckinghamshire Willen Lake, adult female, 24th-26th August, photo (A. V. Harding, A. Ploszajski
et al); see also Durham/Yorkshire.

Cambridgeshire Grafham Water, adult female, 4th-9th May, photo (C. D. Addington etal.) {Brit. Birds
100: plate 157); presumed same Nene Washes, 10th— 1 1th May, photo (J. P. Taylor etal.).

Dorset Stanpit Marsh, juvenile/first-winter, 6th-8th September, photo (D. H. Taylor etal.).

Durham Bishop Middleham, adult female, 15th— 18th August, photo (D. Charlton, S. Evans et al. per
M. Newsome) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 294); see also Buckinghamshire/Yorkshire.

Worcestershire Upton Warren, juvenile/first-winter, 23rd-26th September, photo (P. Goacher, A. Warr
etal.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 322).

Yorkshire Catterick, adult female, 18th-19th August, photo (S. Clifton, R. Marshall et al); see also
Buckinghamshire/Durham.

(Breeds interior W Canada south to California and throughout mid-west states of USA; also S Ontario. Most
migrate through interior USA and winter in South America from Peru S to Argentina & Chile.)

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla (I, 173,5)

Cambridgeshire Grafham Water, second-summer, 24th June, photo (J. Leadley et al.) {Brit. Birds 100:
plate 222). Fidwell Fen, first-winter, 26th October (B. Green, D. Poyser).

Devon R. Teign, Exmouth, Topsham and Countess Wear area, first-winter to second-winter, 13th
January to 15th December, photo (M. Knott etal).

Outer Hebrides Coot Loch, Benbecula, second-summer, 7th May, photo (S. E. Duffield, J. Kemp,
B. Rabbitts).

Shetland Firths Voe and Swinister Voe, Mainland, first-winter, 8th-22nd December, photo (M. S.
Chapman et al).

2006 Cornwall Hayle Estuary, first-winter, 1st May, photo (L. P. Williams); presumed same as Newlyn
{Brit. Birds 100: 716).

2006 Devon Pottington, adult, 5th January, photo (D. Churchill, M. S. Shakespeare, J. Turner).

2006 Outer Hebrides Traigh Athmor, North Uist, adult, 6th June (J. Boyle, M. Finn).

2005 Cornwall Hayle Estuary, adult, 6th November (A. & J. D. Greensmith).

(Locally common from Nova Scotia, S along E seaboard of USA to Florida & Gulf coast, the Caribbean, & C
America to N Venezuela. Southern populations largely resident but N breeders winter within southern breeding
range.)

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Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan (0, 53, 6)

Cornwall Hayle Estuary, first-winter, 2nd-6th March, photo (C. C. Barnard et al) (Brit. Birds 100:
plate 1 18). Crowdy Resr, adult, 1 st— 4th April, photo (S. G. Rowe). Camel Estuary, adult, 9th April,
photo (K. S. Archibald, S. C. Votier).

Devon Topsham, adult, 10th June (K. & V. Fox). Braunton, River Caen, 29th August, adult, photo (L. 8c
S. Bruce et al).

Oxfordshire Farmoor Resr, adult, 10th— 11th November, photo (N. J. Hallam et al).

2005 Gloucestershire Newnham-on-Severn, adult or second-winter, 22nd March (Brit. Birds 100: 48);
note revised year, not 2004.

(Breeds locally throughout interior provinces of temperate W Canada, E to Great Lakes & S to mid-west USA.
Winters along Pacific coast of South America, from Guatemala to Chile.)

Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii (0, 2, 2)

Devon Seaton Marshes, adult or third-summer, 14th August, photo (G. M. Haig, S. Waite et al).

Kent Dungeness, second-summer, 16th May, photo (R. Butcher, D. Walker et al).

These records represent the third and fourth for Britain and include the second record for Dungeness.
Despite being first recorded in 2003, it appears that this species may appear increasingly frequently.
Gutierrez & Guinart (2008) discussed the possible origin of our vagrant Audouin’s Gulls, indicating
that they may well arrive from the central and eastern Mediterranean populations, rather than the
larger Spanish colonies. They also noted that second-summer birds are most likely to be recorded as
vagrants (and now three of the four British records are of that age class), so it appears unlikely that
younger birds are being overlooked. The older Devon bird may either have been a non-breeder that
had wandered from the species’ breeding range or could represent post-breeding dispersal.

(Breeds throughout Mediterranean basin from Spain E to Greece & Turkey, with majority at Ebro Delta &
Chafarinas Islands, Spain. Majority winter along the Atlantic seaboard of Africa, from Morocco to Senegal &
Gambia.)

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

Northeast European race L. f. fuscus, ‘Baltic Gull’ (0, I, I)

Gloucestershire Hempsted, adult, 1 8th— 20th April, ringed as a pullus in Finland in 2004, photo (J. D.
Sanders).

1981 Suffolk Orfordness, adult, found dead, 24th October, ringed as a pullus in Finland in 1978 (per
BOURC).

The identification, and assessment of claims, of Lesser Black-backed Gulls of the nominate race fuscus
(sometimes known as ‘Baltic Gull’) has had a chequered and complicated history in Britain. Prior to
this record, there had been a number of recent claims (many of them looking very promising) that
were ultimately considered not proven. Discussion within BBRC almost always revolved around two
issues: firstly, our confidence about whether the field characteristics were fully resolved; and, secondly,
if they were, whether they could be applied with any degree of certainty to the records received. These
same questions can be found in the minds of any gull enthusiast looking for fuscus among their local
Lesser Black-backs. With uncertainty about the first issue, we were left with even more of problem
with the second.

Lars Jonsson’s groundbreaking article (Jonsson 1998) confirmed the difficulty involved in identi-
fying ‘Baltic Gull’ in adult and immature plumages. This has been followed by several recent papers,
including Winters (2006), which contain as many questions as answers. These articles question the
precision with which it was once thought possible to assign the three forms of Lesser Black-backed
Gull. This had often been done simply on the mantle tone of adults, which was thought to grade from
the paler grey of the western form ( graellsii ), eastwards through a darker grey intermediate form
( intermedins ), to almost black in the Baltic region of Scandinavia (fuscus). We now know that this
picture is far too simplistic, with complications such as very dark, /uscus-like birds in intermedins pop-
ulations, and intergrade populations between graellsii and intermedins (like those on Orfordness, in
Suffolk).

Other subtle elements, such as the timing of moult, are also relevant but even these are now ques-

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T°Pen t0 dlfferent interPretations. Further problems are apparent with non-adult birds, and
BBRC ultimately made the decision that, given the lack of clarity, it would adopt the protocols widely
used by other records committees (e.g. the Dutch CDNA) and would accept only ringed birds of
known provenance. This may seem harsh, but for the time being it remains a cautious but workable
appioach. Nonetheless, BBRC also encourages observers to submit well-documented claims of
unrmged birds as they add to the overall picture and improve our understanding; they are also
archived, in case future assessors become more confident.

Jonsson (1998) expressed concerns over the validity of records of ringed fuscus in the UK, noting
that some pulli ringed as fuscus have been misidentified Herring Gull L. argentatus chicks. He went on
to raise doubts about the provenance of the (then) five British ringing recoveries, commenting that
the identity ot all 12 reported recoveries of fuscus from the North Sea area can be questioned.’ Some
aie questionable for the circumstances in which they were found, others for the date. The record which
now stands as the first for Britain concerns a fourth-calendar-year bird ringed as a pullus in Finland in
July 1978 and found oil the Suffolk coast on 24th October 1981. Jonsson commented that this report
lacked ‘basic information regarding the circumstances of the findings, and the exact localities are also
very vague.’ However, this record has since been examined by BOURC, who concluded that it should
be retained as the first for Britain.

1 he discovery of the bird in Gloucestershire by John Sanders is admirable and a clear reward for
many hours spent watching gulls. This bird had been ringed as a pullus at Pietersaari, Vaasa, Finland,
on 5th July 2004 and its colour ring provided the essential evidence of its origin.

(Breeds along Baltic coasts of Sweden and Finland, inland to N & E Finland, rarely N Norway and W Russia.

Migrates S across E Europe, Black Sea, E Mediterranean and Middle East to winter coastal E Africa & W Rift Valley
Lakes. )

American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus (0, 14,2)

Argyll Gott, Isle of Tiree, first-winter, 20th March, photo (J. Bowler); presumed same Loch Bhasapol,
Isle of Tiree, 25th May, 7th June, photo (J. Bowler).

Outer Hebrides Stinky Bay, Benbecula, first-summer, 19th June, photo (J. B. Kemp).

2004 Outer Hebrides Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, juvenile, 6th March to 17th April, photo (M. S. Scott).
This is the first BBRC report in which American Herring Gull appears as a separate species, following
the BOURC decision to treat ‘herring gulls’ from North America, northern and central Siberia as a dis-
tinct species (Sangster et al. 2007; Collinson et al. 2008) — although this split has not been adopted by
the AOU. All British records involve nominate smithsonianus from North America (rather than the
East Asian L. s. vegae and L. s. mongolicus) in their often distinctive ‘first-cycle’ plumage.

With two records in 2007, and this late-accepted one from 2004, there have now been 16 accepted
British records, although there are almost as many claims currently in circulation (including some
adults and subadults) and it is hoped that a more complete pattern of occurrence of this species will be
available soon. This compares with 72 records from Ireland to the end of 2006 (Milne 2008). Including
the first for Britain, in Cheshire & Wirral then Lancashire & North Merseyside in 1994, more than half
of the accepted records have been discovered in late February or March. There is an expected westerly
bias to these occurrences with nine records from southwest England (including three each from Corn-
wall and the Isles of Scilly), five from northwest Scotland and two from northwest England.

Following several detailed papers concentrating on the identification of immature smithsonianus as
a vagrant in western Europe (Mullarney 1990; Dubois 1997; Diggin 2001; Hoogendoorn et al. 2003;
Lonergan & Mullarney 2004), birders are better prepared and more confident in locating juveniles and
first-winters, yet it is notable that two observers are responsible for discovering and documenting
more than a third of the accepted British records.

Advances have been made in defining criteria for the identification of adult smithsonianus (Adri-
aens & Mactavish 2004) and BBRC welcomes submissions for birds matching these criteria. However,
as with first-cycle birds (particularly following cautionary notes regarding the identification of such
buds, Adriaens et al. 2008), adults and subadults of this species will always require a detailed submis-
sion, preferably including photographs.

(Breeds S Alaska E across C 8c N Canada to S Baffin Island, Labrador, Newfoundland 8c NE coastal region of USA.
Many resident, others winter S to S USA 8c Mexico. Other races breed Mongolia to C Siberia, 8c NE Siberia.)

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Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea (1,88,0)

Argyll Ormsary,
first-winter, 14th
December 2006 to
15th January, photo
(Brit. Birds 100:

718; plate 275);
presumed same
Portavadie, 13 th—

25th February (per
J. Dickson) (Brit.

Birds 100: plate 55).

(Locally common on
tundra of NE Siberia
from Lena River E to at
least Kolyma River. In
Canada, rare and local
breeder in W Hudson
Bay region, perhaps
elsewhere. Siberian
birds migrate E past
Point Barrow, Alaska
in September to

unknown wintering 275. First-winter Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea, Ormsary, Argyll, January 2007.

area assumed to lie

near edge of pack ice, perhaps in Bering Sea or N Pacific, S to N Japan.)

Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus Philadelphia (8, 141, 10)

Angus 8c Dundee Ferryden, adult, 19th November 2006 to 4th March, photo (Brit. Birds 100: 717).
Fishtown of Usan, adult, 11th November to 10th February 2008, photo (per www.birdguides.com)
(Brit. Birds 101: plate 37).

Devon Plym Estuary, second-winter, 6th— 14th January, photo (S. C. Votier et al. ), presumed returning
bird from Ernesettle Creek 2006 (Brit. Birds 100: 717); presumed same River Otter, 31st January to 3rd
February, photo (M. Knott et al.). Seaton Marshes, first-summer, 30th April, photo (S. Waite et al.).

Isles of Scilly Porthcressa and Porth Mellon, St Mary’s, first-winter, 7th December 2006 to 23rd

February, photo (Brit.
Birds 100: 717).

Moray 8c Nairn Loch
Spynie, first-summer,
23rd-26th May, photo
(D. A. Gibson et al.).
Norfolk Hickling
Broad, first-summer,

1 2th— 26th May, photo
(G. Etherington,
O. J. Richings et al.).
Breydon Water,
first-winter, 28th
November (P. R.
Allard).

North-east Scotland
Rattray Plead, adult,
20th October, photo
(A. Biggins, A. Perkins).,

276. First-summer Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus Philadelphia, with Black-headed Peteihead and Ugie
Gull C. ridibundus, Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, May 2007. Estuary, Aberdeen,

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adult, 25th November to 25th March 2008, photo (C. N. Gibbins et al.).

Outer Hebrides Col Beach, Isle of Lewis, adult, 8th April, photo (R. Pass, C. Shaw). South Uist, first-
summer, 19th June to 2nd September, photo (S. E. Duffield, J. Kemp, B. Rabbitts etal).

Oxfordshire Farmoor Resr, first-summer, lst-9th May, photo (N. J. Hallam et al.) (Brit. Birds 100:
plate 158; plate 276).

2006 Cornwall Hayle Estuary, first-winter, 3rd December (L. P. Williams).

2005 Cornwall Helston Park Lake, adult, 1 1th February (D. Parker).

(Breeds widely across N North America from W & C Alaska through Canada to James Bay. Winters locally on ice-
free rivers & lakes in N USA, & S along both coasts of USA to Mexico & Caribbean.)

Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea (81,51,0)

2006 Ayrshire Benslie, Irvine, juvenile, 31st December to 4th January 2007, died in care, photo (per
F. Simpson); presumed same as Troon (Brit. Birds 100: 718, plate 56).

(In Europe, breeds only in Svalbard. Elsewhere, restricted to islands in the high Arctic between Franz Josef Land &
Arctic Canada, with small numbers in N & SE Greenland. Wintering range poorly known, but apparently within or
close to edge of pack ice.)

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica (5 1 , 270, 2)

Ceredigion Dyfi Estuary, Ynys-hir and Ynyslas, adult, 2nd-7th August, photo (R. Jones et al.).

Cleveland Hartlepool Headland, 29th September (J. R. Duffie, I. J. Foster, R. C. Taylor etal.).

2006 Durham Lizard Point, Whitburn, two, adults, 9th May (P. Hindess); presumed same as Cleveland
and Northumberland (Brit. Birds 100: 719).

2006 Northumberland St Mary’s Island, two, 9th May (A. Cowell, A. S. Jack) (Brit. Birds 100: 719);
note revised observers.

(Small population in N Germany & Denmark. Widespread though local in Spain but colonies are isolated and
small elsewhere in Europe. To E, breeds discontinuously from Turkey & SW Russia through Kazakhstan, Mongolia
& NW China, with isolated population in NE China. European population winters coastal W Africa, S to Gulf of
Guinea. Asian populations winter Persian Gulf to Indian subcontinent & SE Asia. Other races occur Australia & the
Americas.)

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia (26, 254, 4)

Bedfordshire Marston Vale CP, adult, 20th May, photo (S. Northwood, P. Smith et al).

Derbyshire Willington GP, second-summer, 1 1th June (R. M. R. James).

Lancashire 8t North Merseyside Knott End-on-Sea, adult, 2nd July, photo (C. G. Batty et al.)-,
presumed same Fairhaven Lake, 5th July (C. I. Bushell per C. Batty).

Northumberland Big Waters, adult, 14th July, photo (J. C. Day, A. J. Johnston et al.) (Brit. Birds 100:
plate 245); presumed same Bothal Pond (A. D. McLevy) and Blyth Estuary (S. T. Holliday et al), both
14th July.

(Isolated and declining European population breeds Baltic coasts of Estonia, Sweden & Finland to head of Gulf of
Bothnia. To E, fragmented populations from Black Sea coast of Ukraine across steppe-lake region of C Asia to NW
Mongolia & E China. European birds winter W Africa to Gulf of Guinea, Asian birds winter on coasts to S of
breeding range. Other populations in Australia, S Africa & North America.)

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida (23, 129,4)

Argyll Machrihanish, 9th July (E. Maguire, J. McGlynn).

Cumbria Siddick Ponds, adult, 20th June, photo ( J. Manson, N. White et al.).

Leicestershire & Rutland Eyebrook Resr, adult, 18th June, photo (A. S. & R. G. Brett); see also
Yorkshire.

Staffordshire Belvide Resr, adult, 8th June, photo (S. Nuttall et al.).

Yorkshire Pugney’s CP and Wintersett Resr, adult, 17th June, photo (P. Smith et al.); presumed same
Broomhill Flash, 17th June (G. J. Speight et al.); see also Leicestershire & Rutland.

(Breeds in small, scattered colonies through S & E Europe from Iberia to Poland. Numerous and widespread from
N Black Sea E to W Kazakhstan, with Volga/Ural River complex holding most of European population. Winters
tropical W & C Africa & from Nile Delta to E Africa. Other populations in Indian subcontinent, E Asia, S Africa &
Australia.)

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Brunnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia ( 1 , 38, 2)

North-east Scotland Girdle Ness, Aberdeen, 7th November, photo (A. J. Whitehouse et ai).

Shetland Scousburgh, Mainland, 25th March, found dead, photo, specimen in NMS (R. Riddington
et al).

A recent analysis of all European records outside the normal range (incorporating both live birds and
those picked up dead on beached bird surveys, like the one reported here from Shetland) found that
most arrivals in Britain are closely correlated with severe Atlantic weather systems (Van Bemmelen &
Wielstra in press). This supports the theory that birds which turn up here have been displaced from
distant wintering grounds rather than being from a small population wintering in British waters.

(Apparently declining, but huge colonies remain in Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard & Novaya Zemlya, with tiny
population in NE Norway. Outside Europe, breeds on islands off N Siberia into Bering Sea, S to Kuril,
Komandorskiye, Aleutian 8c Pribilof Islands. Also W Alaska 8c N Canada from Baffin Island to Hudson Bay,
Labrador coast 8c W Greenland. Winters among open leads in pack ice or at sea from Barents Sea S to N Norway, S
Greenland, 8c along Labrador coast S to NE coastal USA. Other populations winter in N Pacific, S to N Japan.)

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura (0, 2, I)

Outer Hebrides Carnach, North Uist, first-winter, 29th October to 7th November, photo (A. &
A. MacDonald, B. Rabbitts et al.) (Brit. Birds 101: plate 15; plate 277).

If the Outer Hebrides recorder, Brian Rabbitts, was surprised to be summoned to a neighbour’s garden
on North Uist in November 1999 to identify Britain’s first Mourning Dove, he must have been
astounded when, on 1st November 2007, he discovered Britain’s second little more than 3 km from the
scene of the first (Rabbitts 2007, 2008).

Other accepted Western Palearctic records of this Nearctic species prior to 2007 are restricted to
singles on the Isle of Man in October 1989, Iceland in October 1995 and the Azores in November 2005,
while a bird in Sweden in June 2001 may have been of captive origin and was placed in Category D of
that national list.

Remarkably, the day after the 2007 North Uist Mourning Dove was first identified (it had been
noticed by a local crofter on 29th October), Ireland’s first Mourning Dove was discovered on Inish-
bofin, Co. Galway (McGeehan 2007). McGeehan noted that the weather was favourable for an Atlantic
crossing by an American landbird during 27th-29th October 2007, with a strong westerly airflow

277. First-winter Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura, Carnach, North Uist, Outer Hebrides, November 2007.

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reaching western Scotland and northwest Ireland, and the strongest winds of the period being
recorded in the Outer Hebrides.

(Breeds SE Alaska & S Canada from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, S throughout USA to Panama &
West Indies. Some northern populations remain in S Canada while others winter S to Panama.)

Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius (3, 39, I)

Kent Dungeness, 6th-7th March, photo (O. Gabb, R. E. Turley etal).

(Common summer migrant to Spain, rare and local breeder Portugal, S France & E to Greece. W Asian population
uncommon, breeding discontinuously from C Turkey, Cyprus, Israel & Jordan to N Iraq & SW Iran. Palearctic
breeders winter in sub-Saharan Africa but range uncertain owing to African populations.)

Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops (45, 37, 0)

Oxfordshire Thi upp, male, 15th May to 5th June (per www.birdguides.com); presumed returning bird
from 2006 {Brit. Birds 100: 723).

(Common summer migrant to N Africa & S Europe, from Iberia N to C France & E to Greece. Also breeds across
Ukraine, S Russia & S Siberia to W Mongolia, Kazakhstan & Iran. Most winter N equatorial Africa, but some
remain in S Europe.)

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus (194, 169, 12)

North-east Scotland Nr Braeriach, Cairngorms, 5th April, photo (I. Maw).

Outer Hebrides Lewis, adult male, intermittently at Bru, Borve and Uig, 1st January to 12th October,
presumed same as Btu 2006 {Brit. Birds 100: 725, plate 119) (M. S. Scott et al.). Lewis, immature male,
Borve, 20th February to 26th March, photo (M. S. Scott etal.). Paiblesgarry, North Uist, 3rd-5th April,
photo (A. MacDonald, B. Rabbitts et al.). Solas and Aird an Runair, North Uist, male, 21st April to 3rd
June, photo (J. Boyle, B. Rabbitts et al). Hirta, St Kilda, adult, 5th April, photo (T. Avent et al.). Hirta,
St Kilda, first-year, 24th-31st May, photo (E. Macldey, W. T. S. Miles et al). Hirta, St Kilda, adult
female, 4th— 19th June, photo (W. T. S. Miles, S. Money et al). Hirta, St Kilda, adult male, 4th-29th
June, photo (W. T. S. Miles, S. Money et al). Hirta, St Kilda, subadult male, 8th July to 1st August,
photo (E. Macldey, W. T. S. Miles et al). Hirta, St Kilda, subadult male, 10th July to 5th August, photo
(W. T. S. Miles, S. Money et al).

2006 Outer Hebrides Aird Uig, West Lewis, immature male, 9th September, photo (A. & V. Williams);
presumed same as Bru, Lewis {Brit. Birds 100: 725, plate 59).

2005 Argyll Arileod, Isle of Coll, adult male, 27th January, photo (B. & B. MacIntyre, S. D. Wellock).
2005 Outer Hebrides North Harris, Isle of Lewis, 19th March (R. Reid).

(Occasionally breeds N Scandinavia & Iceland, depending on availability of small mammals. Outside Europe,
erratic circumpolar breeder across tundra & N islands of Arctic Russia, Siberia, Alaska, Canada & N Greenland.
Most disperse S in winter but some resident or nomadic if food available.)

Hawk Owl Surnia ulula (8, I, 0)

1966 Cornwall Gurnard’s Head, 14th August, photo; previously accepted {Brit. Birds 61: 363) but now
considered not proven following review.

This species has not featured in a BBRC report since 1998, which saw the removal of the 1959 report
from Beasdale Fells, Lancashire and North Merseyside, from the list of accepted records. The last
accepted record was as long ago as 1983 {Brit. Birds 77: 538). With the removal of yet another indi-
vidual from the totals, it becomes even rarer than previously thought, with just two post-nineteenth
century records remaining.

The Cornish record was reassessed as part of BOURC’s work to establish the racial identity of the
Hawk Owls on the British List. Given the southwest location, it had earlier been thought most likely to
have been of the North American race S. u. caparoch. But when this record was examined again, there
was clearly not sufficient evidence to assign it to a particular race or indeed even to species. This now
leaves the Shetland bird from 1983 as the only post- 1950 record; this well-documented individual was
part of an invasion that included over 1,000 in southern Sweden, suggesting strongly that it was of the
nominate race S. u. ulula.

The first British record of Hawk Owl was of the American race, caught on a ship off Cornwall in

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March 1830, so both the Eurasian and North American races presently remain on the British List,
subject to the outcome of the ongoing BOURC review. Separation of the two forms is possible given
good views. North American caparoch is darker above than European breeders, while the pattern of the
underparts also differs - caparoch shows tawny-brown barring on the flanks and lower belly which
equals or is wider than the white barring, compared with the thinner, blackish barring of nominate
ulula.

Racial identification is clearly possible, although the finder of the next British Hawk Owl might be
forgiven for just enjoying the moment!

(Breeds from N Scandinavia E across N Russia & Siberia to Kamchatka, & S to NE Kazakhstan, Mongolia, NE
China & Sakhalin. Resident, some disperse to S & W of breeding range outside breeding season. North American
race S. u. caparoch breeds N North America and has occurred in Britain.)

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus (0,65, I)

Cornwall Wadebridge, 12th June (C. Selway).

2006 Isles of Scilly Bryher, 23rd July (J. Askin, J. K. Higginson); previously not proven (Brit. Birds 100:
753) but now accepted after additional information submitted.

(Locally common throughout Mediterranean basin from Iberia to Greece, but rare or absent from many regions.
Outside Europe, breeds locally from Mauritania & Canary Islands across NW Africa & Middle East to Arabian
Peninsula & coastal S Iran. Most winters N African tropics, but some remain in S Europe.)

European Roller Corocias garrulus (195, I 10, 2)

Breconshire Usk Resr and Glasfynydd Forest, second-summer, 29th-30th July (A. Davis, M. Hogan);
see also Carmarthenshire/Gower.

Carmarthenshire Usk Resr and Glasfynydd Forest, second-summer, 29th— 3 1 st July (R. Evans,
M. Hogan, J. Lloyd); see also Breconshire/Gower.

Gower Bryn Common, second-summer, 6th— 7th August, photo (B. Stewart et al.)-, see also Brecon-
shire/Carmarthenshire.

Yorkshire Easington, unaged, 1 5th— 1 6th July, photo (A. M. Hanby et al.).

2005 Sussex Eridge, 1 1th June (I. & R Russell).

(Declining, yet remains widespread and numerous in NW Africa & Spain. In E Europe, occurs locally N to Estonia
& E to Ukraine. More common from Turkey & S Russia to S Urals, SW Siberia, S Kazakhstan & W China. Winters
locally in equatorial W Africa but most in E Africa from Kenya to Zimbabwe. Another race breeds Iran, Afghanistan
& N Pakistan, and winters in E Africa.)

Calandra Lark Melanocorypha colandra (0, 13, I)

Shetland Baltasound,
Unst, 12th May, photo
(B. H. Thomason et al.)
(Brit. Birds 100: plates
189 & 190; plate 278).

(Abundant on steppe
grasslands of Iberia &
Morocco but uncommon
and local throughout
much of Mediterranean
basin. To E, breeds
Ukraine, Turkey & SW
Russia to Kazakhstan, NW
China & Afghanistan.
European & S Asian
populations resident or
nomadic, while N Asian
populations disperse S of
breeding range, wintering
S to Persian Gulf coast of
Iran.)

278. Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra. Baltasound, Unst, Shetland, May 2007.

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Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris (0, 7, 0)

2006 Surrey Badshot Lea, 22nd October (K. P. Duncan, D. W. Smith).

1 his late-autumn record was seen relatively briefly by the two observers, although it did provide the
opportunity for repeat viewing and was not simply a straightforward ‘fly-by’. This type of record often
provides BBRC members with a very difficult decision — the detail described is compatible with the
views but, as a consequence of the circumstances, it does not represent comprehensive documentation
of all the salient features of the species.

1 here are some similarities between this and the first four records of this species in Britain, which
all involved birds on single dates, each seen by no more than three observers (the first two records, in
1988, were seen by single observers). The two in 1999 proved the exception to this; they were seen only
on single dates at any one location (although one relocated from Leicestershire to Yorkshire), but lin-
gered long enough to be enjoyed by many observers. The pattern of previous records, both geographi-
cally and temporally, suggests that this species could be found anywhere in the UK between mid April
and late October. The 2006 Surrey record is the latest for the UK, but coincided with the arrival of
parties of four and three birds on 20th and 22nd October, respectively, in Sweden (the latter group lin-
gering until 1st November) and was followed by an arrival of up to six birds in The Netherlands
between 5th and 24th November, which represented the first confirmed Dutch records. Interestingly,
vagrancy to the north of the breeding range appears to have increased since the first British record in
1988. In Denmark, the species was first recorded in May 1988 and there have been five subsequent
records between May and mid November, with the last in 2000 (when three were seen in May). There
have been two accepted records in Finland (June 1988 and May 2003) and two in Sweden (in October
1996 and 2001) prior to the 2006 arrival described above. Crag Martin was first reported in Norway in
June 2007, although this record has yet to be accepted.

(Breeds NW Africa & Iberian Peninsula N to S Germany & E through Mediterranean & C Asia, N to Baikal region
of S Siberia, S to Tibetan Plateau & E to NE China. S European population mostly resident but Asian populations
migratory, wintering in NE Africa, & NW India to NC China.)

Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii ( 1 , 1 7, 3)

Fair Isle Boini Mire, first-winter, 27th October, trapped, photo, died later (M. T. Breaks, D. N. Shaw
et at).

Isles of Scilly Old Grimsby, Tresco, first-winter, 16th-23rd October, photo (D. Acfield, A. White et at)
(Brit. Birds 101: plates 38 & 279).

279. First-winter Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii. Old Grimsby, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, October 2007.

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Hugh Harrop

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Shetland West Voe of Sumburgh, 1 7th— 1 8th October, photo (R. Martin et a/.).

(Breeds S Transbaikalia, N Mongolia & extreme NE China. Winters locally throughout Indian subcontinent S to Sri
Lanka.)

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni ( 1 , 300, 1 0)

Norfolk Wells Woods, 27th— 29th October, photo ( J. J. Gilroy, J. R. McCallum et al.).

Shetland Pool of Virkie, Mainland, 4th October (G. Bruneau, P. A. Crochet et al.). Hametoun and
South Ness, Foula, 4th— 5th October (R. G. Hook, K. B. Shepherd et al.). Hametoun, Foula, 4th— 5th
October (R. G. Hook, K. B. Shepherd et al.). Hametoun, Foula, 4th-6th October, photo (R. G. Hook,
K. B. Shepherd, N. & P. J. Wright et al.). Hametoun, Foula, 5th October (K. D. Shaw et al.). Sandwick,
Mainland, 6th October, photo (K. Osborn et al.). Ham, Foula, 7th— 1 6th October, photo (R. G. Hook,
K. B. Shepherd et al.). Hametoun, Foula, 14th October (T. P. Drew, M. Garner, M. A. Wilkinson et al.).
Yorkshire Thorngumbald, Hull, 22nd April, photo (L. Hinchcliffe et al.).

(European range restricted to N Urals. Widespread across C & E Siberia to N China, Kamchatka, Kuril Islands &
Japan. Winters widely across S China, Taiwan & throughout N & C parts of SE Asia. Those in Himalayas &
mountains of W/C China winter throughout Indian subcontinent.)

Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi (4, 7 1 , 4)

Pembrokeshire Goodwick Moor, Fishguard, I9th-23rd November, photo (S. Berry, R. Dobbins,
A. Rogers et al.) (Brit. Birds 101: plate 39).

Shetland Out Skerries, 28th September (S. Dunstan, S. Piner). Foula, 3rd-6th October, photo (R. G.
Hook, K. B. Shepherd, P. J. Wright et al.). Toab, Mainland, 12th— 14th October, photo (R. M. Fray, A. ].
Mackay, M. N. Reeder et al.) (plate 280).

One of the highlights of the year for many birders was the discovery of this striking pipit in a small
area of woodland in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. Staying for five days, it put on a delightful show for the
crowd, and represented the first record for Wales. Pechora Pipit remains a major prize for birders
everywhere, and fig. 6 reveals that despite the relatively large number now seen in Britain, there is no
realistic alternative to the far north if you want to add this species to your ‘self-found’ list. Shetland,
including Fair Isle, accounts for 66 of the 79 British records, but the recent trend is for birds on this
archipelago to be found away from Fair Isle. The increasing coverage afforded in recent years to Main-
land Shetland and other islands in the group is paying dividends and, with five records in the last seven
years, Foula has almost overtaken Fair Isle as the premier site in Europe to find this bird.

Although Pechoras have a well-deserved reputation for being silent and very skulking, the occa-
sional bird will be mobile and more vocal. Time spent learning the distinctive flight call (a short, stony

‘tsep’, given either
singly or repeated
rapidly two or three
times - it can be
surprisingly similar
to that of Grey
Wagtail Motacilla
cinerea) may be a
good investment for
coastal birders. The
first British main-
land record, and the
first away from Fair
Isle, was initially dis-
covered on call
flying over the
Warren at Spurn,
Yorkshire, way back
in 1966. It was then

280. Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi, Toab, Shetland, October 2007. trapped in one of

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Fig. 6. Accepted records of Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi since 1 985,
showing those for Fair Isle, Shetland excluding Fair Isle and the rest of Britain separately.

the Heligolands farther down the peninsula. Perhaps this is the more likely great event of 1966 to
repeat itself!

(Breeds within narrow region of scrub-tundra & taiga of subarctic Eurasia, from Pechora region of NE Russia
across Siberia to Chukotskiy Peninsula & Kamchatka. Migrates through E China & Taiwan to wintering areas in
Philippines, N Borneo & N Sulawesi. Isolated race, menzbieri, breeds NE China & Amur River region of SE Russia.)

Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens (1,4,6)

At sea Sea area Hebrides 200+ km NW of Outer Hebrides, 19th— 20th September, died on board ship
(in British waters), photo (S. Cook).

Fair Isle Sukka Mire, first-winter, 23rd-25th September, photo (A. L. Cooper, M. A. Ward et al);
presumed same Vaasetter, 1st— 7th October, photo (D. N. Shaw et al).

Isles of Scilly Carn Friars, St Mary’s, 25th September to 2nd October, photo (P. Buxton et al.) (Brit.
Birds 100: plate 324). Second individual, Carn Friars and Porth Hellick Beach, St Mary’s, 27th
September, presumed same Abbey Pool and Pentle Bay, Tresco, 27th September to 2nd October, photo
(E. A. Fisher, R. L. Flood, P. Fraser et al).

Outer Hebrides Borve, Benbecula, 18th October, photo (S. E. Duffield etal).

Oxfordshire Farmoor Resr, 8th— 10th October, photo (N. J. Hallam, I. Lewington etal.) (Brit. Birds 100:
plate 325; plate 281).

An unprecedented influx, which more than doubles the previous total. The arrival also produced the
first inland record, another remarkable record from Oxfordshire’s rarity hotspot, as well as the first
multiple occur-
rence. Presumably,
more reached
northwest Europe
than were discov-
ered but this is a
subtle and un-
obtrusive species
likely to be found
only by the most
diligent rarity-
hunters and, given
the spread of
records from Shet-
land to Scilly, it
seems inevitable
that more were
missed. As all these
birds were pho-
tographed, British

observers should 281. Buff-bellied PipitAnthus rubescens, Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, October 2007.

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

now have a much more refined ‘search image’ of this somewhat variable species. Future autumns may
therefore show whether the events of 2007 reflect an unusual combination of weather and migration
slot or whether the species is more regular than we have so far thought.

(North American race A. r. rubescens breeds W Greenland, N & NW Canada, & Alaska, winters W & S USA, Mexico
& C America. Asian race japonicus vagrant to W Pal., breeds NE Siberia W to Baikal region, winters N Pakistan &
NW India to S & E China, S Korea & S Japan.)

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola (0, 185, 10)

Fair Isle Setter, first-winter, 1 3th— 27th August, photo (D. N. Shaw et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 295).
Utra Scrape, first-winter, 24th August to 11th September, photo (M. T. Breaks et al). Easter Lother,
first-winter, 25th August to 1 1th September, trapped, photo (M. M. Breaks et al.). Da Water, two, first-
winters, 27th September (S. J. Davies, M. A. Ward et al.).

Isles of Scilly Carn Friars, St Mary’s, first-winter, 15th September, photo (M. Anderton per R. Mawer,
B. Thomas et al.), presumed same Higher Town, St Martin’s, 16th September, photo (J. L. Hodgkins,
M. G. Telfer), and Tresco, 1 6th— 25th September, photo (A. White et al.).

Orkney Birsay, West Mainland, male, 1 5th— 1 6th ]une, photo (K. Fairclough et al.). Brides Ness, North
Ronaldsay, first-winter, 28th September (G. M. Buchanan, R A. Thomson); presumed same Westness,
North Ronaldsay, 30th September (A. E. Duncan).

Shetland Sandwick, Mainland, first-winter, 25th September (R. A. Haywood). Symbister, Whalsay,
first-winter, 3rd-8th October, photo (A. Seth, P. Stronach et al).

(Nominate race breeds in N Russia, from E Kola & Kanin Peninsula across N Siberia to Taimyr Peninsula & S to C
Siberia. To south, small numbers now breed regularly in Belarus, Baltic countries and occasionally S Finland;
otherwise from Ukraine & S Russia, E across Kazakhstan & Mongolia to N China. Black-backed race calcarata
breeds S/C Asia to Tibetan Plateau. Winters throughout Indian subcontinent, S China & SE Asia to peninsular
Thailand.)

Dipper Cinclus cinclus

North European race C. c. c/nc/us, ‘Black-bellied Dipper’ I)

Fair Isle Wirvie Burn and Finniquoy Gully, first-winter, 5th December to 13th March 2008, trapped,
photo (D. N. Shaw et al).

This is the first time that this subspecies has appeared in the report, following its inclusion in the list of
races to be considered by the RIACT subcommittee (Kehoe 2006). Nominate cinclus (‘Black-bellied
Dipper’) is one of three races of Dipper on the British List. The other two breed in Britain: the
endemic C. c. gularis (‘British Dipper’) over most of the British range and C. c. hibernicus (‘Irish
Dipper’) in western Scotland, as well as in Ireland.

The slightly parochial British view of Dippers is that identifying subspecies is quite straightforward.
However, BWP is rather more circumspect, stating that ‘racial identifications between ‘chestnut-
bellied’ and ‘black-bellied’ forms are specious... geographical variation [is] highly complex, [with]
some populations even varying within [the] same mountain range.’ It may well be that the taxonomy
will be revised in the future and that variation in Europe is clinal, with dark-bellied birds in cooler and
wetter climates and chestnut-bellied birds inhabiting warmer and drier areas (BWP). There is even
marked individual variation within populations in Britain (Tyler & Ormerod 1994; Forrester et al.
2007), while there are also some differences according to age and sex, with males and older birds being
darker on average (BWP).

All this makes racial identification less than straightforward, especially as nominate cinclus may
have some restricted chestnut on the belly, while it appears that some birds within the presumed range
of hibernicus in western Scotland may lack any chestnut. Moreover, although it has been suspected that
some chestnut-bellied birds in eastern Britain could be Continental birds of the race aquaticus,
proving this could be very difficult given the complex variation within and among populations.

The occurrence of ‘Black-bellied Dippers’ from northern Europe is, however, not doubted. There is
strong circumstantial evidence; most of the birds seen in areas where the species is a vagrant, such as
Shetland (over 50 records) and Norfolk (over 135 records), lack chestnut on the belly (Taylor et al.
1999; Pennington et al. 2004). More significantly, there are also two ringing recoveries: a bird ringed in
Sweden in March 1985 was found in Fife in April 1987 (Forrester et al. 2007) and another ringed as a

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chick in Norway in May 2004 wintered on Mainland Shetland in 2005/06 ( Shetland Bird Report 2005).
It is interesting to note that neither of these birds was in their first-winter when they were located in
Britain.

Foi the moment, BBRC will take the pragmatic view that birds with little or no chestnut on the
belly in eastern Britain are likely to be nominate cinclus, but other claims may have to await further
investigations on the variation of plumage shown by all the races likely to occur in Britain.

(Breeds Scandinavia, Baltic countries & W Russia. Outside the breeding season, resident or dispersive to S & W of
breeding range.)

Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia (I, 165,2)

Fair Isle Shirva, 13th May, photo (D. N. Shaw et al.). Utra, 28th September, photo (J. Ginnever, W. T. S.
Miles et al.).

(Widespread throughout E Europe with dramatic population increase during 20th century. Range still expanding
NW into SW Norway, and locally abundant in S Scandinavia & Baltic countries. C European range extends from
Denmark, SE to Romania & Ukraine, and through temperate European Russia to S Siberia. Winters E Africa, from S
Kenya to Zimbabwe.)

Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope (0, 6, I)

Shetland Foula, male, 5th October, photo (R. G. Hook, K. B. Shepherd, N. D. Wright et al).

(Breeds throughout Siberia from Ob River E to Anadyr & Kamchatka, with small numbers W to European foothills
of Ural Mountains. S limit reaches N Mongolia, Ussuriland, NE Hokkaido & NE China, with isolated population
on E slopes of Tibetan Plateau. Winters from Nepal E through Himalayan foothills to NE India, Burma & N
Indochina to C Thailand, S China & Taiwan.)

Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus (2, 38, 8)

Caernarfonshire Bardsey Island, adult male, 1st October, trapped, photo (B. Stammers et al.) {Brit.
Birds 101: plate 41, plate 282).

Cornwall Cot Valley, 3rd November, photo (B. R. Field, J. R. Smart et al).

Norfolk Weybourne, first-winter, 29th September, trapped, photo (M. Taylor et al).

Shetland Out Skerries, first-winter, 2nd-3rd April, photo (K. 8t P. Flint et al). Scatness, Mainland,
13th— 14th October, photo (J. J. Gilroy et al.) (Brit. Birds 101: plate 42).

Suffolk Corton, 28th September (J. A. Brown).

Yorkshire Easington, first-winter, 31st March, later found dead, photo (M. G. Stoyle et al). Flambor-
ough Head, first-winter male, 20th-23rd October, trapped, photo (I. Marshall etal).

This is no longer the extreme rarity that it once was, but it is surely still near the top of almost
everyone’s dream find list. Just 15 years ago, in 1993, one on Fair Isle in September was only the 12th
for Britain, and another at Winspit, Dorset, which stayed for ten days later in the same autumn, drew
huge crowds as the first widely twitched bird. Since then, records have been almost annual (none in
1996 and 2000) and have averaged more than two a year, while the eight this year constitutes a new
high. The increase seems likely to be linked to recent expansion in the west of the species’ range in
Finland, where breeding was first recorded in 1949 but where there may have been as many as 500
pairs by the beginning of the present century ( BWPQ BirdLife International 2004).

The classic migration hotspots along the east coast are the best places to find a bluetail, and there
are records from most recording areas from Shetland to Kent, although surprisingly there is none from
Orkney and these are the first from Yorkshire. There are also five records from southwest England
from Dorset to Cornwall, although Scilly still awaits its first. These apart, the male on Bardsey in 2007
was only the second away from the east coast, following an extraordinary inland record of one trapped
near Loughborough, Leicestershire, in October 1997.

The Bardsey individual was also unusual in that it was an adult male, although there have been a
few other autumn males: the first for Britain involved a sight record of one at North Cotes, Lin-
colnshire, on 19th September 1903; one was in Suffolk in October 1994; singles were in both
Northumberland and North-east Scotland in September 1998; and one was on Fair Isle in September
2004.

Most autumn records have to go down as ‘first-winter or female’, as reliable separation of these age

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

282. Adult male Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus, Bardsey Island, Caernarfonshire, October 2007.

classes is difficult. Other than two of the adult males listed above (Bardsey and North-east Scotland),
which were also caught, all autumn birds which have been trapped and for which age has been
reported have been first-winters. Several recent submissions have noted blue on parts of the plumage
other than the tail, but it is not clear whether this makes them first-year males or adult females, as both
can show traces of blue.

The two spring records in 2007 are only the third and fourth at this season. As they were so early in
the year, it seems highly likely that they were both birds that had wintered somewhere in western
Europe and were heading north. This may have also been the case for one of the previous spring
records, a male on Holy Island, Northumberland, on 23rd April 1995. The first spring record, and the
fifth for Britain, was on Fetlar, Shetland, from 31st May to 1st June 1971 and it seems more likely that
this was a spring overshoot.

The earliest autumn arrival remains the Fair Isle bird from 1993, which was on 16th September,
while the Cornwall bird in 2007 is only the third to be seen in November: the latest was at Gibraltar
Point, Lincolnshire, on 15th- 16th November 2002.

(Small population breeds NE Finland but main range extends through cool temperate forests of N Eurasia from E
Russia & Siberia to Kamchatka, N Japan & NE China. Winters S China, Taiwan & S Japan through SE Asia to N
peninsular Thailand. Distinctive race rufilatus of Himalayas & W China, sometimes treated as distinct species,
descends to lower elevations during winter.)

Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Eastern race S. t. maurus, ‘Siberian Stonechat’ (1,322,2)

Northumberland Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, first-winter, 29th September (S. ). McElwee, J. G. Steele).
Yorkshire Spurn, 2nd-6th October, photo (A. M. Hanby et al.).

2006 Cornwall Bray’s Cott, Goonhilly Down, 1 2th— 26th November, photo (S. F. Elton, S. Rogers et al).

(Breeds widely across N Asia from N Urals S to N Caspian Sea, Mongolia & N China, E to Kolyma basin, Okhotsk
coast & N Japan. Winters from N Indian subcontinent to S China & SE Asia. Other races occur S Asia & Africa.)

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti (9, 89, 6)

Cheshire & Wirral Crewe, male, 1 2th— 1 4th December, photo (P. Farrington, A. H. Pulsford).

Cornwall Land’s End, female, 17th October (R. Andrews, K. Dalziel, J. Hawkey).

Denbighshire Towyn, male, 20th November, photo (M. Hughes, S. Morris).

Greater Manchester Irlam Moss, first-winter male, 8th— 9th March, photo (J. Hamer, D. Steel et al.)
{Brit. Birds 100: plate 121).

Norfolk Horsey, first-winter male, 24th November to 10th December, photo (per G. E. Dunmore)
(Brit. Birds 101: plate 43).

Yorkshire Cromer Point, Burniston, male, 26th November to 2nd January 2008, photo (N. W. Addey,
M. Chamberlain, K. Walker et al.) {Brit. Birds 101: plates 63 & 283).

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283. Male Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, Cromer Point, Burniston, Yorkshire, November 2007.

Over 100 Desert Wheatears have now been recorded in Britain since the first, a male, shot in Clack-
mannanshire on 26th November 1880. The late-autumn to early winter period has since proved to be
THE time to expect this species. There have been fewer than ten spring records and the first- winter
male in Manchester in early March recalls the very popular first-summer male in April 1989 at Barn
Elms, Greater London, only 10 km from the centre of the capital. Both of these spring males showed
weak breast colour and quite a strong pinkish-buff or yellow-buff tone to the upperparts, inviting
speculation that they may be of the North African form homochroa rather than from the eastern part
of the species’ range, where most of our late-autumn records are assumed to come from. A number of
the very early British records, which were shot, were specifically assigned to race, though the reliability
of these attributions perhaps needs to be confirmed for the modern era.

(Breeds widely but discontinuously across arid and desert regions of N Africa from Morocco to Middle East, N to S
Caucasus, & across C Asia from C Iran & N Pakistan to Mongolia & N China. Some N African birds resident, but
many winter in Sahara & Sahel region of N Africa from Mauritania E to Ethiopia & Somalia. Asian breeders winter
Arabian Peninsula to NW India.)

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius (0,5, I)

Radnorshire Elan Valley, male, 11th April, photo (A. & S. Bridgman, P. Jennings, R. Spencer).

An exciting and most unexpected find for rarity-starved Radnorshire, and a salutary lesson in what
surely goes missing within the inland counties and more remote areas of Britain. Previous records have
all been in the western parts of Britain: Argyll, Cornwall (two), Gwynedd and the Isles of Scilly. It is
interesting to speculate on the likely origins of these birds. There are five races of Blue Rock Thrush,
including the largely resident or altitudinal migrant M. s. solitarius of Mediterranean Europe, North
Africa and the coastal Levant, and the migratory M. s. longirostris of eastern Turkey to Iran, Turk-
menistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and northern Pakistan (Clement & Hathway 2000). The first record,
a male at Skerryvore Lighthouse, Argyll, died and the frozen corpse was examined by BOURC.
Although they were reluctant to assign it conclusively to one particular race, biometrics fitted best with
the slightly smaller longirostris (Brit. Birds 88: 130-132). Further records have not been examined in
the hand, and attributing individuals in the field to any particular race is unwise owing to variation in
plumage, but a Central Asian origin is perhaps as likely as a southern European one. It

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

certainly gives hope to east-coast birders that the next may well turn up there rather than in the south-
west (as does the first for The Netherlands, in Zeeland in September 2003; Dutch Birding 26: 374).

(Resident or dispersive throughout Mediterranean basin from NW Africa & Iberian Peninsula, to N Italy & E to
Greece & Turkey. Other races extend through mountains of C & SW Asia to Himalayas, E China, Taiwan & Japan.
Winters within or to S of breeding range.)

White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma (25, 36, 3)

-Cl

-c

tXO

Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica (0, 6, I)

Shetland Hametoun, Foula, first-winter male, 28th September, photo (P. R. Gordon et al.) {Brit. Birds
100: plate 326; plate 285).

This is the first Shetland record of this stunning Zoothera and adds to the geographic spread of
records, which now extends the length and breadth of Britain. It is the seventh British record, fol-
lowing birds on the Isle
of May on 1 st— 4th
October 1954; at Great
Yarmouth cemetery,
Norfolk, on 25th
December 1977 (some
Christmas present
that!); on South
Ronaldsay, Orkney, on
13th November 1984; on
North Ronaldsay,
Orkney, on 1 st— 8 th
October 1992; at
Burnham Overy,
Norfolk, for the after-
noon of 18th September
1994; and on Gugh, Isles
of Scilly, from 5th to 8th-
October 1999 (together

285. First-winter male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica. Hametoun, Foula,
Shetland, September 2007.

284.

Winters

migrant

Fair Isle Kenaby, first-
winter, 2nd October, found
dead, photo (S. J. Davis,
D. N. Shaw et al.).
Shetland Sumburgh,
Mainland, first-winter,
13th October, photo
(M. D. Warren et al.) (Brit.
Birds 101: plate 44, 284).
Yorkshire Thorngumbald,
Hull, 21st October, found
dead, photo (G. E. Dobbs,
P. Radcliffe et al).

(Palearctic race Z. d. aurea
widespread in C & S Siberia
from Yenisey River to
Ussuriland, S to N Mongolia,
extreme NE China, Korean
Peninsula & Japan. Small
population extends W to
foothills of European Urals,
widely across S China, Taiwan & S Japan to Indochina & C Thailand. Nominate race resident or altitudinal
in Himalayas, SW China & Taiwan.)

■JSm *

White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma. Sumburgh, Shetland, October 2007.

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with a Whites Thrush Z. dauma — a unique Western Palearctic Zoothera double act). Looking to our
more immediate neighbours, there are two Irish records, from Cape Clear (Co. Cork) and Loop Head
(Co. Clare), two nineteenth-century records from The Netherlands and three records from Belgium,
the last being in 1912. However, with other European records coming from Norway, Sweden, Germany,
Poland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary and Malta, it can only be a matter of time before one
ari ives on the mainland and stays around long enough for all to see. Even in places where the species
can be expected (e.g. at Beidaihe, in eastern China), birds can be surprisingly elusive, uttering a Song
Thrush Turdus philomelos-like sip when flushed. But when a male sits out in full view, there can be
tew tmer sights in birding. For those who found the Foula bird this was surely the stuff of dreams, and
with a handful ot Olive-backed Pipits Anthus hodgsoni, Pechora Pipit A. gustavi , Lanceolated Warbler
Locustella lanceolata and a stunning male Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope on the same island
within the space of just one week, it must at times have felt more like eastern China than the north of
Scotland. Just rewards for persistence.

(Breeds C & E Siberia from Yenisey & Lena Rivers, S to NE Mongolia, & E to NE China, Amurland, Sakhalin, & N
Japan. Winters C Burma, Indochina & Thailand S to Singapore, Sumatra & Java.)

Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus (0,24, I)

Shetland Houbie, Fetlar,
28th September to
4th October, photo
(I. Robinson, B. H.
Thomason, M. D.
Warren et al.) {Brit.
Birds 100: plate 328;
plate 286).

(Breeds across S Alaska &
Canada to S Labrador &
Newfoundland, generally to
S of range of Grey-cheeked
Thrush C. minimus , S to N
California, New Mexico,
Great Lakes & West
Virginia. Migrates across E
USA to winter from Mexico
S to NW Argentina.)

286. Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus, Houbie, Fetlar, Shetland, September 2007.

Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus (0, 46, 2)

Fair Isle Hill Dyke, first-winter, 30th September, photo (D. N. Shaw et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 327).
Isles of Scilly Porth Loo, St Mary’s, 12th-22nd October (J. A. Lidster etal).

(Breeds extreme NE Siberia E throughout Alaska & N Canada to Labrador & Newfoundland. Migrates across E
USA to winter in N South America.)

Dark-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis (3,59,4)

Clyde Islands Rothesay, Isle of Bute, first- winter male T. r. atrogularis, 18th January to 26th March,
photo (R. W. Forrester, I. McMillan et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 82).

Fair Isle Steensie Geo, first-winter female T. r. atrogularis , 23rd April, photo (M. T. Breaks et al.) {Brit.
Birds 100: plate 159).

Shropshire Walcot Mill, first-winter female T. r. atrogularis , 8th April (G. Holmes, A. Latham etal.).
Yorkshire Buckton, first-winter female T. r. atrogularis, 25th— 27th March, photo (M. Thomas,
D. Waudby et al.).

(Western, black-throated T. r. atrogularis breeds C & N Urals, E across SW Siberia & E Kazakhstan, to NW China,
winters Iraq to N India, E through Himalayan foothills to Bhutan. Nominate red-throated race breeds to E, in C
Siberia & N Mongolia, wintering in E Himalayas & S fringe of Tibetan Plateau from Nepal to SW China, & N to NE
China.)

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287. First-winter American Robin Turdus migratorius, Bingley, Yorkshire, February 2007.

American Robin Turdus migratorius (0, 23, I)

Yorkshire Bingley, first-winter, 5th January to 13th February, photo (J. Crawshaw, M. Doveston,
A. Jowett et al.) [Brit. Birds 100: plate 83; plate 287).

(Breeds throughout North America from tree line of Alaska & N Canada, S to S Mexico. Winters from S Canada to
S USA & C America, S to Guatemala.)

Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola (1,34,2)

Fair Isle Gilsetter, first-winter, 28th September, trapped, photo (W. T. S. Miles, R. J. Nason, L. C. Shaw
et al.).

Shetland Out Skerries, 2nd October, photo (M. J. McKee, T. Warrick).

(Breeds across Siberia from Irtysh River in W Siberia, N to 64°N, & E to Yakutia & Sea of Okhotsk, & to the south
from SW Siberia & NE Kazakhstan through Mongolia to Ussuriland & N & NE China. Winters from Sri Lanka &
NE India to S China, & S throughout SE Asia.)

Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata (7, 103,6)

Fair Isle Skadan, 27th-28th September, photo (M. Culshaw, P. A. Harris, P. V. Harvey et al.). Plantation,
first-winter, 27th September, trapped, photo (P. A. Harris, D. N. Shaw et al.). Pund/Upper Stoneybrek,
29th September to 3rd October, photo (M. T. Breaks et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 329; plate 288).
Gilsetter, first-winter, 2nd October, trapped, photo (P. A. A. Baxter et al.). Upper Leogh, 2nd-3rd
October, photo (G. Bruneau, P. A. Crochet, S. J. Minton et al.).

Shetland Foula, 7th— 9th October, photo (K. B. Shepherd, P. J. Wright et al.).

(Singing males regular in eastern Finland. To E, discontinuously from C Urals E across much of Siberia to
Kamchatka, Kuril Islands, Hokkaido &. NE China. Winters in Indian subcontinent, from Nepal E through NE India
into SE Asia & Philippines.)

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288. Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata. Upper Stoneybrek. Fair Isle, September 2007.

River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis (0, 32, I)

Fair Isle Observatory, 11th June, trapped, photo (M. T. Breaks et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 223).

(Breeds C & E Europe from Germany to C Finland, & E through C Russia to W Siberia. Southern limit extends to
Croatia & Ukraine. Migrates through Middle East & NE Africa to winter in E Africa.)

Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides (many, c. 636, 2)

Kent Oare Marshes, male in song, 18th— 20th May (G. J. A. Burton, M. Wright et al).

Norfolk Hickling Broad, male in song, 14th-27th May (A. Blackman, P. J. Heath, A. Musgrove et al.).

(Breeds W Europe, from Iberia to The Netherlands; range contracting to SE but expanding to NE, into Baltic
countries. To E, occurs through temperate Russia S through Ukraine to Black Sea coasts, & E across C Asia to NW
China & W Mongolia. European birds winter in W Africa from Senegal to N Nigeria; Asian birds winter in NE
Africa.)

Paddyfield Warbler
Acrocephalus agricola
(1,63,4)

Fair Isle Gully, 9th June,
trapped, photo (P. A. A.
Baxter, M. Hughes, D. N.
Shaw et al).

Kent Bockhill, St Mar-
garet’s at Cliffe, adult,
28th-29th September,
photo (J. M. Warne et al.)
(plate 289).

Shetland Quendale,
Mainland, 9 th— 14 th

October, photo (R. M.
Fray, A. J. Mackay, M. N.
Reeder et al.).

289. Adult Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola,
Bockhill, St Margaret’s at Cliffe, Kent, September 2007.

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Sussex Pannel Valley, Icklesham, first-winter, 7th October, trapped, photo (P. E. Jones).

(In Europe, restricted to Black Sea coasts from N Bulgaria & Danube delta E to Ukraine. To E, breeds widely across
steppes of S Russia & SW Siberia, Kazakhstan, NW China & W Mongolia, S to Uzbekistan & N Pakistan. Winters
throughout Indian subcontinent N of Sri Lanka.)

Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum (9,67, 13)

Durham Whitburn Coastal Park, 2nd-4th October, photo (J. P. Cook et al).

Fair Isle Barkland, first-winter, 30th September, photo (P. A. A. Baxter et al.).

Isle of May 5th October, trapped, photo (A. R. Mainwood, J. Osborne).

Norfolk Blakeney Point, 8th June, photo (J. R. McCallum, P. Nichols, A. Stoddart et al.).
Northumberland Woodhorn, first-winter, 29th September, photo (T. R. Cleeves, S. J. McElwee, J. G.
Steele et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 330). Holy Island, 3rd-4th October (M. J. Carr, P. Howard et al.).
Shetland Skaw, Unst, 31st May, photo (A. I. & S. J. McElwee et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: plate 191; plate
290), presumed same Burrafirth, Unst, 1st June, photo (R. M. Tallack et al.). Skaw, Whalsay, adult,
3rd-8th June, trapped (J. Dunn, J. L. Irvine, B. Marshall et al.). Symbister, Whalsay, first-winter, 1st— 5th
October, photo (A. Seth, P. Stronach et al.). Helendale, Mainland, 1 2th— 1 3th October, photo (J. J.
Gilroy, A. Lees, S. Mitchell et al.). Norwick, Unst, first-winter, 1 3th— 14th October, photo (I. Mcdonald,
J. J. Sweeney et al.).

Yorkshire Spurn and Kilnsea, first-winter, 6th— 10th October, trapped, photo (L. J. Degnan, P. R.
French, G. C. Taylor et al). Flamborough Head, 6th— 1 0th October, photo (R. Baines, P. Cunningham,
N. Parker et al.).

This species is fast becoming a regular fixture in the BBRC report, although the 13 in 2007 is excep-
tional. This trend of increasing sightings means that birders now have the species on their radar during
autumn and are on the lookout for it, though very seldom will they come across one. With the
Northern Isles traditionally accounting for the majority of records, this year’s crop, including six along
the northeast coast, some staying for several days, was much appreciated by mainland birders.

Blyth’s Reed Warbler was formerly an extreme rarity. The first record, in 1910, was followed by a
remarkable seven in 1912 and one in 1928. Subsequently, there were no further occurrences for over 50
years and it was not until 1979 that BBRC was called upon to assess this species for the first time. Fig. 7
highlights the astonishing rise in numbers in the last ten years.

It is likely that a combination of factors is responsible for this increase. Although westward range
expansion into northeast Europe is important, it is likely that the clarification of identification features
and increasing observer awareness play just as significant a role. This is a common summer visitor to
European parts of Russia which has spread north and west in the last 50 years to colonise southern
Finland and the Baltic countries, with first proven breeding in Estonia in 1938, in Latvia in 1944 and in
Finland in 1947. Blyth’s Reed Warbler is now fairly common as a breeding species in these areas,
numbers being stable or perhaps increasing slightly, with population estimates of the order of
5,000-8,000 pairs in Finland, 3,000-6,000 pairs in Latvia and 2,000-3,000 pairs in Estonia (Hagemeijer

1 1 1 1 1

78-82 83-87 88-92 93-97 98-02 03-07

Fig. 7. Accepted records of Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum in Britain since 1 978.

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& Blair 1997). This
east European popu-
lation has no doubt
led to the occur-
rence of occasional
spring overshoots in
Britain. After the
first spring record, at
Spurn in 1984, and a
further spring bird
in 1989, a total of six
were found during
the 1990s and a
further ten since
2000.

The European
range is deserted by
late August and
birds are very rare in
early September

throughout Finland, 290. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum, Skaw, Unst, Shetland, May 2007.
and the Baltic coun-
tries. Autumn birds must therefore surely come from larger core populations further east, brought
here by and associated with conducive weather conditions.

The identification of this plain and rather nondescript bird remains a challenge, most easily accom-
plished in spring when birds are in song. With increasing familiarity, however, observers are now also
confidently identifying autumn birds in the field, and recent BBRC decisions have reflected this
increasing knowledge. A cautious approach is still prudent, however, and a combination of careful
observation and good views remains important as brief and incomplete views can give a misleading
impression. The main identification features are well covered in recent books, especially Beaman &
Madge (1999), and papers (e.g. Golley & Millington 1996). But knowing what to look for is usually
only half the battle. It is actually seeing the features, and then waiting to recheck them, that is often the
biggest problem with this secretive species. That all is not likely to go smoothly is illustrated by occa-
sional problem birds which may defy common agreement (e.g. Bradshaw 2001); in fact, two steps
forward and one step back is typical of the way advances are made with difficult identification issues.
It goes without saying that observers should strive to note as many of the main features as possible,
including call, the prominent fore-supercilium, the often dull tones to the upperparts (lacking con-
trasting rufous hues in the rump), short primary projection, and emargination on the fourth and

sometimes the fifth primaries. At least the last of these is more easily determined from high-quality
photos or on trapped birds in the hand.

(Breeds widely throughout S Finland, Baltic countries & European Russia to 64°N. To E, extends across C Siberia to
Lake Baikal & upper Lena River, S through W Mongolia & NW China, Kazakhstan & Tajikistan to N Pakistan.
Winters throughout Indian subcontinent S to Sri Lanka & E into NW Burma.)

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus (8, 2 1 6, 3)

Kent Lydd, male in song, 1 0th— 20th June, photo (J. E. Tilbrook, B. E. Wright etal).

Shetland Virkie, Mainland, male in song, 14th— 15th June, photo (P. V. Harvey etal).

Staffordshire Barton GB male, 20th May (I. Moore, S. A. Richards et al).

2006 Kent Sandwich Bay, male in song, 15th June, photo (perwww.birdguides.com).

2005 Surrey Frensham Great Pond, male in song, 30th April, sound recording (S. P. Peters).

(Breeds discontinuously throughout much of continental Europe from Iberia to Greece, N to S Sweden & Finland,
& E across S Russia, Turkey & Caucasus to W Siberia. C Asian race zarudnyi breeds from Volga to NW China & W
Mongolia. Winters throughout C & S Africa.)

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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata (I, 107, 3)

Norfolk Blakeney Point, male, 2nd June, sound recording, photo (J. J. Gilroy et al). Scolt Head, 24th
August (N. M. Lawton, M. Rooney, N. Williams).

Outer Hebrides Castlebay, Barra, 1 1th September, photo (T. P. Drew, M. A. Wilkinson).

2005 Caernarfonshire Bardsey Island, 30th August, photo (S. D. Stansfield et al).

(Range expanding W, now breeding in S Finland. To E, breeds C Russia & W Siberia to Yenisey valley, C & N
Kazakhstan to W Mongolia & W Xinjiang province, China. Winters N & peninsular India, S to Karnataka.)

Booted/Sykes’s Warbler Hippolais caligatalrama (0, 3, 0)

2006 Highland Tarbat Ness, 19th August (R. L. Swann).

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans

Southeast European race S. c. albistriata, ‘Eastern Subalpine Warbler’ (0, 17,4)

Caernarfonshire Bardsey Island, first-summer male, 4th May, trapped, photo (M. Archer, R. J. Else,
S. D. Stansfield). Bardsey Island, first-summer male, 24th-25th May, trapped, photo (R. J. Else, S. D.
Stansfield et al.).

Cornwall Penlee, nr Rame Head, male, 16th April, photo (C. Buckland, K. Pellow et al).

Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-summer male, 30th April to 11th May, trapped, photo (P. A. Brown
et al.).

(Breeds SE Europe from Slovenia & Croatia S to Greece, Aegean Islands, Crete & W Turkey. Migrates through
Middle East to winter along S edge of Sahara S to Sudan.)

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala (0, 73, I)

Shetland Spiggie, Mainland, female, 26th-30th September, photo (N. Alford, N. Stocks et al.).

(Largely resident or dispersive throughout Mediterranean basin, from NW Africa & Iberia to S France, N Italy & E
to W Turkey & Israel. Some winter in N Africa from Sahara S to Mauritania & S Libya.)

Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis (II, 270, 3)

Shetland Out Skerries, 23rd-27th September, photo (P. Bridges, D. Waudby et al.). Symbister, Whalsay,
9th October, photo (J. L. Irvine, B. Marshall et al). Baltasound, Unst, first-winter, 10th November,
photo (M. G. Pennington, R. M. Tallack, B. H. Thomason et al).

2006 Isles of Scilly Telegraph, St Mary’s, 13th October (P. Kinsella, R. A. Lambert et al).

(Breeds locally in N Scandinavia, becoming widespread across N Russia E to extreme NE Siberia, S to Baikal region,
Ussuriland & NE China. Other races breed in Alaska, & Kamchatka through Kuril Islands to N Japan. Migrant
through E China to winter widely in SE Asia to Java, Philippines & Sulawesi.)

Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei (0, 90, 3)

Caernarfonshire Penrhyn Bay, 18th November, photo (M. Hughes et al).

Norfolk Holkham Meals, 6th— 1 1 th October, photo (A. I. Bloomfield, R. Millington, A. J. L. Smith
et al).

Sussex Belle Tout Wood, Beachy Head, 30th December to 14th January 2008, sound recording, photo
(J. F. Cooper, R. D. M. Edgar, S. T. Underdown et al).

(Breeds in Altai Mountains to W Mongolia, S through Tien Shan & Pamirs to NE Afghanistan, NW Himalayas &
mountains in NW China. Winters S Afghanistan to N India, E to W Bengal. Another race breeds in C China from
Hebei to S Yunnan, W to lower slopes of Tibetan Plateau.)

Western Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli (1,83,0)

2006 Argyll Balephuil, Tiree, 8th September, photo ( ). Bowler).

2000 Isles of Scilly Vine Farm, Bryher, 2nd May (I. K. Higginson).

(Breeding range centred on SW Europe from Iberia to N France, S Germany, Italy, Austria, & locally in mountains
of N Africa. Winters along S edge of Sahara, from Senegal & S Mauritania to N Cameroon.)

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Eastern/Western Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis/bonelli (0,75,0)

2006 Shetland Baltasound, Unst, first-winter, 1 3th— 1 8th October, photo (D. M. Foster, M. G.
Pennington et al).

Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus (0, 1 3, 2)

Devon Beer Head, male
in song, 28th April,
sound recording
(G. Haig, S. Waite et al.).

Norfolk Colney Lane,

Norwich, male in song,

21st April to 7th June,
sound recording, photo
(D. Andrews, O. J.

Richings, W. Soar et al.)

{Brit. Birds 100: plate
160; plate 291).

2001 Kent Dungeness,
male in song, 14th—

17th April, sound
recording {Brit. Birds
97: 614); note revised
year.

(Breeds locally in French
Pyrenees & S throughout

W Iberia. N African range restricted to NW Morocco & N Algeria to NW Tunisia. Wintering range poorly known.)

Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus (0, 203, 7)

Greater London/Essex Rainham Marshes, two, 22nd December 2006 to 26th March, photo {Brit. Birds
100: 744).

Isles of Scilly Lower Moors, St Mary’s, 12th October ( J. A. Lidster et al); presumed same 21st October
(R. A. Schofield et al.).

Kent Swanscombe, 30th January (M. Sutherland).

Suffolk Minsmere RSPB reserve, 4th-6th November (M. Deans, D. Fairhurst et al). Dingle Marshes,
four, male, female & two juveniles, 1 2th— 25th November, photo (P. D. Green, J. A. Rowlands et al).

(Widely but locally distributed throughout C & E Europe, from Denmark, Germany & Italy NE to C Sweden &
Estonia. Absent from much of NW Europe but locally numerous in Spain. To E, breeds from S Russia to Volga
River. Largely resident or dispersive in Europe. Other races, sometimes regarded as separate species, occur in C Asia
& from S Siberia to NE China, & winter NW Indian subcontinent, S China & S Japan.)

Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus (0, 76, I)

Yorkshire Buckton, first-winter, 29th September to 5th October, trapped, photo (R. Hearn, M. Thomas
et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate 332; plate 292).

The bird at Buckton proved to be very popular, being easily combined with a trip to see the Brown
Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica at nearby Flamborough (as stated in the introduction, the latter record
is currently being assessed by BOURC). The shrike also has great merit as one of the most fully docu-
mented records of this species in Britain to date.

A more detailed comment on BBRC’s ongoing investigation into the identification of the different
forms of Isabelline Shrike can be found in the 2005 report {Brit. Birds 100: 92-94). As stated there,
first-winters generally seem to fall into two groups ( phoenicuroides and isabellinus), and the Yorkshire
bird had the following distinctive characters: a whitish supercilium, flaring behind the eye; fine dark
barring on the forehead and flanks; cold, earthy brown-toned upperparts contrasting with almost
white underparts; dark-centred tertials and wing-coverts; dark bars on the uppertail-coverts; and a
dark ear-covert patch. Collectively, these all point to a seemingly clear example of what is assumed

29 1 . Male Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus,
Colney Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, April 2007.

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Mark Thomas

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to be a young
L. i. phoenicuroides
(‘Turkestan Shrike’).
Its rather greyish cast
and lack of obvious
rufous above pointed
towards it belonging
with greyer birds
included within
‘karelini’-. a poorly
understood and
highly variable form
closely allied to
phoenicuroides but
possibly just a
distinctive colour
morph of that taxon.
However, this last

point nicely illustrates the problems facing the Committee: in some images there appears to be a
strong rufous wash to the crown and the mantle is less grey-brown; on others - notably those of the
bird in the hand - it appears much greyer and more uniform above (see plate 292). Such variance in
images can sometimes make a true and critical assessment of colour and tone very difficult.

Like the Dutch and, more recently, the French, we should perhaps review the records of young birds
in autumn; however, although the features seem clear-cut in theory, there are many birds that will not
be easily assigned to one of the two groups. BBRC is looking at a more satisfactory way of categorising
more obvious ‘types’ of first-winter as well as the less clear individuals.

(Breeds widely across arid regions of C Asia from Caspian Sea and W Iran E to Tajikistan, Afghanistan, N Pakistan,
S Mongolia & NW China, with isolated subspecies in Zaidam depression, N Tibetan Plateau. Winters NE & E
Africa, S Arabian Peninsula, S Iran & NW Indian subcontinent.)

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor (21,1 53, 2)

Fair Isle Barkland, female, 27th May to 18th August, photo (K. Bailey, P. A. A. Baxter et al.) {Brit. Birds
100: plate 224).

Norfolk Holkham, first-winter, 1st— 8th October, photo (E. Hunter, D. & J. Moreton et al.).

(European range centred E of Balkans to E Poland, with small numbers W through N Mediterranean to S France &
NE Spain. To E, breeds locally from Black Sea coasts, across S Russia & Kazakhstan to NW China & SW Siberia.
Migrates through E Africa to winter in S Africa, from Namibia to S Mozambique & N South Africa.)

Blackpol! Warbler Dendroica striata (0, 36, 2)

Isles of Scilly Garrison, St Mary’s, first-winter, 9th-20th October, photo (S. Richards et al.) (plate 293).
Higher Moors, St Mary’s, first-winter, 10th-23rd October, photo (per www.birdguides.com) {Brit.
Birds 101: plate 45).

Two typical first-autumn birds on Scilly. These islands are now responsible for over half of the 38
British records since the first, in 1968. There has only ever been one in spring, at Seaforth, Lancashire

292. First-winter Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus, Buckton, Yorkshire, October 2007.

Fig. 8. Accepted records of Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata in Britain, 1968-2007.

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British Birds 101 • October 2008 * 516-577

293. First-winter Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata, Garrison, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, October 2007.

& North Merseyside, in June 2000; a location which clearly suggests a ship-assisted crossing.

Blackpoll Warbler remains the most frequent Nearctic wood-warbler in Britain by some distance,
with more than double the number of records of the next most frequent, Yellow-rumped Warbler D.
coronata, with 17. It the unprecedented nine in 1976 is discounted, the occurrence of the species has
been remarkably consistent since 1968, with nothing to suggest any effect of the increasingly frequent
Caribbean hurricanes of recent years (fig. 8).

The relative frequency of Blackpoll on this side of the Atlantic has traditionally been linked to a
late-autumn transoceanic migration strategy making it vulnerable to displacement by westerly storms.
Interestingly, Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus, which has a similar transoceanic migra-
tion route, is also among the more frequent Nearctic passerines reaching Britain. It is believed that, in
mid to late autumn, Blackpoll Warblers from across their North American breeding range congregate
on the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland to North Carolina before embarking on a non-stop flight
to South America across the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (Nisbet et al. 1995). With no oppor-
tunity to make landfall during bad weather, these migrants are highly susceptible to being displaced
eastwards by late-autumn weather systems. Butler (2000) demonstrated a correlation between autumn
storms over the western Atlantic and lower numbers of breeding Blackpolls the following year. It is
sobering to realise that conditions bringing this species to Britain cause measurable declines in the
breeding population - and for each one reaching Britain thousands must perish at sea.

(Breeds widely across North America from W Alaska E throughout Canada to Newfoundland, S to Maine. Migrates
through E USA to winter in South America from Panama to Chile & E Argentina.)

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis (I, 29, 2)

Hampshire Southampton, 1 2th— 1 3th May, photo (per www.birdguides.com).

Northumberland Inner Fame, Fame Islands, 11th June, trapped, photo (R. Mason, D. Steele et al.).
With two records in 2007 there have now been 32 accepted records of this New World sparrow since
the first, in 1909. Numbers reported in Britain are clearly increasing, with the present decade set to
show more than twice the number of records of any previous decade.

The majority (78%) have occurred in spring, with discovery dates from 5th May to 17th June. Two-
thirds of the spring records have been in Scotland, including 11 in Shetland alone at this season. The
five autumn arrivals show a more even geographic spread, while the remaining two records both

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concern wintering individuals at inland localities: in Norfolk/Suffolk from 16th November 1968 to 1st
January 1969 (when found dead) and in Lincolnshire from 5th December 1992 to 28th March 1993.

There is widespread acceptance that at least a proportion of White-throated Sparrows arriving in
Britain are ship-assisted (Elkins 2008). Durand (1972) and Cook (1998) described how, on a transat-
lantic voyage, multiple White-throated Sparrows joined and seemingly departed a ship a significant
distance from land. It can be speculated that such a journey is undertaken by many of the Nearctic
landbirds, particularly the granivores, that reach Europe. Nonetheless, only a small number of British
White-throated Sparrows have been found close to international seaports, such as the bird in May
2007 reported here. The overwhelming majority are actually found at migration hotspots, presumably
having resumed their migration after making landfall here.

(Breeds North America from SE Yukon E to Newfoundland, S to Great Lakes & N USA to New Jersey. Winters SE
USA, from Massachusetts S to Florida, Texas & into N Mexico & California.)

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis (0, 24, 6)

Cornwall Illogan, 12th May, photo (G. Mills).

Highland Unapool, age uncertain, 23rd June, photo (H. M. & J. A. MacDonald).

Norfolk Langham, first-summer male, 14th July, photo (A. & D. Curtis et al.) {Brit. Birds 100: plate
247). Terrington St Clement, 1 4th— 1 7th July, photo (S. Bowman, R. Marsh).

OrJcney North Ronaldsay, adult male, 19th June (R. J. Simpson).

Outer Hebrides St Kilda, 30th May, male in song, photo (S. Dennis, W. T. S. Miles, S. Money et al.) (fig. 9).
A record year for this charming and easily identified American sparrow. Spring has always been the
peak time for records of this species (as with other vagrant Nearctic seed-eaters; see Elkins 2008), but
this year’s influx extended from mid May to mid July. Dark-eyed Juncos are among the earliest spring
migrants in Canada so perhaps only the two birds in May (both in the far west) were direct transat-
lantic arrivals. Those found in June and July are more likely to be birds which have moved on after an
earlier, undiscovered, landfall. The June records are at coastal sites and suggest continued movement
but the discovery of two in inland Norfolk within minutes of one another in July is one of the year’s
most remarkable coincidences. Their route to Norfolk is of course unknown, but neither showed any

sp Kiu> f . Mh\.

M'V- tMiatfe .

, Lcuiubilty, l<!iv+rt*uvyf + unehdut tmfe

un/L smdey

Hkil shetM- 'WJi (fa

(blAtkioU} Wi if/wf

'ItojsuM.i*# j

"JkhMtL (puj- aJu
iJhik /WlW

Ik.

Fig. 9. Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis. St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, May 2007.

570

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

signs of having been in captivity and the unusual’ summer dates surely just reflect the survival of birds
which had already arrived in Britain earlier in the spring. Once here, gardens with feeders are perhaps
as good a place for finding them as any other.

(Breeds throughout North America from tree line of N Alaska & Canada, S to S California, N Texas & N Georgia.
British records are of forms previously recognised as Slate-coloured Junco, breeding throughout N & E of range, S
to Georgia. Northern populations migratory, wintering to S of breeding range.)

Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos (2,45, I)

Fair Isle Barkland, first-winter male, 25th October to 10th November, photo (M. T. Breaks et al ) (plate
294). F

Are we missing a trick in finding Pine Buntings in Britain? This record, the ninth for Fair Isle and 48th
for Britain, was, typically, a male and again showed a faint trace of yellow in the primary fringes and
small underwing-coverts. The presence of limited yellow on males was discussed in detail in the 2003
BBRC report (Brit. Birds 97: 620-621), and is no longer considered a bar to acceptance.

Italy boasts regular wintering Pine Buntings, and there are smaller numbers in southern France.
According to Occhiato (2003), Pine Buntings arrive in Italy from the second half of October, but
chiefly in the first half of
November. Maximum
numbers occur from mid
December to mid Feb-
ruary. Birds leave the
wintering grounds
during the first week of
March with fewer records
into April. The occur-
rence patterns pretty
much mirror those of
Pine Bunting records in
Britain, with one glaring
exception: females! In
Italy, 70% (of 110 indi-
viduals) were first-winter
birds and there was an
overall ratio of two
females to every one
male. In The Netherlands the ratio is approximately one female to every three males and many of these
concern birds trapped at ringing stations (Arnoud van den Berg pers. comm.). Just across the North
Sea in Britain, the ratio is approximately one female to every five males. It would thus seem a reason-
able assumption that rarity hunters in Britain may be overlooking female Pine Buntings. Females
(especially first-winters) can be dowdier buff- and brown-looking ‘Yellowhammer types’, not especially
likely to catch the eye. Given the widespread inland wintering localities of many of our male Pine
Buntings, the targeting of game-cover crops and winter Yellowhammer E. citrinella flocks may not be a
bad pursuit. But remember to think female... you’re not likely to miss the males!

(Breeds temperate Russia from W Urals to upper Kolyma River, S to S Siberia, SE Kazakhstan, Mongolia, lower
Amur River & Sakhalin. Isolated population breeds Qinghai & Gansu provinces, C China. Small isolated wintering
populations regular W Italy & C Israel. Otherwise winters S of breeding range from Turkestan E through
Himalayan foothills to C & E China, N of Yangtze.)

294. First-winter male Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos,
Barkland, Fair Isle, October 2007.

Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata (0, 1,0)

2004 Fair Isle Skadan, first-winter male, 1 5th— 20th October, photo (P. A. Harris, H. E. Maggs, D. N.
Shaw et al.) (Brit. Birds 100: 100; 101: 235—240); note revised observers.

(Nominate form breeds Baikal region of Siberia, E to NE Mongolia & Russian Maritime Region, NE China, Korean
Peninsula & Japan. N populations migratory, wintering S Japan, Taiwan & S China, S to N Thailand. Other races
largely sedentary or dispersive in W Himalayas to SE China.)

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

571

Paul Baxter

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala (6, 176, 3)

Devon Pennsylvania, Exeter, male, 21st-22nd June, photo (G. D. Rendle).

Highland Canna, adult male, 8th July, photo (D. Aiton, H. Chisholm).

Isles of Scilly Wingletang, St Agnes, adult female, 5th June (F. D. G. Hicks, M. Hicks, D. Page).

2005 North-east Scotland Loch of Strathbeg RSPB reserve, adult male, 1 3th— 1 8th October, photo
(D. Funnell, S. Paterson etal).

(Breeds from C Italy to Greece, Turkey, N Iraq & W Iran, N through Caucasus to Ukraine 8c S Russia. Winters in W
8c C India.)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus (0, 22, I)

Isles of Scilly St
Agnes, first-winter
male, 23rd-29th
October, photo
(P. Read, W. B.

Spurred, J. Wise et
al.) {Brit. Birds 101:
plates 46, 295).

(Breeds C Canada to
Nova Scotia 8c
through mid-west 8c
NE USA to Maryland.

Migrates through E
USA to winter from C
Mexico through C
America to N South
America.)

295. First-winter male Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus ,

St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, October 2007.

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula (1,21, I )

Caithness John O’Groats, male, 24th-27th May, photo (J. Logue, A. 8c Y. McLean) (Brit. Birds 100:
plate 192; plate 296).

The appearance of a stunning male Baltimore Oriole on a bird feeder in Caithness was one of the
major surprises of the spring. This is only the third spring record of this species (following a male on
Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, in May 1968 and a male in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in May 1970)
and, perhaps surprisingly, only the fourth for Scotland. The Caithness bird was in its third calendar-
year or more, as males do not attain full plumage until their second post-breeding moult. Older
females can approach males in colour but are more subdued; the head and mantle are not solidly black

and the underparts and rump are a paler orange. As it
was so far north, it is conceivable that the Caithness bird
was a newly arrived spring overshoot; conversely, given
its age, it may have arrived in a previous year and spent
the intervening time unnoticed, migrating normally on
the wrong side of the Atlantic. If so, and given that
Baltimore Orioles can live for over 1 1 years, perhaps we
may see it again, as this is another species (see Dark-
eyed Junco, above) for which garden feeders are a good
bet.

(Breeds S Canada from C Alberta E to C Nova Scotia, S
296. Male Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula, throughout E USA from N Texas to W South Carolina.

John O' Groats, Caithness, May 2007. Migrates to winter from S Mexico to Colombia 8< Venezuela.)

572

British Birds 101* October 2008 • 5 1 6-577

Bryan Thomas

References

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, Muusse, M„ & Winters, R. 2008. First-year Herring Gulls mimicking Smithsonian Gull. Dutch Binding 30: 1-6.

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Bi rd Life International. 2004. Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. BirdLife International,
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Blus, L.J., & Henny, C. J. 1981. Suspected Great Blue Heron population decline after severe winter in the Columbia Basin.

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Diggin, J. 200 1 .The American Herring Gulls in County Cork. Birding World 1 4: 62-65.

Dubois, R J. 1 997. Identification of North American Herring Gull. Brit. Birds 90: 3 1 4-324.

Durand, A. L. 1 972. Landbirds over the North Atlantic: unpublished records 1961 —65 and thoughts a decade later Brit Birds
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D. S. 2007. The Birds of Scotland. SOC, Aberlady.

Forsman, D. 1 999. The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East a handbook of field identification. Poyser London.

Gantlett, S. 1998. Identification of Great Blue Heron and Grey Heron. Birding World I I: 12-20.

Garner M. 2008. Common and Black Scoter In: Garner M. (ed.), Frontiers in Birding, pp. 154-1 60. BirdGuides, Sheffield.

Golley, M„ & Millington, R. 1 996. Identification of Blyth's Reed Warbler in the field. Birding World 9: 35 1-353.

Gutierrez, R., & Guinart, E. 2008. The Ebro Delta Audouin’s Gull colony and vagrancy potential to northwest Europe. Brit. Birds
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Jiguet, F„ Doxa, A., & Robert, A. 2008. The origin of out-of-range pelicans in Europe: wild bird dispersal or zoo escapes? Ibis
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Jonsson, L. 1 998. Baltic Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus fuscus - moult, ageing and identification. Birding World I I :

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Mailing Olsen, K., & Larsson, H. 2003. Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. Christopher Helm, London.

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McNeil, R., & Cadieux, F. 1 972. Fat content and flight-range capabilities of some adult spring and fall migrant North American
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Tyler S., & Ormerod, S. 1 994. The Dippers. Poyser London.

van Bemmelen, R„ & Wielstra, B. In press, Vagrancy of Brunnich's Guillemot Uria lomvia in Europe. Seabird 2 1 .

Vinicombe, K. E„ & Cartridge, D. 1 996. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland: a photographic record. HarperCollins, London.

Winters, R. 2006. Moult and plumage variation in immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the Netherlands. Dutch Birding 28:
140-157.

Zink, R. M., Rohwer S., Andreev, A. V., & Dittmann, D. L. l995.Trans-Beringia comparisons of mitochondrial DNA differentiation
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Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Appendix I . Late records of former BBRC species, removed from the list
prior to 2007

Brent Goose Branta bernicla

North American and East Siberian race B. b. nigricans, ‘Black Brant’

2004 Hampshire Gosport, adult, 29th December to 17th February 2005, photo (T. Carpenter, J. Clark
et al).

(Expanding west in Arctic NE Siberia to Lena delta, where overlaps with nominate race. Majority breed in Arctic
Alaska & E to Victoria Island, Canada. Migratory, wintering on Pacific coast of North America, S to Baja California.
Formerly, large numbers wintered coastal N China, Korean Peninsula & Japan, but now rare.)

Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis

1959 Norfolk Lower Bure Marshes, adult male, 15th June (H. Smith per P. Allard).

(Widespread breeder throughout N America from Alaska to Newfoundland, S to N USA. Winters British
Columbia, Canada, & throughout USA and Mexico to southern C America and W Indies.)

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca

2005 Perth & Kinross Vane Farm, Loch Leven, 6th— 7th September (T. P. Drew, D. Jones, K. D. Shaw
et al).

(Main breeding range in temperate steppe-forest from Poland & Hungary E through Ukraine to Caspian Sea, but
distribution patchy. Other populations in S Spain, Kazakhstan, W Mongolia & Tibetan Plateau. Migratory, most
winter in E Mediterranean, Black & Caspian Seas, NE Africa & Indian subcontinent.)

Great White Egret Ardea alba

2002 Cheshire & Wirral Budworth Mere, 7th January to 23rd March, photo (Brit. Birds 100: 28); note
revised year, not 2005 and presumed same as Great Budworth, 1 1th January 2002 (Brit. Birds 96: 551 ).

(Small but increasing breeding population in The Netherlands & France. Elsewhere in Europe, highly fragmented
breeding range from E Austria to Ukraine but generally rare. W Pal. population migratory, most wintering N Africa
& E Mediterranean, although recent trend to overwinter in C & NW Europe. Other populations breed across much
of Africa, Asia, Australia & the Americas.)

Black Kite Milvus migrans

2005 Yorkshire Low Barden Resr, adult, 21st June (A. A. Gough); previously considered not proven
(Brit. Birds 100: 102) but now accepted after additional information submitted.

(Breeds throughout continental Europe, most in Spain, France & Germany, with smaller populations elsewhere,
except maritime NW Europe & Scandinavia. To E, breeds European Russia to W Kazakhstan. ‘Black-eared Kite’
M. m. lineatus breeds C Kazakhstan E to Japan. Nominate race winters Africa & NW Indian subcontinent. Other
races migratory, dispersive or resident, in sub-Saharan Africa, Indian subcontinent, E & SE Asia & Australia.)

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus

1990 Essex Barling, adult, 5th May; note revised ageing (Brit. Birds 86: 473).

1989 Essex Bradwell-on-Sea, adult male, 21st May (Brit. Birds 83: 458); note revised ageing; presumed
same Old Hall Marshes, 1st June to 15th July (note revised dates), and Colne Point, 2nd June (previ-
ously reported as different bird with incorrect age/sex) (Brit. Birds 83: 458). Langenhoe, subadult male,
5th June; note revised ageing and that previously reported incorrectly as same as Bradwell (Brit. Birds
83: 458).

White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis

2005 Orkney North Ronaldsay, adult, 1 2th— 2 1 st September (P. Brown, P. Donnelly, R. J. Simpson et
al). North Ronaldsay, juvenile, 1 8th— 20th September (P. Brown, A. E. Duncan, R. J. Simpson et al).
North Ronaldsay, adult, 19th-23rd September (P. Brown, A. E. Duncan, R. J. Simpson et al). North
Ronaldsay, seven, juveniles, 1 2th— 25th October (J. Bird, P. Brown, P. Donnelly, D. Hatton et al). Note
revised observers and ageing for all of the above (Brit. Birds 100: 713).

(Breeds in N Alaska & Arctic Canada, from Mackenzie River E to S Baffin Island. Overflies W Atlantic to winter in S
South America.)

574

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

2004 Shetland Mousa, 10th June (S. E. Duffield, H. Moncrieff etal.).

(1 lie European & VV Siberian race viridanus expanded W during 20th century to E Poland, Baltic countries & S
inland, with sporadic breeding in Germany, Sweden & Norway. To E, breeds through Russia & W Siberia to
Yenisey River, S through NW Mongolia to N Afghanistan & NW Himalayas. Winters throughout Indian
subcontinent. Other races occur throughout Himalayas to SW China, wintering from Indian subcontinent to
Indochina & N Thailand.)

Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi

2005 Sussex Beachy Head, 7th October (M. & R. Charlwood).

(Breeds in S Siberia from Novosibirsk region E to Ussuriland & NE China. Migrates through E China to winter in
N Burma, Indochina & C Thailand.)

Appendix 2. Category D species accepted (see Ibis 136:253)

Ross’s Goose Anser rossll

Cleveland Saltholme Pools, adult, 5th October, photo (M. A. Blick etal).

Norfolk Holkham, adult, 29th September to 31st December (M. A. Ward).

2004 Perth & Kinross Vane Farm, Loch Leven, adult, 13th— 20th April, photo (L. Mercer, J. S. Nadin,
K. D. Shaw et al.) {Brit. Birds 98: 693); note revised observers.

(Breeds in scattered colonies on tundra of Canadian Arctic, from Perry River region of Northwest Territories to N
Manitoba, including Southampton Island, E to N Ontario. Most migrate across C USA to wintering grounds in S
USA, with increasing numbers regular on Atlantic seaboard, & N Mexico.)

Falcated Duck Anas falcata

2006 Devon Exe Estuary, 18th November to 1 1th January 2007, photo (Brit. Birds 100: 751, plate 363);
note revised dates.

The Committee is undertaking further research on the age of this bird, as the critieria used to age it as
an adult have been questioned.

(Breeds E Siberia from Yenisey River & Baikal region E to Sea of Okhotsk & S to NE China & Hokkaido, Japan.
Winters from S Japan to SE China, locally W to Nepal.)

Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris

Gloucestershire Frampton-on-Severn, male, 9th April to 21st June, photo (R. G. Baatsen).

Suffolk Dingle Marshes, juvenile, 24th August (per D. F. Walsh); presumed same Lowestoft, 27th
August to 8th October, photo (per D. F. Walsh); presumed same Minsmere RSPB reserve, 28th August
(per D. F. Walsh).

2006 Dorset Stanpit Marsh, first-winter, 23rd September to 29th October, photo (D. Smith, D. Taylor).

(Breeds N Morocco & S Spain, & Turkey E to S Kazakhstan. Migratory and dispersive outside breeding season.
Many Spanish breeders move NE in late summer to Ebro Delta, NE Spain. Some winter N Africa, with small
numbers reaching Senegal, Mali & Chad. Asian population winters mostly Iran.)

White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

2006 Various localities Two individuals, both adults. Bird 1 was seen initially in Kent, between 30th
July and 4th September, moved north to Angus (where last seen on 15th September) via Essex and
Yorkshire (per www.birdguides.com). Bird 2 was seen initially in The Netherlands on 7th— 3 1st May,
moving to Germany on 2nd-15th July before returning to The Netherlands from 20th July to 13th
August. It arrived in Britain on 16th August, when it was tracked along the coast from north Norfolk
to Lincolnshire. It was relocated in Lancashire the following day and remained there until 24th August
before moving through Cleveland to Northumberland on 26th August, remaining in the last county
until 12th September. It was at Findhorn Bay, Moray, on 17th— 19th September (A. Lawrence,
I. Phillips, R. Proctor et al.) then passed through Flintshire and Denbighshire on 22nd-23rd Sep-
tember, reaching Anglesey on 23rd where it remained until 6th October. On 7th October it flew over
Conwy to Lancashire before continuing to Cumbria the following day and finally Northumberland,

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

575

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

where it was ultimately taken into care (per www.birdguides.com). CDNA accepted this individual as
the ninth Dutch record ( Dutch Birding 29: 350).

We received a formal submission only for Bird 2 and only from Moray. However, in future it would
be useful to receive documented claims of this species in Britain to enable consideration of origins by
BOURC, especially given the recent support for vagrancy within Europe provided by Jiguet et al.
(2008).

(In Europe, breeding confined to Danube Delta in Romania & Ukraine, which holds c. 50% of entire Palearctic
population. Small numbers breed Greece & Turkey, Volga Delta & throughout C Asia. N breeders migratory,
European population wintering S to E Africa. Asian populations winter in Indus Delta, Pakistan, & locally in NW
India. Other populations breed locally in E & South Africa.)

Appendix 3. Category E species accepted (see Ibis 1 36: 253)

Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus

Norfolk Holkham Freshmarsh, adult, 24th October to 1st November, photo (S. M. Lister, R. J. Pacey).
1986 Devon Bowling Green Marsh, adult, 1st January, photo (D. Pauli et al.).

(Rare and declining throughout entire breeding range from N Scandinavia to NE Siberia. Reintroduction scheme in
Swedish Lapland boosts numbers wintering in The Netherlands. Migratory, wintering in scattered groups in The
Netherlands, Hungary, S Black & Caspian Sea areas, N Kazakhstan & Yangtze valley, China.)

Appendix 4. List of records not accepted

This list contains all current records not accepted after circulation to the Committee. It does not
include a) those withdrawn by the observer(s) after discussion with the Secretary; b) those which, even
if circulated, were not attributed by the observer(s) to any definite species; c) those mentioned in
‘Recent reports’ in British Birds if full details were unobtainable; or d) certain escapes.

In the vast majority of cases, the record was not accepted because we were not convinced that the iden-
tification was fully established; only in a very few cases were we satisfied that a mistake had been made.

2007 Blue-winged Teal Hornsea Mere, Yorkshire, 19th October. Lesser Scaup Oban, Argyll, 21st
October. Black Scoter Reculver, Kent, 3rd September. White-billed Diver Thurlestone, Devon, 24th
March. Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, 8th April. North of Iona, Argyll, 3rd May. West Burra, Shetland,
26th May. West Burra, Shetland, 17th June. Peterhead, North-east Scotland, 3rd September. Isle of
May, 16th October. North Atlantic Little Shearwater Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, 11th August.
Squacco Heron North Warnborough, Hampshire, 3rd June. Welney, Norfolk, 11th July. Cattle Egret
Lea Farm GP, Berkshire, 21st May. Budleigh Salterton, Devon, 19th November. Black Stork Nr Bath,
Avon, 5th June. Nr Martham, Norfolk, 5th )une. Monkton Deverill, Wiltshire, 20th-26th July. Caine,
Wiltshire, 13th August. Berrington Pool, Shropshire, 29th July. Booted Eagle Aquila pennata Grove
Ferry, Kent, 16th September. Baird’s Sandpiper Culross, Fife, two, 2nd August. Garnock Estuary, Ayr-
shire, 30th August. Goldcliff Lagoons, Newport Wetlands, Gwent, 3rd October. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Dinham Flats, Cornwall, 22nd September. Broad-billed Sandpiper North Farmbridge, Essex, 4th
October. Great Snipe Houbie, Fetlar, Shetland, 29th September. Lesser Yellowlegs Isle of Mull, Argyll,
21st May. Marsh Sandpiper Loch Scridain, Mull, Argyll, 12th October. Laughing Gull Greenfield, Den-
bighshire, 4th January. Franklin’s Gull Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, 19th January. Wells-next-the-Sea,
Norfolk, 1st November. Blagdon Lake, Avon, 15th December. Audouin’s Gull Sker Point, East Glam-
organ, 12th September. American Herring Gull Chew Valley Lake, Avon, 29th December to 8th Feb-
ruary 2008. Ross’s Gull Landguard, Suffolk, 1st January. Pwllheli, Caernarfonshire, 10th January.
Bonaparte’s Gull Gian y Mor Elias, Caernarfonshire, 15th June. Whitburn Coastal Park, Durham, 3rd
August. Ivory Gull Marwick Bay, Orkney, 15th April. Gull-billed Tern Landguard, Suffolk, two, 1st
May. Dungeness, Kent, 16th June. Salthouse, Norfolk, 20th August. Whiskered Tern Aird an Runair,
North Uist, Outer Hebrides, 17th May. Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire, 2nd October. Forster’s Tern
Sterna for steri Blakeney Point, Norfolk, 24th August. Briinnich’s Guillemot Burrow Gap, Holkham,
Norfolk, 1 1th November. Cley, Norfolk, 12th November. Mourning Dove Borrodale House, Arisaig',
Highland, 7th November. Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus Bishop’s Clecvc, Gloucestershire, 9th

576

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 5 1 6-577

Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007

April. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica Holkham Freshmarsh, Norfolk, 6th July. Fulford, Yorkshire,
24th— 25th July. Pallid Swift Bryher, Isles of Scilly, 20th May. Pacific Swift Apus pacificus West Kirby,
Cheshire & Wirral, 16th September. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer Cresswell Pond, Northumber-
land, 16th September. Little Swift Apus affinis St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 23rd-24th May. Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica. North American race H. r. erythrogaster St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, 3rd June. Cliff
Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Carn Gwaval, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 3rd October. Blyth’s Pipit
Lundy, Devon, 14th— 16th October. Olive-backed Pipit Wirvie Burn, Fair Isle, 12th October. Sum-
burgh, Shetland, 18th October. Citrine Wagtail Eshaness, Mainland, Shetland, 27th September. Foula,
Shetland, 29th September. Red-flanked Bluetail Loch of Strathbeg RSPB reserve, North-east Scotland,
17th October. Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka Budby South Common, Nottinghamshire, 22nd
October. Blue Rock Thrush Selsey Bill, Sussex, 30th April. Veery Catharus fuscescens Gugh, Isles of
Scilly, 24th October. American Robin Welwyn, Hertfordshire, 8th October. River Warbler Burton-in-
Kendal, Cumbria, 14th April. Savi’s Warbler Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, 18th May. Blyth’s Reed
Warbler St Mary’s Island, Northumberland, 2nd-3rd October. Hametoun, Foula, Shetland, 4th
October. Western Bonelli’s Warbler Chalton, Hampshire, 23rd August. Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus
Isle of Mull, Argyll, 10th lune. Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes Tewkesbury Golf Course, Glouces-
tershire, two, 22nd October. Arctic Redpoll Carduelis h. hornemanni Funzie, Fetlar, Shetland, 27th Sep-
tember. Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia Marwick Bay, Orkney, 1st June. Black-headed Bunting
Downend, Devon, 15th September.

2006 Blue- winged Teal unknown location, Devon, 15th June. White-billed Diver Whitburn Coastal
Park, Durham, 12th December. Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae Otterburn, Northumberland, 3rd
June. Whiskered Tern Rockland Broad, Norfolk, 25th-26th May. Pallid Swift St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly,
8th August. Savi’s Warbler Catfield Fen, Norfolk, 23rd May. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Blakeney Point,
Norfolk, 22nd September. St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 26th October.

2005 Pacific Diver Eriskay, Outer Hebrides, 19th October. Cattle Egret Stoneycross, Hampshire, 21st
July. Bonaparte’s Gull Cardiff Bay, East Glamorgan, 4th November. Laughing Gull Fetlar, Shetland, 9th
November. American Herring Gull Exmouth, Devon, 16th December. Pallid Swift Eccles on Sea,
Norfolk, 2nd November. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Garreg Llwd, Radnorshire, 7th June.
Buff-bellied Pipit St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, 20th September. ‘Siberian Stonechat’ London Wetland
Centre, Greater London, 24th March. Pied Wheatear Bredon Hill, Worcestershire, 5th November.
Booted Warbler Noss, Shetland, 2nd September. Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla St Mar-
garet’s, Kent, 30th April.

2003 American Herring Gull Garrison, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 24th April.

2002 Pallid Harrier Lydd, Kent, 5th May. American Herring Gull Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides, 2nd
June. Elegant Tern Sterna elegans St Ives, Cornwall, 28th July. Savi’s Warbler Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
reserve, Norfolk, 19th May to 1st July. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus caudatus Skinningrove,
Cleveland, 13th October.

1991 Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Great Pool, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, 23rd September.

1988 Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis West High Down, Totland, Isle of Wight, 12th April.
1983 Semipalmated Sandpiper Peterborough SF, Cambridgeshire, 5th-7th August.

1968 Nutcracker Wendover, Buckinghamshire, 9th September.

ZEISS

The British Birds Rarities Committee is sponsored by Carl Zeiss Ltd

Chairman

Adam Rowlands, East Walks Bungalow, Minsmere RSPB Reserve, Westleton, Suffolk IP 1 7 3BY

Secretary

Nigel Hudson, Post Office Flat, St Mary’s, Scilly TR21 0LL; e-mail secretary@bbrc.org.uk
BBRC members Chris Batty, Chris Bradshaw, Phil Bristow, Lance Degnan, Paul French,
Martin Garner, James Lidster, Mike Pennington, Brian Small, John Sweeney
Archivist lohn Marchant • Museum Consultant Brian Small
Summariser and RIACT Chairman Reg Thorpe • RIACT Secretary Peter Kennerley

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 516-577

577

News and comment

Compiled by Adrian Pitches

Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of British Birds

Bird-of-prey conservation has faced
no fewer than three major setbacks
in the past month: Defra has con-
firmed that a bare minimum of
raptor species will require registra-
tion for captive-breeding in future;
one of the first Red Kites Milvus
milvus reintroduced to Northern
Ireland has been found shot dead;
while English Hen Harriers Circus
cyaneus have had one of their
worst-ever nesting seasons.

N&c has previously reported
the widespread unease among con-
servation and law enforcement
officers at Defra’s proposal to
‘reduce bureaucracy’ by slashing
the list of bird species that will
require registration under Schedule
4 of the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981 (Brit. Birds 101: 167). The
Department has now confirmed
that it will leave just nine of our
rarest raptors on the Schedule from
October 1st (see www. defra.
gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/
gwd/birdreg/index.htm).

Duncan McNiven, Senior
Investigations Officer at the RSPB,
has commented: ‘Whilst we can
take some comfort from the fact
that bird registration would prob-
ably have been scrapped altogether
if we had not put up such a huge
fight, it is disappointing that we are
to lose 50 species from the

Raptors under siege

Schedule, including rare birds like
the Red Kite, although it is a relief
that Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
and Northern Goshawk Accipiter
gentilis'NiW remain listed. The Gov-
ernment claims to have retained
nine species on the Schedule by
also including Peregrine Falco pere-
grin us and Merlin F. columbarius. It
is true that (technically) Peregrine
and Merlin are retained on the
Schedule but, as those falcons with
CITES certificates are deemed “reg-
istered for the purposes of
Schedule 4”, once those birds are
sold on they will simply become
untraceable as the new owners will
not have to apply for new certifi-
cates. This defeats the whole
purpose of registration, which was
to make birds traceable in the event
of suspected criminal activity.’

One of the species removed
from Schedule 4 is Red Kite. RSPB
Northern Ireland released 27 kites
in July at the start of a three-year
reintroduction programme - the
first of its kind in Northern
Ireland. Within weeks, one of the
birds was found shot dead near
Leitrim in Co. Down; tests carried
out by the Police Service of
Northern Ireland suggest that the
bird may have been killed deliber-
ately. Both of its wing tags and its
identifying leg ring had been

removed before the bird was recov-
ered by the RSPB.

The RSPB has also expressed
deep concern at the continuing
plight of the Hen Harrier in
England. Breeding data for 2008
released by Natural England show
that there were just 10 successful
nests from 19 attempts and 31
young harriers fledging. The bulk
of these were in the Lancashire
stronghold of Bowland, where 25
chicks fledged from eight suc-
cessful nests (seven on United Util-
ities land and one on a driven
grouse moor). In the rest ot
northern England there were five
nesting attempts with two suc-
cesses, yielding six fledged harriers,
five of which came from just one
nest in Northumberland. In 2007
there were 1 4 successful nests from
23 attempts; since 1994 the
number of successful nests in
England has never exceeded 15.
This is despite estimates that the
country’s uplands could support at
least 200 breeding pairs.

Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of
Natural England, said: ‘Bowland is
a snapshot of what should be a
national situation. We will con-
tinue to work with landowners
countrywide to increase the Hen
Harrier’s range.’

Spoonbills nest in Scotland

Hot on the heels of the news that
Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis have
nested successfully in Somerset
( Brit. Birds 101: 454) comes the
news that Eurasian Spoonbills
Platalea leucorodia have nested in
Scotland for the first time. In fact, it
is only the third confirmed breeding
record in Britain since 1668.

The Scottish birds bred in the
Kirkcudbright area of Dumfries &
Galloway, in southern Scotland
(see www.rbbp.org.uk). A pair had
been present since June and then

three recently fledged young birds
were seen begging for food from
the adults in early September, con-
firming that they were locally
reared. No nest has been found.
Although this is the first successful
nesting in Scotland, nest-building
and display were recorded at
Mersehead, also in Dumfries 8<
Galloway, in 2000.

The previous breeding records
both occurred a decade ago. In
1998, the first confirmed breeding
for 330 years occurred in Suffolk:

two eggs were laid but lost, thought
to have been predated. Two young
birds seen at the site later in the
year were thought to have been vis-
it ors from the Continent. And
then, in 1999 in Lancashire &
North Merseyside, the first suc-
cessful breeding in modern times
was reported: three eggs were laid,
two hatched and both young birds
subsequently fledged. Nest-
building was also recorded in both
Norfolk and Suffolk that year but
no eggs were laid.

578

News and comment

And Bitterns are booming too

The wet winter weather of 2007/08
was certainly good for ducks - and
for Eurasian Bitterns Botaurus stel-
lar is too. The Bittern Monitoring
Programme has revealed that the
species has enjoyed its best nesting
season for at least 130 years, and
it’s largely due to the amount of
water in its reedbed home. RSPB
and Natural England surveyors
logged 75 ‘booming’ males in
English reedbeds, an increase of
47% on 2007 and a staggering
581% increase in the numbers

recorded in 1997, when the UK
population plummeted to just 11
booming males, all in England. The
number of English counties sup-
porting booming Bitterns has also
increased, to ten, from eight in
2007 and four in 1997.

The monitoring team believes
that this year’s bumper population
is directly linked to the very wet
winter, which provided ideal
feeding conditions for female
Bitterns, allowing them to attain
good breeding condition. Overall,

the Bittern population is increasing
because of large-scale re-creation
and management of reedbeds.
Dr Pete Brotherton, Head of Bio-
diversity for Natural England, said:
‘This year’s figures are a fantastic
achievement and show that we can
bring species back from the brink
of extinction. You would probably
have to go back at least 130 years to
find a better year for this booming
bird.’

More on Spanish seabirds

297. Third-summer Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii.
Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire, August 2008.

For those interested in knowing
more about seabird monitoring
south of British waters, and partic-
ularly about seabird movements
along the coast of the Iberian
Peninsula (involving species such
as Balearic Shearwater Puffinus
mauretanicus or Audouin’s Gull
Larus audouinii ), the website of the
Iberian Seabird Group (Grupo
Iberico de Aves Marinas, GIAM)
contains information about
seabirds in Spain, beached bird
surveys and the GIAM bulletin.
One of the recent papers (Ocio &
Sanchez 2007, Presencia de la
gaviota de Audouin Larus
audouinii fuera de su area bio-
geografica tradicional de reproduc-
cion, migracion e invernada en la
peninsula iberica y Europa occi-
dental, Boletin del GIAM 28: 2-6;
www.seo.org/media/docs/
BoletinGIAM28_2007.pdf) was
important background for the
recent note on Audouin’s Gull
( Brit. Birds 101: 443-447). GIAM
also collaborates with the Iberian
seawatching network, RAM
(www.telefonica.net/web2/
redavesmarinas), which co-ordi-

nates simultaneous counts along
Spanish coasts, linked with similar
networks in The Netherlands,
Belgium, France, Germany, Por-
tugal and the UK through the
www.trektellen.nl network. Bul-
letins available through the RAM
website present interesting data on
migration timing and numbers,
including for scarcer species such
as Great P. gravis or Sooty Shear-
waters P. griseus. With 40 trektellen

locations already in Britain, having
a look at what happens farther
south can be an interesting way to
understand occurrence patterns in
northwest Europe, as in the case of
Audouin’s Gull. And, talking of
Audouin’s Gull, this summer
brought another British record, a
third-summer in Lincolnshire in
August (see plate 297).

( Contributed by Ricard Gutierrez)

Geordie birders are 50 years old

The Northumberland & Tyneside
Bird Club (www.ntbc.org.uk) is
marking its 50th anniversary with a
one-day conference and social
gathering on 25th October. The
speakers are: David Parkin, Pro-
fessor of Genetics at Nottingham

University and former Chairman
of BOURC; Prof. Colin Bradshaw,
recently retired Chairman of
BBRC; Mike Hodgson, former
Club Chairman and County
Recorder; and Mick Marquiss, Pop-
ulation Ecologist formerly with the

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
All are welcome: tickets for the
event, at Newcastle upon Tyne
Civic Centre, are £15 each
(including the evening buffet).
Contact Jo Bentley at
NTBC@jo.bentley.waitrose.com

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 578-581

579

Steve Young/Birdwatch

News and comment

Bird Atlas 2007-1 1

Fieldwork for the second winter of the BTO/SOC/Bird-
Watch Ireland Atlas 2007-11 starts on 1st November.
Excellent coverage was achieved in the First winter and
already some notable changes in distribution are
emerging. At this early stage it is much easier to pick
out those species that are expanding in range than
those that may be contracting, owing to incomplete

coverage across Britain & Ireland. In addition to the
well-known range expansions for Little Egret Egretta
garzetta , Common Buzzard Bn tea buteo and Common
Raven Corvus corax, species such as Marsh Harriei
Circus aeruginosus. Common Stonechat Saxicola
torquatus , Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti and Dartford
Warbler Sylvia utidata show considerable expansion
since the last Winter Atlas, in 1981-84.

Can you help to fill in the gaps? Did you
see a Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus last winter
(November-February) that is not shown on
the map (fig. 1.)? It’s not too late to submit
your sightings, online or on paper, to the
Bird Atlas. Do please look out for Hen Har-
riers over the coming winter and submit
your records. The general pattern of distri-
bution is similar to that in the last Winter
Atlas, but there are still many gaps - or do
they not winter there any more?

Help with fieldwork is required in all
areas over the coming winter. The two com-
plementary methods are Timed Tetrad Visits
and Roving Records. Just two timed visits are
required per tetrad (2 x 2 km square) in
winter and two in the breeding season; each
tetrad needs coverage in just one of the four
years of fieldwork; and we hope to achieve
timed counts in at least eight tetrads in every
10-krn square. These counts provide infor-
mation on the relative abundance of species
at the 10-km level. In order to achieve com-
prehensive distribution maps, Roving Records
are required from each 10-km square (or
tetrad in those 35+ counties undertaking
local atlases). You can find out more by
visiting www.birdatlas.net or by contacting
the Atlas Coordinator, Dawn Balmer, at
the BTO (tel. 01842 750050, e-mail

After 22 years’ hard slog, Harvey
Rose passed on the recordership
for Avon (that is the four unitary
authorities of Bristol, South

New recorder for Avon

Gloucestershire, BANES and North
Somerset) to John Martin on 1st
October. John can be contacted on

avonbirdrecorder@googlemail.com

and at 34 Cranmoor Green,
Pilning, Bristol BS35 4QF.

Lifeline for farmland birds - but not yet

The UK Government is belatedly
stepping in to help farmland birds
now that set-aside and its environ-
mental benefits have been phased
out. From 2009/10, farmers in
England will not be paid subsidies
unless they leave a small part of
their farm for wildlife, creating
feeding and nesting sites for species

such as Sky Lark Alauda arvensis.
Linnet Carduelts cannabtna ,
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
and Corn Bunting E. calandra , all
of which have declined by almost
50% in the last 40 years.

The move, announced by Envir-
onment Secretary Hilary Benn, will
help to replicate the environmental

benefits of set-aside (an over-pro-
duction measure where up to 15%
of the farm was left uncultivated),
which was scrapped in 2007. But
the new measure will not be effec-
tive until the cropping year
2009/10. Farmers will also be asked
to voluntarily manage small
patches of land less intensively.

580

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 578-581

News and comment

)

Gareth Morgan, RSPB’s Head of
Agriculture Policy at the RSPB,
said: ‘This is a massive step forward
for the environment. Set-aside was
never supposed to help wildlife but,
with so much other land farmed so
heavily, it became a sanctuary for
many species. It’s a great shame
[that this] has come too late for this

year but, with the Government’s
green farming schemes, it is still the
most comprehensive plan for
English wildlife for a long time.’

The Government has a target for
reversing farmland bird declines by
2020 but new figures show that 13 of
the 19 species making up the farm-
land bird index for England con-

tinue to decline. Tree Sparrow Passer
montanus, Yellowhammer and Corn
Bunting are among the biggest
losers, all highly dependent on set-
aside. Farmers’ subsidies are already
dependent on the condition of their
land and the RSPB believes that pay-
ments should be linked to wildlife as
well. This will now happen.

Recent reports

Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Eric Dempsey

This summary of unchecked reports covers mainly new arrivals between early August and

early September 2008.

Headlines Cape Clear Island was undoubtedly the place to be in late August, with Yellow Warbler
(Irelands third), Northern Waterthrush (Ireland’s second) and Solitary Sandpiper, the last two
sharing the same muddy pool for a while. Ireland’s fourth Yellow Warbler was on Mizen Head at
about the same time, while the fifth Audouin’s Gull for Britain lingered along the Lincolnshire coast,
although it was sometimes elusive. Otherwise, about a dozen White-winged Black Terns were seen
and a good variety of waders included six Baird’s Sandpipers (including one well inland), four Pacific
Golden Plovers, four Semipalmated Sandpipers, three Marsh Sandpipers, two Wilson’s Phalaropes,
and single Great Snipe and Stilt Sandpiper (as well as the Solitary). No fewer than seven Fea’s
Petrels were reported, mostly from Ireland, where a Black-browed Albatross was seen off Co.
Kerry. During the first week of September there was also a widespread scatter of Grey Phalaropes
Phataropus fulicarius and Sabine’s Gulls around the coast, plus a few inland. The Two-barred Crossbill
influx in the Northern Isles was still evident, at least early in the period.

Black Duck Anas rubripes Blanketnook (Co.
Donegal), 23rd August; Ventry (Co. Kerry), 7th
September.

Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche
melanophris, 110 km west of Slea Head (Co.
Kerry), 7th September. Zino’s/Fea’s Petrel Ptero-
droma madeira/feae Bridges of Ross (Co. Clare),
13th and 19th August; Galley Head (Co. Cork),
15th and 26th August; Dunowen Point (Co.
Cork), 16th August; Annagh Head (Co. Mayo),
24th August; Porthgwarra (Cornwall), 25th
August. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites ocean-
icus Singles from pelagics off Scilly, 15th and 28th
August; Bridges of Ross, 15th and 16th August;
Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), 17th August; Old
Head of Kinsale (Co. Cork), 18th August; two
seen from pelagic off Inishbofin (Co. Galway),
24th August; Porthgwarra, 26th August.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis In Dorset: 13 at Radi-
pole Lake on 16th and presumably one of same

at Lodmoor, 21st August; Ballard Down 17th,
presumed same Poole Harbour 19th-20th and
27th, presumed same Wareham Moors, 21st,
Swineham GP 24th and Brownsea Island 25th
August. Elsewhere: Cley/Blakeney (Norfolk),
12th— 15th August; Dungeness (Kent), 17th
August; Colyford Common, 22nd-23rd August,
Buckfastleigh (both Devon), 28th August;
Catcott Lows, two adults and a juvenile, 28th
August, then Shapwick Heath (both Somerset),
30th August, with a single there 1st September;
Kiwelly Marsh (Carmarthenshire), 5th Sep-
tember. Great White Egret Ardea alba Blashford
Lakes (Hampshire), 1 6th— 25th August, 8th Sep-
tember; Lough Corrib (Co. Galway), 1 7th— 1 8th
August; Leighton Moss (Lancashire & N
Merseyside), 21st August; Horseshoe Point
(Lincolnshire), 27th August; Ellesmere (Shrop-
shire), 27th August to 9th September; Burniston
(Yorkshire), 1st September; Scaling Dam Reser-
voir (Cleveland), 1st September; Rainham
Marshes (Greater London), 9th September.

581

Gary Thoburn Eric Dempsey

Recent reports

298. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus,
off Inishbofin, Co. Galway, August 2008.

Black Stork Ciconia nigra Long-stayer
Newburn/Clara Vale (Durham/Northumber-
land) to 14th August; presumed same
Cawood/Wharfe Ings area 26th-29th August,
Melbourne 30th August and Easington/Spurn
lst-2nd September (all Yorkshire); Great
Yarmouth (Norfolk), 3rd September. Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus Allerton Bywater, 17th-23rd
August, Swillington Ings, 27th August to 4th
September and Fairburn Ings, 6th September
(all Yorkshire); Salthouse (Norfolk), 1st Sep-
tember.

Black Kite Milvus migrans Sunk Island (York-
shire), 22nd August; Warden Point (Kent), 23rd
August; Arklow (Co. Wicklow), 23rd August.

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus

Harris (Outer Hebrides), 1 1th August.

American Golden Plover Pluvialis
dominica Elmley Marshes (Kent), long-
stayer to 17th August, again 4th Sep-
tember; Blackrock Strand (Co. Kerry),
20th August; Tiree (Argyll), 5th— 6th
September; Ballycotton (Co. Cork), 7th
September. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvi-
alis fulva Anthorn (Cumbria), 1 9th— 24th
August; North Ronaldsay (Orkney),
22nd August to 7th September; Spurn,
31st August; Dornock (Dumfries & Gal-
loway), 6th-8th September. Semi-
palmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Pilmore Strand (Co. Cork), 21st-22nd
August; Lissagriffin (Co. Cork), 26th
August; Dawlish Warren (Devon), 26th
August to 6th September; Mullet Penin-
sula (Co. Mayo), 29th-30th August.
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
Titchwell (Norfolk), 2nd-6th September; The
Cull (Co. Wexford), 4th September. Baird’s
Sandpiper Calidris bairdii South Uist (Outer
Hebrides), 14th— 20th August; Paxton Pits
(Cambridgeshire), 27th August to 1st Sep-
tember, 6th-7th September; St Kilda (Outer
Hebrides), 3rd September; Blackrock Strand,
6th-7th September; Carrahane (Co. Kerry), 7th
September; Mullet Peninsula, 7th September.
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus Coombe Hill
Meadows (Gloucestershire), at least 1 9th— 2 1 st
August. Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subru-
ficollis North Ronaldsay, 11th and 1 7th— 1 9th
August; Tiree (Argyll), 26th August, two on
30th August, one to 1st September; Loop Head
(Co. Clare), 27 th— 29th August;
Bryher, 28th— 31st August, St
Agnes, 1st— 4th and 7th-9th Sep-
tember and St Mary’s, 6th Sep-
tember (all Scilly); Pilmore
Strand, 31st August; Ballycotton,
2nd and 7th September; Orford
Ness (Suffolk), 3rd September;
Carrahane, 8th September. Great
Snipe Gallinago media South Care
(Cleveland), 7th September.
Long-billed Dowitcher Limno-
dromus scolopaceus Dundalk
Docks (Co. Louth), 1 9th— 28th
August. Solitary Sandpiper Tringa
solitaria Cape Clear Island,
27th— 30th August. Lesser

299. Juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla ,
Dawlish Warren, Devon, August 2008.

582

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 581-584

Recent reports

Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Guard-
bridge (Fife), 3rd September;
Burnham Lagoon (Co. Kerry),
4th-6th September. Marsh Sand-
piper Tringa stagnatilis Hickling
Broad (Norfolk), 1 8th— 30th
August; Heybridge GP (Essex),
24th-30th August; Bowling Green
Marsh (Devon), 31st August to
1st September. Wilson’s
Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Grindon Lough (Northumber-
land), 1 3th— 1 7th August; Loch of
Strathbeg (North-east Scotland),
1st September.

300. Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria, Cape Clear Island,
Co. Cork, August 2008.

Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii
Huttoft Bank, 15th August, same
Chapel Point area, 17th-23rd August, and
Sandilands, 17th and 19th August (all Lin-
colnshire). Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus
Philadelphia Ballycotton, 30th August. Sabine’s
Gull Xema sabini High counts included 21 past
Bridges of Ross, and ten past Brandon Point
(Co. Kerry) on 2nd September. White-winged
Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Inverness, 11th
and 13th August, presumed same nr Balloch
(both Highland), 22nd August; Loch of
Strathbeg, 11th August; Thamesmead (Greater
London), 11th August, two on 12th and one
14th August; Sandilands, 17th August;
Covenham Reservoir (Lincolnshire), 20th-21st
August; Wilstone Reservoir (Hertfordshire),
two, 30th August; Dungeness, 31st August to
9th September, two on 7th September;
Seaforth/Crosby Marine Park (Lancashire & N
Merseyside), 31st August to 2nd September;
Blithfield Reservoir (Stafford-
shire), 3rd-8th September;

Shotwick Lake (Flintshire),

3rd-8th September.

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus
Mullet Peninsula, 26th August
to 4th September. Alpine
Swift Apus melba Gimingham
then Mundesley (both
Norfolk), 8th September.

European Bee-eater Merops
apiaster Port Erin (Isle of
Man), 29th August. Red-
rumped Swallow Cecropis
daurica Mersea Island (Essex),

7th September.

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Tynemouth
(Northumberland), 7th September. Citrine
Wagtail Motacilla citreola Fair Isle, 16th-22nd
August, two 23rd August, and another 1 st— 8th
September; Landguard (Suffolk), 29th August;
St Mary’s, 2nd-6th September; Vidlin (Shet-
land), 3rd September; St Kilda (Outer
Hebrides), 7th September; South Uist (Outer
Hebrides), 7th September; Sullom (Shetland),
8th September. Thrush Nightingale Luscinia
luscinia Fair Isle, 13th and another 1 8th— 1 9th
August.

Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola Marazion
(Cornwall), 24th August; Rainham Marshes, 3rd
and 5th-8th September; Weston Sewage-works
(Somerset), 6th September. Paddyfield Warbler
Acrocephalus agricola Whalsay (Shetland), 17th
August. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata

30 I . First-winter Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola, Fair Isle, August 2008.

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 581-584

583

Deryk Shaw www.irishbirdimages.com

'.irishbirdimages.com Lee Gregory Hugh Harrop

Recent reports

)

302. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata, Sumburgh, Shetland, August 2008.

303. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia. Cape Clear
Island, Co. Cork, August 2008.

Kingsdown (Kent), 16th
August; Sumburgh (Shetland),
20th— 2 1 st August. Subalpine
Warbler Sylvia cantillans South
Shields (Durham), 7 th— 9th
September. Greenish Warbler
Phylloscopus trochiloides
Stronsay, 17th, North
Ronaldsay (both Orkney), 18th
August; Fame Islands,
18th- 19th August, East Chev-
ington, 7th September, Bam-
burgh, 7th September,
Druridge Pools, 7th September,
Newton-by-the-Sea, 8th Sep-
tember (all Northumberland);
Loch of Strathbeg, 20th
August, Sands of Forvie, 20th
August, Cruden Bay Woods, 20th August (all
North-east Scotland); Hartlepool (Cleveland),
7th-8th September; Whitburn (Durham),
7th-8th September.

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor Middlebere
(Dorset), long-stayer to 15th August. Rose-
coloured Starling Sturnus roseus Islay (Argyll),
1 2 1 h — 13 th August; Grantown-on-Spey,
1 1 th — 1 7th August, presumed same Cromdale
(both Highland), 20th August; Gwithian, 16th
August, Hayle, 20th August, St Agnes, 30th— 3 1 st
August (all Cornwall); Deerness (Orkney),
25th-27th August; Portland Bill (Dorset), 31st
August to 2nd September. Two-barred Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera The influx that started in
late I u ly continued: North Ronaldsay, long-
stayer to 11th August; Fetlar,
12th August, Sumburgh
Head, 1 1 still on 11th
August, then three on 14th
and five on 16th August,
Voe, 18th August (all Shet-
land); Fair Isle, at least eight
to 12th August, then five
17th and four 18th August,
and one 8th September.

304. Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis. Cape Clear Island,
Co. Cork, August 2008.

Yellow Warbler Dendroica
petechia, Cape Clear Island,
24th-30th August; Mizen
Head (Co. Cork), 26th—
28th August. Northern
Waterthrush Seiurus novebo-
racensis, Cape Clear Island,
27th— 30th August.

584

British Birds 101 • October 2008 • 581-584

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British Birds

Volume 101 • Number I I • November

- A NOV 2008

PrtCOeN i f.-L)

TRING UE-TV-r*

2008

586 Important Bird Areas: Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island
Peter Ryan

607 Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks
Ian Newton

Regular features

624 Conservation research news

Jenny Bright and Will Kirby

626 Letters

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly
Jeremy G. Sanders, Andy Mould
100 years ago - the first colour
photographs of live birds?

Edward Pratt

628 Reviews

Petrels Night and Day

Lost Land of the Dodo: an ecological

history of Mauritius, Reunion and

Rodrigues

The Greater Flamingo
100 Birds to See Before You Die
Nomads of the Strait of Gibraltar
The Birds of the ITuddersfield Area
The Birds of Gwent
A Life of Ospreys

634 News and comment

Adrian Pitches

636 Recent reports

Barry Nightingale and
Eric Dempsey

Important Bird Areas:

Tristan da Cunha
and Gough Island

Peter Ryan

ABSTRACT The Tristan da Cunha archipelago and nearby Gough Island are the
only cool-temperate oceanic islands in the South Atlantic. They are globally
important breeding sites for eight million pairs of seabirds, including four
endemic breeding species. The islands also are home to seven landbird species,
all of which are found nowhere else. Tristan da Cunha and Gough are regarded
as separate Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) because of their unique landbirds.
They share many of the same seabirds, although Spectacled Petrel Procellaria
conspicillata is found only on Inaccessible, and virtually all Tristan Albatrosses
Diomedea dabbenena and Atlantic Petrels Pterodroma incerta breed on Gough,
following catastrophic declines on Tristan. Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands
have been little affected by people; they remain free of introduced mammals,
and Inaccessible is home to the smallest surviving flightless bird in the world,
the Inaccessible Rail Atlantisia rogersi. Tristan has been less fortunate, as rats,
mice and a host of other alien species have been introduced there by humans.
Both Tristan Moorhen Gallinula nesiotis and Tristan Bunting Nesospiza acunhae
became extinct shortly after the island was colonised by humans, and most
seabird populations are either extinct or have been greatly reduced. Gough
is plagued by introduced House Mice Mus musculus, which are slowly eroding
its claim of being the greatest seabird island in the world. Urgent action is
needed to remove mice from Gough, and there is potential to restore
parts ofTristan if Black Rats Rattus rattus and mice are eradicated.

The Tristan da Cunha archipelago and
Gough Island are remote volcanic islands
in the central South Atlantic Ocean,
roughly midway between the southern tip of
Africa and South America. In addition to the
main island (also called Tristan da Cunha, but
hereafter referred to simply as ‘Tristan’, lying at
37°6’S 12°16’W and with a land surface area of
96 km2), Tristan da Cunha includes Inaccessible
(14 km2) and Nightingale (4 km2), plus
Nightingale’s outlying islets of Stoltenhoff and

Alex Island. The three main islands are only
20-30 km apart, but separated by water more
than 500 m deep, and have always been separate
islands. Gough Island (40°20’S 10°0’W, 65 km2)
lies 380 km SSE of Tristan da Cunha, and its
climate is distinctly cooler, wetter and windier
than that of the northern islands. All four
islands are the mountainous summits of
massive shield volcanoes that rise up from the
abyssal depths of the South Atlantic. Nightin-
gale is the oldest and smallest island, with rocks

In this paper, common and scientific names of seabirds which are not part of ‘The BB List of Western Palearctic
Birds’ follow Shirihai (2007) at the request of the author.

586

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

dating back some 18 million
years, whereas the oldest rocks
on Tristan are only 200,000
years old. Inaccessible and
Gough are of intermediate ages,
roughly 3-4 million years old
(Ryan 2007).

Despite lying on the edge of
the ‘Roaring Forties’, the islands’
climate is cool temperate rather
than subantarctic. Mean air
temperatures at sea level on
Tristan are 15°C (range 2-25°C)
and 12°C on Gough (ranging
between -3 and +25°C). The
weather is characterised by the
regular passage of cold fronts
that sweep across the islands
from the west, bringing
abundant rainfall (average 1,670
mm per year on the coast of
Tristan and 3,000 mm on
Gough), and snow at higher elevations. Even
on clear days, the islands’ peaks (more than
2,000 m on Tristan and 850 m on Gough) are
frequently blanketed in dense, orographic
cloud. As a result, precipitation is greater at
high elevations.

The islands have never been connected to a
continental landmass, so their terrestrial fauna
and flora have had to disperse over several
thousand kilometres of ocean. They have
achieved this by flight (birds and some insects),
‘hitching’ (e.g. seeds attached to a bird’s feathers
or feet), windborne dispersal (e.g. seeds and
spores), or rafting on floating debris. Human
introductions have recently added to the means
of establishment on the islands, as discussed
below. The prevailing westerly winds and cur-
rents have resulted in most colonists arriving
from South America, even though the islands
are slightly closer to Africa. Because some
organisms are more able to disperse than
others, the terrestrial biota is ‘disharmonic’,

missing many of the usual components of ter-
restrial ecosystems such as ants (Formicidae),
amphibians, reptiles and terrestrial mammals
(Ryan 2007). The few organisms that make the
arduous journey, and are able to survive there,
often evolve into endemic species.

Although the islands were discovered by
Portuguese explorers in the early 1 500s, the lack
of safe anchorage discouraged colonisation
until the early 1800s, when Tristan da Cunha
was annexed by Britain. The current population
of some 270 people constitutes the world’s most
isolated human community, more than 2,400
km south of St Helena. Inaccessible and
Nightingale are uninhabited, while there is a
South African weather station on Gough. Access
is possible only by sea. Fishing is the main eco-
nomic activity, supplemented by small-scale
tourism and sales of stamps. The islands are a
UK Overseas Territory, governed by an Admin-
istrator appointed by the UK Foreign Office and
an Island Council.

EBA and IBA status

Tristan da Cunha and Gough qualify as Endemic Bird Areas because they are home to seven endemic landbirds
(as described in this paper), with five confined to the Tristan da Cunha EBA (Inaccessible Rail, Tristan Thrush,
and Inaccessible, Nightingale and Wilkins’ Buntings), Gough Bunting endemic to the Gough EBA and Gough
Moorhen occurring on both Tristan and Gough (see Stattersfield et al. 1998). Although seabirds were not
included by BirdLife in their EBA analysis, Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross breeds only on Tristan da Cunha and
Gough, Tristan Albatross and Atlantic Petrel are virtually endemic to Gough, and Spectacled Petrel is endemic to
Inaccessible. All four main islands are listed as Important Bird Areas as they support globally significant popula-
tions of numerous bird species (Fishpool & Evans 2001).

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 586-606

587

Fluke Art

305. Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, the settlement on Tristan, with a fishing boat anchored offshore. The tongue
of black rock along the shore on the left of the photo is part of the lava flow from the 1 96 1 eruption that led
to the entire population being evacuated to the UK. Peter Ryan

306. The east coast of Gough Island is characterised by deeply incised valleys termed ‘glens’. The right-hand beach
was a favoured landing site for sealers, and was the base for the Gough Scientific Expedition in 1 956, but the South
African weather station is located farther south, away from the influence of the mountainous interior. Peter Ryan

307. The Ponds on Nightingale Island, with Stoltenhoff in the middle distance and the 2,060-m peak ofTristan
protruding above the haze. The Ponds are swamps formed in hollows on top of Nightingale Island. The woodland
around the Ponds is home to almost the entire population ofWilkins’ Buntings Nesospiza wilkinsi. Peter Ryan

3308. Fern bush is a distinctive vegetation community which occurs on parts of all four main islands in the archipelago
(photographed here on Gough). A key part of this community is the Island Tree Phylica arborea, the only large, woody
plant on the islands, and which has played a role in the evolution of the endemic buntings Nesospiza. Peter Ryan

Peter Ryan

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

309. Sooty Albatrosses Phoebetria fusca are the most aerial of albatrosses, soaring effortlessly around the islands’
cliffs. Preliminary courtship apparently takes place in flight, with pairs engaging in synchronised gliding displays.

Island habitats

Marine erosion has outpaced fluvial erosion,
resulting in narrow beaches and steep coastal
cliffs subject to occasional rock falls and
slumping. Sandy beaches are rare, mainly con-
fined to Tristan. Offshore, the bottom drops
away steeply from most islands, providing little
habitat for inshore-feeding seabirds. A band of
giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera occurs 50-200 m
offshore in many places, especially off the more
sheltered, eastern shores (Ryan 2007).

The terrestrial vegetation changes with alti-
tude. Nightingale, the smallest and lowest island
of the group, is almost entirely blanketed in tall
tussock grass, Spartina arundinacea. Tussock
grass also covers the coastal cliffs of Inacces-
sible, and this vegetation once occurred in the
lowlands of Tristan, but has been replaced by
short, heavily grazed pastures dominated by
introduced grasses and other plant species. The
drier, well-drained slopes on Tristan (and
locally on Inaccessible) are carpeted in ferns,

especially the widespread Blechnum penna-
marina. On Gough, Spartina shares the coastal
cliffs with a smaller tussock grass, Parodiochloa
flabellata. Areas disturbed by seals and penguins
are characterised by sedges and an array of
weedy species, including two species of Cotula
daisies endemic to the islands.

Away from the coast, tussock grass gives way
to fern bush, a diverse community characterised
by Island Trees Phylica arborea and spectacular,
cycad-like Bog-ferns Blechnum palmiforme. The
Island Tree is the only large, woody plant on the
islands, and has played an important role in the
evolution of the endemic buntings Nesospiza.
Fern bush is confined to the area around the
Ponds on Nightingale (see plate 307), but covers
most of the plateau of Inaccessible and the
lower base of Tristan, where it extends up to
800 m above sea level. On Gough, fern bush
occurs almost to sea level, but peters out around
450 m. At higher elevations, strong winds and
cooler temperatures inhibit the growth of tall

590

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 586-606

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

vegetation. Fern bush gives way to wet heath, a
short vegetation more typical of the sub-
antarctic islands, dominated by grasses, sedges
and ferns. Higher still, and on exposed ridges,
wet heath grades into feldmark and other alpine
communities, dominated by dwarf, cushion-
forming plants.

Soils are generally shallow and poorly devel-
oped, but slow rates of decomposition promote
the accumulation of peat. Deep layers of peat
have formed in some areas, but regular slips
occur on steeper slopes, triggered by extremely
heavy rain (up to 300 mm in a day). Open water
is scarce, confined to a few small ponds and
crater lakes. Depressions typically are filled by
bogs. Although some Sphagnum bogs occur on
Tristan, most bogs are covered in a dense
floating mat of the sedge Scirpus sulcatus. On
Gough, however, the higher rainfall promotes
the formation of extensive Sphagnum bogs in
upland areas.

Breeding seabirds

As on most oceanic islands, there are relatively
few bird species. Seabirds predominate, there
being 22 breeding species, many of which occur
in huge numbers (Appendix 1). Four species
and two subspecies breed nowhere else. Since
access to the islands is possible only by sea,
taking 5-6 days from Cape Town, visitors have
the opportunity to become well acquainted
with most of the seabirds during the journey.

Penguins

Just one species of penguin breeds on the
islands, the Northern Rockhopper Penguin
Eudyptes moseleyi. Recent genetic and vocal
analyses have confirmed the suspicions of field
biologists that this species is quite distinct from
the Southern Rockhopper Penguin E. chryso-
come. Besides occurring on Tristan da Cunha

and Gough, Northern Rockhoppers are found
only on Amsterdam and St Paul, cool-temperate
islands at similar latitudes in the central Indian
Ocean. Tristan da Cunha and Gough support
some 80% of the world population. As for the
Southern Rockhopper, numbers have decreased
historically, and Cuthbert et al. (in press)
suggest that it qualifies as Endangered.
Northern Rockhoppers are seasonal visitors,
arriving in late winter (August), laying in
September, and fledging chicks in
December-January. After a brief recovery
period, the adults return to the island to moult,
then disappear out to sea for the winter.

Albatrosses

Three species of albatross breed on the islands,
of which two are endemic. The Tristan Alba-
tross Diomedea dabbenena is genetically the
most distinctive of the Wandering Albatross
D. exulans complex (Nunn & Stanley 1998). It
differs from the more widespread southern
form in being smaller and substantially darker
in all plumages. It breeds in wet-heath vegeta-
tion, where it is sufficiently open for the birds’
running take-offs and landings. Adults return in
November-December, lay in January and the
chicks fledge in November. Successful breeders
typically take a year off after breeding and so
raise one chick every two years at most. It was
once quite common on Tristan and Inacces-
sible, but was a favourite food source of the
early settlers, who quickly wiped out the Tristan
population and, with the help of feral pigs,
managed to do almost the same on Inaccessible.
Currently, only 1-2 pairs survive on Inaccessible,
confined to the highest ridge on the island. The
rest of the population, estimated at 2,200 pairs,
breeds at Gough (Cuthbert et al. 2004).

At the other end of the albatross size spec-
trum, the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross

Birding on Tristan: when, where and how

Tristan is the most remote community in the world. Access is only possible by ship, and takes roughly a week
each way from Cape Town. Most tourists are restricted to brief visits on cruise ships. Up to ten cruises call at the
islands each year. They offer a chance to see all the islands, with landings possible at Nightingale and Inaccessible
from the smaller, natural history cruises. However, visits are brief, and inclement weather may prevent landing,
even on Tristan. All vessels must first call at Tristan before visiting the outer islands. The best time to visit the
islands is in summer (between September and April), when the weather is more settled. The period from October
to December is the best time for birds, but the weather is perhaps more favourable for landings later in summer.

There is accommodation on Tristan, but independent visitors need to apply to the Administrator for permis-
sion to visit. Berths are limited on the fishing vessels that visit the islands 6-8 times per year. Once on Tristan it is
usually possible to arrange a day trip to Nightingale and perhaps Inaccessible. Gough is closed to tourists. For
further information about visiting the islands, consult Ryan (2007) and the Tristan websitewww.tristandc.com

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 586-606

591

Peter Ryan Peter Ryan

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

3 1 0. Adult Northern Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes moseleyi are readily distinguished from
Southern Rockhoppers £. chrysocome by their extravagant head plumes.

311. Tristan Albatrosses Diomedea dabbenena are slightly smaller than Wandering Albatrosses D. exulans, and take
much longer to attain equivalent plumage stages. This is a typical breeding female.

592

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 586-606

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

312. A pair of Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses Thalassarche chlororhynchos courting on Second Pond,
Nightingale Island. The four ponds are covered in a dense mat of Scirpus sulcatus that provides nesting sites

for some 1,200 pairs of albatrosses.

313. An Antarctic Tern Sterna vittata of the large, pale Tristan race S. v. tristanensis.

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 586-606

593

Peter Ryan Peter Ryan

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

Thalassarche chlororhynchos is also endemic to
the islands. Smaller and more agile than Tristan
Albatross, it breeds at lower elevations. Most
nests are in fern bush, often sheltered under tree
canopies, but some are in quite dense tussock
grass and others occur right down to the beach
on the south side of Nightingale. Unlike Indian
Yellow-nosed Albatrosses T. carteri, they typi-
cally breed singly or in loose aggregations, but
concentrations occur around some open areas
such as the Ponds on Nightingale. Most pairs
breed annually, arriving in late August, laying in
September-October, and fledging chicks in
March-April. The population is hard to count,
but the largest numbers are thought to occur on
Tristan, mainly in the inaccessible southeast
quadrant. The last formal assessment suggested
that numbers were decreasing on all islands,
and as a consequence it was listed as Endan-
gered (Cuthbert et al. 2003). Recent data are
more optimistic, however, suggesting some
recovery since 2000 (author’s unpublished
data).

The islands are also the global stronghold of
the exquisite Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca.
Together with its close relative, Light-mantled
Sooty Albatross P. palpebrata, it has the highest
aspect ratio of any bird (in other words it has
very long, narrow wings), and is supremely
adapted to exploit strong winds. Conversely, it
is cumbersome on land, and breeds on cliffs,
where it can land and take off right at the nest.
Combined with its dark plumage, its cliff-
nesting habits make counting difficult, but
perhaps 6,000 pairs breed on the islands each
year, with the majority on Gough. It breeds in
summer, laying a few weeks after the Atlantic
Yellow-nosed Albatross, and takes slightly
longer to raise its chick. As with Tristan Alba-

tross, successful pairs seldom breed in succes-
sive years (Ryan 2007).

Southern Giant Petrel

Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus
formerly bred on Tristan, but their sole legacy is
the name ‘Nellie Hump’, given to a prominent
ridge above the village. They are now confined
to Gough, where there are three colonies at mid
elevations along the west coast, and a few pairs
at sea level on the east coast, near to the last
population of Southern Elephant Seals
Mirounga leonina on the island. The Southern
Giant Petrel population on Gough has
increased in recent years, probably linked to
growth in Subantarctic Fur Seal Arctocephalus
tropicalis numbers (Ryan 2007).

Tristan Skua

The confusing ‘brown skua’ complex that
breeds around the southern oceans is repre-
sented by Tristan Skua Stercorarius antarctica
hamiltoni , which is endemic to Tristan da
Cunha and Gough. It is widespread and fairly
abundant, breeding on all the islands, albeit in
small numbers on Tristan where it is still perse-
cuted as a potential predator of poultry and
lambs. On the other islands, its diet is domi-
nated by small seabirds, especially prions
Pachyptila and storm-petrels (Hydrobatidae),
although it will tackle larger species, including
Great Shearwaters Puffinus gravis and Specta-
cled Petrels Procellaria conspicillata. Breeding
pairs typically defend territories with sufficient
numbers of burrowing petrels to support their
brood of two chicks. Competition for territories
is fierce, with roughly half the population
forced into non-breeding ‘clubs’. In the 1980s,
Bob Furness demonstrated the demand for

Conservation

Visitors must be extremely vigilant not to introduce any new species to the islands, or to move species between
islands, including native species (given the evolution of island-specific populations). Be sure to clean your boots,
clothing and field equipment (e.g. camera bags, backpacks, tripod legs) before arriving on the islands, and when
moving between islands. Turn out all your pockets and clean the seams. Pay special attention to seeds trapped in
velcro on waterproofs and packs. Rats and mice pose the greatest threat to the islands’ birds. When leaving from
Tristan to the outer islands, make sure that your equipment is rodent-free. Day visitors are not allowed to take
food to Inaccessible, specifically to reduce the risk of rodents getting ashore. Fire is another hazard, so no
smoking is allowed on the outer islands.

Few birders will have the privilege to visit Tristan and Gough, but you can still help to promote the islands’
conservation. Recent studies by New Zealand experts suggest that it is technically feasible to eradicate mice from
Gough and rats from Tristan. Given the massive impacts of these introduced predators, it is vital to ensure that
funds are made available for eradication programmes. Birders can help by supporting calls to the British
Government to fund rodent eradications at Tristan and Gough. For further information, visit
www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/projects/tristandacunha/publications.asp

594

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 586-606

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

)

breeding opportunities on Gough by removing
one member of a breeding pair every day for
two weeks. In each case, the vacancy was filled
within a day (Furness 1987).

Terns

Unlike the other seabirds, Brown Noddy Anous
stolidus and the endemic race of Antarctic Tern
Sterna vittata tristanensis seldom venture far
offshore while breeding. It is interesting to see
how these two terns interact at the very edges of
their ranges. The noddy is a largely tropical
species that reaches its southern limit on
Gough, whereas Antarctic Tern reaches its
northern limit on Tristan. Both are southern-
summer breeders, with Brown Noddy laying
before Antarctic Tern. A few Antarctic Terns
remain around the islands in winter, but all the
noddies have left the islands by May and return
in September. Although many noddies breed on
cliffs with the Antarctic Terns, some pairs also
breed in trees.

Burrow-nesting seabirds

The remaining 14 breeding seabirds are all
petrels that nest in burrows, and are largely
nocturnal visitors to the islands. As a result, it is
easy to overlook the sheer abundance of these
birds. They greatly outnumber all other birds,
with roughly three million pairs breeding in
Tristan da Cunha and five million pairs on
Gough (Appendix 1). Their nocturnal behav-
iour is one important mechanism for reducing
the risk of predation by Tristan Skuas and the
only species that visits regularly during the day
is the large Spectacled Petrel. Great Shearwaters
arrive at dusk when incubating, but become
more daring once their chicks hatch. Seeing
more than a million Great Shearwaters mass
offshore at Nightingale each afternoon, then
come crashing ashore at dusk, is one of the
world’s great seabird spectacles. Even that is
perhaps surpassed by the sight of tens of thou-
sands of petrels flying overhead by spotlight at
night on Gough. Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila
vittata is the most abundant species on Gough,
which supports over two million pairs, but
around the weather station there are also large
numbers of Atlantic Pterodroma incerta and
Soft-plumaged Petrels P. mollis , Common
Diving-petrels Pelecanoides urinatrix and
White-faced Storm-petrels Pelagodroma
marina. Great Shearwaters are abundant and
Little Shearwaters Puffinus assimilis locally

common in tussock grass along the coast,
whereas Kerguelen Petrels Pterodroma brevi-
rostris are common farther inland. Venturing
out at night on Inaccessible or Nightingale
offers a similar spectacle, although the species
differ somewhat: there are no Atlantic Petrels
and White-bellied Storm-petrels Fregetta gral-
laria outnumber White-faced Storm-petrels in
most habitats. The main island of Tristan stands
in stark contrast to the other three islands, with
virtually no nocturnal seabirds, thanks to the
combined impacts of human exploitation and
introduced predators.

Most petrels breed in the austral summer,
although Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea , Great-
winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera and
Atlantic Petrels lay in autumn or early winter,
with chicks fledging the following summer. This
strategy proved costly on Tristan, where they
were much sought-after as food during the lean
winter period by the islanders and introduced
predators alike. As a result, only a handful of
pairs survive on Tristan, the last remnants of
what were presumably vast populations before
the island’s colonisation. Petrels are now suf-
fering the same fate on Gough, where starving
House Mice Mas musculus have taken to eating
seabird chicks each winter (see below). This has
been well documented for the endemic Atlantic
Petrel, with fewer than 20% of pairs managing
to raise a chick each year, compared with typical
breeding success of 60-70% in other Ptero-
droma petrels (Cuthbert 2004; Wanless 2007).
Despite its still substantial population on
Gough, the Atlantic Petrel is now listed as
Endangered.

Two species of burrowing petrel are confined
to a single island in the group. The diminutive
Grey-backed Storm-petrel Oceanites nereis is a
widespread subantarctic species that reaches its
northern limit on Gough. The other is the Spec-
tacled Petrel, which breeds on the plateau of
Inaccessible - the only breeding site in the
world for this species. This may not always have
been the case. Historical records from the
Indian Ocean, coupled with the presence of
sub-fossil remains of a large Procellaria petrel
on Amsterdam Island, suggest that it may have
bred there prior to the introduction of mam-
malian predators (Ryan 1998). Spectacled
Petrels on Inaccessible also came perilously
close to extinction when feral pigs roamed the
island, but fortunately the pigs died out before
the last petrels were eaten, and the population

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Peter Ryan Peter Ryan

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

)

3 14. Spectacled Petrels Procellaria conspicillata breed only on the higher parts of the plateau of Inaccessible
Island. Their colonies create distinctive boggy patches among dense stands of Bog-ferns Blechnum palmiforme.

3 1 5. The Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis is the most abundant bird at the islands, despite no longer breeding ,
at the main island ofTristan. In areas of dense tussock grass, some pairs lay on the ground.

596

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Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

has recovered well, despite ongoing at-sea mor-
tality due to longline fisheries. Recent surveys
suggest that the population is still increasing,
with some 10,000 pairs breeding on Inaccessible
each summer (Ryan et al. 2006).

Another species that has been confirmed
breeding on only one island in the group is
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus. A few pairs
have bred on Tristan, but the species has also
been observed among Great Shearwaters gath-
ering off Inaccessible prior to coming ashore,
and a few may breed among the vast numbers
of Great Shearwaters at other islands. However,
the most enigmatic seabird is the white-bellied
race of Black-bellied Storm-petrel F. tropica
melanoleuca, reported to breed on Gough
(Brooke 2004). It is not known for certain
whether one or two species of Fregetta storm-
petrel breed on Gough; most authors have
ignored the problem, and treat all white-bellied
birds as White-bellied Storm-petrel, but the
status of Black-bellied Storm-petrel does need
to be resolved (Shirihai 2007). Unfortunately,
the Fregetta storm-petrels breed quite late in the
summer, and few people have had a chance to
examine many birds on Gough, given that the
annual relief of the weather station takes place
in spring. It has become increasingly rare in
spring, thanks no doubt to the unwanted atten-
tions of mice on the island.

Landbirds

The seven extant landbirds, described below, are
all endemic to the islands. In addition, two
further landbird populations (a moorhen and a
bunting) became extinct on Tristan sometime
during the nineteenth century, one or both of
which are likely to have been additional
endemic species.

Moorhens

Some authorities consider that Gough
Moorhen Gallinula comeri and the now-extinct
Tristan Moorhen G. nesiotis were conspecific,
but both taxa became flightless and must thus
have evolved from independent colonisations
by vagrant Common Moorhens G. chloropus. It
provides an interesting example of how the
same suite of adaptations evolves in parallel
when birds are exposed to similar conditions -
in this case, selection for reduced wings and
more robust legs and feet (Olson 1973). It is
intriguing to speculate why the moorhen on
Tristan became extinct when, in 1956, eight

Gough Moorhens released at Sandy Point suc-
cessfully colonised Tristan and are now wide-
spread and relatively abundant wherever
sufficient cover exists. One possibility is that
feral cats played a key role in the disappearance
of the original population; this aggressive pred-
ator has since died out on Tristan.

Inaccessible Rail

Probably the most sought-after of the islands’
birds is the Inaccessible Rail Atlantisia rogersi ,
which is confined to Inaccessible Island. It was
described only in 1923, even though scientists
on the Challenger expedition were alerted to the
bird by the Stoltenhoff brothers when they were
rescued from the island in 1873. It is abundant,
occurring virtually throughout the island,
including on the near-vertical sea cliffs, but is
more often heard than seen, as it spends most of
its time creeping mouse-like through the
island’s dense vegetation (Fraser et al. 1992). Its
territorial call is a high-pitched trill, possibly
suggesting a distant Rallus ancestor. It has been
on the island for so long that its wings have
reduced to little more than vestigial stumps, and
its plumage has become soft and fur-like. Loss
of flight is common in many island rails, and
serves to reduce the energetic demands of
growing and maintaining large wings and asso-
ciated musculature. Quite why the Inaccessible
Rail evolved such small size is unknown. It is
the smallest surviving flightless bird in the
world, and is permanently at risk should mam-
malian predators ever reach the island.

Inaccessible Rails are most vocal in spring,
when pairs defend territories vigorously.
However, they are easy to locate year-round,
because pairs remain in contact with regular
‘chik’ or ‘chik-ik’ calls. They lay two eggs in a
ball-shaped nest woven from grass and sedge
leaves that is accessed via a tunnel through the
surrounding vegetation. The chicks leave the
nest shortly after hatching. When threatened by
a Tristan Thrush Nesocichla eremita, the parents
raise their vestigial wings and squeal loudly, but
thrushes still kill many chicks. Unwary adults
occasionally fall victim to Tristan Skuas.

Tristan Thrush

Tristan Thrush is an aberrant Turdus with
streaky brown, neotenous plumage, reduced
wings, enlarged legs and feet and an unusual
brush-tipped tongue to aid it in lapping up egg
contents. It occurs on Tristan, Inaccessible and

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Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

3 16. A Gough Moorhen Gallinula comeri on Tristan. The endemic flightless moorhen originally found on Tristan

apparently became extinct in the nineteenth century.

3 1 7. Weighing just 40 g, the Inaccessible Rail Atlantisia rogersi is the world’s smallest flightless bird.
This individual is sunning itself after a protracted rainy spell.

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3 18. According to new research, Wilkins’ Bunting Nesospiza wilkinsi is confined to Nightingale Island, where its
population has probably never exceeded a few hundred individuals.

3 1 9. The small-billed Nightingale Bunting Nesospiza questi is barely half the mass of Wilkins' Bunting

Nesospiza wilkinsi.

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Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

)

Nightingale, with different subspecies on each
island, and is the only landbird to have survived
the onslaught of settlers and introduced preda-
tors on Tristan, albeit in small numbers. A
supreme opportunist, it is quick to explore any
possibility, including the arrival of people. It
can become something of a nuisance to
campers on the outer islands, as a noisy, squab-
bling group soon gathers to peck at anything
left lying around. It feeds on a wide range of
prey, from berries and invertebrates to eggs,
chicks and meat scavenged from skua kills
(Fraser et al. 1994). On the eastern plateau of
Inaccessible the birds have even learnt to hunt
adult White-bellied Storm-petrels, holding
them down with their feet while bludgeoning
them to death with their bills (Ryan & Moloney
1991). The absence of the thrush on Gough has
resulted in Gough Bunting taking on the
opportunist’s role, although not to quite the
same extent. The thrush is larger than the
Tristan da Cunha buntings, with a longer bill
and strong legs and feet, which are used to pull
up mossy vegetation in search of insects (Ryan
& Cuthbert in press).

Buntings

The buntings evolved from vagrant South
American grass-finches. Only one species,
Gough Bunting Rowettia goughensis, occurs on
Gough, but several forms have evolved on
Tristan da Cunha in what was presented as a
classic example of simple adaptive radiation by
David Lack (Lack 1947): birds with different bill
size exploit different niches on both Inaccessible
and Nightingale, with small-billed birds eating
mainly grass and sedge seeds, while large-billed
birds crack open the woody fruits of the Island
Tree.

Subsequent work on Inaccessible revealed a
more complex situation. In 1982/83 Mike
Fraser found that there were two, altitudinally
segregated colour morphs of small-billed
buntings, while further investigation in the late
1980s found extensive hybridisation between
large- and small-billed forms on the eastern
plateau (Ryan et al. 1994). Genetic analyses then
established that there was very little difference
between populations, with the main difference
being between islands rather than between
small- and large-billed forms (Ryan et al. 2007).

Nevertheless, despite limited genetic differ-
entiation, the two forms on Nightingale behave
as good species, with marked vocal and mor-

phological differences and no evidence of
hybridisation. Accordingly, the author’s view is
that two species should be recognised on
Nightingale: the common, small-billed,
Nightingale Bunting Nesospiza questi and the
rare Wilkins’ (or Grosbeak) Bunting N. wilkinsi
(Ryan 2008). On Inaccessible, there are three
genetic lineages, corresponding to the three eco-
morphs. Flowever, given the high levels of
intergradation, at least locally, and incomplete
genetic assortment, they are best treated as a
single species, Inaccessible Bunting N. acunhae,
with three subspecies: Lowland N. a. acunhae ,
Upland N. a. fraseri and Dunn’s Bunting N. a.
dunnei (Ryan 2008).

The extinction of buntings on Tristan brings
another taxonomic dilemma, because this pop-
ulation is known only from the type specimen,
described by Cabanis in 1873. Given the prolif-
eration of island-specific forms in this group
(Ryan et al. 2007; Ryan 2008), it is possible that
the Tristan population was specifically distinct
from those on Inaccessible and Nightingale but
there is simply too little material to make an
objective judgement. All we can say is that the
type specimen most closely resembles the birds
found on Inaccessible, and thus the Tristan
population is currently treated as N. acunhae.

Non-breeding seabirds and vagrants
More seabird species visit the waters around the
islands than actually breed there, as 29 non-
breeding species have been recorded (Ryan
2007). The small breeding population of
Southern Giant Petrels is augmented by non-
breeding giant petrels, including some
Northern Giant Petrels M. halli. They are joined
behind visiting ships by Cape Petrels Daption
capense , White-chinned Petrels Procellaria
aequinoctialis and Wilson’s Storm-petrels
Oceanites oceanicus, as well as occasional
Southern Fulmars Fulmarus glacialoides. The
Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche
melanophris is the commonest of the non-
breeding albatrosses, of which small numbers of
six other species have been recorded. Most non-
breeding seabirds breed elsewhere in the
southern oceans, but some northern-hemi-
sphere species visit in summer, notably Cory’s
Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea , Leach’s
Storm-petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa and
Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus. The
other species are rare visitors or vagrants to the
islands.

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Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

The islands are well off the beaten track, but
they nonetheless attract a fair number of
vagrant land and freshwater birds, testament to
the large numbers of birds that become lost at
sea. At least 28 species have been recorded,
mostly from Tristan (Ryan 2007). This is not
just a function of there being more observers on
Tristan. The island probably attracts more
vagrants because of its larger size and height
and, once ashore, there are relatively few preda-
tory skuas to eat or harass birds. The most
regular vagrants are Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
and American Purple Gallinule Porphyrio mar-
tinica. In both species, it is mainly young birds
that arrive after the breeding season in South
America, sometimes in small flocks, and may
persist on Tristan’s Settlement Plain for several
months. Other regular vagrants include Barn
Swallow Hirundo rustica and a variety of shore-
birds. Other vagrant passerines are extremely
unusual, with single Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus
tyrannus and Willow Warbler Phylloscopus
trochilus being the only confirmed records.

A wealth of biodiversity

Birds dominate the island’s fauna, but they are
not the only wildlife group that makes the
islands globally important for biodiversity con-
servation. In addition to 1 1 endemic bird

species, there are 27 endemic flowering plants,
14 endemic ferns, and more than 100 endemic
macro-invertebrates (Ryan 2007). Levels of
endemism among cryptogams and smaller
invertebrates are not known, but are likely to be
high.

The only native mammals on the islands are
Subantarctic Fur Seals and Southern Elephant
Seals that come ashore to breed and moult.
Gough was the main refuge for the fur seal
during the height of commercial sealing and,
with some 300,000 animals, still supports 80%
of the global population (Ryan 2007). Much
smaller numbers of fur seals breed on Tristan
da Cunha, but their populations are increasing
at all three islands, possibly to the detriment of
Northern Rockhopper Penguins at their strong-
hold on Alex Island, adjacent to Nightingale
(Cuthbert et al. in press). The elephant seals
have not recovered from intense exploitation
for blubber, and only a few survive, breeding on
the sheltered northeast coast of Gough. Fortu-
nately, their numbers remain healthy farther
south in the Atlantic Ocean.

There are no other terrestrial vertebrates, but
the seas around the islands support a diverse
marine community of fish, including one
endemic species, the Klipfish Bovichtus diacan-
thus. At least 15 cetaceans have been reported

320. Tristan Thrushes Nesocichla eremita are dietary generalists, but eggs are a sought-after component of
their diet. This individual of the large, dark race procax on Nightingale Island has managed to break into an
abandoned Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos egg.

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Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

from the islands’ waters, including several
strandings and sightings of the extremely
poorly known Shepherd’s Beaked Whale Tas-
macetus shepherdi (Ryan 2007). Historically the
islands were an important breeding ground for
Southern Right Whales Eubalaena australis , but
their recovery was set back by illegal Soviet
whaling following the temporary evacuation of
Tristan in 1961 (owing to volcanic eruption and
lava flows) (Best 1988). Marine invertebrates
and seaweeds are poorly known, but levels of
endemism are high among at least some groups,
including bivalves and red seaweeds
(Rhodophyta) (Ryan 2007).

Threats to birds

With the exception of a few marginal species
such as Sooty Shearwater, virtually all popula-
tions of breeding birds are of global conserva-
tion importance. In addition to the 1 1 endemic
species (Appendix 1), the islands support more
than half the global populations of Northern
Rockhopper Penguin, Sooty Albatross, Broad-
billed Prion, Great Shearwater, Kerguelen and
Soft-plumaged Petrels, and White-bellied

Storm-petrel (Brooke 2004). Many of these
species are classified by IUCN as Globally
Threatened, with two Critical, five Endangered,
six Vulnerable and three Near Threatened
species breeding on the islands (Appendix 1).
The landbirds are most at risk from introduced
predators, whereas the seabirds face threats
both from predators on land and from modern
fishing methods at sea.

Introduced predators such as feral cats, dogs
and pigs have occurred on the islands at various
times, but currently the only feral mammal
populations are Black Rats Rattus rattus on
Tristan, and House Mice on Tristan and Gough
(Ryan 2007). Rats are well known to have a very
serious impact on island birds, and they doubt-
less play a major role in suppressing the
numbers of burrowing petrels on Tristan. But
until recently, mice were considered to affect
mainly invertebrates and plants. This myth was
shattered when Rich Cuthbert and Erica
Sommer discovered that the very low breeding
success of Tristan Albatrosses and Atlantic
Petrels on Gough in 2000/01 was due to mouse
predation of chicks (Cuthbert & Hilton 2004).

That mice were the culprits
was confirmed by Ross
Wanless and Andrea Angel,
who obtained extraordinary
video footage of mice
attacking live chicks of both
these species and of Great
Shearwaters (Wanless et al.
2007).

Mice arrived on Gough
among sealers’ supplies
sometime during the 1800s,
and have spread across the
entire island. Numbers peak
in summer, with densities of
up to 300 mice per hectare,
but then crash in winter,
when food is limited. Most
bird predation occurs in
winter, but some birds and
eggs are taken in summer,
including Gough Buntings.
Populations of Tristan Alba-
tross (Cuthbert et al. 2004)
and Gough Bunting (Ryan
8< Cuthbert in press) are
decreasing, and both species
have just been raised to Crit-
ically Endangered ( Bird Life

321. An immature Gough Bunting Rowettia goughensis adopts the alert,
sky-pointing posture when a Tristan Skua Stercorarius antarctica hamiltoni
flies over.This large passerine takes up to four years to acquire adult
plumage (Ryan & Cuthbert in press).

602

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Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

International 2008). Other burrow-nesting
seabirds are almost certainly affected, but it is
hard to quantify the impact of the mice.

Many of the islands’ seabirds also are at risk
from various threats at sea. Immediately around
the islands they are dazzled by powerful lights
on ships at night, and risk colliding with vessels
(Ryan 1991). Visiting ships are required to
dowse all non-essential lights, but this is not
always enforced. The main threat at sea for
albatrosses and many large petrels is incidental
mortality on fishing gear, especially longlines.
All three albatrosses, giant petrels, Spectacled
and Grey Petrels, and Great Shearwaters are
killed on longlines. This fishing-related mor-
tality is particularly serious for species that are
also affected by mouse predation, such as
Tristan Albatross and Grey Petrel. Considerable
effort is being made to reduce this problem
through implementation of bird-friendly
fishing techniques, but better
policing of high-seas fleets is a pri-
ority. There is a huge Exclusive Eco-
nomic Zone around the islands, but
also very little ability to ensure that
only licensed fishers using approved
techniques operate in their waters.

A final threat to all birds is the
spectre of global climate change.
Temperature increases, which have
already been detected (Jones et al.

2003), are likely to alter vegetation
dynamics and potentially increase
the invasiveness of introduced
species. For seabirds, shifts in global
circulation patterns may be cata-
strophic because they rely on pre-
dictable food supplies within
commuting distance of the islands
while feeding their chicks. Given the
paucity of islands in the South
Atlantic, there are few options for
them to shift their breeding sites to
follow frontal zones and other areas
of enhanced productivity. This may
in part account for the decreases in
rockhopper penguins across much
of their range (Hilton et al. 2006).

Conservation measures
The Tristan community is well
aware of the global importance of its
biodiversity heritage. Already more
than 40% of the islands’ meagre

land area is set aside for conservation. Gough
and Inaccessible are nature reserves and
together form a natural World Heritage Site,
including the coastal waters out to 12 nautical
miles. Although Nightingale is not formally
protected, it is managed as a multi-use reserve,
with limited exploitation confined to two
seabird species: Northern Rockhopper Penguin
(eggs only) and Great Shearwater. On the main
island of Tristan, all penguin colonies are nature
reserves, and only Tristan Skua and (the intro-
duced) Gough Moorhen are not protected.

Alien species pose the greatest threat to the
islands’ fauna and flora. Great care must be
taken not to introduce any new species to the
islands, or to move species between islands.
Rats, mice and other predators are the greatest
threat to birds. Given the global importance of
Gough for seabirds, there is an urgent need for
extraordinary measures with regard to mice.

322. Tristan Skuas Stercorarius antarctica hamiltoni defend their
territories vigorously against intruders.

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Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

323. A large Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena chick killed by House Mice Mus musculus on Gough Island.
In some parts of Gough, fewer than 10% of chicks survive the onslaught of mice each winter.

Feasibility studies have concluded that eradica-
tion of mice from Gough, and rats (and
perhaps mice) from Tristan, is technically fea-
sible by spreading poison bait across the island
by helicopter. The challenge now is to secure the
funding to actually conduct these operations.
Continued vigilance also is needed to ensure
that Inaccessible and Nightingale remain pred-
ator-free, especially given the presence of both
rats and mice on Tristan. All goods being
moved between the islands must be packed in
rodent-free areas, and inspected carefully prior
to leaving Tristan.

Plants and invertebrates also can have
serious impacts on the islands’ ecosystems. For
the last decade, considerable effort has been
made to eradicate Procumbent Pearlwort
Sagina procumbens, a common European weed,
from Gough. This seemingly innocuous plant
has taken over vast tracts of other subantarctic
islands, displacing native vegetation and
changing ecological processes, and it would be
disastrous if it were to reach the uplands of
Gough. Efforts are also ongoing to remove New
Zealand Flax Phormium tenax from Inaccessible
and Nightingale, given its potential to dominate
the native vegetation.

One of the main obstacles to effective
conservation management on the islands is the

lack of human capacity (Glass & Ryan 2003).
With a permanent population of only 270
people, spanning the full spectrum from
children to pensioners, there are few people
available for full-time conservation work. The
formation of a Natural Resources Department
on Tristan in the mid 1990s was a great step
forward, but its small staff lacks the ability to
meet all the islands’ conservation obligations,
with most of their energy devoted to managing
the commercially important lobster fishery.
Since 2000, the RSPB has been instrumental in
securing funds for conservation on the islands,
and promoting the development of local
expertise. A Biodiversity Action Plan has been
developed and a Conservation Officer post
created. However, difficulty of access to the
islands remains a serious stumbling block to the
implementation of required conservation
measures. For birds, the main conservation
needs are as follows:

• to enforce strict quarantine measures for
Tristan and the outer islands;

• to remove mice from Gough and rats and
mice from Tristan; and

• to ensure bird-friendly fisheries throughout
the ranges of Tristan’s vast seabird popula-
tions.

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Acknowledgments

I thank my field colleagues, especially Andrea Angel, Marie-
Helene Burle, John Cooper, Rich Cuthbert, Cliff Dorse,
Coleen Moloney, Erica Sommer, Ross Wanless, Barry
Watkins and Johnny Wilson. Logistical support at Tristan
and Gough is supplied by Tristan’s Department of
Agriculture and Natural Resources, the South African
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and
Ovenstone Fishing. I'm especially grateful to James and
Trevor Glass, Clarence October and Cecil Poleman.
Financial support comes from the UK Overseas Territories
Environment Programme, the RSPB, the South African
National Antarctic Programme, National Geographic,
WWF-UK and the University of Cape Town. Geoff Hilton
and Sarah Sanders from the RSPB have been extremely
helpful in facilitating research at the islands since 2000.
Permission to work at the islands was given by successive
Administrators and Island Councils ofTristan da Cunha.

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Ryan, R G. 1991 .The impact of the commercial lobster
fishery on seabirds at the Tristan da Cunha islands,

South Atlantic Ocean. Biol. Conserv. 57: 339-350.

— l998.The taxonomic and conservation status of the
Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata. Bird Conserv.

Int. 8: 223-235.

— (ed.) 2007. Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of
Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island. Pisces Publications,
Newbury.

— 2008.Taxonomic and conservation implications of
ecological speciation in Nesospiza buntings at Tristan da
Cunha. Bird Conserv. Int. 1 8: 30-39.

— & Cuthbert, R. J. In press.The biology and conservation
status of the Gough Bunting Rowettia goughensis. Bull.
Brit. Orn. Club.

— & Moloney, C. L. 1991 .Tristan Thrushes kill adult White-
bellied Storm-Petrels. Wilson Bull. 1 03: 1 30-1 32.

— , Dorse, C., & Hilton, G. M. 2006.The conservation
status of the Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata.
Biol. Conserv. 131: 575-583,

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 586-606

605

Peter Ryan

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island

)

— , Moloney, C. L., & Hudon, J. 1 994, Colour variation and
hybridization among Nesospiza buntings on Inaccessible
Island, Tristan da Cunha, Auk I I 1:314-327,

— , Bloomer R, Moloney, C. L,, Grant, T, & Delport, W.
2007. Ecological speciation in South Atlantic island
finches. Science 315:1 420- 1 423.

Shirihai, H. 2007. A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife
(2nd ed.). A&C Black, London.

Stattersfield, A. j., Crosby, M. J„ Long, A. J., & Wege, D. C.

1 998. Endemic Bird Areas of the World: priorities for
biodiversity conservation. BirdLife International,

Cambridge; www.birdlife.org/datazone/ebas/index.
html?action=EbaHTMDetails.asp&sid= 1 2 1 &m=0
www.birdlife.org/datazone/ebas/index.htmRaction
EbaHTMDetails.asp&sid=86&m=0

Wanless, R. M. 2007. Impacts of the Introduced House
Mouse on the Seabirds of Gough Island. PhD thesis,
University of Cape Town, Cape Town.

— , Angel, A., Cuthbert, R. J., Hilton, G. M„ & Ryan, R G.
2007. Can predation by invasive mice drive seabird
extinctions? Biol. Letters 3: 24 1 -244.

Peter Ryan, Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa

Peter Ryan is an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town. His PhD was on the evolution of
Tristan da Cunha’s buntings and he has been an honorary Tristan Conservation Officer since 1989. He
works closely with the RSPB to help to improve the conservation status of the islands and their birds.

Appendix I. Breeding birds on Tristan da Cunha (Tristan, Inaccessible and Nightingale) and Gough Island.
‘Breeding population’ gives the estimated number of pairs breeding each year on Tristan da Cunha (including
Inaccessible and Nightingale) and Gough Island from Ryan (2007). For biennial breeding species, the population
estimates are less than the total breeding population, but the proportion breeding each year is known only for
Tristan Albatross. Many of the estimates for burrowing petrels and shearwaters are crude.

Breeding population

Global threat

Tristan

status

da Cunha

Gough

Northern Rockhopper Penguin

Eudyptes moseleyi

150,000

50,000

Endangered

Tristan Albatross t

Diomedea dabbenena *

1,400

Critical

Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross

Thalassarche chlororhynchos *

25,000

5,000

Endangered

Sooty Albatross

Phoebetria fusca

1,000

5,000

Endangered

Southern Giant Petrel

Macronectes giganteus

extinct

230

Near Threatened

Broad-billed Prion

Pachyptila vittata

200,000

2,000,000

Spectacled Petrel

Procellaria conspicillata *

10,000

Vulnerable

Grey Petrel

Procellaria cinerea

10,000

Near Threatened

Great Shearwater

Pufftnus gravis

2,500,000

1,000,000

Sooty Shearwater

Pujfinus griseus

Near Threatened

Little Shearwater

Puffinus assimilis

12,000

10,000

Kerguelen Petrel

Pterodroma brevirostris

100

20,000

Soft-plumaged Petrel

Pterodroma mollis

12,000

400,000

Great-winged Petrel

Pterodroma macroptera

500

10,000

Atlantic Petrel

Pterodroma incerta *

1,500,000

Endangered

Common Diving-petrel

Pelecanoides urinatrix

15,000

10,000

Grey-backed Storm-petrel

Oceanites nereis

10,000

White-faced Storm-petrel

Pelagodroma marina

6,000

10,000

White-bellied Storm-petrel ft

Fregetta grallaria

50,000

10,000

Tristan Skua

Stercorarius antarctica hamiltom

* 200

1,000

Antarctic Tern

Sterna vittata tristanensis *

350

500

Brown Noddy

Anous stolidus

400

200

Inaccessible Rail

Atlantisia rogersi *

5,000

Vulnerable

Gough Moorhen

Gallinula comeri *

2,000

3,500

Vulnerable

Tristan Thrush

Nesocichla eremita *

1,300

Near Threatened

Gough Bunting

Rowettia goughensis *

500

Critical

Inaccessible Bunting

Nesospiza acunhae *

10,000

Vulnerable

Nightingale Bunting

Nesospiza questi *

4,000

Vulnerable

Wilkins’ Bunting

Nesospiza wilkinsi *

—

Endangered

* Endemic species or subspecies.

t Successful breeders seldom breed in successive years, so the actual population is larger than this,
tt Identity of the Fregetta storm-petrels on Gough island remains unresolved; some or all may be a
white-bellied morph of Black-bellied Storm-petrel F. tropica (see Shirihai 2007 for details).

606

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 586-606

Richard Allen

Highlights from a long-term
study of Sparrowhawks

Ian Newton

ABSTRACT The numbers of Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus that breed in
any landscape depend primarily on the amount of woodland, but within that
woodland breeding densities vary with the prey supply. In continuous woodland,
pairs space themselves regularly, but more widely in areas where prey are
scarce. In particular areas, providing that the environment remains stable,
breeding numbers remain fairly stable from year to year, because of density-
dependent recruitment to a limited number of good territories. Lifetime
production of young varies greatly among individuals, depending largely on
longevity (maximum 1 0-1 I years) and age of first breeding (1-3 years). In one
area with a stable breeding population, it was calculated that 72% of all females
that left the nest died before they could breed, another 6% attempted to breed
but produced no young; while the remaining 22% produced between one and 24
young during their lives. On the pattern prevailing, 5% of the most productive
individuals in one generation produced more than half the young in the next
generation. During the lifetimes of individual females, annual survival probability
and breeding success increased up to mid-life, and then declined in old age.
The quality of nesting places varied, as assessed by both occupancy and nest
success. Over a period of years, good places were occupied more often than
poor ones and produced more young per nesting attempt.The best places
seemed to be strongly competed. Most birds were present at individual nesting
places for one year only, but some stayed for several years. During their lives,
many individuals moved from poor to good places. The quality of nesting
places changed slowly over time, as Sparrowhawks favoured, and bred most
successfully in conifer stands aged 20-35 years.

607

Markus Varesvuo

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

325. First-year female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus in flight.

This paper is based on a study of Eurasian
Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus (hereafter
‘Sparrowhawks’) conducted over a
period of 27 years, mostly in southern Scotland,
but also in other parts of Britain. It provides a
review of information published more fully
elsewhere (the references are cited below), in
which more statistical detail may be found.
Many of the data discussed here derive from
Eskdale, a 200 km2 area centred on the town of
Langholm, in Dumfries & Galloway, but other
comparative data are drawn from 13 other areas
elsewhere in Britain. The many people involved
in this study are mentioned in the acknowledg-
ments.

The Sparrowhawk is a relatively small bird of
prey too familiar to require description, but a
few points of natural history will help to set the
scene. The species nests in forest and woodland,
hunts in both wooded and open country, and
eats almost entirely other birds, especially small
songbirds. It breeds commonly in suitable
habitat across Eurasia, from Britain & Ireland to
Japan. In the colder parts of its range it is
migratory, but in Britain & Ireland it is resident
year-round. As in other birds of prey, the female
is the larger sex, but in the Sparrowhawk this
dimorphism is extreme: in the breeding season
the female weighs about twice as much as the
male. Linked with this size difference, the sexes
differ in their feeding habits, the females gener-
ally hunting in more open habitat and taking

some larger prey species than males (Marquiss
& Newton 1982; Newton 1986). While the
females are responsible for egg and chick care,
the males provide most of the food for
breeding, doing practically all the hunting from
before laying until the young are about half-
grown, after which the females also hunt to feed
the brood.

Everywhere that the species has been studied,
it has been found to be predominantly
monogamous, at least for each breeding season,
and pairs nest solitarily, each well separated
from other pairs. Usually, pairs nest in the same
restricted localities year after year: the same
places in the same woods. They build a new nest
each year near old ones, so that regular nesting
places can be recognised by groups of
characteristic flattish nests of different ages. The
presence of these old nests makes it possible to
find the nesting places at any time of year. When
occupied, such nesting places are defended, so
could equally be called ‘nesting territories’.

Most clutches consist of 3-6 eggs (range
1-7) and, although the birds may lay a repeat
clutch if the first fails at an early stage, no more
than one brood is raised each year. In the areas
where these studies were made, about half the
nests produced young and the others failed for
one reason or another, but the proportions of
successful nests varied greatly from year to year,
and from area to area. When the work began,
the birds had recently recovered from the’

608

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

Fig. I . Regular spacing of nesting places in Clashindarroch Forest,
North-east Scotland, 1 973-76, based on nests found by Neville Bousfield.

organochlorine-pesti-
cide impacts of earlier
years and, in the areas
concerned, residues in
eggs had fallen to levels
insufficient to affect
breeding success.

Every year, within
the study areas, all the
woods and forests were
searched in an attempt
to find all the nests,
record breeding
performance (laying
dates, clutch and brood
sizes), and ring the
young. In addition,
many of the breeding
adults were trapped at
the nest each year and ringed. This enabled the
same individuals to be followed year after year -
in many cases throughout their lives. Females
were much easier to catch than males, so
provided more information. In most years in
the Eskdale study area, the female at every
known nest was caught and identified. Other
observers searched in the same way for nests in
other areas, providing information on nest
spacing and success in a total of 14 different
study areas throughout Britain.

Nesting densities

In each of the areas studied, a common pattern
emerged: in areas of more or less continuous

woodland, the nesting places of different pairs
were regularly spaced, as shown in fig. 1.
However, the spacing of the nesting territories,
as measured by nearest-neighbour distances,
varied greatly from area to area. In some areas,
nesting territories in continuous woodland
were as close as 0.6 km, in others up to several
kilometres apart. In all 14 study areas, nesting
places were always uniformly spaced within
woodland, but the distances between them
varied greatly from one area to another.

In each area, the average nest spacing was
related to the local food supply (fig. 2). The
abundance of small birds that form the food of
Sparrowhawks was measured in the spring of

Fig. 2. Spacing of Sparrowhawk nesting places in continuous nesting habitat in relation to indices of prey-bird
densities in 14 different areas. Prey densities assessed by ten-minute point counts in 10-12 randomly selected
localities in the woodland of each area, and Sparrowhawk nest spacing from nearest-neighbour distances.
Sparrowhawk nearest-neighbour distances decrease (so densities increase) with increase in prey densities
and biomass. Relationship between spacing and prey numbers: r = -0.77, P<0.0 1 ; between spacing and prey
biomass: r = -0.6 1 , P<0.05. From Newton et al. ( 1 986).

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

609

Bobby Smith

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

one year by ‘point counts’ in randomly selected
localities in the woodland of each area. Com-
paring areas, a clear pattern emerged: as the
densities of prey increased, so the average
nearest-neighbour distance of Sparrowhawk
nesting places declined. In other words, the
hawks were nesting closer together, at greater
densities, in areas where their food supply was
most plentiful. This relationship held whether
food was expressed as numbers or as biomass of
prey counted.

So it seemed that, in well-forested areas, the
densities of Sparrowhawks were related to the
densities of their food supply. However, in some
of our study areas, as in many other parts of
Britain, woods were few and far between, and
although small-bird prey were abundant in the
open land between the woods, Sparrowhawks
were evidently held below the level that the food
supply would support by shortage of nesting
sites. In general, then, Sparrowhawks were
limited by two factors: food supply or nesting
places, and shortage of one or the other could
limit the breeding density in different areas.

Year-to-year stability in nesting densities
By taking a wide range of prey, consisting of
both resident and migratory bird species, the
Sparrowhawk is largely buffered against
shortage of any one species, and is normally
able to maintain fairly consistent breeding den-
sities from year to year. This is in contrast to
some other birds of prey, such as Common
Kestrels Falco tinnunculus or Short-eared Owls
Asia flammeus, which specialise on cyclically

fluctuating rodents, and vary greatly in
breeding density from year to year (Newton
2003). In the areas studied, providing that the
environment remained reasonably stable, the
numbers of Sparrowhawk nests also remained
fairly stable from year to year. For example, in
Eskdale, the average number of nests found per
year was 34, but throughout the whole 25-year
period annual numbers remained within 15%
of the average level, with no long-term upward
or downward trend (fig. 3).

How did the Eskdale breeding population
remain so stable from year to year, and what
was the proximate mechanism? Because I
trapped most of the breeding birds each year, I
could distinguish new breeders nesting in the
area for the first time from established breeders
that were present in the nesting population
from previous years. Comparing the figures
between years, it emerged that, in years when
many old breeders were left from the previous
year, few new breeders were added to the
nesting population (fig. 4). But in years when
few previous breeders were left, then many new
breeders were added. The recruitment of new
breeders each year was density dependent with
respect to the numbers of old breeders left from
previous years. This pattern held because the
total number of available territories in this area
remained fairly constant from year to year. A
new bird could breed chiefly when an old one
died and left a vacancy. This was evidently the
mechanism by which stability in breeding
numbers was achieved - by competition for a
limited number of territories, themselves

limited by the local
environment. Surplus
non-breeders were
available each spring
to fill any gaps that
arose, but indirect evi-
dence indicated that
the numbers of unat-
tached non-breeders
varied much more
from year to year than
the numbers of
breeders (Newton &
Rothery 2001). On
average, the number of
unattached females
was estimated at
around 0.3 for every
nesting female.

326. Adult female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus incubating.

610

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

Fig. 3. Annual nest numbers in the Eskdale study area,
Dumfries & Galloway, 1 972-9 1 .

Fig. 4. Number of new females recruited to the Eskdale
breeding population each year in relation to the number
of established breeders present from previous years. The
average population over the whole period was 34 pairs, so on
the diagram, the line joins 34 on one axis to 34 on the other
axis; it shows the relationship expected if the number of new
breeders added each year had exactly compensated for the
number of old breeders that were lost. The points show the
actual figures obtained in different years, all of which lie close
to the line. The graph reveals the mechanism by which the
stability of numbers was maintained in relation to a fairly fixed
number of territories determined by the habitat of the area.

From Newton (1991b).

Compared with the fluctua-
tions found in many other bird
species, Sparrowhawk breeding
numbers in Eskdale showed a
remarkable degree of stability.

Yet such stability is typical of
many birds of prey nesting in
stable environments, with a con-
sistent supply of food and nest-
sites (Newton 2003). In some of
our other study areas, however,
the amount of suitable nesting
habitat changed markedly
during the study, as older wood-
land was felled or young wood-
land grew to a stage suitable for
Sparrowhawks, while at the
same time small-bird densities changed
through these and other developments in
land use. In each of these areas, the
numbers of nesting Sparrowhawks changed
accordingly, decreasing or increasing as the
case may be.

Lifetime reproduction
Much information was collected on the
success of individual Sparrowhawk nests,
but for exactly 200 individuals, I recorded
lifetime reproductive success; that is, the
total numbers of young raised during their
entire lives. My assumption was that all the
nests of these females occurred within the
study area. For the majority of females, this
was a reasonable assumption, but a
minority may have attempted nesting
outside the area in one or more years, and
hence unknown to me.

There is great potential for bias in esti-
mates of lifetime success, because it is
much easier to record the lifetime produc-
tion of a short-lived individual than of a
long-lived one. This is simply because the
longer a bird survives, the more difficult it
is to keep track of it year after year. So the
first question I had to ask was Tn terms of
their lifespans, how typical are my 200
females of the female population as a whole?’
Sparrowhawks are not especially long-lived. The
oldest bird in Eskdale, and the oldest recorded
in Britain at that time, lived to be 1 1 years of
age, but it bred for the last time in its tenth year.

The pale columns in fig. 5 show the expected
age composition of the breeding population at
Eskdale as a whole, based on knowledge of

mortality rates at different ages and of ages of
first breeding (see later). The dark columns
show the age composition of those 200 females
whose lifetime success I knew. There is no sig-
nificant difference between these distributions,
so I could assume that my sample of females
was representative, in terms of their lifespans, of
the female population as a whole. In other

61 1

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

Fig. 5. Age composition of the Eskdale breeding population.
Pale columns show the expected age composition calculated from
knowledge of mortality rates at different ages, together with the
ages of first breeding. Dark columns show the age composition of
200 females whose lifetime reproductive rates were known. The
two distributions did not differ statistically, so it could be assumed
that the 200 females were representative, in terms of their lifespans,
of the female population as a whole. Updated from Newton ( 1 985).

Fig. 6. Lifetime fledgling productions of 200 female Sparrowhawks.
Mean per female = 5.3 young (range 0-24).

Updated from Newton (1989).

Fig. 7. Lifetime productions of different female Sparrowhawks in
relation to their individual lifespans. Each dot shows the number
of fledglings raised by a particular female. Relationship between
lifetime production (y) and duration of lifespan (x): y = 0. 1 27 +

I 42x, r2 = 0.425, P = 0.000 1 . Updated from Newton ( 1 989).

words, my sample of females was not
biased with respect to longevity.

The numbers of young raised by
these breeding females during their
lives varied from nil to 24 (fig. 6).
About 16% of females attempted to
breed (laid eggs), but still produced
no young and therefore left no
descendants. The remaining females
produced between one and 24 young
during their lives. About 45% of
females raised 3-5 young during their
lives. This was because most broods
consisted of 3-5 young, and many
females raised only one brood during
their lives. But the main point of
interest is the great variation in the
number of young produced by dif-
ferent breeding females.

What causes such large variation
in lifetime production? One obvious
factor is the lifespan of the individual
concerned, as shown in fig. 7. The
general trend was for females that
were longer-lived to produce most
young. Nevertheless, in any one age
group, there was great variation.
Some females lived to be seven or
eight years of age, and still produced
no more young than some of the one-
year birds. And the oldest individual,
which lived to be ten years, produced
only 12 young. Overall, however, a
broad relationship was apparent
between total production of young
and lifespan.

Another factor that influenced the
number of young produced per
lifespan was the age of first nesting.
Some females began to nest in their
first year of life, but others did not
start until they were two or three
years of age. This delay probably
resulted from competition for good
nesting places, in which old birds
took precedence over young ones; and
also, in the case of males, because
some individuals were unable, in the
scarcity of their first spring, to catch
enough prey to feed a female in addi-
tion to themselves.

Taking all this information on
breeders, together with other informa-
tion on survival up to breeding age, I

612

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

327. Adult female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus and chicks at a nest
in a larch Larix plantation.

was able to calculate the
numbers of young produced
by individuals in an entire
cohort (or generation) of
female Sparrowhawks (fig.

8). The main points to
emerge were that a large
proportion - 72% of all the
young females that left the
nest - died before they could
breed. Another 6%
attempted to breed; they laid
eggs but failed to produce
young. Overall, then, 78% of
individuals left no descen-
dants. Only 22% of individ-
uals in each generation
produced young, but in
greatly varying numbers.

Together they produced enough young during
their lives to replace themselves and all the other
non-productive individuals. With such a skewed
pattern of distribution, only 5% of females pro-
duced more than half the young in the next gen-
eration, a pattern that was presumably repeated
generation after generation.

Age-related variation in survival and breeding
success

The information on lifetime reproductive
success was obtained by following the same

individuals throughout their lives. Another type
of analysis asked how the performance of the
birds - their survival and breeding success -
changed during the course of their lives. The
sample available for analysis was much bigger
than for lifetime success because it included
birds of known age that were studied for only
part of their lives. Again the data refer to
females, as too few records were obtained for
males to examine this aspect in detail.

Fig. 9 shows four aspects of performance in
relation to age. Fig. 9a shows survival to the

Fig. 8. Lifetime reproductive success of a whole cohort (or generation) of female fledgling Sparrowhawks.
Individuals are arranged along the x-axis in order of their lifetime productions. About 72% of fledglings died
before they could breed, and another 6% attempted to breed (laid eggs) but produced no young, while the
remaining 22% produced 1-24 young during their lives. The 5% of individuals at the right-hand end of the
graph produced more than half the total number of young. Updated from Newton (1989).

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 607-623

613

Markus Varesvuo

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

Fig. 9. Performance in relation to age in female Sparrowhawks. The shape of the curves differs, according to
the aspect of performance measured, but all show improvement in the early years of life and deterioration in
the later years. From Newton 1 989; see also Newton & Rothery (1997).

next year of females of different ages. Females
that were in their first year of life had less than a
50% chance of surviving to the next year, but
their annual survival rate increased into mid
life, reaching more than 65% in the third,
fourth or fifth years, and then declined with
increasing age. Females of eight or more years
old showed a lower annual survival than even
the one-year-olds.

The three other graphs in fig. 9 show dif-
ferent aspects of breeding performance. Fig. 9b
shows the laying date (of first egg). In the Spar-
rowhawk, an early laying date is advantageous
because the earlier a bird lays its eggs in the

breeding season, the more likely it is to produce
young. Females start in their first year by laying
late in the season; they get progressively earlier
to middle life and then progressively later with
increasing age. Fig. 9c shows the clutch size;
again, young birds lay small clutches, but as
they get older they lay larger clutches and then
smaller again. Fig. 9d shows the average number
of young produced per nesting attempt; this
figure increases until quite late in life before
declining.

The shapes of these curves differ according
to the aspect of performance that is measured,
but all show the same broad pattern of

328. Female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus drowning a Magpie Pica pica in a woodland pool.

614

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

improvement in the early
years ot life, which one
might attribute to
increasing experience and
social status, followed by
deterioration in later life.
Such senescence has
proved extremely difficult
to demonstrate in birds,
partly because birds can
be aged only in the early
years of their life so a
long-term study is needed
in order to follow ringed
birds throughout their
lives, but also because so
many birds of all ages die
each year that very few
individuals reach old age.
Hence, a very large
sample of young birds
needs to be ringed in
order to provide enough
individuals of known age
in the older age groups.
Studies on relatively few
bird species have yet
yielded this type of infor-
mation.

329. Adult female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus with small downy chicks.

330. First-year female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus with well-grown young.

Variation in habitat
quality

This section is concerned
with variation in habitat,
specifically in the quality
of nesting places. A view
over any wooded land-
scape in Britain is likely to encompass several
Sparrowhawk nesting places. Typically, not all
nesting places in an area are occupied every
year, for some previously used ones are likely to
remain unused in particular years.

Over a period of years, in our study areas,
the birds showed marked preferences for certain
nesting places, which were occupied much
more often than expected by chance at the pop-
ulation levels found, and they avoided other
places, which were occupied much less often
than expected by chance. In other words, it
could be demonstrated statistically that the
birds favoured some patches of nesting habitat
over others, and in any one year the available
nesting places were not occupied at random
(Newton & Marquiss 1976; Newton 1991a).

The basis of this preference became apparent
from examination of nesting success. All the
Eskdale nesting places were graded from 1 to 5,
depending on how often they were used in a 15-
year period. A ‘Grade 1 nesting place’ was occu-
pied in one, two, or three (not necessarily
successive) years in the period. A ‘Grade 2
nesting place’ was occupied in four, five or six
years, and so on through to a ‘Grade 5 nesting
place’, which was occupied in 13, 14, or 15 years
in a 15-year period. The resulting scores gave a
simple measure of frequency of occupancy,
from low to high. Nesting places that were avail-
able for less than 15 years (because of forest
growth or felling) were graded similarly, but
based on the proportion of available years in
which they were used.

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 607-623

615

Bobby Smith Bobby Smith

Markus Varesvuo

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

33 I . Adult female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus in flight.

Comparing nesting places, a clear associa-
tion was apparent between frequency of use and
nest success. In high-grade places, laying dates
were earlier than in low-grade places, and a
greater proportion of nests produced young
(table 1). Overall, the average number of young
raised per nesting attempt showed more than a
two-fold decrease between the highest and
lowest grades of nesting place (from 2.7 to 1.2).
It seemed, then, that Sparrowhawks preferred to
nest in those nesting places where their chances
of raising young were highest.

The age composition of breeders was not the
same in the different grades of nesting places, as
the lower-grade places held significantly more
first-year birds. Such first-time breeders would
be expected to show poorer breeding success
than older ones (see above). However, allowing
for age, a significant difference in success was
still evident between the different grades of
nesting place, and both first-year and older
females nested more successfully in the higher-
grade places than in the lower-grade ones
(Newton 1991a).

There were three main causes of failure:
many birds built a nest, but then did not lay
eggs; other birds laid eggs and then deserted
them; while yet other birds lost their eggs or
chicks to predators (chiefly Red Squirrels
Sciurus vulgaris and Eurasian Jays Garrulus
glandarius as predators of eggs, and Tawny Owls
Strix aluco as predators of chicks; Newton

1986). Unidentified and other causes of failure,
such as nest collapse or clutch addling, are
grouped together in one category in table 2.
These various causes of failure were all more
common in low-grade nesting places than in
high-grade ones. However, most could have
been manifestations of a single underlying
problem, namely food shortage. Birds short of
food could not produce eggs; or produced eggs
but then abandoned them. Yet other birds left
their eggs and chicks unguarded as they went
hunting, thereby exposing them to predation.
So, although the nests failed from various prox-
imate causes, most could have arisen from
insufficient food. Evidence for this view came
from various findings, including nests at which
supplementary food was provided in the pre-
laying and laying periods (Newton & Marquiss
1981).

Not all grades of nesting place contributed
equally to the production of the next generation
of Sparrowhawks. Table 3 shows the numbers of
young females produced per nesting attempt in
each of the five grades of territory. Because the
sex ratio among nestling Sparrowhawks was
equal (Newton & Marquiss 1979), the average
number of young females produced per nesting
attempt on territories of different grade could
be taken as half the mean number of young
produced (from table 1). Moreover, analysis
revealed that about 30% of fledgling females
survived to nest themselves, either inside or

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British Birds 101* November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

outside the study area, and at ages one, two or
three years (Newton 1985), with no obvious dif-
ference between females from different grades
of nesting place (Newton 1991a).

The average annual mortality rate of female
Sparrowhawks was calculated by several
methods at around 32% (Newton et al. 1983).
So if the population was to remain stable, each
female had to produce on average about 0.32
young females per attempt (or year) to offset
the adult mortality.

All the three lower grades of nesting place
produced too few females to offset adult mor-
tality. These places apparently acted as ‘sinks’,
dependent on continuing immigration. Grade 4
nesting places produced approximately the
right number of young females to offset adult
mortality, but Grade 5 places produced more
than the critical number and so acted as
sources, producing a surplus of birds able to
occupy other areas. So the overall message was

that, while the poor nesting places in the area
produced insufficient young to offset annual
adult mortality, the best places produced a
surplus. In the absence of net immigration, the
population was heavily dependent on the best
nesting places in order to maintain its numbers
over time. Although the above calculations were
done for females, for which most information
was available, the same would be expected of
males because of the equal sex ratio at fledging
and the monogamous breeding system.

Turnover of territory occupants
This situation where some territories were suc-
cessful and produced young year after year,
while others usually failed, prompted the ques-
tion ‘Was the high productivity of some terri-
tories due to the high quality of the nesting
territories themselves or to the quality of the
particular birds that occupied them?’ In the case
of Sparrowhawks, consistent year-to-year

Table I . Breeding performance of Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus in nesting places of different grade,

Eskdale

1972-86.

Grade of
nesting
place*

Number of
nests
recorded

Percentage
of nests in
which young
were raised

Mean laying
date in
May (± se)

Mean number of
young raised
per nest (± se)

Percentage of
yearling
females

13 ±2

1.19 ± 0.37

8 ± 2

1.57 ± 0.30

161

7 ± 1

1.60 ±0.15

150

6 ± 1

2.11 ± 0.16

123

6 ± 1

2.67 ± 0.18

* Graded according to number of (not necessarily successive) years occupied in a 15-year period.
Grade 1: occupied 1-3 years, Grade 2: occupied 4-6 years, Grade 3: occupied 7-9 years, Grade 4: occupied 10-12
years, Grade 5: occupied 13-15 years. Significance of variation among grades of nesting place in the proportion

of nests that were successful: x24 = 26.87, P<0.001; and in the proportion of yearlings among nesting females:
X2, = 5.84, but on Spearman’s rank test (two-tailed) on percentages, rs = 1.0, P<0.05. On the mean number of
young raised per nest, r$ = 1.0, P<0.02.

Table 2. Causes of breeding failure among Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus in nesting places of different grade.

Percentage of nests which failed through

Grade of
nesting place

Number of
nests recorded

Non-laying

Desertion
of eggs

Predation of
eggs or chicks

Other

causes*

161

150

123

* Mostly unidentified, but also including nest collapse, egg addling and human interference. Lack of significance
in variation between grades in frequency of different classes of failure: x2l2 = 5.66, n.s.

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 607-623

617

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

Table 3. Mean contribution to future nesting population made by Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus breeding
attempts in different grades of nesting place. Nesting places of grades 1-3 could be regarded as ‘sink’
habitat because they produced insufficient young to offset the annual adult mortality, and places of grade 5
could be regarded as ‘source’ habitat because they produced more than enough young to offset the annual

adult mortality.

Grade of
nesting place

Mean number
of young females
raised per nest1

Mean number of
females that survive
to nest2

Balance between
mean annual
production and mean
annual mortality3

0.595

0.179

Negative

0.785

0.236

Negative

0.800

0.240

Negative

1.055

0.317

Even

1.335

0.401

Positive

1 Calculated from table 1, as half the mean number of young produced per nesting attempt, and on the knowledge
of an equal sex ratio (Newton & Marquiss 1979).

2 Calculated as 30% of the number reared (Newton 1991a).

3 The annual mortality of breeding females was estimated by different methods at 29-36% (mean 32%), so that
to replace itself each female must produce about 0.32 young females per year (Newton et al. 1983).

Table 4. Fidelity to nesting place among female Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus trapped in successive years.

Adjusted grade
of nesting place*

Number (%)
which stayed
on same place

Number (%)
which moved to a
different place of
same or higher grade

Number (%)
which moved to
a different place
of lower grade

0(0)

2 (100)

3 (38)

5(62)

0(0)

23 (59)

16 (41)

0(0)

29 (76)

4(11)

5(13)

44 (83)

1 (2)

8(15)

* For each record, grades of relevant nesting places were recalculated to exclude the movement periods of the
individuals concerned (see text). Females caught in more than two successive years figure more than once, as the
unit of observation was on ‘bird year’. The variation between grades of nesting place in tendency to stay was
statistically significant (x24 = 35.1, P<0.001).

success could not be attributed entirely to the
individual occupants because most held partic-
ular territories for only short periods.

Because the birds were ringed, 1 knew how
long many individuals spent in each nesting
place. In both sexes, the majority of individuals
were present in particular nesting places for
only one year, but some were present in the
same place for several years, up to six in males
and up to eight in females (fig. 10). In general,
however, there was high turnover of birds at
nesting places; and although some places were
occupied continuously for 15 or more years,
this was caused by a succession of different
individuals occupying the same places in quick
succession, but each staying for a short time.

Part of the turnover of birds at nesting

places was caused by mortality. On average,
more than 30% of individuals died each year,
creating gaps for new birds to enter the
breeding population. But in addition, some
birds changed nesting place from year to year,
creating other openings. Of all the individuals
caught in two successive years, about two-thirds
had stayed on the same territory from one year
to the next, and about one-third had moved to
a different territory. This held for both sexes
(fig. 1 1). Whenever birds changed nesting
places they usually also changed mates; on rela-
tively few occasions did both partners re-pair at
a different nesting place, and then only when
the move was to an adjacent place (Newton
2001).

In addressing the question why some birds

618

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

changed nesting places between years, it again
emerged that habitat quality was involved. In
fig. 12, the nesting places are again listed in five
grades, poor to good (1-5). The top graphs
show the numbers of males and females that
moved away from nesting places of different
grades, and the lower graphs show the grades of
nesting places that those same individuals
moved to. Birds moved away from all grades of
nesting place but mostly to places of higher
grade. About 70% of individuals that changed
nesting place from one year to the next moved

Fig. 10. Residence periods of individual
Sparrowhawks in particular nesting places.
Most individuals stayed in a particular territory for
only one year, but others stayed for several years.
Mean periods of residence were about 1.4 years
for both sexes. From Newton (200 1 ).

to a place that was as high or higher in grade
than the one it occupied the year before. This
was a significantly larger proportion than
expected if birds had resettled on nesting places
at random ()(24 = 14.6, PcO.Ol).

So it seemed that the nesting places varied
greatly in quality. Birds competed over the good
places, and during their lives many individuals
moved from poor to good ones. The poor
places were occupied irregularly, mainly by
young birds which, if they survived, later moved
to a better one.

Temporal trends in habitat quality
The sections above were concerned with spatial
variation in quality of nesting places (as judged
by occupancy and nest success), and their role
in the regulation of breeding density. But there
was also a temporal component, as nesting
places changed through time. Over the years,
the trees in the nesting habitat became larger
and (through thinning) further apart, so that
the nesting habitat gradually gained a more
open structure. It became clear that nesting
territories which were favoured over periods of

10- 15 years were not necessarily favoured in
later years. Taking the data from Eskdale over a
15-year period (1972-86), I checked whether
nesting places that were most used in years 1-5
were also most used in years 6-10 and in years

11- 15. While frequency of occupancy was cor-
related over these three 5-year periods, all
regression slopes were less than unity, implying
a decline in occupancy over time. The same was
evident in the history of individual nesting
places, as many growing stands became suitable
for use during the course of the study. In the
early years after they were first occupied, such

same different same different

Fig. I I. Proportion of Sparrowhawks caught in consecutive years that were in the same nesting place in both
years or in different nesting territories. In both sexes, about one-third of individuals changed nesting places
between years, most at the same time changing mates. Lack of significant difference between the sexes:

X2 = 0.80, P = 0.37. From Newton (2001).

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 607-623

619

Rebecca Nason

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

60 n

c
Q)

males

movements from

op 40

movements to

op 40

females

movements from

movements to

territory grade

Fig. 1 2. Frequency of nesting-place changes in relation to grade of nesting place,

I (poor) to 5 (good). Birds moved away from all grades of nesting place (upper
graphs), but moved mostly to higher-grade places (lower graphs). The grading of
territories for this analysis was based on occupancy in years other than those in
which the move occurred. This was because each movement contributed to the
score of a nesting place and greater statistical independence in the data was
obtained by excluding the two years involving each movement. From Newton (1991a).

stands were used frequently and nest success
was high, but as the years passed and they
became more open and mature, they were used
less often and nest success deteriorated, until
they were abandoned altogether as nesting sites.

At the same time,
young stands nearby
were continually taken
up, and the process was
repeated. Clearly, Spar-
rowhawks favoured
forest at a certain
growth stage, largely
avoiding both younger
(too short and dense)
and older (too tall and
open) stands. Stability
in the Eskdale popula-
tion as a whole
was achieved largely
because the forest was
managed consistently
over the years on a
long-term rotation
(40-60 years). Each
year some patches
were clear-felled and
replanted, while others
were thinned, so that at
any one time the area
contained a mosaic of tree stands of various
ages, and a fairly stable age structure over time.
Sparrowhawks occupied particular stands for
periods of 15-20 years during their mid-growth
stages, at around 20-35 years.

332. Adult male Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus with prey, a partially plucked Collared Dove Streptopelia ,

decaocto.

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British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

Discussion

In the sections above, I outlined how Spar-
rowhawks maintained their individual survival
and reproductive success in a heterogeneous envi-
ronment. Both individual quality (notably age)
and habitat (territory) quality interact to influ-
ence the performance of individuals, and also
operate in the regulation of breeding density.
From here on, I shall mention some uncertainties
in the findings, and some aspects of environment
that have changed since these studies were made.

Habitat quality could be assessed only from
the performance of the birds that occupied it.
However, breeding success did not depend solely
on the habitat, but also on the particular indi-
viduals that lived there. If the best birds (the
most competent breeders) occupied the best
habitat, the effects of habitat and bird quality on
observed performance would be confounded.

In Eskdale, both habitat and occupant prob-
ably contributed to recorded performance,
because young birds (with low nest success)
more frequently nested in habitat classed as low
grade. However, evidence that habitat influ-
enced success independently of occupant was of
three kinds: (1) among birds of a single age
group, breeding was more successful in the
habitat classed as high grade; (2) high occu-
pancy and nest success was maintained on some

nesting places over periods of 10-15 years,
despite frequent changes in occupants (mean
residence period 1.4 years); and (3) a ‘repeat-
ability’ analysis, comparing productivity of the
same nesting places with different females, and
of the same females in the same or different
nesting places, revealed that habitat contributed
to nest success over and above any effect of
occupant (Newton 1988). Hence, the variation
in recorded performance between nesting
places of different grade was almost certainly
due partly to habitat, but was probably greater
than could be attributed to habitat alone. In
other words, effects of habitat and bird quality
were probably additive, with ‘good’ birds occu-
pying the ‘good’ nesting habitat.

While performance up to fledging clearly
varied according to grade of nesting place, post-
fledging survival was apparently similar for
young produced on all grades of nesting place
(as far as could be judged from subsequent
ring-recoveries; Newton 1991a). This was
perhaps not surprising because, within four
weeks of leaving the nest, the young dispersed
and were free to compete on their own merits.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to compare
the survival of breeding adults from different
grades of nesting place. As birds more often
moved away from low-grade nesting places, it
was usually unknown whether their disappear-

333. First-year female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus in snow.

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

621

Markus Varesvuo

Bobby Smith

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

)

ance was due to death or to movement from the
study area. The analysis of source and sink
habitat was therefore done on the assumption
that breeder survival was similar across all
grades of nesting place. If this was not the case,
and breeders survived less well in low-grade
habitat, the effect would be to widen the
recorded differences between source and sink
habitat; that is, the source habitat would have
contributed more to the maintenance of the
population, and the sink habitat less, than was
evident from reproductive data alone.

Quality of nesting habitat could be
explained mainly in terms of woodland struc-
ture, as Sparrowhawks preferred, and bred most
successfully in, fairly dense conifer woods, of
around 20-35 years of age, as mentioned above.
This may have been because woods of this age
provided a more available food supply, less risk
of predation, or more shelter from inclement
weather. Because most nest failures could be
attributed, directly or indirectly, to food
shortage, prey availability may have declined
with increasing age of forest. Overall densities
of prey did not decline in conifer stands
between 20 and 50 years of age (Moss 1978;
Moss et al. 1979), but prey may have been more
easily caught in dense woods, if only because
the hawks could gain a closer approach. Male
Sparrowhawks provided most of the food in the
breeding season. Several, which were equipped
with radio tags, showed a marked preference for
hunting in woodland as opposed to open

country, and within woodland they preferred
the younger, denser stands. I can think of no
reason for this preference other than increased
capture success, but this was not measured. No
Northern Goshawks Accipiter gentilis or other
significant predators of adult Sparrowhawks
were present in any of the study areas in the
years when the data were collected.

Possibly the preference of Sparrowhawks for
young woods was an inherent response, evolved
in the past to avoid predation. The Goshawk is a
major predator, and prefers older, more open
stands than the Sparrowhawk (Newton 1986).
Moreover, as Goshawks have colonised some of
the study areas in recent years, Sparrowhawks
seem to have declined, and become more
restricted for nesting to the denser of the various
stands they would have used formerly. However,
these changes have not been assessed in detail. In
addition, in many of our study areas, Tawny
Owls occasionally took Sparrowhawk chicks.
These predators also hunt more in open stands
than in dense ones, possibly because, with better
ground vegetation, open stands provide more-
abundant rodent prey. Hence, security from
predation may be an important factor in the
choice of nesting habitat. However, aspects other
than forest structure also seemed to influence
occupancy and nest success, notably the position
of the nesting place in the landscape, and the
abundance of prey in the wider area. In
addition, Sparrowhawks generally preferred to
nest in coniferous over broadleaved areas, but in
most of our study areas
broadleaved woods were too
few to allow a detailed
assessment.

Most of this work was
done at a time when
ecological conditions for
Sparrowhawks in many parts
of Britain were ideal. Study
areas were chosen in which
Sparrowhawks had recovered
from the organochlorine-
pesticide impacts of earlier
years. Many forest areas
were planted in the
1950s- 1960s, so that they
reached a stage suitable for
Sparrowhawks during
the 1970s- 1990s. The
management was mainly by
thinning every five years or

334. A window casualty. Many Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus now die
from collisions with large windows, a cause of mortality which has risen in
recent years as Sparrowhawks increasingly inhabit towns and cities.

622

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 607-623

Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks

so. Since then, much of this forest has grown
beyond a stage at which it is ideal for
Sparrowhawks, and the management has
changed, so that many forest areas are not now
thinned, but clear-felled at a young age,
providing pulp wood. Other forests are now
more varied in spatial structure, with a mosaic
of stands of different ages, only some of which
are suitable for Sparrowhawks. Nesting places
are therefore fewer, and less regularly spaced,
than in the past. In addition, some areas have
now been colonised by Goshawks which, as
mentioned above, may put further constraints
on the range of forest habitat that
Sparrowhawks are likely to occupy. Moreover, in
the wider countryside, many prey species have
declined through changes in woodland or
farmland management. In view of all these
changes, it is surprising that the BTO’s Breeding
Bird Survey has yet revealed no overall decline
in Sparrowhawk numbers nationwide.

In contrast to these changes in rural areas,
Sparrowhawks have increasingly occupied towns
and cities. They were apparently absent from
urban areas in earlier times, but in any case were
generally scarcer as a result of human persecu-
tion (mainly by gamekeepers) and then
organochlorine-pesticide impacts. However, not
only have Sparrowhawks now recovered from
these past impacts, but the urban environment
has changed in their favour, with more wide-
spread planting of trees and shrubs, the influx of
a greater range of songbirds to serve as prey, and
the increased feeding of such birds by house-
holders. All of these changes are likely to have
greatly increased the attractiveness of towns and
cities to Sparrowhawks. Perhaps more impor-
tant, however, is the development of a more tol-
erant attitude in the human population, for it is
hard to imagine that any Sparrowhawks that
attempted to breed in towns in the early years of
the twentieth century would not have been
killed or had their nests robbed. This is perhaps
another example where predation (in this case
by people) has influenced habitat use by a prey
species. While the earlier idea that Spar-
rowhawks were limited by availability of either
food or nesting places remains broadly true, it is
becoming increasingly apparent that predators
(natural or human) can greatly alter what the
prey species (in this case the Sparrowhawk) per-
ceives as acceptable habitat, and can thereby

influence its numbers and distribution.

Acknowledgments

Many people took part in this study, including for several
years Mick Marquiss, Andy Village and Ian Wyllie, together
with Mac Hotson for the entire 27 years in Eskdale. Other
observers contributed data on nest spacing and success in
their home areas, in particular: Neville Bousfield
(Aberdeenshire), Ted Green (Berkshire), Geoff Horne and
Derek Ratcliffe (Cumbria), Ted Robson and Geoff Shaw
(Derbyshire), Willie Murray and Herman Ostroznik
(Dumfriesshire), Brian Etheridge (Morayshire), Alan
Heavisides, Colin Jewitt, Brian Little, Eric Meek, Steve Petty
and others (Northumbria), Roy Dennis, Nick Picozzi and
Doug Weir (Speyside). In addition, Richard Mearns made
the point counts of prey in the woods of each study area,
Peter Rothery helped with many of the statistical analyses,
and Mick Marquiss made constructive comments on the
manuscript,

References

Marquiss, M„ & Newton, I. 1 982. Habitat preference in
male and female Sparrowhawks. Ibis 1 24: 324-328.

Moss, D. 1978. Song-bird populations in forestry
plantations. Quart J. For. 72: 4- 1 4.

— .Taylor R N„ & Easterbee, N. 1 979. The effects on song-
bird populations of upland afforestation with spruce.
Forestry 52: 129-150.

Newton, I. 1985. Lifetime reproductive output of female
Sparrowhawks. J. Anim. Ecol. 554: 24 1 -253.

— 1 986. The Sparrowhawk. Poyser Calton.

— 1988. Individual performance in Sparrowhawks: the
ecology of two sexes. Proc . Int. Orn. Congr. 1 9: 1 25-154.

— 1 989. Sparrowhawk. In: Newton, I. (ed.), Lifetime
Reproduction in Birds: 279-296. Academic Press, London.

— 1991a. Habitat variation and population regulation in
Sparrowhawks. Ibis. 133 (Suppl. I ): 76—88.

— 1991 b.The role of recruitment in population
regulation. Proc. Int Orn. Congr. 21:1 689- 1 699.

— 200 1 . Causes and consequences of breeding dispersal
in the Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus.Ardea 89 (Special
issue): 143-154.

— 2003. The role of natural factors in the limitation of
bird of prey numbers: a brief review of the evidence.
ln:Thompson, D. B.A., Redpath, S. M„ Fielding, A. H.,
Marquiss, M„ & Galbraith, C. A. (eds.), Birds of Prey in a
Changing Environment: 5-23.The Stationery Office,
Edinburgh.

— & Marquiss, M, 1976. Occupancy and success of nesting
territories in the European Sparrowhawk. Raptor
Research 1 0: 65-7 1 .

— & — 1 979. Sex ratio among nestlings of the European
Sparrowhawk. Amer. Nat I 1 3: 309-3 1 5.

— & — 1981. Effect of additional food on laying dates and
clutch sizes of Sparrowhawks. Orn. Scand. 1 2: 224—229.

— & Rothery, R 1 997. Senescence and reproductive value
in Sparrowhawks. Ecology 78: 1 000- 1 008.

— & — 200 1 . Estimation and limitation of numbers of
floaters in a Eurasian Sparrowhawk population. Ibis

1 43: 442-H49.

— , Marquiss, M„ & Rothery, R 1983. Age structure and
survival in a Sparrowhawk population. J.Anim. Ecol.
52:591-602.

— .Wyllie, I., & Mearns, R. 1 986. Spacing of Sparrowhawks
in relation to food supply. J.Anim. Ecol. 55: 361-370.

Prof. Ian Newton, Monks Wood Research Station, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon,
Cambridgeshire PE28 2LS

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623

Conservation research news

Compiled by Jenny Bright and Will Kirby

Signs of hope for Corn Buntings in Europe

The decline of the Corn Bunting Emberiza
calandra in recent decades, estimated at 86%
between 1967 and 2005, has been among the
most dramatic of any species in the UK. A
similar pattern of decline, including range con-
traction and local extinctions, has occurred
across much of western Europe. As with other
farmland species, the population decline has
been related to changes in farming practice,
such as loss of overwinter stubbles and greater
harvesting efficiency, in turn leading to a lack of
seed-food availability in the winter months.
Pesticide use is also implicated and may have
affected populations by reducing the amount of
insect food available for chicks in the breeding
season. However, three recent studies, two in
Scotland and one in Denmark, offer some hope
that there may be practical and effective ways of
halting these patterns of decline and starting a
process of recovery.

In Scotland, the Corn Bunting population is
now as low as 800 territorial males, and is
largely concentrated in two areas: the east-coast
lowlands from Fife to Inverness, and the Outer
Hebrides. In the first study, Jeremy Wilson and
his colleagues investigated the species’ decline in
the Outer Hebrides. The population here is
likely to have persisted owing to the continua-
tion of traditional cereal-harvesting methods.
Cereal strips are grown on the machair for
winter stock feed, the crop is then stored in
stacks of ripe sheaths, and is finally removed to
outdoor feed-stands for cattle over the course of
the winter. This process provides spilled grain
for Corn Buntings throughout the winter.
However, since the 1980s, these methods have
gradually been replaced by early harvesting of
cereals, which are then stored as arable silage in
plastic bales, leaving little or no spilled grain.
Surveys of Corn Buntings showed a 62%

decrease since 1995 and population declines
were greater in areas where a higher proportion
of cereals was harvested for arable silage.

Since 2002/03, the RSPB, Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH) and the Western Isles Council
have provided financial support to crofters
employing traditional harvesting methods.
However, the ease and cost-effectiveness of
arable silage means that these traditional
methods are unlikely to persist in the long term,
and the authors suggest that the possible bene-
fits to Corn Buntings of later harvesting of
arable silage should be assessed. If successful,
this could be implemented as an agri-environ-
ment option along with other options designed
to increase winter seed abundance.

The effectiveness of such targeted manage-
ment intervention mechanisms is demonstrated
in the second study, led by Allan Perkins. In
Scotland, agri-environment measures likely to
benefit Corn Buntings are available under the
Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS), and similar
measures will be available under the new Scot-
tish Rural Development Programme. However,
since the RSS is competitive, the RSPB, with
support from SNH and the Farming and
Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), launched an
additional targeted programme in eastern Scot-
land in 2001, the Farmland Bird Lifeline. This
provided funding for a suite of management
options, predominantly aimed at providing
insect food for chicks in summer (e.g. conserva-
tion headlands), and seed food in winter (e.g.
spring sowing). Monitoring in 53 tetrads
between 2002 and 2004 found no significant
change in Corn Bunting numbers on farms
with management intervention, whereas on
farms with no intervention Corn Buntings
decreased by 43%. The authors specifically rec-
ommend long-term monitoring to assess

624

{ Conservation research news h

whether these short-term effects, due to the
Farmland Bird Lifeline, could result in longer-
term recovery achieved through agri-environ-
ment agreements.

Turning to the wider European situation,
Tony Fox and his colleagues showed that, almost
uniquely in Europe, an upturn in the Danish
Corn Bunting population appears to have
started in about 1990. The increase in breeding
numbers has been modest, at 2.2% per annum
on a country-wide basis, but locally there have
been increases of greater than 7% in some
central and western regions. Winter counts have
also increased, by up to 11% per annum, and
show a strong upwards trend. Perhaps the most
encouraging factor in this population rise is
that it has happened without specific conserva-
tion recovery action, leading the authors to con-
clude that Corn Buntings may be able to survive
and even increase under prevailing circum-
stances of intensive food production.

Despite the overall increase in Corn Bunting
numbers in Denmark, the pattern has shown
marked differences at the county or regional
level, with decreases in the south-
east being offset by increases
farther north and west. This gave
the authors the chance to compare
differences in agricultural practices
in regions with both increasing
and decreasing populations. Areas
that have experienced the greatest
increases are, in general terms,
those where mixed farming per-
sists, especially those with exten-
sive grass and spring barley. In
contrast, Corn Buntings are much
less abundant in predominantly
arable areas where autumn-sown
wheat is more abundant. A further
interesting correlation exists with
the timing of the increase and the
implementation of set-aside across
the European Union. Although
designed to cut agricultural pro-
duction, set-aside has also been
shown to provide benefits to farm-
land birds by promoting practices
such as leaving overwinter stub-
bles, which can provide a good
source of winter food. While the
authors remain cautious about
drawing too many conclusions
from these simple correlations,

this study provides a pointer towards future,
more targeted research that could establish spe-
cific agri-environment measures to help to
maintain and increase Corn Bunting numbers
across Europe.

So, although the current situation for Corn
Buntings throughout Europe remains a
depressing one, these recent studies do advance
our understanding of the underlying causes
behind the declines and, even more impor-
tantly, provide clear pointers as to the sorts of
management prescriptions and mechanisms
that, if widely adopted, may lead to recovery.

Fox, A. D., & Heldbjerg, H. 2008. Which regional features of
Danish agriculture favour the Corn Bunting in the
contemporary farming landscape? Agriculture,

Ecosystems and Environment 1 26: 26 1 -269.

Perkins, A. J„ Maggs, H. E., Wilson, J. D., & Watson, A. 2008.
Targeted management intervention reduces rate of
population decline of Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra
in eastern Scotland. Bird Study 55: 52-58.

Wilson, J. D„ Boyle, J. B„ Jackson, D. B„ Lowe, B., &

Wilkinson, N. 1. 2007. Effect of cereal harvesting method
on a recent population decline of Corn Buntings
Emberiza calandra on the Western Isles of Scotland.

Bird Study 54: 362-370.

m hi

335. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra. in song, Outer Hebrides.

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 624-625

625

David Tipling

Letters

Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly

The excellent and informative paper by Heaney
et al. (2008) stated that ‘The [Isles of Scilly]
Puffin Fratercula arctica population is of great
regional importance and, along with colonies in
the Channel Islands and Co. Kerry, marks the
southwestern limits of the species’ Eurasian
breeding range.’ However, Puffins also breed to
the southwest of the Channel Islands, on the
northern coast of Brittany, principally at the

reserve of Les Sept-Iles (Siorat & Bentz 2006).
References

Heaney, V., Lock, L., St Pierre, R, & Brown, A. 2008.

Important Bird Areas: Breeding seabirds on the Isles of
Scilly Brit. Birds 101:418-438.

Siorat, R, & Bentz, G. 2006. Reserve Naturelle des Sept-Iles,
Rapport d'activities. Ligue pour la Protection des
Oiseaux, Rochefort.

Jeremy G. Sanders

The Alderney Ornithological Group, PO Box 24, Alderney GY9 3AP

I enjoyed reading the recent paper by Heaney et
al. (2008), but I should like to correct one state-
ment, namely that the ‘islands support a greater
diversity of breeding seabirds than any other
island group or mainland site in England’. The

Fame Islands in Northumberland support in
excess of 100,000 pairs of seabirds of 15 species,
as shown below (where possible using data for
the same year as Heaney et al, i.e. 2006).

Species

No. pairs

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis

240

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

170

Shag P. aristotelis

1,120

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

545

Herring Gull L. argentatus

505

Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

342

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

4,713

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

1,635

Common Tern S. hirundo

122

Arctic Tern S. paradisaea

2,250

Roseate Tern S. dougallii

Common Guillemot Uria aalge

32,596*

Razorbill Alca torda

322

Puffin Fratercula arctica

55,674**

Source: Birds in Northumbria 2006.

(* = no census in 2006, 2007 estimate was 32,596 pairs; **
2008 estimate was 36,500 pairs)

= no census in 2006, 2003 estimate was 55,674 pairs,

Andy Mould

10 Fairfield, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 SUF

EDITORIAL COMMENT Andy Brown, one of the co-authors of Heaney et al. (2008), has commented as
follows: ‘In terms of the number of species present, we would be happy to concede to a draw: our total
excluded Roseate Tern, a species which has nested on Scilly with regularity in the recent past and
which we note no longer breeds annually on the Fames. Scilly does, however, support regular breeding
populations of shearwaters and storm-petrels, higher-order taxa missing altogether from the Fames.
Either way, both island groups are of outstanding international importance for seabirds and both are
superb places to visit. We trust that the steps taken to control non-native mammals on Scilly will soon
bear fruit, allowing the archipelago to compare a little more favourably with the Fames in terms of the
sheer numbers of nesting seabirds.’

626

Letters

I 00 years ago - the first colour photographs of live birds?

‘I think they were the first colour plates of live
birds and I showed them at the RPS [Royal
Photographic Society] in London.’ So wrote
Lilian Bland in her unpublished memoirs.

The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography
described the first practical system of colour
photography. It was named ‘Autochrome’ by its
inventors Auguste and Louis Lumiere in 1903.
Manufacture began in Lyon in 1907. ‘It was
always about 50 times less sensitive than con-
temporary black-and-white materials. In its
grain pattern and its palette, Autochrome
resembled French impressionist paintings with
its lovely textures and pastel hues.’

Lilian Bland wrote about her summer of
1908: ‘...I was off to the Highlands to photo-
graph sea birds, with a large trunkful of nega-
tives and Lumiere colour plates. At Glenfinnan I
was met by two of Miss Blackburn’s boatmen
who groaned over my trunk and asked if it was
full of gold bars... My friend lived with her old
parents... on a small farm... Early in the
morning she would row me out to the larger of
two small islands where the sea birds bred...
and there she would leave me with plenty of
food for the day. I would lie for hours studying
the Great Black-backed Gulls [Larus marinus]
soaring, using their tails as balancing rudders to
the shifting breeze - how lovely it would be to
fly.

‘The colour plates needed slow exposure, so
Miss B. would rout me out before sunrise to
row over and be ready before the wind got up. I
think they were the first colour plates of live
birds and I showed them at the RPS in London.

‘Along the shore were... the black-and-white
Oystercatchers [ Haematopus ostralegus ] with

Rev. Edward Pratt

7 Bay Close, Swanage, Dorset BH19 IRE

their brilliant orange beaks. . . The previous year
the site of a Nightjar’s [Caprimulgus europaeus]
nest had been found, so we walked up to the
knoll to see if she had come back. She had, and
rose like a silent moth from under our feet, and
under a stalk of heather were two eggs like
pebbles. To get good pictures I had to make a
hide of fern and heather, and got a complete
series of the parents and the young being fed,
but oh, how I suffered, devoured wholesale by
the Highland midges. Nothing could keep them
off. There were small islands on one of the lakes
which were fringed with the giant osmunda
ferns and stunted trees... This was the nesting
place of an Osprey [Pandion haliaetus] which
one of the Keartons had photographed the year
before.’

Pages from The Photographic Journal
do indeed show that Miss L. E. Bland of
Carnmoney, Belfast, exhibited 12 pictures at the
RPS Annual Exhibition in 1908, including those
of European Nightjar, Tawny Owl Strix aluco,
Oystercatcher, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus
fuscus and Common Gull L. canus. The RPS is
not able to say whether Lilian Bland was the
first to photograph live birds in colour, but nor
do they know of any other claim. Regrettably,
the whereabouts of the photographs, if they are
extant, is not known.

In 1910, Lilian Bland’s desire to fly like the
birds came true, when she became the first
British woman to design, build and fly her own
aeroplane - but that is another story.

I am grateful to Dr Jane Fletcher, RPS Curator of
Photographs, for information about Autochrome and
the entries in The Photographic Journal concerning my
great aunt, Lilian Bland.

Looking back

One hundred years ago:
‘YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS IN YORKSHIRE.
On September 23rd, 1908, I shot in Holderness, York-
shire, on the sea coast, a male (apparently adult) of the
Yellow-browed Warbler ( Phylloscopus superciliosus) .
The yellow bars on the wings attracted my attention,
as the bird fluttered up from some buckthorn bushes,
the flight much resembling that of the Willow- Wren

[P. trochilus]. A thick sea-fog prevailed, following a
night of heavy rain, the wind being slight, and from
the south-east. The bird was identified in the flesh by
Mr. H. F. Witherby, who kindly prepared the skin for
me. The gizzard was full of small flies and other
minute insects. ARTHUR R. GALE.’ (Brit. Birds 2: 201,
November 1908)

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 626-627

627

Reviews

PETRELS NIGHT AND DAY

By Magnus Robb, Killian
Mullarney and The Sound
Approach. The Sound
Approach, Poole, Dorset, 2008.
300 pages, 17 full-page colour
plates; many colour
photographs; and sonograms
of most of the 127 sound
recordings presented on
two CDs.

ISBN 978-90-810933-2-3.
Hardback, £34.95.

This is the second volume in The
Sound Approach project, master-
minded by Mark Constantine, who
fashioned the first introductory
volume and project style. Petrels
Night and Day is written by Magnus
Robb, with sound recordings by
Magnus and others and colour
plates by Killian Mullarney. The
book covers 15 forms of shearwater
and petrel (Procellariidae) and 10
forms of storm-petrel (Hydro-
batidae) that are encountered in the
northeast Atlantic. These 25 taxa are
dealt with in 12 chapters: gadfly
petrels ( Pterodroma ), Bulwer’s Petrel
Bulweria bulwerii, the three Calonec-
tris shearwaters, ‘Little’ shearwaters
( Puffinus ), Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus , Mediterranean
shearwaters (Yelkouan P. yelkouan
and Balearic Shearwater P. maure-
tanicus), Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis,
White-faced Storm-petrel Pelago-
droma marina , European storm-
petrels ( Hydrobates ), Leach’s
Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leu-
corhoa, band-rumped storm-petrels
( Oceanodroma ), and Swinhoe’s
Storm-petrel O. monorhis. All 22
northeast Atlantic breeders (if we
include Swinhoe’s) are dealt with
thoroughly via an informative text,
high-quality sound recordings and
sonograms, ample-sized colour pho-
tographs, and superb colour plates.
Each of the three southern-ocean
breeders, Great Puffinus gravis and
Sooty Shearwaters P. griseus and
Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites
oceanicus, is introduced mainly
through colour plates incorporated

within the chapter of a near relative.

Petrels Night and Day comprises
an impressive set of elements, as
summarised above, but the book as
a whole is so much more than the
sum of its parts. It is unique, it is
enigmatic, and it offers a truly
engaging experience. This book
combines the arts and sciences in a
way that I have barely encountered
previously in ornithology and never
before with tubenoses.

For each taxon, Magnus Robb
creates a vivid impression of his
experiences of the remote locations
he visited to record them. The
reader travels with him, learning
the history of the petrels, meeting
the people of the islands, sitting
down for dinner with them, scram-
bling across rocky terrain, over-
hanging hair-raising cliff faces,
witnessing spectacular, moody
scenery; and then, seemingly
always in the remotest of spots,
witnessing the sounds of petrels by
night - some eerie, some sor-
rowful, and some downright
amusing to the human ear. Stun-
ning colour photographs, many
occupying a full page, suggest
images for Robb’s narrative. The
reader is left with a sense of having
been there; followed by a realisa-
tion that you have not, and then an
urge to go there as soon as possible.

Each species account flows
smoothly from social and aesthetic
experiences to analytical and
factual discussion of the sounds of
petrels by night through sound
recordings and sonograms. Sono-
grams assist the listener by
allowing better understanding of
the structure and texture of petrel
calls and facilitating comparison
with calls of similar forms. The
reader/listener is encouraged to
take this step forward and by so
doing to get to grips with the taxo-
nomic propositions of the book.

Some identification nuggets for
petrels by day are scattered
throughout the text, but consoli-
dated and amplified in the colour
plates. Indeed, the plates alone offer
a handy identification kit, with

some new criteria and guidance on
how to separate some of the more
difficult species groups, such as the
Calonectris , ‘Mediterranean’ and
‘Little’ shearwaters. Some colour
plates show all likely confusion
species side by side. An example is
shearwaters in typical flight profile
comparing Manx, Yelkouan,
Balearic, Sooty and Cory’s Shear-
waters C. diomedea. Such guidance
extends to the four newly proposed
and highly cryptic band-rumped
storm-petrel species (see below). As
with the text, the colour plates
incorporate wonderful vignettes
that transport the reader into the
situation: a Cory’s Shearwater on a
nest in a cave or a flock of swim-
ming Bulwer’s Petrels ‘exploding’
from the sea surface in all direc-
tions when approached too closely.

This book proposes several taxo-
nomic changes. Fea’s Petrel Ptero-
droma feae becomes two species:
Fea’s Petrel and Desertas Petrel. The
three forms of Cory’s Shearwater are
treated separately, as are two forms
of what we currently call European
Storm-petrel Flydrobates pelagicus
(‘British’ and ‘Mediterranean’).
Band-rumped Storm-petrel Ocean-
odroma castro becomes a complex
four- way split: ‘Grant’s’, ‘Madeiran’,
‘Monteiro’s’ and ‘Cape Verde’). A
basis for this taxonomy exists
already in the literature, variously
discussed in terms of biometric dif-
ferences, spatial and temporal sepa-
ration, different breeding habitats,
and some DNA work. Petrels Night
and Day makes a further, com-
pelling case through a detailed study
of vocalisations. Those of us trained
with the eye might argue that these
forms look so similar that it is hard
to accept that they are distinct
species. Those trained with the ear
might well retort that since repro-
ductive activity happens in the dark,
it is ‘how you sound’ that counts,
not ‘how you look’. Speciation is
much more likely to be reflected in
sounds than looks. This argument
offers an explanation for the appar-
ently disproportionate number of
cryptic tubenoses.

628

Reviews

}

If accepted, there are wide-
ranging consequences of these taxo-
nomic developments. They are
certainly exciting for researchers and
pave the way for a variety of further
studies (breeding biology, life
history, and indeed further studies
of vocalisation). For field observers,
however, the new taxonomy is
something of a headache. For
example, the following table sum-
marising the proposed split of
Band-rumped Storm-petrel high-
lights both the cryptic nature of the
proposed species and several gaps in
knowledge pertaining even to rudi-
mentary field identification.
Whether these taxa can be separated
reliably in the field is debatable and
any solutions are probably some way
off. We should not, however, blame
the messenger for the ‘bad news’.

There are very few points where

I take issue with the text. Regarding
the field identification of Zino’s
Petrel P. madeira , I do not follow
the argument that it is reasonably
‘safe’ to identify clearly large-billed
Pterodroma petrels in Madeiran
waters as Desertas Petrel, but not
so clearly small-billed ones as
Zino’s. And I find it presumptuous
to suggest that the large-billed
Pterodroma petrels in British
waters in autumn are most likely
Fea’s Petrels from Cape Verde
rather than Desertas Petrels from
Bugio, Madeira, based on differ-
ences in timing of breeding (Fea’s
in the northern winter, Desertas in
early autumn) and relative popula-
tion size (there are more Fea’s).
The occurrence of a large-billed
Pterodroma in August could just as
easily be explained by northward
incubation foraging flights of

Desertas Petrel as it could by a
roaming, off-duty Fea’s Petrel.

This book is sumptuously pro-
duced. Magnus Robb has com-
posed a magical and informative
blend of text and sound, Killian
Mullarney has crafted endearing
and instructive artwork, and Mark
Constantine has started something
completely different and much
welcomed in The Sound Approach.
In this era of largely boring field
guides and dry journal
ornithology, The Sound Approach
offers a new and exciting brand of
learning and in this book applies it
to perhaps the most enigmatic of
bird groups. We are offered an
opportunity to liven up and get
animated with Petrels Night and
Day. I say we take it!

Robert L. Flood

Grant’s

Madeiran

Monteiro’s

Cape Verde

Breeds

Azores, Madeira,
Selvagens, Canaries,
Berlengas

Madeira, Selvagens,
Canaries (rare)

Azores

Cape Verde

Pairs

3,000-5,000

2,000-4,000

300

Low thousands?

Breeding dates

Aug to Mar

Late Mar to Oct,
one month
later Selvagens

Late Mar to Oct

Oct to Jun, possibly
two seasons,
changeover Mar

Tail

Little or no
tail fork

Short tail fork
sometimes visible

Tail longer than
Grant’s, fork
twice as deep

Probably little or
no tail fork

Wing

Narrower than
Cape Verde

—

Broader than Grant’s

Upperwing-covert

Ends well short of

Indistinct, ends

Extends to carpal joint,

Indistinct, ends

bar

carpal joint

short of carpal bar

relatively pronounced

short of carpal bar

Uppertail-covert

band

Narrow

Narrow but
variable

More prominent
than Madeiran

Broad

Bill

—

Rather heavy

—

Proportionately long

Biometrics

Large, shorter wing
& tail than
Monteiro’s

Smaller in wing,
tail, 8c tarsus
than Grant’s

Large, longer
wing 8c tail
than Grant’s

Smaller than Grant’s
8c Monteiro’s

Primary moult,
adult

Feb to early Aug

Presumed Aug/Sep
to Feb

Aug to Feb

Presumed Mar to Dec

LOST LAND OF THE DODO:
AN ECOLOGICAL HISTORY
OF MAURITIUS, REUNION
AND RODRIGUES

By Anthony Cheke and Julian
Hume. T. 8c A. D. Poyser,
A&C Black, London, 2008. 464
pages; 39 colour plates; many
black-and-white illustrations.
ISBN 978-0-7136-6544-4.
Hardback, £45.00.

Despite the wealth of detailed
information it contains, this is an
eminently readable, at times
enthralling, account of the ecolog-
ical history of the Mascarene
Islands. The first author is a spe-
cialist in the chronology of extinc-
tion events and this is reflected in
the way the book is set out. The
early chapters cover the geography
of the islands and what is known
about their pristine state, followed

by a detailed account of the
impacts of the first visitors from
Europe and subsequent human set-
tlement. Later chapters cover the
more recent history of the islands
and the increasingly rapid ecolog-
ical degradation brought about by
a burgeoning human population.
Scattered throughout the book are
38 excellent boxed accounts of the
islands’ most important species
and species groups (many now

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 628-634

629

Reviews

extinct), including illustrations and
direct quotes from contemporary
accounts by early visitors.

The scale of early human
exploitation and its impact on the
islands’ unique assemblage of
wildlife makes for a sobering read.
Large numbers of Dodos Raphus
cucullatus were apparently killed
solely for their gizzards (enough to
provide two men with a tasty
meal!) and Giant Tortoises,
including Cylindraspis triserrata on
Mauritius, and C. vosmaeri and C.
peltastes on Rodrigues, for their
livers, the rest of the carcases being
discarded. A recurring theme is the
ease with which birds and other
creatures that had evolved in the
absence of predators could be
slaughtered. Even birds still capable
of flight often did not try to escape
from humans. A technique com-
monly used with several species,
including the huge Broad-billed
Parrot Lophopsittacus mauritianus ,
was to catch one individual and
make it call out, as this would draw
in others that could then easily be
caught by hand. Many of the flight-
less birds such as the various rails,
the Dodo-like Rodrigues Solitaire
Pezophaps solitaria and the Dodo
itself could simply be approached
on foot and clubbed to death. Early
visitors in the seventeenth century,
no doubt numbed by weeks at sea,
could barely contain themselves,
relishing the sport of catching and
killing such exotic creatures, as well
as the prospect of a more varied
and (apparently) healthy diet than
they had been used to.

By way of contrast, the penulti-
mate chapter, by Carl Jones, pro-
vides at least some grounds for
optimism. This is a thought-pro-
voking account of the innovative
conservation efforts that have pre-

vented a small number of the sur-
viving native species from going the
same way as the Dodo. Work to
restore populations of the Mauritius
Kestrel Falco punctatus, Pink Pigeon
Nesoenas tnayeri and Echo Parakeet
Psittacula echo will be familiar to
many, although it is perhaps less
appreciated that all were, at one
time, down to a mere handful of
individuals in the wild - they are
now far more secure, though much
still remains to be done. Work on
these birds has at times been hin-
dered by local politics and a lack of
resources; even some conservation-
ists have taken the view that funding
might be better spent on more
straightforward projects. Jones is
clear in his belief that work on these
high-profile, though difficult,
species has had great value. In par-
ticular, it has encouraged wider
conservation initiatives such as
attempts to restore native vegetation
and the establishment of Conserva-
tion Areas as well as a National Park
on Mauritius.

The authors use numbered
endnotes throughout the text and
all the reference sources and
explanatory notes are in a block
towards the end of the book. This
sensible approach has ensured that
the book will be of great value to
the more serious students of the
ecological history of these islands,
without breaking up the text in a
way that could have been off-
putting for the more general
reader. Almost every statement
made is fully referenced and the
explanatory notes make up nearly a
quarter of the book, demonstrating
the huge amount of research that
has gone into this volume. Julian
Hume’s distinctive colour plates
provide an evocative and rather
chilling insight into what has been

lost from the islands, none more so
than the artistically licensed Dodo
on the front cover, eyeing the
approach of a landing party in the
bay below with apparent trepida-
tion! There are also many black-
and-white line drawings from
historical accounts by early visitors,
some of which have not seen the
light of day for centuries. The
inclusion of more than the handful
of photographs (limited to one of
the appendices) would, to my
mind, have further enhanced some
of the accounts of more recent
events as well as giving a better
flavour of the islands today.

Although the geographical
focus of this book is relatively
narrow, the whole gamut of con-
servation issues affecting threat-
ened birds across the world are
dealt with, making the book of far
wider interest than might be ini-
tially apparent from the title. These
include direct over-exploitation by
humans, deforestation and the
associated problems of erosion and
drought, the adverse effects of
intensive agriculture and, perhaps
most significant of all, the ecolog-
ical damage caused by invasive
introduced species including rats,
pigs, cats, snakes (even monkeys!),
not to mention a whole host of
invasive plants. Sir Peter Scott was
clearly not exaggerating when he
reflected after a visit in the 1970s
that ‘Mauritius illustrates many of
the earth’s environmental problems
in microcosm.’ Some lessons have
been learnt in recent decades, and
if this has come too late for most of
the Mascarene Islands’ special
wildlife, one can only hope that it
will help to inform decisions made
in other parts of the world.

Ian Carter

THE GREATER FLAMINGO

By Alan Johnson and Frank
Cezilly. T. & A. D. Poyser,
A&C Black, London, 2007. 328
pages; colour and black-and-
white photographs; maps, line-
drawings. ISBN: 978-0-7136-
6562-8. Hardback, £40.00.

There are several instances in
ornithology where if you mention
a particular species then the name
of an individual immediately
comes to mind, for example the
Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus
and Carl Jones, the Peregrine
Falcon Falco peregrinus and Derek
Ratcliffe, the House Sparrow Passer

domesticus and Denis Summers-
Smith. Belonging to this select list
is certainly the pairing of the
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus
roseus and Alan Johnson.

Alan arrived at the Tour du
Valat research station in the
Camargue, France, in 1962 and
before long became fascinated by

630

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 628-634

Reviews

Greater Flamingos. He was soon
involved in a detailed study of
them, which is still continuing
under the leadership of his co-
author, Frank Cezilly. Prior to
Alan’s work, Luc Hoffman, the
founder of the research station,
had been monitoring the colony
for several years, counting the
number of breeding pairs, noting
their success and marking the
chicks. He also became aware of
the constraints on the population,
especially erosion of the breeding
island and disturbance from many
sources, especially aircraft.

Alan’s arrival coincided with
the cessation of Flamingo breeding
in the Camargue, but when it
resumed, in 1969, there began a
much-needed programme of con-
servation management by the staff
of Tour du Valat: the vital building
of a nesting island, reducing
human disturbance by full-time
wardening, and persuading the
authorities to ban aircraft from
overflying the colony. This man-
agement was backed by a detailed
research programme aimed at

100 BIRDS TO SEE
BEFORE YOU DIE

By David Chandler and
Dominic Couzens. Carlton
Books, London, 2008.
224 pages; over 200 colour
photographs.

ISBN 978-1-84442-019-3.
Hardback, £19.99.

I was intrigued by the title of this
book and that was really why I
agreed to review it. It was not quite
what I had anticipated - and
against all my expectations I thor-
oughly enjoyed browsing through
it and reading those bits which
took my fancy. It’s not all about
rare or endangered species
(although it includes birds which
are both). Perhaps the authors’
words in their introduction sum it
up best: ‘...our approach has been
to take a much more rounded look
at the planet’s avian diversity and
to create a wish-list that celebrates
the wonder, beauty and amazing

)

revealing the life history, popula-
tion dynamics and movements of
the flamingos. This programme
was gradually extended, through
example and Alan’s enthusiastic
advocacy, to the neighbouring
countries of Spain and Italy, and
then across the Mediterranean to
Tunisia. Now, all the scientists and
amateur ornithologists studying
this population of the Greater
Flamingo, from Donana in the west
to Lake Tengiz, Kazakhstan, in the
east, keep in close touch and co-
ordinate their studies.

The two authors bring to this
book the results of their combined
total of over 65 years of research,
with the result that they have pro-
duced an exhaustive (in the best
possible sense) account of the
Greater Flamingo, covering the
history of its discovery in the
Camargue, through its ecology, dis-
tribution and numbers, move-
ments, feeding ecology and
behaviour, breeding biology and
conservation and management.
Naturally, although Alan’s studies
have concentrated on the

Camargue, there are plenty of
examples and comparisons drawn
from other parts of the range.

While the breeding of the
Greater Flamingos in the Camargue
is an undoubted conservation
success story, with the number of
nesting pairs, rarely more than
3,000-4,000 in the 1950s and
1960s, climbing to over 20,000 by
2000, this very success has brought
about its own particular problem,
with local farmers claiming that the
birds are eating significant amounts
of newly sown rice, a conflict which
as yet has no satisfactory solution.
Man the conservationist can cele-
brate a major conservation success,
but Man the creator of artificial
habitats then complains when these
are utilised by protected species.

This excellently produced and
illustrated book concludes with a
thought-provoking chapter on
what the future might hold for the
Greater Flamingo, and an inventory
of the more important breeding
sites in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Malcolm Ogilvie

lifestyles of the world’s avifauna.’

They have succeeded in their
aim, in my view, and have pro-
duced well-researched and easily
readable accounts of the 100
species they have selected.
Inevitably, there is a high degree of
subjectiveness in choosing those
100 birds and, equally inevitably,
none of us will agree with all the
choices (where are Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos, Kori Bustard
Ardeotis kori and Blackburnian
Warbler Dendroica fusca, for
instance?). It hardly matters. You
will find many selections of which
you heartily approve, and can enjoy
yourselves arguing about the rest!

The photographs are very good
- and some of those of the many
species I’ve never seen are posi-
tively mouth-watering. One
deserves a mention because it’s not
very good, that of the incredible
Standard-winged Nightjar
Macrodipteryx longipennis. Blurred
and indistinct, it nevertheless per-
fectly recaptures the wonderful hot

evening in Sierra Leone when I first
saw this bird, and I really like it
because of that.

The species order is a count-
down from 100 to the most desir-
able bird of all at number one, and
that final selection, above all else,
surely conveys all the fun, the
pleasure and the (perhaps) absurd
hopes our great hobby brings us. It
is, of course, Ivory-billed Wood-
pecker Campephilus principalis.
Why not?

Mike Everett

THE BIRD BOOK

By Rob Hume and Peter Hayman.
Kyle Cathie, London, 2008.

464 pages; over 250 British
and European species covered,
with over 650 paintings;

distribution maps.

ISBN 978-1-85626-805-9.
Paperback, £8.99.

A straightforward, small-format
guide.

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 628-634

631

Reviews

NOMADS OF THE
STRAIT OF GI BRALTAR

By Fernando Barrios Partida.
Grafisur, Tarifa, Spain, 2007.
429 pages; numerous colour
photographs.

ISBN 978-84-934263-4-2.
Hardback, £36.99.

My earliest birding memories are
of flocks of raptors over Gibraltar,
my home town, which fuelled a
lifelong interest in ornithology.
Fernando Barrios is a native of
nearby Algeciras and he too was
captivated from childhood by the
spectacle of migrating birds, the
‘nomads’ of the title. This book is
his tribute, both in words and
through very many outstanding
photographs, to this remarkable
area - and his successful attempt to
bring its natural wonders to a
wider public.

The main part of the text is a
series of essays on: the natural
parks of the Strait and Los
Alcornocales; an introduction to
migration in general and at the
Strait; White Stork Ciconia ciconia
migration; raptors and other
migrants; and ‘Misadventures and
deaths’, describing the hazards
faced by migrants locally. A chapter
on birds and wildlife on the Rock
of Gibraltar has been contributed
by an invited author, Dr John
Cortes of the Gibraltar Ornitho-

logical and Natural History Society.
There are concluding sections on
identifying soaring-bird species
and advice on watching migration
at the Strait.

Bird books arouse a variety of
emotions and this one made me
homesick. Barrios has succeeded
spectacularly in conveying his
enormous enthusiasm for his
subject and his area. When your
home patch is the Strait of
Gibraltar, you won’t lack for
exciting subject matter, but he is a
very readable author and a skilled
observer who fills page after page
with compelling images and
insightful comment.

The photographic skills of the
author are renowned locally and
some of his best work illustrates
the book. There are many atmos-
pheric shots of landscapes, his
trademark close-ups of raptors in
flight, dozens of beautiful portraits
of flora as well as fauna and plenty
of shots of migration in action:
soaring flocks, birds struggling in
from the sea, great gatherings of
grounded migrants awaiting
improvement in the weather and
tragic images of those which didn’t
make it. The drowned Griffon
Vulture Gyps fulvus washed up in a
sandy cove (p. 326) is an evocative
reminder that many large birds fall
victim to the debilitating cross-
winds which they may face over the
sea. A Short-toed Eagle Circaetus

gallicus (p. 332) lying a few metres
from its right wing, severed by a
wind turbine, is a highly topical
reminder of how hazardous this
technology can be: the Strait has
one of the largest windfarms in the
world. Like many a nature photog-
rapher, Barrios is prepared to go to
great trouble to get results.
However, I doubt whether anyone
else has thought of hiding inside a
giant White Stork model, propelled
by his own two legs clad appropri-
ately in red pantyhose, in order to
try and mingle with a crowd of
resting storks (p. 234). It didn’t
work.

This is a highly anecdotal and
somewhat idiosyncratic book, very
strong indeed on evocative
accounts of remarkable events, but
not a systematic treatment of the
subject. This is not intended to be a
criticism. Others have written
authoritative but much drier
accounts, replete with graphs and
tables, placing the details of migra-
tion at the Strait on record. Here
instead is a book that genuinely
conveys the feel of the area. If you
know the Strait, it is a magnificent
souvenir that will make you want
to return there soon. If you have
yet to visit, it will provide powerful
encouragement to do so. In any
case, it is an entertaining and
worthwhile read.

Ernest Garcia

THE BIRDS OF THE
HUDDERSFIELD AREA

By Paul and Betty Bray.
Huddersfield Birdwatchers’
Club, 2008. 420 pages;
many maps and drawings.
No ISBN number.
Paperback, £16.00 (inch p&p,
from 2 Bankfield Park Avenue,
Taylor Hill, Huddersfield
HD4 7QY).

Huddersfield has had a long and
distinguished ornithological
history; the first species list was
published in 1859 and the Mosleys’
book of 1912-15 was probably the
first local British avifauna to illus-

trate distribution by coloured
maps. HBC has published records
since 1966. The area studied covers
over 600 km2, south from the River
Calder as far as the northern edge
of the Peak District, and west to the
Oldham fringe of Greater Man-
chester, thus covering parts of three
present recording areas. The town
lies near the northern boundary.
Much high moorland lies along the
Pennine Way, and there are a
number of reservoirs, including
Blackmoorfoot (see below).

This scholarly account incorpo-
rates the maps from the already
published Atlas of 1987-92. In
addition to the annotated list of
261 species recorded up to the end

of 2004, there are admirable intro-
ductory chapters on geology and
climate, habitats and ornithological
history. The drawings, in con-
trasting pointilliste and impres-
sionistic styles, are by Stuart
Brocklehurst and Michael Pinder.
The price has been kept to a
modest level by eschewing colour
but the binding will easily crack.
The following paper books can
both be obtained from the same
source (all inch pScp): Birds of
Blackmoorfoot Reservoir 1985-2003 ,
by Mike Denton (£4.50) and The
Huddersfield List to December 2007
(£1.00).

David K. Ballance

632

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 628-634

Reviews

THE B IRDSOF GWENT

By W. A. Venables, A. D. Baker,
R. M. Clarke, C. Jones, J. M. S.
Lewis, S. J. Tyler, 1. R. Walker
and R. A. Williams.
Christopher Helm, A&C Black,
London, 2008. 416 pages;

82 colour photographs;

83 line-drawings; numerous
maps and tables.

ISBN 978-0-7136-7633-4.
Hardback, £40.00.

This book has been a pleasure to
review. It exudes quality from the
moment you pick it up and are
struck by John Gale’s atmospheric
paintings of Dippers Cinclus cinclus
and Hawfinches Coccothraustes coc-
cothraustes on the dust jacket. It
has been compiled on behalf of the
Gwent Ornithological Society
(GOS) by a team of eight authors
and supported by seven additional
contributors led by Al Venables. Yet
the whole text reads so seamlessly
that you would think that it had all
been written by a single erudite
writer.

The book follows on from the
two previous GOS publications: the
first Birds of Gwent (1977) and the
Gwent Atlas of Breeding Birds
(1986). In the 313-page systematic
list, changes in status since these
volumes appeared are identified
and, in particular, comparisons are
made between the results of the
1986 atlas and the survey carried
out in 1998-2003. Indeed, it is the
breeding birds which demand
greatest attention in the book.
Gwent has a wide variety of habi-
tats: newly created coastal wetlands,

fast-flowing rivers, Sessile Oak
Quercus petraea woods, coniferous
plantations and heather-clad moor-
lands, as well as pastoral farmland.
This diversity has produced an
amazing 122 confirmed breeding
species and a further 15 probably or
possibly breeding during the atlas
survey period, compared with 1 12
and eight respectively for the 1986
atlas, a 14% increase in number of
species. A chapter of conclusions
and comparisons, which follows the
species accounts, informs readers
that 33 species occur in at least 10%
more tetrads than they did at the
time of the last atlas, while 36 have
declined by this amount. The
former includes several birds of
prey, Common Raven Corvus corax.
Goosander Mergus merganser and
species such as Siskin Carduelis
spinus , Common Crossbill Loxia
curvirostra and European Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus, which are
taking advantage of the increase in
forestry restocks. The roster of
declining species is a typical list of
farmland and woodland species,
which largely reflects the current
UK situation rather than any par-
ticular changes in Gwent. The
breeding avifauna also includes
eight colonists which have bred for
the first time since 1994, most of
these being associated with wetland
habitats.

Wintering birds are less impor-
tant than the breeding species but
the county does support interna-
tionally or nationally important
populations of several wildfowl
and waders. WeBS count data for
key species are tabulated for each
important site.

Most county avifaunas feature a
mouth-watering selection of
vagrants, but for Gwent this is the
least significant aspect of its avi-
fauna. Nonetheless, details are
given of all occurrences of rarities
and I was reminded of the famous
American Bittern Botaurus lentigi-
nosus at Magor in late 1981. Was it
really over a quarter of a century
ago? The bittern is included in the
excellent selection of 82 colour
photographs, although as is often
the case with books of this ilk, the
balance between bird and habitat
pictures could perhaps have been
tipped further in the direction of
the habitats.

The systematic list is preceded
by introductory sections com-
prising a brief history of Gwent
ornithology, an overview of the
county, its geology and bird habi-
tats, a 20-page guide to important
bird locations, and details' of the
methodology and overall results of
the two breeding atlases. The book
concludes with a series of appen-
dices including population esti-
mates, ringing data and a gazetteer,
a comprehensive bibliography and
three indices.

As indicated at the start of this
review, this is a scholarly work
which clearly sets out the impor-
tance of Gwent as a stronghold for
many breeding birds. It is an essen-
tial purchase for all those with an
interest in the status and distribu-
tion of Gwent, Welsh and UK
birds, and for collectors of county
avifaunas it maintains the recent
very high standard of the genre.

John Clark

GARDENWATCH: MAKING
THE MOST OF WILDLIFE
ON YOUR DOORSTEP

By Sarah Whittley. New Holland,
London, 2008. 128 pages; many
colour photographs and illustrations.

ISBN 978-1-84773-112-8.

Hardback, £14.99.
Published in association with the
BTO, this book provides advice on
attracting wildlife to your garden,
and how to watch, identify and
record it.

BLACK’S NATURE GUIDES

WILD FLOWERS OF BRITAIN 8c EUROPE
By Margot and Roland Spohn. ISBN 978-1-4081-0153-7.
MEDICINAL PLANTS OF BRITAIN 8c EUROPE
By Wolfgang Hensel. ISBN 978-1-4081-0154-4.

TREES OF BRITAIN 8c EUROPE
By Margot and Roland Spohn. ISBN 978-1-4081-0152-0.
MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS OF BRITAIN 8c EUROPE
By Andreas Gminder and Tanja Bohning. ISBN 978-1-4081-0156-8.
BIRDS OF BRITAIN 8c EUROPE
By Volker Dierschke. ISBN 978-1-4081-0155-1.

All published by A8cC Black, London, 2008. All paperback and priced at
£9.99, and all crammed with detailed illustrations and colour photographs.

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 628-634

633

Reviews

A LIFE OF OSPREYS

By Roy Dennis. Whittles
Publishing, Dunbeath, 2008.
2 1 1 pages; many colour
photographs.

ISBN 978-1904445-26-5.
Paperback, £18.99.

As might be guessed from the title,
this book is very much a personal
account of a lifetime’s involvement
in Osprey Pandion haliaetus con-
servation. It is full of observations
and anecdotes from decades of
fieldwork and richly illustrated by
many of the author’s photographs.
Short extracts of handwritten notes
from his diaries add to the personal
feel. The main focus is very much
on the recovery of the Osprey in
Scotland, from the return of the
first birds at Loch Garten in the
1950s (close to where the author
now lives), through to the present
day and a resurgent population of
around 200 pairs. Recent exciting
developments in England and
Wales are described and there is a
lively account of the reintroduction
project at Rutland Water, with
which the author is closely associ-
ated. There are also chapters on the

history of the Osprey in Britain,
conservation, breeding ecology and
migration. The last includes the
results of recent work based on
satellite-tracking, which has led to
significant new insights into
migratory behaviour. We now
know, for example, that some
young birds from Britain take a
southwesterly heading on their first
autumn migration and can end up
far out to sea in the Atlantic, often,
though not always, with pre-
dictable results.

As an acknowledged authority
on the species, Roy Dennis has
travelled extensively in search of
Ospreys and has been involved in
numerous conservation projects
around the world, including recent
reintroduction attempts in Spain
and Italy. He is passionate about
the need for direct human inter-
vention in order to restore the for-
tunes of species that have suffered
at the hands of humans in the past.
For the heavily persecuted Osprey,
modern interventions include the
construction of artificial nest-sites
and nest protection to deter egg-
collectors, in addition to the well-
publicised translocations. Based on
an assessment of the available

habitat in Britain and the fact that
Ospreys are perfectly capable of
breeding in close proximity to
people (provided they are left
unmolested), it is suggested that
the current population might be
only one-tenth of its true potential.
Clearly there is more work to be
done and further translocation
projects in southern Britain are
seen as a high priority.

The book does not attempt a
comprehensive overview of what is
known about the Osprey
throughout its world range, and
lacks a full review of the literature
available for this well-studied
species. Almost all of the data
included are from studies in Scot-
land and the fledgling populations
in England and Wales. There are
very few references, which may
frustrate readers wishing to follow
up areas of particular interest and
there is no index, which makes it
difficult to locate specific informa-
tion quickly. Nevertheless, the book
contains a wealth of well-presented
information about this iconic
species and is a thoroughly enjoy-
able and absorbing read.

Ian Carter

News and comment

Compiled by Adrian Pitches

Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of British Birds

RSPB awarded £ 500,000 for farmland birds

With time running out for the UK
Government to meet its 2010 target
of reversing biodiversity decline,
government agency Natural
England has given the RSPB more
than half a million pounds for
farmland bird conservation. A
further £200,000 was awarded to
the Society to fund reedbed
restoration for the Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellaris.

Farmland birds in England have
declined more than any other
group in recent times. Of the 40
species on the Red List of the UK’s

Birds of Conservation Concern,
over one-third are reliant on
farming. These birds were placed
on the Red List in 2002 because of
declines of more than 50% over the
previous 25 years, or because of
large historical declines. The RSPB’s
£536,700 will be spent on three key
projects: Cirl Bunting Emberiza
cirlus reintroduction to Cornwall;
Twite Carduelis flavirostris recovery
in the South Pennines, its last
toehold in England (the 2008 pop-
ulation was fewer than 100 pairs at
just 15 colonies); and boosting core

farmland bird populations in the
Fens, Sherwood and the borders of
Lancashire and Cheshire. Dr Mark
Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation
Director, said: 'The declines of
wildlife in England have been
among the greatest anywhere in
Europe, and farmland species have
suffered more than most. The RSPB
has an excellent record of
researching why farmland birds are
declining and then putting in place
recovery plans.’

Responding to the news of the
award for reedbed restoration, Dr

634

Sue Armstrong-Brown, RSPB’s
Head of Countryside and Species
Conservation, said: ‘The Bittern
has just enjoyed its best year for
over 120 years and with 75
booming males recorded in the
breeding season, it’s difficult to

News and comment

believe it could be in trouble.
However, many of its best nesting
sites are threatened by sea-level
rise. This is the first-ever grant
towards climate adaptation for a
bird in England.’

As well as the money given to

the RSPB, Natural England has
awarded £5. 5m to various conser-
vation groups from its Countdown
2010 biodiversity action fund.
Other beneficiaries include the
Shark Trust, Froglife and several
county wildlife trusts.

Time to push the Bald Ibis panic button ?

Researchers have concluded that
the tiny Syrian colony of the Criti-
cally Endangered Bald Ibis Geron-
ticus eremita should be
supplemented with juveniles taken
from the expanding semi-wild
population at Birecik in Turkey.
Breeding failed at the Palmyra
colony in 2008 for the first time
since the discovery of a relict popu-
lation of ibises in Syria in 2002.
And if no young birds are pro-
duced in 2009, then juveniles from
Turkey will be introduced to the
Syrian colony.

This was the strategy drawn up

at a recent workshop of ibis
workers held in Palmyra. Workshop
attendees included community rep-
resentatives, local hunters and Bald
Ibis Protected Area staff. The pro-
posed captive Bald Ibis aviary will
be established within the Talila
Wildlife Reserve, part of the al-
Badia desert steppe east of Palmyra,
managed by the Syrian Govern-
ment and funded by the UN’s Food
and Agriculture Organisation.

The RSPB’s Chris Bowden
explained that captive breeding was
a last resort. ‘If fewer than two
pairs of Bald Ibis attempt to breed

next year, we will hit the emergency
button. The Birecik birds are genet-
ically similar, and so are the
obvious source for supplementa-
tion.’ Juvenile birds would be taken
from Birecik to form a captive
breeding colony, using adapted
compounds that were previously
used for captive breeding of
Arabian Oryx Oryx leucoryx. ‘On
the face of it, it seems straightfor-
ward to do, but the birds are
socially particularly complex, and
there are risks of disease. The
project will require very careful
implementation,’ he added.

Oriental Bird Club winter meeting

The OBC winter meeting and AGM will be held at the
Wilkinson Room, St John the Evangelist, Hills Road,
Cambridge, on Saturday 8th November 2008. The
venue is a short walk from Cambridge railway station
and doors open at 10.30 am. Talks will include ‘The
past, present and future of Gurney’s Pitta’ by Paul
Donald, ‘Eastern birds on the Eastern Fringe’ by Jimmy
Steele, ‘Monsoon migrations: extraordinary journeys
across the Indian Ocean’ by Charles Anderson and
‘The saga of Richard Meinertzhagen’ by James Parry.
Full details will be posted on the OBC website
www.orientalbirddub.org and the meeting is open to
all interested birdwatchers.

Neotropical Birding 3

The Neotropical Bird Club, a UK-registered charity
that promotes bird research and conservation in
Central and South America, has recently announced
publication of the third issue of its widely acclaimed
magazine, Neotropical Birding. In response to popular
demand, NB will be published twice yearly from 2009
alongside a single, substantially enlarged volume of the
Club’s journal Cotinga. NB is the only magazine dedi-
cated to providing articles of practical use for those
birding in the Caribbean, South and Central America.
It provides up-to-date information on some of the best
places to go birding in the Neotropics and contains
articles on the identification of some of the more tricky
species. More information is available on the NBC
website www.neotropicalbirdclub.org

7th EOU Conference 2009

The council of the European Ornithologists’ Union
and the local organisers cordially invite you to join the
7th conference, to be held at the University of Zurich
during 21th-26th August 2009. Information on
the conference location, accommodation, deadlines,
registration fees, etc. are available at www.eou2009.ch.

BB Bookshop

For the first time since December 2001, we are
delighted to announce that the BB bookshop will
again be run by Subbuteo Natural History Books.
Each month, the bookshop page will contain a
small but varied selection from the comprehen-
sive range of titles available from Subbuteo.

It’s easy to order from Subbuteo Natural
History Books: simply call 0870 010 9700, e-mail
your order to info@wildlifebooks.com or go to
the website www.wildlifebooks.com/bb where
you can order online or print out an order form
to post or fax.

5% of all sales generated by BB subscribers,
whether it be books reviewed in BB, listed on the
Subbuteo website or the book page in the
journal, will be paid to British Birds - and will
directly support the production of BB. So,
however you order, please make sure that you
always quote SI 590 (which will always be located
at the top of the Subbuteo page).

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 634—635

635

Eric Dempsey

Recent reports

Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Eric Dempsey

This summary of unchecked reports covers mainly new arrivals between early September and

early October 2008.

Headlines After the Northern Isles grabbed most of the headlines in September, the focus of
interest switched abruptly to Ireland and southwest England in October. All in all, a sensational
month for rare birds, with the following among the highlights:

In the Northern Isles, the rarest birds included: Brown Flycatcher, Siberian Thrush, Red-flanked
Bluetail and two or three White’s Thrushes on Fair Isle; Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Buff-bellied Pipit and
Red-flanked Bluetail on North Ronaldsay; Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Bobolink and Red-flanked
Bluetail on Foula;and Sykes’s Warbler on mainland Shetland. Ireland weighed in with Little Blue
Heron, Scarlet Tanager, American Redstart, White’s Thrush and Western Sandpiper. And in the
southwest of England, there was an Alder Flycatcher, Buff-bellied Pipit, two Common Nighthawks,
Blackpoll Warbler, two or three Red-eyed Vireos and a Grey-cheeked Thrush.

Almost a ‘full set’ of rare eastern warblers was recorded with, in addition to the above, five
Pallas’s Grasshopper (including two on the English mainland), four Lanceolated, three Paddyfield,
five Blyth’s Reed, three Booted, three Arctic, ten Radde’s, one Dusky and five Western Bonelli’s.

In addition, there was an Eleonora’s Falcon in Essex, a Greater Sand Plover in Scotland, Crag Martin
in Sussex, Buff-bellied Pipit on St Kilda, White’s Thrush in Cleveland, Zitting Cisticola in Kent and

Brown Shrike in Yorkshire.

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Singles were
reported in Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire &
Rutland and Somerset. Lesser Scaup Aythya
affinis Loch Leven (Perth & Kinross), 23rd Sep-
tember; Queen Mother Resr (Berkshire), 8th
October. King Eider Somateria spectabilis
Trondra (Shetland), 4th-5th October.

Zino’s/Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma madeiralfeae

Galley Head (Co. Cork), 10th September; Carn-
sore Point, 14th September, seen passing Hook
Head (both Co. Wexford) some 55 minutes
later; Pendeen (Cornwall), 3rd October.
Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus Seen
from pelagics off Co. Kerry; 12 on 21st and
15 on 26th September.

336. Juvenile Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea, Letterfrack,
Co. Galway, September 2008. The first for Ireland.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis In Som-
erset up to three at two localities,
with others in Carmarthenshire,
Devon (two), Dorset and Sussex
(four). Little Blue Heron Egretta
caerulea Letterfrack (Co. Galway),
24th September to 9th October.
Great White Egret Ardea alba
Long-stayers in Hampshire and
Shropshire, in addition to others
in Ceredigion, Devon, Essex,
Greater London, Gwent,
Lancashire & N Merseyside,
Leicestershire & Rutland, Not-
tinghamshire, Staffordshire,
Suffolk (two), Warwickshire and
Yorkshire. Glossy Ibis Plegadis
falcinellus Ouse Washes, 28th Sep-
tember to 10th October, also
roosting at Fen Drayton (both

636

Recent reports

Cambridgeshire); Fairburn
Ings/Swillington Ings (York-
shire), long-stayer to 8th
October.

Honey-buzzard Pernis
apivorus The biggest influx
since 2000, with some
500-700 during 13th-25th
September. First noticeable
along the English east coast,
and particularly East Anglia,
on 13th, with many drifting
inland by 14th. Large totals
on 13th included 44 in
Suffolk (with a single flock
of 18 at Minsmere), and 41
in Norfolk; on 14th, another
66 in Norfolk (including 13
at Burnham Overy), 31 in
Lincolnshire (including 16
at Gibraltar Point), nine
over Cambridgeshire and
nine over Greater London.
Numbers then slowly tailed
off, but there were ten in
both Durham and Dorset
(including six at Portland
Bill) on 20th September.
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Hill Plead (Flampshire),
25th September. Red-footed
Falcon Falco vespertinus A
long-stayer at Tophill Low
(Yorkshire), with others in
Cambridgeshire, Cleveland,
Dumfries & Galloway,
Flampshire, Norfolk (two)
and Northamptonshire.
Eleonora’s Falcon Falco
eleonorae Maldon (Essex),
13th September.

Greater Sand Plover
Charadrius leschenaultii Ythan
Estuary (North-east Scot-
land), 1 2th— 1 9th September,
presumed same Dunbar
(Lothian), 1 9th— 20th Sep-
tember. American Golden
Plover Pluvialis dominica At
least three in Shetland and
the Outer Hebrides, with
singles in Argyll, Co. Cork,

337. Adult Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii , Dunbar, Lothian,

September 2008.

338. Adult Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica, Tiree, Argyll, September 2008.

339. First-winter male Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum, Nanjizal,
Cornwall, October 2008. The first for Britain; identified as this species
rather than Willow Flycatcher £. traillii when trapped.

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 636-642

637

George Reszeter Michael McKee Stef McElwee

Martyn Wilson Deryk Shaw Rebecca Nason

Recent reports

340. White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma, Fair Isle, October 2008.

34 1 . First-winter male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica, Fair Isle, September
2008. The eighth for Britain.

342. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis,
Swalecliffe, Kent, September 2008.
The sixth for Britain, and second bird
in Kent in three years.

Co. Kerry, Scilly, Co. Wexford
and Co. Wicklow. Semi-
palmated Sandpiper Calidris
pusilla Ballycotton (Co.
Cork), 1 2th— 1 8th September;
Carrahane (Co. Kerry), 13th
September; Rogerstown, 16th
September and North Bull
Island (both Co. Dublin),
25th September. Western
Sandpiper Calidris mauri
Omey Strand (Co. Galway),
1 3 th— 1 4th September.
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis Carrahane,
15th- 17th September; Lough
Foyle (Co. Derry), 1 9th— 20th
September. Baird’s Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii Carrahane,
4th-28th September; Black-
rock Strand (Co. Kerry),
6th-25th September; Learn
Lough (Co. Mayo), 7th Sep-
tember; Ballycotton,

1 2th— 20th September; Bel-
lanoch (Argyll), 15th Sep-
tember; Tacumshin Lake
(Co. Wexford), 20th Sep-
tember. Stilt San dpiper
Calidris himantopus South
Uist (Outer Hebrides),
14th— 15th September;
Glascoe Dubh (Isle of Man),
17th September; Campfield
Marsh (Cumbria), 22nd Sep-
tember to 1st October.
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limi-
cola falcinellus Wallasea Island
(Essex), 2nd-6th October.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryn-
gites subruficollis A long-
stayer in Northumberland, with others arriving
throughout the period in Argyll (two), Corn-
wall (two or three), Fair Isle, Hampshire,
North-east Scotland (two), Orkney (two),
Outer Hebrides and Scilly (one or two). Great
Snipe Gallinago media Quendale (Shetland),
12th September; Flamborough Head, 13th Sep-
tember and Speeton (both Yorkshire),
1 7th— 1 8th September. Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus Lough Donnell (Co.
Clare), 23rd September; Rahasane (Co.
Galway), 27th— 28t h September. Spotted Sand-
piper Actitis macularius North Ronaldsay

638

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 636-642

Recent reports

«r"

343 & 344. Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella cerfh/o/o, Spurn, Yorkshire (left) and Fair Isle, both
September 2008. Two of the five recorded in the period, three in Shetland, two on the English east coast.

(Orkney), 30th September. Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes Eden Estuary (Fife), 1 0th— 14th
and 23rd September; Cross Lough (Co. Mayo),
12th September; Tacumshin Lake, 24th-28th
September; Barra (Outer Hebrides), 2nd
October. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Alkborough Flats (Lincolnshire), 1 6th— 2 1 st
September, also visiting nearby Blacktoft Sands
(Yorkshire); South Uist, 21st September; Cley,
7th October, then Salthouse (both Norfolk), 9th
October.

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Tiree
(Argyll), 29th September to 3rd October.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias
hybrida Shotwick Lake
(Flintshire), 10th September.

White-winged Black Tern
Chlidonias leucopterus Long-
stayers in Flintshire, Kent
and Staffordshire, with new
arrivals in Bedfordshire,

Cheshire & Wirral, Greater
Manchester, Hampshire and
Kent.

Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor St Mary’s
(Scilly), 6th October, found
dead; Church Cove area
(Cornwall), 7th-8th October.

European Bee-eater Merops
apiaster Lavernock Point
(Glamorgan), 27th Sep-

tember. Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
Nanjizal (Cornwall), 8th-9th October.

Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Beeding Hill
(Sussex), 21st September. Red-rumped Swallow
Cecropis daurica Bryher (Scilly), 13th Sep-
tember; Holme (Norfolk), 17th September.

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Spurn
(Yorkshire), 24th September. Pechora Pipit
Anthus gustavi Fetlar (Shetland), 30th Sep-
tember; North Uist (Outer Hebrides), 4th-5th
October. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
Reported from Cornwall (two), Fair Isle,

345. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola, V irkie, Shetland, September
2008; one of three seen in Shetland during the period.

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 636-642

639

Hugh Harrop Deryk Shaw

John Carter Brydon Thomason

Recent reports

jiff-

346. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida, Foula, Shetland, September
2008. The 1 2th record for Britain.

Gwynedd, Hampshire, Norfolk, Shetland (two),
Suffolk and Yorkshire. Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus
rubescens St Kilda (Outer Hebrides), 19th Sep-
tember to at least 7th October; Bryher, 3rd and
6th— 7th October; North Ronaldsay, 3rd-5th
October. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola North
Ronaldsay, 10th September; Quarff (Shetland),
12th September; Lough Beg (Co. Derry),
1 3th— 1 8th September; Rattray Head (North-
east Scotland), 14th September; St Mary’s,
1 6th— 1 8th September; Whalsay (Shetland), 17th
September; North Uist, 28th September to 1st
October; Barra, 1st October, found dead 3rd;
Fair Isle, 6th October.

Thrush Nightingale Luscinia
luscinia Fair Isle, 13th- 15th
September; Holme,

1 4th— 17th September;
Fetlar, 15th September;
Virkie (Shetland), 22nd Sep-
tember. Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurus Fair Isle,
24th September; Foula
(Shetland), 25th September;
North Ronaldsay, 25th-26th
September. White’s Thrush
Zoothera dauma Inishbofin
(Co. Galway), 28th Sep-
tember; one, or possibly
two, Fair Isle, 1st October,
with another there on 8th;
Hartlepool Headland
(Cleveland), 8th October.
Siberian Thrush Zoothera
sibirica Fair Isle, 25th September. Grey-cheeked
Thrush Catharus minimus Portland Bill (Dorset),
8th October.

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Swalecliffe
(Kent), 13th September. Pallas’s Grasshopper
Warbler Locustella certhiola Spurn, 14th Sep-
tember; Fair Isle, 23rd September, with another
1st October; Donna Nook (Lincolnshire), 25th
September; Foula, 2nd October. Lanceolated
Warbler Locustella lanceolata Sumburgh Head
(Shetland), 12th September; Fair Isle, 1 3th— 1 9th
September, and two on 23rd. Aquatic Warbler
Acrocephalus paludicola Steart (Somerset), 19th
September; Slapton Ley
(Devon), 20th and
28th-29th September. Pad-
dyfield Warbler Acrocephalus
agricola Unst (Shetland),

1 1th September; Fair Isle,
13th September; Virkie,
20th— 2 1st September. Blyth’s
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus
dumetorum Sumburgh
Head, 24th September,
Quendale, 24th September,
Foula (all Shetland), 24th
September to 2nd October;
West Runton, 26th— 27th
September, Wells- next-the-
Sea (both Norfolk), 5th— 6th
October. Eastern Olivaceous
Warbler Hippolais pallida
Foula, 23rd-26th Sep-

347. Sykes’s Warbler Hippolais rama, Sumburgh, Shetland, September 2008.
The tenth for Britain, and fifth for Shetland.

640

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 636-642

Recent reports

349. Western Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli, Lunna, Shetland, September

2008.

tember. Booted Warbler Hippolais cali-
gata Margate (Kent), 26th September;
Spurn, 27th September; Lundy (Devon),
28th September. Sykes’s Warbler Hippo-
lais rama Sumburgh, 25th September.

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans South
Shields (Durham), long-stayer to 14th
September; Nanquidno (Cornwall), 5th
October. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus
trochiloides A long-stayer in Northum-
berland, with others in Cleveland, Co.

Cork, Cornwall and Norfolk. Arctic
Warbler Phylloscopus borealis Exnaboe
(Shetland), 1 4th— 1 9th September; Fair
Isle, 25th September; Out Skerries
(Shetland), 26th-27th September.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus
inornatus A widespread influx from 23rd
September, some of the larger concen-
trations on 24th September including at
least 45 on Fair Isle (with 32 there on
25th), about 20 on North Ronaldsay and
seven at Flamborough Head. Radde’s
Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Wells-
next-the-Sea, 24th-25th September,
Burnham Overy, 25th-26th September,
Holkham Pines, 26th-28th September,
Weybourne (all Norfolk), 6th October;

Shingle Street (Suffolk), 26th-29th September;
Flamborough Head, 26th September; Sandwich
Bay (Kent), 26th September; Foulness (Essex),
27th September; Great Orme Head (Conwy),
28th September; St
Martin’s (Scilly), 9th
October. Dusky Warbler
Phylloscopus fuscatus St
Margaret’s at Cliffe (Kent),

26th-27th September.

Western Bonelli’s Warbler
Phylloscopus bonelli Lundy,

14th September; Fair Isle,

1 7th— 18 th September;

Nanjizal (Cornwall), 18th
September; St Mary’s, 18th
September; Lunna (Shet-
land), 27th September.

348. Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi, Shingle Street,
Suffolk, September 2008; one of ten reported during the period.

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus Flamborough
Head, 24th-25th September. Lesser Grey
Shrike Lanius minor Sheringham, 24th-26th
September then Weybourne (both Norfolk),

Brown Flycatcher Musci-
capa dauurica Fair Isle,
24th-25th September.
Penduline Tit Remiz pen-
dulinus Flengistbury Head
(Dorset), 29th September.

British Birds 101 • November 2008 • 636-642

641

Hugh Harrop &ill Boston

Jason Atkinson www.irishbirdimages.com Mark Breaks

Recent reports

350. First-winter Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica, Fair Isle, September
2008. The third for Britain, and second for Fair Isle.

27th-28th September; Ripple
(Kent), 27th September.
Woodchat Shrike Lanius
senator Singles were reported
from Cleveland, Dorset,
Norfolk and Orkney.

Rose-coloured Starling
Sturnus roseus Reported from
Argyll, Cornwall (up to four),
Dorset, Fair Isle, Kent,
Lothian, Shetland, Suffolk
and Yorkshire. Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus Cross Lough,
13th September with
another/same at Annagh
Plantation (both Co. Mayo),
1 6th— 18th September; St
Agnes, 8th-9th October, pos-
sibly same Gugh, 9th October,
with another on St Mary’s (all
Scilly), 8th— 10th October.
Arctic Redpoll Carduelis
hornemanni Unst, 1 st — 8th
October, with two on 6th;
Foula, lst-3rd October; Fair
Isle, lst-2nd October; Yell
(Shetland), 3rd-5th October
with a second bird on 6th.
Two-barred Crossbill Loxia
leucoptera Fair Isle, 12th— 14th
September; Whalsay,
13th- 14th September.

35 I . First-winter male Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea, Garinish, Co. Cork,
October 2008; the fourth for Ireland.

352. Male Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia, North Ronaldsay,
Orkney, September 2008. The fourth for Britain, following spring
birds on Fair Isle in 1967 and 1979, and Stronsay, Orkney, in 1998.

Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica
striata St Agnes, 8th-9th
October. American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla Mizen Head (Co.
Cork), 18th September. Common
Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Southampton Docks, on board MV
Aurora, 19th-23rd September (fed
on board). Scarlet Tanager Piranga
olivacea Garinish (Co. Cork),
7th- 10th October.

Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza
caesia North Ronaldsay, 1 9th— 2 1 st
September. Yellow-breasted Bunting
Emberiza aureola Fetlar, 1 2th— 1 4th
September. Black-headed Bunting
Emberiza melanocephala Barra, 21st
September. Bobolink Dolichonyx
oryzivorus Foula, 28th September.

642

British Birds 101* November 2008 • 636-642

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British Birds

: 1 1 DEC

I? -

Volume 101 • Number 12 • December 2008

644 Birds and habitat change in Britain

Part 1: a review of losses and gains in the twentieth century
Robert J. Fuller and Malcolm Ausden

676 The rise and fall of Bulwer’s Petrel Andrew H. J. Harrop

Regular features

682 Conservation research news

Mark Eaton and Ian Johnstone

684 Letters

Trailing Greenland Wheatears
D. I. M. Wallace

The Eagle Owl in Britain Dick Potts

! 687 Notes

Merlins plucking and eating dead
young Dick Temple
Short-eared Owl sitting on sea surface
to avoid Carrion Crows
Robert L. Flood

Male Firecrest helping to feed a
Goldcrest family Charles Trollope

689 Reviews

Frontiers in Birding
A Sky Full of Starlings: a diary of a
birding year

Daring to Fly: the wildlife paintings of
Colin Woolf

RSPB Handbook of Garden Wildlife
Garden Birds and Wildlife
Where to Watch Birds in Northern and
Eastern Spain

69 1 News and comment

Adrian Pitches

695 Recent reports

Barry Nightingale and
Eric Dempsey

Birds and habitat
change in Britain

Part I : a review of losses and
gains in the twentieth century

Robert J. Fuller and Malcolm Ausden

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Richard Allen

ABSTRACT We identify 18 trends in habitat quantity or quality considered to
be important drivers of change in bird populations in the twentieth century.
The trends are grouped into changes in (i) farmland (including the uplands),
(ii) woodland/forestry, (iii) coastal and inland wetlands and (iv) miscellaneous
(urbanisation and recreation). Shifts in habitat quality were just as significant
to birds as changes in habitat extent. Many of the trends had complex effects
on birds, benefiting some species but creating pressures for others. Overall,
habitat changes in lowland and upland farmed landscapes have been
detrimental to birds. Expansion of conifer plantations had mixed effects,
replacing long-established bird communities with new ones. The decline in
coppicing and recent changes in lowland woodland structure caused several
species to lose habitat but few have gained. Two striking changes affecting
wetland birds have been the modernisation of sewage treatment systems
and the increase in man-made waterbodies. Eight habitat-related issues are
identified that are likely to be especially significant to birds in the first half

of the twenty-first century.

644

Birds and habitat change in Britain

Introduction

Most birders are interested in changes in our
avifauna, whether in terms of migration pat-
terns, breeding distributions or population
sizes. The fact that avifaunas change over time
creates one of the great fascinations of birding.
We know a huge amount about the changes in
the bird populations of Britain during the
twentieth century. By comparison we know vir-
tually nothing about those in previous cen-
turies, though we can be certain that bird
populations have always been in a state of flux
for many reasons. Nonetheless, changes in the
British avifauna during the twentieth century
were probably on an exceptional scale. Consid-
erably more species became established as
breeders during the century than were lost, but
this is not a useful way to assess change in the
avifauna. A far larger list of species has shown
huge changes in distribution and status over the
course of the century as a result of improved
protection or habitat change. In this, the first of
two articles on birds and habitat change, we
review major trends in habitat that were of par-
ticular significance for Britain’s birds in the last
century. In the second article we discuss the
conservation response to these changes and
explore some of the challenges likely to face
birds and their habitats over the next 50 years
(Ausden & Fuller in press)1. The scope of the
articles is terrestrial and coastal. Changes in the
marine environment are not covered as they
merit an article devoted entirely to the effects of
fishing pressure, pollution and climate change.

The availability of suitable habitat is funda-
mental in limiting the abundance and distribu-
tion of most species of plants and animals
within their natural ranges. In Britain, the
entire land surface has been completely trans-
formed by human activity over thousands of
years and consequently the existing species are
by necessity tolerant of, even adapted to, these
anthropogenic conditions. During the twentieth
century, it became all too evident that the
capacity of humans to alter these cultural land-
scapes’ had moved on to a new level. The scale
of social, cultural and technological change
during that century is hard to comprehend.
Rapid growth in human populations was
coupled with unprecedented exploitation of
natural resources. Loss of semi-natural habitat,
intensified agricultural production, and new

and insidious forms of pollution were paral-
leled by the emergence of environmental and
conservation movements with considerable
power themselves to influence land use. As
some habitat types contracted, others became
more widespread. Much has been lost but it is
also true that new opportunities for wildlife
have been gained.

This account is limited by considerable
uncertainties and is not intended to be a com-
prehensive review. It is offered as a personal
view of some of the key issues as we see them.
Rather little is known about exact population
trends of many bird species in the first half of
the twentieth century, although qualitative
trends are available (Gibbons et al. 1996). The
earliest systematic survey is the Heronries
Survey, which began in 1928, and in 1947 a
national wildfowl count scheme was established
(Cranswick et al. 1997). It was not until the mid
1960s that widespread terrestrial birds were
monitored (Marchant et al. 1990). Since then,
there has been a remarkable expansion in mon-
itoring effort and of research aimed at under-
standing the habitat needs of birds and their
responses to habitat change (Robinson in
press). Though invaluable in other ways, much
of this work has come too late to inform us
about how bird numbers and distribution were
affected by the huge environmental changes of
the first seven decades of the twentieth century.

Habitat concepts and definitions
The concept of ‘habitat’ is multi-faceted and
here we use it in several ways. Strictly, it relates
to the specific environment in which an
organism lives. For a terrestrial bird species, this
environment may be described in terms of
climate and microclimate, soil type and
hydrology, topography, plant composition and
vegetation structure. Within suitable habitat,
the density of a species may vary in space and
time in response to many factors, including
food supplies, nest-sites, predators and com-
petitors (Newton 2007). This definition of
habitat is species-centred and recognises the
individuality of species requirements. On the
other hand, ‘habitat’ is familiarly used in a less
exact way to denote different and distinctive
environments, based on a combination of vege-
tation, land use, landform and hydrology.
Examples are lowland heath, upland moorland,

1 Part 2 of ‘Birds and habitat change in Britain’ will appear in British Birds early in 2009.

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 644-675

645

Rob Fuller Rob Fuller

Birds and habitat change in Britain

)

grazing marsh, saltmarsh, oak Quercus wood-
land and parkland. Recognising habitat types in
this way provides a convenient terminology for
naturalists and ecologists (e.g. Cramp &
Simmons 1977, Ratcliffe 1977, Crick 1992), but
it has limitations. Vegetation transitions and
gradients are difficult to represent in static clas-
sifications of habitat types. It also cannot do
justice to variations in ecological conditions
occurring within and between patches of the

same habitat type and which are crucially
important in determining habitat suitability for
many species.

Loss and degradation of habitat are the
major causes of biodiversity impoverishment in
many parts of the world but these processes
cover a continuum of situations and impacts.
Many habitat changes that are significant for
birds involve changes in suitability or quality
rather than outright habitat loss (Sutherland

1998). In this article, we
emphasise that changes
in habitat quality can
be just as important as
losses of habitat in
driving population
changes in birds.
Habitat can appear
superficially to have
changed little, yet its
quality for a given
species may have
declined markedly.
Habitat quality is best
defined in demographic
terms (Johnson 2007).
Deterioration in habitat
quality for a given
species will generally
involve a decline in
abundance as a conse-
quence of reduced
breeding output or
increased mortality of
adults or juveniles.

Many bird species
utilise a wide range of
habitat types but these
are not necessarily
equal in their capacity
to sustain high rates of
breeding productivity
or survival. The density
and breeding produc-
tivity of a species tends
to be greatest in high-
quality habitat but
there can be exceptions
(Bernstein et al. 1991;
Bock & Jones 2004).
For example, in eastern
Scotland, breeding pro-
ductivity of Common
S held ticks Tadorna

353 & 354. One of the most dramatic habitat-related events of the twentieth
century was a devastating storm that hit southern England in October 1987, felling

some 15 million trees. It temporarily increased the amount of dead wood and
created gaps in many woodlands (as here at The Mens, Sussex, in March 1988;
plate 353, above), and subsequently released regrowth of saplings and bramble
Rubus fructicosus agg. Any benefits to woodland birds through the creation of nest-
sites or increased food appear to have been localised and have not compensated
for a wider trend in the simplification of woodland understorey structures as a
result of canopy closure and deer browsing, as discussed later in this paper. Plate

354 shows a treefall gap some six years after the storm at Ebernoe Common,
Sussex, in December 1 993; vigorous regrowth such as this temporarily benefited
some warblers and Common Nightingales Luscinia megarhynchos at a local scale.

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

355. At the start of the twentieth century, the Siskin Carduelis spinus as a breeding bird in Britain was confined
to old pine forests in north-east Scotland. By the end of the century its range had expanded hugely in response
to the expansion of conifer plantations and it has adapted well to Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis. It is now found
almost wherever there are large areas of mature conifers.

Box I. Examples of species whose overall breeding population trend during the twentieth century
has probably increased as a consequence of changes in habitat conditions1.

Species

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Feral geese

Gadwall Anas strepera
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Avocet Avosetta recurvirostra

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla

Coal Tit Periparus ater

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Siskin Carduelis spinus

Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

Likely relevant habitat changes

Creation of lowland waterbodies. Also benefited from reduced
persecution.

Creation of lowland waterbodies.

Creation of lowland waterbodies. Introduction of winter wheat
and other overwintered crops and agricultural improvement of
grassland. Also benefited from reduced persecution.

Creation of lowland waterbodies.

Afforestation, especially in the uplands. Recolonisation facilitated
by reduced persecution and the release of falconers’ birds.
Creation of shallow, saline waterbodies (‘scrapes’) on nature
reserves. Also benefited from reduced persecution.

Expansion of mineral workings.

Changes in farmland crops, especially increase in oilseed rape.
Increasing urbanisation and associated artificial feeding.
Afforestation with conifers in the lowlands and uplands.
Afforestation with conifers in the lowlands.

Afforestation with conifers in the lowlands and uplands.

Increase in use of gardens and associated artificial feeding.
Afforestation with conifers in the lowlands and uplands.
Afforestation with conifers in the lowlands and uplands.

1 We emphasise that habitat change will often not be the sole cause of the population trend. Note that this table considers
only breeding, not passage and wintering birds. Only species where we can be reasonably certain that the overall British
long-term trend has been predominantly increasing or decreasing are listed - species such as Eurasian Bittern Botaurus
stellar is and Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus that have shown contrasting trends in different time periods are excluded.

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647

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

)

Box 2. Examples of species whose overall breeding population trend during the twentieth century has

probably decreased as a consequence of changes in habitat conditions. The footnote to Box 1 also applies here.

Species

Likely relevant habitat changes

Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus

Increased grazing pressure in the uplands and reduction in
grouse-moor management.

Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix

Increased grazing pressure in the uplands and marginal uplands.
Recently, maturation of conifer plantations has reduced habitat
quality.

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix

Loss of mixed farming, reduction of winter stubbles, reduced
food supply as a consequence of crop management.

Corn Crake Crex crex

Changes in grassland management: reduction in low-intensity
hay management.

Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus

Lowland habitat losses to agriculture: losses of agriculturally
unimproved dry acid and calcareous grasslands and the demise
of old grazing systems.

European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

Afforestation of upland habitats with conifers and changes in
upland grazing patterns.

Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Lowland habitat losses to agriculture and intensification of
farming. Relevant processes include drainage and related
agricultural intensification of wet grasslands, loss of mixed and
low-intensity farming, changes in grazing patterns in the
lowlands and marginal uplands.

Dunlin Calidris cdpina

Afforestation of upland habitats with conifers.

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Drainage and related agricultural intensification of wet
grasslands. Changes in grassland management in the marginal
uplands.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

Reduced food supply as a result of changes in crop management.
Reduction in quantity of hedgerows and scrub.

European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus

Loss of lowland heath to afforestation, agriculture and urban
development and the demise of old grazing systems and other
management of these habitats. Human disturbance is probably
locally important.

Wood Lark Lullula arborea

Loss of lowland heath and grassland to afforestation, agriculture
and urban development and the demise of old grazing systems
and other management of these habitats. Human disturbance is
probably locally important.

Sky Lark Alauda arvensis

Loss of mixed and low-intensity farming, introduction of winter
cereals, reduction of winter stubbles and general intensification
of farming methods.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis

Structural change in scrub and woodland vegetation resulting
from demise of old grazing systems, reduced management of
woodland and maturation of conifer plantations.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

Drainage and related agricultural intensification of wet
grasslands. Changes in lowland grazing patterns.

Dipper Cinclus cinclus

Acidification of upland streams.

Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

Demise of coppicing. Structural change in scrub and woodland
vegetation arising from demise of old grazing systems, reduced
woodland management and deer browsing.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Changes in grassland management in both lowlands and
marginal uplands, in particular reduction in low-intensity hay
management and changes in grazing patterns.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenatithe

Losses of agriculturally unimproved dry acid and calcareous
grasslands and the demise of old grazing systems in the lowlands.

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus

Changes in grazing patterns and other management of upland
heath (although mechanisms poorly understood). The decline is
also possibly related to climate change.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Loss of mixed and low-intensity farming. Reduction in damp
areas within farmland. Losses of hedgerows and other semi-
natural habitat in farmed landscapes. Reduction of woodland
understorey due to shading and browsing.

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Box 2. continued

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata

Loss of lowland heathland and acid grassland to succession,
afforestation, agriculture and urban development and the demise
of old grazing systems and other management of these habitats.

Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Changes in grazing patterns and other management of upland
and, especially, coastal heath.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Reduction in food supply within farmland as a consequence of
changes in crop management and loss of overwinter stubbles.

Twite Carduelis flavirostris

Agricultural intensification and changes in grazing patterns on
grassland in the marginal uplands.

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Loss of hedgerows, scrub and woodland to agriculture. Changes
in woodland structure caused by shading and browsing.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

Agricultural intensification causing reduction in food supply,
especially through the reduction in mixed farming.

Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus

Agricultural intensification causing reduction in food supply,
especially through the reduction of overwinter stubbles.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

Agricultural intensification causing reduction in food supply
through changes in crop management.

tadorna decreases as nesting density increases
(Jenkins et al. 1975; Makepeace & Patterson
1980; Pienkowski & Evans 1982). High densities
occur in areas of sand dunes adjacent to large
estuaries, whereas lower densities occur next to
small estuaries and along linear coasts. The
high-density populations suffer higher rates of
predation on ducklings leading to lower pro-
duction of young per adult. Arguably, it is the
high density of ducks that attracts predators
rather than the habitat per se. Nonetheless, this
is clearly a situation where individuals in habi-
tats with relatively low densities of birds
perform better than those in habitats with high
densities.

The recent past: an outline of trends in
habitat quantity and quality
We identify 18 trends of particular significance
for birds during the last 100 years or so (fig. 1).
These concern mostly processes, rather than
changes in the status of particular habitat types.
The current status of lowland heaths and decid-
uous woodland, for example, is affected by
several of the trends listed here.

These trends do not fall into any neat
chronological sequence, many overlap in time,
they vary greatly in duration, and cannot be
said to have occurred entirely independently of
one another. We have arranged them in four
broad groups relating to farmland, woodland/
forestry, wetlands and a miscellaneous category
(urbanisation and recreation). We take the view
that the open uplands are predominantly a
farmed landscape in that livestock grazing is a
principal determinant of their character.

Changes in grazing systems show many similar-
ities in both upland and lowland contexts so it
seems sensible to treat them together. Strictly
speaking, not all are trends because some were
episodic events confined to particular periods
and did not always leave a clear legacy in the
habitat we see today. In most cases, however, the
result has been a persistent change in habitat
quantity or quality. With one possible exception
(erosion of intertidal habitats), all the trends
arise directly from human-induced processes.
Active changes in land use, driven mainly by
economic factors and by government policy,
underpin virtually all of the changes outlined
here.

With the exception of large grazing
mammals, we do not discuss other species as
determinants of habitat quality. We note,
however, that the following trends could all
have implications for habitat quality of some
bird species: (i) decreasing activity of game-
keepers, which has altered predator abundance
in many areas (Lovegrove 2007); (ii) increases
in released gamebirds, which potentially modify
vegetation and compete for food (Fuller et al.
2005); (iii) increases in several introduced
species that may be competitors or predators
(e.g. Hewson et al. 2004, Jackson et al. 2004);
(iv) increasing numbers of non-native geese
(Austin et al. 2007) may modify grassland and
wetland vegetation with possible implications
for ground-nesting birds and other grazing
species; and (v) invasive plant species such as
Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum may
alter habitat quality (Fuller 1995). We also
acknowledge that climate change must now be

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 644-675

649

Birds and habitat change in Britain

Fig. I. Summary of habitat trends of particular significance to birds in the twentieth century. Approximate
main periods when effects occurred are shown by bars. Type of habitat effect is shown as change in either
habitat quality (Q) or habitat quantity, or extent (E). Brief description of the ornithological consequences is
given on the right. For more details of the nature of effects and the species involved, see the text entries for

each trend. T denotes a transient effect.

1900 1950 2000 Effect

Demise of old grazing systems Q & E

Agricultural recession Q & E

Lowland habitat losses to agriculture E

Dutch elm disease Q

Agricultural intensification Q

Recent changes in grazing patterns Q

Afforestation of lowland heath and grass E

Afforestation in the uplands E

Demise of coppice management Q

Conifers in broadleaved woodland Q

Recent changes in woodland structure Q

Reedbed changes: Q & E

decline

restoration __

Creation of reservoirs and mineral workings E (New)

Pollution (eutrophication and acidification) Q

Trends in sewage disposal Q & E

Changes in intertidal habitats E

Urbanisation and gardens Q & E

Recreational disturbance Q

Gains (+) and losses (-)

+ scrub species (T)

- heath and grassland species, e.g. Stone-curlew,

Wood Lark, Red-billed Chough

+ wet grassland waders (T), scrub species (T)

- arable species (T)

+ none?

- widespread loss of habitat for woodland, hedge,
wet grassland, fen and heathland species

+ woodpeckers (T), species using low hedges, e.g.
Common Whitethroat

- hole-nesters, reduced diversity of hedgerow bird
communities

+ Wood Pigeon

- most farmland specialists, i.e. species dependent on
fields for food (seeds or invertebrates) or nesting sites

+ species needing short swards for foraging

- effects on food and habitat structure for many species,
e.g. grouse, breeding waders

+ wide range of woodland and early successional species

- Stone-curlew, Common Stonechat, Dartford Warbler

+ wide range of woodland and early successional species

- moorland species, especially waders, Red Grouse,
some birds of prey

+ some common hole-nesters

- young-growth species, e.g. Common Nightingale,
Garden Warbler

+ conifer specialists, e.g. Lesser Redpoll (T),

Firecrest

- broadleaved specialists, e.g. Eurasian Nuthatch,
Eurasian Treecreeper, Marsh Tit

+ none?

- species needing complex field- and shrub- layer
structure

+ reedbed specialists gained from recent restoration

- reedbed specialists lost habitat historically

+ wintering Great Cormorant, grebes and wildfowl,
breeding Great Cormorant, Little Ringed Plover,
Common Tern, Nightingale and other scrub birds

- none

+ possibly grazing wildfowl where algal mats have
increased

- local effects on waders, wildfowl (?), Dipper

+ pipits, wagtails benefited from introduction of
filter beds (T)

- many waterbirds, pipits, wagtails

+ none (though local habitat creation)

- waders, wildfowl and seed-eating passerines
(saltmarsh loss)

+ common finches (garden feeding), gulls and corvids
(landfill)

- heathland species (locally)

+ none

- heathland and coastal species, e.g. Ringed Plover,
European Nightjar, Wood Lark

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

affecting habitat quality for birds in diverse and
subtle ways. Some possible effects of future,
predicted climatic change are considered in
Ausden & Fuller (in press).

Harrier Circus pygargus. Scrub removal, espe-
cially on heath, has contributed to local
increases of some of these species in the last 15
years (Langston et al. 2007b).

Changes to habitats on farmed land
Demise of old grazing systems
By the start of the twentieth century, the ancient
grazing systems of the uplands involving trans-
humance (the seasonal movement of people
and their livestock in search of grazing) were
long extinct (Holl & Smith 2007). In the low-
lands, ‘high farming', defined by Shrubb (2003)
as ‘the closely integrated rotations of mixed
arable and stock farming’, had been well estab-
lished for over 100 years. Agriculture once
worked around the nature of the land, whereas
from the eighteenth century, agriculture
increasingly adapted the land to suit its purpose
(Shrubb 2003). The enclosure of open fields
and commons was central to this process.
Throughout this period, much grazing land was
ploughed. Old systems, such as grazing sheep by
day on nearby grass or heath and folding them
at night on arable to deposit nutrients within
their dung, were gradually disappearing. These
open habitats were, therefore, greatly dimin-
ished by the end of the nineteenth century and
subsequently most of the remaining fragments
became completely ungrazed. The resulting
growth of scrub and woodland was the culmin-
ation of a trend that started much earlier.

While scrub expan-
sion temporarily bene-
fited some species, more
significantly the break-
down of ancient grazing
systems created further
loss of habitat for
species that depended
on sparse, nutrient-poor
swards either for nesting
or for feeding (e.g.

Stone-curlew Burhinus
oedicnemus, Red-billed
Chough Pyrrhocorax
pyrrhocorax. Wood Lark
Lullula arborea,

Northern Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe) .

Other species negatively
affected were Dartford
Warbler Sylvia undata
and probably Montagu’s

Agricultural recession in the early decades

Farming underwent a long recession between
the 1870s and the Second World War, which was
most pronounced in the eastern arable counties
(Shrubb 2003). There was widespread contrac-
tion of arable farming (involving land aban-
donment), an increase in grassland and greatly
reduced expenditure on field drainage. Wet
grassland, currently regarded as a habitat of
high conservation value, was probably relatively
scarce in the nineteenth century. The range
expansion of breeding Common Redshank
Tringa totanus. Common Snipe Gallinago galli-
nago and Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata in
the early decades of the twentieth century owes
much to this farming recession (Fuller 2000;
Shrubb 2003). Presumably, bird communities
favouring grassland and scrub flourished at the
expense of species preferring tilled land.' Inter-
estingly, the recession did not re-create habitats
lost as a result of the earlier Parliamentary
enclosures and ‘land improvement’ - for
example, fenland did not reappear (Fuller 2000;
Shrubb 2003). The new wet grasslands and
other abandoned areas that had emerged by the
1920s and 1930s were soon to be swept away
during the war and the decades that followed.

356. A mosaic of grassland and scrub at Lydlinch Common, Dorset, May 1996.
Such vegetation has become typical of many areas of formerly open grazing land,
resulting in widespread declines of many plants, insects and birds associated with
the open habitats. However, by the end of the twentieth century, scrub habitats
of this type were among the most important habitats for breeding Common
Nightingales Luscinia megarhynchos in England.

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Kit Day

Birds and habitat change in Britain

357. Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus have become less
familiar in many parts of Britain as breeding birds, for several
reasons linked with changes in farming practices. Wet grasslands
favoured breeding habitat, has been greatly reduced by systematic
large-scale drainage. Mixed farming systems are now much
scarcer than 50 years ago - these were probably beneficial to the
bird, offering a diversity of habitats for nesting and chick rearing.
Spring-sown cereals were once favoured nesting crops but these
have been widely replaced by autumn-sown cereals.

Lowland habitat losses to agriculture in the
post-war decades

The resurgence of agriculture in the 1940s
opened up a protracted phase of expansion in
the area of efficiently farmed land. This process
involved massive removal of hedgerows (both
Enclosure Act and ancient hedges), loss of
ponds and woodland (much of it ancient),
destruction of old orchards, the ploughing of
heath and downland, and the drainage of wet
grassland (much of which was a product of the
preceding recession). The widespread losses of
hedgerows were especially conspicuous and
attracted much opposition. Destruction of
hedges was exacerbated by neglect. In many
regions, hedges were no longer managed as

dense, stock-proof barriers, which gen-
erally provided better habitat for birds
than did thin and gappy vestigial
hedges. Much of this activity occurred
between 1950 and 1980, although it has
continued at a much reduced rate to
the present day. Not all habitat losses
during this period were attributable to
agricultural expansion. Urbanisation,
road building and forestry also made
inroads but agriculture was undoubt-
edly the major agent of change. As far
as we are aware, nobody has docu-
mented the full scale of these habitat
changes by drawing systematically on
all the sources available, though a
report by the (then) Nature Conser-
vancy Council indicates the breadth
(NCC 1984).

A predominantly farmed country-
side that had been tamed more than
2,000 years earlier became further
denuded of its more natural elements.
Landscapes were simplified. Patches of
semi-natural habitat became even more
separated from one another; not only
did many patches disappear during
these decades but many of the hedges
and other semi-natural features con-
necting them vanished too (Peterken &
Allison 1989). No species of bird was
threatened with extinction by these
events. However, we do not hold with
Murton & Westwood’s (1974) assertion
that hedgerow removal was not a
serious matter for bird populations on
the grounds that they are suboptimal
breeding habitats compared with
woodland. Hedges vary enormously in struc-
ture and in the nature of their bird communi-
ties (Hinsley & Bellamy 2000), so they cannot
be cast as one homogenous inferior habitat.
There is much overlap between the bird com-
munities of woodland and hedgerows but
several species using both habitats are far more
closely associated with hedges than woods;
these include Dunnock Prunella modularis.
Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis , Lesser
Whitethroat S. curruca , Linnet Carduelis
cannabina and Yellowhammer Emberiza cit-
rinella (Fuller et al. 2001). Hedges also provide
conduits, cover and food for huge numbers of
dispersing and wintering birds. Several bird
species are more likely to breed within woods

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358. The period from the 1950s to the 1980s was one of massive change to the fabric of the English
countryside, involving large-scale destruction of hedges, ancient woods and other semi-natural features. Ironically,
this has been followed by an increase in hedgerow planting, and field margins managed for biodiversity have
become a common sight as a result of agri-environment initiatives, as here in Suffolk in November 2007.

that have large quantities of hedgerow in the
surrounding landscape (Hinsley et al. 1995).

A depressingly vivid impression of what has
been lost was given by Mabey (1980), Shoard
(1980) and Moore (1987). The consequences
for the uncropped fabric of the countryside and
the wildlife that depended on it were enormous
but poorly quantified. Compared with the
farmland bird declines caused by intensification
of the farming systems themselves (see below),
the impact of these habitat losses received rela-
tively little attention from ecologists, though it
was a period when there was much interest in
the ecology of hedges (Pollard et al. 1974).
Especially in the arable farming counties of
eastern England, there can be no doubt that
these losses severely reduced the carrying
capacity of lowland landscapes for birds and
other wildlife. The populations of some of the
commoner woodland and hedgerow birds must
have decreased considerably in many regions as
a consequence of hedgerow destruction.
Breeding species such as Redshank and Snipe,
which had gained much ground in the pre-war
recession, had largely disappeared from wet
grassland by 1990 as efficient drainage once
more became ubiquitous and was accompanied
by further agricultural intensification (Wilson

et al. 2004). Many of the surviving fragments of
semi-natural vegetation now receive special
protection and new hedgerows are being widely
planted, but it remains a much-depleted
countryside compared with that of the 1930s.

Dutch elm disease

In the mid 1960s, an epidemic of Dutch elm
disease commenced which had a far greater
impact on hedgerow than woodland trees.
Within 13 years, about 60% of large elm trees
outside woodland were dead and English Elm
Ulmus procera has subsequently become very
rare as a large tree (Rackham 2003). In many
regions, elms were one of the commonest trees
outside woodland and by the 1990s the disease
had killed all large trees in a high proportion of
hedgerows. Potential implications for birds
included loss of food (elm seeds, foliage insects)
for canopy feeders, loss of nest-sites for hole-
and canopy-nesters, a temporary increase of
food for species such as woodpeckers (Picidae),
and the eventual loss of song-posts once elms
were felled. Effects of the disease on birds were
studied by Osborne (1982, 1983) in the early
years of the epidemic, before it had become
universal and before many elms had been felled.
Nonetheless, he concluded that several common

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653

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

through altering hedgerow habitat
quality. For several species it must have
caused a decline in habitat quality, but
possibly for others, such as Common
Whitethroat and Linnet, which prefer
hedges without trees, it may have had
the opposite effect. Overall, however,
Dutch elm disease has reduced abun-
dance and diversity of birds using
hedges because large hedges with
mature trees tend to hold more indi-
viduals and more species than other
types of hedge (Hinsley & Bellamy
2000; Fuller et al. 2001).

359. At the start of the twentieth century, Whinchats Saxicola
rubetra were widespread in both uplands and lowlands, but by
the end of the century they had largely disappeared from the
lowlands where they were once typical of hay meadows and
rough grassland. This range contraction was probably driven
mainly by changes in grassland management. In the uplands the
species has experienced deterioration of habitat quality from the
improvement of moorland-edge hay meadows and pastures,
coupled with more intensified grazing. Although it widely
colonised first-generation upland conifer plantations, it is
confined to the young stages of growth.

species (including Dunnock, Robin Erithacus
rubecula and Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus
collybita) had probably declined as a conse-
quence of the disease. Further declines could be
expected as a result of felling. Large hole-nesters
- Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, Tawny
Owl Strix aluco. Little Owl Athene noctua and
especially Barn Owl Tyto alba - were probably
seriously affected in many areas through felling
of elms.

Coming on top of the ongoing, large-scale
destruction of hedges, the loss of hedgerow
trees would have had a further effect on
numbers of birds breeding on farmland

Agricultural intensification in recent
decades

Farming systems were transformed in
the late twentieth century. This process
started mainly in the 1960s, some 20
years after the habitat losses described
above started. Large declines of most
farmland birds in Britain became espe-
cially evident in the mid 1970s. The last
three decades of the century saw
numbers of many species dropping by
more than half. These included Grey
Partridge Perdix perdix, Turtle Dove
Streptopelia turtur , Sky Lark Alauda
arvensis , Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava.
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris , Tree
Sparrow Passer montanus, Linnet, Yel-
lowhammer and Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandra (Gregory et al.
2004). There is abundant evidence that
these declines were caused primarily by
changes in agriculture (Chamberlain et
al. 2000; Fuller 2000; Donald et al.
2001; Robinson & Sutherland 2002;
Newton 2004). New forms of agricul-
tural management effectively reduced the
quality of farmland for many bird species,
mainly by reducing food supplies or suitable
nesting habitat or both. A few species have
gained, notably Wood Pigeon Columba
palumbus, which has benefited from the expan-
sion of oilseed rape. The overall effect of agri-
cultural modernisation has been to simplify
farmland as a wildlife habitat. There has been
loss of habitat heterogeneity at all scales
(Benton et al. 2003). An unprecedented research
effort has resulted in a good understanding of
the recent relationships between birds and agri-
culture (Newton 2004; Vickery et al. 2004).

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360. Cereal stubble in the process of being ploughed, Norfolk, autumn 2007. The widespread switch from
spring to autumn sowing of cereals that occurred in the 1970s was responsible for reducing the availability of
overwinter stubbles. Between the early 1990s and 2007, set-aside payments created a certain amount of stubble
on arable farmland, but these have now ceased. Individual stubble fields vary greatly in their quality as feeding
habitats; nonetheless, reduction in stubbles has resulted in a major loss of food for seed-eating birds. For some
species, notably Greenfinch Carduelis chloris, this may have been offset by the increase in garden feeding.

The changes in farming systems that
brought about these massive changes in bird
populations are described in Stoate (1996),
Chamberlain et al. (2000), Fuller (2000),
Vickery et al. (2001), Robinson & Sutherland
(2002) and Shrubb (2003). Three areas of tech-
nological development underpinned the inten-
sification process: (i) mechanisation, (ii)
inorganic fertilisers and (iii) chemical pesti-
cides, especially herbicides. The resulting
changes in farming practices and in the nature
of farmland as a habitat for birds were
numerous and ubiquitous. Large areas of farm-
land could be managed rapidly and efficiently.
Spring sowing of cereals was largely replaced by
autumn sowing. Growth of crops and grass was
given a massive boost by the new fertilisers.
Abundance of arable weeds and their associated
invertebrates was massively reduced. Fertility-
building leys became much scarcer in arable
systems, and crop rotations generally were
much simplified. Silage systems almost univer-
sally replaced hay. Genuine mixed farming, with
closely integrated livestock and arable on the

same holding, has diminished. The exact mech-
anisms by which intensification of farming
affected birds were to a considerable extent
species-specific.

An important insight to emerge from the
research was that intensification had generated
pressure points for birds at all times of the year.
For some species, breeding productivity was
reduced, for others winter food availability was
a critical issue. Some species faced increasing
problems in both winter and summer, most
strikingly the Sky Lark, which was greatly
affected by changes in the management of
cereal crops (Donald 2004). Sky Larks prefer to
nest and forage in short, relatively open crops.
The switch to winter cereal crops, together with
high input of inorganic fertiliser, produced
crops that were taller and denser than had been
the case with spring cereals. As a result,
breeding densities were generally lower in
winter cereals than in spring cereals and
numbers of nesting attempts by individual pairs
were fewer. The shift to winter cereals has had
another important consequence for Sky Larks -

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Des Thompson

Birds and habitat change in Britain

}

it has resulted in a great reduction in cereal
stubbles during winter. Seed-rich stubbles are
highly preferred winter feeding habitats of the
larks. Breeding populations of Sky Larks have
performed better in recent years in areas where
there are extensive areas of stubbles (covering at
least 10% of the local farmland area), presum-
ably because overwinter survival is relatively
high here (Gillings eta/. 2005).

In the late 1980s, set-aside was introduced as
a means of reducing surplus production. This
was seen as a great opportunity to reduce the
intensification of arable agriculture, even to
restore some of the structural complexity that
had been destroyed in the preceding decades. In
reality, the latter did not happen, but for nearly
20 years, until it was phased out in 2007, set-
aside did at least provide substantial areas of
stubble that would not otherwise have existed.
Although set-aside was highly variable as a bird
habitat, some of the stubble provided food for
breeding and wintering birds alike (Henderson
& Evans 2000).

A major conservation effort is now
underway to assist population recovery of farm-
land birds through agri-environment schemes
(Grice et al. 2004). While there is general agree-

ment about what types of resources need to be
provided, it remains to be seen whether the
schemes can deliver sufficient quantities of
those resources in the right places. This is
discussed further in Ausden & Fuller (in press).

There is often a tendency to equate the mod-
ernisation of farming with the lowlands, and
with arable systems in particular. But it is
important to appreciate that the species compo-
sition and structure of virtually all productive
grassland was utterly transformed in the post-
war decades. This applies throughout the low-
lands and the marginal uplands. Since the
1960s, high fertiliser inputs, drainage and silage
production all increased the capacity of grass-
land to carry livestock (see below). The conse-
quences for birds were similar in the lowlands
and the marginal uplands. Large reduction in
numbers of breeding waders - Northern
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Redshank, Curlew
and Snipe - on upland enclosed grasslands in
northern England as a result of grassland
improvement were documented by Baines
(1988, 1989). Many passerines have declined as
breeding birds in upland-edge grasslands
(Fuller et al. 2002; Henderson et al. 2004). These
species include Sky Lark, Meadow Pipit Anthus

361. Large increases in sheep stocking occurred in many upland regions (on both open moorland and lower
enclosed land) in the 1970s and 80s in response to subsidy systems based on headage payments. Large areas
of rough grassland in the uplands were drained, fertilised and reseeded to increase their stocking capacity.
Such improved grassland, as here in the Pentlands, southern Scotland, in September 2007, was generally a poor
habitat for ground-nesting birds. In some areas, intensified grazing has caused large changes in structure and
composition of moorland vegetation, also leading to reduced habitat quality for some ground-nesting birds. '

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

pratensis, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Whinchat
Saxicola rubetra. Twite Carduelis flavirostris and
Reed Bunting E. schoeniclus.

A frequently overlooked aspect of agricul-
tural change concerns orchards. Not only has
the total orchard area declined but fruit pro-
duction is now strongly mechanised, with high
chemical inputs and the use of relatively young,
vigorous trees. Although hard data are lacking,
it appears that bird diversity in modern
orchards is considerably lower than in old ‘tra-
ditional’ orchards, which could support a wide
range of breeding species including Wryneck
Jynx torquilla , Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos minor, Spotted Flycatcher Musci-
capa striata and a variety of breeding
finches including Hawfinch Coccothraustes
coccothraustes.

The intensification of agriculture affected
mainly species that depend on fields for food,
nest-sites or both. A rather different set of
species was probably affected by the phase of
habitat destruction that started several years
earlier (see above). However, both these
episodes in British farming had huge impacts
on lowland bird populations. We know a great
deal about the more recent intensification

episode but, unfortunately, systematic moni-
toring of birds started 20 years too late to allow
us to assess the impacts of the habitat losses.

Recent changes in grazing patterns

We have chosen to treat recent changes in
grazing patterns as a separate issue from agri-
cultural intensification because they have
affected a wide range of lowland and upland
environments and also involve wild herbivores.
The most striking recent change involved a
large increase in sheep, in both the lowlands
and the uplands. Sheep numbers in Britain
more than doubled between 1950 and 1990,
with over half of this increase occurring in the
1980s (Fuller & Gough 1999). This resulted
from ‘grassland improvement’ coupled with a
subsidy system based on headage payments that
encouraged intense stocking. There was a sub-
sequent reduction, but sheep numbers
remained considerably higher in the 1990s than
20 years earlier. Sheep numbers rose in almost
all regions but the strongest overall increases
were in Wales and northern England; by con-
trast there was relatively little change in the
Scottish Highlands (Fuller & Gough 1999). This
situation generated considerable concern about

362. In many upland regions of Britain there has been a long-term shift in domestic livestock away from mixed
systems including cattle, goats, sheep and horses. Cattle are now a rare sight on moorland (this photograph was
taken on Skye, Highland, in August 2006) and the increasing dominance of sheep has had large implications for

vegetation and associated animal communities.

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Rob Fuller

Birds and habitat change in Britain

the impacts on vegetation and birds, especially
in the Welsh uplands and northern Pennines,
where heavy grazing almost certainly reduced
habitat quality for ground-nesting birds, such as
grouse (Tetraoniciae) and waders.

Birds are potentially affected through three
main types of mechanism: alteration of pre-
ferred vegetation structures, food supplies and
predation risks (Fuller & Gough 1999). Much of
the concern about overgrazing in the uplands
has focused on the loss of Heather Calluna vul-
garis and the associated shift to grassland domi-
nated by unpalatable grasses. In an extensive
study of nine moorland bird species in
southern Scotland and northern England, only
Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus and Common
Stonechat Saxicola torquata were found to be
linearly associated with Heather cover while
Meadow Pipit was most abundant at interme-
diate levels of Heather (Pearce-Higgins & Grant
2006). Most of the species depended on other
aspects of habitat such as vegetation height and
dampness. Although some other species not
included in this study, notably Merlin Falco
columbarius and Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus,
often depend on Heather for nest-sites, it is
clear that its loss is important to rather few
species. Effects of grazing on vegetation height,
vegetation density and vegetation mixtures and
mosaics are likely to be at least as important as
reduction of Heather (Fuller & Gough 1999).
Nonetheless, Heather loss could potentially
have an important wider effect on moorland
birds if it contributed to a further decline in
grouse-moor management, which appears to be
beneficial not just to Red Grouse but to several
species of breeding waders, notably European
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria (Tharme et al.
2001).

Some bird species appear to benefit from
greater grazing pressure (Fuller & Gough 1999).
Corvids potentially benefit in two ways, firstly
through increased carrion and secondly
through the short swards, which make it easier
to feed on invertebrates. Foraging Golden
Plovers and Lapwings also select short swards.
In the uplands, breeding Sky Larks are more
associated with grass than with Heather.

These recent changes can be viewed as part
of a longer-term pattern in upland livestock,
with mixed herbivore systems being replaced by
sheep (Sydes & Miller 1988). Experiments indi-
cate that this shift has been detrimental to at
least one ground-nesting bird. Meadow Pipits

breed at higher density in areas with mixed
cattle and sheep grazing than in areas with just
sheep or no livestock at all (Evans et al. 2006).
Meadow Pipits also lay larger eggs in areas of
low sheep density than in areas of high sheep
density or ungrazed areas (Evans et al. 2005).
Further experimental evidence of the impor-
tance of grazing pressure by sheep comes from
studies of Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix in
northern England (Calladine et al. 2002).
Reduction of sheep densities was shown to
result in higher numbers of displaying males
and a higher proportion of females rearing
broods.

In the Scottish Highlands, intensified
grazing pressure has come mainly from Red
Deer Cervus elaphus, which doubled in
numbers in 30 years up to 1990 (Staines et al.
1995). Implications for birds may be similar to
those of high rates of sheep stocking but deer
also have widespread impacts on woodland
regeneration. There are several large-scale ini-
tiatives underway to create more natural vegeta-
tion types in the Highlands and reduction of
deer will be a key element in their future
success. In the lowlands, deer have also become
a major conservation issue within woodlands
(see below).

Afforestation and changes in woodland

Afforestation of lowland heathland and acid
grassland

In 1919 the Forestry Commission was estab-
lished with the intention of creating a strategic
reserve of timber, an objective that was pursued
through the planting of fast-growing conifers.
The major period of resulting afforestation was
from 1950 to the late 1980s (Mason 2007) but
the oldest plantations date from the early 1920s.
Most of the plantations are in the uplands but
substantial areas of lowland heath and sand
dunes were planted. The implications for birds
were rather different in the uplands and low-
lands, hence they are discussed separately.

The largest lowland forest is Thetford Forest,
where planting of the Breckland heaths com-
menced in 1922. The early consequences for
birds are described by Lack (1933, 1939) and
Lack & Lack (1951). It may seem obvious today
that the consequences for birdlife would be
enormous, but these were pioneering observa-
tions of how birds responded to massive
changes in their environment and of the factors
that influenced their habitat preferences. One of'

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

363. The history of the Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla as a breeding bird in Britain is closely linked with the
planting of non-native conifers in lowland broadleaved woods. Although the species has bred in a variety of
coniferous and mixed woodland types, the greatest concentrations appear to be in stands of species such as
Norway Spruce Picea abies and Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii.

the interesting features from these early papers
is the rapidity with which a wide range of
species colonised what formed an entirely new
and effectively alien habitat. In his 1939 paper,
David Lack wrote: ‘Since huge areas of Breck-
land have now been planted, one wonders
where this enormous number of colonising
birds has come from, and where the dispos-
sessed heathland birds have moved to.’ These
questions have still not been answered satisfac-
torily for any major change in land use.

It soon became clear from the observations
in Breckland and elsewhere that a few species of
the former open habitats would not tolerate the
tree planting: Stone-curlew and Dartford
Warbler in particular, and Stonechat to a lesser
extent. However, many other open-habitat
species have taken advantage of these condi-
tions. Substantial proportions of the British
Wood Lark and European Nightjar Caprimulgus
europaeus populations now live in young
conifer plantations (Langston et al. 2007b). A
wide range of species now regarded as birds of
conservation concern (Gregory et al. 2002) also
breed in plantations: Woodcock Scolopax rusti-
cola. Turtle Dove, Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis,
Dunnock, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos,

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia. Willow
Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, Firecrest Regulus
ignicapilla , Linnet, Lesser Redpoll Carduelis
cabaret, Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula and
Yellowhammer. These species all have prefer-
ences for particular growth stages (Bowden &
Hoblyn 1990; Fuller 1995; Burton 2007). Hence,
lowland plantations have come to support a
mixture of species that occur more widely in
farmland, heathland and woodland.

Afforestation in the uplands

The afforestation of vast tracts of moorland,
sheepwalk and bog became especially contro-
versial in the 1980s. The issues surrounding the
planting of parts of the Flow Country became
one of the great conservation conflicts of the
century (Avery & Leslie 1990). As with the low-
lands, there is no doubt that many species of
open habitats - especially breeding waders and
some raptors - have been displaced over sub-
stantial areas by forestry. Equally, it is true that
many other species have colonised the new
forests and that some of these species are
nationally scarce, for example Black Grouse and
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis. Avery &
Leslie (1990) gave a very balanced account of

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659

Hugh Harrop

Des Thompson Des Thompson

Birds and habitat change in Britain

364. Recently clear-felled forest, Sutherland, August 2007. The twentieth century saw the transformation of
huge areas of the British uplands with extensive planting of conifers on medium-altitude slopes and on northern
blanket bogs. As a result, more than 60% of Britain’s forest area now consists of conifers and Sitka Spruce Picea
sitchensis is the most abundant species. Initially many of these plantations were even-aged monocultures but the
harvesting of first-generation plantations has created the opportunity to diversify the age structure and habitat
composition of many forests. In some regions, future management may shift away from ‘patch clear felling’
towards ‘continuous cover forestry’ with felling at the scale of individual trees or small groups of trees.

365. Afforestation has profoundly changed the character of upland landscapes and the bird assemblages living
within them (as shown here in Argyll, November 2008). Some moorland birds, especially breeding waders, have
lost substantial amounts of habitat. Others, such as Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus and Whinchat Saxicola rubetra,
breed in young forestry. Plantations quickly become unsuitable for these species as the trees grow and in some
cases the restocked plantations may be lower-quality habitat than newly planted land. Huge numbers of scrub
and woodland birds have colonised the new forests, including species that are declining elsewhere in Britain (e.g.
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos and Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus) and previously
localised conifer specialists (Siskin Carduelis spinus and Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra). There remains much
to learn about the implications for birds, both of afforestation and ongoing changes in forest management.

660

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

these gains and losses.

It remains surprising that we do not really
know much about the scale of the changes that
have occurred in upland bird communities as a
result of afforestation. Since the 1980s, relatively
little attention has been paid to the issue,
perhaps because the heat has been taken out of
the debate since the rate of new planting has
tailed off in Britain. It would be timely to
reassess the situation now that so many of the
plantations are in their second or older rotation
and many of the forests have been restructured
(Mason 2007). The bird communities of the
restocks are often very dif-
ferent from those in the
initial plantings (Bibby et al.

1985). We can now start to
take a longer-term view of
what these forests offer as
bird habitats. There are also
many new initiatives aiming
to restore native forest vege-
tation and habitat networks,
especially in Scotland
(Humphrey et al. 2003). In
both the uplands and the
lowlands there appears to be
much variation in bird com-
munities according to
region, soils and forest man-
agement, but this is poorly
documented.

tions for woodland biodiversity (Hopkins &
Kirby 2007). The decline in coppice must have
affected the character of bird communities in
many woods throughout lowland England. For
example, species characteristic of the early years
of coppice growth (e.g. Dunnock, Common
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, Garden
Warbler Sylvia borin , Willow Warbler) would
have had less suitable habitat, while opportuni-
ties for hole-nesters probably increased in many
woods. Much of the coppice that survived was
Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa, a relatively
poor habitat for several migrant woodland

366. Old coppice, Lincolnshire, February 2006. Many formerly coppiced
woods now lie abandoned. In the absence of coppicing or other management,
such woods remain structurally simple for many decades, with extremely
little understorey vegetation. Such simplified structures support a very
low density and diversity of birds.

367. Managed coppice, Bradfield Woods, Suffolk, May 2006. By comparison
with old neglected coppice, actively managed coppice woods provide a
variety of vegetation structures and a far higher diversity of birds.

Demise of coppice
management

In the early twentieth
century, coppice systems
were still widespread in
woodland (Peterken 1993),
but thereafter declined
rapidly, becoming largely
replaced by plantation
forestry. Since the Second
World War there has been a
six-fold reduction in the
area of coppice (Hopkins &
Kirby 2007). Rotations are
generally much shorter in
coppice than in plantations.
Consequently, at any one
time, a higher proportion of
a coppiced wood is under
young woodland growth
and this has large implica-

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661

Rob Fuller Rob Fuller

Rob Fuller

Birds and habitat change in Britain

368. An oak Quercus woodland in Buckinghamshire, June 2004. Since the early
1 980s, bramble Rubus fructicosus agg. and herbs have almost disappeared from
the interior stands of this wood as a result of the combined effects of canopy
closure and deer browsing. Most of the remaining bramble occurs along the
edges of rides, as can be seen in the background. Territories of species such as
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes and warblers (Sylviidae) have become increasingly
concentrated along the rides and in managed areas of this wood. Such changes
in vegetation and bird communities appear to be widespread in woods in
southern and central England.

birds compared with mixed coppice (Fuller
1995). Nonetheless, it is unlikely that the demise
of coppice was responsible for causing large-
scale declines in any species, even for Nightin-
gale (Fuller et al. 1999). In national
conservation terms, the problems have been far
greater for plants and invertebrates than for
birds. The recent small-scale revival of ‘conser-
vation coppicing’ in some woodland reserves
has resulted in local changes in woodland bird
communities but appears to have done nothing
to assuage the decline of the Nightingale.

Conifer plantations in broadleaved woodland

Collapse in the market for coppice underwood
more or less coincided with the era of the conif-
erous plantation. In combination, these brought
widespread transformation of ancient wood-
land. Replacing broadleaves with conifers, or
with a mixture of conifers and broadleaves, was
especially popular in the decades immediately
after 1945. More than one-third of lowland
ancient woodland in England was treated in this
way and, ecologically, the consequences were
monumental (Spencer & Kirby 1992; Peterken
1993). In many cases, the process of killing the
original trees and planting anew suddenly
created larger, but short-lived, areas of young

regrowth than had been
maintained by the
former coppice systems.

Unlike the situation
with the woodland
ground flora, for which
‘coniferisation’ was a
disaster, it seems clear
that there was no gross
impoverishment of bird
communities, at least at
the whole-wood scale
(e.g. Williamson 1972).
New habitats were intro-
duced, often alongside
the old, which were
colonised by many
birds. In many woods
there were temporary
large increases of species
that would have been
typical of some young
coppice growth,
including Tree Pipit,
Nightingale and several
warblers. The changes
also introduced some species uncharacteristic
of the former broadleaved woods. The young
plantations particularly suited Lesser Redpoll,
and recent declines of this species in southern
Britain may have much to do with the matura-
tion of these plantations (Fuller et al. 2005).
The communities of birds living in the
maturing plantations were also different from
those of the older broadleaved stands, including
relatively high densities of Goldcrests Regains
regulus and Coal Tits Periparus ater. The history
of the Firecrest as a breeding bird in Britain is
closely linked with establishment of conifer
plantations, especially of spruce Picea and fir
Abies/Pseudotsuga, on broadleaved sites. This
phase of woodland management is now over
and many plantations on ancient woodland
sites are being removed. It is unfortunate that
detailed studies are not being conducted on this
process, which may actually reduce the diversity
of bird communities in some woods.

Recent changes in woodland structure

In the last two decades new changes have
become apparent in woodland bird communi-
ties. Populations of several woodland species
have declined, especially long-distance migrants
and some specialised residents (Hewson et air

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

2007). There is substantial evidence to link
these declines with changes in woodland habi-
tats (Fuller et al. 2007), although a range of
factors not directly affecting habitat quality may
also be relevant (Fuller et al. 2005). Two
processes appear to have generated large
changes in the understorey structures of many
lowland woods, leading to a reduction in
habitat quality for species that depend on open
space or dense, low vegetation. First, woodlands
have generally become more shaded and
contain less open space (Kirby et al. 2005),
probably as a consequence of reduced intensity
of management. Second, intensified browsing
by deer is now widespread and there is experi-
mental evidence that this can reduce habitat
quality, especially for migrants such as Sylvia
warblers and Nightingale (Gill & Fuller 2007).
While some of these effects may be offset by
restoration of management, deer pressure will
remain high for the foreseeable future and we
can expect continued habitat simplification in
many woods.

Changes to inland and coastal wetlands
The decline and restoration of reedbeds

As we have seen, the emergence of ‘industrial
agriculture’ in the post-war decades led directly
to a massive reduction in the extent of wet
grassland, with severe consequences for

breeding waders. Reclamation for farming also
resulted in the loss of other types of wetland. In
East Anglia, large areas of reedbed disappeared
between the 1940s and 1970s (Boorman &
Fuller 1981). Fens, swamps and mires were also
under pressure in the twentieth century for
other reasons. Peat extraction obliterated
lowland raised bogs, while ancient practices of
harvesting sedge and reed became defunct.
Water-tables dropped with abstraction and
drainage of the surrounding countryside, scrub
invasion became commonplace with increasing
drying out and neglect, and nutrient-rich run-
off from farmland caused widespread deteriora-
tion of water quality. The ornithological
consequences were most severe in reedbeds,
where habitat extent and quality declined for
reedbed specialists: Eurasian Bittern Botaurus
stellaris. Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus and
Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus. Recently, a
major effort has been made to restore the
quality of reedbeds, with a focus on restoring
habitat for Bitterns (Brown & Grice 2005;
Gilbert et al. 2005). This is being achieved,
mainly within reserves, by raising water levels
and lowering the substrate to provide open
water and wet reed, and by managing the
reedbeds to prevent succession to scrub. Large-
scale habitat creation is also helping to expand
the area of reedbeds in areas that should be rel-

369. Both breeding and wintering populations of the Gadwall Anas strepera have increased substantially in
Britain during the last century in response to the creation of many lowland waterbodies.

British Birds 101* December 2008 • 644-675

663

Markus Varesvuo

David H. Hatton

Birds and habitat change in Britain

atively safe from rising sea levels (Ausden &
Fuller in press).

Creation of reservoirs and mineral workings

The number of waterbodies in lowland Britain
increased hugely in the twentieth century,
owing to mineral extraction and creation of
drinking-water supplies. We have been unable
to find any quantification of the rate of increase
but most lowland waterbodies in England origi-
nated in the last 100 years. As far as we are
aware, there has never been an assessment of
how this has influenced populations of water-
birds. Most wetland sites supporting a recent
average peak count exceeding 40,000 waterbirds
in Britain are intertidal habitats (Austin et al.
2008). Nonetheless, several reservoirs and
gravel-pit complexes individually hold more
than 10,000 birds, with Abberton Reservoir
(Essex) and Rutland Water (Leicestershire &
Rutland) being the two exceptional sites, each
with an annual peak exceeding 25,000. The total
numbers using artificial standing waters must
be huge, though there are large differences in
the communities of birds on artificial lakes and
more natural wetlands.

Among the species that have particularly
high proportions of their wintering popula-

tions on artificial waterbodies are Great
Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus , Gadwall Anas
strepera , Shoveler A. clypeata , Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula, Smew Mergellus albellus and
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis (Austin et al.
2008). The remarkable increase in Gadwall is
especially strongly associated with the use of
man-made lakes (Fox & Salmon 1989). Other
wildfowl showing population increases in the
1960s and 1970s that may have been helped by
the proliferation of man-made wetlands are
Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Common Gold-
eneye Bucephala clangula (Kirby et al. 1995).
The increasing numbers of inland wintering
and breeding Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax
carbo probably has much to do with the expan-
sion of inland food supplies. The rise in winter
gull numbers has probably been driven mainly
by food supply but it may also have been
assisted by the increasing availability of water-
bodies offering safe roost sites (Burton et al.
2003). Breeding species that have benefited
include Greylag Anser anser and Greater
Canada Goose Branta canadensis. Little Ringed
Plover Charadrius dubius and Common Tern
Sterna hirundo. The terrestrial habitats at some
former mineral workings now hold rich assem-
blages of breeding birds including Turtle

370. Mature gravel-pit at Amwell, Hertfordshire, October 2008. Man-made waterbodies, now spread widely
across the English lowlands, have made a huge impact on bird populations. Some of these sites now support
remarkably diverse assemblages of birds owing to the complex range of habitats that can occur. Not only
have the national populations of several wetland species benefited but the fringing mixtures of emergent
vegetation, scrub and woodland can be rich in breeding birds and often provide important post-breeding

fattening sites for migrant passerines.

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

Doves, Nightingales, warblers and finches.

Pollution: eutrophication and acidification

Nutrient enrichment has become a general
problem for lowland rivers and waterbodies as a
consequence of agricultural run-off and sus-
tained discharges of sewage effluent. While large
ecological changes typically accompany elevated
nutrient levels, general consequences for
wetland birds are unclear, except in extreme
cases where food resources are reduced. One
such example may be the recent declines in
wintering diving ducks - Goldeneye, Tufted
Duck and Common Pochard Aythya ferina - on
Lough Neagh and Lough Beg, in Northern
Ireland, one of the most important sites in
Britain & Ireland for wintering wildfowl. It is
suggested that the most likely cause is eutrophi-
cation, causing oxygen depletion and reduction
in deep-water chironomid larvae, which are the
main food of the ducks (Allen et al. 2004). This
idea has not yet been tested adequately.

Since the 1960s, dense algal mats have
become widespread in coastal intertidal
areas as a consequence of eutrophica-
tion. These mats potentially affect the
distribution and foraging success of
waders through complex interactions
with invertebrates in the underlying
sediments (Raffaelli et al. 1998, 1999),
although grazers such as Brent Geese
Branta bernicla may benefit. Evidence
exists from a handful of studies that
effects on waders are species-specific
(Tubbs & Tubbs 1980; Lewis & Kelly
2001). Not all effects appear to be nega-
tive, however; Lewis & Kelly (2001)
found that while foraging of Black-
tailed Godwit Limosa limosa was
impeded, this was not the case for Red-
shank.

Acidification of streams has
occurred in some upland regions,
attributed to acid deposition and
afforestation. This affects aquatic inver-
tebrates and fish, and those birds, espe-
cially the Dipper Cinclus cinclus , that
depend on them. Breeding densities
and productivity of Dippers are lower
on acidic than more neutral streams
(Ormerod et al. 1991; Vickery 1991,

1992). By contrast, there is no effect of
acidification on Common Sandpipers
Actitis hypoleucos or Grey Wagtails

Motacilla cinerea, which are less reliant on
aquatic invertebrates (Ormerod & Tyler 1991;
Vickery 1991).

Nutrient enrichment is also widespread in
non-aquatic lowland and upland habitats
(Smart et al. 2005). Atmospheric nitrogen dep-
osition in infertile terrestrial habitats such as
heaths can result in more vigorous growth of
grass, reducing habitat quality for species such
as Wood Lark that feed in short swards or on
bare ground (Langston et al. 2007b).

Trends in sewage disposal

Birds have long exploited the feeding opportu-
nities associated with disposal of human excre-
ment. At the start of the last century, much
untreated waste was still discharged directly
into the sea or watercourses, but there followed
a revolution in sewage treatment that created
some remarkably rich bird habitats throughout
the country (see Fuller & Glue 1980).

The heyday of ‘sewage-farms’ was in the early
decades of the twentieth century. These systems

371. Changes in water chemistry in some upland regions as a
result of afforestation and acid deposition have reduced densities
and breeding output of Dippers Cinclus cinclus on acidic streams.

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 644-675

665

David Kjaer

Rob Fuller Rob Fuller Rob Fuller

Birds and habitat change in Britain

simply involved the rotational
spreading of sewage on fields or
retaining it in lagoons, some-
times accompanied by culti-
vation. Sewage-farms were
strongly attractive to wetland
birds throughout the year.
Ducks, rails (Rallidae), waders,
Black-headed Gulls Chroico-
cephalus ridibundus and wagtails
Motacilla were typical breeding
species. No other inland habitat
type consistently attracted such
high numbers and diversity of
migrating waders and some,
such as Wisbech and Not-
tingham, achieved great fame as
migration hotspots. In winter,
immense concentrations of
ducks, waders, gulls and many
ground-feeding passerines
could occur.

In bird terms, sewage-farms
were the most productive of all
the artificial wetlands created by

372. (top) Wisbech sewage-farm,
Norfolk (photographed here in

September 1974), was constructed
in the 1870s and demolished in the
1 980s. In the last 30 years of its
existence it became one of the
premier locations in the country
for watching migrant waders,
reaching its ornithological zenith
in the 1 960s.

373. (centre) Tring sewage-works,
Hertfordshire, June 1981. This
luxuriant summer vegetation,

growing on one of the irrigation
areas, provided breeding habitat for
large numbers of Sedge Warblers
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
and Reed Buntings Emberiza
schoeniclus. Few sewage-works
now offer extensive wetland
habitats of this kind.

374. (bottom) Rotating filter beds
at Aston Clinton sewage-works,
Buckinghamshire, autumn 1974.
This works featured in a paper

by Fuller & Glue (1978) that
demonstrated the intensive use
made of filter beds by a range of
feeding passerines, especially in
autumn and winter. This site has
since been demolished and
rotating filter beds generally
have become scarce.

666

British Birds 101- December 2008 • 644-675

Birds and habitat change in Britain

humans, but by the 1960s they had been
replaced by more sophisticated systems in which
the organic content was reduced by micro-
organisms. Of these new systems, only rotating
filter beds were notable as a bird habitat. Espe-
cially in winter, these provided concentrated
sources of invertebrate food that could support
large numbers of pipits, wagtails and Starlings
(Fuller & Glue 1978). Even filter beds have now
been largely superseded and modern sewage dis-
posal offers few particular resources for birds.
The one exception is where a ‘constructed
wetland’ is used to achieve tertiary treatment of
the effluent before final discharge. This was once
often achieved through broad-scale irrigation,
which created interesting marshes but required
considerable space. ‘Engineered reedbeds’ are
now used at many small plants.

Improvements in the quality of sewage treat-
ment have been increasingly driven by the EC
Urban Waste Water Treatment and Bathing
Water Directives. These affect not only birds at
the treatment works themselves but also water-
birds in coastal wetlands receiving the dis-
charges (Burton et al. 2002). Close to outfalls,
polluted sediments with enriched organic and
nutrient status may provide high-quality
feeding conditions for some bird species (van
Impe 1985). Direct availability of discharged
food items (for example from food factories
and distilleries) can be important for gulls and
some wildfowl, whereas enhanced invertebrate
populations may locally
benefit waders. Improved
treatment has been linked
with local declines in
waterbirds in several
studies. One of the best
documented examples
concerns seaduck in the
Firth of Forth. In
February 1978, a sewage-
treatment plant com-
menced operation,

Edinburgh’s untreated
sewage having previously
been discharged directly
into the Forth. The large
flocks of Greater Scaup
Ay thy a marila and Gold-
eneye that were formerly
concentrated near sewer
outfalls were much
reduced after the clean up

(Campbell 1984). Reductions in wader popula-
tions could also potentially occur at several
estuaries if invertebrate densities fall in
response to cleaner effluent.

Change in the intertidal habitats of eastern
England

Intertidal habitats have a long history of land
claim by humans. One of the most recent exam-
ples of intertidal habitat loss was the conversion
of the mudflats of Cardiff Bay to a permanent
freshwater lagoon in 1999. This resulted in
reduced body condition and a 44% increase in
mortality of displaced adult Redshanks, which
was likely to have resulted in a local population
decline (Burton et al. 2006). In southeast
England, major losses of saltmarsh are occur-
ring through erosion. These saltmarshes are
internationally important breeding, staging and
wintering habitats for many waterbirds and
passerines. Rates of erosion are as high as 16 ha
per year at some exposed sites (van der Wal &
Pye 2004). The potential causes are complex
and controversial. At least three factors can be
identified as important, although their effects
are likely to vary between sites and regions.
First, ‘coastal squeeze’ may occur in some areas
whereby saltmarsh is lost at its seaward side
owing to rising sea levels, but is prevented from
forming at its landward side by the presence of
‘hard’ coastal defences. Second, changes in the
morphology of some estuaries due to dredging

375. Saltmarsh, north Norfolk, August 2005. Changes to saltmarsh habitats
in the twentieth century have been of three main kinds. First, substantial
areas have been lost at some estuarine sites to commercial and industrial
development. Second, increased grazing pressure on some marshes has
reduced habitat quality for some nesting birds, notably Common Redshank
Tringa totanus. Third, increasing sea-level rise and storminess are causing
erosion of marshes in parts of eastern England.

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 644-675

667

Rob Fuller

Simon Stirrup

Birds and habitat change in Britain

or increased ‘canalisation’ resulting from land
claim may have affected sediment erosion and
movement. Third, it appears that since 1970 a
combination of high tides, strong wave action
and wind speed is implicated in generating
severe (lateral) erosion and widening of creeks
(van der Wal & Pye 2004; Wolters et al. 2005).
Interestingly, these papers indicate that in some
areas, sediment accretion rates may be suffi-
ciently high to compensate for rising sea levels,
but that recently established saltmarshes may be
especially vulnerable to storm-related erosion.

There is no clear evidence that saltmarsh
losses due to sea-level rise have so far caused
reductions in bird populations at a national
level. Declines in breeding Redshank have
occurred but these seem to be driven by
increased grazing pressure (Norris et al. 1998).
Managed realignment, whereby tidal incursion
is allowed to create new intertidal habitat
behind the sea wall, is now part of coastal
defence policy in eastern England, albeit on a
small scale (see Ausden & Fuller in press).

Miscellaneous
Urbanisation and gardens

Semi-natural habitats, for instance heathland,
have been lost locally to building development.
The main influence of urbanisation on British
birds, however, has been through the creation of
new environments rapidly exploited by gener-
alist species and through the growth of the
‘wildlife gardening culture’, which seeks to
encourage these species. Garden bird feeding is

the most common manifestation of this culture
(Gaston et al. 2007). It is unclear whether
garden bird feeding has benefited national pop-
ulations, although this seems likely in the case
of Greenfinch Carduelis chloris and Goldfinch
C. carduelis. It is increasingly clear, however,
that many species exploit the resources offered
by gardens in predictable, seasonal patterns that
are species-specific (Cannon et al. 2005). For
some species, gardens and other urban ‘green-
space’ may now provide resources that have
become increasingly diminished in the wider
countryside. Breeding thrushes, for example,
have contracted from farmland in eastern
England to the extent that urban areas can now
be regarded as refuges (Mason 2000). Collec-
tively, gardens provide extensive habitats in
urban areas that support large numbers of both
breeding and wintering birds (Bland et al. 2004;
Cannon et al. 2005; Gaston et al. 2005).

While increasingly significant as wildlife
habitats, gardens are primarily attractive to
adaptable species that can tolerate living in
proximity to humans. Urbanisation results in
bird communities that are predictable in their
composition and composed of generalist
species (Devictor et al. 2007). There are impor-
tant questions that need to be addressed about
whether gardens and other urban habitats are
essentially suboptimal for some species. Are
these habitats ‘sinks’, where populations are
maintained by immigration from other habi-
tats, or even ‘ecological traps’ where the habitat
may be attractive to species but breeding output
or survival is low due to
high predation (by
corvids and domestic
cats)? Most of our bird
species and other
wildlife will continue to
depend on more natural
environments.

Expansion of urban
areas is largely driven by
an increasing human
population. For birds an
important indirect effect
has been an associated
increase in household
waste, which has led to
more landfill sites. By
the end of the 1990s,
there were some 4,000
licensed landfill sites in'

376. Estuarine intertidal flats in Britain, like those shown here in the Wash,
are internationally important habitats for wintering waders and wildfowl.
Loss of intertidal habitats has occurred in some estuaries due to land claim
or impoundment, but future changes may be on an even greater scale as

sea levels rise.

668

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 644-675

Birds and habitat change in Britain

the UK accepting various types of refuse.
Household and industrial food waste in landfill
has created huge opportunities for scavenging
gulls (Horton et al. 1983; Coulson et al. 1987) as
well as corvids and Starlings.

Recreational disturbance

Concerns about potential effects of human dis-
turbance were elevated as a consequence of the
introduction of the Countryside and Rights of
Way Act in 2000, which gave rights of access to
large areas of upland in the north, and heath
and downland in southern England. This stim-
ulated a series of research projects which have
given deeper insight to the circumstances in
which human recreational activities may cause
serious disturbance to birds at both individual
and population levels. There had long been
concerns that habitat quality for some species
on fragmented heathlands close to major popu-
lation centres was deteriorating under
increasing human pressure. Studies of key
heathland species have shown that human dis-
turbance can be a significant factor reducing
breeding productivity of Nightjar, Wood Lark
and Dartford Warbler (Langston et al. 2007a;
Mallord et al. 2007; Murison et al. 2007).

In the case of Wood Lark, current distur-
bance levels were estimated to reduce population
sizes in the study areas but the spatial distribu-
tion of people across breeding habitat, rather
than numbers per se, was a critical factor deter-
mining levels of population reduction (Mallord
et al. 2007). The only other species for which
potential population-level impacts of distur-
bance have been modelled is Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula (Liley & Sutherland 2007).
At an East Anglian study site it appeared that
current levels of disturbance were having a
strong negative effect on population size: an 85%
increase was predicted if all disturbance was
removed. Recent work on Stone-curlews indi-
cates that these birds are considerably more sen-
sitive to people walking with dogs than to people
without dogs or to vehicles (Taylor et al. 2007).

Outdoor recreation is increasingly being
encouraged and it is to be expected that distur-
bance pressures on birds can only intensify on
this crowded island. Detailed studies of the
implications for birds are few in number and
are largely confined to scarce ground-nesting
birds. Many key questions remain to be
answered if future negative effects on habitat
quality are to be minimised (Sutherland 2007).

Conclusions about habitat change
Two broad conclusions can be drawn from this
review. First, changes in habitat quality have
been just as significant to British bird popula-
tions in the twentieth century as have changes
in habitat extent. Of the 18 trends discussed
above, 13 have resulted in altered habitat quality
for birds and 10 have affected birds through
habitat extent (fig. 1). Of course, some of the
trends have affected both habitat quality and
habitat extent and it can be difficult to distin-
guish between processes affecting the two. For
example, in the case of waders breeding on wet
grassland, conversion to arable farming clearly
amounts to habitat loss. However, gradual
drying of grassland represents a deterioration of
habitat quality that at some point becomes
habitat loss when conditions are completely
unsuitable. Nonetheless, ha bit at- quality
changes have been widely responsible for
changes in the status of birds.

The second conclusion is that frequently one
group of species benefits from habitat change
while another loses out; it is possible to identify
several situations where losses have clearly out-
weighed gains and a smaller number where the
opposite is the case. While we regret the pres-
sures that land-use change has brought for
many breeding waders and farmland birds,
there have been substantial habitat gains for
some waterbirds, garden birds, corvids and
gulls. There appears to be a tendency for habitat
generalists to have gained at the expense of
habitat specialists; although this has not been
tested in Britain, such a trend is evident in
France (Julliard et al. 2003). It is far from easy
to weigh up the gains and losses that have
occurred across these very diverse shifts in
habitat. It is, however, evident that several of the
habitat-related processes during the last century
were predominantly negative in their effects on
our avifauna. These included all the habitat
trends occurring on farmed land, with the
exception of the agricultural recession before
the Second World War. In woodland, the
decline of coppice management and the recent
changes in woodland structure have no obvi-
ously beneficial effects for birds with the pos-
sible exception of some common hole-nesters.
The effects of conifer plantations are generally
more balanced across gains and losses. Among
the wetland trends, technical advances in
sewage disposal have resulted in the complete
disappearance of some remarkable bird habi-

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 644-675

669

Rob Fuller

Birds and habitat change in Britain

tats, which had a brief but glorious history. But
the expansion of artificial waterbodies has
strongly benefited a somewhat different range
of wetland species.

In summary, it is clear that the twentieth
century represented a major turning point for
the quality and quantity of habitats for birds in
Britain. Throughout the century, developments
in agriculture have transformed British farmed
landscapes and broadly reduced the opportuni-
ties they offer birds and other wildlife. There
have also been huge changes in woodland and
wetlands, though on balance these have been
less clearly negative or positive. As yet, it is hard
to assess what the impacts of the inexorable
urbanisation of Britain and the increasing
recreational use of the countryside mean for
bird populations.

Some priority issues for the early twenty-first
century

This concluding section aims to provide a bridge
between the two parts to this article. Ausden &
Fuller (in press) will discuss conservation
responses to the habitat changes that materi-
alised in the last century. We outline eight broad

habitat-related issues in Appendix 1 that seem
likely to be strong agents of change in British
bird populations in the first half of the twenty-
first century. Other important factors will
emerge, some of which will come as surprises -
had this exercise been undertaken by ornitholo-
gists at the start of the twentieth century, it is
very unlikely that they could have predicted all
the trends discussed earlier in this article. The
issues in Appendix 1 embrace several of the key
ecological questions and issues identified by
Sutherland etal. (2006, 2008).

At the present time, two broad strands of
thinking are especially influential in developing
environmental policies. One of these is the
‘ecosystem approach’: the notion that the
natural environment provides essential services
on which humans depend (Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment 2005). These are diverse -
for example water quality, flood alleviation,
carbon sequestration, recreation, soil structure.
Potentially there is much to be gained from
aligning conservation with these benefits to
society but it remains to be seen whether such
an approach by itself will be sufficient to main-
tain diversity of habitats and species. Climate
change is the other major
driver of environmental
policy. Climate will interact
with the issues detailed in
Appendix 1 in somewhat
uncertain ways. Scenarios
for future bird distribu-
tions are emerging
(Huntley et al. 2007) but
these are preliminary
because climate change will
force many shifts in habitat
and land use which we are
only just starting to appre-
ciate. The experience of the
twentieth century tells us
not only that habitat
change can have profound
effects on bird populations
but also that these effects
can be extremely difficult
to predict.

Acknowledgments

We thank Niall Burton and-
Rob Robinson for valuable
comments on the manuscript
and Phil Atkinson, Graham Austin
and Ilya Maclean for providing
information and advice,

377. Planting of broadleaved woodland has become more widespread in the
lowlands in recent years, with several different purposes. Some are ‘farm
woodlands’ created under schemes to encourage farmers to convert
productive farmland to woodland. Currently, however, the focus is on creating
woods with wider social or environmental objectives. There is an ongoing drive
to plant more woodland in urban and on former industrial land to increase
quality of life in these areas. Planting is being increasingly undertaken to restore
habitat connectivity and habitat extent. This photo shows recent planting in
Lincolnshire in February 2006 which is designed to extend the total area of
woodland and to link otherwise isolated ancient woods.

670

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

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Prof. Robert J. Fuller, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU
Dr Malcolm Ausden, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL

Appendix I. Major habitat-related issues likely to affect British bird populations in the early decades of the

twenty-first century.

(1) Management of lowland farmland: Declines in farmland birds have been a major concern and focus of research
in the last 15 years. Recovery mechanisms have been put in place through agri-environment schemes but the
desired results are not yet emerging at the national level and it will be hard for voluntary schemes to succeed in the
future markets (Ausden & Fuller in press). World food demand will probably drive agriculture to new levels of
intensification. New strategies for conserving these species may be needed, perhaps focusing on a wider range of
habitats. Many of the so-called farmland birds have populations in habitats that are not intensively farmed and it
will be increasingly important to maintain suitable conditions in these areas (Fuller et al. 2004).

(2) Landscape structure and habitat creation: By far the greatest part of our biodiversity has requirements that
cannot be met by manipulating intensive farmland. The time is right to move towards more holistic and landscape-
scale approaches to habitat conservation (Adams 2003). Habitat networks and large habitat-creation initiatives are
already being developed in several regions. A more integrated approach to conservation that incorporates various
types of protected areas within wider complex mosaics of semi-natural habitat may provide buffering against
climate change and agricultural intensification. Present understanding of how most species of birds actually use
complex landscapes is limited. Increasing attention is likely to be given to questions such as how birds use different
types of resources in different seasons and what features facilitate the movement of birds through such landscapes.

(3) Urbanisation and human disturbance: It is necessary to consider whether perceptions of ‘urban’ and ‘rural’ offer'"
useful models for thinking about landscapes in a conservation context (Adams 2003). The implications of
spreading urbanisation and semi-urbanisation - both as physical and as social processes - for birds are far from
clear. The countryside is increasingly seen as a recreational opportunity for urban populations and there is a
gradual opening up of parts of the countryside for access.

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Birds and habitat change in Britain

(4) Grazing issues: The character of our open upland habitats is largely maintained through grazing and burning
but there is considerable uncertainty about the future of grazing in the uplands. Reductions of livestock are likely in
some regions, possibly on a similar scale to that evident in parts of southern France, where land abandonment has
resulted in scrub and woodland expansion with huge consequences for the composition of bird communities
(Sirami et al. 2007). Habitat modification by deer browsing will continue to intensify, especially in lowland
broadleaved woodland. To what extent are the ecological effects of intensive grazing and browsing reversible?

(5) Changes in forestry: Conifer plantations support enormous bird populations but we know little about how their
management affects birds. In particular, moves away from clear-felling to continuous cover systems will create very
different habitat structures for birds. New habitats are being created within forested areas. These include networks
of semi-natural habitats and old trees, and open areas created by the removal of plantations from afforested heath-
land and blanket bog.

(6) New energy sources: Biofuels are competing with food crops for land and this will probably be a major driver
of agricultural intensification. Large-scale woodfuel production has the potential to transform the management
and structure of much woodland. Tidal energy projects are back on the agenda and will need careful ecological
evaluation.

(7) Changes in hydrology and water flows: Extremes in water flows are predicted. Despite 2007 being one of the
wettest years on record, summer water shortages are likely to become the norm. What will be the consequences of
desiccation of semi-natural habitats for vegetation, invertebrates and birds? In contrast, more-frequent periodic
severe flooding is expected at any season and higher water flows may prevail in winter. This may bring opportuni-
ties for habitat creation coupled with flood prevention.

(8) Soft-coast dynamics: Loss of intertidal and other coastal habitats will probably intensify as sea levels rise and
extreme high-water events become more frequent. These have been identified as major threats to UK biodiversity
(Sutherland et al. 2008). Conversely, these processes may bring opportunities for habitat creation through managed
coastal realignment and ecological succession.

379. The Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix is a declining species with complex habitat needs, typically living at the
boundary of moorland and woodland habitats, though in northern England birds live in open moorland and do
not seem to require trees. It depends on a vigorous field layer for both food and nest-sites. Several habitat
changes have affected the species. Land improvements, such as drainage and fertilising, designed to increase
stocking capacity, and increases in grazing pressure have reduced habitat quality in some regions.There has also
been a reduction in habitat extent as moorland habitat has been lost to afforestation. Although the birds will
use young plantations, this is a short-term benefit as older plantations generally lack rich field-layer vegetation.

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 644-675

675

Hugh Harrop

A paper from the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee

The rise and fall of
Bulwer’s Petrel

Andrew H.J. Harrop

ABSTRACT This short paper examines two recent reviews of records of
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii in Britain by BOURC. Four records were
assessed, including three specimen records from the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries and a modern-day sighting from Cumbria. None was
found acceptable, and the reasons are discussed here.

Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii was
named after Rev. James Bulwer, an
amateur Norfolk collector, naturalist and
conchologist, who first collected it in Madeira,
probably in 1825 during a short expedition to
Deserta Grande (Mearns & Mearns 1988). It
was first described by Sir William Jardine and
Prideaux John Selby, in Illustrations of
Ornithology in 1828 (Jardine & Selby 1828). The
species has had a turbulent history as a British
bird. This paper provides a brief summary of
records in the British ornithological literature,
presents the results of two BOURC reviews, and
explains why it has been removed from the
British List.

Historical ‘status’ in Britain
Bulwer’s Petrel is a monotypic species of trop-
ical waters, which breeds on islands of the
eastern North Atlantic, Indian and Pacific
Oceans between 10°S and 40°N (Onley &
Scofield 2007). In the Atlantic it breeds on the
Azores, Madeira, the Desertas, Great Salvage,
the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. Most of
those which breed in the Atlantic are believed to
move south and west into the tropical Atlantic
outside the breeding season (Cramp &
Simmons 1977). They feed mainly at night on
bioluminescent prey species which migrate to
surface waters in the dark (Zonfrillo 1986).

By the early twentieth century, Bulwer’s
Petrel was acknowledged as a rare visitor to
Britain, with five occurrences published in the
second edition of the British List (BOU 1915).

By the time The Handbook was published, seven
records were listed for Britain, all in England
(Witherby et al. 1940), and these were repeated
in Bannerman’s The Birds of the British Isles
(1959). Of these seven, four (all from Sussex,
between 1904 and 1914) were subsequently
rejected as ‘Hastings Rarities’ (Nicholson & Fer-
guson-Lees 1962; see plate 380) and a fifth, said
to have been picked up at Beachy Head, Sussex,
by an unnamed person on 3rd February 1903,
escaped this fate only because it occurred
outside the area used to define ‘Hastings’
records (Bourne 1967). The remaining two
(both from Yorkshire, in 1837 and 1908),
together with one from Scilly in 1897 and a
recent record from Cumbria in 1990, formed
the basis of the BOURC reviews.

It is of interest that a third Yorkshire bird
was reported, without details, from
Scarborough in ‘spring’ 1849 by ‘Mr Graham,
the talented bird-stuffer of York’ (Higgins
1849). David Graham was closely involved with
a number of rare-bird records, including the
infamous ‘Tadcaster rarities’ (Melling 2005), so
even if there were more details of this record it
is unlikely that it would be acceptable.

The background to the BOURC reviews thus
comprised a series of records that had attracted
varying degrees of doubt. Like other petrels,
Bulwer’s Petrel is easy to catch on the breeding ,
grounds, which may have tempted some
unscrupulous sailors and dealers to present
specimens as British for financial or other
reward. As noted in the correspondence about

676

The rise and fall of Bulwer's Petrel

the rejected 1908 record of Kermadec Petrel
Pterodroma neglecta (Melling 2008; Brit. Birds
101: 211-213, 322-324), fraud of this kind was
probably not uncommon during the nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries.

The BOURC reviews

The tirst review, in 1991, considered a record
from the Isles of Scilly on 2nd October 1897,
following discovery of the specimen in Oldham
Museum. The second review, in 2002, consid-
ered the records from Yorkshire in 1837 and
1908, as well as the 1990 Cumbria record. The
Cumbria record was potentially the first British
record eligible for Category A, following separa-
tion of the British and Irish lists (BOU 1999).
The records are treated chronologically here.
None was found to be acceptable (BOU 1992,
2006).

I 83 7 Yorkshire

This bird was said to have been found dead by
an unnamed person, either on the banks of the
River Ure, near Tanfield, or on the bridge at
Tanfield, on 8th May 1837, and brought to
Captain Dalton of Slenningford (near Ripon),
who had inherited a collection of stuffed birds
begun by his father, Colonel Dalton. The speci-
men was described and illustrated by Gould in
his Birds of Europe (1832-37) but was not
included in Birds of Great Britain (1862-73).
This led Saunders (1889) to comment that he
suspected that later information had cast some
doubt on the record.

On 15th November 1887, a week after the
Dalton collection had been
dispersed by sale, William
Eagle Clarke, then curator
of the Museum of the
Philosophical and Literary
Society at Leeds, and local
naturalist lames Carter
traced the specimen, which
was exhibited at a meeting
of the Zoological Society
(Newton 1887). It was said
to have been presented to
the Yorkshire Museum by
Clarke, and is often pre-
sumed to be one of the
two specimens of Bulwer’s
Petrel held there. However,
the museum has no docu-
mentation which actually

links the collection details to a specimen, so it
has proved impossible to confirm the continued
existence of the Tanfield specimen.

The record presented BOURC with a
number of problems, which ultimately made it
unacceptable. Most importantly, the locality,
c. 60 km from the coast, is implausible for a
record of Bulwer’s Petrel, while the record lacks
a credible, detailed account of the circum-
stances in which it was obtained. It is also
notable, and surprising, that Newton (1887)
mentioned that ‘curiously enough’ Colonel
Dalton had sent Bewick the specimen of the
‘Common Stormy Petrel [Hydrobates pelagicus]
(also found dead in that neighbourhood) from
which the figure in his well-known work was
taken.’ That two of the petrel specimens used to
illustrate seminal works (Bewick 1804 and
Gould 1832-37) should really have come from
the same inland locality seems improbable.
Although the original identification as Bulwer’s
Petrel is not in doubt, it is uncertain that one of
the two specimens now in the Yorkshire
Museum is the one illustrated by Gould and
subsequently copied by others (e.g. Yarrell 1856,
Lilford 1885-97, Saunders 1889) since the bird
portrayed in the original figure is positioned
differently from the mounted specimen.
Although it is possible that the mounted speci-
men may have been repositioned at some stage,
there is no record of this.

1897 Scilly

The bird collection of Oldham Museum
contains a specimen of Bulwer’s Petrel with a

380. Male Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii, dated 1914 and possibly Hastings
Rarity 27, said to be from Jury’s Gap, Sussex; now in the Ayscoughfee Hall
Museum, Spalding, Lincolnshire. The same case holds a Wilson’s Storm-petrel
Oceanite s oceanicus, dated 1914 (and possibly Hastings Rarity I ).

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 676-681

677

The rise and fall of Bulwer's Petrel

381. Bulwer’s Petrels Bulweria bulwerii, Yorkshire Museum, York.The upper bird
is labelled ‘washed up Scalby Mills Scarborough’. The lower, which is often
presumed to be the 1 837 Yorkshire specimen, is unlabelled.

label on the base which reads: ‘One of two birds
that was taken on the fishing boat belonging to
John Humphreys, Mousehole. They was [sic]
purchased on Sunday and was ordered to be set
at liberty by Mr. Baily. One got back to sea but
the other was recaptured near Scilly, October
2nd 1897.’ The specimen was originally in the
collection of William Daws of Mansfield,
Nottinghamshire (Case No. 141 also contains
three European Storm-petrels and a Leach’s
Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa). The case
was bought intact from the dealer C. H.
Gowland in 1932 for £3.00 (Hayhow 1989).

The Committee was unwilling to accept this
record for several reasons: the record requires
us to believe that two birds (or three if the
‘recaptured’ bird is considered different) were
involved, which is highly unlikely; the date on
which the first birds were caught is unrecorded;
the likelihood of one being recaptured is
remote; and the provenance trail for the
Oldham Museum specimen of Bulwer’s Petrel
was considered too incomplete to exclude the
possibility that the label originally referred to
one of the other petrels in the case.

/ 908 Yorkshire

The specimen of this bird, said to have been
found ‘washed ashore’ at Scalby Mills, near
Scarborough, on 28th February 1908, is in the
Yorkshire Museum (plate 381). It was said to
have been in ‘somewhat bad condition’ and was
not recorded until 14 years later, when it was
presented to the museum (Collinge 1922).

In this case, the identity
of the specimen is not in
doubt, but the Committee
was unwilling to accept the
record mainly because the
date seems unlikely for a
British record of a warm-
water oceanic species, and
it is unclear whether the
bird was ever alive in
British waters. Ship-
assistance is a possibility
for this species, as shown
by a 1993 record from The
Netherlands of a bird taken
alive from a ship at
harbour in Europoort
during the last week of
November (Moeliker &
Kompanje 1996). The delay
in reporting the record, combined with the
context of a series of dubious records from
elsewhere during the same period, also
undermined confidence in its reliability.

/ 990 Cumbria

This record concerned a sighting of a bird flying
past South Walney on 17th April 1990 and was
thus quite different from the three records
discussed above. It presented the Committee
with different problems, similar to those
discussed by Bradshaw (2002) in relation to a
record of Herald Petrel Pterodroma
arminjoniana in Kent. The difficulties faced both
by the observers and by the assessors are
illustrated by the fact that initially, before the
bird became a potential first British record, the
file was circulated four times by BBRC (with
input from the specialist Seabird Advisory
Panel) before coming to BOURC.

The bird was seen at a range of 600-800 m, in
‘excellent light’, for an estimated 8-10 minutes,
during a north-westerly gale (force 7-8) with
occasional squally showers. The three observers
provided written documentation, from which
the following extracts are taken:

Description I. The most obvious features were its
blackness, its long and pointed wings and its positive
pattern of flight. It flew low and purposefully over the
waves: three or four lazy, measured flaps with wings ,
held in a forward position preceded a short careening
and twisting glide before flapping again. It veered away
from a dredger, and as it did so a long, pointed, all-
dark tail was clearly seen. At a range of 600 m it flew

678

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 676-681

The rise and fall of Bulwer's Petrel

in front of a Common Tern [Sterna hirundo], and was
estimated to be 25% smaller. It displayed a total sooty
blackness with no hint of pale.

We mentioned the possibility of Bulwer’s Petrel
but were not confident because we all felt that a
wedge-shaped tail needed to be seen in order to
identify that species. However, after reading all the
current available literature, we realised that the
wedge-shaped tail is not always visible.

Description 2. The most striking feature initially was
its long wings, but as it came closer a long tail was also
visible giving the bird something of a long-winged
Merlin [Falco columbarius ] look. The flight was very
distinctive - skua-like but with touches of Sooty
Shearwater [ Puffinus griseus ]. Considering the strength
of the wind, it moved very quickly. It flew with a series
of strong flaps interspersed with short bouts of
sheering and veering. The whole time the bird kept in
a straight line (apart from the veering) and
purposefully headed out to sea. It also kept a constant
height above the water, which must have been only a
metre or two.

All I could say about coloration is that the bird
appeared all over black with no sign of a covert bar.

While we were watching, we discussed
possibilities and the tentative conclusion was that we
should check up Bulwer’s in the literature.

Description 3. The most obvious features were the
long wings and darkness of the bird. It was flying fast
with four or five wingbeats followed by a long glide
almost like an Arctic Skua [Stercorarius parasiticus].
After about 30 seconds it flew next to a boat from
which it quickly veered away. This is when we could
see a long pointed tail, which was not obvious when
the bird was first sighted.

We could see no white whatsoever on the bird in
question. The wings were very long and angled
forward, which reminded me of a Sooty Shearwater.
The body appeared fattish but tapered down to a long
pointed tail. The tail did not appear wedge-shaped at
any time during the observation.

We had been watching the bird for approximately
8-10 minutes when we lost it as it flew out to sea.
We all realised that we had seen a small dark
shearwater or a large petrel. After consulting
identification books and using the notes we made in
the field, we realised there were only two species that
came close to our bird (jouanin’s Petrel [Bulweria
fallax ] and Bulwer’s Petrel). The Jouanin’s Petrel has a
completely different flight path and is bigger. We
therefore came to the conclusion that the Walney
bird was a Bulwer’s Petrel.

Some of the problems with this record were due
to the limited experience of Bulwer’s Petrel, both
of the observers (no prior experience) and of the
assessors (several of whom also lacked prior

experience). This resulted in conflicting views
about which aspects of the descriptions (and, in
particular, the differences between them) were
most important. The assessment did not imply
any criticism of the observers, who had provided
sincere and objective accounts of their
experiences, but was more concerned with the
quality of evidence required to establish such an
exceptional record.

BOURC, which was assessing this record as a
potential first for Britain, was unwilling to
accept it mainly because the bird was not seen
sufficiently well to establish its features beyond
doubt. Consequently, the identification (as the
observers acknowledged) rested too much on a
process of elimination which did not fully
exclude other, similar species. When BBRC
looked at it in this context (and for a fifth time)
in 2004, it agreed that the identification was not
proven, and proposed that for a sight record to
be acceptable the following features should be
seen and recorded:

• size should be assessed accurately through
direct comparison with other species

• the long, rounded tail shape should be seen
clearly (that is, sufficiently well to exclude
the possibility that it might be a folded
forked tail)

• the bird’s structure, especially wing length,
should be described carefully

• colour should be assessed (Bulwer’s Petrel
shows brown tones, except in poor light and
at long range)

• the flight should be carefully described and
consistent with that of Bulwer’s Petrel

Future records

Although none of the records to date has proved
acceptable, Bulwer’s Petrel is certainly worth
looking for in British waters. There is one
accepted record from Ireland, on 3rd August
1975 (Alibone 1980), and one from The
Netherlands, on 21st August 1995 (Schaftenaar
1996). It should be noted, however, that in both
cases there are elements of the accounts which
are surprising: the Irish bird had a tail which was
‘distinctly long’ but also ‘appeared square-
ended’; while the Dutch bird’s behaviour was
atypical for a Bulwer’s Petrel (it stayed for nearly
three hours along the edge of tidal sandbanks,
and foraged by picking up small parts of food
with raised wings, spread tail and hanging feet
‘quite like a Leach’s Petrel’). The photographs of

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 676-681

679

Goran Ekstrom Goran Ekstrom

The rise and fall of Bulwer's Petrel

have an excellent track
record of producing well-
documented records of
other rare seabirds, often
supported by photographs,
which make assessment
easier and sometimes
prove vital.

Although this species is
relatively distinctive, the
long-held but perhaps
unfounded expectation
that it should occur in
British waters with some
regularity has perhaps
been one of the reasons for
records which now seem
unacceptable. There are
other, similar dark petrels,
especially Swinhoe’s
Storm-petrel Oceanodroma
monorhis , which need to
be excluded if identifica-
tion of vagrants is to be
safe (see Garner &
Mullarney 2004) and, if
the bird is distant, other
seabirds, including Brown
Noddy Anous stolidus, and
even non-seabirds may
need to be considered
(Gutierrez 2006; Onley &
Scofield 2007).

382 & 383. Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii, between Madeira and
the Selvagens.July 2005.

the Dutch bird are unfortunately of poor
quality, and the identification has been disputed
(van den Berg & Bosman 2001). Other records
of Bulwer’s Petrel in the North Atlantic were
discussed by Morrison (1998).

There have also been three accepted records
from North America (Alderfer 2006), all during
July and August and from localities (in
California and North Carolina) at about 35°N
and within the 15-20°C isotherm. Since
Bulwer’s Petrel is primarily a species of tropical
waters, it is most likely to occur in Britain during
the summer months. The pelagic trips from
Scilly perhaps offer the best hope, and already

Acknowledgments

Sue Sladen provided information
about the specimen now at
Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding
(believed to be Hastings Rarity
27). Stuart Ogilvy of the Yorkshire
Museum provided information
about their specimens and a
photograph of the 1 908 bird. Mark Adams (Tring) checked
data for the type specimen of Bulweria bulwerii Jardine &
Selby. Bob McGowan, Tim Melling and Adam Rowlands
commented on a draft of this paper and members of
BOURC and BBRC commented on records during
circulation.

References

Alderfer; J. (ed.) 2006. Complete Birds of North America.

National Geographic, Washington D.C.

Alibone, M. R. 1 980. Bulwer’s Petrel in Co. Cork. Brit. Birds
73:217-218.

Bannerman, D. A. 1959. The Birds of the British /s/es. Vol. VIII. '

Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh and London.

Bewick, T 1 804. History of British Birds. Vol. 2. Edward
Walken Newcastle,

Bourne, W. R. R 1967. Long-distance vagrancy in the

680

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 676-681

The rise and fall of Bulwer’s Petrel

petrels. Ibis 109: 141-167.

Bradshaw, C, 2002. From the Rarities Committee's files:
Rare seabirds and a record of Herald Petrel. Brit. Birds
95: 156-165.

British Ornithologists' Union (BOU). 19 1 5. A List of British
Birds. 2nd edition. BOU, London.

— 1 992. Records Committee: Sixteenth Report
(December 1991). Ibis 134:21 1-214.

— 1999. Records Committee: 25th Report (October
1 998). /bis 141: 175-180.

— 2006. Records Committee: 32nd Report (October
2005). Ibis 148: 198-201.

Collinge.W. E. 1922. Bulwer's Petrel near Scarborough.
Naturalist 1922 (No. 783): 128.

Cramp, S„ & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1 977. The Birds of the
Western Palearctic.V ol. I. OUR Oxford.

Garner M„ & Mullarney, K. 2004. A critical look at the
evidence relating to 'the Chalice petrel'. Brit. Birds
97: 336-345.

Gutierrez, R. 2006. Bulwer's Petrels - risk of confusion
with nightjars. Dutch Birding 28: 297-299.

Hayhow, S. J. 1989. Oldham Museum: the natural history
collections.). Biological Curation 1 : 53-70.

Higgins, E.T. 1849. Rare birds in Yorkshire. Zoologist
7: 2569.

Lilford.T. L. P 1 885-97. Coloured Figures of the Birds of the
British Isles. Porter London.

Mearns, B., & Mearns, R 1 988. Biographies for Birdwatchers.
Academic Press, London.

Melling.T 2005.TheTadcaster rarities. Brit. Birds
98: 230-237.

— 2008. Should Kermadec Petrel be on the British List?
Brit. Birds 101: 31-38.

Moeliker C.W., & Kompanje, E.J. O. 1996. Ship-assisted
Bulwer’s Petrel in Europoort. Dutch Birding 1 8:

231-234.

Morrison, S, j. 1998. All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic.
Brit. Birds 9 1 : 540-560.

Newton, A. 1887. [Exhibition of a Bulwer's Petrel from
Yorkshire.] Proc. Zoo!. Soc. Land. 1 887: 562-563.
Nicholson, E. M., & Ferguson-Lees, I.J. 1 962. The Hastings
Rarities. Brit. Birds 55: 299-384.

Onley, D„ & Scofield, R 2007. Albatrosses. Petrels and
Shearwaters of the World. Christopher Helm, London.
Saunders, H. 1 889. An Illustrated Manual of British Birds.

1st edn. Gurney & Jackson, London.

Schaftenaar A. 1996. Bulwer’s Petrel at Westplaat. Dutch
Birding 18:221-226.

van den Berg, A. B„ & Bosman, C. A. W. 200 1 . Rare Birds of
The Netherlands. Pica Press, Robertsbridge.

Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R.Ticehurst, N. F„ & Tucker
B.W. 1940. The Handbook of British Birds.Vol. IV.
Witherby London.

Yarrell, W. 1 856. A History of British Birds.Vol. 2. 3rd edn.
Van Voorst, London.

Zonfrillo, B. 1986. Diet of Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
in the Madeiran Archipelago. Ibis 1 28: 570-572.

Andrew H. J. Harrop, 30 Dean Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6AF;
e-mail andrew.harrop@virgin.net

— Request —

Sightings of colour-ringed Tree Sparrows in northwest Norfolk

As part of an ongoing project, a number of Tree
Sparrows Passer montanus have been colour-ringed at
a breeding colony near Thornham, Norfolk, during
the last four years. Each bird carries a BTO metal ring
on the right leg and a single colour ring on the left leg.
This aspect of the study concerns dispersal from the
breeding site, and most birds leave the colony between
late September and mid October.

In 2006, all birds trapped were fitted with a white

colour ring; those ringed in 2007 have a single red
colour ring (adults) or a red/white striped ring
(juveniles); in 2008, birds were fitted with either an
orange or orange/white striped ring.

Any sightings of colour-ringed birds from adjacent
areas, such as Holme, Thornham, Titchwell, Choseley,
the Ringstead area, or even from further afield are most
welcome. Please send details to Keith Herber, e-mail
keith.herber@btopenworld.com or tel. 07785 920044.

Looking back

One hundred years ago:

‘PALLAS’S SAND-GROUSE IN YORKSHIRE.— Two
records of a few birds each have been reported (antea,
pp. 98 and 134) of Syrrhaptes paradoxus in Yorkshire
during the recent irruption of this bird. Mr. W. H. St.
Quintin now records (Naturalist, 1908, p. 420) that a
flock of 30 to 40 was noticed early in June near
Knapton. A considerable number remained at any
rate until the beginning of October. The flock appears

never to have broken up into pairs, although it
certainly decreased, and there is no evidence that
the birds ever attempted to breed.

PRATINCOLE AT THE FLANNAN ISLANDS.— An
adult female Glareola pratincola was obtained on July 13th,
1908, at this out-of-the-way spot. It is the third example of
the species obtained in Scotland (W. Eagle Clarke, Ann.
S.N.H., 1908, p. 256).’ (Brit. Birds 2: 245, December 1908)

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 676-681

681

Conservation research news

Compiled by Mark Eaton and Ian Johnstone

Rare breeding birds in Britain respond as predicted

to climate change

A Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds ,
which was reviewed in BB recently (Brit. Birds
101: 329), predicts how the breeding ranges of
birds may shift in response to changing climatic
conditions during the twenty-first century. Fol-
lowing completion of this magnum opus, the
same research team at Durham and Cambridge
Universities and the RSPB has produced evi-
dence of how our changing climate is already
influencing the populations of the UK’s rarest
breeding birds

Rhys Green and his colleagues used data
supplied by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel to
look at trends for 42 rare breeding species over
25 years (1980-2004), in relation to trends in
climate suitability over the same period. They
used the models developed in the Climatic
Atlas , which used measures of temperature and
precipitation to predict the European breeding
distribution of 431 species. The same climate
‘envelope’ models were applied to the UK, using
meteorological data to derive an average
measure of the suitability of the UK climate in
each year within the study period for each of
the 42 breeding species. From this, ‘climate suit-
ability trends’ (CSTs) were calculated, indicating
whether the climate had become more or less
suitable (and at what rate) for each species over
the study period. These trends were then com-
pared with actual population trends as reported
by the RBBP, along with a number of potential
confounding variables, such as whether or not a
species is a migrant, to see whether there was a
relationship between the two.

Overall, the authors found a significant cor-
relation between the climate suitability and
population trends: if the climate modelling sug-
gested that the UK climate had become more

suitable for a species, then it was likely to have
increased; if the models suggested that the
climate had become less suitable, then the
species was more likely to have decreased.

BB readers will not be surprised at the
detailed findings: southern species such as Little
Egret Egretta garzetta, Cetti’s Warbler Cettia
cetti and Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata had
increasing climate suitability trends through the
period and did indeed show marked population
increases; whereas more northerly breeders
such as Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii ,
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris and Redwing T. iliacus
have declining trends in both climate suitability
and population. Of course, knowledge of indi-
vidual species’ circumstances means that we can
identify the roles of factors other than climate.
For example, although the climate suitability for
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus has increased, the
recent population increase is more likely to be
due to the intensive conservation intervention
for this species by the RSPB, Natural England
and Defra. In a few cases, population trends
have occurred that are contrary to changes in
climate suitability - a slow increase in the
breeding population of Common Cranes Grus
grus, for example, has occurred in the face of an
apparent deterioration in the suitability of the
UK climate for this species.

Overall, this work serves as a validation of
the climate-modelling approach of the Climate
Atlas, supporting the value of that work and its
indications of the massive influence that our
warming climate will have on birds in Britain
and Europe. It also serves to underline the fact
that these processes are not just something for
the future, but have been affecting the UK’s
breeding birds for several decades. And, of

682

Conservation research news

}

course, it demonstrates just one aspect of the
value of Rare Breeding Birds Panel data for the
conservation of birds in the UK.

Green, R. E., Collingham.Y C., Willis, S. G., Gregory, R. D.,
Smith, K. W., & Huntley B. 2008. Performance of climate
envelope models in retrodicting recent changes in bird

population sizes from observed climatic changes.
Biology Letters. DOI 1 0. 1 098/rsbl. 2008.0052
Holling, M„ & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. 2008.

Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2005.
Brit Birds 101:276-316.

Huntley B„ Green, R. E„ Collingham.Y C., & Willis, S. G.
2007. A Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds.
Durham University, RSPB and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Parasites beat birds in estuarine biomass weigh-in

Although, with the possible exception of nits in
primary schools, hygiene standards of modern
society protect us from infection, parasites are
everywhere in nature, where they can have
single or multiple hosts that occupy different
levels in food chains. For example, some species
of two well-known kinds of parasite - trema-
todes (flukes) and cestodes (tapeworms) -
produce larval stages that infect and parasitise
the invertebrate prey of shorebirds as interme-
diate hosts, and continue their life cycles as
adult worms in the final, avian host when such
infected prey is consumed (the larvae escape
digestion). Although infestation reduces the
fitness of the host, such parasites have been
considered relatively unimportant at the scale of
the ecosystem.

To test this assumption, a recent study in
California measured the contribution of para-
sites to estuarine ecosystems, where shorebirds
sometimes winter in internationally important
numbers. Twenty-three sites in three different
estuaries were sampled to measure the parasite
biomass burden in each level of the food chain,
from tiny invertebrates up to the local top pred-
ators - wading birds.

No fewer than 160 different host-parasite
combinations were identified, 30 of which
involved birds. The results showed that the
most substantial contributors to total animal
biomass were snails, clams and crabs, which
outweighed the local shorebird biomass, for
which some were prey. However, although
overall parasite biomass was only about 2% of
that of host organisms, trematode biomass
alone exceeded the wintering bird biomass by
up to nine times, emphasising the truly vast

numbers of invertebrates that inhabitat the
world’s estuaries and putting otherwise impres-
sive flocks of shorebirds into their proper
context. Some parasites destroy or inhibit their
invertebrate hosts’ reproductive development,
so that more of the hosts’ food is available to
the parasites for their own reproduction, and a
host infected with such a ‘parasitic castrator’ has
the ‘effective’ genotype of its parasite. This
‘effective’ parasite biomass of castrated hosts
sometimes exceeded that of uninfected hosts as
well as that of all wintering birds, showing how
much potential bird food within estuaries con-
tains parasites, some being larval stages which
may be transmitted to birds.

Because of this, such parasite ‘castrators’ may
have implications for how the numbers of
invertebrate host individuals, which may be
prey for birds, change over time. Furthermore,
it is already known that some shorebirds, such
as Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus, make
trade-offs between intake of food and intake of
infected parasites in the food - they may choose
to feed less efficiently, on smaller prey because
such prey harbours fewer parasites. Finding out
how much parasites influence bird ecology
through these two different mechanisms would
be a useful step in managing estuaries with both
important wintering bird populations and
potentially competing fisheries.

Kuris, A. M„ Hechinger; R. F., Shaw, J. C„ Whitney, K. L„
Aguirre-Macedo, L., Boch, C. A., Dobson, A. R, Dunham,
E. J., Fredensborg, B. L., Huspeni.T. C., Lorda, J., Mababa,
L., Mancini, F.T., Mora, A. B., Pickering, M.,Talhouk, N. L,
Torchin, M. E., & Lafferty, K. D. 2008. Ecosystem
energetic implications of parasite and free-living
biomass in three estuaries. Nature 454: 5 1 5-5 1 8.

British Birds 101* December 2008 • 682-683

683

Letters

Trailing Greenland Wheatears

We who learnt our migrants from the Witherby
Handbook and post-war observatories were told
to be patient when the target was our first
‘Greenland Wheatear’ Oenanthe oenanthe leu-
corhoa. ‘None before the last third of April and
most in May’ was the sum of the lessons. I still
recall the great excitement on the Isle of May on
2 1 st April 1950 when a bird caught in a mobile
box trap passed the wing-length test and three
schoolboys secured another Handbook race for
sure.

Thus I was surprised to understand from the
review of the migration of Northern Wheatears
through Helgoland (Bairlein 2008) that the
median spring date for leucorhoa there was as
early as 2nd May, and furthermore that it was
five days earlier than for nominate oenanthe.
The pattern is even more marked in males,
whose median date was 27th April, and appears
to be at odds with the prevailing view in Britain
that leucorhoa occurs predominantly towards
the end of both spring and autumn passage
(Wernham etal. 2002).

To check the British tradition, 1 looked at the
recent progress of leucorhoa through Fair Isle in
spring. For 117 birds trapped there during
1998-2005, this is shown in a histogram in For-
rester et al. (2007). In those springs, no birds
reached Fair Isle before mid April and their
passage peaks markedly in mid May. The median
date is around 12th May, or about ten days later
than for the Helgoland birds, staging about 600
km to the south and 325 km to the east. The time
lag seems long for an accomplished transatlantic
migrant that could conceivably cross the North
Sea in a matter of hours.

Middleton (1997) summarised the spring
passage of Northern Wheatears on the coast of
northwest Norfolk. Intriguingly, the trapping
area, between Snettisham and Warham, would
have been ignored in the 1950s by the migra-
tion stalwarts of the (then) Cambridge Bird
Club as being in a ‘drift shadow’. Yet the ener-
getic North West Norfolk Ringing Group
caught 309 birds there (in Potter traps and
spring nets) in the seven springs from 1990 to
1996; of these, 147 proved to be leucorhoa. Of
70 males, 53 occurred on or before 30th April,
with median date 23rd. Of 77 females, 41
passed in April but their median date is

obscured by two late clusters in May. Even so, it
is clear that in northwest Norfolk, 1 50 km south
and 550 km west of Helgoland, most leucorhoa
occur up to ten days earlier than on Helgoland
and, remarkably, around three weeks earlier
than on Fair Isle. Holding further to their
British tradition, the Norfolk leucorhoa also
moved through much later than nominate
oenanthe. By 15th April, less than 5% of all the
leucorhoa had appeared but 75% of oenanthe
had arrived and/or passed through. Again it
seems odd that the Norfolk and Helgoland
communities of leucorhoa, at a similar latitude,
present such marked differences in their order
and timing of passage.

Finally, I observe a strange event in the
BTO’s BirdTrack database for all Northern
Wheatears. From 2002 to 2005, their spring
records showed a distinctly bimodal pattern of
occurrence. Of the two peaks, the second was
irregular, being over the four springs respec-
tively about 35, 30, 20 and 45 days later than the
first and presumably formed by the main
passage through all of Britain of leucorhoa.
Curiously, the spring records for 2006 and 2007
presented no such bimodal pattern, with fore-
running birds having appeared two weeks later
than in 2002-05 and contributing with the
tardier birds to just a single, broader peak with
just small pulses in mid and late May. The plot
thickens...

On first reading, I found the field science
deployed on Helgoland so exhilarating that the
successors to Heinrich Gatke seemed to be putting
the followers of his Humberside friend John
Cordeaux to shame. Yet our opportunity to
explore further what may be separate streams of
leucorhoa remains by far the greater and as I have
begun to demonstrate here, the migrations of
both leucorhoa and oenanthe may well be in a new
flux. It would be good to see Britain & Ireland’s
bird observatories and ringing groups take up the
challenge of Helgoland. An update of David
Snow’s 1953 review of the movements of leu-
corhoa, the bravest of all transatlantic migrants,
for the twenty-first century is surely due.

Acknowledgments

I thank Dawn Balmer for drawing my attention to the
North West Norfolk Ringing Group's report, and for
providing the BirdTrack data.

684

Letters

References

Bairlein, F. 2008. The mysteries of bird migration - still
much to be learnt. Brit. Birds 101: 68-8 1 .

Forrester; R.W., Andrews, I.J„ Mclnerny, C.J., Murray, R. D.,
McGowan, R.Y, Zonfrillo, B., Betts, M. W., Jardine, D. C.,
& Grundy, D. S. 2007. The Birds of Scotland. SOC,
Aberlady.

Middleton, J. 1 997. Wing lengths and weights of

Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe caught on the north
west Norfolk coast in spring, an analysis to determine

the incidence and timing of the leucorhoa race.

North West Norfolk Ringing Group Annual Report. 1 996.
Snow, D. N, 1 953. The migration of the Greenland
Wheatear Ibis 95: 376-378.

Wernham, C.,Toms, M., Marchant, J„ Clark, J., Siriwardena,
G., & Baillie, S. 2002. The Migration Atlas: movements of
the birds of Britain and Ireland. Poysen London.
Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R.,Ticehurst, N. F„ & Tucker;
B. W. 1938- 1941. The Handbook of British Birds.
Witherby, London.

D. I. M. Wallace

Mount Pleasant Farm, Main Road, Anslow, Burton on Trent, East Staffordshire DEM 9QE

The Eagle Owl in Britain

Melling et al. (2008) raised a number of issues
about the status of Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in
Britain that were not fully addressed in their
paper. Their search of the literature ‘failed to
substantiate’ James Fisher’s view (‘possibly
native [from the] eighth to eleventh centuries’),
but they did not explain the context of what
Fisher had done. Fisher (1966) based his view
on finding Eagle Owl, whose name was then Uf
or Fluf, in three of seven known lists originating
from the eighth to eleventh centuries. As Frank
Stanford (www.anglosaxonengland.net) has
observed, the omission of species like White
Stork Ciconia ciconia and Eagle Owl from folk-
lore do not necessarily indicate their absence
from Anglo-Saxon England. The Red Kite
Milvus milvus (a conspicuous diurnal species,
whereas Eagle Owl is nocturnal and easily over-
looked) ‘receives little mention but was
common enough’. Absence of evidence is not
evidence of absence.

There are many problems with ancient writ-
ings. Linguistic experts did not realise that
reports of the ‘llewyn’ in the Lake District could
refer to the Lynx Lynx lynx because they
believed it to have been long extinct, yet it is
now considered that it persisted until the
seventh century (Hetherington et al. 2006). The
latest-known Eagle Owl in the fossil/archaeo-
logical record was dated at 700 BC to ad 43 and
is unconfirmed (Stewart 2007) but until we
know why there is doubt, it should surely be
given some benefit of that doubt.

Mikkola’s (1983) view that persecution may
have been responsible for the absence of Eagle
Owls was cited, but it is important to recognise
that this was not a species persecuted by game-
keepers and nor was it regarded as vermin by
them. Instead, Eagle Owls were a much sought-
after and prized possession. Just as they are used

today to capture some of the larger raptors for
ringing and radio-tracking, so in the past they
were essential in the campaigns that game-
keepers waged against raptors and corvids.
They were tethered by keepers on a perch, often
on a hilltop, so that buzzards Buteo, Northern
Goshawks Accipiter gentilis and other raptors
that attacked them could be shot from a hide
below. As related by Bijleveld (1974), the system
was amazingly effective - in Germany, 400
Rough-legged Buzzards B. lagopus were shot
over three Eagle Owls in a single winter some-
time before 1854. One Prince kept 15-20 such
owls for raptor control. In Hungary, this prac-
tice continued on the Duke of Esterhazy’s estate
until the late 1930s (Potts & Farago 2000), but
by 1958, with the decline of raptors, the long
hours of sitting in a hide were not considered
worth the trouble (Bijleveld 1974). Had the
Eagle Owl been regarded as vermin, a higher
proportion of records would have been of birds
shot and the dominant BOURC category ‘insuf-
ficiently documented/identification uncon-
firmed’would be much diminished.

The Eagle Owl shot at Clifton Castle in
March 1845 was almost certainly used by the
Duke of Leeds for the purpose of predator
control at the adjoining estate of Hornby Castle,
from where it escaped. His bird originated
‘from the forest at Mar Lodge’ (Nelson 1907),
presumably as a chick taken from a wild nest,
yet no evidence is given for the exclusion of this
case from the list of possible breeding records in
Scotland. It is also curious that Melling et al. did
not map their records, which show a marked
concentration of birds, including ‘presumed
escapes’, on the northeastern seaboard. Why
would Eagle Owls escape from captivity on the
east coast but not on the west coast?

It is good that the status of the Eagle Owl

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 684—687

685

Letters

)

has been reviewed, but the evidence and argu- exclusion of the Eagle Owl from the British List

ments used suggest that the work of Melling et is surely unwarranted?

al. needs to be extended. In the meantime, the

Dick Potts

Game and Wildlife Conservancy Trust, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 1EF

AUTHORS’ RESPONSE The central premise of Dick Potts’ letter appears to be that absence of evidence
is not evidence of absence. This is true in a strictly logical sense, as one can never prove a negative, but
we would quickly grind to a halt and open ourselves to more widespread criticism if we adopted that
premise for the British List. BOURC therefore does require evidence of presence to include a species
on the List. Lor example, Great Auk Pinguinus impennis has not been recorded alive anywhere on the
planet since 3rd June 1844; we cannot prove that there is not a colony of Great Auks lurking some-
where, but there is no evidence that they exist. Evidence for the continued existence of Ivory-billed
Woodpecker Campephilus principalis in the southern United States has been presented, but this is not
sufficient to convince the ABA Checklist Committee to change its status from ‘extinct’. Essentially, no
amount of suggestive evidence is enough to admit a species to a national list if the sum total of the evi-
dence remains inconclusive.

We are accused of not fully explaining James Lisher’s view that Eagle Owls were possibly native
between the eighth and eleventh centuries. It is important to note that James Fisher himself went no
further than to say ‘possibly native’, and did not even claim that they were ‘probably’ native. According
to Kitson (1998), who reviewed all the old English names of birds, there are more species of owls than
there are names. He suggests that the most frequent name ule may have applied to Tawny Strix aluco,
Barn Tyto alba and possibly Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus. Kitson also stated that uf was originally
applied to Eagle Owl but the absence of the species from England explains why the word became obso-
lete. This is hardly sufficient evidence for admission to the British List, and it seems reasonable to
assume that James Fisher would have known this background.

Concerning the Meare Lake (Somerset) ulnae fragments, we consulted both Derek Yalden and John
Stewart; both advised caution over this record. Despite considerable effort, these bones have not been
traced, and doubt was expressed over the identification when the record was first published. It is surely
also relevant that no further supportive evidence has been found despite considerable effort by zoo-
archaeologists working on bird bone assemblages from the Roman period onwards (Stewart 2007).

Potts states that Eagle Owls were neither persecuted by gamekeepers nor regarded as vermin. As we
believe that Eagle Owls have not occurred naturally in Britain for 9,000 years, and gamekeepers have
been operating for only 200 or so years, this point seems academic. However, BWP contradicts Potts’
view, stating that the species decreased in many areas (in Europe) during the nineteenth century,
owing mainly to human persecution. The 1954 Shropshire bird was shot by a gamekeeper and turned
out to be a Great Horned Owl B. virginianus. In addition, the recent breeding female in Yorkshire was
found dead with shotgun pellets. The eggs were also destroyed on three occasions, which shows that
human antipathy towards this species might be greater than Potts suggests. Of the 79 records assessed
by BOURC in 1994, 23 (29%) were shot or collected but all of the published records post-date the ear-
liest period of known importation of Eagle Owls to Britain. The only evidence of occurrence prior to
this (since the Demen’s Dale tarsometatarsus from c. 9,000 years ago) appears to be the medieval
glossaries and the Meare Lake ulnae fragments. Records from eastern counties may be more
numerous, but this could reflect the sites of importation. A fact that is surely noteworthy is the
complete absence of Eagle Owl records from North Sea oil and gas platforms and associated vessels
since 1979. There are also no records from Helgoland, 70 km off the German coast, where a bird
observatory has operated since the nineteenth century. Immigration to Britain, if it occurs, must be at
a negligible rate. Potts provides no hard evidence to the contrary.

Concerning Nelson’s record of the bird that originated from the forest at Mar Lodge around 1845,
it is notable that Mar Lodge is c. 25 km from a site in Glen Shee where Eagle Owls were known to be '
breeding in a ‘semi-wild and domesticated state’ (Drummond-Hay 1886). Drummond-Hay also
referred to a bird that was ascertained to be an escape that was captured at Pitlochry, Perthshire, in
1873 (only 34 km from Mar Lodge). The Mar Lodge record is sufficiently close in space and time to

686

British Birds 101* December 2008 • 684-687

Letters

the site of ‘semi-wild and domesticated’ birds to cast some doubt on its status. Regardless of this, there
is no evidence that this bird originated from a wild nest, just conjecture, and Nelson certainly did not
draw this conclusion. It is interesting that Nelson (1907) further mentions an Eagle Owl captured on
Rombald’s Moor in 1876 which was kept in a vivarium ‘along with two specimens said to have been
taken from a nest near Aberdeen!’ The exclamation mark perhaps suggests that he viewed the claim
with some incredulity. However, Aberdeen is only c. 22 km from Mar Lodge so it may have been taken
from the near-local ‘semi-wild and domesticated’ stock.

None of the main writers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries gave credibility to Eagle Owl as
a natural breeder (e.g. MacGillivray 1837-40, Yarrell 1856, Witherby et al. 1938, Bannerman 1955,
Harrison & Reid-Henry 1988). James Fisher’s ‘possibly native’ is the strongest authoritative expression
on their natural status.

If new evidence is forthcoming, BOURC will gladly reassess the status of Eagle Owl; but in the
absence of such evidence, the Committee is satisfied that Eagle Owl does not merit a place on
Categories A or B of the British List.

References

Bannerman, D. A. 1955. birds of the British Isles.V ol. 4. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.

Bijleveld, M. 1 974. Birds of Prey in Europe. Macmillan, London.

Drummond-Hay, H. M. 1 886. Report on the ornithology of the east of Scotland, from Fife to Aberdeenshire inclusive.

Scot. Nat. 8: 355-380.

Fisher; J. 1 966. The Shell Bird Book. Ebury & Joseph, London.

Harrison, C„ & Reid-Henry, D. 1988. The History of the Birds in Britain. Collins, London.

Hetherington, D. A., Lord.T C., & Jacobi, R. M. 2006. New evidence for the occurrence of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in
medieval Britain.). Quaternary Science 2 1 : 3-8.

Kitson, R R. 1998. Old English bird names (II). English Studies 79: 2-22.

MacGillivray, W. 1 837 — 40. A History of British Birds. Scott, Webster & Geary, London.

Melling.T., Dudley, S., & Doherty, R 2008. The Eagle Owl in Britain. Brit. Birds 101: 478-490.

Mikkola, H. 1 983. Owls of Europe. Poyser; London.

Nelson, T H. 1 907. The Birds ofYorkshire.Vol. I . Brown & Sons, London.

Potts, G. R., & Farago, S. 2000. Partridges in Hungary. Hungarian Small Game Bulletin 5: 267-290.

Stewart, J. R. 2007. The fossil and archaeological record of the Eagle Owl in Britain, Brit. Birds 1 00: 48 1 -486.

Witherby, H. F.,Jourdain, F, C. R.,Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker; B.W. 1938. The Handbook of British Bird s.Vol. 2. Witherby, London.
Yarrell, W. 1 856. A History of British Birds. 3 vols. 3rd edn. Van Voorst, London.

Tim Melling, Steve Dudley and Paul Doherty

Notes

All Notes submitted to British Birds are subject to independent review, either by the Notes Panel or
by the BB Editorial Board. Those considered appropriate for BB will be published either here or
on our website (www.britishbirds.co.uk) subject to the availability of space.

Merlins plucking and

In over 30 years of surveying moorland in the
North Pennines for breeding Merlins Falco
columbarius , I have occasionally found the
remains of pulli that have perished in the nest,
often after periods of prolonged rainfall. In June
2007, there were many failures following two
bouts of continuous rain, each of several days’
duration. At one site, five young had been
plucked, mostly in and around the nest scrape.

eating dead young

However, one of the pulli was found on the
plucking post, 100 m from the nest. It was fully
plucked and partially eaten. I had located this
plucking post when the male was incubating
eggs and it had been used all season. There
seems little doubt that the dead young had been
eaten by the adults in this instance. I am not
aware of this behaviour having been recorded
previously in Merlins.

Dick Temple

White Cottage, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire DL9 4PD

687

Notes

EDITORIAL COMMENT Ian Newton has commented that, although the evidence in this case is circum-
stantial, it seems likely that, as Dick Temple suggests, the young were eaten by the parents. Northern
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Eurasian Sparrowhawk A. nisus and Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos have all
been seen to eat their own dead young.

Short-eared Owl sitting on sea surface to avoid Carrion Crows

The recent note by Martin Garner (Brit. Birds
100: 755) recalls the following. On 30th January
2008, 1 flushed a Short-eared Owl Asio flam-
meus from Porthellick Beach on St Mary’s, Isles
of Scilly, which flew to nearby Porthellick
Down. Ashley Fisher Joined me and we walked
across Porthellick Down encountering the
Short-eared Owl, which flew back to Porthellick
Beach. Two Carrion Crows Corvus corone
spotted the owl and mobbed it aggressively at
the top of the beach, just above the high tide.

After about a minute the owl flew directly into
the bay, followed by the crows, then landed on
the calm sea surface, floating on its belly like a
seabird. The crows circled the floating owl
trying to mob it but were unable to manoeuvre
effectively and soon gave up. Some 30 seconds
after the crows left, the owl lifted off the water
effortlessly and flew to a crevice along the
nearby rocky shoreline. The owl was on the sea
surface for about two minutes.

Robert L. Flood

14 Ennor Close, Old Town, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, TR21 ONE; e-mail tubenose@tiscali.co.uk

Male Firecrest helping to feed a Coldcrest family

On 24th April 2006, I was carrying out a
Breeding Bird Survey in Kent, the route of
which passes through a churchyard with a good
number of old, large Yew Taxus baccata trees,
with canopy spread of at least 20 m. While in
the churchyard, I heard a Firecrest Regulus igni-
capilla calling. I returned on 6th May and relo-
cated the Firecrest, now actively singing. My
neighbour Stephen Message watched the bird
singing on 8th May.

On 23rd June, SM and I were in the church-
yard and observed a male Firecrest feeding
young, flying back and forth to a Yew tree, car-
rying food. SM had reasonable views of the
young, still in the nest, and noted that they did
not look like young Firecrests, as they lacked
dark lores and a pale supercilium. I made a
number of visits to the site over the following
few days and the male Firecrest was seen feeding
the young on all visits, with occasional help

from a female Goldcrest R. regulus. A female
Firecrest was never seen; a male Goldcrest was
sometimes heard and seen but was never seen
feeding the young. The last sighting of young,
on 1st July, still clearly indicated Goldcrest, with
typical plain face and isolated black eye.

There has been at least one breeding pair of
Goldcrests in this churchyard since 1994, when
1 began to survey this square. The possibility of
hybridisation in this case cannot be ruled out
(and see below), although the young showed no
features of Firecrest and I assumed that the
male Firecrest was acting as a foster parent. In
2007, a male Firecrest held territory for a
number of weeks at the site but no breeding
was confirmed for either the Firecrest or the
Goldcrests. In 2008, a male Firecrest was heard
singing on 17th February and seen with a pair
of Goldcrests on 27th April, but not subse-
quently; the Goldcrests probably bred.

Charles Trollope

Chaucer Cottage, Iden Green, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4HB

EDITORIAL COMMENT Two instances of presumed hybridisation between a male Firecrest and a
female Goldcrest have been described previously in BB (Brit. Birds 69: 447-451, 76: 233-234). In the
former case, in Suffolk in 1974, the young were not seen well, but in the latter instance, in Bucking- -
hamshire in 1978, one young was seen well and described as identical in plumage to a typical young
Goldcrest. It is possible, therefore, that the observations above relate to a further incidence of hybridis-
ation between these two species.

688

British Birds 101* December 2008 • 687-688

Reviews

FRONTIERS IN BIRDING

By Martin Garner and friends.
BirdGuides Ltd, London, 2008.
192 pages; black-and-white
illustrations.

ISBN 978-1-898110-47-7.
Paperback, £19.95.

In my youth, I can remember
embracing wholeheartedly a series of
articles written by the late Peter
Grant and Killian Mullarney, first
published in Birding World and later
brought together in the booklet Tire
New Approach to Identification, in
1989. To me, a ringer and a birder,
this all made perfect sense and I have
to admit to sneering just a little at
some members of the older genera-
tion who seemed incapable of
grasping its basic tenet. Wow, how
things have come full circle. We are
now in a digital age where it could be
argued that the most important
pieces of birding equipment are a
good digital camera and lens, a com-
puter and access to the internet. And
now it’s my turn to be sneered at by
a new, younger generation, because
I am now the one struggling to
cope with this new approach.

To some extent the real meat of
this book is synonymous with the
digital age. It will come as no sur-
prise to many readers that it is largely
written by Martin Garner, who for
some years now has been a pioneer
of more obscure identification chal-
lenges, and all credit to him for that.
As might be expected of something
that is ‘cutting-edge’, many of the
ideas put forward are somewhat ten-
tative. Although decent optics, keen
observational skills, patience and
note-taking will enable some of these
to be tested, high-quality photo-
graphs will be required to progress
many more. The text is ably sup-
ported by some fine black-and-white
illustrations, notably those by Ian
Lewington, but in some cases well-
chosen photographs might have
worked more effectively.

Eighteen short chapters each
look at a particular identification
challenge and, where relevant, a brief

review of the current taxonomic
position is included. A few of these -
e.g. Pacific Divers Gavia pacifca,
races of Great Cormorant Phalacro-
corax carbo carbo and P. c. sinensis,
and female Blue-winged Anas discors
and Cinnamon Teals A. cyanoptera -
have already been treated in pub-
lished identification articles, but here
they are neatly summarised and
updated. Other subject matter is
brought to a mainstream British
audience for the first time, e.g.
‘Pacific Fulmar’ Fulmarus glacialis
glacialis and Cape Gannet Morus
capensis. Those of most interest to
me relate to species where I am fairly
sure we are overlooking individuals,
and include female-type Eurasian A.
crecca. Green-winged A. carolinensis
and Baikal Teals A. formosa, the two-
tor three-) way split of the Velvet
Scoter Melanitta fusca complex,
Black Scoter M. americana and
various races of Common Eider
Somateria mollissima. The chapter
on the Canada geese Branta
canadensis/ hutchinsii complex makes
interesting reading, following the
somewhat controversial two-way
split adopted by the BOURC. Here,
Garner has utilised the recently pub-
lished work of Harold Hanson, who
spent his life studying Canada geese,
and combined it with his own
thoughts to produce something that
makes much more sense in the
context of identification of vagrants
reaching Britain than anything pub-
lished to date.

The book is not all about identi-
fication, however. The first half of it
covers a whole series of ornitholog-
ical topics, ten in all. Ken Shaw dis-
cusses the art of finding rarities,
while Stuart Rivers describes how he
and a team of mates ‘discovered’
Barra - another illustration that,
with sufficient commitment and a
degree of nous, there are still a few
British islands where birders could
be rewarded with finding themselves
a host of rarities. Ian Wallace
reminds us of the seemingly for-
gotten art of note-taking, although
in some cases the notebook will be
no match for the digital camera;

Dave Farrow does a great job of
selling bird sounds; Keith Clarkson
shows how rewarding visible migra-
tion can be - even in the middle of
Yorkshire; and Andy Stoddart takes a
look at migration and vagrancy. Rob
Hume’s chapter on his gull studies in
the midlands is wonderfully
refreshing, while Steve Votier, Stuart
Bearhop and Martin Collinson look
at the role of stable isotopes and
DNA in relation to today’s birding
scene - with a very appropriate
health warning about the limitations
of both. My personal favourite is
Jimmy Steele’s wonderfully enter-
taining introduction to his local
patch (Newbiggin) while, along with
many others, I suspect, I think that
Keith Vinicombe’s assessment of
those species currently sitting on
Category D of the British List is far
more in touch with the real world
than the seemingly arbitrary deci-
sions of the BOURC.

The book is generally very read-
able and there is something for
everyone. For anyone interested in
bird identification it really is a must.
Wherever you are based you can take
this book out with you and find
something relevant to test with it - if
only your local flock of Teal. Who
knows, you might find that the
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus at the
edge of them is of the Amercian race!
The only drawback with this book is
the price. The production quality is
simply not commensurate with the
price (originally £29.95, although the
revised RRP of £19.95 is more palat-
able) and it will be a real shame if
birders turn down the opportunity
to buy it simply because of this. It is
my understanding that Martin
Garner was aiming to publish
further volumes, covering other
groups such as waders, gulls and
passerines. Then, after a period of
field testing, to publish these in a
single book. Let’s hope that this
aspiration comes to fruition because
it will surely become a landmark
contribution to bird identification in
a British context.

Paul Harvey

689

Reviews

A SKY FULL OF STARLINGS:
A DIARY OF A
BIRDING YEAR

By Stephen Moss. Aurum
Press, London, 2008. 182 pages.
ISBN 978-1-84513-353-5.
Hardback. £12.99.

In 2006, Stephen Moss compiled
This Birding Life , which was a col-
lection of his columns that had
appeared in The Guardian since
1993, grouped into common
themes. That book was never
reviewed in BB, but has now
appeared in paperback. Its style is
witty and informative.

For this new book, dedicated to
publisher Christopher Helm, Moss
kept a diary throughout 2007. Being
based in Somerset, he chronicled
what he saw in the locations close to
his home in Mark. A few trips else-
where are included - such as the
Cairngorms, the north Norfolk
coast and Rutland Water (for the
Birdfair). The book is written in an
easy style with informative anec-
dotes about everyday birds. Apart
from his participation in the
Christmas Cup (a BBC Natural
History Unit bird race), the author
rarely chases a rarity, other than
unexpected local surprises such as a
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor.

Mind you, like the rest of us, he’d
have liked to have seen that Yellow-
nosed Albatross Thalassarche
chlororhynchos that arrived in
Somerset in June 2007!

Overall, this is a relaxing book
that brings out the best in normal
birding. And there is the challenge.
We can all keep a diary like this,
noting the behaviour of typical
birds. The difference is that few of us
can communicate such observations
in a way that captures the imagina-
tion of others. Ordinary birding has
a lot to offer - and this book
reminds you of that on every page.

Keith Betton

DARING TO FLY:

THE WILDLIFE PAINTINGS
OF COLIN WOOLF

By Joanne Woolf. Madwolf
Design, Conwy, 2008. 178
pages; colour paintings and
some photographs throughout.
ISBN 978-0-9556968-0-0.
Hardback, £45.00.

This lavishly produced book, filled
with the paintings of Colin Woolf

from cover to cover, mainly of
gamebirds and birds of prey, and
supported with texts by his wife
Joanne, provides an interesting and
near-complete insight into the pro-
gressing career of a wildlife artist. It
is broken down into three self-
explanatory sections: The Artist,
The Paintings and The Insight. If I
had to describe Colin Woolf’s
approach to his picture making,
it would be ‘Thorburnesque’,
reflecting a style of a bygone

century, and pretty popular it is
too. This technique doesn’t exactly
baste my Meleagris gallopavo and
there are a few paintings where the
birds do not sit comfortably in the
composition. But that’s just my
opinion; many people love his craft
and will need to put out a particu-
larly large stocking if they have it
on their Christmas present list.

Dan Powell

Also received

RSPB HANDBOOK OF
GARDEN WILDLIFE

By Peter Holden and Geoffrey
Abbot. Christopher Helm,
A8cC Black, London, 2008.

240 pages; 470 colour photographs
illustrating 340 species.

ISBN 978-0-7136-8860-3.

Paperback, £9.99.

Packed with information on our
more familiar garden wildlife, this
attractive volume covers a wide
range of wildlife, including
mammals, birds and invertebrates.
Each account covers identification,
habits, diet and garden conserva-
tion. Additional sections describe
how to create a wildlife garden,
deal with pests, plant for the
seasons, etc.

GARDEN BIRDS
AND WILDLIFE

By Mike Toms and Paul Sterry.

AA Publishing, Basingstoke, 2008.

224 pages; many colour
photographs and illustrations;
maps, graphs.

ISBN 978-0-7495-5912-0.
Hardback, £20.00.

Published in association with the
BTO, this is one of the more
detailed of the recent cluster of
garden wildlife guides, dealing with
a range of wildlife in addition to
birds (trees and shrubs, wild-
flowers, mammals and various
invertebrates). As well as dealing
with identification, the bird entries
contain information on distribu-
tion and population trends, while a
‘fact file’ covers diet, habitat, some
basic details of breeding ecology,
population size and lifespan.

WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS
IN NORTHERN AND
EASTERN SPAIN

By Michael Rebane and Ernest
Garcia. Christopher Helm,

A&C Black, London, 2008.

320 pages; many maps and
line-drawings.

ISBN 978-07136-8314-1.
Paperback, £16.99.

Published originally as Where to
Watch Birds in North and East
Spain, this is effectively a second
edition of that title. This volume is
completely revised, expanded and
updated, and includes 11 new
major sites. In total, it covers 1 12
major sites (all of the original sites
have updated maps) and 75 addi-
tional ones; it is an important
guide to a remarkable area con-,
taining some of the most diverse
communities in Europe.

690

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 689-690

News and comment

Compiled by Adrian Pitches

Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of British Birds

Breeding seabirds in deep trouble

The RSPB has confirmed what
fieldworkers had already realised:
that some of our seabirds had a cat-
astrophic breeding season in
northern Britain in 2008. Data from
the RSPB’s coastal reserves show
that three species, Kittiwake Rissa
tridactyla , Arctic Tern Sterna par-
adisaea and Arctic Skua Stercorarius
parasiticus, reared virtually no
chicks in the far north. Dwindling
food supplies, probably linked to
climate change, could threaten the
future of these species in the UK.

The UK is internationally impor-
tant for seabirds. Scotland alone sup-
ports over three million birds, or
45% of the populations nesting in
the EU, and the evidence suggests
that repeated annual breeding fail-
ures are now substantially reducing
the populations of the species worst
affected. Recent reports of significant
declines in plankton biomass indi-
cate major changes in the depths of
Atlantic Ocean ecosystems, which
could be affecting our seabirds.
Although direct evidence is still

lacking, increased sea-surface tem-
peratures in winter, disrupting the
food chain, are thought to be driving
the declines. There seems to be a
trend towards higher temperatures
in the northern North Sea in winter
than farther south; such changes
may be reducing the survival of
sandeel Ammodytes larvae, ultimately
causing a decline in the abundance
of this critical prey species for
seabirds in the Northern Isles and
elsewhere, and chronically under-
mining their breeding success.

But albatrosses are thrown a lifeline

In the twilight of his presidency,
George W. Bush has apparently
recognised the importance of pro-
tecting globally threatened
seabirds, including albatrosses. The
US President has brought the
Agreement for the Conservation of
Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) to
the US Senate for approval, stating
that he believed ‘the Agreement to
be fully in the US interest’. ACAP is
an international treaty protecting
seabirds, and the USA will join 12

countries that are already parties to
the treaty: Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, France, New
Zealand, Norway, Peru, the
Republic of South Africa, Spain
and the UK. It is hoped that the US
Senate will now ratify the treaty
and produce laws implementing
the agreement.

Eighteen of the world’s 22
species of albatross are facing
extinction, and ten of these are
considered to be Endangered or

Critically Endangered - the highest
levels of threat under the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Birds. The
most important threats to alba-
trosses are accidental deaths in
longline and trawl fisheries, and
loss of eggs and chicks to intro-
duced predators on breeding
islands. Solving these problems will
require co-ordinated action by
governments, scientists, fishermen,
and conservation organisations.

Following the revelation that semi-
captive Bald Ibises Geronticus
eremita from Turkey could be used
to augment the relict wild popula-
tion in Syria (Brit. Birds 101: 635)
comes news that three of these
Turkish birds have been found poi-
soned in Jordan. The three dead
ibises were found in the Jordanian
desert, having been satellite-tracked
from their breeding grounds in
Birecik, southeast Turkey.

The birds were found about 30
km from the Jordanian capital,
Amman, and autopsies have ruled
out electrocution and shooting.
Scientists are investigating the
source of the poison and believe
that it may have been laid by
chicken farmers in order to kill

Bald Ibises found poisoned

rodents. ‘The deaths are heart-
breaking but the birds may not
have died in vain. They came from
a semi-captive population and the
fact that they left the colony proves
they haven’t lost their migratory
instincts,’ said Jose Tavares, the
RSPB’s Country Programme
Officer for Turkey. ‘The birds flew
via Palmyra, in Syria, where a tiny
colony hangs on, which means that
birds we release from Turkey next
year could join the group in Syria.’

The Bald Ibis’s migratory habits
have baffled conservationists for
years but, in 2006, BirdLife and the
Syrian Government tracked adult
birds from Syria, finding new win-
tering grounds in Ethiopia. But
young birds were never seen on

migration and scientists fear that
they face unknown threats on an
entirely different overwintering
route. Sharif Al [hour, of BirdLife
in the Middle East, who found the
dead birds, said: ‘We know where
the adults go but it’s crucial we
follow the young birds’ migration
route so that we can protect them
in winter and help them return to
Turkey and Syria to breed.’

To help solve the mystery, more
Turkish birds will be tagged next
year and then tracked to see if they
join the tiny colony in Palmyra.
The tracking project has also raised
hopes that a completely wild popu-
lation can be re-established
in Turkey too. www.birdlife.org/
extinction

691

Graham Catley

News and comment

)

Visible migration of Bitterns

Those with access to an extensive
reedbed might well be interested in
the results recently published in the
French journal Ornithos (Vol. 15,
No. 3, pp. 181-186) concerning
visible migration of Eurasian Bit-
terns Botaurus stellaris in the
spring. Although those nesting in
Britain are thought to be mainly
sedentary, with the young dis-
persing up to 200 km after
fledging, those belonging to the
more northerly populations of
Europe are long-distance migrants,
as their breeding grounds freeze
over in the winter. In autumn, par-
ticularly if the weather is severe,
there is an influx of birds to Britain
from the Continent; ringing
returns suggest that these come
mostly from The Netherlands,
Belgium, Sweden and Germany.

Following studies in Bielorussia
in autumn and in Italy in spring,
where birds were seen leaving
reedbeds at dusk and apparently
setting off on migration, some
serious effort was applied in the
springs of 2003 and 2004 at two
wetlands in France (the Seine
estuary on the English Channel

coast and the Vigueirat marshes in
the Camargue, both important
breeding and wintering areas for
the species) to see whether the
same behaviour could be observed
there. At both sites, observers were
not only assessing the number of
booming birds at dusk, but were
also encouraged to look for signs of
migration.

The survey results were impres-
sive, although admittedly incom-
plete, registering 95 individuals at
the Seine in 2003 and 106 at
Vigueirat in 2004. Migrants were
seen from mid February to mid
April, with the majority (90% at
the Seine, 77% at Vigueirat) on the
move in March. The earliest to
leave were 50 minutes before
sunset, the latest 58 minutes after
sunset, with the peak time for
departure being about 31 minutes
after sunset, at both sites.
Observers noted Bitterns taking off
almost vertically from the reeds,
uttering a characteristic gull-like
call, then circling leisurely over the
reedbeds, still calling, for up to half
an hour, with more and more birds
joining the group. Ultimately, the

group of Bitterns would head off
together - eastwards in the case of
the Seine, between north and east
in the case of Vigueirat, implying a
final destination in north or east
Europe.

Most observed departures took
place on evenings with little or no
wind and the numbers involved are
remarkable, although it is hard to
tell whether all the birds were win-
tering at the sites involved or
whether they included migrants
from elsewhere. Bitterns are nor-
mally thought of as rather solitary,
so group migration might be con-
sidered surprising, although several
other species of heron (e.g. Grey
Ardea cinerea , Purple A. purpurea,
Night Nycticorax nycticorax ) are
known to migrate in small groups.
The authors (Pascal Provost and
Gregoire Massez) suggest that
internationally co-ordinated
watches at dusk might be a good
way of giving us a better idea of
quite how many Bitterns there are
in Europe in the winter.

( Contributed by Ken Hall)

384. Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris, framed by the Humber Bridge, north Lincolnshire, February 2007.

692

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 691-694

{ News and comment

One eighth of Irelands birds on the critical list

A new report, published in the
journal Irish Birds by RSPB
Northern Ireland and BirdWatch
Ireland, has identified alarming
declines in a number of bird popu-
lations across the island of Ireland.
Of 199 species assessed, 25 have
been allocated to the ‘Red List’,
which highlights bird populations
requiring urgent action to secure
their future and includes popula-
tions that have declined by over
50% and those that are threatened
across the world.

Eleven species have been added
to the Red List since the last review,
in 1999. Sooty Puffinus griseus and
Balearic Shearwaters P. mauretan-
icus have been added as species of
global conservation concern, while
Irish wintering populations
of Bewick’s Swan Cygnus
columbianus, Pintail Anas acuta ,
Shoveler A. clypeata, and Red Knot
Calidris canutus have declined by

more than half during the last 25
years. These reductions may be
linked to climate change, in partic-
ular milder winters on the Conti-
nent. Golden Eagle Aquila
chrysaetos has been added to the
Red List because it is now re-estab-
lished as a breeding bird following
its historical decline and extinction
in Ireland. Breeding populations of
European Golden Plover Pluvialis
apricaria, Common Redshank
Tringa totanus, Herring Gull Larus
argentatus and Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus have all
declined by more than half over
the last 25 years.

Four species have been
removed from the Red List: both
Hen Harrier and Roseate Tern
Sterna dougaUii populations have
increased, following past declines
(both species appear on the UK
Red List), while those of Red-billed
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

are stable or increasing, although
the Corn Bunting Emberiza
calandra is now extinct as a
breeding species, and has not
nested in Ireland since 1992.

BirdWatch Ireland’s Stephen
Newton, a co-author of the report,
said of the species on the Red List:
‘We will lose many of these birds
from our shores if concerted and
immediate action is not taken. It is
only a few short years since the
Corn Bunting went extinct as a
breeding species here. Many
others are now in danger of fol-
lowing suit. Of particular concern
are our seabirds, migratory water-
fowl, and farmland birds. Iconic
species such as the Barn Owl Tyto
alba. Corn Crake Crex crex,
Eurasian Curlew Numenius
arquata and Yellowhammer E. cit-
rinella all face an uncertain
future.’

If lists are your thing, then you
may be interested in an online
listing tool called BUBO Listing
www.bubo.org/iisting, which
started off as a fun idea between a
few friends but has grown rapidly
in popularity. Most users so far are
British, but there are also
increasing numbers of interna-
tional users of the site, especially
from India, Australia and the USA.

BUBO Listing is entirely free to
use. Once you’ve logged in, you can

BUBO Listing

create lists by selecting region (e.g.
British, Western Palearctic, World)
and period (life or year). You can
also specify self-found only lists if
you prefer. You are then presented
with a checklist to record your list
against; the checklists depend upon
the region specified and are all
based on published sources (e.g.
BOU British list, Clements world
list, etc.). Once you’ve entered a
list, you can then compare it with
those of other birders. Not only

can you see your position in a
ranking, you can also use the site to
determine your ‘top targets’, i.e. the
species missing from your list that
the highest number of other listers
have already recorded.

The underlying ethos of the site
is one of transparency. With the
exception of sensitive records of
breeding species, every list entered
by every birder is available for
everyone else to view.

( Contributed by Andy Musgrove)

Lesser Spotted Eagle winners and losers

A Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila
pomarina has been satellite-tracked
crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.
This is the first individual out of 30
satellite-tagged birds that has taken
a western route across the Mediter-
ranean, rather than the normal
eastern route into East Africa, and
this novel migration strategy may
have saved the eagle’s life. The
same research team reported that
another of their satellite-tagged

Lesser Spotted Eagles has died
along the eastern migration route
after it was poisoned at a water
treatment plant north of Sharm el
Sheik, in Egypt.

Prof. Bernd Meyburg said: ‘It
has been found together with 26
other dead Lesser Spotted Eagles
and other birds. I have been
informed that the birds have died
because they drank polluted water.
I have also been informed that a

satellite-tracked Black Stork
Ciconia nigra from Estonia has also
been killed there. Apparently, many
other raptors and especially White
Storks C. ciconia are also dead.
We spend a lot of money and time
in Germany to preserve the last
100 pairs of the Lesser Spotted
Eagle and are very concerned about
this problem.’
www. Raptor-Research.de

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 691-694

693

News and comment

Ringing returns
highlight autumn
invasion of Kestrels

Several migrant raptors made land-
fall in the UK this autumn. The
easterlies during the early part of
the autumn brought a whole raff of
vagrants as well as large numbers of
Common Redstarts Phoenicurus
phoenicurus and Pied Flycatchers
Ficedula hypoleuca, but were also
responsible for one of the biggest
arrivals of Fennoscandian birds of
prey in recent times, involving not
just the well-documented move-
ment of Honey-buzzards Pernis
apivorus, but many Common
Kestrels Falco tinnunculus too.

In August and September, no
fewer than eight Fennoscandian-
ringed Kestrels were found along
the south and east coasts. They
were all picked up in poor condi-
tion, with birds being taken to
RSPCA centres and raptor trusts.
One was even seen following a
tractor in its search for food. Since
the formation of the Ringing
Scheme in 1909, there have been
only 19 British recoveries of
Kestrels from Norway, 35 from
Sweden and 40 from Finland.
Kestrels are generally short-dis-
tance migrants, but have had a
bumper breeding season in both
Sweden and Finland this year. With
the population thus boosted,
young birds in particular may have
been forced to move farther than
normal.

The arrival wasn’t just
restricted to Kestrels, with a Nor-
wegian-ringed Peregrine Falcon F.
peregrinus found in Norfolk (now
in care), and two Swedish Ospreys
Pandion haliaetus. Both Ospreys
were found in poor condition, one
was discovered dying in Dorset and
another was found with a fractured
wing in Norfolk. There have been
just 16 previous records of
Swedish -ringed Ospreys in Britain,
with one from Norway and three
from Finland.

If you find a ringed bird, you
can either report it to the BTO (tel.
01842 750050) or online at
www.ring.ac

Pledges to protect
raptors signed in the
Gulf and Gateshead

Birds of prey received two votes of
confidence in late October. An
agreement to protect migratory
raptors and owls was signed in Abu
Dhabi, while the UK’s Minister for
Wildlife joined a gathering in
northeast England, including
shooters as well as conservationists,
who all signed a pledge to protect
England’s birds of prey from perse-
cution.

Following a joint initiative by
the Governments of the United
Arab Emirates and UK, the Memo-
randum of Understanding will co-
ordinate the protection of more
than 70 species of migratory birds
of prey and owls found in Europe,
Africa and Asia. Ibrahim Al-
Khader, Head of BirdLife Middle
East, said: 'This important agree-
ment will help to ensure that
migratory birds of prey and owls
have a safer passage during their
epic annual journeys.’ The new
measures will ensure that signato-
ries focus particular conservation
efforts on critical 'bottleneck’ sites,
including those identified as
Important Bird Areas by BirdLife.

In Gateshead, another ground-
breaking agreement was signed by
the RSPB, the British Association
for Shooting and Conservation,
Natural England and Environment
Minister Huw Irranca-Davies
among others. The event, co-ordi-
nated by the RSPB, used the
Derwent Valley as a backdrop,
where the highly successful
Northern Kites Red Kite Milvus
milvus reintroduction (the first in
an urban area) has taken place.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s
Director of Conservation said: ‘We
know what can be achieved when
we get it right and the continuing
recovery of Red Kites in England,
including here in the Derwent
Valley, is a great example. We now
need to get it right for other birds
of prey like the Hen Harrier Circus
cyaneus, which is on the verge of
extinction in England because of
illegal killing.’

The 600th
British bird

As 2008 draws to a close, the offi-
cial British List still stands at 580.
However, pending 2007 ‘firsts’ and
potential 2008 additions to the list
(Citril Finch Serinus citrinella,
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax
alnorum and Amur Falcon Falco
amurensis) could, when coupled
with taxonomic revisions, take the
list beyond 590 early in 2009.

BOURC’s Taxonomic Sub-
committee has recently recom-
mended the 'splits’ of five species
pairs (Black-throated and Pacific
Diver Gavia arctica/pacifica ,
Common and Wilson’s Snipe
Gallinago gallinago/delicata, Dusky
and Naumann’s Thrush Turdus
eunomus/naumanni. Red-throated
and Black- throated Thrush
Turdus ruficollis/atrogularis, and
Greenish/Green Warbler Phyllo-
scopus trochiloides/nitidus. This will
presumably add five new species to
the British List at a stroke.

So the race is on to name the
600th species to appear on the
British List! The News & comment
sweepstake has had a range of sug-
gestions so far but it’s not too late
to enter the fray. There may even
be a modest prize for the correct
guess!

Former N&c stalwart Bob Scott
has plumped for Pygmy Cor-
morant Phalacrocorax pygmeus
while fellow veteran Eric Meek
thinks Semi-collared Flycatcher
Ficedula semitorquata or Grey-
necked Bunting Emberiza
buchanani could soon complete the
set of south-eastern vagrants to
arrive in Britain. And who would
bet against them landing on Eric’s
patch in Orkney? Other nomina-
tions for the 'UK600’ include
Eastern Crowned Warbler Phyllo-
scopus coronatus and further splits
such as Siberian Stonechat Saxicola
(torquatus) maurus. E-mail your
nominations to the N8<c address
printed inside the cover of BB. And.
a Happy Christmas to all BB
subscribers - and good birding
in 2009.

694

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 691-694

Recent reports

Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Eric Dempsey

This summary of unchecked reports covers mainly new arrivals between early October

and early November 2008.

Headlines The rarest (and in some ways the strangest) bird reported here was potentially
Britain’s first Amur Falcon, in Yorkshire, identified from photographic evidence after the bird had
flown. Other main highlights included a very confiding Green-backed Heron in Kent, an equally
showy Sociable Lapwing on Scilly and, among a good showing of American passerines, Philadelphia
Vireo and Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Co. Clare and two Bobolinks in southwest England.
Following the surfeit of rarities in the last two reports, there were still eye-catching numbers
of several passerines seen during the period, including ten Olive-backed Pipits, an
unprecedented ten Red-flanked Bluetails, five Desert Wheatears, two new White’s Thrushes,
three Grey-cheeked Thrushes, ten Hume’s Warblers and a total of seven Red-eyed Vireos.

Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis Pen-
nington Marsh (Hampshire), 6th-9th
November. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Inish-
more (Co. Galway), 10th October. Canvasback
Aythya valisineria Nosterfield (Yorkshire), 30th
October and 8th November. Ferruginous Duck
Aythya nyroca New arrivals were reported in
Essex, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire & Rutland
and Somerset. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Appledore (Devon), two, 11th October; Inch
(Co. Donegal), 16th October; Hogganfield Loch
(Clyde), two, 21st October, with at least one to
9th November; Loch Leven (Perth & Kinross),

22nd October; Holme Pierrepont (Notting-
hamshire), 26th October to 8th November;
Lough Corrib (Co. Galway), 2nd November;
Henley Road GP (Oxfordshire), 3rd November;
Helston Loe Pool (Cornwall), 8th-9th
November. King Eider Somateria spectabilis
Appledore, 10th October to 9th November;
Tugnet (Moray & Nairn), 23rd October; Mousa
Sound (Shetland), 29th October to 1st
November. Hooded Merganser Lophodytes
cucullatus Tayport (Fife), 26th October to 9th
November.

695

Kevin Durose

Tom Tams Keith Scovell

Recent reports

Cork) on 21st October and Uisaed Point
(Argyll) on 27th October.

386. First-summer male Amur Falcon Falco
amurensis, Tophill Low, Yorkshire, September 2008.

White-billed Diver Cavia adamsii Burniston
(Yorkshire), 29th October; Kirkabister, 29th
October to 2nd November, with another
Bluemull Sound (both Shetland), 2nd
November; Newbiggin, one north, presumed
same past Hauxley and Bamburgh (all
Northumberland), 31st October; Whitburn
(Durham), 31st October, with another on 1st
November.

Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche
melanophris Singles flew past Mizen Head (Co.

387. Adult Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, October 2008.

Green-backed Heron Butorides virescens West
Hythe (Kent), 25th October to 9th November.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Among several
records from Somerset, the maximum single
count was six, at Walton Heath. Other multiple
sightings were reported in Sussex (two groups
of four), Lancashire & N Merseyside (three),
Cambridgeshire (two), Devon (two) and Dorset
(two); there were a number of single birds in
Cornwall; and other singles in Carmarthen-
shire, Co. Cork, Cumbria, Oxfordshire, Pem-
brokeshire and Shropshire. Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea Letterfrack (Co. Galway), long-
stayer to 22nd October. Great White Egret
Ardea alba New arrivals were seen in Co. Cork,
Cornwall, Essex, Co. Galway, Greater Man-
chester, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire & Rutland,
Co. Longford, Norfolk, Northamptonshire,
Pembrokeshire and Warwickshire. Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus Pilmore Strand (Co. Cork),
21st-22nd October; Rain ham, Marshes (Greater
London), 21st October.

Amur Falcon Falco amurensis Tophill Low
(Yorkshire), from 14th September to 15th
October (previously reported as a Red-footed
Falcon Falco vespertinus).

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica New
arrivals were reported in Anglesey, Cam-
bridgeshire, Co. Clare (two), Co. Cork (two),

Cornwall, Lincoln-
shire, Co. Mayo,
Norfolk, Outer
Hebrides (three),
Oxfordshire and
Scilly. Sociable
Lapwing Vanellus
gregarius St Mary’s
(Scilly), 12th—
19th October.
Semipalmated
Sandpiper Calidris
pusilla Inishmore,
13th October.
White-rumped
Sandpiper Calidris
fuscicollis Reported
from Co. Cork
(two), Gwent,
Co. Mayo, Outer

696

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 695-700

Recent reports

Hebrides (two or three),
Sc illy (four or five), and
Shetland. Baird’s Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii Burnham
Lagoon (Co. Kerry), 7th
October; Burnham-on-Sea
(Somerset), 20th-21st
October; Blackrock Strand
(Co. Kerry), 27th October.
Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago deli-
cata St Mary’s, 24th October.
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Inishmore, 9 th— 10th
October; Dundalk (Co.
Louth), 28th October to 2nd
November. Lesser Yel-
lowlegs Tringa flavipes
Christchurch Harbour
(Dorset), 11th October;
Saltholme Pools (Cleve-
land), 1 3th— 14th October.
Wilson’s Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor Cley
(Norfolk), long-stayer to
16th October.

White-winged Black Tern
Chlidonias leucopterus Skip-
with Common (Yorkshire),
16th October. Forster’s Tern
Sterna forsteri Cruisetown
Strand (Co. Louth), 4th
October into November.

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus

Scilly, various islands, 29th
October to 1st November.

Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica Warham
Greens (Norfolk), 23rd
October. Olive-backed Pipit
Anthus hodgsoni St Mary’s,
12th October; Durleston CP
(Dorset), 13th October;
Spurn (Yorkshire), 15th
October; St Agnes,
20th-23rd October;

Gibraltar Point (Lin-
colnshire), 3rd November;
Toab (Shetland), 5th
November; Flamborough
Head (Yorkshire), 5th

388. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni, St Agnes, Isles of Scilly,
October 2008.

389. Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens, Bryher, Isles of Scilly, October 2008.

390. Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus, Muckleburgh Hill, Norfolk,

November 2008.

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 695-700

697

Kevin Durose Richard Stonier Steve Young/ Birdwatch

Steve Young/Birdwatch Graham Catley

Recent reports

39 I . Female Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, Saltfleet, Lincolnshire,

November 2008.

November; Bressay (Shetland), 7th November;
Fair Isle, 8th November; North Ronaldsay
(Orkney), 8th November. Pechora Pipit Anthus
gustavi North Roe (Shetland), 14th October.
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Cape Clear
Island (Co. Cork), 12th October; Lundy
(Devon), 22nd October; St Agnes, 31st October.
Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens North
Ronaldsay, long-stayer to 13th October; South
Uist, lst-2nd November.

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus A widespread
influx, first apparent in late October, with 25 at
Holme (Norfolk), followed by several large

flocks in Highland during
early November

(including 140 Arisaig,
250 Ullapool, 200 Brora
and 400 Portree) and up
to 80 on Mainland Shet-
land on 6th November.
Smaller numbers were
recorded right along east-
facing coasts, with small
numbers inland and as
far west as Ireland.

Red-flanked Bluetail Tar-
siger cyanurus St Mary’s,
21st October, with
same/another on 28th
October; Muckleburgh
Hill (Norfolk), 31st
October to 4th
November; Ramsgate
(Kent), lst-2nd November; Brancaster
(Norfolk), 4th November; Chapel St Leonards
(Lincolnshire), 6th November; Blakeney Point
(Norfolk), 6th November; Holy Island
(Northumberland), 7th-9th November; Salt-
fleet (Lincolnshire), 8th November; Hollesley
(Suffolk), 8th November. Siberian Stonechat
Saxicola torquatus maurus Out Skerries (Shet-
land), 1 0th — 1 2th October; Collafirth (Shet-
land), 1 9th— 20th October; St Margaret’s at
Cliffe (Kent), 30th October to 2nd November;
Easington (Yorkshire), 1 st— 6th November;
Withernsea (Yorkshire), 1st November. Pied
Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka Reighton Sands
(Yorkshire), 8th— 9 th
November. Desert Wheatear
Oenanthe deserti Crosby
(Lancashire & N Mersey-
side), 12th October; Easton
Bavents (Suffolk), 4th— 9th
November; Sandwich Bay
(Kent), 7 th— 9th November;
Saltfleet, 8th-9th November;
Lynemouth (Northumber-
land), 9th November.

White’s Thrush Zoothera
dauma Kergord (Shetland),
1 3th— 18th October; Dyce
(North-east Scotland)'

1 8th— 19th October.

Swainson’s Thrush Catharus
ustulatus Galley Head (Co.

392. Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus, St Agnes, Scilly, October 2008.

698

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 695-700

Recent reports

Cork), llth October. Grey-
cheeked Thrush Catharus
minimus St Agnes, 14th and
17th-22nd October, St
Mary’s, 26th— 3 1 st October,
Bryher (all Scilly), 4th
November. ‘Black-throated
Thrush’ Turdus ruficollis
atrogularis Holme, 31st
October.

Lanceolated Warbler
Locustella lanceolata Foula
(Shetland), 15th October.
Paddyfield Warbler Acro-
cephalus agricola Bardsey
(Caernarfonshire), llth
October; Lundy, 29th
October. Blyth’s Reed
Warbler Acrocephalus dume-
torum Norwich (Norfolk),
12th October; St Agnes,
13th, 1 6th— 1 7th and

2 1 st— 29th October; Mizen
Head, 31st October to 1st
November. Subalpine
Warbler Sylvia cantillans
Bempton (Yorkshire), 31st
October to 1st November;
Bawdsey (Suffolk), 3rd
November. Hume’s Warbler
Phylloscopus humei North
Gare (Cleveland), 1st
November; Unst (Shetland),
1 st — 5 1 h November; Lewis
(Outer Hebrides), 5th
November; Whalsay (Shet-
land), 5th-7th November;
North Ronaldsay, 7 th— 8th
November; St Mary’s Island
(Northumberland), 7th-9th
November; Wells-next-
the-Sea (Norfolk), 8th
November; Muchalls
(North-east Scotland), 9th
November; Newbiggin
(Northumberland), 9th
November; Balmedie
(North-east Scotland), 9th
November. Radde’s Warbler
Phylloscopus schwarzi St
Mary’s, two, llth October;
Copeland Island (Co.
Down), 12th October; Bish-

393. First-winter ‘Steppe Grey Shrike’ Lanius meridionalis pallidirostris,
Grainthorpe Haven, Lincolnshire, November 2008.

394. Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus, Kilbaha, Co. Clare, October 2008.

395. Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, October 2008.

British Birds 101* December 2008 • 695-700

699

Gary Thoburn John Carter Gary Jenkins

'.irishbirdimages.com Gary Jenkins

Recent reports

396. Male Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera, Bilsdale, Yorkshire,
November 2008.

opstone Glen (Kent), 12th October; Bolt Head,
12th October, Prawle Point, 12th October, Start
Point (all Devon), 16th October; South Gare
(Cleveland), 3rd-4th November; Foreness Point
(Kent), 4th November; Blakeney Point, 7th
November; Easington, 7th— 8th November; Scar-
borough (Yorkshire), 7th November. Dusky
Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Spurn, 2nd-6th
November; Muckleburgh Hill, 3rd-6th
November; Flamborough Head, 3rd-4th
November; Bawdsey, 4th November.

Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Sandwich Bay,
13th October; North Foreland (Kent), 8th

Philadelphia Vireo Vireo
philadelphicus Kilbaha
(Co. Clare), 1 3th— 1 4th
October. Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus Three were
on Scilly at the start of the
period, on St Agnes to 13th, Gugh to 15th and
St Mary’s to 13th October. New arrivals were at
Land’s End (Cornwall), 1 1 th— 1 7 th October;
Mullet Peninsula (Co. Mayo), 11th October;
Wembury (Dorset), 13th October; and St
Catherine’s Point (Isle of Wight), 18th October.
Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni North Uist
(Outer Hebrides), 12th— 1 3th October; Unst
(Shetland), 18th and 20th— 2 1 st October; North
Roe, 19th October; South Uist, 2nd November.
Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera Oxen-
hope (Yorkshire), 29th October; Bilsdale (York-
shire), 7th-9th November. Parrot Crossbill
Loxia pytyopsittacus Islay, 5th November. Black-
poll Warbler Dendroica
striata St Agnes,
long-stayer to 15th
October; Marloes Mere
(Pembrokeshire), 7th
October. White-throated
Sparrow Zonotrichia albi-
collis Cape Clear Island,
12th- 18th October. Pine
Bunting Emberiza leuco-
cephalos Private site,
Essex, 24th October.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheuticus ludovicianus
Kilbaha, 22nd-23rd
October. Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Porth )oke (Cornwall),
1 1th October; St Agnes,
2 1 st October.

397. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis. Cape Clear Island,
Co. Cork, October 2008.

November. Lesser Grey
Shrike Lanius minor Ret-
tendon (Essex), 1 Oth— 11th
October. Southern Grey
Shrike Lanius meridionaiis
Grainthorpe Haven
(Lincolnshire), 7th-
10th November. Rose-
coloured Starling Sturnus
roseus New arrivals were
seen in Cornwall (two),
Co. Galway, Kent and
Yorkshire.

700

British Birds 101 • December 2008 • 695-700

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Index to Volume 101

2008

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British Birds

A • T “ •

Volume 101

Editorial Board

Dawn Balmer, Ian Carter, Richard Chandler, Martin Collinson,

Chris Kehoe, Robin Prytherch, Nigel Redman, Roger Riddington,

Steve Votier

Editorial Staff

Roger Riddington (Editor)

Caroline Dudley & Peter Kennerley (Assistant Editors)

Rarities Committee

Chris Batty, Chris Bradshaw, Phil Bristow, Lance Degnan,

Paul French, Martin Garner, James Lidster, Mike Pennington,

Brian Small, John Sweeney

Adam Rowlands (Chairman), Nigel Hudson (Secretary),

John Marchant (Archivist), Brian Small (Museum Consultant),

Peter Kennerley (RIACT Secretary),

Reg Thorpe (Summariser and RIACT Chairman)

Behaviour Notes Panel

Will Cresswell, Ian Dawson, Jim Flegg, Ian Newton FRS, Malcolm Ogilvie,
Angela Turner (Co-ordinator)

Photographic Researchers
Robin Chittenden & David Tipling

Art Consultants

Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris

Volume 101
2008

ISSN 0007-0335

British Birds Volume 101 (2008) Main contents

January

2 The role of reintroductions in conserving British birds Ian Carter, Peter Newbery, Phil Grice and
Julian Hughes

26 Mourning Dove on North Uist: new to Britain Brian Rabbitts
31 Should Kermadec Petrel be on the British List? Tim Melting
39 Optimising digital images David Tipling

February

58 Diet and prey selection of urban-dwelling Peregrine Falcons in southwest England Edward J. A. Drewitt
and Nick Dixon

68 The mysteries of bird migration — still much to be learnt Franz Bairlein

82 Olive-tree Warbler in Shetland: new to Britain Hugh R. Harrop, Roddy Mavor and Peter M. Ellis

89 The Carl Zeiss Award Colin Bradshaw

90 The BBI BTO Best Bird Book of the Year 2007 John Marchant, Dawn Balmer, Andrew Gosler, Peter Hearn,
Robin Prytherch and Bob Scott

March

1 12 The use of stable-isotope ratios in ornithology Tony (A. D.) Fox and Stuart Bearhop

131 Long-billed Murrelet in Devon: new to Britain Kevin Rylands

137 The Dorset Yellow Bittern Tim Melling, Robert Y. McGowan and Ian Lewington

April

174 Identification of vagrant Iberian Chiffchaffs - pointers, pitfalls and problem birds J. Martin Collinson and
Tim Melling

189 Identification of Wilson’s and Common Snipe Martin Reid

May

228 The Common Kestrel population in Britain Rob Clements

235 Chestnut-eared Bunting on Fair Isle: new to Britain Deryk N. Shaw

241 The status of White-billed Diver in northwest Scotland Martin S. Scott and Ken D. Shaw

June

276 Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2005 Mark Holling and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel
317 Magnificent Frigatebird in Shropshire: new to Britain Richard Bradbury, Mark Eaton, Chris Bowden and
Mike Jordan

July

340 Species boundaries in the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull complex /. Martin Collinson,

David T. Parkin, Alan G. Knox, George Sangster and Lars Svensson
364 Recording areas of Great Britain David K. Ballance and A. Judith Smith

August

394 From the Rarities Committee’s files: ‘Northern Harrier’ on Scilly: new to Britain John P Martin
408 Bird Photograph of the Year 2008 Richard Chandler, Tim Appleton, Robin Chittenden, David Hosking,
Peter Kennerley and David Tipling

418 Important Bird Areas: Breeding seabirds on the Isles of Scilly Vickie Heaney, Leigh Lock, Paul St Pierre
and Andy Brown

September

458 Further thoughts on the transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds to Britain & Ireland Norman Elkins
478 The Eagle Owl in Britain Tim Melling, Steve Dudley and Paul Doherty

October

516 Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007 Nigel Hudson and the Rarities Committee

November

586 Important Bird Areas: Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island Peter Ryan
607 Highlights from a long-term study of Sparrowhawks lan Newton

December

644 Birds and habitat change in Britain. Part 1: a review of losses and gains in the twentieth century
Robert J. Fuller and Malcolm Ausden
676 The rise and fall of Bulwer’s Petrel Andrew H. J. Harrop

Index to Volume 101

Compiled by M. A. Ogilvie

Entries are in single list with reference to:

( 1 ) every significant mention of each species, not only in titles, but also within the text of papers, notes and
letters, including all those appearing in such lists as the ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2007’,
but excluding those in ‘Recent reports’, requests and reviews;

(2) scientific nomenclature under generic name only and following The ‘ British Birds’ List of Birds of the
Western Palearctic (see www.britishbirds.co.uk/bblist.htm);

(3) authors of all papers, notes, reviews and letters, and photographers; papers and notes are referred to by
their titles, other contributions as ‘letter on’, ‘review of, etc.;

(4) a few subject headings, e.g. ‘Breeding’, ‘Conservation research news’, ‘Field characters’, ‘Food and feeding
behaviour’, ‘News and comment’, ‘Rarities Committee’, ‘Recent reports’ and ‘Voice’;

(5) ‘Reviews’ and ‘Short reviews’, which are listed together in alphabetical order of authors reviewed.

Accipiter gentilis, see Goshawk, Northern

nisus , see Sparrowhawk, Eurasian

striatus, see Hawk, Sharp-shinned

Acrocephalus agricola , see Warbler, Paddyfield

arundinaceus, see Warbler, Great Reed

dumetorum , see Warbler, Blyth’s Reed

paludicola , see Warbler, Aquatic

palustris , see Warbler, Marsh

Actitis macularius , see Sandpiper, Spotted
Alauda arvensis, see Lark, Sky
Albatross, Atlantic Yellow-nosed, status on Tristan
da Cunha and Gough Island, 586-606, plate
312

, Black-browed, accepted records, 527

, Sooty, status on Tristan da Cunha and

Gough Island, 586-606, plate 309

, Tristan, status on Tristan da Cunha and

Gough Island, 586-606, plates 311, 323
Alca torda, see Razorbill
Alcedo atthis , see Kingfisher, Common
Alopochen aegyptiaca , see Goose, Egyptian
Ammodramus sandwichensis, see Sparrow,
Savannah

Anas acuta, see Pintail

discors, see Teal, Blue-winged

falcata, see Duck, Falcated

formosa, see Teal, Baikal

penelope , see Wigeon, Eurasian

querquedula , see Garganey

rubripes, see Duck, Black

strepera, see Gadwall

Andrew, D. G., letter on Lammergeiers and lambs,
215

Andrews, R., photograph of Glossy Ibis, 51, plate
34; of Bonaparte’s Gull, 273, plate 146
Anous stolidus , see Noddy, Brown
Anser anser, see Goose, Greylag

brachyrhynchus, see Goose, Pink-footed

caerulescens, see Goose, Snow

erythropus, see Goose, Lesser White-fronted

rossii, see Goose, Ross’s

Anthus godlewskii, see Pipit, Blyth’s

gustavi, see Pipit, Pechora

hodgsoni, see Pipit, Olive-backed

pratensis, see Pipit, Meadow

rubescens, see Pipit, Buff-bellied

trivialis, see Pipit, Tree

Appleton, T., see Chandler, R„ et al.

Apus pallidus, see Swift, Pallid
Aquila chrysaetos, see Eagle, Golden
Ardea cinerea, see Heron, Grey

herodias, see Heron, Great Blue

Ardeola ralloides, see Heron, Squacco
Arenaria interpres, see Turnstone
Armada, R., photograph of Black Lark, 338, plate
163

Asio flammeus, see Owl, Short-eared
Astorkia, L., see Zuberogoitia, I., et al.

Atkinson, J., photograph of Cretzschmar’s
Bunting, 642, plate 352
Atlantisia rogersi , see Rail, Inaccessible
Auk, Great, stable-isotope studies, 112-30
Ausden, M., see Fuller, R. J.

Avocet, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25; breeding
in Britain in 2005, 298-9; population increase
in twentieth century, 644-75
Aythya affmis, see Scaup, Lesser

ferina, see Pochard, Common

fuligula, see Duck, Tufted

tnarila, see Scaup, Greater

nyroca, see Duck, Ferruginous

Azkona, A., see Zuberogoitia, L, et al.

Bachmeier, G., photograph of Common Kestrel,
231, plate 125

Bairlein, F„ the mysteries of bird migration - still
much to be learnt, 68-81, plates 48-51
Bakewell, D., photograph of ‘White-faced’ Plover,
48, plate 32

Ballance, D. K., review of Smith et al.: Wild Mynd:

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

701

Index

birds and wildlife of the Long Mynd, 219; of
Uglow: Nature's Engraver: a life of Thomas
Bewick, 331; of Bowler & Hunter: Birds of
Tiree and Coll, 331; of Peterken: Wye Valley,
503; of Bray & Bray: The Birds of the
Huddersfield Area, 632

, , and Smith, A. J., recording areas of

Great Britain, 364-75
Balmer, D., see Marchant, J., et al.

Bantock, T., Common Kingfisher catching and
attempting to eat a shrew, 497
Baranoff, S., photographs of ‘Northern Harrier’,
398, plates 186-7

Barry, J., photographs of Wilson’s and Common
Snipe, 191-2, plates 104-5, 108
Baston, B., photograph of Little Ringed Plover,
414, plate 201; of Radde’s Warbler, 641, plate
348

Batty, C., photograph of White-throated Sparrow,
338, plate 164

Baxter, P., photograph of Caspian Plover, 336,
plate 159; of Pine Bunting, 571, plate 294
BBI BTO Best Bird Book of the Year, 90-91
Bearhop, S„ see Fox, A. D.

Beattie, J., photograph of Black Scoter, 524, plate
259

Bee-eater, European, breeding in Britain in 2005,
305

Berg, A. van den, photograph of White-billed
Diver, 246, plate 135

Betton, K., review of Ryan: Field Guide to the
Animals and Plants of Tristan da Cunha and
Gough Island, 100; of Dowsett et al.: The Birds
of Zambia, 504; of Farrow: A Field Guide to
the Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and
Northern Europe (2 CDs), 505; of Moss: A Sky
Full of Starlings: a diary of a birding year, 690
Bird Photograph of the Year 2008, 408-17, plates
198-207

Bittern, Eurasian, breeding in Britain in 2005,
288-9; photograph, 692, plate 384

, Little, display flight, 92; accepted records,

527

, Yellow, in Dorset, 137-41, plates 82-86

Blackbird, photographs, 42, plates 30-31;
attempted feeding of dead fledgling, 209;
eating fuchsia seed pods and flowers, 328
Blackcap, stable-isotope studies, 112-30, plate 74
Blair, M., letter on the pronunciation of scientific
names, 214—15

Bloomfield, A., unusual Marsh Harrier plumages,
151-2, plates 88-89

Bluetail, Red-flanked, photographs, 54, 697, plates
41-42, 390; accepted records, 557-8, plate 282
Bluethroat, photograph of white-spotted
Bluethroat, 274, plate 147
Bobolink, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain &
Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate 233
Borg, J. J., photograph of burnt-out bird ringers’
cars in Malta, 220, plate 1 17
, , see Montalto, J. A., et al.

Borrett, D., photograph of Great Blue Heron, 51,
plate 33

Botaurus stellaris, see Bittern, Eurasian
Bourne, W. R. P., letter on the past British status of
the Balearic Shearwater, 213; on storks and
other possible past British breeding birds, 214;
on interoceanic ballistic jaegers, 325-6; on
rare seabirds, 498-9
Bowden, C„ see Bradbury, R., et al.

Brachyramphus marmoratus, see Murrelet,

Marbled

perdix, see Murrelet, Long-billed

Bradbury, R., et al., Magnificent Frigatebird in
Shropshire: new to Britain, 317-21, plates
152-4

Bradshaw, C., The Carl Zeiss Award, 89
Brambling, breeding in Britain in 2005, 312
Branta bernicla, see Goose, Brent

ruficollis, see Goose, Red-breasted

Breaks, M., photograph of Calandra Lark, 337,
plate 162; of Citril Finch, 392, plate 184; of
Brown Flycatcher, 642, plate 350
Breeding: Mute Swan, 383; Slavonian Grebe,

201-3; Little Bittern, 92; Lammergeier, 491-2,
plates 243-4; Hen Harrier, 262; Merlin, 687-8;
Moorhen, 327-8, plate 155; Black- winged
Pratincole, 328, plate 156; House Martin, 497;
Blackbird, 209; Coal Tit, 210; Rook, 96; Twite,
263

Brookes, B., House Martins eating elderberries,

384, plates 175-6

Brooks, R„ photograph of Dark-breasted Barn
Owl, 225, plate 121

Broughton, R. K., singing by female Marsh Tits:
frequency and function, 155-6
Brown, A., see Heaney, V., et al.

Bubo bubo, see Owl, Eagle

scandiacus, see Owl, Snowy

Bubulcus ibis, see Egret, Cattle
Bucephala albeola, see Bufflehead

clangula, see Goldeneye, Common

islandica, see Goldeneye, Barrow’s

Bufflehead, accepted records, 524
Bullfinch, stable-isotope studies, 112-30, plate 66;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Bulweria bulwerii, see Petrel, Bulwer’s
Bunting, Black-headed, accepted records, 572

, Chestnut-eared, accepted records, 571

, Cirl, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25, plates

10-1 1; breeding in Britain in 2005,314;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

, Corn, photograph, 222, plate 1 18;

population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

, Cretzschmar’s, photograph, 642, plate 352

, Gough, status on Gough Island, 586-606,

plate 32 1

— , Inaccessible, status on Tristan da Cunha,
586-606

702

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

, Nightingale, status on Tristan da Cunha,

586-606, plate 319

, Pine, accepted records, 571, plate 294

, Reed, associating with Common Stonechat,

144

, Snow, breeding in Britain in 2005, 314;

photograph, 412, plate 200

, Wilkins’, status on Tristan da Cunha,

586-606, plate 318

Burhinus oedicnemus, see Stone-curlew
Bustard, Great, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25,
plate 2

Butorides striatus, see Heron, Green-backed

Cade, M., photograph of ‘eastern’ Common
Chiffchaff, 147, plate 87a & b
Calidris acuminata, see Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed

alpina, see Dunlin

bairdii, see Sandpiper, Baird’s

canutus, see Knot, Red

fuscicollis, see Sandpiper, White- rumped

maritima, see Sandpiper, Purple

minuta, see Stint, Little

minutilla, see Sandpiper, Least

pusilla, see Sandpiper, Semipalmated

Capercaillie, suggested for reintroduction to

Britain, 2-25; breeding in Britain in 2005, 285
Caprimulgus europaeus, see Nightjar, European
Carduelis cabaret, see Redpoll, Lesser

cannabina, see Linnet

carduelis, see Goldfinch

chloris, see Greenfinch

flammea, see Redpoll, Common

flavirostris, see Twite

spinus, see Siskin

Carl Zeiss Award, award presentation, 89, plate 56
Carpodacus erythrinus, see Rosefinch, Common
Carter, C., letter on Lammergeiers, 325
Carter, L, review of Erritzoe et al: The

Ornithologist’s Dictionary, 164; of Cheke &
Hume: Lost Land of the Dodo: an ecological
history of Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues,
629-30; of Dennis: A Life of Ospreys, 634

, , et al.. The role of reintroductions in

conserving British birds, 2-25, plates 1-12

, photograph of Long-billed Murrelet, 133,

plate 77; of Little Crake, 536, plate 265; of
Mourning Dove, 550, plate 277; of Sykes’s
Warbler, 640, plate 347; of Philadelphia Vireo,
699, plate 394

Castillo, I., see Zuberogoitia, L, et al.

Catbird, Grey, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain 8c
Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77
Catharus bicknelli, see Thrush, Bicknell’s

fuscescens, see Veery

guttatus, see Thrush, Hermit

minimus, see Thrush, Grey-cheeked

ustulatus, see Thrush, Swainson’s

Catley, G., photograph of Desert Wheatear, 1 10,
698, plates 63, 391; of Black-bellied Dipper,
225, plate 122; of Ross’s Gull, 548, plate 275;

of Eurasian Bittern, 692, plate 384
Ceryle alcyon, see Kingfisher, Belted
Cettia cetti, see Warbler, Cetti’s
Chaetura pelagica, see Swift, Chimney
Chaffinch, Common, adult killed by Eurasian Jay,
385

Chandler, R., photograph of Red Kite, 3, plate 1;
of Red Knot, 119, plate 68; of Black- tailed
Godwit, 123, plate 71; of ‘eastern’ Common
Chiffchaff, 147, plate 87c; of ‘Northern
Harrier’, 400, plate 190; of Spoon-billed
Sandpiper, 453, plate 227
Charadrius asiaticus, see Plover, Caspian

, , et al. Bird Photograph of the Year

2008, 408-17, plates 198-207

dubius, see Plover, Little Ringed

leschenaultii, see Plover, Greater Sand

morinellus, see Dotterel

■ vociferus, see Killdeer

Chiffchaff, Common, letters on ‘Siberian

Chiffchaffs’, 146-50, 380, plate 87; Rarities
Committee news, ‘Siberian Chiffchaffs’ in
Britain, 165-6

, Iberian, identification of vagrants -

pointers, pitfalls and problem birds, 174-88,
plates 98-103; letter on distribution and
identification, 378-9; letter on mixed-singing
birds, 379-80; accepted records, 567, plate 291
Chittenden, R., photograph of Desert Wheatear,
55, plate 43; of Corn Bunting, 222, plate 1 18

, , see Chandler, R., et al.

Chlidonias hybrida, see Tern, Whiskered

leucopterus, see Tern, White- winged Black

Chordeiles minor, see Nighthawk, Common
Chough, Red-billed, reintroduction in Britain,
2-25; breeding in Britain in 2005, 312;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia, see Gull, Bonaparte’s
Ciconia ciconia, see Stork, White

nigra, see Stork, Black

Cinclus cinclus, see Dipper

Circus aeruginosus, see Harrier, Marsh

cyaneus, see Harrier, Hen

macrourus, see Harrier, Pallid

pygargus, see Harrier, Montagu’s

Cisticola juncidis, see Cisticola, Zitting

nigriloris, see Cisticola, Black-lored

Cisticola, Black-lored, associating with Common
Stonechat, 145

, Zitting, photograph, 638, plate 342

Clamator glandarius, see Cuckoo, Great Spotted
Clark, ]., review of Ferguson-Lees et al.: Birds of
Wiltshire, 100-1; of Wheatley: Birds of Surrey,
448; of Sanders: The Birds of Alderney, 506; of
Venables et al: The Birds of Gwent, 633
Clements, R., the Common Kestrel population in
Britain, 228-34, plates 125-6
Coccyzus americanus, see Cuckoo, Yellow-billed
Coe, P., photograph of Yellow Bittern, 138, plates
82-83, 86

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

703

Index

Collinson, J. M., review of Clements: The Clements
Checklist of the Birds of the World, 6th edn ,

102; of Forrester et al. : The Birds of Scotland,
162-3

, , and Melling, T., identification of

vagrant Iberian Chiffchaffs - pointers, pitfalls
and problem birds, 174-88, plates 98-103

, , et al, species boundaries in the

Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull
complex, 340-63, plates 165-73

, T., photograph of Chimney Swift, 462, plate

231

Combridge, P., review of Clews: Birds in a Village:
a century on, 43; of Cieslak & Dul: Feathers:
identification for bird conservation, 164; of
Gensbol: Collins Birds of Prey, 449-50; of
Barthel & Dougalis: New Holland European
Bird Guide, 450; letter on Kermadec Petrel,
taxidermists, and judging ancient records,
322-4; Peregrine Falcon defending prey from
flock of Carrion Crows, 383 — 4; Common
Crossbill flycatching, 385

, , and Combridge, S., aerial food pass by

Pallid Harrier at winter roost, 93-94
Conservation research news: 142-3; 249-50;

376-7; 624-5, plate 335; 682-3
Cook, K., photograph of Trindade Petrel, 34, plate
21; of Magnificent Frigatebird, 320, plate 154
Cooper, D., photograph of Hume’s Warbler, 1 10,
plate 64

Copete, J. L., letter on distribution and

identification of Iberian Chiffchaff, 378-9
Coracias garrulus, see Roller, European
Coram, J., photograph of British Birds editors in
the 1970s, 253, plate 138

Cormorant, Great, stable-isotope studies, 112-30,
plate 75; mixed colony with Grey Herons in
Hertfordshire, 261; breeding on the Isles of
Scilly, 418-38; population increase in
twentieth century, 644-75

, Pygmy, suggested for reintroduction to

Britain, 2-25

Corrections: 150; 160; 223; 274; 454
Corvus corone, see Crow, Carrion

frugilegus, see Rook

macrorhynchos, see Crow, Jungle

monedula, see Jackdaw, Western

Coster, B„ photograph of Steller’s Eider, 416, plate
205

Coturnix coturnix, see Quail, Common
Crake, Corn, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25,

plates 8-9; breeding in Britain in 2005, 297-8;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

, Little, photographs, 39, 272, plates 23-24,

1 44; accepted records, 536, plate 265

, Spotted, breeding in Britain in 2005, 297

Crane, Common, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25,
plate 12; breeding in Britain in 2005, 298
Crex crex, see Crake, Corn
Crossbill, Common, breeding in Britain in 2005,

313; flycatching, 385; population increase in
twentieth century, 644-75

, Parrot, breeding in Britain in 2005, 314

, Scottish, breeding in Britain in 2005, 313

-, Two-barred, photographs, 514, 700, plates

255, 396

Crow, Carrion, attacking Grey Squirrel, 156;
Peregrine Falcon defending prey from flock,
383-4; mobbing Short-eared Owl, 688

, Jungle, stable-isotope studies, 112-30

Cuckoo, Great Spotted, accepted records, 551

, Yellow-billed, transatlantic vagrancy to

Britain & Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate 232
Cunningham, J., photograph of British Birds
authors from the 1950s, 251, plate 136
Curlew, Slender-billed, stable-isotope studies,
112-30

Cyanistes caeruleus, see Tit, Blue
Cygnus cygnus, see Swan, Whooper
olor, see Swan, Mute

Dale, R., photograph of presumed hybrid
Kermadec x Trindade Petrel, 34, plate 22
Dancy, A., photograph of Peregrine Falcon, 297,
plate 150

Davenport, J., photograph of David Davenport,
500, plate 250

Day, K., photograph of American Herring Gull,
224, plate 120; of Common Kestrel, 232, plate
126; of Red-backed Shrike, 334, plate 157; of
Whiskered Tern, 391, plate 182; of Canada
Warbler, 470, plate 238; of Long-billed
Dowitcher, 540, plate 269; of Buff-bellied
Pipit, 555, plate 281; of Northern Lapwing,
652, plate 357

Dean, A., letter on colour nomenclature and
Siberian Chiffchaffs, 146-8, plate 87; on
colour nomenclature, 380
Delichon urbicum, see Martin, House
Dempsey, E„ photograph of Buff-bellied Pipit, 53,
plate 40; of Wilson’s Storm-petrel, 582, plate
298; of Little Blue Heron, 636, plate 336

, , and Nightingale, B., recent reports,

see Recent reports

Dendroica caerulescens, see Warbler, Black-
throated Blue

coronata, see Warbler, Yellow-rumped

petechia, see Warbler, Yellow

striata, see Warbler, Blackpoll

Dillon, I. A., et al, post-hatch nest use by
Slavonian Grebes in Scotland, 201-3
Diomedea dabbenana, see Albatross, Tristan
Dipper, photograph of ‘Black-bellied Dipper’, 225,
plate 122; accepted records of ‘Black-bellied
Dipper’, 556-7; population decrease in
twentieth century, 644-75, plate 37 1
Diver, Black-throated, breeding In Britain in 2005,
287

, Pacific, photograph, 171, plate 96

-, Red-throated, breeding in Britain in 2005,

286-7

704

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

, White-billed, origins of birds in western

Europe, 144; status in northwest Scotland,
241-8, plates 131-5; feeding technique, 260-1,
plates 140-1; accepted records, 526-7
Diving-petrel, Common, status on Tristan da
Cunha and Gough Island, 586-606
Dixon, N„ see Drewitt, E. J. A.

Doherty, P., see Melling, T., et al.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus, see Bobolink
Dott, H. E. M., Blue Tits obtain concealed insects
in winter by selecting bud size, 209-10
Dotterel, breeding in Britain in 2005, 300
Dove, Collared, population increase in twentieth
century, 644-75

, Mourning, on North Uist: new to Britain,

26-30, plates 13-16; transatlantic vagrancy to
Britain & Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77;
accepted records, 550-1, plate 277

, Turtle, population decrease in twentieth

century, 644-75

Dowitcher, Long-billed, accepted records, 540-1,
plate 269

Drake, A., photograph of Least Sandpiper, 538,
plate 268

Drewitt, E. I. A., and Dixon, N., diet and prey
selection of urban-dwelling Peregrine Falcons
in southwest England, 58-67, plate 47
Dubois, P. J., letter on mixed-singing Iberian
Chiffchaffs, 379-80

, , and Duquet, M., letter on Siberian

Chiffchaffs, 149-50

Duck, Black, photograph, 271, plate 142; accepted
records, 520

, Falcated, accepted records, 575

, Ferruginous, photograph, 108, plate 60

, Harlequin, accepted records, 523, plates

257-8

, Tufted, population increase in twentieth

century, 644-75
Dudley, S., see Melling, T., et al.

Dumetella carolinensis, see Catbird, Grey
Dunlin, population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Dunnock, associating with Common Stonechat, 144
Duquet, M., see Dubois, P J.

Durdin, C., Mute Swans eating carrion, 496
Durose, K., photograph of Squacco Heron, 528,
plate 260; of Gyr Falcon, 535, plate 264;
of Iberian Chiffchaff, 567, plate 291; of Green-
backed Heron, 695, plate 385; of Red-flanked
Bluetail, 697, plate 390

Dymond, N., review of Harvey et al. : Atlas of the
Birds of Delhi and Haryana, 163-4

Eagle, Golden, reintroduction in Ireland, 2-25;
breeding in Britain in 2005, 294

, White-tailed, reintroduction in Britain and

Ireland, 2-25, plate 4; breeding in Britain in
2005, 291; catching Greylag Goose, 326
Earl, T., Hobby taking fish from Common Tern,
496

Eaton, M., see Bradbury, R„ et al.

Egan, B„ photograph of King Eider, 389, plate 179
Egret, Cattle, photographs, 109, 224, plates 62,

119; accepted records, 528-30, plate 261

, Little, breeding in Britain in 2005, 289

Egretta caerulea, see Heron, Little Blue

garzetta, see Egret, Little

Eider, Common, photograph, 416, plate 204

, King, stable-isotope studies, 112-30;

photographs, 389, 416, plates 179, 204;
attacked and killed by Harbour Seal, 442-3,
plates 223-5; accepted records, 522-3

, Spectacled, photograph, 416, plate 204

, Steller’s, photographs, 416, plates 204-5

Ekstrom, G., photographs of Bulwer’s Petrel, 680,
plates 382-3

Elkins, N., letter on murrelets in Europe, 144-5;
review of Huntley et al.: A Climatic Atlas of
European Breeding Birds, 329; further thoughts
on the transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds to
Britain & Ireland, 458-77, plates 229-40
Ellis, P M., see Harrop, H. R., et al.

Elorriaga, J., see Zuberogoitia, I., et al.

Emberiza caesia, see Bunting, Cretzschmar’s

calandra, see Bunting, Corn

cirlus, see Bunting, Cirl

citrinella, see Yellowhammer

fncata, see Bunting, Chestnut-eared

leucocephalos, see Bunting, Pine

melanocephala, see Bunting, Black-headed

schoeniclus, see Bunting, Reed

Empidonax alnorum, see Flycatcher, Alder
Eremophila alpestris, see Lark, Shore
Eriksen, J., photograph of Sooty Falcon, 415, plate
203; of Siskin, 647, plate 355
Erithacus rubecula, see Robin
Eudyptes moseleyi, see Penguin, Northern
Rockhopper

Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, see Sandpiper, Spoon-
billed

Everett, M., review of Moss: Remarkable Birds,

101; of Tate: Flights of Fancy, 104; of Bennett:
True to Form, 163; of Threlfall: Between the
Tides, 163; of Chandler 8c Couzens: 100 Birds
to See Before You Die, 631
Everitt, J., photographs of Honey-buzzard, 205,
plates 115-16

Fadda, A., and Medda, M., photograph of
Lammergeier, 491, plate 244
Fairbank, R., review of Svensson 8< Delin: Philip’s
Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe, 102-3
Falco amurensis, see Falcon, Amur

columbarius, see Merlin

concolor, see Falcon, Sooty

peregrinus, see Falcon, Peregrine

rusticolus, see Falcon, Gyr

subbuteo, see Hobby

tinnunculus, see Kestrel, Common

vespertinus, see Falcon, Red-footed

Falcon, Amur, photograph, 696, plate 386

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

705

Index

, Gyr, accepted records, 534-5, plate 264

, Peregrine, diet and prey selection of urban-

dwelling birds in southwest England, 58-67,
plate 47; photograph, 167, plate 93; breeding
in Britain in 2005, 296-7, plates 149-50; egg
breakage, 326-7; feeding Common Kestrel
chicks, 327; defending prey from flock of
Carrion Crows, 383-4

, Red-footed, photographs, 335, 390, plates

158, 180

, Sooty, photograph, 415, plate 203

Farrell, L., Rooks gathering nest material, 96
Field characters: Marsh Flamer, 151-2, plates
88-89; Hobby, 207-8; Wilson’s and Common
Snipe, 189-200, plates 104-13; Iberian
Chiffchaff, 174-88, plates 98-103
Fieldfare, breeding in Britain in 2005, 307
Finch, Citril, photograph, 392, plate 184
Firecrest, breeding in Britain in 2005, 310;
population increase in twentieth century,
644-75, plate 363; male helping to feed a
Goldcrest family, 688

Flood, R. F., review of Parslow: The Isles of Stilly ,
46-47; of Robb et at: Petrels Night and Day,
628-9; Short-eared Owl sitting on sea surface
to avoid Carrion Crows, 688
Flycatcher, Alder, photograph, 637, plate 339

, Brown, photograph, 642, plate 350

, Spotted, nest destroyed by House Martins,

497

Food and feeding behaviour: Mute Swan, 496;
Egyptian Goose, 200; White-billed Diver,
260-1, plates 140-1; Little Grebe, 200; Grey
Heron, 92-93, plates 57-58; White-tailed
Eagle, 326; Pallid Harrier, 93-94; Hobby, 496;
Peregrine Falcon, 58-67, plate 47; Moorhen,
262-3, 496-7, plate 248; Oystercatcher, 94;
Common Kingfisher, 497; House Martin, 384,
plates 175-6; Grey Wagtail, 498, plate 249;
Blackbird, 328; Firecrest, 688; Blue Tit, 209-10
Fox, A. D., and Bearhop, S., the use of stable-
isotope ratios in ornithology, 112-30, plates
66-76

Fratercula arctica, see Puffin

Fray, R., photograph of Carl Zeiss Award

presentation, plate 56; Red-footed Falcon, 390,
plate 180

Fregata magnificens, see Frigatebird, Magnificent
Fregetta grallaria, see Storm-petrel, White-bellied
Frigatebird, Magnificent, in Shropshire: new to
Britain, 317-21, plates 152-4
Fringilla coelebs, see Chaffinch, Common

montifringilla, see Brambling

From the Rarities Committee’s files: 'Northern
Harrier’ on Scilly: new to Britain, 394-407,
plates 185-97; October Greenish Warblers,
493-5, plates 245-7

Frost, R. A., Robin imitating Barn Swallow, 208;

cliff-nesting Twites in the Peak District, 263
Fuller, L., photograph of Paddyfield Warbler, 563,
plate 289

, R. J., and Ausden, M„ birds and habitat

change in Britain. Part 1: a review of the losses
and gains in the twentieth century, 644-75,
plates 353-79

Fulmar, stable-isotope studies, 112-30, plate 73;

breeding on the Isles of Scilly, 418-38
Fulmarus glacialis, see Fulmar
Fulton, I., photograph of Hen Harrier, 402, plate
194

Gadwall, breeding in Britain in 2005, 282;
population increase in twentieth century,
644-75, plate 369
Galea, R., see Montalto, J. A., et al.

Gallinago gallinago, see Snipe, Common

media, see Snipe, Great

Gallinula chloropus, see Moorhen

comeri, see Moorhen, Gough

Gannet, Northern, photograph, 377, plate 174
Garcia, E., review of Partida: Nomads of the Strait
of Gibraltar, 632

Garganey, breeding in Britain in 2005, 283
Garrulus glandarius, see Jay, Eurasian
Gauntlett, F. M., review of Gill 8c Wright: Birds of
the World: recommended English names, 264-5
Gavia adamsii, see Diver, White-billed

arctica, see Diver, Black-throated

paciftca, see Diver, Pacific

stellata, see Diver, Red-throated

Gelochelidon nilotica, see Tern, Gull-billed
Geothlypis trichas, see Yellowthroat, Common
Gibbins, C., photograph of European Herring
Gull, 342, plate 165; of American Herring
Gull, 343, 359, plates 166, 173; of Lesser
Black-backed Gull, 347, 356-7, plates 168,

171, 172; of Yellow- legged Gull, 352, plate 169;
of Caspian Gull, 353, plate 170
Gifford, D., photograph of White’s Thrush, 55,
plate 44

Gladwin, T., mixed colony of Great Cormorants
and Grey Herons in Hertfordshire, 261
Glareola nordmanni , see Pratincole, Black-winged
Godwit, Black-tailed, suggested for reintroduction
to Britain, 2-25; stable-isotope studies,

1 12-30, plate 71; breeding in Britain in 2005,
300-1; adult killed by Rooks, 447
Goldcrest, population increase in twentieth

century, 644-75; family fed by male Firecrest,
688

Goldeneye, Barrow’s, photograph, 272, plate 143;
accepted records, 525

, Common, breeding in Britain in 2005, 285

Goldfinch, associating with Common Stonechat,
144

Goose, Brent, stable-isotope studies, 1 12-30

, Egyptian, eating New Zealand Pygmyweed, ,

200

-, Greylag, caught by White-tailed Eagle, 326

, Lesser White- fronted, accepted records, 576

— , Pink-footed, photographs, 41, plates 28-29
— , Red-breasted, accepted records, 520

706

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

, Ross’s, accepted records, 575

, Snow, stable-isotope studies, 112-30

, spp., population increase in twentieth

century, 644-75

Goshawk, Northern, reintroduction in Britain,
2-25; breeding in Britain in 2005, 293 — 4;
population increase in twentieth century,
644-75

Gosler, A., see Marchant, J., et al.

Grebe, Black-necked, breeding in Britain in 2005,
288

, Great Crested, population increase in

twentieth century, 644-75

, Little, catching newt, 200; Moorhens

commensal on, 262-3

, Red-necked, breeding in Britain in 2005,

287

, Slavonian, post-hatch nest use in Scotland,

201-3; breeding in Britain in 2005, 287
Greenfinch, adult killed by Eurasian Jay, 385;
population increase in twentieth century,
644-75

Greenshank, Common, breeding in Britain in
2005,301

Greenwood, J„ review of Bircham: A History of
Ornithology, 216

Gregory, L., photograph of Yellow Warbler, 584,
plate 303

Grice, P., see Carter, I., et al.

Grishina, K. V., see Kamp, J.

Grosbeak, Pine, photographs, 40, plates 25-27

, Rose-breasted, photograph, 56, plate 46;

transatlantic vagrancy to Britain & Ireland
1997-2006, 458-77; accepted records, 572,
plate 295

Grouse, Black, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75, plate 379

, Willow/Red, population decrease in

twentieth century, 644-75
Grus grus, see Crane, Common
Grussu, M„ unusual nest-site of Lammergeier in
Sardinia, 491-2, plates 243^1
Guillemot, Briinnich’s, photograph, 386, plate 177;
accepted records, 550

, Common, breeding on the Isles of Scilly,

418-38

Guinart, E„ see Gutierrez, R.

Gull, American Herring, photographs, 224, 343,
359, plates 120, 166, 173; accepted records,

547

, Audouin’s, the Ebro Delta colony and

vagrancy potential to northwest Europe,
443-5, plate 226; accepted records, 546;
photograph, 579, plate 297

, Bonaparte’s, photographs, 52, 273, plates 37,

145; accepted records, 548-9, plate 276

, Caspian, photograph, 353, plate 170

, Franklin’s, accepted records, 546

, Great Black-backed, breeding on the Isles ot

Scilly, 418-38, plate 212

, Herring, species boundaries in the Herring

and Lesser Black-backed Gull complex,

340-63, plates 165-73; breeding on the Isles of
Scilly, 418-38, plate 219

, Iceland, photograph, 345, plate 167

, Ivory, accepted records, 549

, Laughing, accepted records, 545

, Lesser Black-backed, species boundaries in

the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull
complex, 340-63, plates 165-73; breeding on
the Isles of Scilly, 418-38; accepted records of
'Baltic Gull’, Larus f. fuscus, 546-7

, Mediterranean, breeding in Britain in 2005,

303

, Ross’s, photograph, 273, plate 145; accepted

records, 548, plate 275

, Yellow-legged, breeding in Britain in 2005,

303; photograph, 352, plate 169
Gutierrez, R., and Guinart, E., the Ebro Delta
Audouin’s Gull colony and vagrancy potential
to northwest Europe, 443-5, plate 226
Gypaetus barbatus, see Lammergeier

Haematopus ostralegus, see Oystercatcher
Hage, S„ photograph of Common Snipe, 192,
plate 107

Haliaeetus albicilla, see Eagle, White-tailed
Hallam, N., photograph of Mourning Dove, 27,
plate 13; of Cattle Egret, 530, plate 261; of
Marsh Sandpiper, 544, plate 274; of
Bonaparte’s Gull, 548, plate 276
Hancock, M., see Dillon, I. A., et al.

Hanlon, J., photograph of Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, 56, plate 46

Harrier, Hen, suggested for reintroduction to
Britain, 2-25; artificial feeding in the Peak
District, 1 52 — 4, plate 92, and letter, 256-7; two
males attending a nest in Co. Kerry, 262;
breeding in Britain in 2005, 293; ‘Northern
Harrier’ on Scilly: new to Britain, 394-407,
plates 185-97

, Marsh, unusual plumages, 151-2, plates

88-89; breeding in Britain in 2005, 291-2

, Montagu’s, breeding in Britain in 2005, 293

, Pallid, aerial food pass at winter roost, 93-4;

accepted records, 534

Harris, A., review of McCallum: Arctic Flight:
adventures amongst northern birds, 45—46; of
Cook: Birds, 330

Harrop, A. H. J., the rise and fall of Bulwer’s
Petrel, 676-81, plates 380-3

, H. R., winner, Carl Zeiss Award, 89, plate 56;

photograph of Fulmar, 125, plate 73; of
Blackcap, 126, plate 74; of Chestnut-eared
Bunting, 238, plate 129; of Northern Gannet,
377, plate 174; of Hen Harrier, 402, plate 195;
of Red-necked Phalarope, 417, plate 206; of
Savannah Sparrow, 467, plate 234; of Yellow
Warbler, 468, plate 235; Two-barred Crossbill,
514, plate 255; of Killdeer, 537, plate 266; of
Pechora Pipit, 554, plate 280; of White’s

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

707

Index

Thrush, 560, plate 284; of Swainson’s Thrush,
561, plate 286; of Booted Warbler, 584, plate
302; Paddyfield Warbler, 639, plate 345;
Western Bonelli’s Warbler, 641, plate 349; ot
Firecrest, 659, plate 363; of Black Grouse, 675,
plate 379

, , et al, Olive-tree Warbler in Shetland:

new to Britain, 82-88, plates 52-55
Harvey, P., review of Arlott: Collins Field Guide -
Birds of the Palearctic: passerines, 43; of
Hirschfeld: Rare Birds Yearbook 2008: the
world’s 189 most threatened birds, 218-19; of
Collar et ai: Birds and People: bonds in a
timeless journey, 266-7; of Garner et al:
Frontiers in Birding, 689

, R., photograph of Glossy Ibis, 172, plate 97

Hathway, R„ photograph of Common Nighthawk,
461, plate 230

Hatton, D. H., review of BirdGuides: British Birds
Interactive, 157-9; photograph of possible
South Polar Skua on Scilly, 440, plates 221-2;
of White-tailed Lapwing, 538, plate 267; of
gravel-pit, 664, plate 370
Hawk, Sharp-shinned, stable-isotope studies,
112-30

Hay, A., photographs of Corn Crake, 14, plates
8-9

Heaney, V., et ai, Important Bird Areas: breeding
seabirds on the Isles of Scilly, 418-38, plates
208-20

Hearn, R, see Marchant, J., et al.

Heath, A., and Armstrong, H., artificial feeding of
Hen Harriers in the Peak District, 152-4, plate
92

Heron, Great Blue, photograph, 51, plate 33;
accepted records, 531-2, plate 262

, Green-backed, photograph, 695, plate 385

, Grey, active food parasitism, 92-93, plates

57-58; mixed colony with Great Cormorants
in Hertfordshire, 261

, Little Blue, photograph, 636, plate 336

, Squacco, accepted records, 527-8, plate 260

Hewitt, J., photograph of Pallas’s Grasshopper
Warbler, 639, plate 343

Hill, B., photograph of Mourning Dove, 27, plate
14

Himantopus himantopus, see Stilt, Black-winged
Hippolais caligata, see Warbler, Booted

caligata/rama, see Warbler, Booted/Sykes’s

olivetorum, see Warbler, Olive-tree

pallida, see Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous

rama, see Warbler, Sykes’s

Hirchsfeld, E., letter on origins of White-billed
Divers in western Europe, 144
Hirundo rustica, see Swallow, Barn
Histrionicus histrionicus, see Duck, Harlequin
Hlasek, J., photograph of Hen Harrier, 401, plate
192

Hobby, new evidence of dark birds, 207-8;

breeding in Britain in 2005, 295-6
Holling, M., review of Sharpe: Manx Bird Atlas,

44; of ap Rheinallt et al.: Birds of Argyll, 449

, , and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel,

rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in
2005, 276-316, plates 149-51
Honey-buzzard, British-ringed birds return to
breed in the UK, 203-6, plates 114-16;
breeding in Britain in 2005, 290
Hope, M., Grey Wagtail catching minnows, 498,
plate 249

Hosking, D., House Martins destroying Spotted
Flycatcher nest, 497

, , see Chandler, R., et al.

, E., photograph of British Birds editors in the

1960s, 252, plate 137

Hough, J., photograph of American Redstart, 118,
plate 67; of Black-throated Blue Warbler, 128,
plate 76

Hudson, N., and the Rarities Committee, report
on rare birds in Britain in 2007, 516-77, plates
265-96

Hughes, J., see Carter, I., et al.

Hydrobates pelagicus, see Storm-petrel, European
Hydroprogne caspia, see Tern, Caspian

Ibis, Glossy, photographs, 51, 172, plates 34, 97;

accepted records, 532-4, plate 263
Icterus galbula, see Oriole, Baltimore
Iraeta, A., see Zuberogoitia, I., et al.

Irving, P. V., letter on supplementary feeding of
Hen Harriers, 256-7
Ixobrychus minutus, see Bittern, Little

sinensis, see Bittern, Yellow

Izzard, L., see Izzard, M., et al.

, M., et al., White-tailed Eagle catching

Greylag Goose, 326

Jackdaw, Western, photograph, 226, plate 123
Janes, E., photograph of Snow Bunting, third
place, Bird Photograph of the Year 2008, 412,
plate 200

Jay, Eurasian, killing adult Common Chaffinch
and Greenfinch, 385

Jenkins, G., photograph of Mourning Dove, 29,
plate 15; of Hume’s Warbler, 274, plate 148; of
Rose-coloured Starling, 446, plate 228; of
Southern Grey Shrike, 699, plate 393; of Two-
barred Crossbill, 700, plate 396
Johnson, P, Peregrine Falcons feeding Common
Kestrel chicks, 327

Jones, A., photograph of Common Snipe, 191,
plate 106

, T., opportunistic egg predation by

Oystercatchers, 94
Jordan, M., see Bradbury, R., et al.

Junco hyemalis, see Junco, Dark-eyed
Junco, Dark-eyed, transatlantic vagrancy to
Britain & Ireland 1997-2006,458-77;
accepted records, 570-1
lynx torquilla, see Wryneck

Kamp, J., and Grishina, K. V., Rooks killing adult

708

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

Black-tailed Godwit, 447
Kehoe, C., review of Schulze & Dingier: The Bird
Songs of Europe, North Africa and the Middle
East (MP3), 159-60

Kennerley, P., courtship feeding by Black-winged
Pratincoles, 328, plate 156

, , see Chandler, R., et al.

Kestrel, Common, population in Britain, 228-34,
plates 125-6; chicks fed by Peregrine Falcons,
327; juvenile diving at female, 383
Killdeer, accepted records, 536-7, plate 266
King, S. S., Peregrine Falcon egg breakage, 326-7
Kingfisher, Belted, transatlantic vagrancy to
Britain & Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77

, Common, breeding in Britain in 2005, 305;

catching and attempting to eat a shrew, 497
Kinzelbach, R., photograph of White Stork, 69,
plate 48

Kirkham, P., Common Eiders attacked and killed
by Harbour Seal, 442-3, plates 223-5
Kite, Red, reintroduction in Britain and Ireland,
2-25, plates 1, 5; stable-isotope studies,

1 12-30; breeding in Britain in 2005, 290-1
Kittiwake, breeding on the Isles of Scilly, 418-38,
plate 216

Kjaer, D., photograph of Great Bustard, 8, plate 2;

of Dipper, 665, plate 371
Knights, C., photographs of Marsh Harrier, 151,
plates 88-89

Knot, Red, stable-isotope studies, 1 19, plate 68
Knox, A. G., see Collinson, J. M., et al.

Kramer, D„ Moorhens commensal on Little
Grebes, 262-3

Kratter, A., photograph of Wilson’s Snipe, 192,
plate 109

Lagopus lagopus, see Grouse, Willow/Red
Lammergeier, letters on origin of name, 215, 325;
unusual nest-site in Sardinia, 491-2, plates
243-4

Lanius collurio, see Shrike, Red-backed

isabellinus, see Shrike, Isabelline

meridionalis, see Shrike, Southern Grey

minor, see Shrike, Lesser Grey

Lapwing, Northern, population decrease in
twentieth century, 644-75, plate 357

, Sociable, photographs, 509, 696, plates 251,

387

, White-tailed, accepted records, 537-8, plate

267

Lark, Black, photograph, 338, plate 163

, Calandra, photograph, 337, plate 162;

accepted records, 552, plate 278

, Shore, breeding in Britain in 2005, 306

, Sky, population decrease in twentieth

century, 644-75

, Wood, breeding in Britain in 2005, 306;

population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Larus argentatus, see Gull, Herring
atricilla , see Gull, Laughing

audouinii, see Gull, Audouin’s

cachinnans, see Gull, Caspian

fuscus, see Gull, Lesser Black-backed

glaucoides, see Gull, Iceland

marinus, see Gull, Great Black-backed

melanocephalus, see Gull, Mediterranean

michahellis, see Gull, Yellow-legged

pipixcan, see Gull, Franklin’s

smithsonianus, see Gull, American Herring

Laughton, R., photograph of Spotted Sandpiper,
336, plate 160

Leach, I., photograph of White-tailed Eagle, 10,
plate 4; of Cattle Egret, 224, plate 1 19; of Red-
footed Falcon, 335, plate 158; of Desert
Wheatear, 559, plate 283; of American Robin,
562, plate 287

Lewington, I., see Melling, T., et al.

Lewis, J. M. S., see Roberts, S. J.

Limicola falcinellus, see Sandpiper, Broad-billed
Linmodromus scolopaceus, see Dowitcher, Long-
billed

Limosa limosa, see Godwit, Black-tailed
Linnet, associating with Common Stonechat, 144;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Lock, L., see Heaney, V., et al.

Locustella certhiola, see Warbler, Pallas’s
Grasshopper

fluviatilis, see Warbler, River

lanceolata, see Warbler, Lanceolated

luscinioides, see Warbler, Savi’s

Logue, J., photograph of Baltimore Oriole, 572,
plate 296

Looking back: 30; 215; 248; 261; 363; 627; 681
Lophodytes cucullatus, see Merganser, Hooded
Lophophanes cristatus, see Tit, Crested
Lowe, R., ship-assisted Barn Swallow, 208
Loxia curvirostra, see Crossbill, Common

leucoptera, see Crossbill, Two-barred

pytyopsittacus, see Crossbill, Parrot

scotica, see Crossbill, Scottish

Lullula arborea, see Lark, Wood
Luscinia calliope, see Rubythroat, Siberian

luscinia, see Nightingale, Thrush

megarhynchos, see Nightingale, Common

svecica, see Bluethroat

Mackintosh, R„ photographs of Marbled
Murrelet, 135, plates 80-81
Macronectes giganteus, see Petrel, Southern Giant
Maher, M., photograph of Bonaparte’s Gull, 52,
plate 37

Mallia, M., see Montalto, J. A., et al.

Malloy, J., photograph of Western Jackdaw, 226,
plate 123; of Lesser Grey Shrike, 392, plate
183; of Lesser Scaup, 522, plate 256
Marchant, J., et al. The BB/ BTO Best Bird Book of
the Year 2007, 90-91

Marmaronetta angustirostris, see Teal, Marbled
Martin, Crag, accepted records, 553
, House, eating elderberries, 384, plates 175-6

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

709

Index

, Purple, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain &

Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77
Martin, J. P., ‘Northern Harrier’ on Scilly: new to
Britain, 394-407, plates 185-97
Martinez, J. A., see Zuberogoitia, I., et al.

Mason, C. R, winter use of urban amenity

grasslands by Turnstones and other waders,
95-96, plate 59

Mavor, R„ see Harrop, H. R., et al.

May, P., photograph of Wilson’s Snipe, 193, plate
110

McCallum, J., review of Zockler: Birdsounds of
Northern Siberia, 503-4

McCanch, N., letter on past British birds and the
Sherborne Missal, 381

McElwee, S., photograph of Colin Bradshaw, 388,
plate 188; of Black Stork, 513, plate 253;
of Blyth’s Reed Warbler, 565, plate 290;
of Greater Sand Plover, 637, plate 337
McGeehan, A., photograph of Mourning Dove, 30,
plate 16; review of Dempsey 8c O’Clery;
Finding Birds in Ireland, 103-4
McGowan, R. Y., see Melling, T., et al.

McKee, M., photograph of Gull-billed Tern, 637,
plate 338

Medda, M., see Fadda, A.

Melanitta americana, see Scoter, Black

nigra, see Scoter, Common

Melanocorypha calandra, see Lark, Calandra

yeltoniensis, see Lark, Black

Melling, T., should Kermadec Petrel be on the
British List?, 31-38, plates 17-22

, , see Collinson, J. M.

, , et al., the Dorset Yellow Bittern,

137-41, plates 82-86

, , et al, the Eagle Owl in Britain,

478-90, 686-7, plates 241-2
Merganser, Hooded, accepted records, 525
Merlin, breeding in Britain in 2005, 295; plucking
and eating dead young, 687-8
Merops apiaster, see Bee-eater, European
Messenger, D., Carrion Crow attacking Grey
Squirrel, 156

Milvus milvus, see Kite, Red
Montalto, J. A., et al, the occurrence of western
Black-eared Wheatear in Malta, 258, plate 139
Monticola solitarius, see Thrush, Blue Rock
Moorhen, commensal on Little Grebes, 262-3;
building nest of goose feathers, 327-8, plate
155; exploiting bird feeders, 496-7, plate 248

, Gough, status on Tristan da Cunha and

Gough Island, 586-606, plate 316
Morus bassanus, see Gannet, Northern
Moss, S., review of del Hoyo et al.: Flandbook of
the Birds of the World. Vol. 12. Picathartes to
Tits and Chickadees, 265—6
Motacilla alba, see Wagtail, White/Pied

cinerea, see Wagtail, Grey

citreola, see Wagtail, Citrine

flava, see Wagtail, Yellow

Mould, A., letter on the breeding seabirds on the

Isles of Scilly, 626

Mugridge, P., photograph of Wryneck, 414, plate
202

Murphy, M., review of Dunne: Pete Dunne’s
Essential Field Guide Companion: a
comprehensive resource for identifying North
American birds, 217-18

Murrelet, Long-billed, in Devon: new to Britain,
131-6, plates 77-81; letter, 144

, Marbled, photographs, 135, plates 80-81

Muscicapa dauurica, see Flycatcher, Brown
striata, see Flycatcher, Spotted

Nason, R., photographs of Chestnut-eared
Bunting, 236-7, 239, plates 127-8, 130;
of Lanceolated Warbler, 563, plate 288;
of Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 620, plate 332;
of White’s Thrush, 638, plate 340
Nesocichla eremita, see Thrush, Tristan
Nesospiza acunhae, see Bunting, Inaccessible

questi, see Bunting, Nightingale

wilkinsi, see Bunting, Wilkins’

New to Britain: Mourning Dove on North Uist,
26-30, plates 13-16; Olive-tree Warbler in
Shetland, 82-88, plates 52-55; Long-billed
Murrelet in Devon, 131-6, plates 77-81;
Chestnut-eared Bunting, 235-40, plates
127-30; Magnificent Frigatebird in
Shropshire, 317-21, plates 152-4; ‘Northern
Harrier’ on Scilly, 394-407, plates 185-97
Newbery, P., see Carter, L, et al.

Newell, D., letter on recent records of southern
skuas in Britain, 329-41, plate 440
Newman, P., photograph of Common Pheasant,
winner, Bird Photograph of the Year 2008,
409, plate 198

News and comment: 48-49, plate 32; 105-7;
166-70, plates 93-95; 220-3, plates 117-18;
269-71; 332-4, plate 157; 386-8, plates 177-8;
451-5, plate 227; 508-11, plate 251; 578-81,
plate 297; 634-5; 691^1, plate 384
Newstead & Coward, photograph of Kermadec
Petrel, 32, plate 17

Newton, L, highlights from a long-term study of
Sparrowhawks, 607-32, plates 325-34
Nighthawk, Common, transatlantic vagrancy to
Britain & Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate
230

Nightingale, B., review of Flood ct al.: Essential
Guide to Birds of the Isles of Scilly, 216-17

, , and Dempsey, E., recent reports, see

Recent reports

Nightingale, Common, population decrease in
twentieth century, 644-75

, Thrush, accepted records, 557

Nightjar, European, population decrease in
twentieth century, 644-75
Noddy, Brown, status on Tristan da Cunha and
Gough Island, 586-606
Numenius phaeopus, see Whimbrel
tenuirostris, see Curlew, Slender-billed

710

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

O’Donoghue, T., two male Hen Harriers attending
a nest in Co. Kerry, 262
Oakley-Martin, D., juvenile Common Kestrel
diving at female, 383

Obituaries: David Lewis Davenport, 500-1, plate
250; Richard Patrick (Derek) Goodwin, 501-2
Oceanites nereis, see Storm-petrel, Grey-backed

oceanicus, see Storm-petrel, Wilson’s

Oenanthe deserti, see Wheatear, Desert

hispanica, see Wheatear, Black-eared

oenanthe, see Wheatear, Northern

Ogilvie, M. A., review of Johnson & Cezilly: The
Greater Flamingo, 630-1
Ogilvy, S„ photograph of Bulwer’s Petrel, 678,
plate 381

Oliver, P., obituary of David Lewis Davenport,
500-1, plate 250

Oriole, Baltimore, transatlantic vagrancy to
Britain 8< Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77;
accepted records, 572, plate 296

, Golden, breeding in Britain in 2005, 311

Oriolus oriolus, see Oriole, Golden
Osprey, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25, plates
6-7; breeding in Britain in 2005, 294-5
Otis tarda, see Bustard, Great
Otus scops, see Owl, Eurasian Scops
Ouzel, Ring, population decrease in twentieth
century, 644-75

Ovenbird, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain &
Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77
Owl, Barn, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25, plate 3;
photograph of ‘Dark-breasted Barn Owl’, 225,
plate 121; breeding in Britain in 2005, 304

, Eagle, suggested for reintroduction to

Britain, 2-25; in Britain, 478-90, plates 241-2,
and letter, 685-7

, Eurasian Scops, accepted records, 551

, Hawk, accepted records, 551-2

, Short-eared, sitting on sea surface to avoid

Carrion Crows, 688

, Snowy, accepted records, 55 1

Oystercatcher, opportunistic egg predation, 94

Pachyptila vittata, see Prion, Broad-billed
Pagophila eburnea, see Gull, Ivory
Palmer, P., and Willoughby, P. J., display flight of
Little Bittern, 92
Pandion haliaetus, see Osprey
Panurus biarmicus, see Tit, Bearded
Parkin, D. T„ review of Moores: Where to Watch
Mammals in Britain and Ireland, 44-45

, , see Collinson, J. M., et al.

Partridge, Grey, reintroduction in Britain, 2-25;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Panda americana, see Parula, Northern
Parula, Northern, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain
& Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77
Pants major, see Tit, Great
Patient, R., review of Davis & Jones: The Birds of
Lundy, 161

Pelagodroma marina , see Storm-petrel, White-
faced

Pelecanoides urinatrix, see Diving-petrel, Common
Pelecanus crispus, see Pelican, Dalmatian

onocrotalus, see Pelican, White

Pelican, Dalmatian, suggested for reintroduction
to Britain, 2-25

, White, accepted records, 575-6

Penguin, Gentoo, stable-isotope studies, 112-30

, Northern Rockhopper, status on Tristan da

Cunha and Gough Island, 586-606, plate 310
Pennington, M., review of Mearns & Mearns: John
Kirk Townsend: collection of Audubon’s western
birds and mammals, 103; of Newton: The
Migration Ecology of Birds, 268; of White et al.:
The Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside,
330-1; photograph of Calandra Lark, 552,
plate 278

Perdix perdix, see Partridge, Grey
Periparus ater, see Tit, Coal
Pernis apivorus, see Honey-buzzard
Petrel, Atlantic, status on Tristan da Cunha and
Gough Island, 586-606, plate 324

, Bulwer’s, the rise and fall: a review of

records, 676-81, plates 380-3

, Great-winged, status on Tristan da Cunha

and Gough Island, 586-606

, Grey, status on Tristan da Cunha and

Gough Island, 586-606

, Kerguelen, status on Tristan da Cunha and

Gough Island, 586-606

, Kermadec, should it be on the British List?,

31-38, plates 17-22; letters, 211-13, 322-4

, Soft-plumaged, status on Tristan da Cunha

and Gough Island, 586-606

, Southern Giant, stable-isotope studies,

1 12-30, plate 70; status on Tristan da Cunha
and Gough Island, 586-606

, Spectacled, status on Tristan da Cunha,

586-606, plate 314

, Trindade, photographs, including of

presumed hybrid, 34, plates 21-22

, Zino’s/Fea’s, accepted records, 527

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, see Swallow, Cliff
Phalacrocorax aristotelis, see Shag

atriceps, see Shag, Imperial

carbo , see Cormorant, Great

pygmeus, see Cormorant, Pygmy

verrucosus, see Shag, Kerguelen

Phalarope, Red-necked, breeding in Britain in
2005, 302; photograph, 417, plate 206

, Wilson’s, photograph, 390, plate 181;

accepted records, 545

Phalaropus lobatus, see Phalarope, Red-necked

tricolor, see Phalarope, Wilson’s

Phasianus colchicus, see Pheasant, Common
Pheasant, Common, photograph, 409, plate 198
Pheucticus ludovicianus, see Grosbeak, Rose-
breasted

Philotnachus pugnax, see Ruff
Phoebetria fusca, see Albatross, Sooty

71 I

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

-c

Phoenicurus ochruros, see Redstart, Black
Phylloscopus bonelli , see Warbler, Western Bonelli’s

bonelli/ orientalis, see Warbler,

Western/Eastern Bonelli’s

borealis , see Warbler, Arctic

collybita , see Chiffchaff, Common

humei, see Warbler, Hume’s

ibericus, see Chiffchaff, Iberian

schwarzi, see Warbler, Radde’s

trochiloides, see Warbler, Greenish

trochilus , see Warbler, Willow

Pinguinus impennis, see Auk, Great
Pinicola enucleator, see Grosbeak, Pine
Pintail, breeding in Britain in 2005, 283
Pipit, Blyth’s, photograph, 53, plate 38; accepted
records, 553-4, plate 279

, Buff-bellied, photographs 53, 697, plates 40,

389; accepted records, 555-6, plate 281

, Meadow, associating with Common

Stonechat, 144

, Olive-backed, accepted records, 554;

photograph, 697, plate 388

, Pechora, photograph, 53, plate 39; accepted

records, 554-5, plate 280

, Tree, associating with Common Stonechat,

144; population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Piranga olivacea , see Tanager, Scarlet
Pitches, A., news and comment, see News and
comment

Platalea leucorodia, see Spoonbill, Eurasian
Plectrophenax nivalis, see Bunting, Snow
Plegadis falcinellus, see Ibis, Glossy
Plover, Caspian, photograph, 336, plate 159

, European Golden, population decrease in

twentieth century, 644-75

, Greater Sand, photograph, 637, plate 337

, Little Ringed, breeding in Britain in 2005,

299-300; photograph, 414, plate 201;
population increase in twentieth century,
644-75

, Pacific Golden, accepted records, 537

Pluvialis apricaria, see Plover, European Golden

fulva, see Plover, Pacific Golden

Pochard, Common, breeding in Britain in 2005,
284

Podiceps auritus, see Grebe, Slavonian

cristatus, see Grebe, Great Crested

grisegena, see Grebe, Red-necked

nigricollis, see Grebe, Black-necked

Poecile palustris, see Tit, Marsh
Polysticta stelleri, see Eider, Steller’s
Porzana parva, see Crake, Little

porzana, see Crake, Spotted

Potts, D., letter on the Eagle Owl in Britain, 685-6
Powell, D., review of Warren: Images from Birding,
46; of Woolf: Daring to Fly: the wildlife
paintings of Colin Woolf, 690
Pratincole, Black-winged, courtship feeding, 328,
plate 156

Pratt, E., letter on the first colour photograph of

live birds, 627

Prion, Broad-billed, status on Tristan da Cunha
and Gough Island, 586-606
Procellaria cinerea, see Petrel, Grey

conspicillata, see Petrel, Spectacled

Progne subis, see Martin, Purple
Prunella modularis, see Dunnock
Prytherch, R., see Marchant, J., et al.

Pterodroma arminjoniana, see Petrel, Trindade

brevirostris, see Petrel, Kerguelen

incerta, see Petrel, Atlantic

macroptera, see Petrel, Great-winged

madeira/feae, see Petrel, Zino’s/Fea’s

mollis, see Petrel, Soft-plumaged

neglecta, see Petrel, Kermadec

Ptyonoprogne rupestris, see Martin, Crag
Puffin, breeding on the Isles of Scilly, 418-38
Puffinus assimilis, see Shearwater, Little

baroli, see Shearwater, North Atlantic Little

gravis, see Shearwater, Great

griseus, see Shearwater, Sooty

mauretanicus, see Shearwater, Balearic

puffinus, see Shearwater, Manx

Pygoscelis papua, see Penguin, Gentoo
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, see Chough, Red-billed
Pyrrhula pyrrhula , see Bullfinch

Quail, Common, breeding in Britain in 2005,
285-6

Rabbitts, B., Mourning Dove on North Uist: new
to Britain, 26-30, plates 13-16
Radford, A. P., attempted feeding of dead fledgling
by Blackbird, 209; juvenile Coal Tit feeding
juvenile Blue Tit, 210

Rail, Inaccessible, status on Tristan da Cunha,
586-606, plate 317
Rajchard, J., see Sevcik, J.

Rarities Committee, news: 50; 107; 165-6; 477
Razorbill, breeding on the Isles of Scilly, 418-38
Recent reports: 50-56; 108-10; 171-2; 223-6;
271-4; 335-8; 389-92; 455-6; 512-14; 581-4;
636-42; 695-700
Recurvirostra avosetta, see Avocet
Redman, N., review of Wasink & Oreel: The Birds
of Kazakhstan, 160

Redpoll, Common, breeding in Britain in 2005,
313

, Lesser, associating with Common Stonechat,

144

Redstart, American, stable-isotope studies,

1 12-30, plate 67

, Black, breeding in Britain in 2005, 307

Redwing, breeding in Britain in 2005, 307-8
Regains ignicapilla, see Firecrest

regulus, see Goldcrest

Reid, M., identification of Wilson’s and Common
Snipe, 189-200, plates 104-13

, T., photograph of Barrow’s Goldeneye, 272,

plate 143

Rerniz pendulinus , see Tit, Penduline

712

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

Requests: 49; 130; 240; 454; 681
Reszeter, G., photograph of Long-billed Murrelet,
133, plate 78; of Bobolink, 466, plate 233; of
Blackpoll Warbler, 468, plate 236; of Red-eyed
Vireo, 474, plate 240; of Alder Flycatcher, 637,
plate 339
Reviews

ap Rheinallt et al. : Birds of Argyll, 449
Arlott: Collins Field Guide - Birds of the
Palearctic: passerines, 43
Ballance: The Untrodden Combes, 104
Barthel 8c Dougalis: New Holland European
Bird Guide, 450
Bennett: True to Form, 163
Bircham: A History of Ornithology, 216
BirdGuides: British Birds Interactive, 157-9
Bowler & Hunter: Birds ofTiree and Coll, 331
Bray & Bray: The Birds of the Huddersfield
Area, 632

Chandler & Couzens: 100 Birds to See Before
You Die, 631

Cheke & Hume: Lost Land of the Dodo: an
ecological history of Mauritius, Reunion and
Rodrigues, 629-30

Cieslak & Dul: Feathers: identification for bird
conservation, 164

Clements: The Clements Checklist of the Birds

of the World, 6th edn, 102

Clews: Birds in a Village: a century on, 43

Collar et al: Birds and People: bonds in a

timeless journey, 266-7

Cook: Birds, 330

Davis & Jones: The Birds of Lundy, 161
del Hoyo et al: Handbook of the Birds of the
World. Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and
Chickadees, 265-6

Dempsey & O’Clery: Finding Birds in Ireland,
103-4

Dennis: A Life of Ospreys, 634
Dowsett et al.: The Birds of Zambia, 504
Dunne: Pete Dunne’s Essential Field Guide
Companion: a comprehensive resource for
identifying North American birds, 217-18
Erritzoe, et al.: The Ornithologist’s Dictionary,
164

Farrow: A Field Guide to the Bird Songs and
Calls of Britain and Northern Europe (2 CDs),
505

Ferguson-Lees et al.: Birds of Wiltshire, 100-1
Flood et al: Essential Guide to Birds of the Isles
of Scilly, 216-17

Forrester & Andrews: The Birds of Scotland,
162-3

Garner et al.: Frontiers in Birding, 689
Gensbol: Collins Birds of Prey, 449-50
Gill & Wright: Birds of the World:
recommended English names, 264-5
Harvey et al.: Atlas of the Birds of Delhi and
Haryana, 163-4

Hayman & Hume: Bird: the ultimate
illustrated guide to the birds of Britain and

Europe, 218

Hirschfeld: Rare Birds Yearbook 2008: the
world’s 189 most threatened birds, 218-19
Huntley et al: A Climatic Atlas of European
Breeding Birds, 329

Johnson & Cezilly: The Greater Flamingo,
630-1

Matthews: Skomer: portrait of a Welsh island,
160-1

McCallum: Arctic Flight: adventures amongst
northern birds, 45-46
Mearns 8c Mearns: John Kirk Townsend:
collection of Audubon’s western birds and
mammals, 103

Moores: Where to Watch Mammals in Britain
and Ireland, 44-45

Moss: A Sky Full of Starlings: a diary of a

birding year, 690

Moss: Remarkable Birds, 101

Newton: The Migration Ecology of Birds, 268

Parslow: The Isles of Scilly, 46-47

Partida: Nomads of the Strait of Gibraltar, 632

Peterken: Wye Valley, 503

Robb et al.: Petrels Night and Day, 628-9

Ryan: Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island, 100

Sanders: The Birds of Alderney, 506

Schulze & Dingier: The Bird Songs of Europe,

North Africa and the Middle East (MP3),

159-60 '

Sharpe: Manx Bird Atlas, 44

Shimba: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of

Japan and North-east Asia, 505

Shrubb: The Lapwing, 45

Smith et al.: Wild Mynd: birds and wildlife of

the Long Mynd, 219

Svensson & Delin: Philip’s Guide to Birds of

Britain and Europe, 102-3

Tate: Flights of Fancy, 104

Threlfall: Between the Tides, 163

Uglow: Nature’s Engraver: a life of Thomas

Bewick, 331

Venables et al: The Birds of Gwent, 633

Warren: Images from Birding, 46

Wasink & Oreel: The Birds of Kazakhstan, 160

Wheatley: Birds of Surrey, 448

White et al: The Birds of Lancashire and North

Merseyside, 330-1

Wood: The Birds of Essex, 267

Woolf: Daring to Fly: the wildlife paintings of

Colin Woolf, 690

Zockler: Birdsounds of Northern Siberia, 503-4
Rhodostethia rosea, see Gull, Ross’s
Rissa tridactyla, see Kittiwake
Roberts, S. J., and Lewis, I. M. S., British-ringed
Honey-buzzards return to breed in the UK,
203-6, plates 114-16
Robin, imitating Barn Swallow, 208
Robin, American, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain
& Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77; accepted
records, 562, plate 287

British Birds 101* Index to Volume 1 0 1

713

Index

Robinson, A., photographs of White-billed Diver,
243, plates 132-3

Roller, European, accepted records, 552
Rook, gathering nest material, 96; killing adult
Black-tailed Godwit, 447

Rosefinch, Common, breeding in Britain in 2005,
314

Round, S., photograph of Common or Iberian
Chiffchaff, 182, plate 101; of Hen Harrier, 401,
plate 193

Rowettia goughensis, see Bunting, Gough
Rubythroat, Siberian, accepted records, 557
Ruff, suggested for reintroduction to Britain, 2-25;

breeding in Britain in 2005, 300
Rutland Osprey Project, photograph of Osprey,

13, plate 6

Ryan, P., Important Bird Areas: Tristan da Cunha
and Gough Island, 586-606, plates 305-24
Rylands, K., Long-billed Murrelet in Devon: new
to Britain, 131-6, plates 77-81

Sandpiper, Baird’s, accepted records, 538

, Broad-billed, accepted records, 539

— , Green, breeding in Britain in 2005, 302

, Least, accepted records, 538, plate 268

, Marsh, accepted records, 544-5, plate 274

, Purple, breeding in Britain in 2005, 300

, Semipalmated, accepted records, 538;

photograph, 582, plate 299

-, Sharp-tailed, accepted records, 539

, Solitary, accepted records, 542; photograph,

583, plate 300

s Spoon-billed, photograph, 453, plate 227

, Spotted, photograph, 336, plate 160;

accepted records, 542, plate 272

, Terek, accepted records, 542

, White-rumped, photograph, 52, plate 35

, Wood, breeding in Britain in 2005, 302

Sangster, G., see Collinson, J. M., et al.

Saunders, R., photograph of Hen Harrier, 154,
plate 92

Saxicola rubetra, see Whinchat

torquatus, see Stonechat, Common

Scaup, Greater, breeding in Britain in 2005, 284

, Lesser, photograph of, 108, plate 61;

accepted records, 520-2, plate 256
Schmaljohann, H., photograph of Northern
Wheatear, 72, plate 50

Schmoker, B., photograph of Wilson’s Snipe, 193,
plate 111; of ‘Northern Harrier’, 399,
plate 188

Scoter, Black, accepted records, 524, plate 259

, Common, breeding in Britain in 2005, 285

Scott, B., review of Hayman 8c Hume: Bird: The
Ultimate Illustrated Guide to the Birds of
Britain and Europe , 218; of Wood: The Birds of
Essex, 267

, , see Marchant, J., et al.

, M. S., and Shaw, K. D., the status of White-
billed Diver in northwest Scotland, 241-8,
plates 131-5

Scovell, K., photograph of Amur Falcon, 696, plate
386

Seal, S., photograph of Lesser Scaup, 108, plate 61;
of ‘eastern’ Common Chiffchaff, 147, plate
87d; of White-winged Black Tern, 337, plate
161; of Glossy Ibis, 533, plate 263
Seiurus aurocapilla, see Ovenbird

noveboracensis, see Waterthrush, Northern

Serinus citrinella, see Finch, Citril
Setophaga ruticilla, see Redstart, American
Sevcik, J., and Rajchard, J., active food parasitism
in the Grey Heron, 92-93, plates 57-58
Shag, breeding on the Isles of Scilly, 418-38, plate
211

, Imperial, stable-isotope studies of ‘South

Georgia Shag’ R a. georgianus , 1 12-30

, Kerguelen, stable-isotope studies, 112-30

Shaw, D. N., Chestnut-eared Bunting: new to

Britain, 235-40, plates 127-30; photograph of
Citrine Wagtail, 583, plate 301; of Pallas’s
Grasshopper Warbler, 639, plate 344; of
Siberian Thrush, 638, plate 341

, K. D., see Scott, M. S.

Shearwater, Balearic, letter on past British status,
213

, Great, photograph, 512, plate 252; status on

Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island, 586-606,
plate 315

, Little, status on Tristan da Cunha and

Gough Island, 586-606

, Manx, breeding on the Isles of Scilly,

418-38, plate 210

, North Atlantic Little, accepted records, 527

, Sooty, status on Tristan da Cunha, 586-606

Short reviews: Alderfer 8c Dunn, 451; Birkett, 375;
Black’s Nature Guides, 633; Conlin et al, 375;
Davies, 375; Dunn, 451; Garcia 8c Patterson,
375; Holden 8c Abbot, 690; Holliday et al,

506; Hume 8c Hayman, 631; Kington, 507;
Loughborough Naturalists’ Club, 375;
Mortimer, 507; Pilbeam, 507; Rebane 8c
Garcia, 690; Sargeant, 506; Saunders 8c Green,
375; Tait, 507; Taylor 8c Arlott, 507; Thomas,
507; Toms 8c Sterry, 690; Whittley, 633
Shrike, Isabelline, accepted records, 567-8, plate
292

, Lesser Grey, photographs, 392, 513, plates

183, 254; accepted records, 568

, Red-backed, suggested for reintroduction to

Britain, 2-25; breeding in Britain in 2005,
311-12; photograph, 334, plate 157

, Southern Grey, photograph, 699, plate 393

Simpson, F., photograph of Cattle Egret, 109, plate
62

Siskin, population increase in twentieth century,
644-75, plate 355

Skua, Antarctic, status of ‘Tristan Skua’

Stercorarius a. hamiltoni on Tristan da Cunha
and Gough Island, 586-606, plate 322
, Arctic, numbers in the Caspian Sea, 325

714

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

, Pomarine, numbers in the Caspian Sea, 325

, South Polar, possible on Scilly, 439-41,

plates 221-2

Slack, R., review of Shirnba: A Photographic Guide
to the Birds of Japan and North-east Asia, 505
Smith, A. J., see Ballance, D. K.

Smith, B., photographs of Eurasian Sparrowhawk,
610, 615, 622, plates 326, 329-30, 334

, J„ photograph of Peregrine Falcon, 296,

plate 149

, K. W., photograph of Rare Breeding Birds

Panel, 315, plate 151

, R., photograph of White-rumped

Sandpiper, 52, plate 35

Smout, C., letter on the Cheshire Kermadec Petrel,
212-13; letter on past British birds and the
Sherborne Missal, 381-2
Snipe, Common, photograph of ‘Wilson’s Snipe’
Gallinago g. delicata , 52, plate 36;
identification of ‘Wilson’s’ and Common
Snipe, 189-200, plates 104-13; accepted
records of ‘Wilson’s Snipe’, 539-40; population
decrease in twentieth century, 644-75

, Great, accepted records, 540

Snow, D., obituary of Richard Patrick (Derek)
Goodwin, 501-2

Somateria fischeri, see Eider, Spectacled

— mollissima, see Eider, Common

spectabilis, see Eider, King

Sparrow, Savannah, transatlantic vagrancy to

Britain & Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate 234

, White-crowned, photographs, 110, 170,

plates 65, 94-95; transatlantic vagrancy to
Britain 8c Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77

, White-throated, photographs, 338, 700,

plates 164, 397; transatlantic vagrancy to
Britain 8c Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77;
accepted records, 569-70
Sparrowhawk, Eurasian, highlights from a long-
term study, 607-32, plates 325-34
Spencer, K. G., review of Shrubb: The Lapwing, 45
Spoonbill, Eurasian, suggested for reintroduction
to Britain, 2-25; breeding in Britain in 2005,
289

St Pierre, P., see Heaney, V., et al.

Stansfield, S., photographs of Red-flanked
Bluetail, 54, 558, plates 41, 282
Starling, Rose-coloured, photographs, 226, 456,
plates 124, 228

Steele, B„ photographs of ‘Northern Harrier’,
399-400, plates 189, 191
Stemmier, C., photograph of Lammergeier, 491,
plate 243

Stercorarius antarctica, see Skua, Antarctic

maccormicki, see Skua, South Polar

parasiticus, see Skua, Arctic

pomarinus, see Skua, Pomarine

Sterna dougallii, see Tern, Roseate

hirundo, see Tern, Common

sandvicensis, see Tern, Sandwich

vittata, see Tern, Antarctic

Sternula albifrons, see Tern, Little
Stewart, D„ photograph of Pechora Pipit, 53, plate
39

Stewart-Smith, J., Blackbirds eating fuchsia seed
pods and flowers, 328

Stilt, Black-winged, breeding in Britain in 2005,
298; accepted records, 536
Stint, Little, photograph, 411, plate 199
Stirrup, S., photograph of Barn Owl, 9, plate 3; of
Red-flanked Bluetail, 54, plate 42; of Great
Cormorant, 127, plate 75; of Iceland Gull, 345,
plate 167; of Lesser Yellowlegs, 544, plate 273;
of estuarine habitat, 668, plate 376
Stockton, P. A., brood amalgamation in Mute
Swans, 383

Stoddart, A., October Greenish Warblers, 493-5,
plates 245-7

Stonechat, Common, species associating with, 145;
accepted records of ‘Siberian Stonechat’,
Saxicola t. maurus, 558
Stone-curlew, suggested for reintroduction to

Britain, 2-25; breeding in Britain in 2005, 299;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Stonier, R., photograph of Blackpoll Warbler, 56,
plate 45; of White-crowned Sparrow, 110,
plate 65; of Pacific Diver, 171, 96; of Rose-
coloured Starling, 226, plate 124; of Black
Duck, 271, plate 142; of Great Shearwater,

512, plate 252; of Buff-bellied Pipit, 697, plate
389

Stork, Black, photograph, 513, plate 253; accepted
records, 532

, White, suggested for reintroduction to

Britain, 2-25; photograph, 69, plate 48
Storm-petrel, European, breeding on the Isles of
Scilly, 418-38, plate 217

, Grey-backed, status on Gough Island,

586-606

, White-bellied, status on Tristan da Cunha

and Gough Island, 586-606

, White-faced, status on Tristan da Cunha

and Gough Island, 586-606

, Wilson’s, photograph, 582, plate 298

Streptopelia decaocto, see Dove, Collared

turtur, see Dove, Turtle

Sturnus roseus, see Starling, Rose-coloured
Sultana, J., photograph of Black-eared Wheatear,
258, plate 139

Summers, R. W., see Dillon, I. A., et al.

Surnia ulula, see Owl, Hawk
Svensson, L., see Collinson, J. M., et al
Swallow, Barn, stable-isotope studies, 1 12-30;
ship-assisted, 208; imitated by Robin, 208;
photograph, 417, plate 207

, Cliff, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain 8t

Ireland 1997-2006,458-77

, Tree, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain 8c

Ireland 1997-2006,458-77
Swan, Mute, brood amalgamation, 383; eating
carrion, 496

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

715

, Whooper, breeding in Britain in 2005, 281

Swift, Chimney, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain
& Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate 231

, Pallid, accepted records, 552

Sylvia atricapilla, see Blackcap

cantillans, see Warbler, Subalpine

communis , see Whitethroat, Common

curruca, see Whitethroat, Lesser

melanocephala, see Warbler, Sardinian

undata , see Warbler, Dartford

Taavetti, H., photograph of Little Stint, second
place, Bird Photograph of the Year 2008, 411,
plate 199; of Common Eider, King Eider,
Long-tailed Duck and Steller’s Eider, 416,
plate 204

Tachybaptus ruficollis, see Grebe, Little
Tachycineta bicolor, see Swallow, Tree
Tams, T., photograph of Sociable Lapwing, 696,
plate 387

Tanager, Scarlet, photograph, 642, plate 351
Tarsiger cyanurus, see Bluetail, Red-flanked
Tatayah, V., photograph of Kermadec Petrel, 34,
plate 20

Teal, Baikal, stable-isotope studies, 112-30

, Blue-winged, accepted records, 520

, Marbled, accepted records, 575

Temple, D., Merlins plucking and eating dead
young, 687-8

Tern, Antarctic, status of Sterna vittata tristanensis
on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island,
586-606, plate 313

, Caspian, accepted records, 549

, Common, breeding on the Isles of Scilly,

418-38, plate 220; fish taken from by Hobby,
496

, Gull-billed, accepted records, 549;

photograph, 637, plate 338

, Little, breeding in Britain in 2005, 303-4

, Roseate, breeding in Britain in 2005, 304

•, Sandwich, breeding on the Isles of Scilly,

418-38

, Whiskered, photograph, 391, plate 182;

accepted records, 549

, White-winged Black, photograph, 337, plate

161

Tetrao tetrix, see Grouse, Black

urogallus, see Capercaillie

Thalassarche chlororhynchos, see Albatross, Atlantic
Yellow-nosed

melanophris, see Albatross, Black-browed

Thoburn, G., photograph of Long-billed Murrelet,
133, plate 79; of Lesser Grey Shrike, 513, plate
254; of Semipalmated Sandpiper, 582, plate
299; of Red-eyed Vireo, 699, plate 395
Thomas, B., photograph of Spotted Sandpiper,

542, plate 272; of Blyth’s Pipit, 553, plate 279;
of Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 572, plate 295

, M., photograph of Isabelline Shrike, 568,

plate 292

Thomason, B., photograph of Eastern Olivaceous

Warbler, 640, plate 346

Thompson, D., photographs of upland habitat,
656, 660, plates 361,364-5

, R., photograph of Yellow-billed Cuckoo,

463, plate 232

Thrush, Bicknell’s, stable-isotope studies, 1 12-30

, Blue Rock, accepted records, 559-60

, Dark- throated, accepted records, 561

, Grey-cheeked, transatlantic vagrancy to

Britain & Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77;
accepted records, 561; photograph, 698, plate
392

, Hermit, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain Sr.

Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate 237;
photograph, 470, plate 237

, Siberian, accepted records, 560-1, plate 285;

photograph, 638, plate 341

, Song, population decrease in twentieth

century, 644-75

, Swainson’s, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain

& Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77; accepted
records, 561, plate 286

, Tristan, status on Tristan da Cunha,

586-606, plate 320

, White’s, photographs, 55, 638, plates 44,

340; accepted records, 560, plate 284
Tidman, R., photograph of Barn Swallow, 417,
plate 207

Tipling, D., optimising digital images, 39 — 42,
plates 23-31; photograph of Gentoo Penguin,
121, plate 69; of Southern Giant Petrel, 122,
plate 70; of Peregrine, 167, plate 93; of Corn
Bunting, 625, plate 335

, , see Chandler, R., et al.

Tit, Bearded, breeding in Britain in 2005, 310-11

, Blue, obtain concealed insects in winter by

selecting bud size, 209-10; juvenile fed by
juvenile Coal Tit, 210

, Coal, associating with Common Stonechat,

144; juvenile feeding juvenile Blue Tit, 210;
population increase in twentieth century,
644-75

, Crested, suggested for reintroduction to

Britain, 2-25

, Great, associating with Common Stonechat,

144

, Marsh, singing by females: frequency and

function, 155-6

, Penduline, accepted records, 567

Tringa flavipes, see Yellowlegs, Lesser

glareola, see Sandpiper, Wood

melanoleuca, see Yellowlegs, Greater

nebularia , see Greenshank, Common

ochropus , see Sandpiper, Green

solitaria, see Sandpiper, Solitary

stagnatilis, see Sandpiper, Marsh

Troglodytes troglodytes , see Wren
Trollope, C„ male Firecrest helping to feed a
Goldcrest family, 688

Tucker, V., White-billed Diver feeding technique,
260-1, plates 140-1

716

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

Index

Turdus iliacus, see Redwing

rnerula, see Blackbird

migratorius , see Robin, American

philomelos, see Thrush, Song

pilaris, see Fieldfare

ruficollis, see Thrush, Dark-throated

torquatus, see Ouzel, Ring

Turnstone, winter use of urban amenity
grasslands, 95-96, plate 59
Twite, cliff-nesting in the Peak District, 263;
population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75

Tyto alba, see Owl, Barn

Uria aalge, see Guillemot, Common

lotnvia, see Guillemot, Briinnich’s

Urquhart, E„ letter on species associating with
Common Stonechats, 145

Vanellus gregarius, see Lapwing, Sociable

leucurus, see Lapwing, White-tailed

vanellus, see Lapwing, Northern

Varesvuo, M., photograph of Common Crane, 18,
plate 12; of Peregrine Falcon, 59, plate 47; of
Northern Wheatear, 77, plate 51; of ‘Northern
Bullfinch’, 114, plate 66; of Willow Warbler,
124, plate 72; of Briinnich’s Guillemot, 386,
plate 177; of Sociable Lapwing, 509, plate 251;
of Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 608, 614, 616, 621
plates 325, 328, 331, 333; of Whinchat, 654,
plate 359; of Gadwall, 663, plate 369
Veery, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain & Ireland
1997-2006, 458-77

Vermivora pinus, see Warbler, Blue-winged
Vireo olivaceus, see Vireo, Red-eyed

philadelphicus, see Vireo, Philadelphia

Vireo, Philadelphia, photograph, 699, plate 394

, Red-eyed, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain

& Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate 240;
photograph, 699, plate 395
Voice: Robin, 208; Iberian Chiffchaff, 379-80;
Marsh Tit, 155-6

Wagstaff, W„ photograph of Great Blue Heron,
531, plate 262

Wagtail, Citrine, accepted records, 556;
photograph, 583, plate 301

, Grey, catching minnows, 498, plate 249

, White/Pied, breeding of White Wagtail in

Britain in 2005, 306

, Yellow, population decrease in twentieth

century, 644—75

Wallace, D. I. M„ letter onBB-a veteran’s
perspective, 251-7, plates 136-8; on
predictions of future vagrants, 499; on trailing
Greenland Wheatears, 684-5

, J., photographs of Cirl Bunting, 15, plates

10-11

Wallen, M., review of Matthews: Skomer: portrait
of a Welsh island, 160—1
Walsh, B., photograph of Moorhen, 327

, J. F., Moorhens building nest of goose

feathers, 327-8, plate 155
Warbler, Aquatic, stable-isotope studies, 112-30

, Arctic, photograph, 493, plate 245; accepted

records, 566

, Blackpoll, photograph, 56, plate 45;

transatlantic vagrancy to Britain & Ireland
1997-2006, 458-77, plate 236; accepted
records, 568-9, plate 293

, Black-throated Blue, stable-isotope studies,

112-30, plate 76

, Blue-winged, transatlantic vagrancy to

Britain & Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77

, Blyth’s Reed, accepted records, 564-5, plate

290

, Booted, accepted records, 566; photograph,

584, plate 302

, Booted/Sykes’s, accepted records, 566

, Canada, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain &

Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate 238

, Cetti’s, breeding in Britain in 2005, 308-9

, Dartford, associating with Common

Stonechat, 144; breeding in Britain in 2005,
309-10; population decrease in twentieth
century, 644-75

, Eastern Olivaceous, photograph, 640, plate

346

, Great Reed, breeding in Britain in 2005,

309; accepted records, 565

, Greenish, October records, 493-5, plates

246-7

, Hume’s, photographs, 1 10, 274, plates 64,

148; accepted records, 566

, Lanceolated, accepted records, 562-3, plate

288

, Marsh, suggested for reintroduction to

Britain, 2-25; breeding in Britain in 2005, 309

, Olive-tree, in Shetland: new to Britain,

82-88, plates 52-55

, Paddyfield, accepted records, 563-4, plate

289; photograph, 639, plate 345

, Pallas’s Grasshopper, accepted records, 562;

photographs, 639, plates 343-4

, Radde’s, photograph, 641, plate 348

, River, accepted records, 563

, Sardinian, associating with Common

Stonechat, 144; accepted records, 566

, Savi’s, stable-isotope studies, 112-30;

breeding in Britain in 2005, 309; accepted
records, 563

, Subalpine, accepted records of ‘Eastern

Subalpine Warbler’ Sylvia c. albistriata, 566

, Sykes’s, photograph, 640, plate 347

, Western Bonelli’s, accepted records, 566;

photograph, 641, plate 349

, Western/Eastern Bonelli’s, accepted records,

567

, Willow, stable-isotope studies, 112-30, plate

72; associating with Common Stonechat, 144

, Wilson’s, stable-isotope studies, 112-30

, Yellow, transatlantic vagrancy to Britain &

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

717

Index

Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77, plate 235;
photograph, 584, plate 303

, Yellow-rumped, transatlantic vagrancy to

Britain & Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77
Warden, D., review of Ballance: The Untrodden
Combes , 104

Warren, J. E., Egyptian Geese eating New Zealand
Pygmyweed, 200

Watanabe, Y., photograph of Common Snipe, 194,
plate 112

Waterthrush, Northern, photograph, 584, plate
304

Welch, R. C„ Moorhen exploiting bird feeders,
496-7, plate 248

Wheatear, Black-eared, occurrence in Malta, 258,
plate 139

, Desert, photographs, 55, 1 10, 698, plates 43,

63, 391; accepted records, 558-9, plate 283

, Northern, photographs, 72, 77, plates 50-51;

population decrease in twentieth century,
644-75; movements of Greenland race, 684-5
Whimbrel, breeding in Britain in 2005, 301;
accepted records of ‘Hudsonian Whimbrel’,
Numenius p. hudsonicus, 541, plates 270-1
Whinchat, population decrease in twentieth
century, 644—75, plate 359
Whitethroat, Common, associating with Common
Stonechat, 144

, Lesser, associating with Common Stonechat,

144

Whitlow, G., photograph of Red Kite, 1 1, plate 5
Widden, B., photographs of ‘Northern Harrier’,
403, plates 196-7

Wigeon, Eurasian, breeding in Britain in 2005,
281-2

Wilkinson, C., Little Grebe catching newt, 200
Willoughby, P. J., see Palmer, P.

Wilson, I., photographs of ‘Hudsonian Whimbrel’,
541, plates 270-1

, M., photograph of Zitting Cisticola, 638,

plate 342

Wilsonia canadensis, see Warbler, Canada

pusilla, see Warbler, Wilson’s

Win, I., photographs of Harlequin Duck, 523,
plates 257-8

List of illustrations

Pages

2 Red Kites {Richard Allen)

137 Yellow Bittern ( Ian Lewington)

228 Common Kestrel (Ben Green )

235 Chestnut-eared Bunting (Ren Hathway )

287 Red-throated Diver (Andrew Stock )

290 Honey-buzzards (Richard Allen)

292 Marsh Harrier (Alan Harris)

302 Red-necked Phalarope (David A.

Thelwell)

305 European Bee-eaters (Alan Harris)

}

Woodcock, M., letter on the Cheshire Kermadec
Petrel, 211-12; on colour nomenclature, 259;
Eurasian Jay killing adult Common Chaffinch
and Greenfinch, 385

Wren, associating with Common Stonechat, 144
Wright, J.. photograph of Osprey, 13, plate 7
Wryneck, suggested for reintroduction to Britain,
2-25; breeding in Britain in 2005, 306;
photograph, 414, plate 202
www.irishbirdimages.com, photograph of

Ferruginous Duck, 108, plate 60; of Hermit
Thrush, 470, plate 237; of Solitary Sandpiper,
583, plate 300; of Northern Waterthrush, 584,
plate 304; of Scarlet Tanager, 642, plate 351; of
White-throated Sparrow, 700, plate 397

Xenus cinereus, see Sandpiper, Terek

Yellowhammer, associating with Common
Stonechat, 144; population decrease in
twentieth century, 644—75
Yellowlegs, Greater, accepted records, 543

, Lesser, accepted records, 544-5, plate 273

Yellowthroat, Common, transatlantic vagrancy to
Britain 8c Ireland 1997-2006, 458-77
Yeoman, J. and J., see Izzard, M., et al.

Young, S., photograph of ‘Wilson’s Snipe’, 52, plate
36; of Blyth’s Pipit, 53, plate 38; of Common
or Iberian Chiffchaff, 181-2, plates 98-100; of
Little Crake, 272, plate 144; of Ross’s Gull,

273, plate 145; of white-spotted Bluethroat,

274, plate 147; of Wilson’s Phalarope, 390,
plate 181; of Belted Kingfisher, 473, plate 239;
of Blackpoll Warbler, 569, plate 293; of Olive-
backed Pipit, 697, plate 388; of Grey-cheeked
Thrush, 698, plate 392

Zenaida macroura, see Dove, Mourning
Zonotrichia albicollis, see Sparrow, White-throated

leucophrys, see Sparrow, White-crowned

Zoothera dauma, see Thrush, White’s

sibirica, see Thrush, Siberian

Zuberogoitia, I., et al., new evidence of dark
Hobbies, 207-8

312 Red-backed Shrike (Alan Harris)

317 Magnificent Frigatebird (Alan Harris)
340 Caspian Gull ( David Quinn)

364 Turnstones and Dunlin (Alan Harris)
394 ‘Northern Harrier’ (D. /. M. Wallace)

406 ‘Northern Harrier’ (D. /. M. Wallace)

418 Razorbills (Ren Hathway)

458 Blackburnian Warbler (Richard Johnson)

477 Dark-eyed Junco ( Brian Small)

478 Eagle Owl (Richard Allen)

607 Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Great Tit
(Richard Allen)

644 Yellow Wagtail (Richard Allen)

718

British Birds 101 • Index to Volume 101

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